Choice Privileges Loyalty Program
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Choice Privileges Summary Table
- Hotel Brands Cambria, Comfort Inn, and 9 other brands
- Points Are Worth 0.6 cents/point
- Earn Points/Miles How to Use the Choice Privileges Mall
- Award Chart Link Award nights from 6,000 points
Branded and Partnered Credit Cards
Barclaycard Choice Privileges® Visa Signature® Card
If you want to earn Choice Privileges points directly, you can use the Barclaycard Choice Privileges® Visa Signature® Card. This card earns 2X points per dollar on everyday purchases, which will pair nicely with the Choice Privileges shopping portal.
American Express Membership Rewards Cards
You can also earn Membership Rewards points, which can be transferred to the Choice Privileges program almost instantly.
Recommended Amex Cards (Personal)
| The Platinum Card® from American Express - There's currently a welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $5,000 in your first 3 months. This is our favorite card for getting into 1,200+ airport lounges worldwide (including Priority Pass) and we get about $1,500+ in value from the card every year. Plus, get up to $200 in Uber credits annually ($15 per month and a $20 bonus in December) — and up to $200 in annual credit for airline incidental charges (e.g. baggage fees). For rates and fees of the Platinum Card, click here. |
| American Express® Gold Card - We love using this card as it earns 4x points at restaurants worldwide and 4x points at US supermarkets (up to $25,000; then 1x). With a welcome bonus of 35,000 points after you spend $2,000 in your first 3 months and a $100 airfare credit per year, for many this is an easy addition to your wallet. For rates and fees of the Gold Card, click here. |
Recommended Amex Cards (Business)
| The Business Platinum Card® from American Express - Even though this card carries a hefty annual fee, we get ~$1,250+ in value per year by leveraging as many of the benefits/perks card. Get access to 1,200+ airport lounges worldwide, $200 in airline fee credits for incidentals (e.g. baggage fees) and a lot more. Also, earn a welcome bonus of up to 75,000 points (terms apply). For rates and fees of the Business Platinum, click here. |
| American Express® Business Gold Card - probably our favorite Amex business card because we earn 4x points across the top 2 select categories that we spend the most money in each month. The 4x points applies to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these 2 categories each calendar year. This means you'll max out at a (whopping) 600,000 points per year. After that, you earn 1x. For rates and fees of the Business Gold Card, click here. |
| The Blue Business℠ Plus Credit Card from American Express - This is a super simple card that earns you 2x points on business purchases up to $50,000 annually (then 1x). There's no annual fee. For rates and fees of The Blue Business Plus, click here. |
Choice Privileges Program Overview
Choice Hotels has over 6,500 properties in 35 countries and territories.
Known for budget brands such as Comfort Inn and Clarion, Choice is expanding its mid-upscale Cambria brand and it’s upscale Ascend Collection.
Joining Choice Privileges
Register online for a free Choice Privileges account.
Travelers based in the Nordic and Baltic countries may prefer to join the Nordic Choice Club, which is a separate program for the 190 hotels in that region. There are reciprocal benefits between the 2 programs, though they are distinct and have differences.
How to Sign in to Your Choice Privileges Account
Sign in on the choicehotels.com homepage.
Viewing Your Account Activity
The My Point Activity page shows all your recent point activity.
Points Expiration
In 2016, Choice Privileges instituted a more flexible points expiration policy. Now points do not expire as long as you have qualifying activity once every 18 months.
Eligible activity includes earning points from stays, using the Choice Privileges Visa® card, and purchasing points. Your points stay active even with a stay where you choose to earn miles or Amtrak Guest Rewards instead of points.
You can also Refer-a-Friend to Choice Privileges; once they complete a qualifying stay, your points expiration will be extended.
Choice Privileges Program Benefits
Choice Privileges Elite Status
Registering for free with Choice Privileges gets you space available late check-out at 2 pm.
Cambria Hotel & Suites has their Collectible Coaster Program. For each points-eligible stay at a Cambria, you get a collectible coaster that can be redeemed for a buy 1, get 1 free drink at the hotel bar (or 250 points).
General members can only book award nights 30 days in advance in the U.S. and Canada, and 60 days in advance elsewhere.
Choice Privileges Gold:
- 10% point bonus
- Book 50 days in advance for award nights in U.S. and Canada, 60 days elsewhere
- 100-250 point welcome gift at U.S. and Canada properties, varies by brand (excludes Cambria, which has its Collectible Coaster Program)
Choice Privileges Platinum:
- All Gold benefits, plus:
- 25% point bonus
- Book 75 days in advance for award nights worldwide
Choice Privileges Diamond:
- All Gold benefits, plus
- 50% point bonus
- Book 100 days in advance for award nights worldwide
- Complimentary room upgrade
Value of Choice Privileges Elite Status:
Choice Privileges elite status does not have the glamorous benefits of some major hotel programs, reflecting the economical style of most of their properties.
There is no free internet or free breakfast benefit. Only Diamonds have room upgrades as an official benefit, though hotels can upgrade Gold and Platinums at their discretion.
Unusually, Choice Privileges does not make award nights available to book via its full paid booking calendar. Rather, elite status determines when you can book award stays. Advance planners will appreciate being able to book awards farther in advance with higher status.
Earning Choice Privileges Elite Status:
Earning Choice Privileges elite status is refreshingly straightforward: you earn by the number of nights per year — and both paid and award stays count.
- Gold: 10 nights per calendar year
- Platinum: 20 nights per calendar year
- Diamond: 40 nights per calendar year
Status Match:
With elite status in other hotel programs, you can apply for an elite status match by emailing Status_Match@choicehotels.com.
Choice Privileges does not publish which hotel programs and status levels it matches. You can try checking recent user-submitted reports at the independent Status Matcher site.
A match granted in January-June will be good for the remainder of the calendar year. One granted in July-December will be good through the entire following calendar year.
How to Earn Choice Privileges Points
Earning Choice Privileges points starts with hotel stays.
Earning Points on Stays
Choice Privileges has harmonized points earning among its brands. No longer will you earn fewer points per dollar at its budget brands.
You earn 10 points per dollar on up to 4 rooms per night on qualifying stays.
Note that you cannot earn points for stays in Brazil, China, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, Guyana, Iceland, India, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden.
In the Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden, you can earn points by registering in their separate Nordic Choice Club program.
Booking Meetings
Planners booking meetings with 10 or more rooms per night earn 4 points per dollar on meeting rooms, guest rooms, and food and beverage. Book here.
Vacation Rentals
Choice Hotels has launched a Vacation Rentals program that also earns 10 points per dollar.
Your Extras
For U.S. and Canada stays that include a Sunday-Thursday night, you can get a Your Extras bonus:
- 500 Choice Privileges points
- 100 airline miles
- $0.20 per gallon in Fuel Rewards
- $2.50 Amazon.com credit
- $5 coffee card
- $2.50 Uber trip discount
You need to select a Your Extras preference in your Choice Privileges account to receive the benefit.
Free Night Promotions
Choice Privileges typically runs a promotion several times a year that offers 1 free night when you stay 2 paid nights.
Earn Points With Travel Partners
Beyond stays with Choice, you can earn points using:
- Bluegreen Vacations
- Cruises booked through Choice partner CruisesOnly
Alternatives to Earning Points
If you have infrequent stays at Choice Hotels, it can make sense to choose to earn airline miles or Amtrak Guest Reward points for your stays instead of points.
Check for regular promotions such as 1,000 Air Canada Aeroplan miles or 1,000 Amtrak Guest Reward points per stay.
Other Ways to Earn Choice Privilege Points
You can earn Choice Privilege points for:
- Using the Barclaycard Choice Privileges® Visa Signature® Card
- Transfer from American Express Membership Rewards at a rate of 1,000:1,000 points
- Transfer from Diners Club at a rate of 1,250:2,400 points
- Transfer from Amtrak Guest Rewards at a rate of 5,000:15,000 points
- Shopping online using the Choice Privileges Online Mall
- Buy up to 50,000 points per year
- Gift up to 50,000 points per year (subject to fees)
- Refer friends to Choice Privileges (friend must then complete a qualifying stay)
How to Redeem Choice Privileges Points
Hotel award nights are the primary Choice Privileges points awards. From standard awards to points + cash, there are great values to be found.
Cost of Award Nights
Important: Before you search and get frustrated that there seem to be no award nights available, be aware that general members can only book awards 30 days in advance for the U.S. and Canada, and 60 days in advance elsewhere. Elite members can book earlier. Farther out, you won’t see any awards available.
Choice Privileges has over 6,500 properties available for award nights.
There are no published award charts. Instead, awards start at 6,000 points, with over 1,500 properties priced at 8,000 points or less.
The maximum award night price is 35,000 points (except for a whopping 75,000 in Australia).
Pricing is seasonal, so the same hotel may cost a different points price at different times of the year.
Log in to your Choice Privileges account and search on the redeem points page to find specific pricing.
Cash + Points
Compare Cash + Points results with regular points results; you may find some great values.
Cash + Points show up in award night searches where available.
Great for Families
Many Choice Privileges properties have multi-room suites ideal for families. These can be pricey in cash.
The great news is that if they are available for award booking, the price is the same as a standard room!
Great for Europe
Many European properties offer excellent points value in popular tourist destinations, with city center locations other chains may lack.
Even better, breakfast is often included for free.
In the Nordic countries, while you can’t earn points for stays, you can still redeem points for stays. These hotels may have a free breakfast, too, and sometimes even an evening smorgasbord.
FlexRewards
When searching for award nights, you may come upon special low pricing called FlexRewards. Certain properties offer these discounted rates on either Sunday-Thursday or Friday-Saturday.
You do not need to do anything special to book FlexRewards. You’ll book them the same as regular award nights.
Preferred Hotels & Resorts
The 500+ Preferred Hotels & Resorts include some of the most luxurious hotels in the U.S. Award nights range from 25,000-55,000 points per night.
Vacation Rentals
Not only can you earn points for your vacation rental stays, but you can also redeem points. Search availability here.
Bluegreen Vacations (Timeshare)
You can use 16,000 points for a 2-night stay at 6 participating Bluegreen Vacations properties. You also get a $50 gift card. Note that you will have to participate in the usual timeshare rigamarole.
Choice Privileges members also receive telemarketing calls about booking Bluegreen stays using cash.
Gift Cards
You can redeem Choice Privileges points for gift cards.
FAQ
What is Choice Privileges?
Choice Privileges is the hotel loyalty program for Choice Hotels, which has 11 brands and over 6,500 properties worldwide.
Why should I join Choice Privileges? Is it worth it?
Choice Privileges is a free frequent guest program from Choice Hotels. Registration is free, and you can earn and redeem points from Choice Hotels award nights.
Is there a Choice Privileges credit card?
The Barclaycard Choice Privileges® Visa Signature® Card earns 5x points per dollar at Choice hotels and 2x points per dollar on everyday purchases.
Will I earn more Choice Privileges points with elite status?
Yes, Choice Privilege elite status earns bonus points on stays: Gold (10%), Platinum (25%), and Diamond (50%).
How many Choice Privileges points do I have?
To see your points balance, sign in to your Choice Privileges account and view your activity.
What are Choice Privileges points worth?
Points vary in value by property and season.
Award nights range from 6,000-35,000 points per night (75,000 in Australia).
Are Choice Privileges points transferable?
Yes. You can transfer them to other Choice Privileges members (for a fee), donate them to charity, or transfer them to travel partners.
When do Choice Privileges points expire?
Choice Privileges points will expire after 18 months of no account activity.
Where is my Choice Privileges number?
You’ll see your rewards number when you log in to your account.
Which hotels are included in Choice Privileges?
The Choice Privileges family of brands includes: Ascend, Cambria, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Sleep Inn, Quality, Clarion, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay, EconoLodge, and Rodeway Inn. You can also redeem points for Preferred Hotels.
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Choice Privileges has the worst customer service and I will never and none of my contacts will ever use them again.
It seems to be impossible to update one’s Choice Privileges info on-line after moving to a new residence and getting a new Internet / email provider. My phone number, email, and street address have all changed yet some of this info is required to log into the account I created 3 years ago. There needs to be a way to make these changes on-line. If I use my old email address, I am sure that a confirming email will be sent to my old email address, which I no longer have and cannot use. The funny part of this is that the Choice Privileges web site says “Simply do…” which is impossible in my situation. Nothing simple about it… and there should be.
Sorry you’re having trouble accessing your account, Edward. You probably have no other option in your situation than to contact Choice Privileges. Their phone number is 888-770-6800 or you can contact them by email here: https://www.choicehotels.com/support
agree with very poor customer service comment! recently booked and stayed at a cambria hotel thru travelocity. come to find out I can’t get any choice reward points since i did not book hotel direct! In the past felt that this chain was sub par and cheap. thought i would take a chance by staying at their newer and what looked like more upscale label. wrong! i will stick with my other loyalty programs at hilton and marriott.
Marilyn,
Generally, you will not earn rewards points at Choice Privileges if you don’t book directly. There are a number of other hotel chains and even American Express Travel that does this, in order to guarantee the cheapest rates.
When I signed up for this program was never told if using calc for a discount I won’t get points if below a certain amount. Well let me tell you, I’m a member of Best Western rewards and Wyndham Rewards and I don’t have that problem with them. I don’t care what kind of discount I get, when I stay I get my points. I will never be staying at a Choice Privileges Motel again. I stay in motels at least three times a week, sometimes 5, but I will not be using Choice Privileges again. I will never stay in them period. This tells me that all they want is the money and they don’t care about the customer.
Hello Arthur. Thanks for the data point. Would you mind elaborating on the type of discount you used that didn’t earn points?