The ultimate guide to earning and redeeming Wyndham Rewards
Wyndham Rewards is one of the lesser-known hotel loyalty programs, especially when compared to major players like Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt. But that doesn't mean the program isn't worth your time — especially since Capital One added Wyndham as a transfer partner in 2020.
Wyndham Rewards has some great redemption sweet spots too — think hotel stays in Hawaii for just 15,000 points per night, modern hotels in Mexico City for 7,500 points per night and several low-priced options near Walt Disney World.
If this sounds like something you're interested in, you're in the right place. Here, I'll walk you through the ins and outs of the Wyndham Rewards program. I'll start by taking a look at the program itself, and then move into earning and redeeming points. Let's get started!
Wyndham Rewards overview
The chain has several well-known brands, spanning from the budget-friendly Ramada to higher-end Wyndham Grand properties, that can be found all over the world. In fact, you'll find Wyndham hotels in all inhabited continents and over 80 countries.
But despite having such a sizable worldwide footprint, the Wyndham Rewards loyalty program keeps a pretty low profile. It doesn't have as many bells and whistles as other programs, but it does have a suite of elite status benefits and — as mentioned earlier — remarkable redemption sweet spots that keep Wyndham enthusiasts coming back for more.
Speaking of enthusiasts, Wyndham Rewards has four different elite status levels: Blue, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. Each status level has varying benefits, but top-tier Diamond members can expect space-available suite upgrades, late checkout and other perks. For more information, check out the Wyndham Rewards website.
Elite status
Wyndham Rewards has four status tiers that offer varying benefits. You'll earn status after completing qualifying nights at Wyndham properties. Just keep in mind that nights booked through third-party sites, including online travel agencies, don't count toward elite night qualification.
Wyndham Blue status
All Wyndham Rewards members start as Blue, which doesn't offer much in the way of benefits. Members mainly get free Wi-Fi and access to a members-only discounted room rate.
Wyndham Gold status
Wyndham Rewards members earn Gold status after completing five qualifying nights. Gold members get notable perks like preferred room choice and late checkout (based on availability), a dedicated customer service line and 10% bonus points.
Wyndham Platinum status
It takes just 15 nights to earn Wyndham Platinum status, and members are rewarded with all the perks of Gold status and more. Platinum members qualify for early check-in, rental car upgrades through Avis and Budget, plus a status match to Caesars Rewards Platinum. These members also get a 15% bonus when earning points on hotel stays.
Related: 9 rental car rewards programs you need to know about
Wyndham Diamond status
After 40 nights, Wyndham members earn top-tier Diamond elite status. This tier comes with some impressive perks, including a suite upgrade "every time you stay," including on award bookings. Members also get a free snack or drink at check-in, 20% bonus points on paid stays and the ability to gift Wyndham Gold status to someone else.
Related: Best top-tier hotel elite status for families
How to earn Wyndham Rewards points
There are a few different ways you can earn Wyndham Rewards points, with one of the most obvious being staying at Wyndham's properties worldwide. Further, you can earn Wyndham points with cobranded credit cards, through its shopping portal and other various earning methods. I'll take you through the best ways to earn Wyndham Rewards points in the paragraphs below.
Earn points at Wyndham properties
Like almost all hotel programs, you'll earn points when staying at Wyndham properties based on how much you spend and your Wyndham Rewards status. You'll earn 10 points per dollar spent on all Wyndham Rewards stays regardless of the brand, with each stay earning a minimum of 1,000 points. You'll earn points on the hotel's base rate, so taxes and other fees don't earn points.
As discussed earlier, those with Wyndham Rewards status earn a percentage bonus on all Wyndham stays:
- Gold: 10% or 1 extra point per dollar spent.
- Platinum: 15% or 1.5 extra points per dollar spent.
- Diamond: 20% or 2 extra points per dollar spent.
So if you're a Diamond member and you spend $179 on a single night stay, you'll earn 2,148 points for your stay. On the other hand, a member without status would earn 1,790 on the same stay. If the stay were just $79 per night, a standard member would earn 1,000 points due to the 1,000-point minimum for all stays.
Further, Wyndham frequently offers promotions that give you even more points for your paid bookings. For example, a periodic promotion gives members 5,500 bonus points for every two Wyndham stays. As you'll see later in the article, this means that you'll earn at least one free night for every two stays booked.
Do note that bookings made through third-party online travel agencies are ineligible to earn points. Make sure to book your Wyndham stays on the Wyndham website if you want to earn points and use your elite status benefits.
Earn points with Wyndham cobranded credit cards
Wyndham offers three cobranded credit cards. Each offers benefits like elite status, bonus points and annual fees. If you want to earn Wyndham points on everyday purchases, take a look at the three Wyndham credit cards and assess which is best for your spending habits.
- Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card ($0 annual fee): Earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of account opening. Earn 5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at Wyndham properties and gas stations, 2 points per dollar on grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart) and dining, and 1 point per dollar everywhere else. Additionally, enjoy Wyndham Rewards Gold status as long as the card is open and in good standing, and 7,500 bonus points after spending $15,000 on the card in a single calendar year.
- Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card ($75 annual fee): Earn 45,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of account opening. Earn 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at Wyndham properties and gas stations, 4 points per dollar points on grocery store purchases and dining, and 1 point per dollar everywhere else. Additionally, enjoy Wyndham Rewards Platinum status as long as the card is open and in good standing, and 7,500 bonus points on every account anniversary.
- Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card ($95 annual fee): Earn 45,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of account opening. Earn 8 points per dollar at Wyndham properties and gas stations, 5 points per dollar on marketing, advertising and utilities and 1 point per dollar everywhere else. Additionally, enjoy Wyndham Rewards Diamond status as long as the card is open and in good standing and 15,000 bonus points on every account anniversary.
The information for the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business card, Wyndham Earner, and Wyndham Earner Plus has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
All of these cards are great for earning Wyndham Rewards points quickly, but I highly recommend going with the variant with the $75 annual fee if you can afford it. The 45,000-point welcome bonus is worth $495, per TPG's most recent valuations, and the annual 7,500-point bonus offsets the annual fee. Further, automatic Platinum status is great for those who stay at Wyndham properties a few times a year and want an elevated experience. This status usually requires 15 paid nights per calendar year.
Transfer Wyndham points from Capital One miles or Citi ThankYou points
Additionally, you can transfer Capital One miles to Wyndham Rewards at a 1:1 transfer ratio. This means that 1,000 Capital One miles equal 1,000 Wyndham Rewards points. Other transfer partners may give you more value for your points, but having the option to transfer to Wyndham means you can quickly replenish your Wyndham Rewards balance if you need a few extra points for a specific redemption.
You can earn Capital One miles with cards like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Spark Miles for Business. Each of these cards has its own benefits, but do not include Wyndham-specific benefits like the cobranded cards we mentioned earlier.
Additionally, Citi ThankYou points transfer to Wyndham Rewards at a less attractive ratio. Those with a Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees) or Citi Prestige® Card card can transfer at a 1:1 ratio while Citi ThankYou® Preferred, Citi Rewards+® Card (see rates and fees), Sears Mastercard and Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees) holders can transfer at a 1:0.8 ratio. TPG values Citi ThankYou points at 1.8 cents per point, so we recommend avoiding these transfers unless you need to top up your account for a specific redemption.
The information for the Citi Prestige, Citi ThankYou Preferred and Sears Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Shop through the Wyndham Rewards shopping portal
Wyndham Rewards has a shopping portal that you can use to earn bonus points on all of your online purchases. Just click through the shopping portal before you make a purchase online, and you'll earn a set number of points per dollar in addition to the rewards you already earn with your credit card. If you're looking for a good credit card for online purchases, make sure to check out our roundup of the best cards for online shopping.
Using the Wyndham shopping portal is easy. Head to the website and sign in using your Wyndham Rewards account info. Then, search for the merchant you'd like to shop with and click the "Shop now" button to be redirected to the merchant. You can check out as usual, and the points will be credited to your Wyndham Rewards account within a couple of weeks, although some merchants may take longer to process.
The number of points you'll earn on purchases depends on the merchant. Each merchant offers a different number of points per dollar spent, and these amounts change frequently. The portal also runs promotions from time to time that offer bonus points at specific merchants or after you've spent a certain amount of money through the portal.
Related: Maximizing online shopping portals
How to redeem Wyndham Rewards points
There are several different ways to redeem Wyndham Rewards points, but redeeming for free nights is hands-down the most valuable.
Here's a look at how to get the most from your Wyndham Rewards points.
Redeem for free nights
Using your Wyndham Rewards points for free hotel stays is fairly easy. Wyndham has one of the most straightforward award charts, with only three different award pricing tiers: 7,500, 15,000 and 30,000 points per night. Generally, the premier hotels in major cities will fall into the higher tiers, while more budget-focused properties will fall into the lowest tier.
You'll often find hotels at the 7,500-point tier along major expressways or in off-the-beaten-path destinations. This can be handy on road trips, where you might need a night between stops. These hotel stays can get expensive during holidays and other high-demand travel dates. You may want to stock up on Wyndham Rewards points preemptively if you're a frequent road tripper.
At the 15,000-point tier, you can stay at several different properties in Hawaii. The Club Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Resort is one of the best in this tier as it's on the coast and close to many different restaurants, but far enough away from downtown that you can enjoy the peacefulness of beach life.
Moving onto the 30,000-point tier, you have upscale options in many major cities. Some of the best include the MB Hotel in Miami Beach, The New Yorker in Manhattan and the Wyndham Hotel Melbourne. Each of these can be expensive during large conferences, holidays and other peak travel times, so having a stash of Wyndham Rewards points on hand may save you a considerable amount of money.
Related: 14 best Wyndham properties to book with points
Stretch your miles with points-and-cash nights
You can stretch your points further using Wyndham's "go fast" points and cash redemptions. These redemptions let you combine points and cash to book discounted stays at any of the hotels in Wyndham's portfolio. The cash portion you'll pay depends on the hotel rate. Wyndham has three different award tiers that correspond to the free night tiers mentioned above.
Here's how many points you can use for points-and-cash redemptions for each redemption tier.
| Free night redemption | Points-and-cash redemption |
|---|---|
| 7,500. | 1,500 + cash. |
| 15,000. | 3,000 + cash. |
| 30,000. | 6,000 + cash. |
You can use points-and-cash redemptions to stretch your points even further. If you want to spend a week at a property that costs 30,000 points per night but don't have enough points, using 6,000 points per night can provide a discount and let you stay for your desired amount of time.
Related: How to choose the best hotel loyalty program for you
Redeem for Vacasa vacation rentals
Wyndham has a partnership with Vacasa, which is an Airbnb-like vacation rental service. You can use Wyndham Rewards points to book Vacasa properties for 15,000 points per night per bedroom. This means a one-bedroom apartment rental would cost 15,000 points per night while a two-bedroom would cost 30,000 points per night.
Most Vacasa properties can be booked with Wyndham points, but not all dates are bookable with points. These dates are not listed online and you must call to book Vacasa stays. This can be an excellent way to redeem your Wyndham points if you're willing to put in the work, especially if you can find large one-bedroom properties that sleep multiple people.
Related: Planning for ski season: How I booked a $1,500 vacation rental for just 45,000 points
Bottom line
While Wyndham Rewards isn't the most well-known hotel loyalty program, it has its place. The hotel chain operates a ton of different hotels worldwide, and with only three different redemption tiers, you can score an excellent deal wherever your travel takes you.
If you're just starting with Wyndham Rewards, consider applying for one of Wyndham's cobranded credit cards. The card's welcome bonus will jump-start your points balance and grant you immediate elite status that makes you eligible for room upgrades, bonus points and more.
Additional reporting by Ariana Arghandewal and Johnny Motley.