Choice Privileges Points Sale: Up to 40% Bonus
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Choice Privileges has launched a new promotion offering up to a 40% bonus on purchased points through July 1, 2026. This brings the cost down to as low as 0.74¢ per point—a rate that lands towards the higher end of the promos we’ve seen over the last five years. Given this, this offer may provide good opportunities for savings on hotel stays across Choice’s extensive portfolio of properties.
While Choice Hotels might not be the first brand that comes to mind for luxury travel, this promotion offers good value for specific redemptions, particularly in expensive markets like Northern Europe. Let’s explore whether this deal makes sense for your travel plans and how to maximize its value.
Promotion Details
The current Choice Privileges points promotion runs through July 1, 2026. This is a targeted offer, so different members may see different bonus levels.
The standard 40% offer appears to activate the bonus rate after you purchase at least 8,000 points in single transaction, giving you a per-point cost as low as 0.74¢, with the tiers broken down as follows:
- Buy 1,000-7,000 points: No discount (1.28¢ per point)
- Buy 8,000–180,000 points: 40% bonus (0.74¢ per point)
You’ll want to check your account to see what specific offer you’re targeted for, as it could differ from the standard promotion.
How Much Does It Cost to Buy Choice Points?
Choice Privileges has a non-linear pricing structure for purchasing points, with the cost per point decreasing as you buy larger quantities, even before any promotional bonuses. The standard rates range from:
- 1.28¢ per point when buying just 1,000 points
- 1.03¢ per point when buying 250,000 points
With the current 40% bonus, if you purchase 180,000 points (the annual maximum), you’ll pay $1,854 and receive 252,000 points (after the bonus is applied). This means that each point costs approximately 0.74¢ with the maxed out promotion.
As we mentioned above, this rate is pretty typical of promotions we’ve seen from Choice Privileges in the past five years. The program offers either a 25-30% discount or a 30-50% bonus, making this 40% bonus within range of historical promotions.
How Many Choice Points Can You Purchase?
Choice Privileges limits members to purchasing up to 180,000 points per account per calendar year, before factoring in any bonuses or discounts.
Which Credit Card Should You Use?
Choice Privileges points purchases are processed through Points.com rather than directly by Choice Hotels. This means these transactions don’t code as hotel or travel purchases for the purposes of earning bonus points on your credit card, with one exception: if you use a co-branded Choice Privileges credit card, the purchase will earn bonus points as hotel spending.
For all other cards, your best options for purchasing Choice points are:
- A new credit card where you’re working toward meeting a minimum spending requirement for a welcome bonus
- A card that excels at everyday spending, such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (2x miles on all purchases), the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (1.5% cash back on all purchases), or the Citi Double Cash® Card (2% cash back on all purchases)
- A card that offers threshold bonuses or benefits based on annual spending
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $95 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $0 |
Is Buying Choice Points Worth It?
Choice Hotels is one of the largest hotel groups globally, with over 7,000 properties in 40 countries, representing approximately 570,000 hotel rooms. The portfolio includes brands like Ascend, Cambria, Comfort Inn, Sleep Inn, Quality Inn, Clarion, and Rodeway Inn, among others.
While Choice doesn’t have as many aspirational luxury properties as some other hotel chains, there are several scenarios where purchasing points during this promotion can provide excellent value:
When Buying Choice Privileges Points Makes Sense
- Hotels in expensive markets: Choice has a strong presence in Northern Europe, where cash rates can be very high, especially during summer months
- Suite bookings: Unlike some programs, Choice charges the same number of points for suites as standard rooms (up to capacity limits)
- Multiple guests: Choice doesn’t charge more points for additional guests (up to room capacity)
- Preferred Hotels & Resorts redemptions: For select luxury properties in this partnership
- When cash rates exceed the point value: If the cash rate divided by the points required exceeds 0.74¢ per point
When to Skip This Promotion
- Speculative purchases: Only buy points with a specific redemption in mind
- Budget properties with low cash rates: Sometimes paying cash is still cheaper
- When you can transfer points: If you have Citi ThankYou points, transferring at a 1:2 ratio might be more economical
Choice Privileges doesn’t have a formal award chart, but award pricing typically ranges from 6,000 to 45,000 points per night for most properties. In the Asia-Pacific region, some properties can cost up to 75,000 points per night.
Valuable Redemption Examples
Let’s look at some specific redemption opportunities where buying Choice points during this promotion could save you money:
Clarion Collection Hotels in Scandinavia
Choice has an impressive footprint in Northern Europe, where hotels can be prohibitively expensive when paying cash, especially during summer months. Many Clarion Collection properties include not only breakfast but also a light evening meal, adding significant value.
- Example properties: Clarion Collection Hotel Folketeateret and Clarion Collection Hotel Bastion in Oslo, Norway
- Points required: 16,000 points per night
- Typical cash price: $200-300+ per night during summer
- Cost to purchase 16,000 points (with 40% bonus): $123.60
- Savings vs. cash rate: $77-177+ per night
- Added value: Free breakfast and evening meal included
Amerikalinjen, Ascend Hotel Collection (Oslo, Norway)
This boutique hotel in Oslo offers a stylish stay in a historic building that once housed the Norwegian America Line.
- Points required: 25,000 points per night
- Typical cash price: $350-450+ per night
- Cost to purchase 25,000 points (with 40% bonus): $185.40
- Savings vs. cash rate: $165-265+ per night
Preferred Hotels & Resorts Partnership
One of the most valuable aspects of the Choice Privileges program is its partnership with Preferred Hotels & Resorts, a collection of over 500 luxury independent properties worldwide. This partnership allows members to redeem Choice points for stays at these upscale properties.
Award nights at Preferred Hotels & Resorts properties range from 25,000 to 118,000 Choice Privileges points per night. While recent devaluations have affected the value proposition somewhat, there are still opportunities for significant savings at certain properties.
Example: 7132 Hotel (Switzerland)
- Points required: 75,000 points per night
- Typical cash price: $600-800+ per night
- Cost to purchase 75,000 points (with 40% bonus): $556.20
- Savings vs. cash rate: $44-244+ per night
To book Preferred Hotels & Resorts properties, you can now make reservations directly through the Choice website or mobile app. Simply search for your destination and look for Preferred Hotels & Resorts properties among the results.
Other Ways to Earn Choice Points
Before purchasing points, it’s worth considering other ways to earn Choice Privileges points:
Transfer Partners
Choice Privileges partners with several transferable points currencies:
- Citi ThankYou Points: 1:2 transfer ratio (best option)
- Wells Fargo Rewards: 1:2 transfer ratio
- American Express Membership Rewards: 1:1 transfer ratio
- Capital One Miles: 1:1 transfer ratio
The Citi ThankYou and Wells Fargo transfer options are particularly valuable, as they offer twice as many Choice points per point transferred compared to American Express and Capital One.
Co-Branded Credit Cards
Wells Fargo offers two Choice Privileges credit cards in the United States:
- Choice Privileges® Mastercard®: No annual fee
- Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®: Premium card with annual fee
These cards offer welcome bonuses and ongoing earning opportunities for Choice Privileges points.
Hotel Stays and Partnerships
You can earn Choice Privileges points through:
- Stays at Choice Hotels properties
- Rental cars through partners like Avis and Budget
- Shopping through the Choice Privileges shopping portal
- Various retail and service partners
Bottom Line
This Choice Privileges promotion, offering points for as low as 0.74¢ each, represents the higher end of the standard promotional rates we’ve seen from the program over the last five years.
While I wouldn’t recommend speculatively purchasing Choice points at this cost, there are specific scenarios where this promotion can provide good value.
The sweet spots in the Choice portfolio include:
- Clarion Collection hotels in Scandinavia, which often include both breakfast and dinner
- Select Preferred Hotels & Resorts luxury properties
- Ascend Collection boutique hotels in expensive markets
- Suite bookings, which cost the same number of points as standard rooms
Before purchasing Choice points during this promotion:
- Compare the cost of buying points to the cash rate for your specific dates
- Check if you have transferable points (especially Citi ThankYou or Wells Fargo Rewards) that could be used instead
- Remember that Choice doesn’t have blackout dates, and points can be redeemed for stays up to 50 weeks in advance
Also, remember that this promotion ends on July 1, 2026, so if you’re planning to take advantage of it, make sure to finalize your purchase before then.
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly will purchased Choice points post to my account?
Choice Privileges points purchases typically post to your account immediately or within a few hours after completing the transaction. This makes them a good option if you need points quickly for an imminent booking. However, if you’re purchasing a large quantity of points for the first time, there might occasionally be a brief delay for security verification.
What brands are part of the Choice Privileges program?
Choice Hotels includes a wide range of brands across different price points: Ascend Hotel Collection, Cambria Hotels, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Sleep Inn, Quality Inn, Clarion, Clarion Pointe, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay, WoodSpring Suites, Everhome Suites, Econo Lodge, and Rodeway Inn. Additionally, through partnerships, members can redeem points at Preferred Hotels & Resorts properties and several other independent hotels.
Do Choice Privileges points expire?
Yes, Choice Privileges points expire after 18 months of inactivity in your account. Any activity that involves earning or redeeming points will reset the expiration clock. This includes hotel stays, point purchases, transfers from partner programs, or redeeming points for any reward. If you’re concerned about expiration, buying even a small number of points will extend the life of your entire balance.
Can I book suites using Choice Privileges points?
Yes, one of the advantages of the Choice Privileges program is that suites and standard rooms cost the same number of points, as long as they’re available for booking with points. This can provide exceptional value, especially for families or travelers who need more space. When searching for award stays, you’ll be able to see all available room types that can be booked with the same number of points.
How far in advance can I book with Choice Privileges points?
Choice Privileges allows members to book award stays up to 50 weeks (approximately 350 days) in advance, as long as standard rooms are available. This is more generous than some hotel programs that limit award bookings to shorter timeframes. For popular destinations or during peak travel periods, booking well in advance is recommended to secure availability.
Can I combine Choice Privileges points from multiple accounts?
Choice Privileges does not offer a straightforward way to combine or transfer points between accounts. However, if you’re traveling with family or friends, you can book a room for them using your points (you don’t need to be present for the stay). If you need to consolidate points across accounts, consider having each person with points book separate nights of a multi-night stay.
