Best Western Rewards Premium Mastercard Review

Who is the Best Western Rewards Premium Mastercard for?

The Best Western Rewards Premium Mastercard is an exciting offer for any Best Western fan. With an extremely high rewards rate and many enticing benefits, this card helps customers quickly rack up points toward that next free night. The large welcome bonus and many potential rewards can help customers save significant sums of money.

Most of the benefits this card has to offer are related to spending at Best Western locations. For those who frequently visit Best Western, this card will reward you for being a loyal customer. However, for those who do not stay at Best Western as much, this card may not be the best option.

Since this card has a substantial annual fee of $59, only those who know they will use this card to the fullest should apply. If you do not plan to stay at Best Western frequently or have a tight budget, you may want to explore other cards. Before applying, aspiring cardholders should decide if they can reap sufficient benefits given the annual fee.

Welcome Bonus

This card has a very generous welcome bonus. Upon signing up, if you spend $1,000 on your card within the first three months of account opening, you will receive 50,000 bonus points. $1,000 is not a difficult number to reach in three months, so the 50,000 point reward is easily attainable. This sum of points can buy about four free nights at Best Western locations, depending on your room type, and can save you hundreds of dollars.

Rewards Rate

The Best Western Rewards Premium card offers high rewards rates for Best Western hotel-goers. It highly encourages spending at Best Western properties and is beneficial for Best Western fans, however, not so much for less frequent stayers.

For every dollar spent on Best Western stays, cardholders receive 10x bonus points. This number itself is already very high but grows even higher when paired with Best Western Rewards membership. Since Best Western Premium cardholders are automatically given Platinum elite status, they receive 10x more points for being a member. When added up, cardholders earn 20x rewards points per dollar spent at Best Western locations. This rate is extremely high and very exciting for those who frequently stay at Best Western hotels. Non-frequent stayers will not be able to fully enjoy this benefit and therefore should consider a different card.

Best Western still rewards customers even when they are not spending at Best Western properties. For every dollar you spend on other purchases, you will earn 2x bonus points. This rate ensures that you are being rewarded just for using the card, regardless of what item you spend money on. Everyday shopping such as groceries or a night out can bring you closer to your next free night.

Bonus points earned can be redeemed for various merchandise, gift cards, and items on the Best Western site. The most common redemption item is free nights. A free night at Best Western ranges from 8,000 to 36,000 points, averaging at 16,000 points. With the high rate and generous welcome package, you can quickly rack up free nights.

Benefits & Credits

This card offers many benefits that make it appealing. Since the card is designed for travelers and Best Western fans, the many rewards are tailored toward making a more enjoyable travel experience. The built-in benefits reward cardholders for being loyal to Best Western.

One of the most exciting benefits of this card is its automatic Platinum status in the Best Western Rewards program. Platinum status provides customers with many significant rewards such as 15% bonus points per stay (on top of the card rewards), room upgrades, thank you gift and point options upon arrival, and a 10% point discount on free award nights. All of these benefits make cardholders’ hotel experiences more comfortable and more affordable.

To incentivize spending, the Best Western Rewards Premium Mastercard gives 20,000 points to cardholders if they spend $5,000 on their card in 12 months. This is a low amount to spend in a year, so this target is highly attainable. 20,000 points can buy you up to two free nights, saving you hundreds of dollars.

This card also has many miscellaneous features that are worth noting. Cardholders receive a dedicated reservation line, price protection, extended warranty, and a free FICO credit score. These benefits are designed to alleviate stress in certain purchase-related situations. The free credit score feature allows you to constantly check to see if your credit is remaining steady.

Annual Fee

The Best Western Rewards Premium Mastercard comes with a $59 annual fee. This fee is substantial but of good value to loyal Best Western customers. The rewards this card offers are easily greater than the $59 annual fee, if used frequently. For those who often stay at Best Western and can reap the full benefits of this card, the annual fee is definitely worth it. However, for those who don’t stay at Best Western locations as much, this annual fee may be too expensive.

This card has no foreign transaction fee, which is a very beneficial feature. Cardholders who travel abroad often can use their card internationally without worrying about miscellaneous foreign fees. This feature enables stress-free spending while outside of the US.

Conclusion

The Best Western Rewards Premium Mastercard is an ideal match for any loyal Best Western customer. With an unbeatable rewards rate and benefits that contribute to a more enjoyable stay, this card is essential for any travelers who stay at Best Western properties often. However, for those who might not be able to experience the full perks of the card, more affordable options may be worth considering.