Club Carlson members can earn up to 85,000 points when signing up for the Club Carlson Premier Rewards Visa Signature Card. You’ll earn 50,000 bonus points after your first purchase with the card and an additional 35,000 bonus points when you spend $2,500 within the first 90 days of owning the card.
Along with the 85,000 bonus points, which can be redeemed for up to nine award nights at the Category 1 level, you will get Gold Elite status, 10 points per dollar spent in net purchases at Carlson Rezidor hotels worldwide and five points per dollar spent everywhere else that Visa is accepted. When you renew your card and pay the annual fee, you’ll get 40,000 renewal points each year. One of the best benefits of the card is that when you redeem your points for award nights for two or more consecutive nights at the same hotel, your last night incurs no points deduction–it’s basically half off award stays of two nights for cardholders.
The free Gold Elite status comes with a 35 percent point bonus, complimentary room upgrades at check-in, in-room welcome gift and more. If you already have Gold or Concierge Elite status at the time that you apply for the card, you are eligible to earn a one-time credit of 15 nights towards obtaining or maintaining your current Concierge Elite status–elite night credits will be eligible for Elite Roll Over Nights the first year you own the card. The card comes with an annual fee of $75, which is not waived the first year.
If you do not qualify for the Club Carlson Premier Rewards Visa Signature Card, you will automatically be considered for the Club Carlson Platinum Rewards Visa Card that earns 50,000 bonus points after first purchase, plus 10,000 bonus points after spending at least $1,500 in net purchases on the card within the first 90 days of ownership. The card offers six points per dollar spent at Carlson Rezidor hotels and three points elsewhere, along with Silver Elite status or 10 nights toward elite status if you are already a Silver Elite member. The card comes with an annual fee of $50, which is not waived the first year.
Club Carlson members can earn free stays at more than 1,000 hotels worldwide including Radisson Blu, Radisson, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Park Inn and Country Inns and Suites By Carlson. You can apply for the card at http://insideflyerus.wpengine.com/link/?11804 If you prefer to apply by phone, call (855) 340-2676 ext. 32935.
Bottom line: Both cards have foreign transaction fees and do not have a chip so not as convenient as some cards for international travel, but the bonus offer is solid and the ability to get a no-points truly free award night when you book another award night is a good feature.
