Wyndham Rewards Earner® Premier Card Review: Elevate your Wyndham stays with premium perks
For Wyndham loyalists, the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Premier Card could transform your stays. Our review unpacks its automatic Diamond status, impressive rewards, and how valuable statement credits easily offset its annual fee.
| Annual Fee | $395.00 |
| Sign-up Bonus | Up to 120,000 bonus points |
| Rewards Rate | 1x-8x Points |
| Intro APR | Timeshare Purchases – 0% promotional APR for 6 billing cycles on all Wyndham Timeshare Purchases. Balance Transfers – 0% introductory APR for the first 15 billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening. |
| Regular APR | APR for purchases – 19.24% to 29.99%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. APR for balance transfers – 19.24% to 29.99%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. APR for cash advances – 29.99%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. |
| Other Fees | Balance transfer fee Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. Cash advance fee 5% (min. $10). Foreign transaction fee: 0%. The minimum monthly interest charge will be $1.00. |
Overview
For loyalists of the Wyndham hotel portfolio, the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Premier Card is a powerhouse packed with premium benefits. Its most compelling feature is the automatic grant of top-tier Wyndham Rewards Diamond status, unlocking perks like suite upgrades and welcome amenities from day one. The card also boasts a robust rewards structure, earning an impressive 8 points per dollar on Wyndham stays and 4 points per dollar on popular categories like gas, dining, and groceries. A generous sign-up bonus provides a substantial head start on free nights, making this an attractive option for frequent travelers who stay within the Wyndham family of brands.
While the card carries a steep $395 annual fee, it's almost entirely offset by a suite of valuable benefits for savvy cardholders. Each year, you can take advantage of hundreds of dollars in statement credits for hotel purchases, meal delivery, streaming services, and wholesale club memberships. This is on top of a 30,000-point anniversary bonus, which is enough for up to four free nights at participating hotels. These perks can easily make the card pay for itself before you even factor in the rewards you earn from spending.
Ultimately, this card is tailor-made for travelers who frequently stay at Wyndham properties and can take full advantage of its extensive benefits. If you can use the statement credits and value the convenience of top-tier hotel status, the card provides an exceptional return on its annual fee. However, due to its high regular APR, it's best for those who plan to pay their balance in full each month.
Pros & Cons
What's great
- Intro APR period
- Generous sign-up bonus
- High rewards rate
- No foreign transaction fees
- Automatic elite status
- Valuable annual statement credits and bonuses
Things to consider
- High annual fee
- High regular APR
- High balance transfer fee
Benefits
Generous Welcome Offer and Ongoing Bonuses
New cardmembers can jumpstart their travels with a limited-time offer to earn up to 120,000 bonus points, which Wyndham advertises as enough for up to 16 free nights. You'll earn the first 90,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first 120 days and paying the annual fee, plus an additional 30,000 points for spending $750 at Hotels by Wyndham within the first 180 days. The value doesn't stop there; each year you renew the card, you'll receive a 30,000-point anniversary bonus, which is enough for up to four free nights at participating hotels and significantly helps offset the annual fee.
Elite Status and Powerful Everyday Earning
One of the card's most valuable perks is the automatic Wyndham Rewards Diamond member level. This top-tier status typically requires staying dozens of nights per year and unlocks benefits like suite upgrades, welcome amenities, and late checkout. Beyond the hotel, the card is a strong earner, offering an impressive 8 points per dollar on Wyndham stays and 4 points per dollar on a wide range of common spending categories, including travel, dining, and groceries (excluding Target® and Walmart®). This elevated earning rate on everyday purchases makes it easy to rack up points for your next vacation.
Credits That Can Erase the Annual Fee
While the card carries a $395 annual fee, it comes packed with statement credits that can easily offset the cost. Cardholders can receive up to $400 in annual benefits, including a $100 credit for hotel purchases, up to $120 for eligible meal delivery, up to $100 for streaming services, and a $65 credit for wholesale club memberships. When it's time to redeem, your points go further thanks to a 25% discount on free night awards. The card also includes a statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry and charges no foreign transaction fees, making it a comprehensive and valuable tool for frequent Wyndham guests.
Drawbacks
The most significant hurdle for this card is its steep $395 annual fee. While a comprehensive suite of annual statement credits for hotel stays, meal delivery, streaming, and more can effectively neutralize this cost, it requires the cardholder to be diligent about using those specific benefits. If your spending habits don't align with these categories, you may struggle to get enough value to justify the high upfront fee. Furthermore, with a regular APR that can climb as high as 29.99%, this card is not a good fit for anyone who anticipates carrying a balance, as high interest charges could quickly erase the value of any rewards earned.
Beyond the cost, the card's value is highly concentrated within the Wyndham ecosystem. The automatic Diamond status, high earning rates on Wyndham stays, and redemption discounts are fantastic perks, but only for travelers who are loyal to the brand. If you prefer the flexibility to stay at a variety of hotel chains, this card's benefits will be severely limited. It's also worth noting the fine print on rewards: the 4x points category for groceries specifically excludes purchases at Target and Walmart, which could be a significant downside for many shoppers.
Decision Guidance
This card is tailor-made for dedicated Wyndham travelers who can treat its steep annual fee as a prepayment for valuable perks. If you can maximize the numerous statement credits and will benefit from top-tier Diamond status, the card offers an outstanding return. Casual travelers or those who prefer flexibility across different hotel brands will likely find the annual fee too high for the benefits they'll actually use.
Summary
The Wyndham Rewards Earner® Premier Card is a compelling choice for brand loyalists, offering instant top-tier Diamond status that immediately elevates your stays. While its $395 annual fee seems high, it's effectively neutralized by a suite of valuable statement credits and a generous anniversary point bonus. If you frequently stay at Wyndham properties and can take full advantage of its perks, this card delivers outsized value that easily justifies its cost.