hotel

Choice Privileges

IndependentLast reviewed Jun 2026

Choice Privileges is the budget-and-midscale traveler's workhorse program — 7,100+ properties spanning Comfort Inn to Cambria to Radisson Blu, with reward nights starting at just 8,000 points and no blackout dates. It punches above its weight with five membership levels topped by the new Titanium tier, a PENN Play casino status match, and a surprisingly broad redemption menu that includes cruises and partner resorts. Don't sleep on it: U.S. News just named it the #1 hotel rewards program for 2025-2026 — its first time at the top — and the points-plus-cash option lets you stretch even a thin stash.

Award chart

The actual numbers. Get your nerd on, memorize the cheap ones.

The cheat sheet.

See the rates

Choice Privileges uses straightforward points-based award pricing, not a fixed category chart. Reward Nights start at 8,000 points per night and are bookable at over 7,100 hotels worldwide with no blackout dates. Choice does not publish a category award chart or a public ceiling - the points cost of a given night varies by property, brand, date, and demand, so always price the exact dates.

Points Plus Cash lets you cover a shortfall: combine cash with as few as 6,000 points to reach a Reward Night (from $17 + 6,000 points). If a one-night Reward costs 20,000 points and you hold 6,000, you can buy the remaining 14,000 and redeem immediately. Points Plus Cash is U.S.-only and requires a minimum of 6,000 points per night.

Sweet spots

Where your points punch above their weight.

Where this currency genuinely shines.

Show me the picks
  • 8,000-point nights at Comfort, Quality, and Sleep Inn in secondary markets - the redemption floor rarely moves and there are no blackout dates, making these the best value-per-point on the program.
  • Points Plus Cash to rescue a thin balance - rather than abandon a redemption, buy the gap (from $17 + 6,000 points) and still book the night. Only worth it when you have a specific stay in mind.
  • Premium brands punch above Choice's budget reputation - Radisson Blu, Cambria, Ascend Collection, and Preferred Hotels & Resorts open the program to genuinely upscale stays.
  • Titanium Travel Award - top-tier members get an annual coupon for 50% off a Reward Night (1 room, up to 7 nights) at premium brands like Radisson Blu and Cambria - effectively doubling your points at the high end.
  • Skip the airline-miles exchange - hotel-to-airline conversions on Rewards Exchange are typically poor value. Keep points for nights, and never transfer without a redemption already in mind.

Ways to earn more

How to get more points.

4 programs that transfer in.

See inbound paths

Programs that transfer points or miles into Choice Privileges.

FromRatioNotes
American Express Membership Rewards1:11,000 Membership Rewards = 1,000 Choice Privileges points.
Capital One Miles1:11,000 Capital One miles = 1,000 Choice Privileges points.
Citi ThankYou Rewards
premium1:1.5
standard1:1.05
Card-dependent. Devalued from 1:2 on 2026-04-19.
Wells Fargo Rewards1:21 Wells Fargo Rewards point = 2 Choice Privileges points. Best inbound ratio.

Tier benefits

The status ladder. 5 rungs, each unlocking better lounges, bags, and bragging rights.

5 status levels.

Climb the ladder

Member

From day one

  • Earn up to 10 points per $1 USD spent on guest room charges
  • Reward nights starting at 8,000 points with no blackout dates
  • Points plus cash redemptions starting at $17 and 6,000 points
  • Return and earn: 1,000 bonus points after 2nd and 3rd qualifying stays each calendar year
  • Points sharing (coming soon)
  • Elite reserved parking (where available)
  • Early check-in and late checkout (where available)
  • Status match with PENN Play Rewards
  • Milestone rewards

Gold

5 nights or 10,000 credits

  • All Member benefits
  • 10% bonus points on qualifying stays
  • Elite welcome gift (bonus points, beverage or snack at check-in)
  • Elite customer hotline (7 days a week)
  • Room upgrades at Cambria, Ascend Collection, and select Radisson brands
  • Points never expire as long as Elite status maintained
  • PENN Play Rewards status match to Advantage level

Platinum

15 nights or 30,000 credits

  • All Gold benefits
  • 25% bonus points on qualifying stays
  • Elite welcome gift
  • Elite customer hotline
  • Room upgrades at Cambria, Ascend Collection, and select Radisson brands
  • Points never expire as long as Elite status maintained
  • Milestone rewards
  • Guaranteed room availability at participating Ascend Collection, Cambria, and select Radisson properties

Diamond

35 nights or 70,000 credits

  • All Platinum benefits
  • 50% bonus points on qualifying stays
  • Elite welcome gift
  • Elite customer hotline
  • Room upgrades at Cambria, Ascend Collection, and select Radisson brands
  • Points never expire as long as Elite status maintained
  • Milestone rewards
  • Guaranteed room availability at participating properties
  • Complimentary breakfast for member and one guest at participating Radisson upscale brands

Titanium

55 nights or 110,000 credits

  • All Diamond benefits
  • 50% bonus points on qualifying stays
  • Elite welcome gift
  • Elite customer hotline
  • Room upgrades at Cambria, Ascend Collection, and select Radisson brands
  • Points never expire as long as Elite status maintained
  • Milestone rewards
  • Guaranteed room availability at participating properties
  • Complimentary breakfast for member and one guest at participating Radisson upscale brands
  • Titanium Travel Award: annual coupon for 50% off a Reward Night stay at select properties, valid for 1 room up to 7 consecutive nights

Free Night Certificates

Annual free-night awards from co-brand cards, with category ceilings and conditions.

The yearly free nights and where they work.

See the certs

Titanium Travel Award (elite benefit)

Category ceiling

50% off a Reward Night - 1 room, up to 7 consecutive nights

Blackouts

Select/participating premium properties only

Expiry

Annual coupon; one per year while Titanium status is held

Notes

Valid at a curated selection of premium properties: Ascend Collection, Cambria, Radisson Blu, Radisson Red, Radisson Individuals, Westgate Resorts, Bluegreen, and other premium locations. Earned by reaching Titanium (55 nights or 110,000 credits), not by holding a co-brand card.

Lounge access

Club lounges and breakfast: who gets in.

Who gets in, who doesn't, and the carve-outs.

See the rules

Choice Privileges does not operate an executive or club-lounge program. Its brands run from budget and midscale (Comfort, Quality, Sleep Inn) to upscale (Cambria, Radisson Blu), but elite recognition comes through points bonuses, room upgrades, early check-in/late checkout, and the PENN Play status match - not lounge access. There is no tier that unlocks a branded lounge network.

How to spend

The high-leverage moves. Read this before you transfer a single mile.

The smart-money plays.

Get the playbook
  • Reward Nights - from 8,000 points/night at 7,100+ hotels, no blackout dates. The core use and where the value lives.
  • Points Plus Cash - pay part cash, part points (from $17 + 6,000 points) to stretch a thin balance or buy the gap to a Reward Night. U.S.-only.
  • Choice Privileges Cruises - book major lines including Carnival and Royal Caribbean via ChoicePrivilegesCruises.com; earn or redeem points.
  • Partner stays - redeem at Bluegreen Resorts, Preferred Hotels & Resorts, and PENN Entertainment casino hotels.
  • Airline miles - exchange points for miles through Choice's Rewards Exchange portal (ratios vary and are generally weak value - keep points for nights).
  • Gift cards - convert points to retailer/gas gift cards.
  • Member experiences - bid on one-of-a-kind experiences and partner perks.
  • Charity donations - convert points to donations (American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Clubs of America).

Tips & quirks

Stopover rules, surcharges, the stuff nobody tells you until you've been burned once.

The fine print, decoded.

Spill the gotchas
  • Points expiry: Points expire after 18 consecutive months of inactivity. A "Qualifying Activity" (earning or redeeming points) resets the clock. Simply completing a non-points-eligible stay (like a Reward Night) or registering for a promotion does NOT count as a qualifying activity.
  • Elite members never expire: Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Titanium members are exempt from point expiration while they hold active Elite status. If status is lost, the 18-month expiry clock starts from the day status lapses.
  • Points reinstatement: Expired points can be reinstated (for a fee) within 180 days of expiration, up to a maximum of 1,000,000 points. Only one reinstatement request per month is allowed. Reinstated points do NOT count toward Elite status qualification.
  • WoodSpring Suites excluded: WoodSpring Suites properties do not participate in Choice Privileges — no earning, no redemptions, no Elite benefits at these locations.
  • Radisson participation is Americas-only: Radisson Americas brands (Radisson Blu, RED, Individuals, Collection, Park Inn, Park Plaza, Country Inn & Suites) are owned by Choice and DO earn and redeem Choice Privileges. Radisson-branded hotels OUTSIDE the Americas (Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific) are owned by Radisson Hotel Group, an unaffiliated company headquartered in Belgium, and do NOT participate in Choice Privileges.
  • Extended stay earn cap: Stays at Everhome Suites, MainStay Suites, and Suburban Studios earn at a reduced rate (5 points per $1) for nights 7–30, and zero points for night 31 onward. Elite Qualifying Night (EQN) earning at these brands is also capped at 15 EQNs per stay (first 30 nights only).
  • Rooms per stay limit: Points are earned on up to 4 rooms per night at the same hotel, but Elite bonus points and Elite status credits only apply to 1 room per stay.
  • Third-party bookings earn nothing: Reservations via Expedia, Orbitz, Booking.com, Priceline, etc. are not points-eligible — no exceptions noted.
  • Rates below $40 USD ineligible: Rooms booked at rates below $40 USD per night do not qualify for points.
  • Resort/mandatory fees on award nights: Members are responsible for any incidental charges as well as resort or other mandatory fees even on Reward Night stays.
  • Points Plus Cash is U.S.-only: The Points Plus Cash program is only available to U.S. members. Members must hold at least 6,000 points and use a minimum of 6,000 points per night.
  • Status Soft Landing: Members who fail to requalify are dropped only one tier per year (e.g., Titanium drops to Diamond, not directly to non-Elite), giving a one-year grace buffer.
  • Program can change anytime: Choice may add, change, or delete any program term, condition, or rule in its sole discretion, with or without notice, and may terminate the program entirely without notice.
  • Preferred Hotels & Resorts bookings: Reward Night reservations at Preferred Hotels cannot be modified — you must cancel and rebook. Points Plus Cash is not available for Preferred Hotels redemptions. Resort fees and incidentals are the guest's responsibility; taxes ARE included in the points redemption.

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Last reviewed: June 2026

Loyalty programs change rules, fees, transfer ratios, and award pricing all the time — sometimes without warning. We do our best to keep these pages current, but the program's own site is always the final word. Always confirm specifics directly with Choice Privileges before transferring miles or booking an award. Treat anything on this page as a starting point, not a guarantee. Crazy4Points is not responsible for actions taken based on information here — see our Terms of Service for full details.