The Wyndham Rewards Visa is SEVERELY underrated

[icyhot]

Wowwww if those are Wyndam properties then I can definitely see this card being very valuable for someone who's a budget traveler. Like Choice

[Anonymous]

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@NRB525 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@kdm31091 wrote:

Like any hotel card it really only makes sense if you frequent Wyndham properties, and some of them are not exactly widespread. So it depends where you live and where you go. I think a lot of people have hotel cards unnecessarily, when the amount they go there doesn't really justify the card (AF or not, it's still an extra account to deal with). Also some reviews I've seen have said that this card is really only average when it comes to value (i.e. putting general spend on it is not competitive in terms of return, and the return on their properties is good but only if you are going frequently, otherwise a cash back card at 2% is probably better in the overall long run).

Keep in mind also that the actual Wyndham Rewards program is free to join without even having the credit card, so that's an option too, for those who stay there occasionally but not enough to warrant having the actual credit card.

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Make sure you are reading reviews of the program after its March 2015 revamp. The program before that point was very lackluster, but after an extensive ramp-up of the program in March, Wyndham rewards is arguably one of the most competitive hotel rewards programs out right now according to "The Points Guy".

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OP you are spot on with this thread. Those of you commenting negatively? You, respectfully, have not done adequate research about Wyndham. With this card and the Cash & Points, you can get at least 1 cent per point value, and in the higher cost properties, 6+ cents per point.

Here's an example:

Travelodge Seattle by the Space Needle. Daily cash rate: $263.46. That would cost you 15,000 points (all properties are 15,000 points if only points are being used. This is NOT the best use of the points). At this expensive property, it works out to 1.7 cents per point, if you used the 15,000 points. Not bad, right?

If you use Cash + Points, however, you pay 3,000 points plus $75. That means you save $188.46 for giving up those 3,000 points, and each of those 3,000 points is 6.2 cents per point in value.

And with both Wyndham credit cards, you get two points per dollar on general spend.

If you go to a web site after searching for something called Hotel Hustle, you are able to get to a map of the area you want to visit, and you will be able to see how many Hyatts (hardly any) Marriotts (more) and Wyndham (many more) properties there are, ranked by the cash and cash+ points options for each of those hotels. It's an eye opener how many Wyndhams show up, and the value of those 3,000 points items.

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As long as it is valued at current rates, it is a wonderful card it appears.

[Anonymous]

Glad it is working for you! Some of their properties are Days Inns and Microtels and I would not want to stay in those properties. Perhaps you have a broader variety near you, like Baymont.

[Anonymous]

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@Sharingan wrote:

I'm a huge fan of hotel credit cards, particularly the ones with free anniversary nights (which this card has in the form of 15,000 points awarded annually). Unfortunately, the Wyndham properties aren't those I tend to stay at when away from home. The card also doesn't appear to offer me much over what my current hotel cards do. It's not bad on its own, but I still have to prioritize Hyatt and IHG. I must say, I'd find it a lot more compatible with my rewards strategy than the SPG card I had not too long ago if I frequented Wyndham hotels.

Admittedly, I've heard the Wyndham name before, but I couldn't associate it with any brands until now. 

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Hyatt is an amazing card and an amazing group of properties as well, especially overseas.

[Anonymous]

I personally have no need for this card at this time simply due to the fact I currently have more points than I know what to do with at Marriott, IHG, and SPG due to being able to expense the majority of my travel. Why use my stash of points when I am getting a check cut for my travel costs?

[Anonymous]

They also own Tryp, http://www.tryphotels.com/en/tryp-hotels.html but as of yet I do not think points work for redemption there. You get points when staying, but redemption is not happening yet anyway. Maybe someday, but I think the Dolce ones I linked before will be first. Who really knows though?

[Anonymous]

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@NRB525 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@kdm31091 wrote:

Like any hotel card it really only makes sense if you frequent Wyndham properties, and some of them are not exactly widespread. So it depends where you live and where you go. I think a lot of people have hotel cards unnecessarily, when the amount they go there doesn't really justify the card (AF or not, it's still an extra account to deal with). Also some reviews I've seen have said that this card is really only average when it comes to value (i.e. putting general spend on it is not competitive in terms of return, and the return on their properties is good but only if you are going frequently, otherwise a cash back card at 2% is probably better in the overall long run).

Keep in mind also that the actual Wyndham Rewards program is free to join without even having the credit card, so that's an option too, for those who stay there occasionally but not enough to warrant having the actual credit card.

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Make sure you are reading reviews of the program after its March 2015 revamp. The program before that point was very lackluster, but after an extensive ramp-up of the program in March, Wyndham rewards is arguably one of the most competitive hotel rewards programs out right now according to "The Points Guy".

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OP you are spot on with this thread. Those of you commenting negatively? You, respectfully, have not done adequate research about Wyndham. With this card and the Cash & Points, you can get at least 1 cent per point value, and in the higher cost properties, 6+ cents per point.

Here's an example:

Travelodge Seattle by the Space Needle. Daily cash rate: $263.46. That would cost you 15,000 points (all properties are 15,000 points if only points are being used. This is NOT the best use of the points). At this expensive property, it works out to 1.7 cents per point, if you used the 15,000 points. Not bad, right?

If you use Cash + Points, however, you pay 3,000 points plus $75. That means you save $188.46 for giving up those 3,000 points, and each of those 3,000 points is 6.2 cents per point in value.

And with both Wyndham credit cards, you get two points per dollar on general spend.

If you go to a web site after searching for something called Hotel Hustle, you are able to get to a map of the area you want to visit, and you will be able to see how many Hyatts (hardly any) Marriotts (more) and Wyndham (many more) properties there are, ranked by the cash and cash+ points options for each of those hotels. It's an eye opener how many Wyndhams show up, and the value of those 3,000 points items.

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Yes!!! I am so glad someone gets it!! I have spent weeks researching this and the results are really astonishing!

Even if you don't have a Go Fast option at your hotel of choice, you can still normally get 1.5 cents per point, which is pretty good.

But when played right (with the Go Fast option), it is pretty easy to get 2 or 3 cents per point, and at 2 points per dollar for general spending on the Wyndham Visa, the card easily turns into a 4%-5% return card when redeemed for hotel stays with Go Fast. Then add in the fact that the cash portion you pay as part of your GO Fast hotel stay then earns 5 points per dollar... Like holy crap!!! This card (and really the Wyndham Rewards program in general) is like the crown jewel for budget travelers!!!

[Anonymous]

Who exactly is responding negatively? I'm not seeing that. And I respect the value of the points for the card but there is very little value if one is not interested in staying at any of these particular properties as someone else pointed out. Seems like its nice for a budget traveler but when it comes to hotels thats not my style preference. Not even sure how this brand is comparable to Hyatt or Marriott...they are in entirely different luxury levels.

[core]

"Underrated"?  That wouldn't be the word I'd use.

I just took a HP for this card (and got approved for what it's worth), so here's my $0.02:

The entire Wyndham Rewards program is a COMPLETE GYP.  When you pay 15k points whether you're staying in Marco Island or BFE Montana, that's a complete waste.  The Super 8 near me costs $39 per night.  I haven't asked about their hourly rates because that was always cheap enough for me.  But Wyndham is equating that with a $450/night resort? What the hay???

I'd even be fine with the "Go Fast" thing where you give up 3k points and pay cash for the rest.  But none of the nearby Super 8's participate in that.  You gotta pay the full 15k points, same as Florida beach properties.  Once again, what the hay?  They really need to adjust this.  Or split the budget hotels off on their own loyalty program; one or the other.  This is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

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@core wrote:

"Underrated"?  That wouldn't be the word I'd use.

I just took a HP for this card (and got approved for what it's worth), so here's my $0.02:

The entire Wyndham Rewards program is a COMPLETE GYP.  When you pay 15k points whether you're staying in Marco Island or BFE Montana, that's a complete waste.  The Super 8 near me costs $39 per night.  I haven't asked about their hourly rates because that was always cheap enough for me.  But Wyndham is equating that with a $450/night resort? What the hay???

I'd even be fine with the "Go Fast" thing where you give up 3k points and pay cash for the rest.  But none of the nearbu Super 8's participate in that.  You gotta pay the full 15k points, same as Florida beach properties.  Once again, what the hay?  They really need to adjust this.  Or split the budget hotels off on their own loyalty program; one or the other.  This is ridiculous.

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You certainly have the right to disagree, but the fact that Wyndham charges the same amount in points for any room in any Wyndham hotel any night (no matter how cheap or expensive the room is) is one of its BEST strengths. If redeeming 15,000 points gets you less than 1 penny per point, pay for the hotel outright and get the points. If redeeming points gets you a higher valuation than 1 penny per point consider the point route. It isn't rocket science.

In the case you cited, the $39 Super 8, the prudent thing to do would be to simply pay for the room instead of using points. Using your points in this scenario would of course give you a terrible redemption rate... however, if you were to simply pay for the room instead, you would actually get an overinflated number of points relative to your spending.

In the case of the $39 Super 8, normally you get 10 points/$1 at Wyndham hotels, so one would expect that you would get $39 x 10 points/$1 = 390 points. However, another benefit of the Wyndham rewards program is that at a minimum you get at least 1000 points per stay, so your expected amount of 390 points would round up to 1000 points. Then add in the fact that you get an additional 5 points/$1 at Wyndham with the Wyndham credit card, and you would get an additional 195 points - in total 1195 points.

Then add in the fact that 3000 points plus a good Go Fast redemption can easily save you $80 on your next hotel stay (I saved over $100 this time). That means after staying at a cheap Super 8 only three days (actually, 2.51 days, on average, in this case), you're easily saving $80 on your stay at a higher end Wyndham property with Go Fast, which is the amount in total you paid for the two nights at Super 8 in the first place. That is simply incredible.