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Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in o...
A long-time points and miles student, Jessica is the former Personal Finance Managing Editor at U.S. News and World Report and is passionate about helping consumers fund their travels for as little ca...
With a degree in media and journalism, Stella has been in the points and miles game for more than 6 years. She most recently worked as a Corporate Communications Analyst for JetBlue. Find her work in ...
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Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®
U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
3.5
60,000 points
$95
20.99%, 25.24%, or 29.99%, based on your creditworthiness
Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®
The Choice Privileges Select card is perfect for Choice loyalists thanks to its 10x rewards on Choice stays and automatic Platinum Elite status.
U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
3.5
Card Snapshot
Welcome Bonus & Info
Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – enough to redeem for up to 7 reward nights at select Choice Hotels® properties
10x points on Choice stays
5x points at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores, and phone plan services
1x point on all other purchases
Automatic Platinum Elite status
30,000 bonus points each account anniversary
Cell phone protection
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
Pros
10x points on Choice stays
5x points at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores, and phone plan services
1x point on all other purchases
Automatic Platinum Elite status
30,000 bonus points each account anniversary
Cell phone protection
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
Cons
Points are not transferrable
$95
Great Card If
You frequent Choice hotels multiple times per year
You know you’ll get more value than the annual fee
Don’t Get If
You want a card that earns flexible rewards
You seldom stay at Choice hotels
Choice Privileges Select Card — Is It Worth It?
If you visit Choice hotels fairly often and want more value from these stays, then the Choice Privileges Select card would certainly be worth it for you.
With it, you’ll earn 10x points per $1 on participating Choice stays and receive automatic Platinum Elite status (which includes 25% bonus points), 30,000 bonus points each anniversary, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, cell phone protection, and more.
Choice Privileges Select Card — Top Benefits
Platinum Elite Status
By holding the Choice Privileges Select card, you’ll receive automatic Platinum elite status in the Choice Privileges loyalty program, which usually requires 20 elite qualifying nights each year.
With your Platinum elite status, you’ll receive:
25% bonus points (12.5x points per $1)
Up to 19 elite rollover nights per calendar year
Welcome gift at participating hotels in the U.S. and Canada
Early check-in and late checkout, when available, at participating hotels
Elite reserved parking, when available, at participating hotels
By holding the card, you’ll receive 30,000 bonus points each year on your account anniversary, enough for a free night at any Choice hotel worldwide. We value Choice points at 0.6 cents per point, making 30,000 points worth $180 based on our valuations. That easily offsets the card’s ongoing annual fee ($95) in our book.
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit
You’ll receive an application fee credit when you enroll for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and pay with your Choice Privileges Select card.
If you’re unfamiliar, TSA PreCheck provides an expedited security experience at U.S. airports. Global Entry provides an expedited customs experience when entering the U.S. from abroad, and includes TSA PreCheck, so we always recommend travelers apply for Global Entry.
Cell Phone Protection
When you pay your cell phone bill with the Choice Privileges Select card, you’ll receive up to $600 of cell phone protection toward accidental damage, with a $25 deductible and a maximum of 2 paid claims per 12-month period.
How To Earn and Redeem Choice Privileges Points
The best way to earn more Choice Privileges points is to use your card for as many purchases as possible, especially on purchases that fall within the everyday bonus categories of gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores, and phone plan services.
But better yet, you’ll earn 10x points on your Choice stays when you pay with your card, in addition to the 12.5x points you’ll earn per $1 spent at Choice hotels thanks to your Platinum Elite status, for a whopping 22.5x points per $1 spent.
Without question, the best option for redeeming Choice points is on Choice hotel stays. We value Choice Privileges points at 0.6 cents per point, but getting more value than that is possible. If you need ideas on where to book your next vacation, read through our guide on the best ways to redeem Choice points.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!
Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles
$1,350
$95
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Cardis one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.
Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.
Pros
5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
For a $95 annual fee, you could add a card that earns transferrable rewards with many airline and hotel partners, including Choice, and offers multiple additional redemption options.
Plus, the Capital One Venture card earns 5x points on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases. Additionally, it offers a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, Hertz Gold Plus Five Star elite status, and more.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
This card can provide a great way to accumulate Membership Rewards points on eligible travel, transit, and at restaurants.
All information about American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.
This card can provide a great way to accumulate Membership Rewards points on eligible travel, transit, and at restaurants.
Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
40,000 points
$880
$150
See Pay Over Time APR
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
The American Express® Green Card is an excellent all-around travel rewards card thanks to earning 3x Membership Rewards® points on eligible travel and transit purchases and at restaurants, access to American Express transfer partners, and a reasonable annual fee.
Pros
3x points per $1 spent at restaurants worldwide, on all eligible travel purchases, and transit purchases
Up to $189 per calendar year in statement credits after you pay for a CLEAR® Plus membership with the Card.
Up to $100 in statement credits annually when you purchase airport lounge access through LoungeBuddy with the Card.
Access to American Express transfer partners
No foreign transaction fees
Cons
$150 annual fee
No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on travel including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US.
$189 CLEAR Plus Credit: Receive up to $189 per calendar year in statement credits when you pay for your CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the American Express® Green Card.
$100 LoungeBuddy: No airport lounge membership? No problem! Purchase lounge access through the LoungeBuddy app using the American Express® Green Card and receive up to $100 in statement credits annually.
Payment Flexibility: When it comes to paying your bill, you have options. You can always pay in full. You also have the flexibility to carry a balance with interest or use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly payments with a fixed fee, up to your Pay Over Time Limit. You may be able to keep spending beyond your limit – you’ll just need to pay for any new purchases in full when your bill is due.
Trip Delay Insurance: If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason delays your trip more than 12 hours, Trip Delay Insurance can help reimburse certain additional expenses purchased on the same Eligible Card, up to $300 per trip, maximum 2 claims per eligible account per 12 consecutive month period. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
No Foreign Transaction Fees: No matter where you’re traveling, when you use your American Express® Green Card there are no foreign transaction fees.
With it, you’ll earn 3x points on travel, transit, and restaurants worldwide. Plus, it offers an annual CLEAR Plus credit of up to $189, an annual LoungeBuddy credit of up to $100, travel and purchase protections, and more.
Enrollment required through Capital One website or mobile app. Upon enrollment, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.
The information regarding the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the American Express® Green Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® or the Choice Privileges Select card?
The Choice Privileges Select card offers more benefits than the $0 annual fee Choice Privileges card since it earns 10x points on Choice stays instead of 5x, offers Platinum elite status instead of Gold, and includes perks like 30,000 annual bonus points and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit.
That said, deciding which card is better depends on how often you stay at Choice Hotels.
Does the Choice Privileges Select card have an annual fee?
Yes, the Choice Privileges Select card has a $95 annual fee.
Does Choice Privileges have a credit card?
Yes, the Choice Privileges program offers 2 co-branded credit cards: the Choice Privileges card and the Choice Privileges Select card.
Who issues the Choice Privileges Select card?
Wells Fargo issues the Choice Privileges Select card.
Does the Choice Privileges Select card give you elite status?
Yes, the Choice Privileges Select card gives you automatic Platinum elite status for as long as you hold the card.
Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.
This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.
