From Best Western: a $50 Gift Card After 2 Stays

Best Western isn’t known for its generous loyalty-program promotions. Its most recent offer was for a $25 gift card after two qualifying stays. Not a game-changer for most.

The competition must be heating up, because the company’s new offer is significantly more generous, although it still comes with caveats.

Offer Details

Between May 23 and August 28, Best Western Rewards members can earn a $50 Best Western travel card after two qualifying stays, up to a maximum of three cards after six stays for Base members, and five cards after 10 stays for Elites.

There’s also a 1,000-point bonus for bookings made on bestwestern.com.

Registration is required.

Deal or No Deal

Assuming the two qualifying stays are separate one-nighters at an average rate of $100, the $50 card amounts to a 25 percent rebate.

The rebate percentage increases or decreases as the room rates fall or rise, but for most travelers, it should be a solid one.

However, the rebate may be more theoretical than real. It’s important not to confuse the Best Western travel cards on offer with cash-like gift cards—the amount can only be applied toward future Best Western stays. And making them less valuable still, they expire on November 15, 2016.

Best Western partisans may as well take advantage of the bonus, in the spirit of taking what you can get. But the promotion isn’t likely to move the needle for brand-agnostic travelers. And it shouldn’t.

Reader Reality Check

Are gift cards a compelling incentive?

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After 20 years working in the travel industry, and 15 years writing about it, Tim Winship knows a thing or two about travel. Follow him on Twitter @twinship.