The Chase Sapphire Preferred card recently expanded its rewards structure to include a dedicated bonus for vacation homes booked directly with select platforms. This adjustment reflects growing demand among travelers for group-friendly lodging options that often suit family or friend trips better than standard hotel rooms. Cardholders who already favor rentals through major sites now have a clearer path to higher point earnings on those purchases, provided they book straight with the provider rather than through an intermediary.
The Update and Its Practical Reach
The change centers on earning 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent when reservations are made directly through one of six approved vacation home brands. This rate applies only to direct bookings, which means travelers must visit the platform’s own website or app to qualify. Bookings routed through the Chase Travel portal instead earn the card’s standard 5 points per dollar on travel, though availability on that portal can be more limited for certain properties.
The timing of the update aligns with broader shifts in how people travel, as many continue to seek private homes for extended stays or larger groups. For Sapphire Preferred holders, the new category adds meaningful value to a card already popular for its travel protections and flexible redemption options. It also creates a modest edge over the card’s 2 points per dollar rate on most other direct travel purchases, such as hotel stays booked outside the portal.
Platforms Eligible for the Bonus
Six specific brands qualify for the elevated earning rate when reservations are completed directly. These include Airbnb, Vrbo, Plum Guide, HomeAway, Homestay.com, and Vacasa. Each platform offers distinct inventory and features, from curated luxury homes on Plum Guide to the broad selection of North American properties managed by Vacasa.
Airbnb remains one of the largest options worldwide and frequently appears in travelers’ plans for both domestic and international trips. Vrbo, part of the Expedia group, provides similar home rentals and allows participants in its OneKey program to earn additional cash rewards alongside Sapphire Preferred points. HomeAway operates under the Vrbo umbrella, so bookings there follow the same eligibility rules. Homestay.com focuses on hosted rooms and homes across many countries, while Plum Guide emphasizes hand-selected properties. Vacasa lists more than 38,000 homes spanning dozens of U.S. states plus parts of Canada, Mexico, Belize, and Costa Rica.
Comparison to Hotel Stays and Competing Cards
When deciding between a vacation home and a hotel, the earning difference becomes noticeable for direct bookings. A Sapphire Preferred cardholder earns 3 points per dollar on qualifying vacation homes but only 2 points per dollar on hotels booked directly with the property. Both categories jump to 5 points per dollar when reserved through the Chase Travel portal, yet that route may restrict access to certain homes or loyalty benefits tied to the original brand.
Other cards offer varying rates on similar spending. The Ink Business Preferred also provides 3 points per dollar on travel purchases up to an annual cap, while the American Express Green Card awards 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar on travel broadly. The Capital One Venture card earns 5 miles per dollar on vacation rentals booked through its own portal but drops to 2 miles per dollar elsewhere. These differences highlight how the Sapphire Preferred’s targeted category fills a specific gap for direct rental bookings that many competing products do not address as precisely.
Charges That Fall Outside the Bonus and Stacking Options
Not every charge tied to a rental qualifies for the 3-point rate. Secondary cleaning fees and purchases made through merchants outside the six approved platforms do not count, even if the overall stay involves a vacation home. Cardholders achieve the best results by completing the full reservation directly on one of the listed sites and confirming that all primary charges route through the eligible merchant.
Additional rewards can sometimes layer on top of Sapphire Preferred points. Certain airline loyalty programs, including those from Delta, United, and JetBlue, allow miles to accrue on Vrbo stays, while Airbnb bookings may qualify for points with carriers such as ANA or British Airways when accounts are linked. Online shopping portals from airlines like American and Delta can provide further bonuses in some cases, though eligibility varies by property and should be verified before booking.
What This Means for Travelers Going Forward
The addition of this bonus category strengthens the Sapphire Preferred’s position for cardholders who regularly choose vacation homes over hotels. It rewards a booking method that many already prefer for its space and flexibility while remaining straightforward to use. As more travelers plan group trips or longer stays, the change offers a practical way to accumulate points on expenses that previously earned at a lower rate.
Cardholders should review their upcoming reservations to ensure direct bookings where possible and monitor any updates to the list of eligible brands. The adjustment ultimately rewards intentional planning around how and where lodging is secured, turning routine travel spending into higher-value rewards without requiring major changes to existing habits.
