How To Redeem Points For Vacation Homes

Sometimes, a hotel is not the right fit for my family.  Typically, this is when we are in a location for a whole week and want accommodations with more space and a kitchen.  Thankfully, I have an option other than paying for an Airbnb or VRBO with cash. I discovered I could book condos or homes with Wyndham points through Vacasa Vacations.  

Using Wyndham Points to Book Vacasa Vacation Rentals

A lesser-known website for renting vacation homes is Vacasa Vacation Rentals. Vacasa partners with Wyndham and offers locations similar to what you see on Airbnb and VRBO.  I have used Vacasa Vacation Rentals twice, and we have a third Vacasa stay on the calendar for this summer.

What Are Wyndham Points?

Wyndham Rewards points are the currency for Wyndham’s loyalty program. These points can be used to book stays at Wyndham properties, but in this article, I will discuss how I have used Wyndham points to book Vacasa vacation rentals.

How To Earn Wyndham Points?

Most of our Wyndham points have been earned with the sign-up bonus on the Wyndham credit cards. My husband and I each have the Wyndham Earners Business card, and my husband also has the Wyndham consumer card. These cards have the highest points earning available for gas (8x on the business card and 6x on the consumer card), and they are typically in our wallets for use at the gas station.

In addition to using points earned at gas stations with Wyndham Credit Cards and the Wyndham sign-up bonuses, I have also used our Capital One Miles and Citi ThankYou Points transferred to Wyndham to book Vacasa vacation rentals. 

Overview of Vacasa Vacation Rentals

Vacasa is a vacation rental management company that operates a vast network of properties. With more than 15,000 vacation rentals, it offers accommodations in popular destinations across North America, Belize, and Costa Rica.  So far, we have booked all of our Vacasa stays in Hawaii.

Vacasa vacation rental rates are based on the number of nights and number of bedrooms. A booking that averages $250 per night per bedroom or less will require 15,000 points per night per bedroom. If the booking is over $250 per night per bedroom on average, you need 30,000 points per night per bedroom. The average cost includes the room rate as well as taxes and fees.

To stretch Wyndham points even further, make sure you have a Wyndham credit card. If you do, you get 10% off your booking. Remember, every point counts!

How To Search for Vacasa Rentals

You do not need to be logged in to search for Vacasa vacation rentals, but if you want to save the options you find, you will need an account and be logged in. 

Start by searching for location, date, and number of people.  We have booked in Princeville twice; I will use that location in this example.

After the initial results for location, date, and number of people, I added a nightly rate filter to keep the points required at 15,000 per night.  I limit myself to one-bedroom properties and estimate $230 per night to account for fees and keep my price per night under $250. 

This reduced my options from 60 to two.  From here, I read the reviews and other details about the property to make my selection.  If I am not happy with the options, I would adjust my dates or consider increasing the points and price per night to allow for additional options.  If I decide to increase the filter to $500 per night (meaning I need 30k points per night), I have 12 options. 

How To Make A Vacasa Reservation

If you want to use Wyndham points for a Vacasa Vacation Rental you cannot make the reservation online. To book a Vacasa Vacation Rental with Wyndham points, you must call Wyndham at 1-800-441-1034. When you call you will need your Wyndham loyalty program account number, the property name, and the dates. The Wyndham representatives will confirm the rental’s availability and process the reservation. I recommend having a backup property just in case the one you want is not available to book with points.

Pro Tip: Always ensure a property is available to book with points and the quantity of points before transferring points from Capital One or Citi.  The points transfer from Capital One and Citi almost immediately. 

I advise against speculatively transferring points. Be sure you will use the points with Wyndham before you transfer from a bank. 

What Is the Vacasa Cancellation Policy?

Cancellation policies for Vacasa rentals booked with Wyndham points can vary by property. Most require at least 14 days’ notice to receive a full refund of points. If cancellation occurs less than 14 days prior, customers may lose their points without a refund.

As with any booking, make sure you review the cancellation policy beforehand.

My Experience with Vacasa in Kauai

I was so thankful to learn about Vacasa Vacation Rentals because the point hotel options on the North side of Kauai, Hawaii, are nonexistent. Hanalei, Hawaii, is my family’s favorite place to visit, and because of Vacasa, we have been able to travel to Hawaii in both 2023 and 2024.

We stayed in a lovely 1-bedroom condo in Princeville, Hawaii. The Pali Ke Kua condominium community overlooks the ocean and offers a pool and hot tub. Hideaway Pizza is located on the property, and you have direct access to Hideaway Beach.

Pali Ke Kua #4 is only a 1-bedroom property but includes a loft with a double bed and full bathroom for the kids.

Our Vacasa Vacation Rental in 2024 was also in Princeville, but we decided we wanted more space for the family to spread out. Just down the road from the Pali Ke Kua community is the Makai Golf Course and we rented a home on the course.

With two bedrooms and a loft, this home, Hale On’tario was more than large enough for our family of 4.

Bonus Rooms in Vacasa Rentals

The two properties we’ve booked in Princeville included loft spaces that did not count as a bedroom. The benefit of a bonus room is that fewer points are required, and they allow for the family to spread out. 

There is no easy way to filter and find these unique properties.  Set your filter customizations with a little wiggle room and read listings to find the best options. 

Thanks for reading, friends.  Happy Travels!