Richard Kerr is a veteran naval officer and founder of the Award Travel 101 Facebook community. He’s one of the foremost experts in points and miles strategy, featured in Forbes, US News, Money Magazine, Kiplinger Personal Finance and presented at #SXSW 2017. Richard has visited over 45 countries, lived in England and Japan, and spends his spare time dissecting loyalty program award charts to maximize the value of points and miles. Richard holds a BBA in International Business and has his wife and two small children in tow for his travels as often as possible.
January 13, 2021 • 7 min read
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Quick summary
Road trips have gained popularity during the pandemic, making domestic travel and hotel stays more relevant for many travelers.
A refreshed lineup of travel-focused cards offers strong returns at hotels and gas stations, with additional perks like hotel status and free-night discounts.
These products provide benefits such as bonus points at hotels and gas stations, annual rewards, and status-based perks including suite upgrades and welcome amenities.
Wyndham properties are widely available across the U.S., offering flexibility for travelers seeking free or discounted nights.
What to consider
Some offers mentioned in the article are no longer available.
Wyndham Rewards points are valued at 1.1 cents each as of the latest TPG valuations (June 2024).
Eligibility for certain benefits, such as suite upgrades or annual bonus points, depends on the specific card and status level.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of the new card lineup, including which benefits best fit different types of road trippers and how to maximize hotel rewards for domestic travel.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Hitting the road has been thrust once again into the spotlight during the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions of Americans have shifted their travel to road trips in recent months, as it's easier to minimize your exposure compared to other forms of transport. With proper precautions and planning (or traveling in your own RV), the majority of risks can be mitigated.
In fact, I believe the popularity surge of road trips and a new emphasis on top American attractions has been one of the few highlights of this pandemic. And if you decide to undertake an adventure, road travel is no different than any other trip we discuss here at TPG: You need to maximize it.
Along these lines, Wyndham and Barclays recently put out a new lineup of cobranded cards that exceeded my expectations — and deserve a look as you prepare to embark on your next trip on the pavement. Let's look at the refreshed cards and how they can help you save money and earn solid returns on your road trip.
The new card lineup
Three new products make up the updated Wyndham portfolio of credit cards. Here is a rundown of the key benefits and a description of each:
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card
Sign-up bonus: 30,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
Earning structure: 5x on eligible Hotels by Wyndham purchases and gas purchases; 2x on restaurants and grocery purchases (excluding Target and Walmart); 2x on eligible purchases made at Wyndham Timeshare properties (including maintenance fees and loan payments); 1x on all other purchases
Annual fee: $0
Other benefits: Gold status in Wyndham Rewards; 7,500 bonus points after $15,000 in annual spend; 10% discount on the number of points redeemed for free nights
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card
Sign-up bonus: 45,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days
Earning structure: 6x on eligible Hotels by Wyndham purchases and gas purchases; 4x on restaurants and grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart); 4x on Wyndham Timeshare properties (including maintenance fees and loan payments); 1x on all other purchases
Annual fee: $75
Other benefits: Platinum status in Wyndham Rewards; 7,500 bonus points each anniversary year (no spending requirement); 10% discount on the number of points redeemed for free nights
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card
Sign-up bonus: 45,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days
Earning structure: 8x on Hotels by Wyndham purchases and gas purchases; 5x points on marketing, advertising and utilities; 1x on all other purchases
Annual Fee: $95
Other benefits: Top-tier Diamond status in Wyndham Rewards; 15,000 anniversary points (no spending requirement); 10% discount on the number of points redeemed for free nights; cell phone insurance when using the card to pay your wireless bill ($50 deductible, $600 in coverage per event)
The information for the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Maximizing your road trip
There are a few obvious wins here for your road adventure. Chief among them are the bonus points earned on gas. The Earner Business Card giving 8x miles on gas equates to an 8.8% rebate on all fuel purchases according to TPGs latest valuations, which peg Wyndham Rewards points at 1.1 cents apiece. The Earner Plus Card gives 5x points per dollar on all gas — giving you an effective return of 5.5%. It's hard to beat those earnings on any other card that gives bonus points or miles for gas expenses.
The second way to maximize your road trip is the free hotel nights the cards can offer — and the hotel benefits you'll receive with status awarded on two of the cards. Free nights at Wyndham properties start at 7,500 points per night, and almost anywhere you go in the U.S., there will be a Wyndham brand available for a free night. I've stayed in Wyndham brands in cities like York, Nebraska and Rock Springs, Wyoming when on the road.
WorldMark West Yellowstone (Photo courtesy Wyndham)
You'll earn between 30,000 and 45,000 points as a sign-up bonus after completing the minimum spend requirements (depending on which card you get). This gives you plenty of chances to avoid paying for a hotel night on your first trip after the bonus points post.
On top of that, you'll have automatic Platinum status with the Earner Plus card or Diamond status with the Earner Business card — which (in turn) offer a number of benefits during your stay. Diamond members are even eligible for suite upgrades — handy for the traveling family — and a welcome amenity that's usually a snack or a drink.
The final road-trip-worthy benefit of the cards is diversification and flexibility. As previously mentioned, there's a Wyndham virtually anywhere you go, allowing you to either stay free (using your points) or earn up to 8x points per dollar spent. With the addition of the La Quinta as of 2019 — an underrated hotel brand I equate to a Hampton Inn or Courtyard — great Wyndham properties abound.
It's also important to take the time to diversify your loyalty holdings, especially in light of the pandemic. If you've been focused on the competition, you're likely missing out on some really great properties and destinations you can visit in the Wyndham portfolio. There are resorts in the Smoky Mountains, family properties in Florida, hotels next to National Parks and luxury properties in wonderful locations like Charleston, SC that may not have been on your pre-pandemic trip list.
The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel in Charleston, S.C. (Photo courtesy Wyndham).
Bottom line
Despite the ongoing rollout of vaccines, international travel isn't going to rebound any time soon, so taking to the roads on a domestic trip remains a popular vacation option. Take the proper precautions and start planning your road trip now — ideally with a new credit card. By the time you were to get one of the new Wyndham cards, meet the minimum spend and set off on your road trip, the pandemic situation will likely look a bit brighter, and you can confidently maximize the card (and your new haul of Wyndham points).
Huge bonuses on gas purchases, on-property benefits and a hotel almost anywhere you can drive are just three reasons why you need to look at the fresh lineup of Wyndham cards the next time you plan to hit the road.
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.
