Launched in 1988 as the Gold Crown Club, Best Western Rewards is one of the oldest hotel loyalty programs around.
The group caters to budget-minded business and family travelers who prioritize price over amenities. And with points that never expire, Best Western Rewards might offer a solid return for your hotel spending. Keep reading to find out if this hotel rewards program is right for you.
Best Western Rewards Quick Facts
| Personal credit cards | Best Western Rewards Premium Mastercard Best Western Rewards Mastercard |
| Business credit cards | No business credit cards |
| Redemption options | Hotel nights Travel cards Rental cars Gift cards Merchandise Transfers to airline partners Charitable donations |
| Average value per point | $0.007 |
Best Western Portfolio
The hotel group now offers more than a dozen types of hotels to meet a variety of travel needs:
- Aiden
- Best Western
- Best Western Plus
- Best Western Premier
- BW Signature Collection
- BW Premier Collection
- Executive Residency
- GLo
- Sadie
- SureStay
- SureStay Collection
- SureStay Plus
- Vib
There are over 4,000 Best Western properties in more than 100 countries, with plenty to choose from in the United States and Canada.
*Click here for a full list of hotel brands and properties.
Best Western Rewards Elite Status
Best Western Rewards has five elite tiers. Everyone that signs up gets access to an exclusive reservations line. Plus, your points never expire.
| TIER | REQUIREMENTS | PERKS |
| Blue | None | 10x points on stays No blackout dates on award nights Free nights count toward elite status Early check-in (when available) Late check-out (when available) |
| Gold | 10 nights or 7 stays or 10,000 points |
All Blue benefits 10% bonus points on stays (11x points) Room upgrades (where available) Complimentary Water and Points Upon Arrival |
| Platinum | 15 nights or 10 stays or 15,000 points |
All Gold benefits 15% bonus points on stays (11.5x points) |
| Diamond | 30 nights or 20 stays or 30,000 points |
All Platinum benefits 30% bonus points on stays (13x points) |
| Diamond Select | 50 nights or 40 stays or 50,000 points |
All Diamond benefits 50% bonus points on stays (15x points) |
*Currently, Best Western is extending your current tier level through January 31, 2022 (excluding Blue tier). For updated information, click here for our source.
Earning Best Western Rewards Points
HOTEL STAYSCREDIT CARDSRENTAL CARSDINERS CLUBRETAIL PARTNERSPURCHASE POINTS
Earn 10x Best Western Rewards points on eligible stays, including taxes in certain locations abroad.
As an elite member, you’ll earn bonus points for your stay. For example, if your stay totaled $100, you’d get:
| TIER | BONUS | POINTS |
| Blue | 0% | 1,000 points |
| Gold | 10% | 1,100 points |
| Platinum | 15% | 1,150 points |
| Diamond | 30% | 1,300 points |
| Diamond Select | 50% | 1,500 points |
For the stay to be eligible, you cannot book:
- Through an online travel agency (Expedia, Orbitz, etc.)
- Through a tour operator.
- With a special discount rate (employee, wholesale, etc.)
First Bankcard (of First National Bank of Omaha) issues two credit cards that earn Best Western Rewards points, as you can see below.
Best Western Rewards Premium Mastercard
| Welcome bonus | 50,000 points – spend: $1,000 – time: first 3 billing cycles |
| Ongoing rewards | 10x bonus points at Best Western (+10x points as a loyalty member) 2x points everywhere else 10% discount on flexible rates |
| Spend bonus | 20,000 points (per year) – spend: $5,000 – time: 12 billing cycles |
| Elite status | Automatic Platinum status |
| Annual fee | $59, waived your first year |
Best Western Rewards Mastercard
| Welcome bonus | 16,000 points for your 1st purchase 16,000 points for your first Best Western stay |
| Ongoing rewards | 3x bonus points at Best Western (+10x points as a loyalty member) 2x points everywhere else 10% discount on flexible rates |
| Spend bonus | No spend bonus |
| Elite status | Automatic Gold status |
| Annual fee | $0 |
*The above information was independently collected by MoneysMyLife. It is current at the time of publishing but is subject to change. Click here for the latest deals from First Bankcard for their Best Western credit cards.
Earn Best Western Rewards points for renting a car from:
| COMPANY | PERKS |
| Alamo | 3x points on time & mileage Special discounted rate |
| Avis | 1,000 points on every car rental Up to 25% off base rates |
| Budget | 1,000 points on every car rental Up to 25% off base rates |
| Enterprise | Special discounted rates |
| National | 3x points on time & mileage Up to 25% off base rates |
| Sixt | 1,000 points on every car rental 2,000 points on limousine service Up to 15% off base rates |
*For the complete list of Best Western travel partners and updated information, click here for our source.
Transfer your Diners Club Rewards points to Best Western Rewards.
Earn Best Western Rewards points from shopping with the following retail partners:
| PARTNER | PERKS |
| Teleflora | 1,250 points on every order (starting at $29.99) |
| Vinesse Wine Club | Up to 12,500 points $41.94 for 6 bottles of wine |
*For updated information, click here to see our source.
If you’re short on points, you can purchase 1,000 for $10 (maximum 20,000 points per transaction). Which means you’re buying one point for $0.01.
We discourage you from purchasing points because they’re worth (on average) $0.007 when you redeem.
Redeeming Best Western Rewards Points
HOTEL NIGHTSTRAVEL CARDSAIRLINERENTAL CARSGIFT CARDSMERCHANDISEDONATIONS
Best Western Rewards free nights range from 8,000 to 36,000 points depending on several factors, including dates, location, brand, season and demand.
Because we value Best Western Rewards points at $0.007 apiece, you’ll want to go with awards that can get you at least that much per point.
Use your points for cash toward a hotel room. Travel cards have different point pricing based on your elite status:
| TIER | RATE | POINT VALUE |
| Blue | 2,400 points for a $10 card 6,000 points for a $25 card 12,000 points for a $50 card 24,000 points for a $100 card 60,000 points for a $250 card |
$0.004 |
| Gold & Above |
5,500 points for a $25 card 11,000 points for a $50 card 22,000 points for a $100 card 55,000 points for a $250 card |
$0.0045 |
Use your Best Western Rewards points for car rental gift cards with:
Use your Best Western Rewards points for various gift cards, including:
- Amazon
- Amusement parks
- Auto
- Cruises
- Department stores
- Dining
- Gas
- Grocery stores
- National park
- Prepaid
Each point is worth around $0.004 if redeemed for gift cards. Shop with your Best Western points here.
Use your Best Western Rewards points for merchandise rewards. The redemption mall offers a variety of items, from home electronics and backpacks to jewelry. The point value varies according to merchandise.
Donate your Best Western Rewards points to the following charities:
- American Red Cross
- Best Friends Animal Society
- Better World Fund
- Hotels for Heroes
- KIVA
- Make-A-Wish
- The National Children’s Cancer Society
- Soldier On Fund
Five-hundred points equals a $2 donation, which comes out to $0.004 per point. Click here for more information.
Best Western Rewards Tips & Tricks
PROMOTIONSSTATUS MATCHAAA PERKSBUSINESS PERKSMILITARY PERKSSHARE POINTS
Best Western Rewards does regular promotions for hotel stay bonuses and discounted award nights. For example:
- 3,000 bonus points per stay
- 10,000 points per night for stays between Sunday through Thursday.
Sign up for the newsletter to stay up-to-date on all Best Western Rewards deals.
If you have elite status with another hotel loyalty program, Best Western Rewards will match your status for free. Simply fill out the Status Match Form and provide proof of elite status.
Best Western Rewards offers perks for AAA members, including:
- Automatic Gold status.
- Discount on room rates.
- Exclusive promotions.
Best Western Business Advantage offers various benefits to small businesses, like:
- Exclusive discounted member rates.
- Business owners get automatic Diamond status.
- Employees get automatic Gold status.
- Owners earn points bonus on their employees’ stays.
- Exclusive member-only promotions and special offers.
Best Western Service Rewards is open to United States and Canada veterans, military and government personnel. Benefits include:
- Automatic Gold status.
- At least 10% discount with government or military rate.
To qualify, you must provide your official identification card when you check-in.
Best Western Rewards points can be shared between accounts if the two accountholders share the same physical address. It’s a solid solution if you’re short on points.
Bonus Tip: Other Co-Branded Hotel Credit Cards To Consider
While the Best Western loyalty program has its advantages, you may find an easier path to free hotel nights with co-branded cards from other hotel chains. For families and budget-minded business travelers, here are a few low-cost credit cards from our guide to the best hotel credit cards that will help you earn free hotel nights instantly.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase has an offer for 5 Free Nights after spending $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
New to the card, you will earn 3x Bonvoy points on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining. The card is also offering an Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 spent.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card earns 17 points for every $1 spent at over 7,000+ participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels. You’ll receive 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
You’ll get a Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every account anniversary year and automatic Silver Elite Status. Additionally, you’ll receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year.
This card has no foreign transaction fees and the annual fee is $95.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has an offer for 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points when you spend $2,000 within 3 months of account opening. The total 130k bonus points are worth around $780 per our valuation.
Earn 12 points per $1 spent on a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio. This chain of hotels consists of over 5,000 locations. Earn 6 points per $1 on purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations. All other purchases will earn 3 points per $1.
Other benefits include complimentary Gold Status and a Weekend Night Reward after you spend $15,000 on purchases in a calendar year.
The card has an annual fee of $95 (See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply).
The IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card has an offer for 140,000 bonus points and 1 Free Night when you spend $3,000 within the first 3 months. Our valuation puts these 140k points at around $700 without considering the value of the Free Night.
This card earns up to 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel. Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
After each account anniversary year you’ll get a Free Night at eligible IHG hotels worldwide. Redeem points for any stay of 4 or more nights and you get a free reward night.
Also, get a Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® Fee Credit of up to $100 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card.
Get automatic Platinum Elite status with this card. The annual fee is $89 a year.
Bottom Line
As one of America’s biggest hotel groups, Best Western Rewards can be valuable if you often travel and stay in the United States or Canada. With an average value of $0.006 per point, you’ll get less bang for your buck than with Marriott Bonvoy or World of Hyatt. But if you just want a clean room – and not any fancy amenities – Best Western Rewards may be a good fit for you.
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