Review
Updated
Cobranded hotel credit cards are a great way to get extra hotel loyalty points and even a few perks. The Best Western Rewards® Mastercard® is no exception. Best Western fans can earn Best Western rewards, elite hotel status, and more, all with no annual fee. But the card only earns bonus rewards on Best Western purchases, and the non-hotel benefits are limited. See more in our full Best Western Rewards® Mastercard® review.
Best Western Rewards® Mastercard®
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Fair
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= Poor
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= Fair = Poor
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Best
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= Excellent
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= Good
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= Fair
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= Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor
Credit Score
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
23.99% - 27.99%, variable
Rewards Best Western rewards members earn 10 points per $1 on Best Western purchases, plus 3 points per $1 for Best Western purchases, and 2 points per $1 on other purchases.
2x - 13x points
Annual Fee
None
Welcome Offer Earn 40,000 points when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 billing cycles after the account is opened.
40,000 points
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- Big sign-up bonus
- Purchase rewards
- No annual fee
- Hotel benefits
- No everyday bonus categories
- No intro APR offer
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- 40,000 welcome bonus
- No Annual Fee
- Earn 13 points per $1 on Best Western purchases (10 points as a Best Western Rewards® member, 3 points for using your Best Western Rewards® Mastercard®)
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on other purchases
- Automatic Gold Elite Status
- 10% off room rates
Full Best Western Rewards Mastercard review
This credit card is a good fit for: Best Western regulars who want to earn points and a few hotel perks.
Top perks
The Best Western Rewards® Mastercard® has a lot going for it, including many of the perks you expect to see in a hotel card.
Competitive sign-up bonus
Many travel credit cards with no annual fee are light in the sign-up bonus department -- but not the Best Western Rewards® Mastercard®. New cardholders can earn a whopping 40,000 points when they spend $1,000 on their card in the first three billing cycles. This sign-up bonus could get you two nights or more depending on where and when you redeem your points.
Annual bonus points
You're not limited to a single sign-up bonus. You could earn another 20,000 every year you spend $5,000 or more on your Best Western Rewards® Mastercard®.
Earn Best Western points on purchases
If you want even more points, the Best Western Rewards® Mastercard® offers a decent rate on purchases. Specifically, you can earn an extra 3X Best Western points per dollar on Best Western purchases. When you add the 10 points per dollar you'd get for being a Best Western Rewards® member, that's up to 13 points on hotel purchases. Other purchases earn a flat rate of 2X points per dollar.
Best Western isn't a transfer partner for any of the major travel rewards programs. This means the best way to earn Best Western Rewards points is with a cobranded credit card.
No annual fee
A high annual fee can turn a valuable card into a money trap. The Best Western Rewards® Mastercard® avoids that problem by simply not charging an annual fee. Even if you have a year without travel (say, because of a global medical event), you don't have to worry about the cost of keeping your Best Western Rewards® Mastercard® account open. This makes the card affordable for even sporadic travelers who only stay with Best Western a few times a year.
Read more: Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards
Receive complimentary hotel status
A beloved perk of many hotel credit cards is complimentary elite status. The Best Western Rewards® Mastercard® delivers on this expectation with automatic Gold Status for all cardholders.
Most of the perks you'll receive are standard for all Best Western Rewards members, including early check-in and late check-out. But Gold members also receive complimentary water and points when you check in. You'll also earn an extra 10% bonus on the points you earn for eligible stays.
For more options, check out our picks for the best hotel credit cards.
Alternatives to consider
If you want an intro APR: The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card offers a long intro 0% APR on purchases. You won't get Best Western perks, but this card also boasts flexible travel rewards and no annual fee.
If you want more flexible rewards: If you're not a Best Western loyalist, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. The points you earn can be transferred to more than a dozen airline and hotel brands, giving you plenty of ways to put your points to good use. The annual fee is offset by a large sign-up bonus and robust travel protections.
Read more: Best Rewards Credit Cards
As of May. 30, 2024
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Best Western Rewards® Mastercard® |
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card |
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Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
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Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
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Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
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Welcome Offer: Earn 40,000 points when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 billing cycles after the account is opened. 40,000 points |
Welcome Offer: 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases 25,000 points |
Welcome Offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. 75,000 bonus points |
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Rewards Program: Best Western rewards members earn 10 points per $1 on Best Western purchases, plus 3 points per $1 for Best Western purchases, and 2 points per $1 on other purchases. 2x - 13x points |
Rewards Program: 1.5 points per dollar |
Rewards Program: Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases |
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Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
Intro APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers. Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days |
Intro APR: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
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Regular APR: 23.99% - 27.99%, variable |
Regular APR: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) |
Regular APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable |
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Annual Fee: None |
Annual Fee: $0 |
Annual Fee: N/A $95 |
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Highlights:
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Highlights:
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Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
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What could be improved
There aren't a ton of downsides to the Best Western Rewards® Mastercard®, but there are still some things to note.
No bonus points for everyday categories
One noticeable lack for the Best Western Rewards® Mastercard® is that there are no bonus rewards categories for the purchase rewards other than on Best Western purchases.
These days, it's become common for hotel credit cards to offer extra points on everyday purchase categories. For example, the Hilton Honors American Express Card offers premium rewards at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. and gas stations. (Terms apply.) These bonus categories can make it much easier to earn award nights, so the Best Western Rewards® Mastercard® definitely falls below par in this respect.
No intro APR offer for purchases or balance transfers
If you're looking to save on interest, the Best Western Rewards® Mastercard® will be a disappointment. There's no intro 0% APR deal for either new purchases or balance transfers.
Without an APR deal, the only way to avoid interest fees on your Best Western Rewards® Mastercard® is to pay your balance in full before the due date. Considering the card has a fairly high regular APR, this is a good idea.
All in all, introductory APR deals aren't super common on cobranded travel cards. However, the inclusion would have been a nice addition.
Suggested credit score
The Best Western Rewards® Mastercard® is best for applicants with at least good credit, which usually means a credit score of 670 or higher.
However, you may be approved with a lower score. Credit card issuers will look at your entire credit profile, including your payment history and recent new accounts.
Your income may also impact your chances of approval. You must be able to afford to repay your balance, which means minimum income requirements may apply.
The Best Western Rewards Mastercard is right for you if:
The Best Western Rewards® Mastercard® is best for people who regularly stay at Best Western or partner hotels. You'll only earn bonus rewards on Best Western purchases, and you can only redeem them for Best Western stays. If you don't stay at Best Western properties often, then a more flexible travel rewards card may be a better fit.
Our credit card methodology
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
Our Credit Cards Expert
Brittney started her writing career in the world of science, putting her physics degree to good use. Her journey into finance started with building her personal credit, but soon grew into a borderline obsession with credit cards and travel rewards. For the last 7 years, she has enjoyed the ability to share her expertise with readers, as well as the opportunity to interview companies and individuals making an impact on our financial lives. She wholly believe most problems can be solved with the right research -- and a good spreadsheet -- and she specializes in translating complex financial topics into actionable advice to help educate and empower readers.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
Bank of America is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. American Express is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Brittney Myers has positions in American Express. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Mastercard, and Target. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2025 $370 calls on Mastercard and short January 2025 $380 calls on Mastercard. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
For rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Card, click here
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Mastercard.