Choice Hotels Offers Bonus for Summer Stays

Between May 17 and August 15, members of the Choice Privileges program will earn a total of 8,000 points after two stays. That’s however many points you would have earned for the stays plus enough bonus points to bring the total up to 8,000.

Mind the definitions of "stay." For Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, or Ascend Collection hotels, a stay is defined as any number of consecutive nights at one hotel regardless of check-ins or check-outs. For Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, or MainStay Suites hotels, a stay is defined as two or more consecutive nights at one hotel.

What’s the big deal with 8,000 points? In Choice Privileges, it’s enough for a free night at one of 1,500 lower-priced hotels in the Choice network. Or, for purposes of this promotion, it’s enough points for a $50 gift card, which normally requires 16,000 points. For U.S. members, the following gift cards are available: BP, Chevron/Texaco, Darden, ExxonMobil, Macy’s, Sears, Shell, Sunoco, Uno Chicago Grill.

But notwithstanding the headline, which might lead you to think that the only bonus on offer is the gift card, the actual bonus is the extra points. You can keep them, redeem them for a free night, or redeem them for a gift card.

Deal or No Deal

I’m not a fan of gift cards generally, and the limited selection of merchants in this case makes them even less attractive.

On the other hand, earning enough points for a free night, albeit at a lower-end hotel, after two stays is potentially a high-value offer, especially if the qualifying stays are single nights at lower-priced properties.

Reader Reality Check

There are plenty of hotel promotions available for summer stays. What’s your choice?

Other Posts of Interest

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• Wyndham Offers Double Points, Double Miles for Spring Stays
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• Your Choice: Airline Miles or Hotel Points?

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