Just recently, Wyndham Rewards launched an entire new suite of credit cards to give travelers more points and benefits while staying at Wyndham properties. There are two personal cards — the Wyndham Rewards Earner and Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus — as well as one business card. If you foresee yourself staying at a Wyndham property in the future, these are great cards to consider not only for the initial sign up bonus, but for the long term benefits as well.
I also just spoke about the Wyndham Rewards credit card with my friend Ed who runs the Miles to Go podcast. This is a great opportunity to hear even more about the card details (along with my recent ski trip to Stowe, Vermont). Here’s a direct link for Apple folks. And, if you prefer Google, Spotify or listening on your computer, Ed has links for all of those as well. Best of all, Miles to Go and Wyndham, Rewards are offering you the opportunity to win Diamond elite status!
Wyndham Rewards Earner Card
As aforementioned, there are two different personal cards. First you have the no annual fee Wyndham Rewards Earner Card with a 30,000 point sign up bonus after you spend $1,000 on the card within the first 90 days.
This card will give you 5x points on purchases at Wyndham properties and qualifying gas; 2x points on dining and groceries; and 1x point on everything else.
You’ll also receive automatic Gold status, which is Wyndham’s lowest level tier in their rewards program. The main benefit being late check-out. Truthfully, Gold status won’t give you much, but having some status is always better than no status at all when walking into a hotel.
You’ll also earn 7,5000 bonus points after each anniversary after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases.
This card — along with the other two cards mentioned here — also offer a 10% discount when you redeem your points for a free night stay.
Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card
If you are looking for something a little more in your credit card, the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card is our recommended card within the suite. While this card does come with a $75 annual fee, the perks outweigh the fee — in my opinion — making this card more beneficial then the above card, despite it being fee-free.
Right off the bat, this card offers 45,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on the card within the first 90 days. There is a 15,000 point difference, which can be redeemed at a mid-tier property. I value my Wyndham points around 1 cent per point, which means this 15k increase — for the same minimum spend requirement — is worth $150.
You’ll then earn 6x points on purchases at Wyndham properties and qualifying gas; 4x points on dining and groceries; and 1x point on everything else.
The card also comes with mid-tier Platinum status. While this is admittedly not nearly as good as many other hotel programs’ mid-tier status, you will receive early check-in on top of the late checkout benefit. Platinum status also allows you to status match to the equivalent Caesars Rewards status — which can come in quite handy if you travel to Vegas often.
Lastly, the card will award you 7,500 bonus points on every anniversary year. Unlike the lower-level card, there is no credit card spend required on an annual basis to earn the points. I value this perk at a minimum of $75, which pays for the annual fee in itself. For this reason alone, I’d recommend this card over the no-annual fee version.
Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card
If you are eligible for a business credit card, you might actually find the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card to be the best option. Although a heightened $95 annual fee, the extra $20 spent versus the personal card might actually pay off for most.
The card offers the same 45,000 bonus points as the Earner Plus card, but the points you earn on your every day spend are quire different. With this card you’ll earn an increased 8x points on purchases at Wyndham properties and qualifying gas; 5x points on marketing, advertising services and utilities; and 1x point on everything else. This is one of the few cards that will offer you an increased bonus on utilities and for the right business, this could truly increase your points in this spend category.
You’ll then receive top-tier Diamond status. Again, this status doesn’t compare to some of the other chain’s top-tier status benefits, but to be handed status without having to earn it the hard way is quite impressive — especially for just a $95 annual fee. On top of the early check-in and late check out, you’ll also receive suite upgrades, if available, and a welcome amenity.
The extra $20 annual fee then truly pays off, because on your account anniversary you’ll receive 15,000 bonus points — instead of the 7,5000 points that comes with the Explorer Plus. This is worth at least $150 in my book, which makes the $95 annual fee well worth it.
Is this card right for you?
With three different credit cards, you might be wondering if this is the right card for you? And the short answer is, absolutely yes — if you plan on staying at a Wyndham property. The no annual fee card will earn you the 30,000 points for the sign up bonus and a 10% discount on redeeming your points. For a card that won’t cost you anything to have, this is a no brainer.
But if you are comfortable paying an annual fee, I believe the Earner Plus or the Earner Business is a better decision. You’ll earn a higher sign up bonus, more benefits and 7,500 to 15,000 points yearly simply by being a card member — which pays right away for the annual fee, if not more.
While I am not a dedicated Wyndham Rewards traveler, I have found my fair share of great Wyndham properties where using their points have paid off a ton. One of my favorite properties is the Wyndham Park City which is right on the side of the mountain. It is truly a ski-in, ski-out property, where for just 15,000 points a night you can stay at a one-bedroom suite with a full kitchen. During peak season this is a property that easily costs over $350 a night. Just having the Explorer Business card with the 15,000 annual perk can cover a free night at this particular property for $95 a year.
Other Wyndham properties that I have also enjoyed are the Wyndham Santa Monica which is just a few blocks from the beach, the Wyndham properties in Newport, Rhode Island and the Wyndham Clearwater Beach which is also right across the street from the beach.
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“Wyndham Park City which is right on the side of the mountain. It is truly a ski-in, ski-out property, where for just 15,000 points a night”.
I don’t see this 15k price on the Wyndham Rewards website???
@MBuss – When you go to book the hotel, you’ll see that it is 15,000 points a night (if it is available). Since it is a timeshare property, usually you have to book 2-3 nights for the property to have availability.