If you do a lot of travel, and spend a lot of nights in hotels, you might want to join a hotel rewards program. One of the most versatile programs is the Best Western rewards program.
You have flexibility in the way you can earn and redeem points, as well as the flexibility to earn points from partners. Signing up is easy and free, and it only takes about five minutes.
Earning Points
When you sign up for the Best Western rewards program, you will have to decide how you want to earn your points. You have to make the decision at sign up, and abide by that decision in the future. Your choices include:
- 10 points per dollar spent on qualifying hotel stays around the world. These points are used for stays at other Best Western hotels.
- 600 Southwest Rapid Rewards points for each qualifying stay.
- 20 AIR MILES for each qualifying stay.
- 250 airline/partner rewards per stay.
Before you sign up, it’s important to carefully consider the rewards program you want to pursue, since you are stuck with it. If you fly a lot, the Southwest Rapid Rewards points could be helpful, since it will allow you to add to your program there (if you have one) and you can use the points, once they are converted to Southwest Rapid Rewards, to purchase other travel perks. Consider which rewards are going to be most valuable to you.
You can earn more points by signing up for the Best Western Rewards World MasterCard, or by making purchases with partners like Avis, Diners Club, and FTD.
Best Western Rewards Elite Membership Levels
There are three different levels of Elite membership with the Best Western rewards program. These are dependent on how often you stay at Best Western hotels. You become an Elite member after 10 stays during a calendar year. The three levels of Elite membership are:
- Gold: After you stay 10 nights, you become a gold member. You receive 10% bonus points for each dollar you spend, and you get 1,000 purchase points for every $10 award redemption.
- Platinum: When you have stayed 15 nights in a calendar year, you get a 15% bonus on each dollar spent, in addition to the 1,000 purchase points for each $10 award redemption. Plus, you get complimentary late check outs, and room upgrades.
- Diamond: Once you surpass 30 stays in a calendar year, you get all the Elite member rewards and award redemption points, as well as a 30% bonus for each dollar spent on your stay.
The Best Western rewards program is ideal for someone who has a clear idea of what he or she wants in terms of rewards, and who travels a great deal and likes to stay in the same hotel chain.
