#9 Among Hotels
Point Value
0.50 ¢
Hobby Score
4.2
Best Western has a practical program aimed at value-focused travelers:
Earning options with Best Western are more limited than with larger hotel programs, but there are still reliable ways to build points. The best options are staying at Best Western properties or opening one of their co-branded credit cards. You can also earn points through retail, car rental, and airline partners.
The best way to redeem Best Western points is for hotel stays across their brands. Best Western does not use an award chart, so award rates track closely with cash prices. We value Best Western points at about 0.6¢ each. If your redemption is near or above that rate, using points is a solid choice. If the value drops below that, paying cash may be smarter, especially at their more budget-friendly properties. You can also save points for higher-end brands where cash rates tend to be higher.
Searching for award stays is simple. Go to the Best Western home page or app, log in, and click “Use Rewards Points” to view points pricing. You can toggle the option off to compare directly to cash rates.
Sweet spots
With programs that lack award charts, outsized value is harder to track down. Across our searches, we found a clear pattern: the higher the cash price, the better the cents-per-point value. Since we peg Best Western points at 0.6¢, anything above that is a strong redemption.
Discover your points' highest-value redemption options. Use the filters to find the optimal sweet spot for your next trip.
Best Western Rewards is best for travelers who value budget-friendly accommodations and stay at Best Western properties a few times per year, whether for work or family trips. The footprint is larger than many expect, with more than 4500 properties across 100+ countries.
Best Western won’t rank near the top of hotel loyalty programs, but it’s a low-commitment system worth joining if you naturally stay at these hotels. If you earn points through road trips or work travel, the Best Western Rewards Premium Visa can be worth considering, especially when the 80,000-point signup bonus is available. The required spend is low, and although the annual fee is $89, you receive a free night certificate each year. With redemptions starting at 5000 points, that bonus can stretch far.
Luxury and Best Western don't generally get said in the same sentence, but they do have several boutique-style brands with nicer rooms and better redemption value. You won’t find outsized redemptions as we value Best Western points at 0.6¢ each. The best way to find redemptions above that is at higher-end properties with higher cash prices. Best Western Rewards isn’t a system to go all-in on, but it’s worth keeping as a supplemental loyalty option.
Best Western Rewards has five levels of elite status. Blue is the entry tier you receive simply for signing up.
Benefits of joining include:
To reach higher status tiers, you must stay a set number of qualifying nights each calendar year.
Here are the four other elite status levels for Best Western and what it takes to reach each level
Since your Best Western points don’t expire regardless of holding one of their credit cards, there isn’t much to be aware of before cancelling a card. Your points will be safe, and with the exception of the free reward night every year with the Premium card, you won’t lose much else in the way of benefits.
