What the Best Western Credit Card Does
The Best Western Credit Card is a co-branded rewards card issued by Citi in partnership with Best Western Hotels & Resorts. It earns points on every purchase you make, with bonus points when you stay at Best Western properties or use the card for travel-related expenses. Points convert to free nights, room upgrades, and other rewards within the Best Western loyalty program.
The card comes with an annual fee, which varies depending on which version you choose. There are typically two tiers: a standard card and a premium card with higher benefits and a higher fee. Both versions offer perks like free night certificates and elite status benefits if you stay frequently at Best Western hotels.
This card is designed for people who stay at Best Western properties regularly or who want to earn rewards on everyday spending that they can redeem for hotel stays. If you rarely travel or don't stay at chain hotels, the annual fee may not be worth the benefit.
Key Takeaways
- The Best Western Credit Card earns points on all purchases, with higher earning rates for hotel stays and travel expenses.
- You pay an annual fee to hold the card, and the amount depends on whether you choose the standard or premium version.
- Points can be redeemed for free nights at Best Western properties, room upgrades, and other travel rewards.
- The card includes perks like anniversary free night certificates and elite status benefits that may offset the annual fee if you stay at Best Western hotels multiple times per year.
How to Earn Points with This Card
You earn points on every dollar you spend, regardless of where you use the card. The base earning rate is typically 1 point per dollar on most purchases. When you use the card to pay for a stay at a Best Western hotel, you earn bonus points — usually 5 to 10 points per dollar, depending on your membership tier and the specific promotion running at the time.
Travel purchases beyond hotels also earn bonus points. This includes airline tickets, rental cars, and other travel-related expenses charged to the card. The exact bonus rate varies, so check your card's terms or the Best Western website for current earning rates.
You also earn points through the Best Western loyalty program itself when you stay at hotels, even if you don't use the card. The card accelerates this earning, so members who use it for both card spending and hotel stays accumulate points faster than those who only stay at the hotels.
Annual Fees and What You Get in Return
The standard version of the Best Western Credit Card has an annual fee, typically in the $95 range, though this can change. The premium version costs more — often around $195 or higher — but includes additional benefits like a free night certificate each year and higher elite status perks.
Both versions usually include an anniversary free night certificate after your first year of membership, which can offset part or all of the annual fee depending on the card tier and current hotel rates. The premium card often includes additional perks like room upgrades, late checkout, and faster elite status progression.
To decide whether the fee is worth it, calculate how many nights you stay at Best Western properties per year and what those free night certificates would cost. If you stay fewer than one or two nights per year, the annual fee will likely cost you more than you save. If you stay multiple times per year, the free night certificate and other benefits can make the card worthwhile.
How to Redeem Points for Rewards
Points are redeemed through your Best Western account online or through the Best Western mobile app. You log into your account, navigate to the rewards section, and browse available redemptions. Most commonly, you use points to book free nights at Best Western properties.
The number of points required for a free night varies by hotel location and season. A budget property in a less popular area might cost 10,000 to 15,000 points per night, while a premium property in a major city could cost 40,000 points or more. Best Western publishes a points chart so you can see the cost for specific hotels before you book.
Beyond free nights, you can redeem points for room upgrades, airline miles through transfer partners, gift cards, and other travel rewards. Some redemptions offer better value than others, so compare the point cost against what you would pay in cash before deciding.
Comparing This Card to Other Hotel Credit Cards
Other major hotel chains offer co-branded credit cards with similar structures: Marriott, Hilton, IHG, and Hyatt all have cards that earn points and offer annual benefits. The main differences come down to which hotel chain you stay with most often, the annual fee, and the value of the perks included.
If you stay primarily at Best Western properties, this card makes sense because your points won't expire as long as you have account activity, and you earn bonus points at the hotels you already use. If you split your stays across multiple chains, a card from the chain where you stay most frequently, or a general travel rewards card, might offer better overall value.
Some general travel rewards cards (like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or American Express Gold) earn points on all travel and dining purchases without being tied to a single hotel chain. These cards let you transfer points to multiple hotel partners, giving you more flexibility — but they typically have higher annual fees and may not offer the same perks as a co-branded card if you're loyal to one chain.
What Happens When You Close Your Account
If you close the card, your points remain in your Best Western account as long as you have some form of account activity. Activity includes staying at a Best Western hotel, using another Best Western credit card, or logging into your account. Points do not expire straightforward because you closed the card.
However, if your Best Western account itself becomes inactive — meaning no hotel stays, no card use, and no logins for an extended period — Best Western may close the account and forfeit your points. The exact inactivity period varies, so check Best Western's current policy or contact their customer service to confirm.
If you're considering closing the card to avoid the annual fee, you can keep your Best Western account open and your points intact by maintaining some form of activity, even if you don't use the card itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to stay at Best Western hotels to make this card worth it?
No. You earn points on all purchases, so even if you never stay at a Best Western hotel, you can accumulate points and redeem them eventually. However, the annual fee makes more sense if you stay at Best Western properties at least once or twice per year, since the free night certificate can offset the cost.
Can I transfer my points to another person?
Best Western does not allow direct point transfers between accounts. However, some redemption options — like airline miles — can be transferred to a travel partner's account once you've converted your points. Check Best Western's redemption options for specifics on what can be transferred.
What's the difference between the standard and premium versions of this card?
The premium version has a higher annual fee but includes additional benefits like a higher-value free night certificate, faster elite status progression, and perks like room upgrades and late checkout. The standard version has a lower fee and fewer perks. Choose based on how often you stay at Best Western hotels and whether the extra benefits justify the higher cost.
Do my points expire?
Points do not expire as long as your Best Western account remains active. Activity includes staying at a hotel, using a Best Western credit card, or logging into your account. If your account becomes inactive for an extended period, Best Western may close it and forfeit your points.
Can I use this card outside the United States?
Yes, the card works internationally wherever Visa is accepted. However, you may be charged foreign transaction fees depending on your card's terms. Check your card agreement or contact Citi to confirm the foreign transaction fee rate before traveling.