Best Western Rewards - Easy way to get Gold Elite, Platinum, or Diamond?

Anyone know an easy and free way to get Gold Elite, Platinum, or Diamond status when joining without needing any stays?

Just wondering if there are any tricks out there.

Anyone know an easy and free way to get Gold Elite, Platinum, or Diamond status when joining without needing any stays?

Just wondering if there are any tricks out there.
And the point of it would be? :)

These statuses only give you extra points (and only on points-earning stays, not miles-earning stays), so they're not particularly useful. (In theory, at least the higher levels are supposed to get you a perk or two, but in reality don't count on it.)

Anyway, without needing any stays, no, not aware of any.

Never heard of it happening. Some programs will award status (usually 1st tier) for getting an affinity credit card. Not BW. Some programs sell status, generally top tier. Not BW.

I have to agree with sdsearch; there's little reason to get BW status - none if you don't stay with them. If you have status with another program, you might ask for a comp. Call the number on the back of your card. Once the agent has picked himself off the floor, dried his eyes and stopped laughing, you might get some advice on how it can be accomplished.

To get extra points immediately, you can join at http://www.bestwestern.com/aaaclubs/index.asp?club=aaa which is for AAA members. I can't remember if it actually asks you for your AAA number though.

I was a Best West Western Diamond member 3 years running and I can tell you first hand that it's worthless.

If you're imagining a world of preferential treatment, specialised VIP service and upgrades to suites you're in for big disappointment.

Most staff at Best Western Hotels don't even know the loyalty card has more than one level until you point it out to them on the brochure and show that your card has the word "diamond" written on it.

The other, more important aspect is that most Best Western hotels are small, old, unrefurbished local affairs. Even if you manage to get an upgrade - most of the time you won't be able to even notice the difference.

Getting an upgraded room at a Best Western USUALLY means that you have a view onto the street traffic and are actually able to pull your luggage around the room to the other side of the bed.

That said, there are A FEW good decent properties out there where an upgrade will make a difference....but they are few and far between....

...how to find these hidden gems ???

Easy...

....they're usually the most expensive Best Western properties in the hotel chain with the best trip advisor reviews which require a whopping 36,000 points for a free night !

Agree with previous poster as a diamond elite you receive no kind of recognition of what they say they will. HH and SPG do a much better job of this....I used to be spoiled by it but now my company has gone cheap on me.

Anyone know an easy and free way to get Gold Elite, Platinum, or Diamond status when joining without needing any stays?

Just wondering if there are any tricks out there.

You just got lucky. Check this forum I started: http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=9658850#post9658850