💥 Choice Privileges Awards Program: The Whole Shebang 💥
Revised Award Booking Practices for Choice Privileges: Practical Understandings Explained
Katie Genterو особистіве email
Back in October 2024, Choice Privileges announced some game-changing updates it planned to implement in early 2025. Here's the lowdown on what these updates have translated to in practice! 🤯
Expanded Award Booking Window: 50 Weeks 🗓️
One of the biggest disadvantages of using Choice Privileges awards in the past was the restrictive 100-day award booking window. 😠 Now, though, members can book award stays at Choice Privileges properties up to 50 weeks in advance! 💥
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The best part? Most Choice Privileges award bookings are still cancellable with a few exceptions. 🤑
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Related: The Choice Points Ultimate Guide
New Award Rates Structure 💸
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Until recently, published redemption rates for Choice Privileges properties could vary significantly depending on the night of the week and month. 😮 However, those pesky redemption rates are no longer readily available on property pages. 🤨
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Now, you'll find the points cost for each night by going to an individual property's page, selecting "Reward Points" as the rate, and clicking on the check-in date box. 😉
As Choice's Thursday email states, "Choice may change reward levels at any time without notice; redemption levels typically vary per location and time of year." 🎉 So while rates might change at any time, it's unlikely they'll switch to a fully dynamic award pricing model. Instead, keep an eye out for specific redemption levels across set date ranges that change based on the day of the week.
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Related: Unique Ways to Redeem Choice Points
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
8,000 Points Per Night Across Japan 🗾
Interestingly, every Choice Privileges property in Tokyo is currently bookable for 8,000 points per night. 🥳
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Japan is one of my favorite spots to redeem Choice points, so I've seen some properties in the city priced at 16,000 and 20,000 points per night prior to the change. 😯 It's pointless to compare current award rates to previous ones since Choice pastes on fresh set of awards rates every few months. But the Tokyo properties are worth noting since they've stayed at the same rate for years. 🤯
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
I've yet to find a Choice Privileges property in Japan that isn't priced at 8,000 points per night. 🤓 However, the Ascend Collection property in Takayama, Japan, only has award availability on Sunday nights. 🤨
Related: How to Earn Choice Points (Hotel Stays & Credit Card Rewards)
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Premium Room Types with Points 🔑
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
For years, it's been possible to book premium room types at some Choice properties for the same number of points as a standard room. 😉 Even with these new changes, you can often still book elevated room types for the same number of points as a standard room. For example, take a peek at all the room types at Bluegreen Vacations Fountains, Ascend Resort Collection you can book for 20,000 points per night.
Related: How to Book Bluegreen Vacations Resorts through Choice Hotels
At some properties, certain premium room types will cost you more points. 😢 However, from what I've found, the prices for premium rooms are reasonable (in my humble opinion). For instance, you could redeem 20,000 points per night for several standard room types at the Radisson Panama City Beach - Oceanfront, or you could splurge on a two-bedroom ocean-view suite for 26,000 points per night that sleeps up to nine guests! 🌴
Related: Register for the Choice Personalized Weeknight Benefits
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RewardSaver Rate Miracle 🎇
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Last but not least, Choice also reintroduced RewardSaver rates. 🎉 These discounted rates are easy to find and actually seem to offer savings on award pricing. For example, 16 of the 56 hotels on the results page for a sample August stay in Nashville offered RewardSaver pricing. 🙌
And yes, RewardSaver rates can lead to some excellent discounts, bringing the per-night cost down to as low as 6,000 points. 😮 I even managed to find some RewardSaver nights bookable for 6,000 points in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 🎉
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Related: Eating Your Way to Miles with the Choice Eat & Earn Program
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Takeaway 💡
I'm psyched that the Choice Privileges award booking changes are finally live! 🤩 Sure, award rates will fluctuate, but there's still a ton of value to reap, especially now that you can book premium room types and lock in award stays up to 50 weeks in advance. 🏨
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Families and groups will likely find Bluegreen Vacations stays to be an excellent choice, while we can all enjoy booking premium room types for little to no extra points compared to standard rooms at many properties. 😄
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
Don't forget to always check the paid rates when redeeming Choice points, though. 🚨 Although you can score a terrific redemption rate on some award bookings, you'll want to save your points for other stays when the points rate is high and cash rates are low. 🤑
Credit Card Offers 💳
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- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- American Express® Gold Card
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Capital One Venture X Business
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
Choice Points Program Deep-Dive 💥
- How to earn and redeem Choice Privileges Points, Elite Status & More
- 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Redeeming Hotel Points
- 5 Ways to Maximize Marriott Bonvoy Award Night Redemptions
- The Ultimate Guide to Redeeming Choice Points
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TPG's Favorite Card 🏆
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
American Express® Gold Card Apply for American Express® Gold CardGo to reviewApply now
Rewards Rate
| | || --- | --- || 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year || 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year || 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or amedtravel.com || 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on amedtravel.com || 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases |
Intro Offer
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Annual Fee
$325
Recommended Credit
Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or amedtravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- With the expanded award booking window of 50 weeks, members can now book award stays at Choice Privileges properties up to 50 weeks in advance, offering more flexibility for travel planning.
- Most Choice Privileges award bookings are cancellable, providing members with the opportunity to change their travel plans without penalties, except in certain cases.
- The new award rates structure makes it easier to find the points cost for each night by visiting an individual property's page, selecting "Reward Points" as the rate, and checking the "check-in date" box.
- The updated award rates may change at any time, but they are unlikely to transition to a fully dynamic pricing model, and they will mainly vary based on the day of the week and set date ranges.
- Every Choice Privileges property in Tokyo is currently bookable for 8,000 points per night, which is a significant reduction compared to previous rates in some properties.
- It is still possible to book premium room types at Choice properties for the same number of points as a standard room, offering an opportunity for luxury experiences with minimal additional point costs.
- Choice reintroduced RewardSaver rates, which offer discounted pricing on award bookings and can lead to excellent value, with per-night rates as low as 6,000 points at some properties.
