pointstopictures This is the first article on Choice Privileges Reward Program. We are making a set of articles that will walk you through all aspects of the rewards program. We will update this article with the updated links.
Imagine you’re exploring the stunning landscapes of a national park in the Western United States or wandering through the historic beauty of Normandy in France. No matter where your adventures take you, you can always count on finding a Choice Hotel nearby. With 22 distinct brands and more than 7,500 hotel locations worldwide, Choice Hotels has one of the most extensive network of hotels. The award chart is reasonable, you can book lower end brands like Econo Lodge from 8000 points while higher end brands like Ascend can cost 25000-35000 points. They recently removed the 35K/night cap, so some properties may cost more.
Choice Privileges brands include Ascend, Cambria, Comfort Inn, Sleep Inn and more. After Choice acquired and merged the Radisson Americas chain, it now includes Radisson, Radisson Blue and other Radisson brands in North and South America (but not in the rest of the world).
Value of Choice Privileges Points
The value of Choice points are generally 1 cent per point (CPP). However, you can get up to 2.5 CPP or more, if you are strategic.
Choice Privileges Sweet Spots
See our dedicated article about the Choice Hotels Sweet Spots. In brief, you can find outsized value from your Choice hotel Points. For example, you can book a Ascend Hotel in Normandy, France for 30K points/night that will set you back by around $325/night + taxes. You normally
They also run periodic promotions that will allow you to book hotels at a reduced rate. For example, you can book the Radisson hotel at BNA for 20000 points instead of 25000 points/night. Make sure to check our article to see the latest Choice hotel promotions.
Brands
Here is the complete and alphabetically sorted list of Choice Hotels brands, including the Radisson Americas portfolio.
- Ascend Hotel Collection
- Cambria Hotels
- Clarion
- Clarion Pointe
- Comfort Inn
- Comfort Suites
- Country Inn & Suites by Radisson
- Econo Lodge
- MainStay Suites
- Park Inn by Radisson
- Park Plaza
- Quality Inn
- Radisson
- Radisson Blu
- Radisson Individuals
- Radisson Red
- Rodeway Inn
- Sleep Inn
- Suburban Extended Stay Hotel
- WoodSpring Suites
- Radisson Hotel Group Americas
- Park Plaza
Earning Points
You can earn Choice Points many ways. See our in-depth article on earning choice points here. This section gives you an overview of how you can collect choice points.
Hotel Stays
The earning rate for choice hotels is 10 points per U.S. dollar spent on room rates, excluding taxes. You will also earn additional points based on membership level. The table below shows points earned per dollar based on your membership level.
| Membership Level | Points Earned per Dollar |
|---|---|
| Member | 10 points |
| Gold | 11 points |
| Platinum | 12.5 points |
| Diamond | 15 points |
Like most hotels chains, you must book a stay through choices’s own booking channels (website, app, or over the phone). You will NOT earn points if you book through third party websites, such as Expedia.
They also have periodic promotions that offer up to 8,000 bonus points just for completing two stays. You might be able to boost your points by taking advantage of these deals.
Credit Card Sign-Up Bonus
Another way to earn a lot of Choice Privileges points is to sign-up for their credit card. To earn Choice Privileges points through a credit card sign-up bonus, you can opt for one of the cards offered by Wells Fargo. The Choice Privileges® Mastercard® offers 60,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first three months, with no annual fee. Alternatively, the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® provides 90,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in the first three months, with a $95 annual fee. These points can be redeemed for reward nights at select Choice Hotels properties, making it an excellent way to quickly increase your points balance.
Credit Card Spending
Choice Hotels partners with Wells Fargo to offer two credit card options for earning Choice Privileges points. The Choice Privileges® Mastercard® earns 5 points per dollar spent at Choice Hotels, 3 points per dollar at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores, and phone plan services, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Meanwhile, the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® earns 10 points per dollar at Choice Hotels, 5 points per dollar in the same bonus categories, and 1 point per dollar on other purchases, along with additional perks such as automatic Platinum elite status. Both cards offer substantial sign-up bonuses, making them valuable tools for frequent travelers looking to maximize their point earnings.
The Select Card provides 30,000 bonus points every account anniversary, which can be worth more than the $95 annual fee.
Transfer Partners
The table below shows the exciting credit card transfer partners for Choice Privileges. If you have the Citi Strata Premier card, you can double your points with a 1:2 transfer ratio. Other Citi cards still offer a great deal with a 1:1.5 transfer ratio. Wells Fargo Go Far points also give you twice the value at a 1:2 ratio. For Amex Points and Capital One miles, you get a 1:1 transfer ratio.
| Credit Card Reward Program | Transfer Ratio |
|---|---|
| American Express Membership Rewards | 1:1 (1,000 Membership Rewards = 1,000 Choice points) |
| Citi ThankYou Rewards | 1:2 or 1:1.5, depending on the card (1,000 ThankYou points = 2,000 or 1,500 Choice points) |
| Capital One miles | 1:1 (1,000 Capital One miles = 1,000 Choice points) |
| Wells Fargo Go Far Rewards | 1:2 (1,000 Go Far Rewards = 2,000 Choice points) |
Other ways to earn points
There are several other ways to get Choice Privileges points, though you may not be able to get too many points through these channels. The table below summarizes these.
| Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Rental Car Partners | Earn up to 1,000 bonus points by booking with Avis or Budget, plus up to 35% off base rates. Mention your Choice Privileges number when booking or at the rental counter. |
| Cruise Bookings | Earn 5 points per dollar when booking through Choice Privileges Cruises. Enjoy a luxurious cruise experience while accumulating points. |
| Golf by Choice | Earn points on golf equipment, apparel, and tee time reservations through the Golf by Choice program. Turn your love for golf into more reward nights. |
| e-Rewards Surveys | Enroll in e-Rewards and earn points for completing surveys, starting with 500 points for your first survey. Share your opinions and get rewarded. |
| Refer a Friend | Earn 500 bonus points for referring a friend to the program. Introduce your friends to Choice Privileges and both of you benefit. |
| Buying Points | Purchase points at 0.99 cents each when buying at least 10,000 points, with occasional bonuses or discounts. Top off your account for high-value redemptions. |
| Daily Getaways | Buy points through the U.S. Travel Association’s yearly promotion, often for under 0.5 cents per point. Stock up on points during this limited-time offer. The quantities are limited and you have to be very quick to get one of these deals. |
Do Choice Privileges points expire?
Your points expire if you do not have a qualifying activity within 18 months. Qualifying activities are when points post or are removed from your account. You can gift your point to someone but that does NOT count as a qualifying activity. You you receive gift points, that does count as a qualifying activity.
Redeeming Points
Hotel Stays
The best way to redeem Choice Privileges points is for hotel stays. You can redeem points at most of Choice Hotels’ 7,500 properties, with award rates starting at 6,000 points per night. Choice Privileges used to have a 35K/night cap on award nights but that has been removed. Still, most nights cost between 8K and 35K/night. Some hotels in Asia Pacific starts at 6,000 points, even though some hotels in the region can go up to 100K/night.
In the U.S., rates generally begin at 8,000 points per night and can go up to 35,000 points per night. Some regions and all-inclusive resorts may have rates as high as 100,000 points per night. Award rates fluctuate based on the season, weekdays vs. weekends, and availability, making it hard to predict exact points needed until booking.
Regardless, they can be an incredible value, if you choose the right hotel at the right time. For example, the Paradise Nassau goes for over $300/night if you are booking with money but costs only 12,000 Choice Privileges points per night.
100-Day Booking Window
Members cannot book rewards night stays more than 100 days in advance. This policy helps Choice gauge hotel popularity before setting award rates. It might be a bit annoying if you plan your travel early but you can easily set a reminder for 100 days before your desired date to book your stay.
Transfer Partners for Choice Privileges Points
Choice Privileges currently have 13 airlines transfer partners. You can get some value out of them, particularly if you are looking at a specific award booking. However, your best value might be redeeming points for hotel stays.
Transferring points take a few weeks, so plan early if you are looking at these transfers.
| Transfer Partner | Conversion Ratio | Minimum Points |
|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus | 5,000 points = 1,000 Avios | 5,000 points |
| Aeromexico | 5,000 points = 1,000 Aeromexico Rewards | 5,000 points |
| Aeroplan | 5,000 points = 1,000 Aeroplan miles | 5,000 points |
| Alaska Airlines | 5,000 points = 1,000 Alaska Airline miles | 5,000 points |
| British Airways | 5,000 points = 1,000 Avios | 5,000 points |
| Club Premier | 5,000 points = 1,000 Club Premier miles | 5,000 points |
| Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) | 5,000 points = 1,000 Flying Blue Miles | 5,000 points |
| Iberia | 5,000 points = 1,000 Avios | 5,000 points |
| Qantas | 2,000 points = 800 Frequent Flyer points | 2,000 points |
| Southwest | 6,000 points = 1,800 Rapid Rewards Points | 6,000 points |
| Turkish Airlines | 5,000 points = 1,000 Miles & Smiles | 5,000 points |
| United Airlines | 5,000 points = 1,000 MileagePlus miles | 5,000 points |
| Virgin Australia | 2,000 points = 800 Velocity Frequent Flyer points | 2,000 points |
Redeem Points for Cruise Credit
You can redeem Choice Privileges points for cruise credits, which can be used toward thousands of cruises. Below is the chart showing the required points for each credit value:
| Credit Value | Number of Choice Privileges® Points Required | Cents per Point (CPP) |
|---|---|---|
| $250 | 85,000 | 0.29 |
| $500 | 160,000 | 0.31 |
To redeem, you can call 800-596-0451 to book.
Choice Privileges Elite Status
The Choice Privileges program is divided into four tiers: Member, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. Each tier offers various benefits, including the ability to earn and use points, free amenities, member discounts, and priority check-in/out. Higher tiers provide additional perks like bonus points, welcome gifts, early check-in/late checkout, and complimentary reserved parking. Gold, Platinum, and Diamond members can also roll over extra qualifying nights to the next year to maintain their status. See the table below for a summary:
Membership Levels Table
| Level | Nights Required | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Member | 0 | Earn/use points, free amenities, member discounts, reduced room rates, bonus points for weeknight stays. |
| Gold | 10 | All Member benefits plus priority check-in/out, welcome gift, rental car discounts, early check-in/late checkout, 10% points bonus, reserved parking. |
| Platinum | 20 | All Gold benefits plus 25% points bonus, up to 19 rollover nights. |
| Diamond | 40 | All Platinum benefits plus 50% points bonus, free breakfast at select Radisson properties, guaranteed room availability (48-hour notice), up to 39 rollover nights. |
Does Choice Privileges Match Elite Status from Other Hotel Chains?
Yes, Choice Privileges offers elite status matches for those who have elite status with another hotel brand. To request a status match, email your name, Choice Privileges number, and proof of elite status with another program to Choice. You can achieve top-tier Diamond status by matching your elite status and completing one stay at a Cambria hotel.
The bottom line
Choice Privileges points can be incredibly valuable if you are strategic. Here is the summary for the program with our quantitative analysis. It scores a respectable 77 out of 100.
| Metric | Choice Hotels | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Properties | 7,000+ | 8/10 |
| Cost | Budget to Mid-range | 8/10 |
| Value of Points | High value for points | 7/10 |
| Loyalty Program Benefits | Free nights, upgrades, late check-out | 7/10 |
| Free Breakfast | Available at select brands, quality can vary | 6/10 |
| Free Parking | Available at many locations | 10/10 |
| Upgrades | Available for elite members, rooms may not be very different | 6/10 |
| Bonus Points | Up to 50% more for Diamond | 7/10 |
| Member Discounts | Available | 10/10 |
| Priority Check-in/out | For elite members | 8/10 |
| Total | 77/100 |