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Earn up to 60,000 points with these Choice Privileges Mastercard offers
Katie Genter is a digital nomad who has traveled full time since June 2017. She writes and edits stories about points and miles, and loyalty programs, often letting her personal experiences color these stories.
July 17, 2024 • 7 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
Two hotel loyalty program cards are available: one with no annual fee and another with a modest annual fee, each offering different benefits and earning structures.
Both cards provide welcome bonuses, elite night credits, and perks like cellphone protection and no foreign transaction fees.
The no-fee option offers 10 elite night credits and standard earning rates, while the higher-tier card provides 20 elite night credits, annual bonus points, and enhanced earning at hotels and select merchants.
TPG values program points at 0.6 cents each as of October 2024, making the annual bonus on the higher-tier card especially valuable for frequent guests.
What to consider
Some offers mentioned may no longer be available; check for current details before applying.
Elite night credits can help you reach or maintain status within the hotel loyalty program, which may become more valuable as program changes roll out.
Annual bonus points on the higher-tier card can offset its modest annual fee if you regularly redeem points at program hotels.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of the two cards' benefits, including which card may offer better long-term value for different types of travelers.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Wells Fargo has two Choice Privileges credit cards. A no-annual-fee Choice Privileges® Mastercard® and a $95 annual fee Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®. Both have compelling welcome bonuses.
Hotel credit cards can provide significant value if you frequently stay with a particular hotel loyalty program. So, here’s what you need to know about the Choice Privileges Mastercards.
The information for the Choice Privileges and Choice Privileges Select has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Overview of the Choice Privileges Mastercards
Before we dive into the details of the Choice Privileges Mastercards, here’s an overview of what these cards offer:
Choice Privileges Mastercard
Choice Privileges Select Mastercard
Initial welcome bonus
Earn 40,000 points after spending $1,000 in qualifying purchases during the first three months
Earn 60,000 points after spending $3,000 in qualifying purchases during the first three months
Earning rates
5 points per dollar spent on stays at participating Choice hotels
3 points per dollar spent on qualifying purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and phone plans
1 point per dollar spent on other purchases
10 points per dollar spent on stays at participating Choice hotels
5 points per dollar spent on qualifying purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and phone plans
1 point per dollar spent on other purchases
Elite night credits each year
10 (enough for at least Gold Elite status each calendar year)
20 (enough for at least Platinum Elite status each calendar year)
Annual fee
No annual fee (see rates and fees)
$95 annual fee (see rates and fees)
Other notable perks
Up to $800 of cellphone telephone protection against damage or theft (subject to $25 deductible)
No foreign transaction fee
World Elite Mastercard benefits
Up to $800 of cellphone telephone protection against damage or theft (subject to $25 deductible)
No foreign transaction fee
30,000 bonus points every account anniversary
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry statement credit
World Elite Mastercard benefits
Choice Privileges Mastercard: No annual fee
THE POINTS GUY
The Choice Privileges Mastercard is offering new applicants a welcome bonus of 40,000 points after they spend $1,000 in qualifying purchases during the first three months. This is enough points for up to five reward nights at select Choice properties and is worth $240 according to TPG’s October 2024 valuations.
As a Choice Privileges Mastercard cardholder, you’ll get 10 elite night credits each year as a perk of your card account. These elite night credits will get you automatic Gold Elite status and could also help you earn a higher status within Choice Privileges.
I expect we’ll see changes to the Choice Privileges program, including elite status benefits, as Radisson Rewards Americas is now integrated. So, although Choice Privileges elite status doesn’t currently provide many helpful benefits, it may become more valuable later this year.
The Choice Privileges Select Mastercard is offering new applicants a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after spending $3,000 in qualifying purchases during the first three months. This is enough points for up to 7 reward nights at select Choice properties and is worth about $360, according to TPG’s October 2024 valuations.
XAVIER LORENZO/GETTY IMAGES
Cardholders of the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard also enjoy several ongoing benefits, including cellphone protection, no foreign transaction fees, World Elite Mastercard benefits and a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry statement credit. Now, let’s look at the card’s other primary benefits.
Earning rates
The Choice Privileges Select Mastercard offers better earning rates on most purchases than the Choice Privileges Mastercard. In particular, you’ll earn as follows with the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard:
10 points per dollar spent on qualifying stays at participating Choice hotels
5 points per dollar spent on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and phone plans
1 point per dollar spent on other purchases
This means you’ll get an effective 6% return on qualifying stays at participating Choice hotels, according to TPG’s October 2024 valuations. This rate of return on hotel stays is competitive with some of the best travel rewards cards, such as the Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees).
As a Choice Privileges Select Mastercard cardholder, you’ll get 20 elite night credits each year. These elite night credits are enough for automatic Platinum Elite status but could also help you earn Diamond Elite status (which requires 40 nights per year).
Bonus points each year
Travelers with the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard also get 30,000 points at each account anniversary. Based on TPG’s October 2024 valuations, those points are worth about $180 — more than enough to justify the card’s $95 annual fee,
Thought of another way, you’re getting 30,000 Choice points each year for $95. So, you’re effectively buying Choice points for 0.31 cents per point. This is well under TPG’s October 2024 valuation of Choice points at 0.6 cents each, representing great value if you enjoy redeeming Choice points.
Both Choice cards are offering compelling sign-up bonuses right now. The no-annual-fee Choice Privileges Mastercard may be a good option for Choice loyalists due to its 10 elite night credits per year and no foreign transaction fees. However, the earning rates are likely too low to compete with other travel rewards and everyday spending cards.
The Choice Privileges Select Mastercard is a more compelling offer for most Choice loyalists. The welcome bonus and $95 annual fee are great reasons to get the card. Additionally, the 30,000 points at each account anniversary and higher earning rates should provide enough value to justify keeping the card long-term.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
