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Choice Privileges just launched a new promotion to buy points. Now through December 3, 2023, Choice Privileges members can get a 50% bonus when purchasing points, bringing the price down to as little as 0.69¢ apiece.
While this is an improvement on Choice's last promotion, it's not the best we've ever seen from Choice. However, this promotion can still provide lots of value under the right circumstances. Let's take a look at when it can make sense to buy Choice points at this rate.
A Note on Buying Points
At AwardWallet, we don't generally recommend buying points and miles speculatively. Most loyalty programs sell points at a price point that makes it difficult to receive outsized value. You're often better off holding onto your cash.
However, there are exceptions to this rule. The first is when you only need a few more points to complete a redemption you're planning, and you can't transfer points into the program. Buying points can make a lot of sense here since it's one of the fastest (and easiest) ways to top off your account balance.
The second exception is when buying the points necessary for an award night in the hotel you want to stay in is cheaper than paying the cash rate.
Choice Buy Points Bonus Offer Details
- This promotion is valid on points purchases through 11:59 p.m. EST on December 3, 2023.
- There is one bonus tier in this promotion, while still offering different prices depending on the amount of points purchased.
- Members can buy up to 180,000 points annually through this promotion (before the bonus is added on).
- Points appear in your account within 24 hours after your transaction.
- Purchased points do not count toward elite status or Lifetime Elite Gold status.
- Transactions are non-refundable.
- Your account may be targeted with a different offer amount, so it's important you check exactly which rate you're receiving.
From what we see in our account, Choice Privileges members can buy points at the following rates:
- 1,000–2,000 points: No bonus (1.28¢ each)
- 3,000–4,000 points: 50% bonus (0.85¢ each)
- 5,000–9,000 points: 50% bonus (0.76¢ each)
- 10,000–180,000 points: 50% bonus (0.69¢ each)
When Does It Make Sense To Buy Choice Points?
In some of our previous posts about Choice Hotels, we've alluded to the fact that Choice points can be especially valuable for hotels overseas — specifically in areas with limited chain hotel options. This could also pair nicely with Choice Sweet Spot Rewards. Let's take a look at a few Choice properties to demonstrate how much you could save by buying Choice points instead of paying the cash rate during this bonus promotion.
Chill in Stockholm
Stockholm is an exciting city filled with fun things to do and cool experiences to try. It's also home to almost a dozen Choice properties of varying price points.
One of the coolest (pun intended) and most centrally-oriented of these hotels is Hotel C Stockholm. It's part of the Ascend Hotel Collection and is home to ICEBAR, a 60-person bar where everything (including your glass and the bar itself) is sculpted from ice!
I recently redeemed Choice points for a stay at Hotel C Stockholm and found that hotel guests even get a discount at the ICEBAR.
Located in the heart of Stockholm, hotel room rates can be pricey — averaging $200 per night. But with reward nights only costing 16,000 points, you can pay just $110.40 per night when buying Choice Privilege points at 0.69¢ each. If you buy exactly 16,500 points during this promotion, you'll need to pay $113.30.
Affordable rooms (with free breakfast) in Japan
If you want to visit the land of the rising sun, using Choice Privilege points is a great way to do so without breaking the bank. Many Choice-affiliated hotels in Japan cost just 8,000 points per night.
As I've found from experience, you're not going to get a very large room in these hotels. But these Comfort Hotels are generally located within walking distance of Tokyo's excellent metro system and provide a free breakfast buffet. That makes these properties a heckuva deal for just 8,000 points per night.
During this Choice buy points promotion, you can buy 9,000 points (at the 0.76¢ price point) for just $68.40. At the highest tier, paying for exactly 8,000 points at 0.69¢ each would bring your nightly cost down to $55.20 — assuming you buy enough points for three or more nights. Outside of booking a capsule hotel, you will struggle to find a cheaper night in Tokyo than that.
Rent a three-bedroom house in New Zealand
Choice Privileges points also can go a long way in New Zealand. And perhaps there's no better example than renting an entire house on the northern island of New Zealand for just 20,000 Choice points per night.
The Quality Suites Huka Falls — located just a few kilometers from the extraordinary Huka Falls — is a hotel “property” consisting entirely of free-standing houses. One of those houses is a full three-bedroom, two-story house. And that's what I booked in March 2023 on a road trip through New Zealand.
Only one three-bedroom house is available online. If someone has already snagged it, you can settle for one of the many two-bedroom houses onsite:
At a purchase rate of 0.69¢ per point, you can buy enough Choice points to rent one of these houses for just $138 per night.
Visit Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is on many people's bucket lists. Around the falls, hotels range from basic to super fancy. Prices can be higher than average, even for basic hotels, because it's such a touristy area. However, multiple nearby Choice hotels price as low as 8,000 Choice points per night.
If you buy Choice points for 0.69¢ each under the current promotion, you would pay just $55.20 per night. Cash prices average $126 or higher, depending on the time of year. On several nights, that can provide savings of over 56%!
Maximize Your Purchase
Unfortunately, Choice point purchases are processed by Points.com — not Choice directly. This means that buying Choice points likely won't trigger the travel category bonus on any credit card. If you choose to buy Choice points, your best options are these:
- Any credit card where you're working on a sign-up bonus. These are the best welcome offers available right now.
- Any credit card with perks you can unlock from spending, such as hotel free night awards, hotel elite status, or airline elite status.
- Your best credit card for everyday spending, such as the Citi Double Cash® Card or Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
Related: Which Credit Card Should You Use to Buy Points and Miles?
Other Ways to Earn Choice Points
You can build your Choice points balance with a welcome bonus and everyday spending on the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® Credit Card and Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® Credit Card.
It's also worth mentioning that Choice Privileges has three transfer partners:
That means any credit card that earns these points can effectively earn Choice Privileges points.
Bottom Line
Choice tends to rotate between two types of buy-point promotions: one offering bonus points and one offering a discount. This current offer for a 50% bonus falls short of the best offers we've seen from Choice. Still, if you're looking to score a high-value redemption this fall or winter, buying Choice points at 0.69¢ each can certainly make sense in some cases.
It still bears repeating that buying points won't make sense for a lot of people. But if you were waiting for a sale to buy Choice points, now's the time to take advantage of this deal. Just make sure you have a great redemption in mind before purchasing — and make sure you're redeeming your points at a higher value than what you paid for them.
Are you going to buy Choice points at 0.69¢ each?
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as said, there have been better promotions, but you can still take advantage