We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. While we don't cover every company or financial product on the market, we work hard to share a wide range of offers and objective editorial perspectives.
So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us for advertisements that appear on our site or when you click to or take an action on their website. This compensation helps us provide tools and services - like free credit score access and monitoring. With the exception of mortgage, home equity and other home-lending products or services, partner compensation is one of several factors that may affect which products we highlight and where they appear on our site. Other factors include your credit profile, product availability and proprietary website methodologies.
However, these factors do not influence our editors' opinions or ratings, which are based on independent research and analysis. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews. Here is a list of our partners.
How to Maximize the Vrbo Rewards Program
Reap travel rewards on your vacation rentals with OneKey.
Lee is a freelance travel writer and podcast host based in Nashville, Tennessee. He loves to travel with his wife and two children using miles and points. Lee has held the Southwest Companion Pass since 2007 and enjoys being spoiled thanks to his Kimpton Inner Circle status.
Megan Lee is a former editor on the travel rewards team at NerdWallet. She had more than 12 years of SEO, writing and content development experience, primarily in international education and nonprofit work. She has been published in U.S. News & World Report, USA Today and elsewhere, and has spoken at conferences like that of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Megan has built and directed remote content teams and editorial strategies for websites like GoAbroad and Go Overseas. When not traveling, Megan adventures around her Midwest home base where she likes to attend theme parties, ride her bike and cook Asian food.
Updated
How is this page expert verified?
NerdWallet's content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. It undergoes a thorough review process involving writers and editors to ensure the information is as clear and complete as possible.
This page includes information about these cards, currently unavailable on NerdWallet. The information has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.
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.
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.
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®.
One Key+™ Card
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
One Key™ Card
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.
One Key+™ Card
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
One Key™ Card
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.
One Key+™ Card
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.
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.