barclays Wyndham Rewards Earner® Premier Card Review: Elite Status and Rewards for Wyndham Loyalists
Is the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Premier Card worth its high annual fee? Our review explores how elite status, generous points, and valuable annual credits could make it indispensable for dedicated Wyndham loyalists.
| Annual Fee | $395.00 |
| Sign-up Bonus | Up to 120,000 bonus points |
| Rewards Rate | 1x-8x points |
| Intro APR | 0% promotional APR for 6 billing cycles on all Wyndham Timeshare Purchases (See Terms and Conditions for details). 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 | Purchases – 19.49% to 29.99%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. After that, (and for balance transfers that do not post to your account within 45 days of account opening) your APR will be 19.49% 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 transfers – Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. The minimum monthly interest charge will be $1.00. Balance transfer fee: 5% (min. $5). Cash advance fee 5% (min. $10). Foreign transaction fee: 0%. |
Overview
For the frequent Wyndham guest, the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Premier Card is a powerhouse packed with value that can easily outweigh its high annual fee. The card comes out swinging with a generous sign-up bonus of up to 120,000 bonus points and an impressive earning rate of 8 points per dollar on Wyndham purchases. Beyond hotel stays, it offers a solid 4 points per dollar on gas, dining, and groceries. While the $395 annual fee might seem steep, a suite of annual statement credits for hotel stays, meal delivery, streaming services, and wholesale clubs can effectively neutralize the cost for cardholders who take full advantage of them.
The benefits don't stop with points. Cardholders are automatically granted top-tier Wyndham Rewards Diamond status, which unlocks perks like suite upgrades and welcome amenities. You'll also receive 30,000 bonus points every anniversary year—enough for up to four free nights—and enjoy a 25% discount when redeeming points for free stays, stretching the value of your rewards even further. Add in no foreign transaction fees and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, and you have a comprehensive travel card.
Ultimately, this card is designed for one specific person: the dedicated Wyndham loyalist. If you frequently stay at their portfolio of hotels and are diligent enough to use the various annual credits, this card offers an incredible return. However, if you prefer to spread your hotel stays across different brands or tend to carry a balance, the high annual fee and steep regular APR mean you should probably look elsewhere.
Pros & Cons
What's great
- Intro APR period
- Generous sign-up bonus
- High rewards rate on travel, dining, and groceries
- No foreign transaction fees
- Automatic elite status and luxury travel perks
- Annual bonus points and statement credits
Things to consider
- High annual fee
- High regular APR
- High balance transfer fee
Benefits
Substantial Welcome Offer & Rewards
New cardmembers can jump-start their travels with a generous welcome offer of up to 120,000 bonus points. You can earn 90,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first 120 days and an additional 30,000 points after spending $750 at Hotels by Wyndham in the first 180 days. This bonus alone is enough for multiple free nights. The card's earning power continues with a rewards structure that excels both for travel and daily spending. You'll earn an impressive 8 points per $1 on Wyndham hotel and timeshare purchases and a highly competitive 4 points per $1 on dining, grocery stores (excluding Target and Walmart), and most other travel purchases.
Automatic Elite Status and Enhanced Redemptions
One of the card’s most valuable perks is the automatic Wyndham Rewards DIAMOND member level. This top-tier status is granted just for holding the card and provides significant benefits like suite upgrades, welcome amenities, and other VIP treatment during your stays. Furthermore, your points become more powerful, as cardmembers receive a 25% discount when redeeming points for free nights, stretching the value of every point you earn. To top it off, you'll receive a 30,000-point bonus each year upon renewing your card—enough for up to four free nights at participating hotels.
Credits That Counteract the Annual Fee
While the card carries a $395 annual fee, it is effectively neutralized by a suite of annual statement credits for those who can use them. Cardholders receive up to $100 for Wyndham hotel purchases, $120 for meal delivery services ($10 per month), $100 for streaming services, and $65 for wholesale club memberships. When fully maximized, these credits total $385, reducing the card's net annual cost to just $10. Additional travel perks include a statement credit of up to $120 every four years for your TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee and no foreign transaction fees on international purchases, making it an excellent companion for travel both at home and abroad.
Drawbacks
The card's most significant hurdle is its $395 annual fee. While a suite of annual statement credits for hotels, meal delivery, streaming, and wholesale clubs can effectively reduce this cost to nearly zero, it requires cardholders to actively manage their spending across these specific categories to extract the full value. Furthermore, the card carries a high regular APR, ranging from 19.49% to 29.99%. This makes it an unsuitable choice for anyone who might carry a balance from month to month, as interest charges could quickly outweigh the rewards earned.
The primary limitation of this card lies in its rewards ecosystem. The value of Wyndham Rewards points is heavily concentrated within its own hotel network, offering limited flexibility compared to transferable point currencies from issuers like Chase or American Express. If you aren't a frequent guest at Wyndham properties, you will struggle to get meaningful value from the card's points and its top-tier Diamond status benefit. Additionally, while the 4x points on grocery purchases is a strong earning rate, it notably excludes spending at major retailers like Target and Walmart, which could be a drawback for some shoppers.
Decision Guidance
This card is an excellent choice for dedicated Wyndham loyalists who can maximize the various statement credits to effectively erase the high annual fee. In return for your loyalty, you receive top-tier Diamond status and a wealth of points from rewards and annual bonuses that are incredibly valuable within the Wyndham ecosystem. However, if you prefer flexibility across different hotel brands or won't use the specific credits, the cost of this card will likely outweigh its benefits.
Summary
For the dedicated Wyndham loyalist, this card is an easy win, offering automatic top-tier Diamond status and a powerful rewards rate that can deliver outsized value. Its steep annual fee is a significant hurdle, but it becomes a non-issue for cardholders diligent enough to maximize the suite of annual statement credits, making this a poor fit for anyone who isn't committed to the brand.