Introduction to choice hotels credit card
choice hotels credit card If you’re someone who travels often—whether for work, leisure, or a mix of both—then you already know how quickly expenses can add up. Between flights, meals, and lodging, costs can balloon before you even arrive at your destination. That’s where hotel rewards credit cards come in handy, especially if you’re loyal to a particular chain. One card that’s gaining popularity among frequent travelers is the Choice Hotels credit card. But what makes it worth adding to your wallet?
Choice Hotels, the brand behind popular names like Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, and Cambria Hotels, has teamed up with Wells Fargo to offer a co-branded credit card designed to reward frequent guests. This card is not just about accumulating points—it’s about making your travel experience smoother, more affordable, and more rewarding.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into everything you need to know about the Choice Hotels credit card: how it works, what perks it offers, who it’s best for, and whether it deserves a place in your financial strategy.
The Basics: What Is the Choice Hotels Credit Card?
Let’s start with the fundamentals. The Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®, issued by Wells Fargo, is the current flagship credit card offered in partnership with Choice Hotels. It’s part of the Choice Privileges loyalty program and is designed to help cardholders earn more points faster than non-cardholders.
When you apply and get approved for this credit card, you’re immediately plugged into the ecosystem of Choice Privileges. That means every dollar you spend—especially on hotel stays—translates into rewards you can redeem for free nights, gift cards, or even experiences.
The card also comes with no foreign transaction fees, making it a good option for international travelers who frequent Choice Hotels properties abroad. It has an annual fee (usually around $95), but the perks and points you earn can easily offset that cost if you travel even a few times a year.
Another thing worth mentioning is the welcome bonus. Most promotions offer a large number of points (for example, 60,000 or more) after you spend a certain amount within the first few months. This welcome bonus alone can cover multiple free nights, depending on the hotel category.
Key Benefits: Why Travelers Love This Card
1. Accelerated Points Earning
One of the standout features of the Choice Hotels credit card is its accelerated points structure. You typically earn:
- 10x points per $1 spent at participating Choice Hotels properties.
- 5x points per $1 spent on purchases like gas, groceries, and home improvement stores.
- 1x point per $1 on everything else.
These bonus categories are well thought out because they align with everyday spending as well as travel. Even when you’re not traveling, you can still rack up a decent number of points just by using the card for groceries or fueling your car.
2. Anniversary Bonus and Elite Status
Each year on your cardmember choice hotels credit card anniversary, you receive a bonus—typically 30,000 points. That’s enough for at least one free night and sometimes more, depending on where you stay.
In addition, cardholders receive automatic Gold Elite status in the Choice Privileges program. This status offers perks like:
- Room upgrades (when available)
- Early check-in and late checkout
- Exclusive access to reward night reservations
- Dedicated customer service line
While these aren’t game-changing perks choice hotels credit card compared to luxury hotel programs, they can still make your stay much more comfortable and enjoyable.
3. No Foreign Transaction Fees
For a card with a relatively low annual fee, the absence of foreign transaction fees is a big win. Some travel cards with similar benefits still charge you 2-3% on every international purchase. If you frequently travel outside the U.S., this feature can save you a surprising amount of money over time.
Who Should Consider the Choice Hotels Credit Card?
1. Frequent Choice Hotels Guests
This one is obvious. If you often stay at Comfort Inn, Sleep Inn, Clarion, or any other Choice Hotels brand, this card is almost a no-brainer. The accelerated earning at Choice properties and the annual bonus points make it easy to justify the $95 annual fee.
Even if you don’t travel for choice hotels credit card business, families who take a few road trips each year and stay at budget- or mid-range hotels will see solid value here. Choice Hotels has thousands of properties across the U.S. and globally, so you won’t have to go out of your way to find one.
2. Budget-Conscious Travelers
Unlike some other hotel-branded credit cards that only make sense if you’re booking expensive rooms, the Choice Hotels credit card is geared more toward value travelers. You can often redeem points for free nights starting at just 8,000 points—significantly less than what you’d need with higher-end hotel chains.
This makes the card great for people choice hotels credit card who want to stretch their rewards further. You’re not paying a fortune to stay at a luxury resort, but you’re still getting a clean, comfortable room and possibly even free breakfast, all while earning points for future travel.
3. Everyday Spenders
Thanks to bonus points on gas, groceries, and home improvement stores, this card can also be valuable to people who want to earn travel rewards without having to fly or stay in hotels constantly. You can rack up points through regular spending and redeem them when the opportunity arises.
Points Redemption: Making the Most of Your Rewards
The Choice Privileges loyalty program offers several ways to redeem your points, with free hotel nights being the most popular. Here’s how you can use the points you earn:
1. Free Nights
This is the best bang for your buck. Reward choice hotels credit card nights start as low as 8,000 points and can go up to 35,000 points or more, depending on the property and location. In many cases, you can book a decent hotel for 12,000 to 20,000 points.
Choice Hotels also offers Point + Cash bookings, which let you use a mix of points and money if you’re short on points. It adds flexibility to the redemption process.
2. Gift Cards and Merchandise
Not traveling anytime soon? You can redeem your points for gift cards to popular retailers or even for physical merchandise. While this isn’t the best value per point, it’s nice to have the option.
3. Experiences and Charitable Donations
Some users prefer redeeming their points for exclusive experiences—like event tickets or unique tours. You can also donate your points to charity through the Choice Privileges website if you’d rather give back.
Drawbacks: Things to Keep in Mind
No credit card is perfect, and the Choice Hotels credit card has a few downsides to be aware of.
1. Limited High-End Options
If you’re someone who prefers luxury resorts or high-end accommodations, you might find Choice Hotels lacking. Most of its brands are mid-range or budget, and while they’re dependable and comfortable, they may not deliver the “wow” factor that luxury brands like Marriott or Hyatt offer.
2. Annual Fee
At $95, the annual fee is moderate, but it still requires some usage to justify. If you’re not staying at Choice Hotels or using the card for its bonus categories, it may not be worth it.
3. Redemption Limitations
Choice Privileges has blackout dates and availability restrictions for reward nights at some properties. That can be frustrating if you’re trying to plan a trip during a peak travel season.
How It Compares: Choice Hotels Credit Card vs. Other Hotel Cards
If you’re still on the fence, it’s worth comparing this card to other popular hotel-branded cards. For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card or the Hilton Honors American Express Card offer higher-end perks but often come with higher fees or require more points for redemption.
Where the Choice Hotels credit card really shines is in its value per point and accessibility. You don’t have to be a luxury traveler to benefit, and the widespread presence of Choice Hotels makes it easy to find a place to stay almost anywhere in the U.S.
Conclusion:
So, should you get the Choice Hotels credit card? If you’re someone who regularly stays at their properties or you’re a budget-conscious traveler who likes getting more value out of every dollar, then yes—this card is a solid pick. The combination of a generous welcome bonus, high earnings on hotel stays and everyday spending, and flexible redemption options makes it a practical travel companion.
However, if you’re after luxury perks, five-star hotels, or elite status with serious upgrades, this card probably won’t scratch that itch. In that case, a premium travel card or one associated with a luxury hotel chain might be a better fit.
Ultimately, the Choice Hotels credit card is perfect for the savvy traveler who knows how to stretch their rewards, travel often, and isn’t too picky about whether the hotel comes with a chandelier or a spa. If that sounds like you, it might be time to apply.
