5 Best Ways to Redeem Your Choice Privileges Points

Choice Privileges points help you, and your friends and family, stay at cool spots worldwide for less.
JT Genter
By JT Genter 
Updated
Edited by Meg Lee

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Choice Hotels and Resorts may not be the first chain that comes to mind when you think about redeeming your hotel points. After all, competitors such as Marriott and Hilton have well-known hotel rewards programs and properties around the world.

However, the Choice Privileges rewards program isn't to be overlooked — especially since there are some major sweet spots on hand. Some Choice hotels in Europe and Asia are often a great deal when you book with points. And if you know how to search, you can get a lot of value from your Choice points in the U.S. or at all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean.

Let’s take a look at the five best Choice Hotels redemptions, no matter where you’re traveling.

1. All-inclusive resorts

Choice doesn’t have a huge presence when it comes to all-inclusive properties, but those that it does sport offer incredible value. This is mainly due to the fact that they don’t charge you extra when adding additional guests to your award booking.

For example, a three-night stay at the Emotions All Inclusive Juan Dolio, Ascend Hotel Collection in the Dominican Republic will cost you 30,000 points per night, whether you have two guests or four.

This is in contrast to paying cash, since all-inclusive properties charge you extra when you have more than two guests in a room.

2. Suites

Another valuable way to redeem Choice Privilege points is for suites, as the hotel chain doesn’t charge you additional points for suites.

If suites are available and bookable with points, they’ll cost the same amount as a standard room. This can mean great redemptions, especially when you’re traveling with a family.

For example, a three-night stay at the Quality Inn & Suites Anaheim Maingate, which is right next to Disneyland in Anaheim, California, would cost you $794.37 in a suite that’ll sleep six.

That same suite would cost you just 16,000 points per night (or roughly $160 per night in points given NerdWallet’s valuation of 1 cent per point).

Thus, you’ll get a redemption value of 1.65 cents each. This is well above NerdWallet’s valuation.

3. Vacation rentals

Speaking of traveling in groups, sometimes going for a hotel room can be a bit cramped when many of you are on the road. A benefit of Choice Privileges points is that you can redeem them for vacation rentals. Again, you aren’t paying extra whether you pick the one-bedroom or two-bedroom condo — these prices remain the same.

Here’s an example of a two-bedroom condo that sleeps six in Orlando, Florida, for 23,333 points per night.

This condo would run you $767 for three nights or 69,999 points, meaning you’ll get a redemption value of 1.1 cents per point.

4. Radisson hotels

Choice Hotels acquired Radisson Rewards Americas in 2023, which means members now have access to all of the Radisson brand hotels.

These include high-end properties such as the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago, which normally charges around $400 per night. Redeeming your Choice points, however, will cost just 35,000 points per night (or roughly $350 per night per NerdWallet valuations).

This comes out to a decent redemption rate of 1.29 cents per point.

Also, those who hold the Citi Premier® Card can transfer their points over to Choice at a 1:2 ratio, which means that Radisson Blu stay in Chicago would cost just 18,000 Citi points per night.

Citibank ThankYou Premier Credit Card

Citi Premier® Card

NerdWallet Rating
4.9
Annual fee

$95

In comparison, you’d need to transfer over either 62,000 Marriott points or 35,000 Hilton points from an eligible transfer partner for similar stays in the Windy City.

5. Cheap redemptions abroad

While Choice hotels may be somewhat limited abroad, they do have some really good redemption options in certain countries.

For example, you can redeem 16,000 Choice points per night (roughly $160 per night in points per our valuation) to stay in a family room at the Clarion Hotel The Hub in Oslo, Norway.

The property features a full breakfast and a sofa bed for a maximum occupancy of four guests, which is rare in Europe. That same cost in cash would come to around $428 per night, meaning you’d redeem your Choice points for a value of 2.68 cents each.

Other great places to look for Choice hotels abroad include Japan and Italy, though it’s always a good idea to poke around and see if you can spot deals elsewhere.

The bottom line

Award prices vary by the month at most Choice hotels, but you can still find sweet spots in the Choice Privileges program. By knowing where and how to look, you can get more than 1 cent per point from your Choice Privileges points at destinations near and far.

Choice Hotels and Resorts may not have been at the top of your list when planning your next vacation, but you might reconsider. This chain has a generous rewards program, which means you — and all your traveling companions — can stay in well-regarded properties around the world more affordably.


How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for:

Hotel Cards from Our Partners
IHG® One Rewards Premier Credit Card

on Chase's website

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
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1x-26x

Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.

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140,000

Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

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World Of Hyatt Credit Card

on Chase's website

World of Hyatt Credit Card
5.0
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1x-9x

Earn up to 9 points total per $1 spent at Hyatt – 4 Bonus Points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5 Base Points per $1 you can earn as a World of Hyatt member. Earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airlines tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships.

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30,000

Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.

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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card

on Chase's website

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
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Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card. 2X points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

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Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card!

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