Best Western Rewards Mastercard Overview: Earning and Redeeming Points
Best Western Rewards Mastercard is a co-branded credit card that allows you to earn points for your stays at Best Western hotels and for your everyday purchases. As a Best Western Rewards member, you can enjoy a range of benefits, including free award nights, room upgrades, and discounted stays.
But does the Best Western Rewards Mastercard add much value? Who should consider getting it?
In this article, we will explore the Best Western Rewards program, the benefits and drawbacks of the Best Western Rewards Mastercard, and the earning and redeeming options for Best Western Rewards points. Who should get the Best Western Rewards Mastercard?
If you are a loyal Best Western guest, the Best Western Rewards Mastercard could be a good option for you. Not only does it offer $0 annual fee, but it also gives you automatic Gold elite status, which means you can enjoy a range of benefits, including bonus points, room upgrades, and early check-in/late check-out.
Moreover, you can earn Best Western Rewards points for your everyday purchases, whether you are dining out, buying groceries, or filling up your gas tank. With the Best Western Rewards Mastercard, you will earn 3 points per $1 spent at Best Western hotels, 2 points per $1 spent on other travel purchases, and 1 point per $1 spent on other purchases.
However, if you are not a loyal Best Western guest, the Best Western Rewards Mastercard may not be the best choice for you. First, it has limited transfer partners, which means you can only redeem your points for Best Western properties or airline miles.
Second, Best Western has fewer properties than some of its competitors, such as Marriott or Hilton, which means you may not have as many options when it comes to using your rewards.
Best Western Rewards Mastercard Benefits and Perks
If you are a loyal Best Western guest, the Best Western Rewards Mastercard offers some excellent benefits and perks. As a cardholder, you will receive the following:
– Welcome Offer: You’ll earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 in the first three billing cycles.
– Automatic Gold Status: Receive automatic Gold Elite status, which includes a 10% bonus on all eligible stays, no blackout dates for award nights, and an exclusive reservation line. – Bonus Points: Earn 3 points per $1 spent at Best Western hotels, 2 points per $1 spent on other travel purchases, and 1 point per $1 spent on other purchases.
–
Discounted Stays: Receive 10% off the Best Available Rate at Best Western hotels worldwide. – No Foreign Transaction Fees: Use your card when traveling outside the US, and you won’t be charged any foreign transaction fees.
– Fraud Protection: Get peace of mind when using your card, knowing that you are protected against unauthorized purchases. – $0 Annual fee: You won’t have to pay an annual fee to use the Best Western Rewards Mastercard.
Drawbacks to the Best Western Rewards Mastercard
While the Best Western Rewards Mastercard has some excellent benefits and perks for loyal Best Western guests, it also has a few drawbacks. These include:
– Low Added Value: The card offers modest rewards and benefits, which may limit its appeal to non-loyal Best Western guests.
– Low
Points Value: While Best Western Rewards points can be redeemed for free award nights, the value per point is lower compared to some of its competitors, such as Marriott or Hilton. – Few Benefits: Compared to other co-branded credit cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the American Express Platinum, the Best Western Rewards Mastercard offers fewer benefits and perks.
Earning and Redeeming Best Western Rewards
Earning Best Western Rewards points is easy. You can earn points for every eligible stay at Best Western hotels, or for every $1 spent on eligible purchases with your Best Western Rewards Mastercard.
You can also earn points by renting a car, booking a vacation, or dining at participating restaurants. Once you have earned enough points, you can redeem them for a free award night at any Best Western hotel, or for airline miles with participating airlines.
Best Western Rewards Mastercard Transfer Partners
Best Western Rewards has two transfer partners: Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines. You can transfer your Best Western Rewards points to either airline program at a 5:1 ratio.
For example, if you have 5,000 Best Western Rewards points, you can transfer them to 1,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points or 1,000 Alaska Mileage Plan miles.
Conclusion
The Best Western Rewards Mastercard is a co-branded credit card that can be a useful tool for loyal Best Western guests. If you stay at Best Western properties frequently and want to earn points for your everyday purchases, the Best Western Rewards Mastercard could be a good option for you.
However, If you are not a major enthusiast of the hotel chain, you may want to consider credit card options that have more transfer partners and offer more benefits and features.
Best Western Rewards Mastercard
Card Basics and Benefits
The Best Western Rewards Mastercard is a co-branded credit card designed for loyal Best Western guests who want to earn points for their stays and everyday purchases. The card comes with a range of benefits, including automatic elite status, discounted stays, and bonus points.
In this article, we will explore the card basics, earning potential, automatic elite status, discounted stays, and the welcome offer.
Card Basics
The Best Western Rewards Mastercard has no annual fee, which means you won’t have to pay any fees to use the card. It also comes with a range of benefits, including:
Earning Potential
The Best Western Rewards Mastercard can earn you points for every dollar you spend. You earn three (3) points per $1 spent on eligible purchases made at Best Western hotels, two (2) points per $1 spent on eligible travel purchases (car rentals, flights, etc.), and one (1) point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
This earning potential allows you to build up your points quickly, even when you’re not staying at one of the Best Western hotels.
Automatic Elite Status
Cardholders receive automatic Gold Elite status for as long as they hold the Best Western Rewards Mastercard. This means you will enjoy a 10% bonus on all Best Western Rewards points earned, a75% bonus on eligible qualifying stays towards getting Elite status, no blackout dates for award nights, an exclusive reservation line, early check-in/late checkout (when available), and a welcome gift during your stays at Best Western hotels.
This status helps you enjoy additional benefits and maximize your Best Western Rewards points earnings.
Discounted Stays
Best Western Rewards Mastercard holders will receive a 10% discount on the Best Available Rate at any Best Western hotel worldwide. This discount is automatic for cardholders, which means you won’t have to apply a promo code or voucher to take advantage of it.
Booking a stay directly through the Best Western website or app will automatically apply the discount.
Generous Welcome Offer
The Best Western Rewards Mastercard comes with a generous welcome offer. Cardholders can earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three billing cycles.
This bonus offer can be used to redeem free award nights or used for other travel rewards.
Disadvantages
Despite its many benefits and earning incentives, Best Western Rewards Mastercard has a few drawbacks. For example;
– Limited Transfer Partners: Best Western Rewards program has only two transfer partner programs:Soutwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines.
This may limit your options when it comes to redeeming your points for other rewards. – Limited Properties: As mentioned before, Best Western has fewer properties than some of its competitors, which means you may not have as many options when it comes to using your rewards.
– Low Point Value: Unlike some other hotel chains, the redemption value of points earned with Best Western Rewards is lower per point – a free night will take more points than in some other loyalty programs.
Conclusion
Best Western Rewards Mastercard is a good choice for frequent Best Western hotel chain guests who want to earn points for their stays and get other perks and benefits. The card offers a wide range of advantages, including no annual fee, strong earning potential, automatic elite status, discounted stays, and welcome offers.
However, if you’re not an enthusiast of the Best Western brand, you may find some limitations in its program. Despite the disadvantages, the benefits of the Best Western Rewards Mastercard make it worthwhile for those who use the Best Western properties often and would love to enjoy its perks.
Drawbacks to the Best Western Rewards Mastercard and Maximizing Earnings and Redemptions
The Best Western Rewards Mastercard offers a range of benefits, including low annual fees, automatic elite status, and a generous welcome offer. However, as with any credit card, it also has its downsides.
In this article, we will explore the drawbacks to the Best Western Rewards Mastercard and how to maximize your earning potential and redeems.
Drawbacks to the Best Western Rewards Mastercard
Low Added Value: Despite offering some big earning potential, the Best Western Rewards Mastercard provides limited added value to cardholders. The bonus points for using the card for Best Western stays are not very substantial.
Low
Points Value: In comparison to other hotel loyalty programs, Best Western Rewards points have lower redemption value. Award nights, on average, cost more points than in many other reward programs.
Few benefits: The Best Western Rewards Mastercard also provides limited benefits compared to other co-branded credit cards such as Marriott Bonvoy Boundless. The card does not give any travel or purchase protections to holders and did not provide additional airport lounge access.
Earning and redeeming Best Western Rewards
Potential earnings in years one and two: A recent study by the FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model found that in the first year, cardholders could earn over $500 in rewards when maximizing the bonus categories and welcome offer. In the second year, they could earn over $250 per year.
Best Ways to Earn: The Best Western Rewards Mastercard cardholders receive three points per dollar spent at Best Western hotels, two points per dollar spent on travel purchases, and one point per dollar spent on other purchases. To maximize your earning potential with the card, it’s suggested that you use it for all your Best Western stays.
Maximizing your redemptions: Best Western Rewards points can be redeemed for free nights at Best Western hotels, airline miles, gift cards, and more. The value of a point can vary, but when redeemed for award nights, you’ll receive between 0.7 and 1 cent per point in value.
To increase the value of points, redeeming for longer stays or to maximize your low season award night bookings, as well as using your points for airline miles conversions, can be the best solutions to maximize redemptions.
Conclusion
While the Best Western Rewards Mastercard may not have the most benefits or highest points value, it can still be a useful tool in earning rewards and receiving discounts on Best Western stays. To maximize your earnings and redemptions, it’s essential to keep in use the card for Best Western stays and convert points into airline miles for redemptions that are more valuable.
However, if you’re looking for a credit card with the utmost flexibility, superior benefits, and more transfer partners, other co-branded credit cards may be a better fit for you.
Best Western Rewards Mastercard Transfer Partners and FAQs
The Best Western Rewards Mastercard is a great choice for loyal Best Western guests who want to earn points for their stays and everyday purchases. The card offers opportunities to earn points quickly and redeem them easily for free award nights and other great rewards.
Let’s dive into what this credit card offers in terms of transfer partners, point requirements for free award nights, credit score requirements, and how to get the most out of the Best Western Rewards program.
Transfer Partners and Ratios
The Best Western Rewards program has two transfer partners: Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines. You can transfer your Best Western Rewards points to either airline program at a 5:1 ratio.
For example, if you have 5,000 Best Western Rewards points, you can transfer them to 1,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points or 1,000 Alaska Mileage Plan miles. While this ratio is not as favorable as some other transfer partner programs, it is still an option to explore if you are a frequent traveler with one of these airlines.
Best Western Rewards Mastercard FAQs
How many points for a free night? The number of points required for a free night at a Best Western property varies by location, room type, and demand.
Typically, award nights start at 5,000 points per night for a standard room, while suites and upgraded rooms may require more points. To find out the exact point requirements for the property you’re interested in, check the Best Western Rewards website or app for award night options.
Credit Score Requirement
The Best Western Rewards Mastercard’s recommended credit score is 600 or higher, which means even those with a fair credit score can be approved. However, if you have substantial income or a more established credit history, you could be approved for higher credit.
Points Value
Best Western Rewards points have lower redemption value compared to Marriott or Hilton. The value per point averages around 0.75 – 1 cent per point when redeemed for award night stays.
Yet, the value can depend on the location you are staying at and the season of the stay.
Best Western Rewards Program
The Best Western Rewards program is easy to use and navigate. Members can earn points for their stays at Best Western hotels and for other purchases with their Best Western Rewards Mastercard.
The points can be redeemed for free award nights, airline miles, gift cards, and more. Best Western also offers status levels, allowing members to earn extra benefits as they move up the ranks.
Some examples of benefits are room upgrades, free breakfast, early check-in/late checkout, and free nights.
Conclusion
The Best Western Rewards Mastercard is a great option for loyal Best Western guests who want to earn points quickly and get exclusive benefits and perks. Despite having fewer transfer partners and lower points value, the card is still an excellent choice for travelers who use Best Western properties often, as its many rewards and exclusive loyalty program offerings help to offset those drawbacks.
If you’re interested in applying for a new credit card, do your research, and compare offers to see which card will be the best fit for you and your travel goals.