Update: Seeming Choice Privileges Devaluation Was a Glitch, and Prices Went Back Down

Yesterday, we published the below story about increased award rates using Choice points. We have now confirmed that the prices returned to their prior values after receiving an update from a Choice spokesperson who provided the following statement:

“[D]uring an update to our system, there was a brief change in valuations for some of our properties. The valuations have now returned to their previous rates.”

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Digging Into the Choice Privileges Devaluation

Choice Privileges is no stranger to award devaluations. And since the program doesn’t publish an award chart, devaluations can be difficult to find. That’s because pricing varies based on demand and seasonality.

Even still, when you can no longer find any nights at a hotel for the old price, that looks, smells, and sounds like a devaluation.

This week, Choice rolled out some positive changes for 2025, including the ability to book award stays up to 50 weeks in advance — a big increase from the previous limit of 100 days. However, at the same time as positive changes were being implemented, the number of points needed for a stay increased at numerous properties.

I made my first Choice award redemption recently and can confirm that the cost has increased since we booked 10 days ago. Just last week, I booked the Clarion Hotel By Humboldt Bay in Northern California to go see some Redwoods with my wife. At the time of booking, we paid 16,000 points per night.

Now, the hotel is charging 20,000 points per night — an increase of 4,000 points or 25% on the nightly rate.

Other Upgraded Points team members checked their recent Choice redemptions and found additional price increases. The Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Kansas City at Village West, was charging 12,000 points per night when Stella Shon stayed there in October 2024.

Now, the hotel is charging 16,000 points per night — an increase of 4,000 points or 33%.

Christine Krzyszton recently visited Scandinavia and wrote a review of the Clarion Hotel Copenhagen Airport in Denmark. During her stay, the hotel was charging 20,000 points per night.

Now, you’ll pay 30,000 points per night — an increase of 10,000 points or 50%.

Not All Hotels Got More Expensive

However, it’s not all bad news. Not every Choice Hotels property has gotten more expensive. After checking our team’s recent redemptions, we found 2 properties booked in the last 90 days that still had the same price today.

The Clarion Pointe Louisville, Kentucky still charges 12,000 points per night, and you’ll still pay 16,000 points per night at the Country Inn & Suites Sidney, Nebraska.

That said, devaluations can take time to finish rolling out. We may find additional properties with increased award rates in the coming days.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve had your eye on a Choice property for an award redemption using points, it may cost more now. Several properties our team has booked recently now cost more points for a stay, but some show the same price.

The moral of the story here is that you might want to book your upcoming stays now, assuming the price hasn’t gone up, just in case the price is set to go up soon.