Our Verdict
If you want to earn bonus points for your Best Western stays but don’t want to pay an annual fee, the Best Western Rewards® Mastercard®* is a solid choice. It includes automatic Gold elite status and offers a bonus each year based on your spending. New cardholders can also earn a generous bonus after meeting a low minimum spending requirement.
Pros
- Generous welcome bonus with a low minimum spending requirement
- Anniversary bonus based on your annual spending
- Automatic Gold elite status
- No annual fee
Cons
- No category bonuses on everyday purchases
- Limited benefits outside of hotel purchases
- Redemptions limited to Best Western
Highlights
- Earn 40,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 billing cycles after the account is opened
- Earn 20,000 points after spending $5,000 every 12 billing cycles
- Earn 13 points per dollar on Best Western purchases when you use your card and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases
- Automatic Gold Status
- No annual fee
Best Western Rewards Mastercard Introduction
The Best Western Rewards® Mastercard®* is an ideal hotel credit card for travelers who frequently stay at Best Western hotels, but aren’t willing to pay an annual fee. It earns 13 points per dollar spent on Best Western purchases and 2 points per dollar spent on all other purchases. Plus, you receive an anniversary bonus of 20,000 points for spending at least $5,000 per year, which breaks down to just over $400 per month.
When you apply for this card, you have the opportunity to earn a welcome bonus of 40,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 billing cycles after the account is opened. For the average household, this hurdle can be easily met by using the card for dining, grocery, gas, utility and other normal monthly expenses. Depending on which property you choose, 40,000 points could be worth up to eight nights at a Best Western hotel.
While this hotel card offers 2 points per dollar on all non-Best Western spending, that’s equivalent to just 1.2 cents per dollar spent. You might be better off with a flat 2% cash-back card, like the Citi Double Cash® Card (which earns 2% cash back on all purchases—1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off) or the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. That’s over 60% more in value and you have the flexibility to spend your rewards however you want, rather than being confined to redeeming them through Best Western Rewards.
Compare Best Western Rewards Mastercard With Other Cards
Quick Facts
- $0 annual fee
- Earn 13 points per dollar spent on Best Western purchases and 2 points per dollar spent on all other purchases
- Earn a welcome bonus of 40,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 billing cycles after the account is opened
- Receive 20,000 points each year when you spend $5,000 in 12 billing cycles
- Automatic Gold elite status
- No foreign transaction fees
- Best Western Rewards points do not expire as long as you use the card
Best Western Rewards Mastercard Rewards
Earning Rewards
Travelers have multiple options to earn points with the Best Western Rewards® Mastercard®*, including a welcome bonus, annual bonus and rewards on everyday spending.
As a new cardholder, you can earn 40,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 billing cycles after the account is opened. With Best Western Rewards points worth an average of 0.6 cents each, that’s a bonus of $240.
The one-time bonus is nice, but you’ll also earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $5,000 every 12 billing cycles. These annual bonus points supercharge the rewards you can earn on everyday purchases and Best Western reservations.
As for purchases, the card earns 13 points per dollar spent on Best Western purchases and 2 points per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Redeeming Rewards
Best Western Rewards points are redeemable for free stays at Best Western properties, payments toward cash stays, gift cards or donations to select charities.
Free nights start at just 5,000 points and go up to 70,000 points for more expensive stays. In addition to booking free nights for your own travel, you can also redeem points for free night certificates to give to someone else.
While Best Western is considered a budget hotel chain, it has locations across the U.S. and around the world where more well-known hotel brands may not have locations. For example, Best Western has several hotels near popular U.S. National Parks, like Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon.
The highest value redemptions are for booking award stays at Best Western properties. However, some travelers may choose other options, even if they don’t always offer the best value for your points.
Members can redeem points for Best Western gift cards at a value of 0.5 cents per point. These gift cards provide maximum flexibility and can be used for other charges you may incur during your stay. They also give you the opportunity to book any category room using points. Plus, they are easily shared with family and friends.
Some members don’t have enough points for an award stay. The pay with points option converts points into cash at a rate of 0.5 cents per point (in 1,000 increments) so you can complete your booking.
Best Western offers several other redemption options as well. These options include donations to select charities, transfers to airline partners and Mastercard or Amazon gift cards.
Rewards Potential
To help readers understand how many rewards they can earn with the Best Western Rewards Mastercard, Forbes Advisor uses data from various government agencies to determine the average income and spending of cardholders. Based on this date, the average household income for calculations is $118,438, and we base our sample household spending on that number.
Using these estimates against the Best Western Rewards® Mastercard®* bonus categories, we project that the typical household will spend $2,858 per year on hotels and $36,479 on all other spending.
Assuming that all hotel purchases are from Best Western hotels, the average household earns 37,154 points per year from Best Western stays. Additionally, they’ll receive another 72,958 points each year on all other purchases. In total, by using this card for all purchases, the annual total is 110,112 Best Western points.
With free nights ranging from 5,000 to 70,000 points, there are enough points for one night in a high-end property or up to 22 nights in a budget hotel.
Other Best Western Rewards Mastercard Benefits
In addition to the generous welcome bonus, annual bonus opportunity, and rewards earning power, the Best Western Rewards Mastercard includes other benefits that you may find appealing.
- Automatic Gold elite status. Gold status normally requires accumulating five Qualifying Nights, but cardholders receive elite status for free. This tier includes 10% bonus points on paid stays and complimentary water and points upon arrival.
- No foreign transaction fees. Avoid hidden charges of up to 3% when making purchases outside the U.S. using your Best Western Rewards® Mastercard®*.
- Free FICO Score. Receive access to your FICO Score for free starting within 45 days of opening your account. Monitor your credit score regularly as you make progress toward your financial goals.
Fine Print
Interest Rates
- Regular APR: 28.24% or 29.74% variable
- Purchase intro APR: N/A
- Balance transfer intro APR: N/A
Fees
- Annual fee: $0
- Balance transfer fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Foreign purchase transaction fee: None
How the Best Western Rewards Mastercard Stacks Up
Best Western Rewards® Mastercard®* vs. Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card*
For travelers looking for a no annual fee hotel credit card, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card* is another solid option. You’ll receive a welcome bonus of 1 Free Night Award after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening and earn 3 points per dollar at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program, 2 points per dollar on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains) through 7/10/2024 and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
While Marriott has budget brands that are similar to Best Western, it also has numerous luxury brands for aspirational redemptions. Cardholders receive Silver Elite status automatically and 15 elite night credits that provide a head start toward higher levels.
Best Western Rewards® Mastercard®* vs. Citi Double Cash® Card
If we value Best Western points at 0.6 cents each, cardholders earn just 1.2 cents per dollar in value on everyday purchases. Many travelers would be better off with the Citi Double Cash® Card which earns 2% cash back on all purchases—1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off. Not only can you use this cash to pay for Best Western stays, but it can also be used for other expenses, such as stays at competing hotels, paying down debt, saving for the future or any other purpose. The cash-back rewards can also be converted into Citi ThankYou Points, which can be used to book travel, buy gift cards or transfer to airline and hotel partners.
The Citi Double Cash® Card has no annual fee. New cardholders can benefit from a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the standard variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on creditworthiness. An intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies to transfers completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, the fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Best Western Rewards® Mastercard®* vs. Chase Freedom Flex℠
Many travelers choose flexible points over hotel points because of the options they provide. The Chase Freedom Flex℠ earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points which can be redeemed for travel, cash back, gift cards and more for at least one cent per point in value.
The Freedom Flex earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in categories that rotate quarterly (requires activation), 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other purchases. If booked through Chase Travel, this card allows you to earn 5% cash back on Best Western (and other travel) purchases and redeem points towards flights, activities and stays at any hotel, including Best Western properties.
You can earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. New cardholders may also benefit from a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24% applies. Balance transfer fee of up to 5% (min. $5) of the amount of each transfer applies.
Read more. My Next Hotel Card Is A Best Western Card
Is the Best Western Rewards Mastercard for You?
The Best Western Rewards® Mastercard®* is a reasonable choice for Best Western loyalists who don’t want to pay an annual fee. It provides automatic Gold elite status and the ability to earn 13 points per dollar spent on Best Western purchases and 2 points per dollar spent on all other purchases, so you can turn your daily expenses into future free nights. And, if you spend $5,000 on the card each year, you’ll receive an anniversary bonus of 20,000 points. While its non-hotel benefits are minimal, the extra perks you’ll receive for stays at Best Western make it a worthy choice for the money.
If you’re seeking a hotel credit card but aren’t sure if Best Western properties are right for you, see Forbes Advisor’s guide to the best hotel cards to compare the top options.
Methodology
Forbes Advisor considers a variety of criteria when assigning credit cards a rating. Cards are graded based on numerous factors, including:
- Annual fees
- Welcome bonus offers
- Ongoing earning rates
- Value of individual points or miles
- Included travel or merchant credits
- Additional cardholder benefits
Card features we expect cardholders to use the most often are weighted more heavily in our ratings. Altogether, the factors come together to provide a star rating for each individual card.
To learn more about our rating and review methodology and editorial process, check out our guide on how Forbes Advisor rates credit cards.
*The information for the following card(s) has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor: Best Western Rewards® Mastercard®, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
