Best Western Rewards was established in 1988 as the Gold Crown Club and is one of the oldest hotel loyalty programs out there.
See our best credit card bonuses here.
If you prioritize price or amenities, Best Western is a great choice for you. Their points never expire so it offers a great return on your hotel spending. Continue reading to learn more about Best Western Rewards and how to earn and redeem points.
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
With over a dozen types of hotels, you can be sure to meet your 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
There are five elite tiers with Best Western Rewards. Your points never expire and everyone that signs up will get access to exclusive reservations line.
| 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 Best Western Rewards Points
You can receive 10x Best Western Rewards points on eligible stays, including taxes in certain locations abroad.
You will earn bonus points for your stay if you’re an elite member. For instance, 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 |
Receive 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 |
You can purchase Best Western Rewards points if you’re short of a redemption – 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.
You can 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 account holders 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 there are many advantages to the Best Western loyalty program, it might be easier to earn free hotel nights with co-branded cards from other hotel chains. These low-cost credit cards from our guide to the best hotel credit cards will help you earn free hotel nights immediately.
 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 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass(R) Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 4/29/2025. Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card. That's up to $200 in statement credits annually. You'll earn: • 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. • 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 4 free nights (each Free Night valued at up to 40,000 points) after spending $3,000 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 $120 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card. There is an annual fee of $99. |
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Conclusion
Best Western Rewards is one of America’s largest hotel groups that offers valuable rewards if you travel within the US or Canada frequently. Best Western Rewards is a great option if you just need a clean room without any fancy amenities. However, you might want to check out Marriott Bonvoy or World of Hyatt since they have a higher average point value.
Furthermore, be sure to check out our best credit card bonuses here.
