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Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Jennifer is a contributing writer to The Points Guy where she focuses on family travel. She is also the founder of Deals We Like where she helps her readers travel on a deal.
February 14, 2020 • 18 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
Wyndham Rewards recently shifted from a fixed award chart to a three-tier system, with properties now costing between 7,500 and 30,000 points per night.
The latest re-categorization affected about 800 properties, with some moving up or down in tier, impacting the number of points needed for free nights.
Vacation Club properties largely remained at the mid-tier, offering strong value for travelers seeking suites and resort amenities.
Several notable properties worldwide now offer improved redemption value, especially for budget-conscious travelers and families.
What to consider
Award availability can be limited, especially at popular resorts or during peak travel periods, and some properties require minimum-night stays.
Room occupancy limits may apply, particularly at international locations, and standard rooms booked with points may only accommodate two guests.
If a property drops in tier after booking, you may receive a points refund; if it rises, your existing reservation remains at the lower rate unless changed.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed list of standout Wyndham properties where points redemptions now offer particularly strong value after recent category changes.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
With more than 9,000 properties worldwide, Wyndham has one of the biggest footprints among the major chains. With everything from budget-friendly to moderately luxurious properties, Wyndham caters to both the business and leisure traveler. While Wyndham Rewards might not be one of the more popular programs among points-and-miles enthusiasts, there are many gems within the company's brands.
A little more than a year ago, Wyndham moved from a fixed award chart where all redemptions cost 15,000 points a night to a three-tier chart where properties range in cost from 7,500 to 30,000 points per night. While this change was beneficial for budget-conscious travelers, the more desirable and aspirational properties ended up requiring double the number of points.
On Feb. 11, 2020, Wyndham made another adjustment to where properties fall in the three-tiered award chart. Approximately 800 properties moved up or down a tier level, but unfortunately, there is no list of which properties were affected. You can still check the Wyndham site to see the category for a specific property, but here at TPG we went through a mass number of properties to gather a list of the best places to now use your Wyndham Rewards points based on the recent changes.
Note: Check existing reservations to see that property went down a tier. If so, you will receive the difference in points back. For any previously booked reservations that went up a tier, your lower-point reservation will stay intact as long as no changes are made to the reservation.
Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Puerto Rico Golf & Spa Resort (Photo courtesy of Booking.com)
Here are some of the best Wyndham properties to book on points right now.
Wyndham Park City
Shockingly, Wyndham kept almost all of the Vacation Club properties at the Tier 2 level: 15,000 points a night. (There are only three Vacation Club properties at the higher tier level: Wyndham Rio Mar, Wyndham Clearwater Beach Resort and Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek.) This was very exciting news as these are some of the best properties within the Wyndham Rewards program.
One of my favorite Wyndham properties, which also falls into the Vacation Club category, is Wyndham Park City. At this property, you can book a one-bedroom suite with a full kitchen and washer/dryer for just 15,000 points per night. At the base of Canyons Village in Park City, Utah, this is truly a ski-in/ski-out property. From the ski valet in the morning to soaking in the hot tub for apres-ski, this property wins the award for one of the best values within the Wyndham Rewards program. You can also book a two-bedroom suite, if available, for double the number of points.
I was fortunate to just experience this property during prime ski time and would highly recommend it to others — especially for those looking to stay on the mountain in Park City. Although my stay only included myself and my husband, it's a property that I absolutely would consider for a West Coast ski trip with my kids.
Availability on points can be challenging, but if you look far enough out, you should be able to find award availability. Note: Typically you need to book a two- or three-night minimum at this property.
Clearwater Beach is one of my favorite beach destinations in Florida due to the white sugar-like sand and the crystal clear water. I also love the lively beach vibe and the abundance of nearby activities. Although during my visit I stayed at the Hyatt Clearwater Beach & Resort, the Wyndham Clearwater Beach Resort was right next door and blew all of the other hotels out of the water. I had the opportunity to walk around the lobby and pool area and am certain it's one of the best Wyndham properties out there.
There are actually two Wyndham properties right next to each other: the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach Resort and Club Wyndham Clearwater Beach. Although the Club property has large one-bedroom suites, availability with points is pretty limited. The resort rooms are just as nice and new, but your Wyndham Rewards points will only book you into a standard hotel room at 30,000 points a night. During peak dates, you'll want to book far in advance.
Wyndham Grand Clearwater (Photo courtesy of the hotel)
Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs
If you're looking for a Wyndham property that includes Disney World perks, then you might find the Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs to be the perfect property for your visit. Fortunately, it did not change tiers and still costs the same 15,000 points a night. Staying at this property, even on points, will give you access to Extra Magic Hours, 60-day FastPass+ reservations and a shuttle to take you to Disney World. Here you'll have two pools, a splash pad, an arcade, basketball, volleyball and tennis. For families wanting to experience a character breakfast right at the property, you can do that with Goofy and Pluto.
On the flip side, if you're looking to splurge on your Disney vacation, you can stay at the Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek, but that will cost you twice the number of points (30k per night) of the Disney Springs option.
(Photo courtesy of Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista)
Days Inn by Wyndham Aonang Krabi
Although not a fancy property, the Days Inn by Wyndham Aonang Krabi is right in the heart of Ao Nang Beach in Thailand where you can walk to restaurants, shops and get a cheap massage. It's also perfectly situated to allow you to catch a boat to Railay Beach. Although this isn’t a resort area, I found Ao Nang to be a very convenient location for day tours around the area, especially to Phi Phi Island. Best of all, this property is only 7,500 points per night. You'll also find that the Ramada by Wyndham Aonang Krabi right up the street is also now 7,500 points per night (previously 15k points).
Unfortunately, like many properties in Europe and Asia, rooms at this hotel (and the Ramada), when booked with points, only include rooms for two guests. However, cribs are available, so if you are traveling with a baby who doesn’t need its own bed, you’ll be perfectly situated. For everyone else, you might have to book two rooms, but that will still only cost you 15k a night total.
In downtown Charleston, South Carolina, The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel is one of Wyndham's most historic properties. Here you're on Museum Mile where museums, restaurants, historic tours and the waterfront are at your fingertips. After exploring the city for the day, you can relax at the hotel's outdoor pool and courtyard. At 30,000 points a night you can select a room with one king or two double beds.
The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina. (Photo courtesy of The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel)
Silverado Resort and Spa
If you're looking for more of a resort-type setting during a wine-tasting Napa Valley vacation, the Silverado Resort and Spa is the perfect place to redeem your Wyndham Rewards points. Aside from being close to many wineries, right on-site you'll find 10 tennis courts, 10 swimming pools, two PGA champion golf courses and a 16,000-square-foot spa.
This is a unique property, with cottage-like rooms throughout the resort. At 30,000 points per night, you can stay in a room in the Mansion Estates, The Grove or The Cottages. (Only rooms in The Grove will accommodate a family of four.) This gives you a good amount of flexibility to select your ideal location within the property.
Silverado Resort and Spa (Photo courtesy of Booking.com)
Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Puerto Rico Golf & Beach Resort
The Wyndham Grand Rio Mar is an ideal beach destination in Puerto Rico. Forty-five minutes from the airport and close to El Yunque National Forest, this resort features three swimming pools, two oversized whirlpools and many poolside activities. There's also a private stretch of beach just for hotel guests. Beach chairs are complimentary and even during peak dates, you'll never have to fight the crowds to relax in a chair.
Even though this property moved up to the 30,000-point level last year, you can book an amazing room on points as even family suites still price at the 30k point level. These rooms are more than 1,200 square feet and feature one kid bed, a set of bunk beds and a pull-out sofa. Tip: Book early to reserve the largest room possible.
Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Puerto Rico Golf & Beach Resort (Photo courtesy of Wyndham)
Club Wyndham Inn on the Harbor
The Club Wyndham Inn on the Harbor is in Newport, Rhode Island, where you're walking distance to Bowen's Wharf with many restaurants, bars and shopping. You're also only a few blocks away from the International Tennis Hall of Fame and a mile away from the Cliff Walk and Easton Beach.
This is one of Wyndham's many Vacation Club properties in the Newport area, where you can book a one-bedroom superior suite for just 15,000 points a night. (Note: Some of the Vacation Club's in Newport only offer two-bedroom suites, which require 30,000 points a night.)
Alternatively, if you prefer to be closer to the beach, you can stay at the Wyndham Newport Hotel but unfortunately, this property was hit by the category changes and now requires 30,000 points per night. My family stayed here for a weekend stay last summer and although we had a great time, especially since it is only a 15-minute walk to the beach, I personally am not sure I'd pay double the number of points versus staying in town.
(Photo courtesy of Club Wyndham Inn on the Harbor)
Kona Coast Resort
Hawaii is filled with Wyndham properties, such as the Kona Coast Resort. As a Vacation Club property, you can book a 1,000-square-foot villa for just 15,000 points per night. The villa boasts a full kitchen, washer/dryer and a private lanai.
On the property, you'll find two swimming pools, many Jacuzzis, tennis courts, volleyball, fitness center and a playground for kids. There are also on-site activities such as hula lessons. While this is not the fanciest hotel on the island, you'll receive a large room close to many beaches and hiking trails. One thing to keep in mind is that you cannot walk to the beach from this resort.
With many vacation club properties on the island, you might find that another property fits your needs better. Unfortunately, though, availability is limited for many of the properties, and this property typically has at least some availability if you have some date flexibility.
New York City is one of the more expensive city destinations around the world. And even with many hotel options for using points and miles, many times you'll be forced to redeem a decent number of points for a small room solely for a bed to sleep in. At the Club Wyndham Midtown 45, you can stay in a studio suite with a full kitchen for just 15,000 points a night. (Or, a room with two double beds for a party of four.) Note: Reservations require a two+ night stay.
If you are not able to find availability at this property, you can also book a night at the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Times Square South. This will cost the same 15,000 points a night. The rooms are not nearly as big, but it will fit the bill if you are looking for a New York City vacation. If you happen to be traveling with a larger crew and in need of a suite, the TRYP Times Square South also has a family suite for up to eight available for cash and points (unfortunately using just points is no longer available).
The Club Wyndham Midtown 45 is in a great location in Manhattan with Times Square, Bryant Park and Rockefeller Center all within walking distance. The property is also extremely close to Grand Central Station, which makes getting around the city extremely easy on the subway.
TRYP by Wyndham Mexico City World Trade Center Area
The TRYP by Wyndham Mexico City World Trade Center is a hidden gem at just 7,500 points a night (previously priced at 15,000 points a night). If you're looking to stay in Mexico City or if you're attending a conference at the World Trade Center, this is a great option. This boutique hotel receives great reviews as it offers a gym, restaurant and complimentary Wi-Fi. The only issue with this property is that when you are looking to redeem your points, you are maxed at three guests per room.
(Photo courtesy of Wyndham Rewards)
Wyndham Grand Crete Mirabello Bay
The Wyndham Grand Crete Mirabello Bay was just reduced from 30,000 points a night to 15,000 points a night. If you're looking to redeem your points in Crete, Greece, this is a property to look into, especially when other hotels throughout the island can be quite pricey — both in points and cash.
This beachfront resort offers a full-service spa, outdoor pool, nine on-site restaurants and bars, fitness center, tennis courts, volleyball court and many water activities. Although rooms on full points only lock you into a standard room, there are much larger family rooms available or even rooms with a shared pool. You can, however, use cash plus points to book yourself into one of these higher-end rooms to lower your cash outlay.
If you're looking to visit additional Greek Islands, you can also continue to use your Wyndham Rewards points at the Wyndham Loutraki Poseidon Resort, also for only 15,000 points a night.
(Photo courtesy of Wyndham Rewards)
Costa Blu Beach Resort, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
The Costa Blu Beach Resort is an adults-only property right on the beach in Belize. This remote location in Ambergris Caye is just seven miles north of San Pedro Town where you can rent golf carts or take a public water taxi to get up and down the coast. This is a great spot for a relaxing vacation with beautiful beaches and outdoor activities.
This is another property that recently reduced the number of points required for a free night stay. Instead of the previously 30,000 point rate, it now costs just 15,000 points per night.
(Photo courtesy of Wyndham Rewards)
Dolce by Wyndham CampoReal Lisboa
The Dolce by Wyndham CampoReal Lisboa is a resort property located about 30-minutes north of Lisbon. If you are looking to combine a city vacation with the countryside, this could be a great getaway — especially if you are looking for some golf and spa relaxation. This hotel offers three pools (2 outdoor and 1 indoor), four restaurant and bars, an 18-hole golf course, two tennis courts, a spa and 23 meeting rooms.
This property costs 15,000 points a night for a standard room, although they do have townhouses and villas (with its own private pool) for paid stays. If you are interested in a larger room, you can always reach out to the hotel directly to see if there are any cash upgrades available. Note: The standard rooms available on points are limited to just two guests plus one child.
Dolce Camporeal Lisboa (Photo courtesy of Booking.com)
Bottom Line
Although the re-categorization took place, the changes were not nearly as bad as I anticipated. The fact that all of the Vacation Club properties stayed the same was a big sigh of relief as I currently believe they are the "sweet spot" in the Wyndham Rewards program. The overall changes pretty much evened themselves out — while some desirable properties increased in the number of points required, many properties also decreased providing some great value as well.
If you are low on Wyndham Reward points, there are now a few more credit card options to increase your balance. Just recently, Capital One announced that Wyndham is a new transfer partner. This means you can transfer miles from your Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to your Wyndham Rewards account (1,000 Capital One miles = 750 Wyndham points). There are also two different Wyndham Rewards Visa Credit Card options: The no annual fee version will allow you to earn 15,000 bonus points and the annual fee version ($75 per year) will allow you to earn up to 30,000 bonus points.
What is your favorite Wyndham Rewards property?
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
