| Last updated on September 13th, 2023
Best Western Rewards® Premium Mastercard®
Best Western Rewards® Premium Mastercard®
Best Western Rewards® Premium Mastercard®
- 23.24% or 29.74% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Regular Purchase APR
- 23.24% or 29.74% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Balance Transfer APR
- 29.74% variable based on the Prime Rate Cash Advance APR
At a Glance
The Best Western Rewards® Premium Mastercard® is a co-branded hotel rewards credit card with a lucrative introductory offer that will grab the attention of anyone who enjoys staying at Best Western hotel properties while traveling. Earn up to 120,000 bonus points within the first year of opening your card, as well as 30 points per $1 spent directly with Best Western – that’s up to 4 free nights just from opening your account and using your card.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- Earn up to 4 free nights just by opening your account, as well as automatic Platinum Elite status
- Earn 80,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in the first three billing cycles after account is opened
- Earn an additional 40,000 bonus points when you spend at least $5,000 during each 12 billing cycle period
- Earn 20 points per $1 spent on Best Western Stays, and 2 points per $1 spent everywhere else
- Regular Purchase APR: 23.24% or 29.74% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer APR: 23.24% or 29.74% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Cash Advance APR: 29.74% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $15 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Annual Fee: $89
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $35
- You will spend $5,000 within the first year of account opening (to earn up to 120,000 bonus points)
- You will make purchases with Best Western to take advantage of up to 20x points per $1 spent
- You want a card with no foreign transaction fees
- You would like automatic Platinum Elite status and a 15% discount
Best Western Rewards® Premium Mastercard® Review
Boasting a generous introductory bonus, the Best Western Rewards® Premium Mastercard® weighs in as a formidable contender among its fellow hotel co-branded credit cards. The card rewards Best Western Rewards members with exclusive discounts and more for an $85 annual fee.
A Generous Welcome Offer
The features of the Premium Mastercard begin with a lucrative sign-up bonus. New cardholders can earn up to 80,000 bonus points within the first year of opening their account. This generous welcome offer breaks down as follows:
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 or more within the first three billing cycles after the account is opened.
- Earn an additional 40,000 bonus points after spending a total of $5,000 or more during each 12-billing-cycle period. These are known as anniversary points.
How to Earn Points
Use the Best Western Rewards Premium Mastercard to earn points in the following ways:
- Earn 20x points for every $1 spent on Best Western stays:
- 10 points as a Best Western Rewards® member.
- 10 points for using your co-branded Best Western Mastercard®.
- Earn 2x points for every $1 spent everywhere else.
There’s no cap on the number of reward points you can earn, and even better – points never expire as long as your account is open and in good standing.
How to Redeem Points
As a Best Western Rewards member, there are plenty of ways to redeem your rewards points:
| Best Wesrern vouchers | Charitable donations | Gift cards |
| Entertainment and travel | Merchandise | Pool or share points |
The simplest redemption method is using points towards free night stays at Best Western licensed hotels. The number of points required to earn a free night award varies based on the city and date of stay – with free nights in Los Angeles starting from 8,000 points and nights in New York City or Miami starting from around 20,000 points per night.
In addition to hotel stays, rewards points apply towards virtual gift cards, gas and auto rewards, and more. You can also transfer to more than a dozen leading frequent flyer programs:
| Airline program | Points transfer rate with other programs (BW/partner) |
|---|---|
| Aeroplan | 5:1 |
| Alaska Mileage Plan | 5:1 |
| Asia Miles | 5:1 |
| Asiana Airlines Asiana Club | 5:1 |
| Air France / KLM Flying Blue | 6:1 |
| Avianca LifeMiles | 5:1 |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards | 5:1.2 |
| Aeromexico Club Premier | 5:1.6 |
| Aer Lingus AerClub | 5:1 |
| British Airways Executive Club | 5:1 |
| Iberia Plus Avios | 5:1 |
| MilleMiglia | 6:1 |
| Vueling Club | 5:1 |
Card Comparison
Here’s how the Best Western Rewards® Premium Mastercard® compares with two general travel rewards credit cards:
 Best Western Rewards® Premium Mastercard® |
 Chase Sapphire Preferred |
 Mastercard® Titanium Card™ |
|
| Rewards | Earn 20X points per $1 spent on Best Western Stays, and 2X points per $1 spent everywhere else Mastercard is accepted worldwide | Earn 5X points on Chase-booked travel and Lyft rides, 3X on dining, online groceries, and streaming services, and 1X on everything else | 2% value for airfare redemptions with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. 1% value for cash back redemptions. Earn one point for every one dollar spent |
| Travel perks | Best Western Platinum tier, early check-in/ late check-out, no blackout dates | Complimentary DashPass membership; GoPuff, Instacart, and hotel statement credits, 10% anniversary points bonus, 25% more value when booking with Chase | Luxury Magazine, 24/7 Luxury Concierge access, Luxury Card Travel® benefits—average value of $500 per stay (e.g., resort credits, room upgrades, free wifi, breakfast for two and more) at over 3,000 properties |
| Annual fee | $89 | $95 | $195 |
Best Western Elite Perks
The Premium Rewards Mastercard also offers automatic Platinum Elite status. Platinum Elite is the middle tier in the Best Western Rewards program and offers benefits like no blackout dates, early check-in and late check-out, complimentary in-room bottled water, and more.
You’ll also enjoy other Best Western perks like a 15% points bonus when booking a hotel room from Best Western properties, a welcome gift at check-in, a free room upgrade (when available), and more.
The card also provides EMV chip technology, mobile wallet compatibility, and Mastercard Platinum benefits and protections:
| Zero Liability Protection | Mastercard Global Services | ID Theft Protection |
Related Article: The Ultimate Best Western Rewards Program Guide
FNBO Ratings
How does FNBO, the issuer of the Best Western credit card, stack up? Here is a selection of expert ratings for First Bankcard:
| BestCards | Better Business Bureau | TrustPilot |
|
3/5 |
1.5/5 |
2/5 |
Should You Apply for the Best Western Rewards Premium Mastercard®?
The Best Western Rewards Premium Mastercard offers up to 20X points on stays at the brands that make up the Best Western Rewards program. Despite that, there is better value elsewhere. Sure, the introductory offer and everyday earning rate is decent. Still, there is better value elsewhere, including from major names like American Express and Chase.
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