How to Book an Award Night With Wyndham Points

June Casagrande
By June Casagrande 
Published
Edited by Mary M. Flory

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Wyndham Rewards is a large hotel loyalty program with about 9,200 participating properties in 80 countries and includes well-known brands, such as Ramada Inn, La Quinta, Hawthorn Suites, Days Inn, Super 8 and, of course, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts. Plus, there are lots more you don’t expect (more on that below). The program is also extremely well-regarded: In October, Wyndham Rewards won the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Award for best hotel loyalty program for the second year in a row.

What does this mean for you? It means you have lots of chances to earn rewards in a broad and highly ranked loyalty program, and just as many chances to redeem the points you earn staying at Wyndham properties. Here’s your guide to booking a free night with Wyndham points.

Sign up or log in

If you don’t yet have a Wyndham Rewards account, and even if you don’t stay there often, it’s a good idea to sign up. It’s free, and from there on out you’ll earn 10 Wyndham Rewards points for each dollar you spend on a qualifying stay.

Know the lingo

There are two types of room redemptions in the Wyndham Rewards program: Go Free and Go Fast. Go Free is just their way of saying you can use points to book a room, and Go Fast is a combination of points and cash.

Of course, as with any hotel rewards program, you should be leery of the word “free.” Some properties carry a resort fee that you pay with real money at checkout, even if you paid for your room with points. So always look at the true bottom line before rejoicing over a “free” night.

Expect the unexpected

If you’re dreaming of a Vegas escape in a blingy resort with a fabulous casino and a sprawling, luxurious pool complex, a hotel program associated with Super 8 and Days Inn probably doesn’t spring to mind. But this is why you should never assume: Caesars Entertainment properties participate in Wyndham Rewards, meaning you can redeem your points for a night at any number of Caesars properties, including the world-famous Caesars Palace, home of the Garden of the Gods pool complex made up of seven separate pools, with amenities like swim-up blackjack, full bars and poolside spa services.

Lots of condo properties also participate in Wyndham Rewards, meaning that depending on your destination, you could have a choice of accommodations that goes well beyond the Ramada Inn and Super 8.

Check redemption rates

To discover all the properties available for your points, enter your destination and dates on the main page of the Wyndham Rewards website. Next to each available property, you’ll see your Go Free and Go Fast options for booking your room. Rooms start at just 7,500 points per night with Wyndham’s three-tiered awards chart, which also has tiers at 15,000 and 30,000 points per night.

Check cash prices with travel discounters

The very idea of paying for a room with points can be exciting. But before you book, it’s better to get an idea of how much value you’re really getting — and whether there’s anything better out there. Check your dates and destination at your favorite travel booking website, like Expedia, Travelocity or Hotels.com. Maybe there’s a steal out there that will make you want to save your Wyndham points for a future trip. Maybe not. Either way, you’ll have a better sense of just how much value you’re getting for your redemption.

Hotel Cards from Our Partners
IHG® One Rewards Premier Credit Card

on Chase's website

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
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1x-26x

Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.

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140,000

Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

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World Of Hyatt Credit Card

on Chase's website

World of Hyatt Credit Card
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1x-9x

Earn up to 9 points total per $1 spent at Hyatt – 4 Bonus Points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5 Base Points per $1 you can earn as a World of Hyatt member. Earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airlines tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships.

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30,000

Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.

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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card

on Chase's website

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
4.0
NerdWallet Rating
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2x-17x

Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card. 2X points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

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150,000

Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card!

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