14 Best Ways To Earn Lots of Choice Privileges Points [2024]

Choice Hotels is one of the largest hotel chains. Still, with a focus almost exclusively on value accommodations, you rarely see its properties in travel magazines, blogs, and the like.

Unfortunately, many associate getting “excellent value” with booking ultra-luxe hotels, especially if you’re using points. In this regard, Choice Privileges is one of the most underrated hotel programs in the world.

With 7,000+ hotels spread out across more than 40 countries — including a unique partnership with Preferred Hotels — it’s easier than ever to redeem Choice Privileges points for phenomenal value.

If you can accumulate lots of Choice Privileges points, you’ll find yourself footing a much smaller hotel bill when you’re traveling — and that’s what this guide is for!

This piece will explore numerous ways to earn Choice Privileges points. Let’s get started!

Start by Joining Choice Privileges

Joining Choice Privileges is as easy as visiting this link and filling out the online form! After you submit the form and create an account, you’ll be redirected to your new account page, which includes your member number.

Whenever you have any activity earning Choice Privileges points, you’ll want to ensure you include your Choice Privileges number so that points get credited to your account.

Once you earn the points, you can redeem them for gift cards, hotel stays, or transfer them to airlines!

Earning Points With Credit Cards

1. Choice Privileges Credit Cards

The best cards to earn Choice Privileges points directly are the new Choice Privileges® Mastercard® and Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®, issued by Wells Fargo.

The Choice Privileges card offers these benefits:

• A welcome bonus: Earn 40,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.
• Choice Privileges Gold status after activation
• 5x points on Choice hotel stays
• 3x points at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores, and phone plan services
• 1x points on all other purchases
• Cell phone protection
• $0 annual fee

The Choice Privileges Select card offers these benefits:

• A welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.
• Choice Privileges Platinum status after activation
• 10x points on Choice stays
• 5x points at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores, and phone plans from landline and cell phone providers
• 1x points on all other purchases
• An anniversary bonus of 30,000 points every year
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit of up to $120 every 4 years (as of October 1, 2024)
• Cell phone protection
• $95 annual fee, first year waived

As you’ll find out, holding either of these cards is incredibly valuable because of the ability to enjoy a hefty welcome bonus and earn up to 10x points on just credit card spending alone.

Bottom Line: The Choice Privileges credit cards earn 3x to 5x points on everyday purchases, plus 5x to 10x at eligible Choice hotels — what a fantastic deal!

2. Citi ThankYou Points Credit Cards

Citi ThankYou Rewards‘ first hotel transfer partner launched itself out of the gate at a 1:2 ratio, which means you can transfer 1 Citi ThankYou Point into 2 Choice Privileges points (some cards may transfer at a lower 1:1.5 rate). This can represent a great value, especially when using Choice Privileges points to book pricey hotels in Scandinavia and Japan.

Recommended Citi Cards (Personal)

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

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.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Welcome Offer

For a limited time: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com.

75,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.49% to 28.49% Variable APR

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a great all-around travel rewards card that allows you to earn big rewards on a variety of purchases like air travel, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and more, along with flexible redemption options, all for a modest annual fee.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
• 3x points on air travel, other hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations
• $100 annual hotel benefit

Cons

• $95 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• For a limited time: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com.
• Earn 10X points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• Earn 3X points per $1 on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations.
• Earn 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card.
• No foreign transaction fees on purchases.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.49% to 28.49% Variable APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Citi Rewards+^® Card

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.

This no annual fee card rewards cardholders for everyday purchases. Earn bonus points at supermarkets and gas stations, plus your points are rounded up on every purchase.

Citi Rewards+^® Card

This no annual fee card rewards cardholders for everyday purchases. Earn bonus points at supermarkets and gas stations, plus your points are rounded up on every purchase.

Welcome Offer

Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com.

20,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$320

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% intro APR on balance transfers and on purchases for 15 months. After that, a variable APR of 17.99% to 27.99%.

Credit Recommended

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 Recommended (670-840)

Card Highlights

• Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com
• Plus, as a special offer, earn a total of 5 Thank You^® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com through December 31, 2025.*
• 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from date of first transfer and on purchases from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 17.99% to 27.99%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
• Earn 2X ThankYou^® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X ThankYou^® Points on All Other Purchases.
• The Citi Rewards+^® Card – the only credit card that automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase – with no cap.
• No Annual Fee

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% intro APR on balance transfers and on purchases for 15 months. After that, a variable APR of 17.99% to 27.99%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each purchase transaction in US dollars

Citi Double Cash^® Card

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.

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

Citi Double Cash^® Card

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

Welcome Offer

Earn $200 cash-back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.

$200 cash-back

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, then 18.49% to 28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

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.

Fair to Excellent (580-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Double Cash^® Card has long been one of the top cash-back credit cards on the market, and the card now has the ability to earn Citi ThankYou Points!

This means that cardholders of the Double Cash card will now earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou Points. This means each billing cycle, you will earn 1 ThankYou point per $1 spent on purchases and an additional ThankYou point for every $1 paid on your purchase balance as long as there is a corresponding balance in your Purchase Tracker.

Citi has turned the Double Cash card into a top choice for those who are looking for an everyday, no-fuss credit card.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Uncapped 2% for every $1 spent (1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay)
• Flexible redemption options
• No annual fee

Cons

• No bonus categories
• 3% foreign transaction fees

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Bonus Offer: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
• Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
• To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
• Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers; after that, the variable APR will be 18.49% to 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
• If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
• There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
• Citi Double Cash^® Card Travel Portal Special Offer
  Earn a total of 5 ThankYou^® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rental, and attractions, excluding air travel, when booked through the Citi Travel℠ portal via cititravel.com or by calling 1-833-737-1288 (TTY: 711). Offer is valid through 12/31/2025.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, then 18.49% to 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Citi Custom Cash^® Card

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.

Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, with no annual fee!

Citi Custom Cash^® Card

Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, with no annual fee!

Welcome Offer

Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

$200

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.49% to 28.49%.

Credit Recommended

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.

Fair to Excellent (580-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Custom Cash^® Card is inventive when it comes to cash-back credit cards. Instead of earning a set amount of cash-back on predetermined bonus categories, the Citi Custom Cash card earns 5% cash-back on your highest eligible spend category each billing cycle, without an annual fee.

Thanks to that unique perk, you’ll never need to worry about whether you’re using the right card for the right purchase, as your Citi Custom Cash card will always pay you 5% back on whichever category you end up spending the most on each month.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5% cash-back (on up to $500 each billing cycle) from your largest purchase category, including restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment
• No annual fee
• Multiple redemption options

Cons

• Your 5% category is limited to $500 in spend ($25 in cash-back) each month
• Not particularly rewarding for any purchases outside of your top 5% cash-back category

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
• Get 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers; after that, the variable APR will be 18.49% to 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
• Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026.
• No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
• No annual fee.
• Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash^® Card account per person.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.49% to 28.49%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3%

3. American Express Membership Rewards Credit Cards

Amex Membership Rewards is one of the most incredible rewards programs in the world. With the Amex transfer partners (including Choice Privileges) and so many ways to redeem Amex points for fantastic value, there’s a lot to love about Amex Membership Rewards. Plus, there are many ways to earn Amex points easily!

Although it doesn’t make sense to transfer Amex points to Choice Privileges at its 1:1 ratio, it can make sense if you’re just short of the required amount for a specific redemption.

Recommended American Express Cards (Personal)

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

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.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

80,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

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)

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.¤
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

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.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

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)

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Business Owner? Check out our article on the best Amex business cards that earn Membership Rewards.

4. Capital One Miles Credit Cards

Choice Privileges is also a 1:1 transfer partner with Capital One Miles.

Recommended Capital One Cards (Personal)

TOP PICK

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

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.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

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.

Excellent (740-840)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $395 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

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.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Welcome Offer

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

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

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)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is 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 & Cons

Pros

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• Up to a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit

Cons

• $95 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Limited elite benefits

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• 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
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

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.

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Welcome Offer

Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel.

20,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$360

Annual Fee

$0

APR

19.74% - 29.74% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months

Credit Recommended

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)

Why We Like This Card

Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.

In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.

But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?

Pros & Cons

Pros

• No annual fee (rates & fees)
• No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
• Ability to use transfer partners

Cons

• Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
• No luxury travel or elite benefits

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.74% - 29.74% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Earning Points with Choice Privileges Activity

In this next section, we’ll touch on the top ways to earn points with direct activity on Choice Privileges quickly.

5. Choice Hotels Stays

On base-level stays at Choice Hotels properties (including Radisson Hotels in the Americas), you will earn 10x points as long as you book an eligible rate.

Hot Tip: Choice has an alliance with Penn National Gaming, Inc., that offers reciprocal earning and redemption benefits for Choice Privileges members and Penn’s mychoice loyalty program members.

A few exceptions and distinctions must be made about which hotel rates aren’t eligible to earn points. The following Choice Hotels rates are also ineligible to earn points:

• Rooms booked at rates below $40 per night
• Certain hotel-initiated promotions
• Reward night stays
• Complimentary rooms
• Points Plus Cash reservations
• Rooms paid for as part of a convention or meeting
• Rooms booked through a travel agent or third-party online retailer, including online travel agencies, wholesale packages, group tours, and stays booked using the employee discount or the friends, family, and associate account (except certain Egencia rate plans)

WoodSpring Suites aren’t eligible for points accrual at all.

In essence, you can only earn points if you make a reservation through Choice Privilege’s toll-free express reservation line (800-521-2121), the program website, mobile app, or directly with the hotel.

You may earn points for up to 4 rooms per night at the same hotel, but the rooms must be in your name, and the reservations must include your Choice Privileges member number. You will only receive elite status bonus points on 1 room per stay, and you must stay in one of the rooms with the rooms paid in full to earn the points.

Bottom Line: Overall, to ensure you’re not missing out on earning any points! But doing so will guarantee you earn at least 10x points on eligible rates.

6. Bluegreen Vacations

Bluegreen Vacations is a vacation ownership and timeshare company based in Boca Raton, Florida. Bluegreen Vacations is the official vacation ownership partner of Choice Privileges.

There are currently more than 40 Bluegreen Vacations properties, all of which fall into the broader Ascend Hotel Collection brand, one of the most upscale brands in the portfolio.

While Bluegreen Vacations isn’t currently participating in the Choice Privileges program, you can earn Choice Privileges points by booking a special timeshare presentation stay.

These promotions are typically structured as a massively discounted hotel stay whereby you attend an approximately 2-hour sales presentation and tour of the property you’re booking.

Objectively speaking, this is an excellent deal — if you can sit through a persuasive sales pitch that lasts around 2 hours while you’re at the resort. There are a few criteria to qualify for these deals. You have to:

• Have at least $50,000 in gross annual household income (income requirement may be waived if you’re 62 or older)
• Have a minimum FICO credit score of 600
• Have not filed for bankruptcy or been adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent within the last 7 years

When you book your stay, you’ll usually be able to choose an extra bonus — a prepaid gift card or Choice Privileges points. And you can often get as much as 50,000 Choice Privileges points on top of an excellent deal for a resort stay.

7. Choice Privileges Elite Status Bonuses

Choice Privileges, just like most other hotel brands, has elite status/membership tiers that come with a slew of benefits. And although it’d be easy to see the immense value from its elite tiers, we’ll focus on the elite point bonus.

Depending on your specific Choice Privileges status level, you will earn elite bonus points on your stays. Currently, the elite point bonus is broken down as follows:

• Member (0 to 9 nights per calendar year): No bonus
• Gold (10 to 19 nights per calendar year): 10% bonus
• Platinum (20 to 39 nights per calendar year): 25% bonus
• Diamond (40+ nights per calendar year): 50% bonus

As you can see, achieving top-tier Choice Privileges Diamond status is a bit easier than other hotel brands — it only requires 40 nights!

You’ll receive a sweet 50% bonus on your points earnings if you can swing that. That means you can earn up to 15x points on Choice Hotels stays.

8. Choice Privileges for Business Meetings and Events

When traveling with Choice Hotels, you can earn a ton of points by utilizing event-ready spaces at select U.S. and Canada properties for your meetings or events via the Choice Privileges Planner Rewards program.

You will earn 3x points on eligible charges, including meeting space, guest rooms, and food and beverages, with no minimum spend requirement!

You can earn a maximum of 150,000 Choice Privileges points through this program, which equates to a maximum of $50,000 in spending as a meeting planner.

“Qualifying Events” are at least 10 rooms on a single night reserved by the meeting planner. Whether booking a wedding, sports travel, or corporate travel, you’ll rest assured that your transactions will earn Choice Privileges points.

You’ll also have the convenience of using the Choice Hotels Group Management Platform, which allows you to easily manage, edit, and review reservations in 1 place when you book 10+ rooms.

Hot Tip: Wait to book your next big event until you see what kind of bonus points you could be earning at major hotels worldwide! We’ll show you how to maximize your earnings in our article on how to earn points and status by holding business events.

9. Choice Privileges Car Rental Partners

Choice Privileges has exclusive partnerships with car rental companies. And while the list may grow or shrink from time to time, its main car rental partners are Avis and Budget.

When you book your Avis or Budget car rental, you have the potential to enjoy 2 unique benefits:

1. A discount off of your base rate (up to 35% off)
2. The ability to earn Choice Privileges points on your rental (up to 1,000 points)

To book your car rental with Avis, you will need to enter offer code O418908 to receive the discount.

To book your car rental with Budget, you will need to enter the offer code T134904 to receive the discount.

10. Choice Privilege Cruises

Choice Privileges Cruises is a partnership with Cruise411, where you can book cruises directly and earn Choice Privileges points. You can book cruises with the following partners:

You’ll earn 5x Choice Privileges points on Choice Privilege Cruises, plus any other available deals like cruise credits, discounts, and more.

Hot Tip: Earning points is great, but make sure you’re getting the best deal! We detail the best websites to book cruises at the cheapest prices.

Earn Points With Special Offers

11. Golf by Choice

Golf by Choice is a unique program set up by Choice Privileges to use and earn Choice Privileges points for golf-related activities. There are 3 main areas where you can earn Choice Privileges points:

1. Shopping for golf equipment and apparel
2. Booking tee times
3. Using golf apps

To find the Golf by Choice shop, you’ll need to follow these steps:

1. Visit the Golf by Choice website
2. Click the orange button that says Sign In
3. Enter your Choice Privileges login information
4. You’ll be redirected to the Golf by Choice catalog, where you can shop for golf merchandise

You can buy anything from golf clubs to shoes and even apparel. You’ll earn 4x points with every Golf by Choice purchase. Choice Privileges elites earn up to 20% more, and closeout items earn 6x points.

You can also earn Choice Privileges points by booking tee times. To do this, you’ll want to follow the steps above to shop for golf merchandise, then:

1. Scroll down to the GolfNow section
2. Click the button that says Reserve Now
3. Book tee times as you wish

When you book tee times at various courses around the world, you can earn 4x points.

All golf-related points will be posted within 45 days of your purchase.

12. Join Vinesse’s American Cellars Wine Club

When you join Vinesse’s subscription club, the American Cellars Wine Club, you can earn 1,000 Choice Privileges points with your first shipment.

After that, you can earn 7x points on subsequent shipments!

Other Ways To Earn Choice Privileges Points

There are a couple of miscellaneous ways to earn Choice Privileges points:

13. Refer a Friend to Choice Privileges

By referring your friends to Choice Privileges, you can earn 500 points after they complete their first points-eligible stay. Plus, they will earn 500 points after their first points-eligible stay is completed, too!

14. Buy or Gift Points

The last way to earn Choice Privileges points is to buy them! You can buy or gift up to 250,000 points before any bonuses. The purchase price is anywhere from 0.99 cents per point to 1.21 cents per point.

If you buy 1,000 to 4,000 points, you will pay 1.21 cents per point. If you buy 5,000 to 9,000 points, you will pay 1.1 cents per point. If you buy 10,000 to 180,000 points, you will pay 0.99 cents per point.

Also, Choice Privileges has, in the past, offered a bonus of up to 50% when purchasing points, so you’ll want to wait for one of these promotions because this can reduce your price to as little as 0.73 cents per point!

We generally don’t recommend buying points, but it can be worth it if you need to top up your balance for a redemption.

Final Thoughts

There are tons of ways to earn Choice Privileges points. From spending on the co-branded Choice Privileges card to booking stays at Choice Hotels and even downloading golf apps, there are many unique ways to rack up a respectable balance of Choice Privileges points.

We hope that this guide is useful to show you some of the more out-of-the-box ways to earn Choice Privileges points. Happy earning!