How To Use Wyndham Rewards Points To Book Vacation Rentals With Vacasa

Key Takeaways

• Wyndham Rewards points can be used to book Vacasa vacation rentals, which include homes, condos, and cabins.
• Vacasa bookings cost 15,000 or 30,000 Wyndham Rewards points per bedroom per night and can offer more value than hotel redemptions.
• Booking requires a phone call or email, and blackout dates apply.

Wyndham Rewards isn’t always top of mind for award travelers, as it typically offers below-average redemption value and brands that skew midscale. But a partnership with Vacasa offers a great way to stretch your points beyond Wyndham hotels, offering private homes, condos, cabins, and more that may offer more space and amenities such as kitchens and laundry.

Booking Vacasa properties with Wyndham offers fixed pricing of 15,000 or 30,000 points per bedroom per night. Though you have to book in 2 parts by searching on Vacasa and then calling Wyndham, these redemptions can be well worth it, especially if you’re traveling as a family or group.

Here’s how Wyndham Rewards and Vacasa work together, and how you can make a great redemption with this partnership.

What Is Wyndham?

Wyndham is the world’s largest hotel chain, with more than 9,000 properties in its portfolio of brands across 95 countries. It has over 20 brands, including Days Inn, LaQuinta, Microtel, Ramada, Echo Suites, and Baymont. Many Wyndham luxury resorts and hotels, including boutique and historic properties, are under the Registry Collection.

You can redeem your Wyndham Rewards points at any Wyndham property or use your points to book vacation homes with Vacasa.

What Is Vacasa?

Vacasa is a vacation rental platform similar to Airbnb and Vrbo. All of Vacasa’s vacation rentals are professionally managed with property maintenance, cleaning, and guest services, which may offer a service experience closer to a hotel than an owner-operated vacation rental.

Vacasa properties include condos, cabins, and luxury homes in ski resorts, beach towns, and national parks throughout North America, as well as properties in Belize and Costa Rica. You can book any Vacasa property with Wyndham Rewards points.

Earning Wyndham Rewards Points

There are multiple ways to earn Wyndham Rewards points, including using co-branded credit cards, hotel stays, and points transfers.

Wyndham Rewards Credit Cards

Wyndham Rewards has 3 co-branded credit cards, including 2 personal cards and 1 small-business card.

Wyndham Rewards^® Earner℠ Card

The Wyndham Rewards Earner card has no annual fee and earns 5 points per $1 spent with Wyndham and gas stations, 2 points per $1 at restaurants and grocery stores, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.

New cardholders can earn a 30,000-point welcome bonus after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days. That’s enough to book 1 or 2 nights with Vacasa. Each year, you can earn a 7,500-point anniversary bonus if you spend $15,000 or more on your card.

Even with no annual fee, this card has automatic Wyndham Rewards Gold elite status.

Wyndham Rewards^® Earner℠ Plus Card

The Wyndham Rewards Earner+ card has a modest $75 annual fee. It earns 6 points per $1 spent with Wyndham and gas stations and 4 points per $1 on dining and at grocery stores. All other purchases earn 1 point per $1.

Spend $1,000 within the first 90 days with the Wyndham Rewards Earner+ card and get 45,000 bonus points. Each year, you receive a 7,500-point anniversary bonus. The card also offers automatic Platinum elite status.

Wyndham Rewards^® Earner℠ Business Card

Small-business owners can use the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business card to earn 8 points per $1 spent at Wyndham and gas stations, 5 points per $1 on marketing, advertising, and utilities, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.

You can earn a 45,000-point welcome bonus after you spend $3,000 and pay the annual fee in full within the first 90 days. You also receive 15,000 bonus points each anniversary year.

This card has a $95 annual fee, but you get automatic top-tier Wyndham Rewards Diamond elite status.

Wyndham Rewards Debit Card

Wyndham Rewards has a single debit card, issued by Sunrise Banks, N.A.

Wyndham Rewards Debit Card

It’s tougher to earn points with the Wyndham Rewards Debit card than the Wyndham credit cards, but the debit card can be a good choice if you prefer to avoid credit cards or can’t get approved for one. With the Wyndham Rewards Debit card, you earn 1 point per $1 spent at Wyndham, gas stations, and grocery stores. All other purchases earn 1 point per $2 spent.

Make at least 2 direct deposits and spend $100 within the first 90 days to earn 2,500 bonus points. You can also earn up to 7,500 bonus points each anniversary year depending on your annual net purchases.

The Wyndham Rewards Debit card has a $6 monthly fee, but it’s waived if you maintain a minimum average monthly balance of $2,500. Cardholders get automatic Gold status with Wyndham Rewards.

Hot Tip: Read our guide to the Wyndham Rewards loyalty program and learn how to get Wyndham Rewards elite status.

Hotel Stays

Staying at Wyndham properties is another way to earn Wyndham Rewards points. The higher your status, the more points you earn per $1 spent with Wyndham.

Basic Blue members can earn 10 points per $1 spent at Wyndham properties, but you can earn up to 12 points per $1 as a Diamond member.

Wyndham occasionally offers promotions with additional points, such as 7,500 bonus points for stays of 2 nights at participating locations.

Shopping Portal

The Wyndham Rewards shopping portal earns rewards on every $1 you spend through the portal. Start by visiting Wyndham Rewards’ shopping portal, then find a retailer in the portal and click through to make your purchase.

Buying Points

We generally don’t recommend buying points, but it can make sense for high-value redemptions such as Vacasa bookings. Wyndham Rewards points typically cost 1.3 cents each, but there are sometimes discounts or bonuses. You’re limited to 45,000 Wyndham Rewards points in purchases annually.

Transfer Partners

Transferring points from partners is a good way to top off your balance for a redemption.

Capital One and Citi are credit card transfer partners of Wyndham Rewards. Caesars Rewards credits also transfer to Wyndham Rewards at a 1:1 ratio, though you need at least 10,000 credits to do so.

Hot Tip: Wyndham Rewards and Caesars Rewards offer reciprocal elite status matching, so if you’re a Wyndham Rewards Diamond member, you can be a Caesars Diamond member, too!

Capital One miles transfer to Wyndham Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. We recommend these Capital One cards:

TOP PICK

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Apply Now(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

Purchases: 19.99% - 28.99% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Excellent (740-840)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $395 annual fee
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Financial Snapshot

• APR: Purchases: 19.99% - 28.99% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Apply Now(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$95

APR

Purchases: 19.99% - 28.99% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• Up to a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• Limited elite benefits

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

• APR: Purchases: 19.99% - 28.99% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Welcome Offer

LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn $300 in travel bonuses. Enjoy $100 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $300 in travel.

$100 travel credit + 20,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$460

Annual Fee

$0

APR

Purchases: 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months; variable 18.99% - 28.99% thereafter

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.

In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.

But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?

Pros & Cons

Pros

• No annual fee
• No foreign transaction fees
• Ability to use transfer partners

Cons

• Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
• No luxury travel or elite benefits

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn $300 in travel bonuses. Enjoy $100 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $300 in travel
• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
• Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 18.99% – 28.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies

Financial Snapshot

• APR: Purchases: 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months; variable 18.99% - 28.99% thereafter
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

The transfer rate for Citi ThankYou Points to Wyndham Rewards depends on the card you use but is either a 1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio. We recommend these Citi cards:

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com

60,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$960

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% to 27.99% Variable APR

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a great all-around travel rewards card that allows you to earn big rewards on a variety of purchases like air travel, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and more, along with flexible redemption options, all for a modest annual fee.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
• 3x points on air travel, other hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations
• $100 annual hotel benefit

Cons

• $95 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
• Earn 10X points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• Earn 3X points per $1 on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations.
• Earn 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card.
• No foreign transaction fees on purchases.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% to 27.99% Variable APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Citi Strata Elite card is Citi's most premium card built for frequent travelers and foodies.

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

The Citi Strata Elite card is Citi's most premium card built for frequent travelers and foodies.

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 bonus ThankYou Points after spending $6,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.

100,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,600

Annual Fee

$595

APR

20.99% to 28.99% Variable

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Strata Elite card is a great option for frequent travelers, foodies, and those who are fans of the Citi ThankYou Rewards ecosystem thanks to its combination of bonus categories, perks, and annual credits.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 12x points on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked through Citi Travel
• 6x points on airfare through Citi Travel
• 6x points on dining on Citi Nights (Friday and Saturday nights from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.) and 3x points on dining at all other times

Cons

• $595 annual fee
• Boosted dining rewards are limited to 2 nights per week

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 bonus ThankYou Points after spending $6,000 within the first 3 months of account opening
• 12x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on cititravel.com
• 6x points on air travel booked on cititravel.com
• 6x points at restaurants, including restaurant delivery services, every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. ET, and 3x points any other time
• 1.5x points on all other purchases
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
• Up to $300 annual hotel benefit
• Up to $200 annual Splurge credit
• Up to $200 annual Blacklane credit
• 4 American Airlines Admirals Club passes every calendar year
• Transfer Citi ThankYou Points to partners like American Airlines
• Complimentary Priority Pass membership
• No foreign transaction fees

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.99% to 28.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Citi Strata℠ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Citi Strata℠ Card

Welcome Offer

Earn 30,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

30,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$480

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, and then a variable APR 18.99% to 28.99%.

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Strata card offers a fresh way to earn Citi ThankYou Points with a $0 annual fee, allowing you to maximize your spend at gas stations, supermarkets, and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com
• 3x points at supermarkets, select transit, gas and EV charging stations, and an eligible self-select category of your choice (fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salon or pet supply stores)
• 2x points at restaurants

Cons

• Doesn’t offer the best transfer ratio to Citi’s airline and hotel partners
• Charges foreign transaction fees

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
• Earn 5x points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• Earn 3x points per $1 on supermarkets, select transit, gas, and EV charging stations, and an eligible self-select category of your choice every quarter (fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salons, or pet supply stores).
• Earn 2x points per $1 at restaurants.
• Earn 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, and then a variable APR 18.99% to 28.99%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Citi Double Cash^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

Citi Double Cash^® Card

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

Welcome Offer

Earn $200 cash-back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.

$200 cash-back

Annual Fee

$0

APR

17.99% - 27.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Fair to Excellent (580-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Double Cash^® Card has long been one of the top cash-back credit cards on the market, and the card now has the ability to earn Citi ThankYou Points!

This means that cardholders of the Double Cash card will now earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou Points. This means each billing cycle, you will earn 1 ThankYou point per $1 spent on purchases and an additional ThankYou point for every $1 paid on your purchase balance as long as there is a corresponding balance in your Purchase Tracker.

Citi has turned the Double Cash card into a top choice for those who are looking for an everyday, no-fuss credit card.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Uncapped 2% for every $1 spent (1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay)
• Flexible redemption options
• No annual fee

Cons

• No bonus categories
• 3% foreign transaction fees

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
• Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
• Earn a total of 5 ThankYou^® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rental, and attractions, excluding air travel, when booked through the Citi Travel^® portal.
• To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
• Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers; after that, the variable APR will be 17.99% – 27.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
• If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
• There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 17.99% - 27.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Citi Custom Cash^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, without an annual fee!

Citi Custom Cash^® Card

Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, without an annual fee!

Welcome Offer

Earn $200 cash-back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash-back.

$200

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.99% - 27.99%.

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Fair to Excellent (580-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Custom Cash^® Card is inventive when it comes to cash-back credit cards. Instead of earning a set amount of cash-back on predetermined bonus categories, the Citi Custom Cash card earns 5% cash-back on your highest eligible spend category each billing cycle, with a $0 annual fee.

Thanks to that unique perk, you’ll never need to worry about whether you’re using the right card for the right purchase, as your Citi Custom Cash card will always pay you 5% back on whichever category you end up spending the most on each month.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5% cash-back (on up to $500 each billing cycle) from your largest purchase category, including restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment
• $0 annual fee
• Multiple redemption options

Cons

• Your 5% category is limited to $500 in spend ($25 in cash-back) each month
• Not particularly rewarding for any purchases outside of your top 5% cash-back category

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
• Get 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.99% - 27.99%, based on your creditworthiness.
• Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
• No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
• $0 annual fee.
• Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash^® Card account per person.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.99% - 27.99%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3%

We value Capital One miles at 1.8 cents each and Citi ThankYou Points at 1.6 cents each, so it’s best to transfer Citi ThankYou points if you have them.

Bottom Line: There are numerous ways to earn, purchase, or transfer Wyndham Rewards points. The best options are using a credit card, shopping portal, or transferring points.

Redeeming Wyndham Rewards Points

You can redeem Wyndham Rewards points for free nights at Wyndham properties for 7,500, 15,000, or 30,000 points per night, depending on the property level, or get a points-plus-cash discount starting at 3,000 points per night.

If you book a Vacasa property with Wyndham Rewards points, you pay 15,000 or 30,000 points per bedroom per night. Properties with an average cost of $250 or less are 15,000 points per bedroom per night, and properties with an average cost of $250.01 to $500 are an average of 30,000 points per bedroom per night. You can’t redeem rewards for properties with an average cost of $500.01 or more.

Hot Tip:

The Wyndham Earner credit cards get a 10% discount on award bookings, so cardholders only pay 13,500 points for 15,000-point bookings and 27,000 points for 30,000-point bookings.

Using your Wyndham Rewards points for a Vacasa stay can offer good value for your Wyndham Rewards points, which we value at 0.9 cents each. If you book a 1-bedroom Vacasa property that goes for $500 per night, you’d get 1.6 cents per point from that redemption, which is much more than the average Wyndham Rewards redemption.

Booking Vacasa Properties With Wyndham Rewards

Though you can get good value from a Vacasa redemption with Wyndham Rewards, the booking process isn’t seamless. Instead of booking Vacasa properties through Wyndham online, you first need to visit Vacasa’s website to find a Vacasa property you want to book, then call or email Wyndham to make a booking over the phone.

Find a Vacasa Property To Book With Wyndham Rewards

Start by visiting Vacasa to search for a property you’d like to book. The Vacasa homepage has a search bar where you can search by location, dates, and number of guests.

Search results include the pretax price per night (or total for your selected dates), a property rating, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, occupancy limit, and an interactive map.

Remember that you’re looking for properties at 2 price points: an average cost of $250 or less, which is 15,000 points per bedroom per night, or properties between $250.01 to $500 for 30,000 points per bedroom per night.

Because your points cost depends on the number of bedrooms and price, filter results based on those factors. The initial search results may show multiroom properties with more occupancy than needed.

For example, if you want to stay in the $250-per-night, 1-bedroom range so you only pay 15,000 points per night, you can filter for that.

With the filter applied, we found a 1-bedroom condo that’s right under $250 per night and sleeps up to 6 guests. It would only cost 15,000 points per night to book.

Hot Tip:

Vacasa rewards redemptions with Wyndham Rewards are subject to blackout dates, so it’s a good idea to have a few options ready in case your first choice isn’t available.

Call Wyndham To Book Vacasa Redemptions

You can’t use Wyndham points to book a Vacasa property online, but you can call Wyndham Rewards at 866-996-7937 to be transferred to the Vacasa booking team. You can call the booking team directly at 800-441-1034. Be ready with your Wyndham Rewards member number, your preferred property, and required dates. You can email to make a booking, but a phone call is best so you can confirm availability in real time.

If you’re planning to transfer points to Wyndham Rewards for a booking, we recommend holding off on points transfers until you’ve confirmed availability. Capital One and Citi transfer instantly to Wyndham Rewards, and you can do the transfer while you’re on the phone.

Once you’ve confirmed availability and transferred your points, you can confirm the booking with the agent.

Final Thoughts

The Wyndham Rewards program isn’t known for outstanding redemptions, but you can get good value for your points by using them to book professionally managed vacation rentals with Vacasa. Travelers who value space, privacy, and unique destinations may find a great fit in Vacasa using Wyndham points.

Though booking requires a phone call and flexibility around blackout dates, the payoff could include access to cozy cabins, beachfront condos, and family-size vacation homes. If you have Wydham Rewards points or can transfer from Citi or Capital One, Vacasa redemptions are a strategy to keep in your playbook.