Wyndham Rewards® Earner℠ Card Review 2024

• Wyndham Rewards Earner Card Introduction
• Quick Facts
• Wyndham Rewards Earner Card Rewards
• What Is the Wyndham Rewards Earner Card Best For?
• Introductory Rates
• Other Wyndham Rewards Earner Card Benefits
• Fine Print
• How the Wyndham Rewards Earner Card Stacks Up
• Is the Wyndham Rewards Earner Card for You?
• Methodology

Wyndham hotel group has a wide-ranging portfolio of brands, from comfortable accommodation brands such as Days Inn, Ramada and La Quinta to higher-end properties like the Wyndham Grand hotels. With more than 9,000 properties, you’ll likely be able to find a convenient hotel to rest your head within Wyndham’s global footprint.

First, the good stuff about the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card*. It comes with a relatively easy-to-attain welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. With free nights starting at 7,500 points per night, the welcome bonus alone is enough for multiple nights at one of Wyndham’s many brands. That’s outstanding value for a card without an annual fee.

The card also delivers ongoing earnings at a rate of 5 points per dollar spent on Hotels By Wyndham and gas purchases, 2 points per dollar spent on restaurants and grocery purchases (excluding Target and Walmart) and 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases. Plus perks like complimentary Wyndham Rewards Gold status, Visa Signature perks and a 10% points discount when booking free nights add even more value.

• $0 annual fee
• Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening
• Earn 5 points per dollar spent on Hotels By Wyndham and gas purchases, 2 points per dollar spent on restaurants and grocery purchases (excluding Target and Walmart) and 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases
• No foreign transaction fees
• Automatic Wyndham Rewards Gold elite status
• Visa Signature card benefits
• 10% points discount on redemptions for free nights
• 7,500 bonus points each anniversary year after spending $15,000 on purchases

The Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card* is a solid choice for anyone who frequents Wyndham brand hotels and does not want to pay an annual fee. This is a more narrow subset of consumers, but if you find yourself in this category, this card merits a closer look.

Earning Rewards

The Wyndham Rewards Earner Card earns 5 points per dollar spent on Hotels By Wyndham and gas purchases, 2 points per dollar spent on restaurants and grocery purchases (excluding Target and Walmart) and 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases.

It also offers a welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.

Redeeming Rewards

Wyndham Rewards points can be used for many purposes, though hotel redemptions, in general, provide the best value. Free nights at participating Wyndham Hotels & Resorts properties, known as go free℠ awards, are the most popular option. The number of points required per night is broken down into three simple award pricing tiers of 7,500, 15,000 and 30,000 points per night.

You can also redeem for Wyndham timeshare property stays. Timeshare properties are sorted into tiers just like the hotels, but bookings are priced per bedroom. For example, depending on the average nightly cost, a two-bedroom timeshare unit will cost between 30,000 and 60,000 points per night.

These prices do not include the 10% point discount on free night awards you get just for being a cardholder. If you plan on redeeming Wyndham points, the discount alone could be a reason for holding onto the card.

At many participating properties, you can even stretch your points further by using a combination of points and cash. These awards are called go fast℠ awards and cost 1,500, 3,000, or 6,000 points plus a cash copay. The amount of cash required will vary by property and is determined by a percentage of the room rate.

One notable affiliation that can provide value for your Wyndham Rewards points is the ability to earn and redeem points at participating Caesars Entertainment hotels. Thanks to this partnership, you can transfer Wyndham Rewards points to Caesars Rewards credits, or vice versa, at a 1:1 ratio. Up to 60,000 points per year can be redeemed in this way.

Your Wyndham Rewards points can also be transferred to approximately nine travel partners, including multiple frequent flyer programs. A minimum of 6,000 points is required for transfers to travel partners, but you’ll likely find better value using the points elsewhere. Rewards earned can also be used for special activities or tours. For example, you could use your points to explore wine country with a Napa Valley and Sonoma Wine Tour.

You may also consider using points on gift card purchases, charitable donations or merchandise.

Rewards Potential

Forbes Advisor uses data from various government agencies to determine baseline income and spending averages across various categories. The 70th percentile of wage-earning households brings in $118,438 annually and has $39,337 in annual expenses that can reasonably be charged to a credit card. We base our calculations on these numbers.

Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card* Rewards Potential
Category	Earning Rate	Estimated Annual Spend	Estimated Annual Earnings
Hotels By Wyndham	5X	$2,858	14,290 Wyndham Rewards points
Gas	5X	$3,562	17,810 Wyndham Rewards points
Grocery	2X	$7,243	14,486 Wyndham Rewards points
Restaurant	2X	$4,622	9,244 Wyndham Rewards points
All other purchases	1X	$21,052	21,052 Wyndham Rewards points
			Total: 76,882 Wyndham Rewards Points

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The Wyndham Rewards Earners card offers a 0% promotional APR for 6 billing cycles on all Wyndham Timeshare Purchases and 0% intro APR for the first 15 billing cycles on balances made within 45 days of account opening, then a 20.99% - 29.99% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers applies.

• No foreign transaction fees. You won’t be charged extra for using your card for international purchases.
• Wyndham Gold elite status. Includes free Wi-Fi, late checkout and more.
• Visa Signature perks. As a Visa Signature card, it comes with travel benefits and protections, including auto rental coverage, emergency assistance and extended warranty protection.
• Bonus points. Get 7,500 bonus points each anniversary year after spending $15,000 in purchases.
• Exclusive savings. Get savings when booking stays with the Wyndham Rewards Earner card member rate.

Interest Rates

• Regular APR: 20.99% - 29.99% variable
• Purchase intro APR: 0% intro APR for 6 billing cycles on all Wyndham Timeshare Purchases
• Balance transfer intro APR: 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on balance transfers made within the first 45 days of account opening

Fees

• Annual fee: $0
• Balance transfer fee: $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
• Foreign purchase transaction fee: None

Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card* vs. Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card*

If you’re searching for a convenient hotel rewards card, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card* is the hotel giant’s entry-level no annual fee card. The Bonvoy Bold earns 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) and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold is a solid option for brand loyalists who want to take advantage of the chain’s enormous global footprint to earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points.

Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card* vs. Hilton Honors American Express Card

The Hilton Honors American Express Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) is the brand’s no annual fee starter card for those who want to earn Hilton Honors points.

It features earnings of 7 Hilton Honors points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels or resorts within the Hilton portfolio, 5 points for each dollar of eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations and 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases. Cardholders receive complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver status good for 20% bonus points on stays, two bottles of water and a fifth night free on award stays.

Points earned with the Hilton Honors American Express Card can be redeemed for nights at more than 7,500 hotels in over 125 countries. The card also offers a significant welcome bonus: Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $2,000 in purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership. This card is a lucrative choice for travelers who prefer Hilton brands over other hotel chains.

Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card* vs. Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card*

Barclays issues two variations of its Wyndham co-branded cards: Earner and Earner Plus. If your brand loyalty lies with Wyndham hotels but you favor a card with stronger rewards and increased perks, the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card* deserves consideration.

In exchange for an annual fee of $75, you’ll earn richer rewards of 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases made at Hotels by Wyndham as well as on qualifying gas purchases, 4 points on eligible dining and grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart) and 1 points on other purchases, as compared to the Earner card. It also has a larger welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening, resort fees may apply.

Cardholders are also granted free Wyndham Rewards Platinum status, which includes benefits such as early check-in, Caesars Rewards status match and car rental upgrades. If Wyndham is your preferred hotel chain and you often stay at their brands, the higher welcome offer, elevated earnings on stays and loftier elite status may make the Earner Plus version a more value-packed proposition for you.

The Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card* is worth a look if you’re a newcomer to hotel rewards and favor Wyndham hotel brands over its competitors or if you eschew the idea of an annual fee. Aside from earning elevated points for hotel stays at more than 9,000 Wyndham locations worldwide, plus every time you fill up at the pump, you’ll also earn respectable points on grocery, restaurant and Wyndham timeshare spending.

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 came together to provide a star rating for each individual card.

Read more: How Forbes Advisor rates credit cards

To view rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, please visit this page.