Which Best Western Credit Card Should You Get?

If you’re looking for a rewards credit card for your daily purchases, a Best Western card likely won’t offer as much point value compared with other cards. Instead, Best Western cardholders can look forward to rewards perks that enhance their travel experience.

Aside from an elite status boost, a Best Western rewards credit card can give you access to benefits like discounted room rates and accelerated points on Best Western stays.

The brand has a couple of rewards credit cards to choose from: The Best Western Rewards® Mastercard® or the Best Western Rewards® Premium Mastercard®. Which card is best for you depends on your travel and rewards credit card preferences.

Here’s a quick comparison of the key features of each Best Western credit card:

	Best Western Rewards® Mastercard®	Best Western Rewards® Premium Mastercard®
Bonus offer	Earn up to 32,000 Bonus Points: Earn 16,000 bonus points after your first purchase and 16,000 bonus points on your first stay	50,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 in first 3 billing cycles after account is opened plus 20,000 bonus points when you spend at least $5,000 during each 12 billing cycle period.
Reward points	3 points per $1 spent on Best Western stays. 2 points per $1 spent on everything else.	10 points per $1 spent on Best Western stays. 2 points per $1 spent on everything else.
Automatic elite status	Gold	Platinum
Reservation discount	10% off reservations booked using Best Western Rewards Rate	10% off reservations booked using Best Western Rewards Rate
Foreign transaction fee	None	None
Annual fee	$0	$59

» Learn more: Best Western Rewards Card: Plenty of perks, no annual fee

Best Western Rewards® Mastercard®

Good for: Budget travelers who exclusively stay at Best Western.

Cardholders who value traveling on a budget will appreciate that the Best Western Rewards® Mastercard® charges $0 annual fee. If you’re loyal to prefer Best Western, this card may be for you since there’s no cost to carry the card.

Cardholders earn 3 points per $1 spent at Best Western properties, in addition to 10 points per $1 earned through Best Western Rewards. The combined 13 points per $1 is pretty substantial.

The card also lets you accelerate your earnings by offering 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.

New cardholders are rewarded with a solid welcome bonus: Earn up to 32,000 Bonus Points: Earn 16,000 bonus points after your first purchase and 16,000 bonus points on your first stay. In case you’re wondering what that translates to in terms of award redemptions, it’s enough for up to two free nights.

Best Western Rewards® Premium Mastercard®

Good for: Frequent travelers who don’t mind paying for higher status.

If you anticipate traveling often and staying at Best Western hotels during all of your trips, the Best Western Rewards® Premium Mastercard® may be a better match for you. The card propels your status to Platinum, but you’ll have to pay a $59 annual fee for this benefit.

Cardholders earn 10 points per $1 spent at Best Western properties, on top of the 10 points per $1 earned through Best Western Rewards. This rewards rate makes it easier to maintain your loyalty status. Like the Best Western Rewards® Mastercard®, it also earns you 2 points per $1 spent outside of the hotel brand.

The welcome bonus is higher on this card: 50,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 in first 3 billing cycles after account is opened plus 20,000 bonus points when you spend at least $5,000 during each 12 billing cycle period. Best Western Rewards® Premium Mastercard® cardholders can also earn a recurring bonus of 20,000 points after spending $5,000 on the card each 12 billing cycle period.

» Learn more: Your guide to booking award nights with Best Western

Deciding on the right Best Western credit card for you

Other travel rewards cards on the market offer greater benefits and enticing bonuses to flexible travelers, compared with the Best Western Rewards® Premium Mastercard® and Best Western Rewards® Mastercard®.

However, if you’re a dedicated Best Western guest and expect to stay with the hotel at least a few times a year, these cards may be worth the perks.

How to Maximize Your Rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2020, including those best for: