Maximizing Choice Hotels' Points Plus Cash Option for Cheap Hotel Stays
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Choice Hotels introduced a Points Plus Cash option last year that allows you to "buy" Choice points at a discount. Today, TPG Contributor Cindy Gossett looks at how to maximize this option for cheap hotel stays abroad.
With aspirational properties in bigger hotel chains like Starwood and Hyatt, it's easy to overlook Choice Privileges as a program to earn and redeem points for hotel stays. And while many of Choice Hotels' stateside properties are inexpensive enough to just pay cash for your stays, there are some very good options abroad for redeeming points. Even better: In some cases, it's possible to "buy" points using Choice's Points Plus Cash program to make the price of your stay cheaper than paying completely out of pocket.
Last January, Choice introduced Points Plus Cash, where Choice Privileges members can redeem 6,000 points and "buy" the rest of the points needed for the redemption at a cost of $7.50 per 1,000 points. For example, a redemption that is otherwise 20,000 points would be 6,000 points plus $105 ($7.50 x 14 to buy 14,000 points, or 0.75 cents per point). And if you cancel your booking within the cancellation period, all the points — including those you "bought" for the redemption — go back into your account.
One caveat: You need at least 6,000 points in your account to make a Points Plus Cash redemption. You can buy those Choice points directly for 1.1 cent per point, or transfer American Express Membership Rewards to Choice (instantly, in my experience) to accumulate the minimum points needed.
So is it a good deal? It depends. 0.75 cents per point is higher than TPG's latest valuation of 0.6 cents for Choice Privileges points, so you're still paying more than the points are worth (on average) to purchase them. It's also more than you'd spend if you can snag them during the annual Daily Getaways (though you can only buy Choice points via Daily Getaways one day per year). Still, in the right circumstance, it can be a downright bargain.
Rome
For example, on a random night this summer, the Comfort Hotel Bolivar, located in the heart of Rome, costs 162 euros, or about $178.
That same room can be had for 6,000 points and $45, or $90 if you bought all the points using the Points Plus Cash method.
Paris
I also found a hotel in Paris's 8th arrondissement, Quality Hotel Malesherbes, where the cash price for a random night is 280 euros or about $308.
The price is 6,000 points plus $143, or about $188 if you buy all the points using the Points Plus Cash method.
The Bahamas
On this side of the Atlantic, you can stay at the Comfort Suites Paradise Island in the Bahamas (including complimentary hot breakfast and full access to Atlantis next door) for 6,000 points plus $143, or about $188 using the Points Plus Cash option.
That's a bargain compared to the $308 per night the hotel is currently charging for a room in late August.
Bottom Line
The Points Plus Cash method won't always be the best value — room rates can vary significantly, and there won't always be an award redemption available when you need it — but if your travels take you where a Choice Hotels property is a good option, always compare the cash price to the points price to see if you can save money by using the Points Plus Cash method.
One More Thing...
When I made a Points Plus Cash booking with my Chase Ink Plus Business Card, the merchant was Choice Privileges, which coded as "work-related" instead of "hotel accommodations" and therefore didn't qualify for double points. A subsequent secure message through the Chase website confirmed it. But, as in this post, I called Chase to ask about the coding and was given the bonus points as a courtesy.
Have you taken advantage of Choice Hotels' Cash Plus Points option? Share your experience in the comments below!
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees