Best Western has just brought back a great promotion for buying gift cards, which could be worth it for anyone who stays at Best Western properties with any frequency…
Continue reading: Best Western Selling Gift Cards With 20% Bonus: Worth It If You’re A Loyalist
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I have Best Western Diamond Select status and was recently informed that I have renewed Diamond Select Elite Status — which is sort of a surprise to me as I don’t really pay attention to what it takes to maintain the status. So I anticipate the gift cards will be useful for me, as a 20% bonus on purchase value is useful to me on gift cards that work worldwide with BW properties and can lower the cost of my hotel stays at BW properties that I am using frequently anyway in some places.
I am back Ben - Norse just removed their CEO after another unprofitable year
I have Best Western Diamond Select status and was recently informed that I have renewed Diamond Select Elite Status — which is sort of a surprise to me as I don’t really pay attention to what it takes to maintain the status. So I anticipate the gift cards will be useful for me, as a 20% bonus on purchase value is useful to me on gift cards that work worldwide with BW properties and can lower the cost of my hotel stays at BW properties that I am using frequently anyway in some places.
Diamond Select Elite? Psh. You gotta be at least a Super Ultra Level-9000 Diamond Select Elite Plus before you a somebody at BW.
What's Best Western?
BW are surprisingly big in certain countries (e.g. the UK and Italy, particularly regional destinations), and have some pretty decent hotels, but they don't seem to be very good at marketing themselves. I don't stay very often at their hotels but my stays have all been pretty good.
They do have some half decent midscale properties throughout and, many times, I find their local highway stops to be nicer than the Hilton and Marriott neighbors at less $$. That said, I find their app horrible and their rewards program is nearly useless, even at the highest level.
Back in ancient days (early 90s), when I was travelling to Europe, BW was a life saver. You had no web, so most relied on travel agents for accomodation, certainly outside the US (for use inside). But, you could go to a local BW and pick up their catalogue of hotels. You'd choose a BW property in Paris. London, Barcelona, etc., and call an 800 number (toll free in US) to reserve. You could trust the property would be better than minimum.
As it turns out, I've got my first BW stay in quite a while coming in a few days. The property was reviewed well enough, and I had Expedia cash to spend. Worth the risk for a one-night stay.
They’re still fine in Europe. So many derivatives of BW these days though. Plus! Premier! Starts to feel a little like that Marc Jacobs meme, you know, ‘Jacobs by Marc Jacobs for Marc by Marc Jacobs.’
Accor must've reached 42 brands by now, and I don't think Hilton et al are very far behind- they make the BW portfolio look positively streamlined!
Even with a 20% discount, seems to me most BWs are overpriced for what you get. JMHO.
Are you sure they can be used worldwide? The option wasn't there to use mine for a Thailand hotel a few months ago.
This is from BW’s website for this promotion:
‘Best Western Gift Cards can be redeemed at any BWH® Hotels branded hotel that accepts the Best Western Gift Card as payment (excluding the WorldHotels collection).’
BW Current Promotion Offer Website:
https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/offers/travel-card.html