How to Maximize the Vrbo Rewards Program

Reap travel rewards on your vacation rentals with OneKey.

Lee Huffman
Meg Lee
Updated
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Vacation rentals have stayed popular as travelers keep opting for extra space, amenities like kitchens and hot tubs and a more authentic local experience.
Vrbo is one of the largest vacation rental platforms, and its One Key Rewards program remains the only loyalty program of its kind among major vacation rental sites — Airbnb still doesn't have an equivalent. Here's how to get the most out of it.

How to get more value from Vrbo's One Key Rewards program

1. Register for a One Key Rewards account

One Key Rewards is the shared loyalty program across Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo. It's free to join, and rewards earned on any of the three platforms combine into a single One Key account.
Once you reach Silver tier, you'll earn 1% back in OneKeyCash — the program's currency — on Vrbo reservations (excluding taxes and fees). With higher status — that's Gold and Platinum — members earn 2%. You can then use OneKeyCash to book hotels, flights, rental cars and more through Vrbo, Hotels.com or Expedia.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Rewards from Vrbo reservations typically take up to 35 days to post after completing your trip.

2. Earn bonuses for holding One Key elite status

One Key Rewards members earn elite status based on the number of trip elements they purchase — flights, hotel nights, rental car days, cruises and other qualifying activities. A trip element counts once you spend $25 or more on it, excluding taxes and fees.
One Key elite status has four tiers, based on total trip elements earned in a year:
  • One Key Blue: 0-4 trip elements.
  • One Key Silver: 5-14 trip elements.
  • One Key Gold: 15-29 trip elements.
  • One Key Platinum: 30+ trip elements.
Unlike many airline or hotel loyalty programs, One Key lets you reach its upper tiers fairly quickly. An eight-day, seven-night family trip, for example, can generate 15 trip elements from hotel nights and rental car days alone — enough for Gold status before flights or activities are even counted.
Elite status unlocks OneKeyCash bonuses on select VIP Access properties on Expedia and Hotels.com. At Platinum, you can save 20% or more with Platinum member prices on more than 10,000 hotels worldwide.

3. Redeem OneKeyCash for vacation rentals

Members can apply OneKeyCash toward some or all of a reservation at participating Vrbo rentals, directly reducing the out-of-pocket cost of booking.

4. Book trips for friends and family

OneKeyCash goes to whoever books the reservation — not necessarily whoever travels. That means you can rack up OneKeyCash and trip elements toward elite status by booking on behalf of friends or family, including collecting rewards on the flights everyone takes to get there.

5. Pay with a One Key credit card

You can earn more OneKeyCash by using one of the program's co-branded credit cards, both issued by Wells Fargo. The One Key™ Card has a $0 annual fee; the One Key+™ Card has a $99 annual fee and richer benefits. Both cards earn 3% in OneKeyCash on general bookings through Expedia, Hotels.com or Vrbo, (with promotional Vrbo bookings potentially earning up to 5%), along with other ongoing rewards.

The cards at a glance

One Key™ Card

One Key™ Card

OneKey+™ Card

One Key+™ Card

Annual fee

$0
$99

New cardholder offer

Earn $250 in OneKeyCash™ after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia®, Hotels.com® and Vrbo®.
Earn $350 in OneKeyCash™ after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia®, Hotels.com® and Vrbo®.

Ongoing rewards

  • Earn 3% in OneKeyCash on Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo.
  • Earn 3% in OneKeyCash at gas stations, grocery stores and on dining (including takeout, delivery and food trucks).
  • Earn 1.5% in OneKeyCash on all other purchases.
  • Earn 3% in OneKeyCash on Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo.
  • Earn 3% in OneKeyCash at gas stations, grocery stores and on dining (including takeout, delivery and food trucks).
  • Earn 2% in OneKeyCash on all other purchases.

Other benefits

No foreign transaction fees.

  • Automatic Silver tier. Move to Gold tier if you spend $15,000 per year.
  • Cell phone protection.
  • Trip protections including coverage for rental cars, trip cancellation and interruption.
No foreign transaction fees.

  • Automatic Gold tier. Move to Platinum tier if you spend $30,000 per year.
  • $100 in OneKeyCash on each cardholder anniversary.
  • Up to $120 statement credit for programs like NEXUS, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
  • Cell phone protection.
  • Trip protections including coverage for rental cars, trip cancellation and interruption.

What else you need to know

How does Vrbo work?

Vrbo is a vacation rental platform that gives travelers the privacy and comfort of a home away from home. Its rental homes let large groups or families stay together under one roof, often with amenities like full kitchens, in-unit laundry and private backyards.
Vrbo tends to work especially well for remote workers on extended trips, pet owners who want more space for their animals, and travelers heading somewhere without traditional lodging options.
» Learn more: Is Vrbo legit?

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