Radisson Rewards Visa Card Review

Who is the Radisson Rewards Visa card for?

The Radisson Rewards Visa card is a must-have for any frequent Radisson hotel-stayer. With high potential for free nights as well as many other exciting rewards, this card can transform any travel experience. This card has no annual fee, so cardholders can experience perks free of charge. However, those who don’t commonly stay at Radisson properties may not be able to experience the full benefits of this card.

With possibilities of TSA PreCheck and Priority Pass membership, this card is helpful for all travelers. However, it most benefits Radisson fans, since the Award Nights Certificate perk only pertains to those who spend $10,000 at Radisson properties. This is a very high target, so only common visitors will be able to meet it.

Since the Radisson Rewards card has no annual fee, it is ideal for any Radisson fan and travel enthusiast on a budget. However, given the 2-3% foreign transaction fee depending on if you use domestic or foreign currency, this card is best for domestic travelers. Those who spend substantial time abroad may see foreign transaction fees add up rapidly.

Rewards Rate

The Radisson Rewards Visa card has a rewards rate that helps cardholders rack up points fast. For every dollar spent on eligible purchases at Radisson Family hotels all around the globe, cardholders earn 3x points. This rate allows loyal Radisson customers to grow their points very quickly just by spending on typical expenses. For those who do not stay at Radisson properties enough to reap this benefit, this card may not be the best choice.

On other purchases unrelated to Radisson hotels, cardholders earn 1x points per dollar spent. This rate allows cardholders to keep earning no matter what they are spending on. Everyday grocery shopping or restaurant expenses allow cardholders to move closer to their next free night.

Reward points earned can be used toward free nights, gift cards, prepaid cards, and donations. To enhance your travel experience, you can also spend points on TSA PreCheck and Priority Pass membership, as well as Radisson hotel perks such as movies, dinner, laundry, and more. For frequent travelers, these rewards can help you relax after an exhausting day of travel.

Benefits & Credits

There are many benefits to the Radisson Rewards Visa card that make it worth considering for any Radisson hotel fan. These perks provide significant value, but many times only for very loyal Radisson customers. For those that plan to spend hefty amounts using their card, these rewards are second to none. However, for those with modest spending habits, this card may not provide the most gratifying rewards.

This card has annual awards nights that earn cardholders electronic certificates for every $10,000 spent. You can redeem these “e-certs” at US Radisson locations. Each certificate earns you a free night and boosts your reward value roughly one cent for every dollar you spend. For example, if you redeem a free night usually worth $100, you will earn one cent per dollar spent since the certificate cost $10,000. This number is very high, so only extremely loyal Radisson customers will be able to enjoy this perk.

Aside from the aforementioned exclusive offering, the Radisson Rewards Visa card has various other benefits available for all. Among these are Visa benefits that cardholders enjoy just by having a Visa card. Users have auto-rental collision damage waiver to aid them if any accident were to occur in a rental car. Visa also provides travel and emergency assistance in the case of an unexpected situation during travel. Furthermore, Visa helps cardholders with damaged new items through their warranty manager. 

Welcome Bonus

The Radisson Rewards card provides a generous welcome package that can save new cardholders hundred of dollars. If you spend $1,000 using your card in the first 90 days of opening an account, you will receive 30,000 bonus points to use toward your next award night, gift card, or other rewards at Radisson properties. 30,000 points can buy you up to three free nights. Since $1,000 is not hard to reach in 90 days, this benefit is easily attainable.

Annual Fee

The Radisson Rewards Visa card has no annual fee, making it an ideal choice for any Radisson fan. Cardholders can enjoy all the benefits of this card completely free of charge as long as they make payments on time. For those who frequently stay at Radisson hotels, this card certainly could not be a better deal.

Despite lack of annual fee, if cardholders are not careful with spending abroad, they could rack up significant charges in the form of foreign transaction fees. The Radisson Rewards Visa card charges 2% of your transaction if you use US dollars. If you use a foreign currency, the card charges 3% of your transaction as a fee. Even though this is a small percentage, it can build up quickly especially if you have frequent shopping habits.

Conclusion

The Radisson Rewards Visa card is an affordable necessity for any frequent Radisson stayer. With its multitude of rewards that can drastically improve the comfort of a travel experience, this card is a fantastic deal especially with its lack of annual fee. However, since rewards are somewhat limited to Radisson products, non-Radisson fans should consider a different card.