One of the biggest misconceptions about points and miles is that every hotel stay has to be booked with points. We love a luxury hotel redemption as much as anyone, but sometimes the smartest travel decision isn’t a hotel at all. Sometimes it’s an Airbnb.

The beauty of points and miles is that they give you flexibility. When you’ve saved hundreds or even thousands of dollars by using points for your flights, you suddenly have room in your budget to spend cash where it makes the most sense. Instead of thinking, “How can I avoid paying for lodging?” think, “Where will my money create the best travel experience?”

For many trips, that’s an Airbnb. Here are the reasons why I’ll book an Airbnb.

 

Traveling with a Big Group

Traveling with extended family? An Airbnb often gives everyone a place to gather, cook meals together, and enjoy downtime that you’d never get spread across multiple hotel rooms. Instead of paying for three or four hotel rooms, you may find a beautiful home with a pool, outdoor space, and plenty of room for everyone. When everyone contributes toward a cash stay, it makes it more affordable. It’s so much easier to create those memories when you are sharing one space.

Right now, I am traveling in Greece and Norway with family and primarily staying in Airbnbs so we can all be together. It just makes sense for this trip.

 

Extended Stays

Staying somewhere for a week or longer? Having a kitchen means you can often save a surprising amount on food. Even making breakfast at home or packing lunches for sightseeing can stretch your travel budget, leaving more money for experiences you’ll remember.

Not having to go out to eat for breakfast and having snacks in our flat saved us a ton of money. It also saved a lot of time not to take eight people out to eat for every meal.

 

 

It Fits the Destination Better

There are also destinations where vacation rentals simply fit the destination better. A cottage overlooking the sea in Greece, a farmhouse in Tuscany, or a cabin in the mountains can offer an experience that no hotel can match. We are heading to the Lofoten Islands in Norway. There just aren’t hotels to stay at with points in that area, so it was imperative to find a nice Airbnb.

We’ve done this ourselves. We happily use points for expensive flights, then book an Airbnb when it gives our family more space, a better location, or a more memorable experience. The savings from flights often more than offset the cost of paying cash for the rental.

 

Bottom Line

It’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to use points for absolutely everything. But that’s not really the goal. The goal is to travel better.

Sometimes that means a luxury hotel with free breakfast and elite perks. Other times, it means sipping a beverage on the balcony of an Airbnb while your family is still asleep, knowing everyone has room to spread out and relax.

Points and miles aren’t about getting everything for free. They’re about making the overall trip more affordable, so you can spend intentionally where it matters most. If using points for your flights means you can book the perfect Airbnb for your family, that’s not settling—it’s smart travel.

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Booking an Airbnb with Points and Miles