All information about the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card has been collected independently by CardCritics™
Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card Review: Don’t Sleep on It If You Like Wyndham Hotels
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Written by
Harlan Vaughn
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Edited by
Jasmin Baron, CCC™
The Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card is one of those rare cards that hits several sweet spots: strong earnings, valuable benefits and a relatively low annual fee.
If you stay at Wyndham hotel brands, which include roadstop classics like La Quinta and Ramada and upscale Registry Collection and Wyndham Grand properties, having this card can add value while saving you points or money. With over 8,000 hotels globally, you’re likely to find a place to stay nearly anywhere, which makes it an excellent backup (or even primary) hotel chain for your travels.
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Purchase and Balance Transfer APR
0% intro APR for 6 billing cycles on all Wyndham Timeshare Purchases and 0% intro APR for the first 15 billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening. After that, your APR will be 19.99% to 29.99% Variable
Intro Bonus
Earn 45,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days and also earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $500 at Hotels by Wyndham in the first 180 days.
Rewards
Earn 6 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases made at Hotels by Wyndham as well as on qualifying gas purchases.
Earn 4 points per $1 spent on eligible dining and grocery store purchases (excluding Target® and Walmart®).
Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases (excluding Wyndham Timeshare resort down payments).
Recommended Credit Score
Good – Excellent
670 – 850*
Annual Fee
$75
CardCritics™ Opinion
The Wyndham Earner Plus Card is best for families or those prioritizing availability over frills — that’s because Wyndham has few luxury brands, but plenty of midrange options. For a $75 annual fee, you get 7,500 bonus points each anniversary year, Platinum elite status and a 10% discount on award stays. While the bonus points alone can make the annual fee worthwhile, you also get a cardmember rate for paid stays. Between these benefits, it’s an ideal card for most Wyndham guests.
Our Critical Analysis:
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card
- Excellent points-earning on Wyndham stays, gas, dining and at grocery stores
- 7,500 bonus points each anniversary year
- 10% points rebate for every award stay
- Cardmember rate can save money on paid stays
- Introductory APR
PROS
- Annual fee may be off-putting for some
- Elite status is admittedly useless at most Wyndham brands
- Spending on the card won’t help you earn a higher elite status
- Intro APR doesn’t apply to purchases
CONS
Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card Benefits
Bonus Anniversary Points
Every year on your card anniversary (starting the second year), you’ll get 7,500 Wyndham points added to your account just for having the Wyndham Earner Plus Card. While not a free night award like some other hotel credit cards offer, it’s enough for a free night at Wyndham’s lowest tier.
Useful Bonus Categories
You’ll earn 6x points on Wyndham stays and gas purchases, 4x points on dining and at grocery stores (excluding Walmart® and Target®) and 1x points on all other purchases (excluding Wyndham Vacation Club down payments).
Between dining, gas and groceries, most households stand to earn a sizable amount of Wyndham points, plus, of course, extra points when you stay with Wyndham.
Cardmember Discounts at Wyndham
This advertised benefit is actually meaningful. At a hotel near me, cardmembers get $30 off the rate, and in the past, I’ve noticed it’s at least $10 less per night.
Plus, as a cardmember, you get 10% of your points back after you book an award stay. The negative is that you need to have all the points available before you can book, and then you receive 10% back instantly after booking. So if you want to book a hotel that costs 15,000 points per night for three nights, you need 45,000 points in your account, and then you get 4,500 points returned.
This creates a situation where you’ll always have leftover points after booking an award stay, but I’d rather have this benefit than not. It’s worth noting, though, so you can plan for an award stay.
Wyndham Platinum Elite Status
I know I sounded dismissive about Wyndham’s elite status, but it’s worth a mention. Platinum status gets you early check-in and late checkout, along with preferred room choice (subject to availability), free Wi-Fi and 15% more points on top of your base points on paid stays.
Platinum is usually earned after 15 nights, so getting it outright is a nice shortcut. However, some benefits come with heavy caveats. Wyndham says early check-in and late checkout are available “at Participating Hotels, subject to availability, upon Member’s request.” Other hotel chains offer guaranteed late checkout, but Wyndham leaves it up to each individual hotel, so it’s luck of the draw.
This might work at upscale hotels, but in most Wyndham properties, my experience has been, “Sorry, we’re all booked,” or some variation thereof. Most hotels prioritize efficiency over guest experience, and many locations might not even recognize your elite status. Not to be a downer, but don’t expect miracles.
Introductory APR
The Wyndham Earner Plus offers new cardholders a 0% intro APR for 6 billing cycles on all Wyndham Timeshare Purchases and 0% intro APR for the first 15 billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening. After that, your APR will be 19.99% to 29.99% Variable.
That’s handy if you’re in the market for a balance transfer credit card and want to save money by consolidating high-interest debt. Be sure to factor in the card’s balance transfer fee of Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. when you crunch the numbers to decide if a balance transfer is right for you.
Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card Drawbacks
Annual Fee
The $75 annual fee is modest compared to other hotel credit cards, but some people are staunchly opposed to paying one at all. The value and points-earning capability are there, but you can always consider the Wyndham Earner, which has no annual fee, if that’s what you’re looking for.
No Free Night Award
Similar hotel cards offer a free night award that can unlock outsized value. Here, you get 7,500 bonus points each year, which is enough for a low-tier award stay, but those hotels are usually on the cheaper side to begin with. Still, it’s a nice way to get closer to a free night’s stay.
No Path to Diamond
You can sometimes spend your way to a higher elite status with a hotel credit card, but the Wyndham Earner Plus offers no such path. Diamond, the highest tier, adds suite upgrades and a welcome amenity to the list of perks, but again, most Wyndham hotels don’t have suites, and the welcome amenity may just be a bottle of water. So, nothing to write home about.
So if you’re aiming for Diamond status, you’ll need the business version of this card, which includes it as a benefit, or earn it the old-fashioned way (with stays).
Who Is the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Credit Card Best For?
If your travels only require mid-tier hotels with zero frills and you have no need for suites, the Wyndham Earner Plus is a strong choice. I consider it a backup hotel loyalty program, though I find myself using Wyndham points more and more often.
The bonus categories on the card are popular with other travel credit cards, but you could easily spend your way to free nights if they match how you spend. And because Wyndham hotels are prevalent nearly everywhere, it’s another way to expand your options when you travel.
Is It the Right Card for You?
The Wyndham Earner Plus could be right for you if:
- You want a primary or backup hotel program for your adventures
- You spend a lot in the bonus categories
- You want a discount on paid or award stays
- You can use the annual bonus points for a free night
Alternatives to the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card
Is the Wyndham Earner Plus not doing it for you? Consider these as you choose a hotel credit card:
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: IHG hotels are also prevalent. This card comes with an annual free night award that can be valuable, as well as IHG Platinum Elite status and fourth night free on award stays. For a $99 annual fee, you stand to gain more overall value, but award prices can be high at popular hotels. You can also spend your way to a higher status.
- Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®: If you swap bonus points on dining for home-improvement stores and phone plan services, this card may be a better fit. It also follows the bonus anniversary points model and includes cell phone protection. Choice hotels are comparable to Wyndham in a lot of ways, but the details of this card might win you over.
Card Details From Barclays
- Earn 45,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days and also earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $500 at Hotels by Wyndham in the first 180 days. Free nights can require up to 30,000 points per bedroom at participating properties and are subject to availability. Resort fees may apply and cannot be paid with points.
- Earn 6 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases made at Hotels by Wyndham as well as on qualifying gas purchases.
- Earn 4 points per $1 spent on eligible dining and grocery store purchases (excluding Target® and Walmart®).
- Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases (excluding Wyndham Timeshare resort down payments). That means paying bills, buying home office supplies, car repairs, and more are earning you your next great vacation!
- Receive 7,500 bonus points each anniversary year—that’s enough for up to one free night at participating properties.
- Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Cardmembers can save even more on our Standard Rate at participating Hotels by Wyndham.
- Automatically receive a Wyndham Rewards PLATINUM member level and enjoy perks like early check-in, car rental upgrades, and more. Terms Apply.
- Redeem your points for free nights at participating Wyndham Rewards properties, online shopping, gift cards and so much more.
How Does the Wyndham Earner Plus Card Stack Up Against Competitors?
Here’s a comparison of welcome offers, annual fees, rewards and other features at a glance:
| Wyndham Earner Plus Card | IHG Premier Card | Choice Privileges Select Card | |
| Annual Fee | $75 | $99 | $95 |
| Welcome Bonus | Earn 45,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days and also earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $500 at Hotels by Wyndham in the first 180 days. | Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening | Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - enough to redeem for up to 7 reward nights at select Choice Hotels® properties. Additional fees may apply. |
| APR | 0% intro APR for 6 billing cycles on all Wyndham Timeshare Purchases and 0% intro APR for the first 15 billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening. After that, your APR will be 19.99% to 29.99% Variable | 19.24% - 27.74% Variable | 19.74%, 25.49%, or 28.49% Variable APR |
| Rewards Rate | Earn 6 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases made at Hotels by Wyndham as well as on qualifying gas purchases. Earn 4 points per $1 spent on eligible dining and grocery store purchases (excluding Target® and Walmart®). Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases (excluding Wyndham Timeshare resort down payments). | Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases. | Earn 10X points on stays at participating Choice Hotels® properties. Earn 5X points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and on phone plan services. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases. |
| Standout Features | Automatic Wyndham Platinum elite status 7,500 bonus points each card anniversary | Automatic IHG Platinum elite status Annual free night award | Automatic Choice Privileges Platinum elite status 30,000 points each card anniversary |
The information related to the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card, Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card, IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® was collected by CardCritics™ and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for this product.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Credit Card
Is the Wyndham Earner Plus Card worth it?
Yes, the Wyndham Earner Plus Card is worth it if you like Wyndham hotels. The card offers benefits that are well worth the annual fee. As part of your Wyndham stays, you can save points and money while enjoying an elite status upgrade.
What are the benefits of Wyndham Earner Plus?
In addition to the welcome offer, the Wyndham Earner Plus Card’s core benefits are high earnings in bonus categories, 7,500 extra points each card account anniversary, a 10% points rebate on award stays and a cardmember rate on paid stays. Used strategically, it can be valuable.
What is the highest Wyndham Rewards level?
Diamond is the highest Wyndham Rewards elite level, which requires 40 qualifying nights to earn. The other levels are Blue when you enroll in Wyndham’s loyalty program, Gold at 5 nights and Platinum at 15 nights, so Diamond is quite a reach compared to the other tiers, but reasonable compared to other hotel programs.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
*CardCritics™ references a FICO® 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when evaluating your application.
