Pros
- Elite-level members receive bonus points and discounts
- Large number of properties across multiple popular brands
- No blackout dates on standard rooms
- Elite status is easy to earn
Cons
- Points not as valuable as those of top competitors
- Points expire after 18 months of account inactivity
- Only one co-branded credit card option
- Operates in far fewer foreign countries than competitors with the widest reach
Choice Privileges Rewards Program Review Summary
Choice Privileges is the 6th best hotel rewards program, according to WalletHub research. Some of the biggest strengths of Choice Privileges are a wide range of points redemption options, status levels that are relatively easy to qualify for and few earning limitations.
Choice Privileges Scorecard
#3 for Earning Policies
#4 for Rewards Value
#10 for Redemption Policies
#6 for Geographical Coverage
#7 for Other Features
| Points Needed for a Free Night: | Min: 6,000 Avg: 20,000 Max: 35,000 |
| Average Point Value: | 1 point = 0.94 cents 1,000 points = $9.4 |
| Transfer Partners: | 11, including: Amtrak Guest Rewards, American Airlines AAdvantage, Southwest Rapid Rewards and more |
Below, you can see an in-depth analysis of the Choice Privileges rewards program, covering everything from the program’s perks and status levels to how to earn and redeem points. You can also find a comparison of Choice Privileges to some of its major competitors.
How to Earn Choice Points
Category Rating: 5/15
Choice Privileges members can earn points when they make purchases through Choice or its partners. Below, you can see the types of transactions that generate points and the number of points you’ll receive.
- 10 Choice Privileges Points per $1 Spent: Stays at Choice properties
- 2-5 Choice Privileges Points per $1 Spent: Purchases on Choice credit cards
- 5 Choice Privileges Points per $1 Spent: Bookings with 20 partnered cruise lines
- Up to 2,000 Choice Privileges Points: Qualifying rentals with Avis® and Budget®
- 500 Choice Privileges Points: Bonus for referring a friend
In addition, you may be able to find special deals on the websites of hotels in the Choice Hotels portfolio, which could allow you to redeem fewer points than usual for a free night or earn extra points on a normal booking. It’s a good idea to check for deals on a regular basis, especially if you’re a frequent traveler.
How Much Are Choice Points Worth?
Category Rating: 18/25
Choice Privileges points are worth 0.94 cents each on average, according to WalletHub’s research. The average Choice Privileges point value is almost the same for both weekday and weekend reservations.
How to Redeem Choice Points
Category Rating: 17/25
| Redemption Method | More Info |
|---|---|
| Hotel & Resorts | Get free nights at Choice Hotels worldwide |
Cruise Offers | Book cruises from partnered cruise lines, such as Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean |
Transfer Points | Transfer points to Choice’s travel partner loyalty programs, including Amtrak Guest Rewards, American Airlines AAdvantage, Southwest Rapid Rewards and more |
Gift Cards | Get gift cards for various restaurants and retailers |
Golf Gear | Buy golf apparel and accessories from brands like Adidas, Puma, Brooks and more |
Donation | Donate points to the American Red Cross |
Other Features of the Choice Privileges Program
Category Rating: 11/20
The Choice Privileges rewards program is free to join, and most people will join as a basic member. However, exclusive rates on hotel reservations are the only basic Choice Privileges membership benefit.
The more nights you spend at Choice hotels and resorts, and the more money you spend with a Choice credit card, the higher your “Elite Status” level will go. The higher your Choice Privileges Elite Status level is, the more benefits you will receive at Choice properties, like reserved parking, points bonuses and rollover nights.
Below, you can see exactly how many nights you’ll need to stay each year to earn and maintain each Choice Privileges status level, along with the perks that come with it.
Choice Privileges Status Levels
| Choice Privileges Levels | Nights Needed per Year | Points Bonus | Other Notable Perks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member | None | None | Exclusive Member Rate |
| Gold Elite | 7 | 10% | Member benefits Early check in and late check out Elite reserved parking Up to 9 rollover nights Elite customer hotline Elite welcome gift |
| Platinum Elite | 15 | 25% | Gold benefits Up to 19 rollover nights Avis® Preferred Plus |
| Diamond Elite | 25 | 60% | Platinum benefits Up to 39 rollover nights |
Members must satisfy a given status level’s qualifying requirements between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 to reach or maintain that status level and enjoy the corresponding benefits. You must re-qualify for Elite status each calendar year.
Choice Elite Status Match
If someone has Elite Status in a competitor’s loyalty program, Choice will match that status one time. The status match is valid for the current calendar year if it is matched anytime between January and June. It is valid for the current and the following year if it is matched anytime between July and December.
After the initial Elite Status Match term, you will need to fulfill the normal requirements with Choice’s program to maintain your status.
Where Can Choice Privileges Points Take You?
Category Rating: 8/15
Choice Privileges has a relatively large reach. It includes approximately 570,000 rooms across more than 7,000 properties in around 40 countries and territories. It also features more than 10 different hotel brands, including Comfort Hotels, Quality Inn, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn and Clarion – just to name a few. Travelers with high and low budgets should all be able to find a place to stay.
Summary: Choice Privileges Scores by Review Category
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Earning Policies | 5/15 |
| Rewards Value | 18/25 |
| Redemption Policies | 17/25 |
| Other Features | 11/20 |
| Geographical Coverage | 8/15 |
| OVERALL | 58/100 |
Choice Privileges Credit Cards
Opinions and ratings are our own. This content is not provided, commissioned or endorsed by any issuer. Some offers are from WalletHub partners.
There is only one Choice Privileges credit card, the Choice Credit Card, as of January 2021. Applying for this credit card is worth considering if you have good credit or better and stay at hotels in the Choice portfolio often. The following table shows how this card matches up against cards from other top hotels.
Choice Privileges Credit Card vs. Competitors’ Cards:
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Initial Bonus Offer |
|---|---|---|
| Choice Credit Card | $0 | 32,000 points |
| Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card | $95 | 150,000 points |
| Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card | $95 | 100,000 points |
7 Tips for Choice Privileges Members
- The best way to redeem Choice Privileges points is for Choice stays. Points are worth 0.94 cents apiece that way.
- Avoid buying Choice Privileges points, if possible. Choice Privileges points cost more to purchase than they are worth when redeemed, on average. However, it could be worth buying a small number if it puts you over the top for a free night.
- Take advantage of status perks. The assorted small perks with which members are rewarded for their financial loyalty can be a big selling point for hotel rewards programs, but they are often forgotten by users as time goes by.
- Consider applying for a Choice credit card. The Choice Credit Card could save the average person roughly $1,500 over the first two years of use, according to WalletHub’s calculations.
- Try the Island Approach with your credit cards. The Choice Credit Card offers competitive earnings on hotel reservations (within the Choice Hotels family). You’ll get a lower value for other purchases, though. That’s why you should put an everyday rewards card into your wallet as well. Doing so rounds out your rewards arsenal, making it so you get your money’s worth on every transaction.
- Make sure to read Choice Hotels reviews & Choice Privileges FAQs. Learning from experts and fellow travelers will help you pick up some helpful tips as well as avoid tricks and pitfalls.
- Compare your hotel options if you’re not wedded to Choice Hotels. Choice Hotels is not the only worldwide hotel chain with a rewarding loyalty program. You can see how Choice Privileges compares to a couple of popular alternatives below. You can also check out WalletHub’s rankings of the Best Hotel Rewards Programs to learn more.
Choice Privileges vs. Hilton Honors vs. Marriott Bonvoy
| Category | Choice Privileges | Hilton Honors | Marriott Bonvoy |
|---|---|---|---|
| WalletHub Rank | 6th | 5th | 4th |
| Average Point Value | 0.94 cents | 0.63 cents | 0.91 cents |
| U.S. Properties | 5,955 | 5,302 | 5,543 |
| International Properties | 1,163 | 1,419 | 2,485 |
| Countries/Territories with a Property | 41 | 118 | 133 |
| Point Expiration | After 18 months of inactivity | After 15 months of inactivity | After 24 months of inactivity |
| Credit Card to Consider | Choice Credit Card | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card |
Choice Privileges Review Methodology
Overall program rankings are based on the same methodology as WalletHub’s annual study on the Best Hotel Rewards Programs. Editor’s ratings reflect the sum of each rewards program’s scores across the study’s 5 major categories – earning policies, redemption policies, rewards value, geographical coverage and other features – adjusted to a 5-point scale and to create a representative distribution of ratings.
WalletHub calculated Choice Privileges point values by comparing room rates in 10 popular travel destinations – 5 domestic and 5 international – to the number of points needed to book a rewards night. We did this for all Choice-owned hotel locations within 15 miles of the city center in each destination, applying the process to weekend and weekday dates in each destination’s high and shoulder tourist seasons.
