Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
There is a wide range of hotel options in the Wyndham Rewards program — from budget-friendly hotels like Days Inn and Super 8 through Ramada and Tryp to upscale brands like Wyndham Grand and Registry Collection Hotels. That includes Caesars Rewards locations as well, thanks to its partnership with Wyndham.
With so many options to choose from, which credit card should you use to pay for a Wyndham Rewards hotel: a Wyndham Rewards card or something else? Here’s a closer look.
Comparing credit cards for a Wyndham hotel stay
Aside from using a Wyndham cobranded credit card, you might also consider using a good travel rewards card that earns transferable points. Let’s look at some common options and what you could get when using these cards.
* Bonus value is an estimated value based on TPG’s October 2024 valuations and not the card issuer.
The information for the Wyndham Earner Business, Wyndham Earner Plus, Wyndham Earner and Amex Green cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Which Wyndham Rewards credit card is right for you?
Which card should you use?
In many of life’s choices, you can’t have everything you want at the same time. However, with Wyndham hotel stays, that’s not necessarily true. The most important benefits given to you by having a Wyndham credit card don’t require you to actually pay with that credit card to receive the perk.
Benefits of having a Wyndham credit card
If you hold the Wyndham Earner Plus card, you’ll enjoy benefits like late checkout and room upgrades regardless of what credit card you pay with during your stay.
Interestingly, this even applies to the “cardmember discounted rate” for saving money on hotel bookings. The terms and conditions of this benefit don’t require you to pay with a Wyndham card to unlock the cardmember discounted rates.
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You can enjoy this benefit as long as you are logged in to your associated account when booking online or by providing your account number if booking over the phone.
You’ll also enjoy other benefits with Wyndham Rewards regardless of which card you use to settle your final bill. This includes earning bonus points associated with your elite status tier.
Members earn 10 points per dollar, and elite members can earn 10%, 15% or 20% extra points, depending on their status. This isn’t contingent on paying with a Wyndham credit card. You also don’t need to pay with a Wyndham credit card to take advantage of the reduced rate on Go Free (free night awards) redemptions; this benefit allows cardholders to use 10% fewer points on award stays.
Furthermore, you can enjoy a unique benefit of Wyndham Rewards: rollover nights. Here’s how this works: You need 15 nights per year to qualify for Platinum status and 40 nights to qualify for Diamond.
If you stay 20 nights with Wyndham this year, you have five nights more than you needed for Platinum but not enough to reach Diamond status. Those extra nights will roll over into next year to give you a head start. This benefit is available regardless of how you pay for your stays throughout the year.
What type of points do you want to earn?
If you hold a Wyndham card, these benefits will apply regardless of how you pay, so the question becomes what type of points and how many of them you want to earn.
Do you want to earn an 8.8% return on spending (according to TPG’s October 2024 valuations) and are OK with points that can only be used in one way (i.e., with Wyndham Rewards)? This is your path if you pay with the Wyndham Earner Business card.
Or would you prefer to earn a 5.4% return on spending with the Citi Strata Premier and have options for how to use your points, including transferring them to Wyndham for hotel redemptions?
It’s also worth pointing out that you can earn more rewards by booking through Chase Travel or Capital One Travel with the right card. However, you will likely forgo your status perks and benefits, since these are considered third-party bookings.
Related: 17 ways to earn Wyndham Rewards points for your next redemption
Bottom line
There are many hotel credit cards and numerous other travel rewards credit cards that you could use to pay for an upcoming hotel stay at a Wyndham property. Whether you’re staying at the most expensive or most affordable hotel in the Wyndham Rewards program, the way you earn points and the perks available to you won’t change.
Thus, the decision hinges on the type of points you want to earn — Wyndham Rewards points or transferable points — and the value you assign to them.
Related: It’s easy to earn Wyndham Diamond status — here’s how and why you should care
