Over the past several years, Choice’s recurring promotional offer has been 8,000 points after two stays.
Sometimes it’s promoted as such: 8,000 points after two stays. More often though, the headline promotes either a free night or a gift card—both of which are available for 8,000 points.
For its latest promotion, the featured bonus is a gift card. But what you’re really earning is 8,000 Choice Privileges points—enough to redeem for a gift card, or for a free night at one of 1,500 lower-priced hotels in the Choice network.
Compared to past versions, the promotion has improved in two key respects. First, Choice has modified its points-expiration policy, from hard expiration after two years, to indefinitely extendable with account activity every 18 months. That makes the points more valuable. And second, the definition of “stay” has been changed, also for the better. Previously, stays at Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, or MainStay Suites hotels were defined as two or more consecutive nights at one hotel. Now a stay at those brands can be as short as a single night. That makes it easier to earn the bonus points.
Offer Details
Between May 12 and August 18, Choice Privileges members can earn 8,000 points after two stays. Again, that’s enough points for a free night at more than 1,500 Choice hotels.
Qualifying stays must be booked at ChoiceHotels.com, via the Choice mobile app, or by calling 1-800-4CHOICE, although Diamond and Platinum members may book direct with the hotel, and corporate travelers may book through a travel agent or corporate booking system.
There’s no limit to the number of times the bonus may be earned.
Registration is required.
Deal or No Deal
Earning enough points for a free night after two stays, even at a lower-end hotel, is a potentially high-value offer, especially if the qualifying stays are single nights at lower-priced properties.
That makes this one of the more lucrative of the current hotel offers.
Reader Reality Check
A $50 gift card, or a free night?
After 20 years working in the travel industry, and 15 years writing about it, Tim Winship knows a thing or two about travel. Follow him on Twitter @twinship.
I think this is one of the worst promotions for how misleading it is. It’s not like similar promotions such as some of the IHG promotions which really IS one free night. This is 8,000 points, which is “sometimes” worth a free night, but only at bargain basement hotels. Many of the nicer Choice hotels (especially in the US) are significantly more than 8,000 points / night
The trick is using the promo to its maximum advantage. Earning the 8,000 points for two separate nights at cheaper hotels and redeeming the points for a freebie at a comparable or lesser-priced property amounts to a 33% discount (3 for the price of 2). That’s solid ROI.
Even better is 200% ROI.
In March I booked two stays on consecutive week nights at Econolodge Monterey and Rodeway Inn Monterey at $40 per night. Checked in and went home to sleep in my own bed. Earned 9,000 Choice Privileges points.
In April I stayed in a one bedroom suite at Quality Inn Stockholm Airport.
That $250 hotel room in Sweden cost 10,000 points.
I will be redeeming more Choice Privileges points for summer stays in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Some of these Scandinavian hotels like The Thief Oslo and Farris Bad Larvik are luxury hotels with room rates pushing $500 per night or reward nights for 16,000 or 20,000 points.
I’m happy getting Choice hotels in Ireland and Rome for 8K per night. My go to hotel in Orlando runs 8K all year. Used to be possible in London, but it’s been a couple of years since I could snag a room just off Hyde Park at that rate. Can always hope!