IS this only a Visa card now, or is the MC still available?

It appears that the program is Worldpoints. If this is correct, how are the rewards vis a vis redemption points, especially the hotel rewards, as they are not spelled out. Which hotel chains are covered?

Thank you very much!

The MBNA card is a VIsa. I actually cancelled mine a little over a year ago becuase MBNA increased their redemption requirements. As such, I went back to the Starwood AmEx and Amtrak M/C.

In any case, hotel rewards are as follows: At participating locations in the U.S. Room with MDV up to $80: 5,000; MDV of $81-$160: 10,000; and MDV of $161-$240: 15,000. MDV equals the per night rate, including tax, for standard single- or double-occupancy. Advance reservations of 7 days are required. No minimum stay required.

Unless things changed with MBNA, you have the option of staying at any hotel. If you exceed the MDV, you can simply pay the difference. I have used points to stay in Hilton, Holiday Inn, Sheraton, and Walt Disney World hotels. The travel service is extremely flexible. About a month after booking my Disney hotel, Disney ran a promotion so I called MBNA and they re-booked me in order to save me some money since I exceeded the dollar limit for point usage.

I really liked the program and the flexibility; however, before the terms changed a room up to $200 only cost me 5,000 points.

Well, I jsut got an offering for an MBNA Smithsonian Inst. MC that has the Worldpoints feature and costs nothing.

Also, a portion of the charges go to the Smithsonian, so I think I am going to go for this, as MBNA charges only 1% for foreign currency transactions and the $ goes to a good cause!