Greatest Western Rewards: Methods to earn and redeem factors, elite standing and extra

Greatest Western Rewards stays comparatively unknown on the planet of factors and miles. This system would not have any main bank card switch companions, and its cobranded bank cards aren’t on most vacationers’ radar. But when you end up staying at Greatest Western properties regularly for work or pleasure, there’s loads of worth available in this system.

Greatest Western Rewards factors are surprisingly worthwhile for those who journey to Europe, Asia and particular components of the U.S. and Canada. Whereas Greatest Western is not recognized for luxurious resorts, it does have a set of higher-end, boutique-focused manufacturers just like the BW Signature Assortment, the BW Premier Assortment and the millennial-focused Vib.

You may earn and redeem Greatest Western Rewards factors at these and different manufacturers in Greatest Western’s broad portfolio. Right here, we’ll cowl incomes and redeeming factors, journey companions, elite standing and all the pieces else you must know concerning the Greatest Western Rewards loyalty program.

Associated: Greatest resort rewards applications on the planet: Which one is best for you?

Greatest Western Rewards resort manufacturers

Greatest Western Rewards at the moment covers 19 resort manufacturers, starting from the budget-friendly SureStay to the boutique WorldHotels assortment:

• @Residence by Greatest Western
• Aiden by Greatest Western
• Greatest Western
• Greatest Western Plus
• Greatest Western Premier
• BW Premier Assortment
• BW Signature Assortment
• Govt Residency by Greatest Western
• Glo
• Sadie Greatest Western
• SureStay
• SureStay Plus
• SureStay Assortment
• SureStay Studio
• WorldHotels Crafted
• WorldHotels Distinctive
• WorldHotels Elite
• WorldHotels Luxurious
• Vib

Associated: Earn bonus factors by registering for resort promotions

Methods to earn Greatest Western Rewards factors

There aren’t as some ways to earn Greatest Western Rewards factors as there are to earn World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors factors. Nevertheless, you may nonetheless earn factors by staying at Greatest Western resorts and utilizing cobranded bank cards, in addition to via choose retail companions.

Here is a take a look at all the methods you may earn Greatest Western Rewards factors.

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Keep at Greatest Western properties

As with most resort loyalty applications, you will earn Greatest Western Rewards factors based mostly in your elite standing and the way a lot you spend on a resort room. Most Greatest Western resorts award 10 factors per greenback spent (earlier than taxes and charges) to fundamental Blue members; at an Govt Residency, SureStay Studio or @Residence by Greatest Western property, you’ll earn 5 factors per greenback spent.

So, for those who keep at a Greatest Western property for 3 nights with a pretax nightly fee of $100, you will earn 3,000 factors in your keep for those who’re a Blue member.

In case you have Greatest Western Rewards elite standing, you will earn a share bonus on paid Greatest Western stays. The upper your standing, the extra factors you will earn. Here is what number of bonus factors every standing tier earns:

• Gold: 10%
• Platinum: 15%
• Diamond: 30%
• Diamond Choose: 50%

For a similar three-night keep talked about above, a top-tier Diamond Choose member would earn a complete of 4,500 Greatest Western Rewards factors.

One factor to notice: You may solely earn Greatest Western Rewards factors and use your elite advantages on Greatest Western stays you e-book immediately with Greatest Western; stays booked via Expedia, Orbitz, Chase Journey℠ and different on-line journey companies are usually not eligible. So, just be sure you e-book all of your Greatest Western stays immediately if you wish to earn factors and elite standing. Oftentimes, you will get the identical fee (or higher) as for those who booked via an OTA.

Associated: Causes to keep away from reserving via a web based journey company

Spend on Greatest Western cobranded bank cards

Greatest Western has two U.S. cobranded bank cards issued by First Financial institution & Belief and managed by Mercury Monetary. Each of those playing cards have a welcome bonus, earn bonus factors on Greatest Western purchases and embrace free Greatest Western standing. Here is a take a look at each playing cards and what they provide:

• Greatest Western Rewards® Visa Signature® Card (no annual price): Welcome supply of as much as 40,000 bonus factors with qualifying spending; plus, you will obtain an extra 10,000 bonus factors every anniversary after spending $5,000 every cardmember yr. You will get automated Gold standing and earn an extra 4 factors per greenback spent on Greatest Western purchases along with your card, netting you a complete of as much as 15 factors per greenback spent on Greatest Western stays once you pay along with your card.
• Greatest Western Rewards® Premium Visa Signature® Card ($89 annual price): Welcome supply of as much as 80,000 bonus factors with qualifying spending. You will additionally obtain one free night time award every account anniversary and an extra free night time award once you spend $10,000 that cardmember yr. Along with these bonus factors and free night time awards, you will take pleasure in automated Platinum standing and earn an additional 10 factors per greenback spent on Greatest Western purchases, so you will successfully earn as much as 23 factors per greenback spent for stays you pay for with the cardboard.

The data for the Greatest Western Rewards Visa Signature and Greatest Western Rewards Premium Visa Signature playing cards has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

These playing cards might be good choices for somebody who regularly stays at Greatest Western resorts and actually values having prompt standing perks and elevated earnings on Greatest Western purchases. Nevertheless, vacationers who change resort chains regularly could have higher luck with a card that earns transferable factors, just like the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Whereas they do not include elite standing, these playing cards earn bonus factors on all resort manufacturers and different journey, and you’ll switch your factors to a lot of resort and airline companions for distinctive redemptions. That is why TPG values Chase Final Rewards factors at 2.05 cents every as of December 2024, in comparison with 0.6 cents every for Greatest Western Rewards factors.

Associated: One of the best resort bank cards

Order flowers for extra bonus factors

Whereas Greatest Western would not have a buying portal or a eating program, it companions with Teleflora to award factors once you order flowers on-line. You may earn 1,250 Greatest Western Rewards factors on every Teleflora flower supply order (see Greatest Western’s web site for particulars). Make sure you do your analysis and decide if that is well worth the cash. Likewise, evaluate earnings with different resort and airline loyalty applications to see for those who can earn extra factors elsewhere.

Lease automobiles via Greatest Western

Greatest Western has partnerships with a number of main rental automobile corporations like Price range and Nationwide to present members reductions on automobile leases. These partnerships additionally permit you to earn Greatest Western Rewards factors on automobile leases; some earn on a per-dollar foundation, whereas others award a flat variety of factors per rental. You may view all of Greatest Western’s partnerships on its web site and see if renting a automobile via Greatest Western is smart in your journey plans.

Simply word which you could’t use company codes and, in lots of circumstances, you will not earn rental automobile rewards once you e-book via Greatest Western. Earlier than you e-book, make it possible for the Greatest Western Rewards factors you’d earn offset every other factors or reductions you are eligible for.

Associated: Bank cards that supply rental automobile insurance coverage

Probably the most worthwhile option to redeem your factors is by reserving free nights at Greatest Western properties worldwide. There are different redemption choices accessible, like reward playing cards and merchandise, however you will usually get a a lot decrease worth in your factors once you redeem for these.

For instance, a $10 Greatest Western reward card will set you again 2,000 Greatest Western Rewards factors, providing you with a worth of 0.5 cents per level — decrease than TPG’s December 2024 valuation of 0.6 cents per level. We suggest avoiding these redemptions and utilizing your factors for Greatest Western award stays as an alternative.

E-book award stays with Greatest Western Rewards factors

Greatest Western would not publish an award chart; award pricing varies by resort and once you e-book. In accordance with Greatest Western, free nights vary from 5,000 to 70,000 factors per night time, and we have discovered that resorts with greater money charges usually price extra factors.

Viewing award-night pricing is easy. Simply head to the Greatest Western web site, enter your search standards and examine the “Use Rewards Factors” field.

When your search outcomes load, you will notice all Greatest Western resorts close to your vacation spot together with their factors price. While you discover a resort you want, click on the yellow “View Rooms” button to see all accessible rooms and charges.

You need to use Greatest Western Rewards factors to e-book customary and premium rooms. Premium rooms will usually price extra factors, however generally they’re solely somewhat dearer than customary rooms — and even the identical worth.

As an example, on the Greatest Western Firestone Inn & Suites, you may e-book a typical room for twenty-four,000 factors per night time or a mountain-view suite for 28,000 factors. On the Greatest Western Plus Boulder Louisville, a set prices 40,000 factors per night time, the identical quantity you’d pay for the standard room. In these circumstances, you might be able to get extra worth out of your factors by reserving upgraded rooms for a similar or barely greater costs.

One phrase of warning, although: All the time examine the money fee earlier than you e-book an award night time. A lot of Greatest Western’s resorts are supposed to be budget-friendly and have low money charges. As a substitute of utilizing your Greatest Western Rewards factors to e-book low-cost nights, you might be higher off paying money and saving your factors to cowl a dearer keep sooner or later. Greatest Western factors by no means expire, so it can save you your factors for a time after they’ll provide the most worth. Simply keep in mind to not hoard your factors too lengthy, as they will lose worth over time.

One of the best resorts to e-book with Greatest Western Rewards factors

Greatest Western has 1000’s of properties worldwide, however a few of them supply higher worth for factors redemptions than others. As a common rule of thumb, you will often get the very best worth in your factors once you redeem them at high-end properties throughout peak seasons, particular occasions or holidays.

For those who want a little bit of inspiration on methods to use your factors, look no additional. Listed here are a few of our favourite Greatest Western Rewards redemptions:

The Cartwright Resort — Union Sq. in San Francisco

Planning a visit to San Francisco and wish to keep within the coronary heart of the motion? The Cartwright Resort is a BW Premier Assortment property in Union Sq., placing you inside strolling distance of all of San Francisco’s major points of interest. And because you’re near the Powell Avenue BART cease, the remainder of the Bay Space — together with the airports — is definitely accessible.

Weekend nights hover round $170 or 28,000 Greatest Western Rewards factors, for a worth of 0.6 cents per level, proper on par with TPG’s December 2024 valuations.

Greatest Western Grant Park Resort in Chicago

The Grant Park Resort provides you entry to all the pieces Chicago has to supply. It is simply steps away from Grant Park and the Artwork Institute of Chicago and a fast L trip from the Magnificent Mile buying district. Due to this central location, the Grant Park Resort is a superb selection for Windy Metropolis first-timers.

Weekend nights in the summertime begin at $200 or 36,000 factors, offering a strong worth of 0.56 cents per level.

Greatest Western Plus Resort Sydney Opera in Paris

The Metropolis of Mild is dwelling to many Greatest Western properties, together with the conveniently positioned Greatest Western Plus Sydney Opera. This resort is inside strolling distance of the Place de la Concorde and Opera Garnier, and the Louvre and different main Parisian points of interest are only a fast metro or taxi trip away.

Fundamental rooms begin round $237 per night time over Valentine’s Day weekend — or you should utilize 40,000 Greatest Western Rewards factors for a worth of about 0.59 cents per level.

Switch Greatest Western Rewards factors to airways

It’s also possible to switch your Greatest Western Rewards factors to 9 airline applications, together with applications with hard-to-earn miles like Alaska Airways Mileage Plan and Asiana Membership. This may not offer you as a lot worth as reserving award nights, however it may be a great way to prime up your airline account steadiness for those who’re going for a particular award ticket.

Listed here are Greatest Western’s switch ratios for every airline associate:

Once more, these transfers are usually not the very best use of Greatest Western Rewards factors, however they might be useful if you end up just a few miles wanting a particular award ticket. To transform your factors into miles, head to Greatest Western’s Redemption Mall.

It is also price noting which you could select to earn airline miles as an alternative of Greatest Western Rewards factors on Greatest Western stays. Greatest Western offers extra choices for incomes miles than transferring them; you may earn miles on the above airways and a number of other others, together with United Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Turkish Airways. See Greatest Western’s journey associate web page for the variety of miles you may earn with every airline. To earn miles this fashion, go to the “Profile & Preferences” part of your account, scroll all the way down to “Incomes Choice,” select your most popular airline associate and enter your frequent flyer quantity.

Associated: Do you have to switch resort factors to airline companions?

Greatest Western Rewards elite standing

The Greatest Western Rewards program has 5 membership ranges: Blue, Gold, Platinum, Diamond and Diamond Choose. Factors by no means expire, and all members have entry to a devoted reservations line and might redeem factors on Greatest Western stays with no blackout dates.

You will earn elite standing based mostly on the variety of qualifying nights you keep in a calendar yr. These are the qualification necessities for every standing tier:

• Blue: Entry degree
• Gold: 5 nights
• Platinum: Seven nights
• Diamond: 15 nights
• Diamond Choose: 25 nights

Award night time redemptions depend towards elite standing, so for those who use your factors for a free keep, these nights will make it easier to work towards the subsequent membership tier.

Elite members additionally earn bonus factors on all Greatest Western stays, calculated as a share of the factors you’ll usually earn as a Blue member:

• Gold: 10%
• Platinum: 15%
• Diamond: 30%
• Diamond Choose: 50%

Moreover incomes factors quicker, there are some perks to Greatest Western elite standing. Members with Gold or greater standing obtain a complimentary bottle of water and 500 bonus factors (the place accessible) upon arrival for every keep. These with Platinum standing or above can take pleasure in early check-in and late checkout upon request.

Standing match from one other resort program

Have standing with one other resort chain? You may make the most of Greatest Western’s Standing Match…No Catch program to match your present resort standing to Greatest Western without cost. We suggest benefiting from this match simply in case you find yourself staying at a Greatest Western property throughout your travels.

To request a standing match, fill out this type on the Greatest Western web site. Members who attain a brand new tier via standing matching in 2024 will keep that tier via March 31, 2026.

Associated: Present resort elite standing match and problem provides

Backside line

Whereas Greatest Western’s properties will not make for probably the most aspirational award bookings, your Greatest Western Rewards factors can turn out to be useful on street journeys, for stays in small cities and different instances once you want a spot to sleep for the night time. And since Greatest Western Rewards factors by no means expire, you may accrue them with out worrying about incomes extra factors or redeeming them at a particular time. We extremely suggest enrolling in this system even for those who do not stay at Greatest Western properties typically.