Sonesta World Mastercard®
- Annual fee
- $0 for the first year, $75 after that
- Recommended credit
- Excellent
- Card network
- Mastercard
- Regular purchase APR
- 18.24% to 28.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
At a glance
Bank of America’s Sonesta World Mastercard provides travelers with ample initial benefits and the ability to earn points on a variety of eligible business and personal expenses at Sonesta hotels, like the famous Royal Sonesta brand.
Our review of the Sonesta World Mastercard®
The Sonesta World Mastercard® is a hotel rewards credit card offered by Sonesta Travel Pass and Bank of America. While the card provides decent points for Sonesta enthusiasts, it does come with a $75 annual fee (waived for the first year) that some may find off-putting.
How to Earn Rewards
The Sonesta Card shines when it comes to earning rewards with Sonesta. Cardholders earn 3X points per $1 spent on purchases at any of the seven brands within the Sonesta Travel Pass program, including popular names like Sonesta Simply Suites, ES Suites, and Royal Sonesta. Additionally, the card offers accelerated points on key travel categories such as airfare, car rentals, and dining purchases, albeit at a lower rate of 2X.
Comparing the Sonesta World Mastercard® to other competitive credit cards like the Citi® Double Cash Card and Capital One Venture Rewards, it’s important to consider the earning potential and benefits offered by each card.
| Card | Annual Fee | Rewards | Elite Status | Intro APR | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonesta World Mastercard® | $75 (waived for the first year) | 3X points on Sonesta purchases, 2X on airfare, car rentals, and dining, and 1X on everything else | Travel Pass Elite Member | N/A | Mastercard |
| Citi® Double Cash Card | None | Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases | N/A | 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers | Mastercard |
| Capital One Venture Rewards | $95 | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day | N/A | N/A | Mastercard |
How to Redeem Points
Points earned through the Sonesta Travel Pass program and the Sonesta World Mastercard® can be redeemed for various options, with free nights being the most popular choice. Free nights start at 15,000 points per night, with 12 tiers in the award booking program. Redemption can be done online through your membership account, via Sonesta’s online redemption request form, or by calling 1-855-622-2160.
Here are the 12 tiers in the Sonesta Travel Pass program and the corresponding points needed for a free night:
| Tier | Points Needed |
|---|---|
| 1 | 10,000 |
| 2 | 12,500 |
| 3 | 15,000 |
| 4 | 17,500 |
| 5 | 20,000 |
| 6 | 22,500 |
| 7 | 25,000 |
| 8 | 27,500 |
| 9 | 30,000 |
| 10 | 40,000 |
| 11 | 50,000 |
| 12 | 60,000 |
Sonesta Travel Perks
As a hotel credit card, the Sonesta World Mastercard® offers basic perks such as Gold tier status in the Travel Pass program, providing benefits like early check-in and late check-out, free in-room Wi-Fi, and more. Cardholders also enjoy no foreign transaction fees when using the card internationally.
Other Card Features
Additional features of the Sonesta World Mastercard® include:
- EMV chip technology with tap and pay
- Account alerts
- Mobile banking access through the Bank of America mobile app
Cardholders also benefit from Mastercard protections such as zero liability protection, airport concierge, ID theft protection, and more.
When considering the Sonesta World Mastercard®, it’s essential to take into account Bank of America’s reputation. Here’s how the bank ranks according to expert and consumer reviews:
Should You Apply for the Sonesta World Mastercard?
The Sonesta World Mastercard® offers essential security features and benefits for business travelers, including chip and pin security, overdraft protection, and account alerts. Additionally, the card supports digital wallet technology for convenient in-store or in-app payments via Apple Pay®, Google Pay™, or Samsung Pay. If you’re a frequent Sonesta guest looking to maximize your rewards, this card could be worth considering.
Card features
Benefits as listed on the original card page. They can change; confirm details with the issuer.
- 3X points on Sonesta purchases
- 2X points on airfare, car rentals, and dining
- 1X points on all other purchases
- Automatic Sonesta Travel Pass Elite Member status
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 within 90 days
- Earn additional 5,000 points after adding an authorized user within 90 days
- Anniversary bonus of 30,000 points for spending $7,500 per year
Who this card may suit
- You travel frequently, either for business or pleasure
- You have good to excellent credit to receive the best rates
- You don’t want to pay foreign transaction fees
- You plan to add additional authorized users to your credit card
Rates, fees and terms
| Annual Fee | $0 for the first year, $75 after that |
|---|---|
| Regular Purchase APR | 18.24% to 28.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate |
| Balance Transfer APR | 18.24% to 28.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate |
| Balance Transfer Transaction Fee | $10 or 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater |
| Cash Advance APR | 21.24% to 30.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate |
| Cash Advance Transaction Fee | $10 or 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater |
| Penalty APR | Up to 29.99% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate |
| Late Payment Penalty Fee | Up to $40 |
| Return Payment Penalty Fee | Up to $29 |
Confirm before you apply: rates, fees and offers change often. The figures above are the ones listed on the original card page, not a current quote from the issuer. APRs are typically variable, and the rate you receive depends on your creditworthiness. Recommended credit: Excellent Credit.
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Sonesta World Mastercard®
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