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Later this month, Wyndham Rewards is making two alterations that will impact what you'll pay for an award stay: adjusting the award category for select hotels and re-pricing select Vacasa vacation rentals.
Here's what you need to know about the changes coming on March 26, 2024.
Wyndham Will Recategorize Select Hotels and Resorts
Every year, Wyndham updates its award pricing. And on March 26, 2024, the changes will go live, with 3% of Wyndham's hotel portfolio moving to a higher tier and 4% dropping to a lower tier. Of the 9,200 properties in the portfolio, about 8,550 won't see any pricing changes. However, we don't know the names of the properties changing, as Wyndham didn't publish a list.
If you have a current reservation at a hotel going up in price, Wyndham will honor your original rate. On the other hand, if you have a reservation at a hotel dropping to a lower category, Wyndham will credit you the difference.
Wyndham has a simple award chart, charging 7,500, 15,000, or 30,000 points for a free night at a hotel. At resorts, the pricing ranges between 15,000 and 30,000 points per bedroom per night. Thankfully, that structure won't change.
Related: All You Need to Know About Wyndham Diamond Status
Wyndham Is Re-Pricing Select Vacasa Vacation Rental Properties
In the coming changes, Wyndham will also re-price Vacasa properties based on the average nightly cash rate. Instead of a flat 15,000 points per bedroom per night network-wide, Vacasa vacation rentals will cost the following:
- Average nightly rate of $250 or less: 15,000 points per bedroom per night
- Average nightly rate greater than $250: 30,000 points per bedroom per night
There's no grey area here. Vacasa rentals will either double in price or they'll stay the same. Thankfully, there are a few weeks to lock in stays at the current rates, as the changes won't take effect until March 26, 2024.
For those wondering, Wyndham isn't planning to remove the cardholder exclusive redemption discount. That means you can still book Vacasa and Wyndham awards for 10% less if you carry the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card, Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card, or the Wyndham Rewards® Earner℠ Business Card.
Final Thoughts
There's a good and a bad side to the impending Wyndham pricing changes. At select hotels and traditionally more expensive Vacasa rentals, you'll redeem more points for a free night. However, it looks like much will stay the same — preserving some of the value of earning and burning Wyndham Rewards points.
We have reached out to Wyndham for further clarification and for a potential list of properties that will change award categories. As of the time of publication, we haven't received a response. We'll provide updates once we receive details from Wyndham.
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