Wyndham Rewards Visa card review

Wyndham Rewards Visa card review

Updated: January 7, 2021
Updated: January 7, 2021
Ratings Policy
Balance Transfer Rating:
0 rating
0 rating
0 / 5
Introductory Offer:0.0
Net Value:0.0
Features:0.0
Issuer Customer Experience0.0

In a Nutshell:

The 15-month introductory period on the Wyndham Rewards Visa is a long one, though you’ll need to consider whether Wyndham’s short shelf-life on its rewards points makes the rewards program on the card worthwhile. This offer is no longer available.

0% Introductory Period
15 months

Very Good

Transfer Fee
$5 or 3% (whichever is higher)

Excellent

Introductory Purchase APR
None

Poor

Regular APR
16.74-26.49% (variable)

Average

Annual Fee
$0

Excellent

Barclays Customer Service Ratings

  • J.D. Power 2020 customer satisfaction rating: 796 (80% of issuers in this category ranked higher)
  • 24/7 customer service?: Yes
  • Online chat available?: Yes
  • Google Play Store mobile app rating: 4.1/5
  • Apple Store mobile app rating: 4.1/5
Excellent

Other Notable Features: Gold level membership, no foreign transaction fee, 10 points per dollar or 1,000 points on eligible stays (whichever is greater), rollover nights never expire, free wi-fi, dedicated member services, preferred room, late checkout, free FICO credit score, car rental insurance, travel and emergency services, price protection, return protection, purchase security, zero liabilityy

Ratings Policy
Rewards Rating:
0 rating
0 rating
0 / 5
Rewards Value:0.0
Annual Percentage Rate:0.0
Rewards Flexibility:0.0
Features:0.0
Issuer Customer Experience0.0

In a Nutshell:

The Wyndham Rewards Visa card offers an above average rewards rate on hotel and general purchases; but Wyndham points aren’t worth as much as the average card rewards point, so the hotel card’s rewards program isn’t as valuable as it seems. This offer is no longer available.

Rewards Rate

  • 3:1 Wyndham hotel stays
  • 2:1 gas, utilities and groceries
  • 1:1 general spending
Poor

Sign-up Bonus
15,000 after your first purchase or balance transfer

Average

Annual Bonus
None

Poor

Annual Fee
$0

Excellent

Average Yearly Rewards Value ($1,325 monthly spend)
$190

Poor

APR
16.74-26.49% (variable)

Poor

Rewards Redemption

Pros:

  • Can redeem points for Wyndham hotel stays, gift cards, merchandise or travel with airline partners.
  • No limit on the number of points you can earn.
  • No travel blackout dates when you pay for a room with only points
  • Can pay for hotel stays with partial points.
  • Same flat rate of 15,000 points per standard hotel room at most properties.
  • Can transfer points to 20 partner airlines, but at a poor transfer rate.

Cons:

  • Points expire after four years.
  • Blackout dates may apply when you pay for travel with partial points.
  • Travel must be booked through rewards program.
  • Transfer rate for airlines is poor.
Excellent

Barclays Customer Service Ratings

  • J.D. Power 2020 customer satisfaction rating: 796 (80% of issuers in this category ranked higher)
  • 24/7 customer service?: Yes
  • Online chat available?: Yes
  • Google Play Store mobile app rating: 4.1/5
  • Apple Store mobile app rating: 4.1/5
Excellent

Other Notable Features: Gold level membership, no foreign transaction fee, 10 points per dollar or 1,000 points on eligible stays (whichever is greater), rollover nights never expire, free wi-fi, dedicated member services, preferred room, late checkout, free FICO credit score, car rental insurance, travel and emergency services, price protection, return protection, purchase security, zero liability

CardMatchFind card offers for you: This card is not currently available on CreditCards.com, but you can still find a great card offer for you! Our CardMatch tool can help match you with prequalified offers and cards that align with your credit history – with no harm to your credit score. Get personalized offers from our partners in seconds.

Note: This card offer is no longer available from the issuer. New Wyndham cards from Barclays are now available.

If you prefer to stay at hotels and resorts in the Wyndham family and are looking for a no-annual-fee card, the Wyndham Rewards Visa credit card may be worth a look. Many well-known brands fall under the Wyndham umbrella, including Days Inn, Dolce, Super 8, Baymont, Tryp, Wyndham Grand hotels and resorts, Microtel, Ramada and Travelodge.

This no annual fee hotel card offers a fair rewards rate with bonus earnings on gas and groceries and a simple redemption structure you can use to your advantage if you aspire to stay in a luxury hotel. But unlike its annual fee cousin, the Wyndham Rewards Visa Signature card, the Wyndham Rewards Visa card offers three points per dollar spent at a Wyndham property (compared to five points for the Visa Signature card), and the sign-up bonus is 15,000 points (compared to 30,000). That 15,000-point sign-up bonus is worth about $100 — enough for one night’s hotel stay — but well below what many competitors offer.

Average rewards rate

The card offers three points per dollar on stays at Wyndham hotels, two points per dollar on gas, grocery and utility purchases and one point per dollar on all other purchases. This is a fairly average earning scheme for a hotel card, though many general rewards cards offer  much better earning schemes. On the bright side, if you are a fan of Wyndham hotels, the card at least offers an opportunity to accrue some extra points on your gas and grocery purchases.

Below average rewards value

Unfortunately, Wyndham points are typically worth just a fraction of the average credit card rewards point if you redeem your points for a standard room at a non-luxury hotel, so its rewards offer isn’t nearly as generous as it seems. Most credit card rewards points are each worth at least a penny.

You may be able to get more value out of your rewards points, though, if you redeem your points for stays in pricier cities, such as New York City or San Francisco, or if you choose a luxury hotel. Wyndham charges the same flat rate for every rewards-funded hotel stay, so a standard room that typically costs $200 a night will give you a lot more value than a room that costs $80 a night.

Points expire after four years

Unforutnately, Wyndham points expire four years from the date that they are posted to your account. This is a very short lifespan compared to other hotel program’s rewards points, most of which don’t expire as long as the card is active. With a four year limit on points, many card owners may have a difficult time accumulating enough Wyndham rewards points to redeem for a hotel stay before the points expire.

Flat redemption rate for every Wyndham hotel

Wyndham’s simple redemption structure is, by far, this card’s most appealing feature. Wyndham sets itself apart from other hotel rewards programs by charging a flat number of points – 15,000 per night – for any standard hotel room, no matter what type of hotel you choose. So if you opt to stay in a luxury hotel or if you plan to stay in an expensive city, you could get substantially more value out of your rewards.

If you plan to stay at a lower cost hotel, you may be better off redeeming just part of your rewards. Wyndham gives cardholders the option of paying for part of a hotel stay with 3,000 points – a roughly $20 discount.

Modest sign-up bonus

As a reward for signing up, the Wyndham card offers 15,000 bonus points – the equivalent of one free night at a hotel. The bonus is significantly less generous than many competitors offer. Some no annual fee hotel cards, for example, offer bonuses worth up to $300 or more. But if you choose your hotel wisely, you could get some respectable value out of the reward.

Huge network

Wyndham operates roughly 7,800 hotels and resorts in 72 cities. Brands that fall under the Wyndham umbrella include Tryp, Wingate, Hawthorn, Microtel, Ramada, Baymont, Days Inn, Super 8, Howard Johnson, Travelodge and Knights Inn.

Why get the Wyndham Rewards Visa card?

  • You want a card with an extensive hotel network.
  • You want a card with a simple rewards structure.
  • You plan to redeem your rewards for a pricier room in an expensive city or at a luxury hotel.

How to use the Wyndham Rewards Visa card:

  • Look for Wyndham-brand hotels when you travel and use your card to book your reservation.
  • Supplement your rewards earnings by using your card for gas, grocery and utility purchases.
  • Be choosy about how you redeem your rewards. You’ll get more value out of your rewards if you use them to book a pricier standard hotel room.
  • If you plan to stay at a budget hotel, consider paying for your visit with partial points.

Is the Wyndham Rewards Visa card worth it?

The Wyndham Rewards Visa falls short as a hotel rewards card, and will only appeal to Wyndham hotel loyalists looking to avoid an annual fee. Though it boasts a wide network and a refreshing flat rate redemption structure across hotels, this card’s below average rewards value, unimpressive sign-up bonus and poor point transfer rate make it hard to recommend for the average cardholder. Still, if you frequent Wyndham hotels and want a chance at a deal on a pricier room, it may be worth a look.

Our reviews and best card recommendations are based on an objective rating process and are not driven by advertising dollars. However, we do receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Learn more about our advertising policy

All reviews are prepared by CreditCards.com staff. Opinions expressed therein are solely those of the reviewer and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, presented in the review is accurate as of the date of the review. Check the data at the top of this page and the bank’s website for the most current information.

Responses to comments in the discussion section below are not provided, reviewed, approved, endorsed or commissioned by our financial partners. It is not our partner’s responsibility to ensure all posts or questions are answered.