Diamond Resorts International® Mastercard® review – September 2018

• Get this card if… you often stay at Diamond Resorts or buy timeshares from the company.

• Pick something else if…you want general travel rewards.

• Recommended good to excellent credit score of 680 to 850.

The basics

This is the card for you if you’re a regular at Diamond Resorts, which owns nearly 400 vacation destinations worldwide. You’ll like the 2x points for Diamond Resorts spending and 1x point on everything else. And you’ll especially like the card’s $0 annual fee.

Points are flexible, which means you can redeem them for rewards like statement credit, travel purchases and gift cards. They’re worth an industry-standard 1% when you redeem them for statement credit. However, they bring a disappointing rate for travel — redemption starts at 6,667 points for $50 in statement credit.

Signup bonus, intro APR and bonus points

The card’s signup bonus is a relatively low 2,500 points, worth $25. Though that’s not a huge haul, it’s easy to earn — just make one purchase with your card.

You’ll earn even more points through regular spending. For every $2,000 in purchases, you’ll earn 500 Diamond Plus Points. It’s just too bad Barclaycard caps these points at 5,000.

When you use the card to pay for a Diamond Resorts down payment, you’ll receive 0% APR for six billing cycles on the purchase. It’s a decent deal if you purchase Diamond Resorts timeshares from time to time.

Should you get the Diamond Resorts International® Mastercard®?

When evaluating this card, you’ve got a relatively straightforward decision. If you’re a frequent guest at Diamond Resorts, you could earn many points through your vacation spending.

If you’re not, pass on this card. You’re better served by general travel cards like the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card and the Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard®.

The perks

• SIGNUP BONUS: 2,500 bonus points.
  After your first purchase, you’ll earn 2,500 Diamond Plus Points.

• REWARDS: Earn points on all purchases — and more on Diamond Resorts purchases.
  On all purchases, you’ll earn 1x Diamond Plus Point per dollar you spend. On Diamond Resorts purchases, you’ll earn 2x Diamond Plus Points per dollar you spend.
  Timeshare down payments, interest, finance charges, balance transfers, convenience checks, cash advances and credit fees don’t earn points.

• INTRO APR: On Diamond Resorts down payments.
  When you make a down payment for a Diamond Resorts timeshare, you’ll receive 0% APR on the purchase for six billing cycles.

• Bonus points at spending milestones.
  For every $2,000 you spend, you’ll earn 500 Diamond Plus Points. You can’t earn points for down payments, and the maximum points you can earn is 5,000.

You’ll also like …

• Intro balance transfer APR. Get 0% APR for the fifteen billing cycles on balance transfers that post within the first 45 days.
• Concierge service. Call Mastercard for assistance with dining, travel and entertainment reservations.

What to watch out for

• Potentially high APR. Depending on your credit, you could see a purchase and balance transfer APR as high as 23.74% variable.
• Higher APR for cash advances. Cash advances come with a 26.99% variable APR.
• Other fees. The card has balance transfer, cash advance and foreign transaction fees.
• Penalty fees. Late and returned payments can hurt: You’ll pay up to $37.

What should I know before I apply?

To apply for the Diamond Resorts International® Mastercard®, you must be at least 18 years old and a US resident. Residents of Puerto Rico and US territories are not eligible.

Information you’ll need

• Full name and contact information
• Residential status
• Annual income and employment information
• Social Security number, date of birth and mother’s maiden name

What credit score do I need?

You’ll have a better chance of approval for the Diamond Resorts International® Mastercard® if you apply with a good to excellent credit score of 680 or higher.

How to apply for the Diamond Resorts International® Mastercard®

1. Go to the Barclaycard website and click Apply Now.

2. Complete the application with details like your name, contact information, employment information and Social Security number. Then click Apply to submit your application.

How long will it take to be approved?

Typically, you’ll receive an immediate decision on your application. In rare cases, you may need to wait a few days to a few weeks until Barclaycard manually approves your application.

I got the card. Now what?

• Make timely payments. Pay your bill online at the Barclaycard website, where you can also enroll in autopay.
• Avoid interest. After the close of each billing cycle, you have a grace period of 23 days to pay your balance. If you do, you won’t pay interest on your purchases.
• Avoid fees. Late and returned payments come with hefty fees of up to $37. Balance transfers, cash advances and foreign transactions also come with fees.
• Customer service. If you have questions, contact Barclaycard customer service at 866-928-8598.

Bottom line

This card is a solid pick if you love staying with Diamond Resorts. It can be an especially good deal if you stay in Diamond Resorts timeshares.

But if you’re looking for general travel rewards, you may want to compare other cards you could be eligible for.

Frequently asked questions

• If I qualify for the signup bonus, when will I receive my points?

  Your points will post to your account at the close of the first billing statement after you’ve made your first purchase.

• Do points expire?

  No. As long as your account is open and in good standing, your Diamond Plus Points won’t expire.

• Does the card come with chip technology?

  Yes, the Diamond Resorts International® Mastercard® has EMV (Europay, Mastercard and Visa) technology. Learn more about credit card security and EMV cards.