What Best Western Membership Offers

Best Western membership is a free loyalty program that gives you points on hotel stays, room upgrades, and discounts at participating Best Western locations worldwide. You earn one point per dollar spent on room rates, and those points convert to free nights or cash back. The program has no annual fee and no expiration date on points you've already earned.

Best Western runs several membership tiers — Classic (free entry level), Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, and Diamond Elite — each with higher earning rates and additional perks like late checkout, room upgrades, and bonus points on stays. You move up tiers by reaching a certain number of nights stayed or points earned in a calendar year, and your status resets each January.

The membership works at over 4,000 Best Western properties in more than 100 countries. When you book directly through Best Western's website, app, or phone line, you earn points automatically if your membership number is attached to the reservation. Points do not post if you book through a third-party site like Expedia or Booking.com, even if the hotel is Best Western-branded.

Key Takeaways

  • Best Western membership is free to join and has no annual fee, and points never expire once earned.
  • You earn one point per dollar on room rates at participating Best Western hotels worldwide, redeemable for free nights or cash back.
  • Your membership tier (Classic, Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, Diamond Elite) determines your earning rate and perks, and resets each January based on nights or points from the previous year.
  • You must book directly through Best Western — website, app, or phone — to earn points; third-party booking sites do not credit your account.
  • Elite members receive benefits like room upgrades, late checkout, and bonus point multipliers that vary by tier.

How to Join Best Western Membership

Joining Best Western membership takes about five minutes and requires only an email address and basic contact information. Go to bestwestern.com, click "Join Now" or "Sign Up" in the top navigation, and enter your first name, last name, email, and password. You'll also provide your country, state or province, and phone number.

After you submit, Best Western sends a confirmation email to the address you provided. Click the link in that email to verify your account. Once verified, you receive your membership number when ready — a nine-digit code that starts with 7. Write this number down or save it in your phone, because you'll need it every time you book.

You can also join at the front desk of any Best Western hotel when you check in, though this takes longer and you won't earn points on that stay. If you already have a membership and forgot your number, go to bestwestern.com, click "Sign In," and use your email and password to retrieve it.

Earning Points and Moving Up Tiers

You earn points only when you book directly with Best Western and stay at a participating property. The earning rate depends on your membership tier. Classic members earn one point per dollar on room rate. Gold Elite members earn 1.25 points per dollar. Platinum Elite earn 1.5 points per dollar. Diamond Elite earn 2 points per dollar.

Taxes, resort fees, and incidental charges (parking, room service, minibar) do not earn points — only the base room rate counts. If you book a room for $100 per night and stay two nights, you earn points on $200, not on taxes or fees added at checkout.

You move up to Gold Elite by staying 10 nights or earning 10,000 points in a calendar year. Platinum Elite requires 25 nights or 25,000 points. Diamond Elite requires 50 nights or 50,000 points. Your tier status is active from the date you reach it through December 31 of that year. On January 1, your tier resets to Classic unless you've already met the threshold for the next tier in the new year.

Elite members also earn bonus points on certain stays. Gold Elite gets 10% bonus points on every stay. Platinum Elite gets 20% bonus. Diamond Elite gets 50%. These bonuses stack on top of your base earning rate — so a Diamond Elite member earning 2 points per dollar gets an additional 50% on top of that.

Redeeming Points for Free Nights and Other Rewards

Points redeem for free nights, room upgrades, airline miles, or cash back. The most common redemption is a free night certificate, which covers one night's room rate at any Best Western property. The number of points required varies by hotel and season — a budget hotel might cost 5,000 points for a free night, while a premium property costs 15,000 or more.

To see how many points a specific hotel costs, go to bestwestern.com, search for the hotel and dates you want, and click "Redeem Points" instead of "Book Now." The site shows you the points price for that exact room type on those exact dates. You can then book the free night using your points balance.

You can also transfer points to airline partners (United, American, Delta, Southwest, and others) at a rate of roughly 1 point = 0.33 airline miles, though this rate varies by airline. Some members find this a poor trade unless they're close to a specific airline redemption threshold. Cash back typically converts at 1 point = $0.01, so 10,000 points = $100 in account credit.

Points never expire as long as your account remains active. If you don't stay at a Best Western for three consecutive years, Best Western may close your account and forfeit your points, though they typically send warning emails before this happens.

Elite Member Perks Beyond Points

Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, and Diamond Elite members receive benefits that go beyond earning rates. All elite members get complimentary room upgrades (subject to availability), late checkout (usually 2 p.m. instead of 11 a.m.), and a dedicated elite phone line for reservations and customer service.

Platinum Elite members also receive a $20 Best Western gift card each year on their membership anniversary, and Diamond Elite members receive a $50 gift card. Both tiers get priority booking during peak seasons and access to elite-only rates on certain properties.

Diamond Elite members receive the most perks: a may provide room upgrade (not just complimentary if available), free breakfast at participating hotels, and a personal concierge line. They also get 50% bonus points on every stay, which compounds quickly if you travel frequently.

Booking Directly to Earn Points

To earn points, you must book through bestwestern.com, the Best Western mobile app, or by calling Best Western reservations at 1-800-780-7234. When you book, enter your membership number in the "Loyalty Number" or "Member Number" field before you complete the reservation. If you forget to add your number, contact Best Western within 48 hours of check-in and they may add the points manually, though this is not may provide.

Booking through third-party sites like Expedia, Booking.com, Hotels.com, or Google Hotels does not earn points, even if the hotel is Best Western-branded. Some third-party sites show lower prices than Best Western's direct site, but you lose points earning on the difference. Calculate whether the price savings outweigh the points you'd miss before booking elsewhere.

If you book a room and later want to add your membership number, log into your Best Western account, find the reservation, and update it. The points will post after you check out, usually within 24 to 48 hours.

Best Western Credit Cards and Membership

Best Western offers co-branded credit cards through various issuers that link directly to your membership account. These cards earn bonus points on Best Western stays (typically 3 to 5 points per dollar, depending on the card), plus points on other purchases. Some cards also offer a free night certificate each year as a cardholder benefit.

Using a Best Western credit card does not replace your membership number — you still need both. The card earns points at a higher rate than your membership alone would, and those points post to your membership account automatically. Annual fees vary by card and issuer, so compare the card's benefits against its cost before explore.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay to join Best Western membership?

No. Best Western membership is free to join and has no annual fee. You can earn and redeem points at no cost. Some co-branded credit cards have annual fees, but the membership itself does not.

What happens to my points if I don't stay at a Best Western for a long time?

Points do not expire as long as your account is active. However, if you don't stay at any Best Western property for three consecutive years, Best Western may close your account and forfeit your points. They typically send warning emails before this happens, so check your email periodically.

Can I earn points if someone else books the room for me?

Yes, as long as your membership number is attached to the reservation. If a friend or family member books for you, make sure they add your membership number when they reserve the room. If they forget, contact Best Western within 48 hours of check-in and ask them to add the points manually.

How long does it take for points to show up in my account after I check out?

Points typically post within 24 to 48 hours after you check out. If you don't see them after two days, log into your account and check your reservation history. If the reservation shows but points are missing, contact Best Western customer service with your confirmation number.

Can I use my points at hotels that are not Best Western?

No. Best Western points redeem only at Best Western properties or transfer to airline partners. You cannot use them at other hotel chains. Some Best Western properties operate under different brand names (Best Western Plus, Best Western Premier), but all are part of the same loyalty program.