Choice Privileges has just launched a promotion that has the potential to be worthwhile. Let's take a look at everything you need to know about this offer, and discuss under what circumstances it makes sense to buy points.
Choice Privileges is offering a sale on points. Choice is offering a tiered bonus of up to 40%.
You should log into your Choice Privileges account to see what you are eligible for.
Choice Privileges pricing is not linear, and you get a lower cost when you purchase more points. The cost to purchase points varies from 1.28 cents per point to 0.99 cents per point if you buy just 1,000 points.
You can purchase a total of 252,000 points for $1,854, which is a cost of 0.74 cents per Choice Privileges point.
When Choice offers a promotion on points, it can be either a 30% discount or a 40% bonus. The promotion is just as good as the offers from the program.
You can purchase up to 180,000 points per account, not including bonus points.
Choice Privileges points purchases are not counted as hotel purchases for purposes of credit card spending.
If you want to reach a minimum spending requirement, or if you want to maximize your return on everyday spending, I would recommend using a Chase Freedom unlimited credit card.
If you're unsure, review which credit cards are best for buying points and miles.
Choice is a huge hotel group, with over 7,000 properties in 40 countries, representing roughly 570,000 hotel rooms. Choice hotel brands include Ascend, Comfort Inn, Sleep Inn, Quality Inn, and more.
Choice doesn't have a lot of aspirational properties. If you have a premium redemption in mind, the most value you can get is by purchasing points, which is the best way to get outsized value compared to the cost of a stay.
Choice Privileges doesn't have an award chart, but award pricing can range from 6,000 to 35,000 points per night. Some properties in Asia-Pacific cost up to 75,000 points per night.
There are some properties where you can get outsized value for Choice Privileges points. Choice has an impressive footprint in Northern Europe, where hotels can be more expensive when paying with cash. The Clarion Collection Hotel Folketeateret costs 16,000 points per night.
If you bought the points for those stays through this promotion for 0.74 cents each, it would be the equivalent of paying $118 per night, which is quite a good deal since these hotels come with free breakfast and dinner.
There is a redemption option with Choice Privileges points. Choice Privileges has a partnership with a group of over 500 luxury independent properties around the globe.
You can redeem Choice Privileges points for stays here, and the hotels cost anywhere from 25,000 to 55,000 points per night. You have to call Choice Privileges to redeem points this way, but you can find participating hotels and award costs here. There are some hotels where you can redeem.
The Choice Privileges points can only be redeemed for hotel stays up to 100 days in advance, so that is restrictive compared to other hotel loyalty programs.
If you have at least some account activity once every 18 months, Choice Privileges points don't expire. Any activity that involves earning or redeeming points would be considered.
I value Choice Privileges points at 0.6 cents each. If you are strategic you should be able to get more value out of your points than that.
Choice Privileges is a partner of two points currency.
I would rather transfer those partners, given the better transfer ratio.
There is an opportunity to buy points for as little as 0.74 cents each, with Choice Privileges, which is selling points with up to a 40% bonus. There could be value in picking up Choice Privileges points at that cost, with a specific and short-term use in mind.
Does anyone plan on buying Choice Privileges points?