How to Use Wyndham Rewards for Free Hotel Stays

If you find yourself staying at certain hotels in one brand family, it can make sense to sign up for the loyalty program. You’ll be able to earn rewards by staying at a variety of hotels — and be able to redeem at hotels in the brand family. You might also get access to additional perks, such as rental car upgrades.

The Wyndham Rewards program is one such opportunity to take advantage of your loyalty to a hotel brand family. Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering joining Wyndham’s program and how can enhance your status with the right credit cards.

Overview: Wyndham Rewards program

Wyndham Rewards is the program offered by the Wyndham hotel family and offers perks in exchange for frequent stays. It’s free to join, and you don’t have to pay a fee to remain a member. 

You can earn rewards by staying at participating hotels and redeem your points later for free hotel stays, activities, gift cards, or even gas discounts. On top of that, you may also get access to additional perks, such as rental car upgrades, room upgrades, and more. 

The hotel brands owned by Wyndham include:

There are a range of hotels, from budget choices to more exclusive and expensive hotels and resorts. This allows consumers with different budget needs the opportunity to participate in the rewards program.

Wyndham Rewards tiers, explained

As with many loyalty programs. Wyndham Rewards comes with different tiers. Each level comes with particular benefits and perks. However, the higher the tier, the harder it is to qualify. Here’s what you need to know about each membership level.

1. Blue

Once you enroll, you get access to this tier. You can receive savings at the Blue level, since you can get the Best Available Rate at more than 8,000 Wyndham properties (with the exception of La Quinta). Other perks include:

• Free Wi-Fi
• Rollover nights never expire
• When you book an award night in a participating city, you can get a small discount on a local experience

You receive 10 points per dollar spent on each qualified stay, or 1,000 points — whichever is greater. This can help you earn points faster, even when you stay at less-expensive hotels.

2. Gold

In order to reach Gold tier, you need to stay just five nights. As with the Blue level, you get access to the Best Available Rate in participating properties. You also get the same perks, like free Wi-Fi. However, you get extra benefits, too, including:

• $10 discount on a local experience when you book an award night in a participating city
• Dedicated member services, allowing you more personalized service
• Preferred room choice
• Late checkout

Plus, you get accelerated earning on qualified stays. You get 10% more points on those stays, helping you boost your ability to receive rewards you can redeem.

3. Platinum

Once you stay 15 nights, you’re moved into the Platinum level. This level is where you start seeing additional perks that go beyond just what you get for staying at a hotel. In addition to all the same benefits seen at the Gold level, you also get:

• Early check-in
• Caesars Rewards Status Match, allowing you take advantage of perks at Caesars Entertainment casinos
• Free upgrades on car rentals through Budget or Avis (when available)

As you can see, the extra perks can be quite valuable once you reach this tier. You also earn 15% more points for qualifying stays.

4. Diamond

The highest membership level is Diamond, which can be attained by staying 40 nights. In addition to the perks offered at the Gold level, the Diamond level comes with the following:

• Two free tickets to a local experience when you book an award night in a participating city
• Get upgraded to a suite each time you stay, even if you’re using an award night
• Receive a complimentary beverage or snack at participating hotels when you check in
• Gift a Gold membership to a family member or friend each calendar year

You also earn points faster, receiving 20% more bonus points for qualifying stays. If you have Diamond status, you can get extra perks and enjoy the ability to earn award nights faster.

How to qualify for premium membership tiers faster

If you want to move up to a higher membership tier more quickly, one of the easiest ways is to get a Wyndham Rewards Earner Card or Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card. Each card comes with an automatic bump in status, as well as a way to earn free nights faster by accelerating the speed at which you earn points. The two credit cards share a similar name but differ in the fees they charge, so do a comparison to find the best hotel credit card for you.

Wyndham Rewards Earner Card

The no-annual-fee credit card comes with automatic Gold status. Some of the ways you can earn points faster include:

• Earn 45,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 in the first 180 days
• 5X points for eligible gas purchases and participating By Wyndham hotels, Wyndham Vacation Rental North America properties, and Wyndham timeshare properties
• 2X points on eligible dining and grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart)
• 1X points on all other purchases

With the help of this card, you start out with Gold perks and can quickly earn points so you can redeem for free nights faster. You could even use this as a balance transfer card, since it offers an introductory APR (annual percentage rate) of 0% for transfers posted in the first 45 days from account opening, and this rate lasts for the first 15 billing cycles (then 20.99% to 29.99% (variable)).

Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card

This version of the card comes with a $75 annual fee, but the perks might be worth it, especially if you travel frequently and stay at Wyndham properties. Plus, you get Platinum status immediately by having this card.

Here’s how you can supercharge your ability to earn reward points with this credit card:

• Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in the first 180 days
• 6X points on participating By Wyndham hotels, Wyndham Vacation Rental North America properties, Wyndham timeshare properties, and gas purchases
• 4X points on eligible dining and grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart)
• 1X points on all other purchases
• Receive 6,000 bonus points on your cardmember anniversary

This card also comes with the same intro APR of 0% for transfers posted in the first 45 days from account opening, and that lasts for 15 months (then 20.99% to 29.99% (variable)).

Match your status from another hotel loyalty program

Perhaps an even simpler way to earn elite status with Wyndham is to use your memberships with other hotel brands.

If you’ve already earned an elite membership status in another hotel’s loyalty program, Wyndham will match that status to an equivalent Wyndham Rewards level. Memberships with brands like Hilton, Hyatt, Starwood, and Marriott are honored. To start, just visit Wyndham’s status match page and sign in.

Note that the status match is only good for 90 days. To maintain your new elite membership with Wyndham, you’ll need to stay seven to 14 nights in those first three months. Then your elite status will be activated for the normal amount of time.

Wyndham Rewards FAQs

If you’re considering joining Wyndham Rewards, here are some things you need to know.

Bottom line

If you stay at Wyndham properties frequently, you can get rewarded by using the loyalty program. Earn points toward free nights and even get extra perks as you progress up membership tiers. Since it doesn’t cost anything to join, you can receive free perks for travel you’d be doing anyway. Finally, enhance your rewards with a Wyndham credit card or one of the best travel credit cards that will allow you to transfer or pool your points. 

Earn Rewards for Wyndham Stays

Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card

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Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card

Compare Credit Cards

Current Offer

75,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in the first 180 days

Annual Fee

$75

Rewards Rate

6X points at participating By Wyndham properties and gas purchases; 4X on eligible dining and grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart); 1X on everything else

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• 75,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in the first 180 days
• Earn up to 6X points on eligible purchases
• Automatic Wyndham Rewards Platinum level membership
• Earn 7,500 bonus points each year on account anniversary
• No foreign transaction fee

Drawbacks

• Has annual fee
• Best suited for loyal Wyndham customers

Card Details

• 75,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in the first 180 days
• 6X points at participating By Wyndham properties and gas purchases; 4X on eligible dining and grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart); 1X on everything else
• Intro purchase 0% APR offer: 0% on Wyndham timeshare purchases for 6 billing cycles then 20.99% to 29.99% (variable)
• Intro balance transfer 0% APR offer: 0% for transfers posted in the first 45 days from account opening for 15 months then 20.99% to 29.99% (variable)