Redeeming Wyndham points with Vacasa is a great deal — with a catch
Last month, Wyndham announced a partnership with Vacasa that allowed members to redeem their points at over 15,000 vacation rentals around North and Central America — up from just a few thousand earlier in the partnership. Vacasa has properties in major tourist destinations in Texas, Upstate New York, Florida and others. These properties range from one-bedroom and studio apartments to high-end homes.
This provides tons of interesting new redemptions and — much to my surprise — makes Wyndham Rewards more valuable than ever. But there are a few caveats you should be aware of.
I'll give you an overview of Wyndham's new partnership with Vacasa, discuss when it makes sense to redeem your Wyndham Rewards points for vacation rentals and run through the issue of blackout dates.
Overview of Vacasa's partnership with Wyndham
Wyndham and Vacasa's partnership is very straightforward. Wyndham Rewards members can book Vacasa properties for 15,000 Wyndham points per bedroom, per night. This means that a studio or one-bedroom apartment costs 15,000 points per night, while a four-bedroom house costs 60,000 points per night.
According to Wyndham, over 15,000 Vacasa properties in North America, Belize and Costa Rica are bookable with Wyndham Rewards points. There are blackout dates, but they aren't published on the Vacasa or Wyndham websites. Wyndham will inform you of property-specific blackout dates during the booking process — more to come on that shortly.
Vacasa redemptions can potentially provide great value, depending on the cost of your stay. Take this Vacasa property in Austin, Texas: A two-night stay at this one-bedroom apartment costs $703.69 after taxes and fees. The same stay would cost 30,000 points, giving you 2.34 cents per point in value. This is more than double TPG's Wyndham Rewards valuation of 1.1 cents per point.
There are some even more expensive Vacasa properties out there. A two-night stay at this one-bedroom property in Guerneville, California, costs $1,229.56. Instead, you can redeem 30,000 Wyndham Rewards points, giving you a value of 4.01 cents per point in value.
Of course, there are also times when you may want to stay away from booking Vacasa stays with points. This penthouse in Belize costs just $386.99 for a three-night stay this summer. This would cost 45,000 points per night, giving you 0.86 cents per point in value. In this case, I'd pay for the stay outright and save my Wyndham points for a future redemption.
One last thing: You'll see that the nightly "rent," fees and taxes are listed separately when looking at the cash cost of a Vacasa rental. I confirmed in a test booking that you do not need to pay any of these fees when redeeming points.
In the end, there is some potentially great value to be had with using Wyndham points for Vacasa awards. As with any points redemption, I'd shoot for high-value Vacasa redemptions that provide the most value possible. Always make sure to find the cent-per-point value for your specific redemption and see if it matches or exceeds your personal Wyndham Rewards valuation.
Related: 5 ways to use points to book vacation home rentals
How to book a Vacasa vacation rental with Wyndham points
Unfortunately, you can't book Vacasa award nights online – you'll need to do it via phone or email. Start by browsing the Vacasa website and finding a property you'd like to book. You can estimate the points cost by multiplying the number of bedrooms by 15,000 points. Then, multiply that number by the number of nights you'd like to book.
Bookmark this property and write down the name. Then, call Wyndham at 866-996-7937 and tell the agent your Wyndham Rewards number, the property you'd like to book and the dates of your stay. The representative will verify that the Vacasa property is available on your requested dates and book it using your Wyndham Rewards points.
Further, Frequent Miler notes that you can email a Vacasa booking request to "triprewards.fulfillment@wyndham.com." The author stated that replies usually take a few hours. This is a huge benefit during busy call times, and I plan on doing the same when I make my next Vacasa booking.
Save points with a Wyndham credit card
All Wyndham cobranded credit cards offer a 10% rebate when redeeming Wyndham points for an award night. This discount does apply to Vacasa bookings, giving you even more value from these stays. These cardholders effectively pay 13,500 points per bedroom per night, which is an excellent deal.
Can you earn Wyndham points on Vacasa stays?
Unfortunately, you cannot earn Wyndham Rewards points on paid Vacasa stays. I'd love to see this added in the future. Marriott has a similar vacation home platform called Homes and Villas and allows Bonvoy members to both earn and redeem points on vacation home bookings.
Related: Why I’m earning more Wyndham points this year
The pros and cons of Vacasa vacation rentals
The only major issue I foresee with Vacasa redemption are blackout dates.
Thankfully, I was able to find award space relatively easily at properties I called Wyndham and asked for a points quote on. That said, this may not always be the case for high-end Vacasa properties. You may run into issues with blackout dates during high-demand times or holidays, depending on the property.
Unfortunately, we don't know how these blackout dates are determined. There are rumors that it could be price, demand or date-based, but no one has a solid answer. In turn, Vacasa and Wyndham can choose to black out a specific property whenever they'd like, causing you extra time on the phone and making it more difficult to plan a vacation.
You may be able to get your Wyndham phone representative to give you an overview of blackout dates for a specific property or help you find an alternate property nearby. Use this to your advantage if your dates are flexible during peak summer months.
Regardless, I think Vacasa redemptions can be an excellent value if the dates work out and you book the right properties. As seen in the examples above, there are plenty of redemptions out there that get you well over TPG's Wyndham Rewards valuation of 1.1 cents per point.
To get the best value, focus on large one-bedroom or studio properties you can book for 15,000 points per night. Larger properties with more bedrooms can add up quickly and they're not always worth the cost if the rooms are small. You may be able to save points if there are two beds in a room or a pull-out couch in the living room.
Related: 11 tips for choosing the perfect beach house rental every time
Bottom line
All in all, Vacasa and Wyndham's expanded partnership opens up a ton of interesting redemption opportunities for Wyndham Rewards members if you're flexible and can avoid blackout dates. I always recommend pricing out your Vacasa rentals before booking with Wyndham points to ensure you're getting a good deal. If you get more than 1.2 cents per point in value, I think it's worth using points to book.
Feature photo a Vacasa beach house in Bragg California courtesy of Wyndham
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Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.