A few weeks ago, I wrote about Hotels That Go the Extra Mile With Points + Cash Rewards and a reader left a comment about the ease of earning free nights with the Choice Privileges Program that made me realize it might be time to take a second look at the program. For those who are unfamiliar with Choice Privileges, it’s the reward program for chain hotels like Comfort Inn, Cambria Suites, Clarion Hotels, and EconoLodge, to name a few. There are over 5,500 hotels in the Choice Privileges portfolio, so it’s absolutely worth keeping in mind.
Award Chart
Choice Privileges doesn’t list their award chart online, so I used Google to find out how many points were required for a free night. (HT: to Frequent-Flyer for the Choice Privileges award chart)
Category 1 6,000 points per night
Category 2 8,000 points per night
Category 3 10,000 points per night
Category 4 12,000 points per night
Category 5 16,000 points per night
Category 6 20,000 points per night
Category 7 25,000 points per night
Category 8 30,000 points per night
Category 9 35,000 points per night
Category 10 40,000 points per night
Category 11 50,000 points per night
Category 12 60,000 points per night
In addition to this, they also offer members a chance to redeem 16,000 points or 6,000 points + cash for a 2-night Bluegreen Vacation Resort stay. Bluegreen has 60 resorts across the U.S. (mostly Florida) and the Caribbean. The resorts seem pretty nice and a terrific value at 8,000 points per night.
Earning Points
Choice Privileges members earn 10 points per $1 spent on up to four rooms per stay. Considering free night awards range from 6,000 – 60,000 points per night, that means it takes just $600 – $6,000 worth of paid stays to earn a free night at a Choice Privileges hotel. Not only that, but members who stay at a participating hotel midweek can choose from the following bonus rewards:
- 500 Choice Privileges points
- 100 airline miles with participating carriers
- $0.20 per gallon in Fuel Rewards savings at Shell or other select fuel stations
- $2.50 Amazon.com credit
- $5 coffee card
- $2.50 Uber trip discount
Credit Cards
Choice Privileges has several credit cards as well as a transfer partnership with Amex Membership Rewards. The Choice Privileges Visa Signature Card offers 32,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in 90 days, an anniversary free night every year you renew the card, along with 8,000 bonus points when you spend $10,000 in a year. Cardholders also earn 2 points per $ 1 on all spending, 5 point per $1 on Choice Privileges point and gift card purchases, and a massive 15 points per $1 spent at Choice Privileges hotels. Cardholders also get upgraded to Gold elite status, which entitles them to a 10% point bonus on paid stays and the ability to book award nights 50 days in advance instead of 30 (I know, program low point).
Refer A Friend
Aside from earning points via paid stays and credit cards, members can also earn 500 bonus points for each friend they refer who completes their first stay. The friend also earns 500 bonus points upon stay completion, so if you’re interested in joining Choice Privileges, shoot me an email and I’ll send you a referral.
Elite Status
Elite status matters if you’re completing lots of paid stays with a particular hotel chain. Choice Privileges counts award nights towards elite membership qualification and offers the following benefits:
Standard Members
- Express reservations and check-in
- Extended check-out as late as 2 p.m (based on availability)
- From extra points to gift cards to free nights – members have access to some of the most rewarding promotions around
- Choose a collectible coaster at check-in (good for a free beverage at the bar) or 250 bonus points for stays at Cambria hotels & suites
Gold Members (10 nights per year)
- 10% elite point bonus
- Book 50 days in advance for reward nights
- Exclusive reservations and customer services phone numbers (US and Canada members only)
- Exclusive Elite member offers
- Choose 250 bonus points or a snack and beverage at check-in for stays at U.S. Comfort Suites hotels
Platinum Members (20 nights per year)
- 25% elite point bonus
- Extended booking window of 75 days in advance for reward nights
- Exclusive reservations and customer services phone numbers (US and Canada members only)
- Exclusive Elite member offers
- Elite luggage tags (US members only)
- Choose 250 bonus points or a snack and beverage at check-in for stays at U.S. Comfort Suites hotels.
Diamond Members (40 nights per year)
- 50% elite point bonus
- Extended booking window of 100 days in advance for reward nights
- Exclusive reservations and customer services phone numbers (US and Canada members only)
- Exclusive Elite member offers inserts (US members only)
- Elite luggage tags (US members only)
- Complimentary room upgrade upon availability
- Choose 250 bonus points or a snack and beverage at check-in for stays at U.S. Comfort Suites and Cambria hotels.
Choice Privileges is a solid program and worth looking into if you want to diversify your points portfolio and don’t mind staying at hotels that aren’t uber luxurious.
What do you think of the Choice Privileges program? Please share your feedback in the comment section.
[Image via Getty]