Update: This offer is expired.

Club Carlson through U.S. Bank has an offer for 85,000 bonus points on the Club Carlson Premier Rewards Visa signature Card.

Club Carlson is the loyalty program of the Carlson Rezidor hotel group which includes Radisson Blu, Radison, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, Park Plaza and Park Inn by Radisson.

Full benefits of the card are as follows:

• Up to 85,000 Bonus Gold Points to start. Receive 50,000 Gold Points after your first purchase, plus 35,000 points after you spend $2,500 on your card within the first 90 days – After the minimum spend you’ll net at least 97,500 points
• 10 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Carlson Rezidor hotels worldwide and 5 points per dollar everywhere else Visa is accepted
• 40,000 bonus points each year  after you renew your card and pay the annual fee
• Automatic Gold Elite Status once the card is used. Existing Gold Elite members receive 15 qualifying nights toward Concierge Elite Status
• Bonus Award Nights – when Gold Points are redeemed for two or more consecutive award nights, the last night is free – exclusively for card-members
• Annual Fee: $75 (Not waived first year)
  

85,000 bonus point may sound like a lot, but in reality (compared to the other great hotel credit cards, like, Marriott, SPG, Priority Club)  it may only net 3-4 free nights. Here is the reward chart:If you were to redeem at a category 1 hotel you’d almost have enough for 10 free nights with 85,000 points. The problem is though that there are only 48 category 1 hotels or roughly only 4.5% of their 1,110 properties. Taking a quick look at the Club Carlson website tells me that roughly 60% of their hotels are in the category 3-4 range. Redeeming at a category 3 hotel  will only get me 3 free nights.

Here is the kicker though. One of the benefits of this credit card is the awesome “Bonus Award Nights”. This benefit means that whenever you redeem free award nights you will get one night FREE, or in other terms 50% off of the redemption. That means if you were to redeem at the top tier category 6 Park Plaza Tel Aviv or the category 6 Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London it would only be 50,000 points for 2 nights! or if you were to redeem at a category 3 hotel, the 3 free nights have now just turned into 6 free nights!

To get the bonus award night you need to book at least a 2 night stay. The second night will automatically be free. If for example you book a 3 night stay the 3rd night will be free.

Another Benefit of this card is the free gold status. Gold Status is usually achieved after 20 qualifying stays or 35 nights and includes the following perks:

• Complimentary room upgrades as available
• 50% point bonus on every eligible stay
• 2,000-point online booking bonus at ClubCarlson.com or any Carlson Rezidor hotel website
• Early check-ins and late checkouts as available upon request
• Roll Over Nights (unused elite-qualifying nights count again next year toward elite status)
• 72-hour room availability guarantee at participating hotels
• Elite Customer Service Line