Your Comprehensive Guide to Utilizing Choice Points

Accumulating Choice Privileges points through stays, promotions, and credit cards is quite straightforward. Once you've built up a collection of Choice Privileges points, you may find yourself asking how to make the most of them.

As with many loyalty programs, the value you receive when redeeming Choice points can fluctuate. According to TPG's June 2024 valuations, Choice points are valued at approximately 0.6 cents each, so it’s advisable to aim for this redemption value or higher. Redemption options may vary based on your country, but here’s what U.S. residents should know about using their Choice Privileges points.

Using Choice Points for Hotel Bookings

The best value from your Choice Privileges points typically comes when you redeem them for hotel stays. You can redeem your Choice points in three main ways: reward nights, points plus cash options, and stays at Preferred Hotels & Resorts.

Keep in mind that, except when redeeming through the Preferred Hotels & Resorts partnership, you can only use Choice points for stays scheduled within the next 100 days.

Reward Nights

Choice Privileges sets specific reward night rates for weekdays and weekends at each property. These rates are listed on the landing page of every hotel or resort. For instance, you can start booking reward nights with Choice Privileges for as low as 6,000 points at two properties in Australia until June 30.

Recently, Choice Privileges updated its website to indicate that reward nights now begin at 8,000 points. This change means that there is no longer a global cap of 35,000 points for reward night prices. I discovered several hotels in Nashville and New York City charging 45,000 Choice points per night.

I discovered a property in Sweden where the paid rates are approximately $100 per night, while the award rates sit around 75,000 Choice points per night. Redeeming Choice points for this stay would yield a poor value for your points.

However, there are opportunities for great value when redeeming Choice points. For instance, I enjoy using Choice points for stays in prime locations in Japan.

When you redeem Choice points, many properties allow you to book more than just the standard room type. For example, on select dates, you can reserve a three-bedroom apartment at the Quality Suites Huka Falls in New Zealand for only 25,000 points per night.

You can redeem Choice points for much more than just Choice-branded hotels. For instance, Choice Privileges points can be used to stay at certain Bluegreen Vacations properties (see the list here). Most Bluegreen properties range from 20,000 to 30,000 points per night.

While availability at some properties can be tricky, last-minute reservations are often an option. I discovered plenty of availability at the Bluegreen Vacations Eilan Hotel And Spa, Ascend Resort Collection, in San Antonio.

Additionally, you can use Choice points to book stays at select casino hotels and resorts, with most costing 40,000 points per night or less. For a current list of casino hotels and resorts available for booking with Choice points, check here.

You can also redeem Choice Privileges points for stays at all-inclusive resorts. When browsing the Choice Hotels website, you can view available options by selecting all-inclusive resorts as the hotel category. As of now, Choice Points can be redeemed at all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Dominican Republic for 20,000 to 45,000 points per night.

Finding award availability at some resorts can be challenging. However, I discovered plenty of openings at the Emotions All Inclusive Puerto Plata, Ascend Hotel Collection in the Dominican Republic, where I once enjoyed a month-long stay. Currently, reward nights at this resort are priced at 30,000 points and include rooms with direct pool access, a sitting area, balcony, and whirlpool.

The Choice Hotels website also features an all-inclusive resort in Dominica. However, this resort currently does not have an award rate available, and I wasn't able to locate any award availability.

Lastly, keep an eye on Choice Privileges Sweet Spot Rewards. Choice often offers discounts on award rates for select top properties through this initiative.

Points Plus Cash

Choice also provides points plus cash options for members with at least 6,000 Choice points in their accounts. Simply log into your account, search for a reward night, and select a result that displays a points-plus-cash rate.

After selecting "See Availability" for your chosen property, you can evaluate the options for reward nights, points combined with cash, and the standard rates for every room category.

As illustrated in the previous example, you have the choice to spend 35,000 points, pay $386.62 in cash (including taxes and fees), or use 6,000 points along with $247 per night for a rate that permits cancellation up until shortly before your visit. Redeeming 35,000 points results in a value of 1.10 cents per point, while using 6,000 points plus $247 provides a superior redemption rate of 2.33 cents per point.

Preferred Hotels & Resorts

Members of Choice Privileges can use their Choice points for stays at select Preferred Hotels & Resorts locations. For single or double occupancy, you can expect to redeem between 20,000 and 87,000 points per night, translating to a value of $120 to $522, according to TPG's June 2024 assessments.

You can explore properties and make reservations online by visiting this link and logging into your Choice Privileges account. The typical 100-day advance booking rule does not apply when you redeem Choice points for stays at Preferred Hotels & Resorts.

Transfer your Choice points to travel rewards partners

You can utilize the online Choice Privileges Rewards Exchange to move points to the following partners:

• Aer Lingus AerClub: Transfer at a rate of 5,000 Choice points for 1,000 Avios
• Aeromexico Rewards: Transfer at a rate of 5,000 Choice points for 1,000 Aeromexico points
• Air Canada Aeroplan: Transfer at a rate of 5,000 Choice points for 1,000 Aeroplan points
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue: Transfer at a rate of 5,000 Choice points for 1,000 Flying Blue miles
• Alaska MileagePlan: Transfer at a rate of 5,000 Choice points for 1,000 Alaska miles
• British Airways Executive Club: Transfer at a rate of 5,000 Choice points for 1,000 Avios
• Iberia Plus: Transfer at a rate of 5,000 Choice points for 1,000 Avios
• Qantas FrequentFlyer: Transfer at a rate of 2,000 Choice points for 800 Qantas points
• Southwest Rapid Rewards: Transfer at a rate of 6,000 Choice points for 1,800 Southwest points
• Turkish Miles&Smiles: Transfer at a rate of 5,000 Choice points for 1,000 Turkish miles
• United MileagePlus: Transfer at a rate of 5,000 Choice points for 1,000 United miles
• Velocity Frequent Flyer: Transfer at a rate of 2,000 Choice points for 800 Virgin Australia points

Transfers typically take around 48 hours, though some may extend to seven days. You can also contact Choice Privileges to transfer points to Spirit Airlines Free Spirit, which may take between two to six weeks.

Redeem Choice points for gift cards

You can no longer convert Choice points to cash through Bakkt, as the consumer app was shut down in early 2023. Nevertheless, you can still achieve cash-like value from Choice points by redeeming them for gift cards.

Certain retailers may only provide $25 gift cards for 8,000 Choice points. However, you might also have the option to redeem points for more valuable gift cards with some retailers, such as 16,000 points for $50 gift cards or 32,000 points for $100 gift cards.

Additionally, you can exchange 5,000 points for a one-year AARP membership or 12,000 points for a three-year AARP membership.

When you redeem 8,000 Choice points for a $25 gift card, the redemption rate comes to 0.3125 cents per point. This is significantly lower than TPG's June 2024 valuation of 0.6 cents per point, which is why we generally advise against using Choice points for gift cards.

Convert Choice points into cruise credits

You can exchange Choice points for cruise credits by calling Cruises for Choice Privileges (operated by Cruise411) at 800-596-0451. You can use 85,000 points to receive $250 in cruise credit or 160,000 points for $500 in cruise credit.

Redeeming 16,000 points for a $500 credit yields a redemption rate of 0.3125 cents per point. This is also below TPG's June 2024 valuation of Choice points (0.6 cents per point), so we do not recommend this choice.

Use Choice points for unique experiences

In 2022, Choice Privileges launched the option to use Choice points for college sports events and experiences. Since then, members have been able to redeem Choice points for NASCAR tickets as well as redeem Choice points for concerts and various events.

Visit the Experiences by Choice website, the college sports experiences page, and the Trackhouse racing page to find current offerings.

Contribute Choice points

Lastly, you have the option to donate Choice points to select charitable organizations.

Choice will contribute $5 for every 1,000 points redeemed to most charities. However, donations made to Polaris will receive a contribution of $10 per 1,000 points.

In summary

You can use Choice Privileges points for hotel stays, airline miles, gift cards, donations, experiences, and more. To maximize the value of your points, I recommend calculating your redemption value and only redeeming when you achieve at least 0.6 cents per point. Generally, the best value comes from redeeming Choice points for hotel stays or special experiences.