Created in 1988 as the Gold Crown Club, they have since rebranded to what is known today as Best Western Rewards. As you can see, they are also one of the oldest hotel loyalty programs in the market.
See our list of the best credit card bonuses here.
This hotel loyalty program caters to budget-minded business and family travelers who prioritize price over amenities. A great perk is that the points never expires, so Best Western Rewards offer a great return on your investment. Continue reading to see if this is the hotel rewards program for you!
Best Western Rewards Quick Facts
| Personal Credit Cards | Best Western Rewards Premium Mastercard
Best Western Rewards Mastercard |
| Business Credit Cards | N/A |
| Redemption Options | Hotel nights Travel cards Rental cars Gift cards Merchandise Transfers to airline partners Charitable donations |
| Value Per Point | $0.007 |
Best Western Portfolio
The hotel group now offers more than a dozen types of hotels to meet a variety of travel needs:
- Aiden
- Best Western
- Best Western Plus
- Best Western Premier
- BW Signature Collection
- BW Premier Collection
- Executive Residency
- GLo
- Sadie
- SureStay
- SureStay Collection
- SureStay Plus
- Vib
There are over 4,000 Best Western properties in more than 100 countries, with plenty to choose from in the United States and Canada.
*Click here for a complete updated list.
Best Western Rewards Elite Status
Best Western Rewards has five tiers of elite status. As you spend more nights at Best Western properties, you’ll move up in status. Once you earn an elite status, you will be able to keep earning points without them ever expiring.
| ELITE STATUS | QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS | PERKS |
| Blue | None | 10x points on stays No blackout dates on award nights Free nights count toward elite status Early check-in (when available) Late check-out (when available) |
| Gold | 10 nights or 7 stays or 10,000 points |
All Blue benefits 10% bonus points on stays (11x points) Room upgrades (where available) Complimentary Water and Points Upon Arrival |
| Platinum | 15 nights or 10 stays or 15,000 points |
All Gold benefits 15% bonus points on stays (11.5x points) |
| Diamond | 30 nights or 20 stays or 30,000 points |
All Platinum benefits 30% bonus points on stays (13x points) |
| Diamond Select | 50 nights or 40 stays or 50,000 points |
All Diamond benefits 50% bonus points on stays (15x points) |
*Click here for our source.
Earning Hilton Honors Points: Other Ways
Earn 10x Best Western Rewards points on eligible stays, including taxes in certain locations abroad.
As an elite member, you’ll earn bonus points for your stay. For example, if your stay totaled $100, you’d get:
| TIER | QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS | POINTS |
| Blue | 0% | 1,000 points |
| Gold | 10% | 1,100 points |
| Platinum | 15% | 1,150 points |
| Diamond | 30% | 1,300 points |
| Diamond Select | 50% | 1,500 points |
For the stay to be eligible, you cannot book:
- Through an online travel agency (Expedia, Orbitz, etc.)
- Through a tour operator.
- With a special discount rate (employee, wholesale, etc.)
Best Western Rewards Premium Mastercard
| Bonus Available | 50,000 points – spend: $1,000 – time: first 3 billing cycles |
| Spend bonus | 20,000 points (per year) – spend: $5,000 – time: 12 billing cycles |
| Elite status | Automatic Platinum status |
| Ongoing Rewards/Benefits | 10x bonus points at Best Western (+10x points as a loyalty member) 2x points everywhere else10% discount on flexible rates (when booking on bwrcarddiscount.com) |
| Annual Fee | $59, waived your first year |
Best Western Rewards Mastercard
| Bonus Available | 50,000 points – spend: $1,000 – time: first 3 billing cycles |
| Spend bonus | 20,000 points (per year) – spend: $5,000 – time: 12 billing cycles |
| Elite status | Automatic Platinum status |
| Ongoing Rewards/Benefits | 10x bonus points at Best Western (+10x points as a loyalty member) 2x points everywhere else10% discount on flexible rates (when booking on bwrcarddiscount.com) |
| Annual Fee | $59, waived your first year |
Earn Best Western Rewards points for renting a car from:
| COMPANY | PERKS |
| Alamo | 3x points on time & mileage Special discounted rate |
| Avis | 1,000 points on every car rental Up to 25% off base rates |
| Budget | 1,000 points on every car rental Up to 25% off base rates |
| Enterprise | Special discounted rates |
| National | 3x points on time & mileage Up to 25% off base rates |
| Sixt | 1,000 points on every car rental 2,000 points on limousine service Up to 15% off base rates |
Transfer your Diners Club Rewards points to Best Western Rewards.
7,576 Diners Club points = 20,000 Best Western points
| COMPANY | PERKS |
| Teleflora | 1,250 points on every order (starting at $29.99) |
| Vinesse Wine Club | Up to 12,500 points $41.94 for 6 bottles of wine |
If you’re short of a redemption, you can purchase the Best Western Rewards points you need – up to 20,000 points every transaction at a rate of $0.01 per point. However, this isn’t the best way to earn points because it makes them worth around $0.007 when you redeem.
Redeeming Best Western Rewards Points
Best Western Rewards free nights range from 8,000 to 36,000 points depending on several factors, including dates, location, brand, season and demand.
Because we value Best Western Rewards points at $0.007 apiece, you’ll want to go with awards that can get you at least that much per point.
Use your points for cash toward a hotel room. Travel cards have different point pricing based on your elite status:
| TIER | RATE | POINT VALUE |
| Blue | 2,400 points for a $10 card 6,000 points for a $25 card 12,000 points for a $50 card 24,000 points for a $100 card 60,000 points for a $250 card |
$0.004 |
| Gold & Above |
5,500 points for a $25 card 11,000 points for a $50 card 22,000 points for a $100 card 55,000 points for a $250 card |
$0.0045 |
With your Best Western Rewards points, you will have the option to transfer them for miles to nearly 16 airlines as transfer partners, including Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, American Airlines AAdvantage, British Airways Executive Club and Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards.
You can check the prices for various partners here. For airline partners, you currently can transfer 5,000 Best Western points to 1,000 airline miles (a 5:1 ratio).
In most cases, 10,000 Hilton points will get you 1,000 airline miles. As you can guess, this is not the best use for your Hilton points. You’re much better off redeeming your rewards towards award stays.
As mentioned above, you use your Best Western Rewards points for car rental gift cards with:
- Alamo
- Avis
- Budget
- National
Use your Best Western Rewards points for various gift cards, including:
- Amazon
- Amusement parks
- Auto
- Cruises
- Department stores
- Dining
- Gas
- Grocery stores
- National park
- Prepaid
Use your Best Western Rewards points for merchandise rewards. The redemption mall offers a variety of items, from home electronics and backpacks to jewelry. The point value varies according to merchandise.
Donate your Best Western Rewards points to the following charities:
- American Red Cross
- Best Friends Animal Society
- Better World Fund
- Hotels for Heroes
- KIVA
- Make-A-Wish
- The National Children’s Cancer Society
- Soldier On Fund
500 points equals a $2 donation, which makes your points have a value of $0.004 per point. Click here for more information.
Best Western Rewards Tips & Tricks
Best Western Rewards offers regular promotions for hotel stay bonuses and discounted award nights. Here are some examples of such promotions:
- 3,000 bonus points per stay
- 10,000 points per night for stays between Sunday through Thursday.
Sign up for the newsletter to stay up-to-date on all Best Western Rewards deals.
If you have elite status with another hotel loyalty program, Best Western Rewards will match your status for free. Simply fill out the Status Match Form and provide proof of elite status.
Best Western Rewards offers perks for AAA members, including:
- Automatic Gold status.
- Discount on room rates.
- Exclusive promotions.
Best Western Business Advantage offers various benefits to small businesses, like:
- Exclusive discounted member rates.
- Business owners get automatic Diamond status.
- Employees get automatic Gold status.
- Owners earn points bonus on their employees’ stays.
- Exclusive member-only promotions and special offers.
Best Western Service Rewards is open to United States and Canada veterans, military and government personnel. Benefits include:
- Automatic Gold status.
- At least 10% discount with government or military rate.
To qualify, you must provide your official identification card when you check-in.
Best Western Rewards points can be shared between accounts if the two accountholders share the same physical address. It’s a solid solution if you’re short on points.
Bonus Tip: Other Co-Branded Hotel Credit Cards To Consider
Although the Best Western loyalty program has its advantages, you may find it easier to earn fee hotel nights with co-branded cards from other hotel chains. For families and more budget-friendly travelers, here are a few low- cost credit card from our guide to the best hotel credit cards that will help you earn free hotel nights instantly.
 The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offers 3 Free Night Awards up to a 150,000 Total Point Value (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You'll earn: • Up to 17X total points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy • 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining. • 2X points for every $1 spent on all other purchase • 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend. You gain an automatic Silver Elite Status each account anniversary year. Path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each account year. You'll receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year & an additional Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary. This card does carry a $95 fee; there are no foreign transaction fees. |
 The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card offers 165,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025. You'll earn: • NEW Get up to $200 back each year on eligible Hilton purchases after you use your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card. • Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio. • Earn 6X Points for each dollar of purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations. • NEW Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases. • Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card. Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status with your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card. Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors Diamond Status through the end of the next calendar year. This card does carry a $150 annual fee & no foreign transaction fees. (See Rates & Fees) Terms Apply. |
 The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card offers 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You'll earn: • Up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts • 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. • 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases This card offers several perks that you'll sure enjoy like: an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts (plus, enjoy a reward night when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG hotel stay) And as long as you're a cardmember, you'll have Platinum Elite status. You'll get Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100 ($120 starting 10/1/24) every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card. There is an annual fee of $99. |
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Bottom Line
Being one of America’s biggest hotel chains, Best Western Rewards can be a very valuable tool, especially if you tend to travel a low. With an average value of $0.006 per point, you will get less value than Marriott Bonvoy or World of Hyatt. However, if you just want a simple room without all the amenities, then this loyalty program is a good fit for you.
For more luxury brands, check out Everything You Need To Know About American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts.
