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Update: The Club Carlson℠ Premier Rewards Visa Signature® Card is no longer available to cardholders. In 2018, Club Carlson rebranded as Radisson Rewards. In June 2021, Radisson split its program into Radisson Rewards and Radisson Rewards Americas. Then in 2023, Radisson Rewards Americas merged into Choice Privileges.
If you are a fan of the former Club Carlson program and Radisson properties, read up on the Choice Privileges program and the new Choice Privileges credit cards.
The Club Carlson℠ Premier Rewards Visa Signature® Card has some great perks for those who love staying at Radisson and other Carlson hotels. The great rewards you receive can lead you to many free nights in the Carlson group of hotels, which includes Radisson Blu, Radisson, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, and Country Inns and Suites by Carlson. The large sign-on bonus is worth plenty alone! Let’s go over some of the details so that you can decide if this card is right for you.
Sign-On Bonus
One of the best perks of the Club Carlson℠ Premier Rewards Visa Signature® Card is the large sign-on bonus that you receive. You can receive up to 85,000 bonus Gold points! You will receive 50,000 Gold Points on first purchase, and 35,000 more points after spending $2,500 within the first 90 days of having the card. There is a $75 annual fee that isn't waived for the first year.
Extra Perks for Loyal Cardholders
For those who remain loyal to the Club Carlson Premier Visa, there is a renewal bonus of 40,000 Gold Points on every anniversary date of your card membership. That is enough points for a standard room one night stay at a Category 4 Club Carlson property. You can also receive one free night in a Club Carlson hotel after you spend $10,000 and renew your card by paying the annual fee.
Here is the Club Carlson award chart:
So, the 85,000 signup bonus for this card would be more than enough points for a night at a Category 7 hotel, or enough for up to 9 nights at their lowest category properties.
The Club Carlson Premier Visa comes with Gold elite status as long as you hold your card, and it is also a Visa Signature card, so you can receive additional discounts on shopping, hotels, movies, and more.
Build Up Points Quickly
The Club Carlson Premier Visa allows you to build up points quickly. You will receive 10 points for every dollar spent at Carlson hotels, and you will receive 5 points for every dollar spent on all other purchases, in all categories. This allows you to steadily build up points if you use your card for everyday spending. Receive extra points for spending on other travel purchases, like rental cars, and you will also enjoy discounts from Club Carlson so you can get the best deals available.
Simple to Redeem Points
It is simple to redeem the points that you receive with the Club Carlson Premier Visa. The most popular way to redeem points is for free nights in Carlson Rezidor hotels, which start at only 9,000 points per night and have no blackout dates for standard rooms. Additionally, you can use your Gold points for in-hotel perks, like movies, dining, and more.
Another option is to redeem your Gold points received using the Club Carlson Premier Visa for airline miles. There are 20 airline partners that you can choose from. You can even opt to have your Gold points automatically converted into airline miles each time your points balance reaches 10,000. When redeeming your points, 10,000 points is equal to 1,000 airline miles. This isn't a recommended way to redeem your Club Carlson points unless you're topping of your airline account for an upcoming award.
A third non-travel option is to use your Gold points for gift cards or prepaid visa cards to spend however you would like. There are many retail, travel and restaurant partners available for this option.
Any Downsides?
The Club Carlson Premier Visa is a great option for those who prefer Radisson and other Club Carlson hotels. If you prefer another specific hotel brand, then this might not be the card for you. Fortunately, there are options for everyone, for every hotel chain out there, so keep searching if this does not strike your fancy.
Club Carlson hotels are more popular outside of the United States, so if you do a lot of international travel, then it might be great. They have some great properties in Europe! Keep in mind that this card does have foreign transaction fees, which might put a damper on your benefits when traveling abroad. And, if you tend to stay in the country, then you might want a card that offers a little more flexibility.
Conclusion
The Club Carlson℠ Premier Rewards Visa Signature® Card is growing in popularity and offers some great perks for those who love the Carlson Redizor chain of hotels. If you're not approved for the Premier version of the card, you might be approved for the basic version.
The up to 85,000 Gold Points bonus on the Club Carlson Premier Visa makes it a very appealing rewards card for those travelers looking for a good hotel card option.
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I had this Premier Rewards card got the 85000 points, and then downgraded to the no fee version after their change in reward nights. Can I apply again and get the 85000 bonus points a second time? I still have the no fee card.
There is nothing that precludes you from obtaining the card and receiving the bonus as long as you’re approved for the card.