Name: American Express® Gold Card
Brand: American Express

Quick summary

Choice Privileges elite status offers tiered benefits at a range of participating hotel brands, including Radisson, Comfort and Clarion.
There are four membership levels, with Gold, Platinum and Diamond requiring 10, 20 and 40 qualifying nights per calendar year, respectively.
Benefits include bonus points, early check-in, late checkout, reserved parking, welcome gifts and, for Diamond members, complimentary breakfast at select brands.
Elite status can be earned through qualifying hotel stays or by holding certain co-branded cards that provide elite night credits.

What to consider

Not all brands and rates qualify for elite night credits or points, and some extended-stay brands accrue credits at a reduced rate for longer stays.
Room upgrades and late checkout are subject to availability and vary by property and region.
Diamond members receive complimentary breakfast only at select legacy Radisson brands in specific regions.

What you'll miss from the article

A detailed breakdown of elite benefits by tier, including specific hotel brands, regional nuances and how to maximize value from elite status.

Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.

In mid-2023, Radisson Rewards Americas became fully integrated into Choice Privileges. This integration brought new improved benefits to Choice Privileges status, including complimentary breakfast at participating upscale Radisson brands for top-tier elite members.

Even so, Choice elite status doesn’t offer as many perks as some of the best hotel elite status tiers. But some travelers still find value in earning Choice status, so let’s take a closer look.

What is Choice Privileges elite status?

Choice elite status offers some perks and extra rewards when you stay at hotels and resorts that participate in Choice Privileges. In addition to hotel brands like Radisson, Comfort and Clarion, some casino hotels, all-inclusive resorts and extended-stay hotels also participate in Choice Privileges.

Cambria hotel room — CAMBRIA HOTEL & SUITES ANAHEIM RESORT AREA/FACEBOOK

You must qualify for Choice status each calendar year. Each time you qualify, you’ll keep your status through the end of the next calendar year.

Choice elite status tiers

The Choice Privileges program offers four membership tiers. The first membership tier — member — doesn’t have any specific requirements. But the program also has three status tiers that you can earn as follows each calendar year:

Gold: 10 nights
Platinum: 20 nights
Diamond: 40 nights

In addition to elite status benefits, all Choice Privileges members can earn extra rewards on stays that include a Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday night through the Choice Hotels Personalized Weeknight Benefits program.

How to qualify for Choice elite status

To qualify for Choice elite status, you must stay a specific number of point-eligible or reward nights with participating Choice Privileges properties each calendar year. As discussed above, you’ll need to stay 10 qualifying nights for Gold, 20 nights for Platinum and 40 nights for Diamond during each calendar year.

Pool at Bluegreen Vacations Fountains, Ascend Resort Collection, in Florida — Bluegreen Vacations Fountains, Ascend Resort Collection in Orlando. KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY

However, WoodSpring Suites does not participate in Choice Privileges, and stays of more than six nights at MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotels and Everhome Suites do not earn one night toward earning elite status for every qualifying night stayed. Instead, for stays of seven nights or more at these brands, you’ll accrue one night toward earning elite status for every two qualifying nights (up to 15 nights toward earning elite status per stay).

You’ll usually need to book your stay through Choice channels to earn points. However, you won’t earn Choice points or nights toward elite status when you book directly with Ascend Hotel Collection all-inclusive resorts or casino locations.

Some rates — including room rates below $40 per night and certain hotel-initiated promotions — don't qualify for points, and some hotels don’t participate in Choice Privileges. The Choice terms and conditions tell members they “may always call your hotel to confirm that it participates in the Choice Privileges program and that your rate plan qualifies for points.”

Choice elite status benefits

The Choice elite status benefits aren’t as extensive as what you’ll find in some other hotel loyalty programs. But here’s a look at some of the elite benefits and how they differ based on your Choice status.

Elite bonus points

Choice Privileges members usually earn 10 base points per dollar paid for qualifying room rates (excluding taxes and incidental charges) at participating hotels. And in some locations, you may also earn 10 points per dollar spent on other eligible changes to your folio.

However, you won’t earn points on stays at WoodSpring Suites, and you’ll only earn 5 points per dollar when staying at extended-stay brands for seven nights or more (you'll only earn on the first 30 nights of your stay at extended-stay brands).

A man checking into a hotel — ANCHIY/GETTY IMAGES

In addition to these points offered to all members, Choice elite members earn bonus points based on their status tier: Gold members get a 10% bonus, Platinum members get a 25% bonus and Diamond members get a 50% bonus.

Reserved parking

At some Choice Privileges properties, you’ll find several parking spots closer to the hotel entrance with elite parking signage. These spaces are first come, first served for Gold elite members and above.

Early check-in and late checkout

Gold elite members and above can request complimentary early check-in and extended checkout. Members with Choice status can request early check-in up to two hours earlier than the stated check-in time at most hotels. However, early check-in requests are granted based on availability.

Young woman on vacation relaxing on bed after arriving to her hotel room — VIKTOR CVETKOVIC/GETTY IMAGES

Elite members can also request late checkout as late as 2 p.m. when staying in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean or up to two hours past the standard checkout time when staying in Europe, the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific region and most other international locations. However, late checkout is based on availability, and you must request it before the stated checkout time.

Elite welcome gift

Gold elite members and above get a welcome gift at check-in for some points-earning stays. In particular, Gold elite members and above can expect:

Cambria Hotels property in the U.S.: 250 bonus points
Radisson Individuals, Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson Red, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson or Country Inn & Suites by Radisson property in the U.S., Canada, Latin America or the Caribbean: 250 bonus points
Clarion, Sleep Inn, Quality or Mainstay Suites property in the U.S.: A snack and beverage or 200 bonus points
Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn or Suburban Studios property in the U.S.: A snack and beverage or 100 bonus points
Ascend Hotel Collection, Clarion, Comfort or Quality property in Canada: A snack and beverage or 250 bonus points
MainStay Suites or Sleep Inn property in Canada: A snack and beverage or 200 bonus points
Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn or Suburban Studios property in Canada: A beverage or 100 bonus points

Elite rollover nights

If you have Gold elite status or above and earned more elite qualifying nights than you need for your status, you can roll over the extra nights to the next year. Gold members can roll over up to nine nights, Platinum members can roll over up to 19 nights and Diamond members can roll over up to 39 nights.

Status match with Penn Play Rewards

Choice elite status members can match their status to Penn Play Rewards, with Diamond members matching to Penn Play Preferred and Gold and Platinum members matching to Penn Play Advantage. Choice Privileges members can also earn and redeem Choice points for stays at Penn properties.

Room upgrades

Choice members with Gold status and above are eligible for complimentary room upgrades in select regions at the following brands:

Cambria and Ascend Hotel Collection: Worldwide
Radisson, Radisson Blu, Radisson Red, Radisson Collection, Radisson Individuals and Park Plaza: Only in North America, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean

Cambria Hotel — CAMBRIA HOTEL & SUITES ANAHEIM RESORT AREA/FACEBOOK

However, upgrades are subject to availability and determined by each property at check-in. Upgrades might include suites, recently renovated rooms, rooms on a higher or lower floor and rooms with better views. However, some hotels in participating brands don’t participate in upgrades, and hotels aren’t required to upgrade elite members to any specific room type. In practice, the only upgrades I’ve gotten when staying at participating Choice brands are to higher-floor rooms.

Complimentary breakfast

Top-tier Diamond elite members gained access to complimentary breakfast at select brands when Choice Privileges integrated Radisson Rewards Americas. As such, only select legacy Radisson Rewards Americas brands offer Diamond elite members free breakfast.

Specifically, Diamond elite members and an additional guest registered to the same room as the member can enjoy complimentary breakfast at Radisson, Radisson Red, Radisson Blu, Radisson Collection, Radisson Individuals and Park Plaza brands in North America, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. The breakfast offering varies by hotel but may consist of a fixed menu, continental breakfast or buffet breakfast.

Can a credit card help earn Choice elite status?

Having the right credit card can help you earn Choice elite status. Choice Privileges offers two cobranded credit cards: the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® and the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®. Both Choice Privileges cards offer a set number of elite night credits each calendar year that qualify you for a specific status and can help you earn higher elite status tiers.

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.

Woman holding a credit card and using her laptop — FG TRADE/GETTY IMAGES

The Choice Privileges Mastercard has no annual fee but provides 10 elite night credits each calendar year. These elite night credits are enough for you to earn Gold elite status every year and count toward helping you earn higher tiers of Choice status.

However, the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard is a better option for most Choice guests. This card has a $95 annual fee but provides 30,000 bonus points every account anniversary. Based on TPG’s February 2025 valuations, these bonus points are worth $180, almost double the card’s annual fee. Plus, the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard gives cardholders 20 elite night credits each calendar year, which is enough for Platinum elite status and means you’d only need 20 more nights each calendar year to earn Diamond elite status.

Is Choice elite status worth it?

If you’re reading this article, you may wonder whether Choice elite status is worth pursuing. For most travelers, the benefits of Choice status aren’t worth going out of the way to earn. As such, I recommend staying at Choice properties when it makes sense and perhaps getting the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard since its anniversary bonus points each year should provide significantly more value than its annual fee.

Comfort Inn Dollywood — Comfort Inn & Suites at Dollywood Lane in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. CHOICE HOTELS

Doing so may result in earning Choice status, giving you more points on qualifying paid stays and providing benefits on some stays. But these benefits are relatively minor — unless you earn Diamond status and frequently stay at brands that offer complimentary breakfast to Diamond elite members — so I don’t recommend going out of your way to earn Choice status.

Bottom line

The benefits of Choice elite status are minimal, especially when compared to what high tiers of World of Hyatt status and Marriott Bonvoy status offer.

However, if you have the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard, you won’t need all that many nights at Choice Hotels to earn top-tier Diamond status. Choice Diamond status may be helpful due to bonus points earning and breakfast perks at select brands. Still, even lower tiers of Choice status may help keep you out of the worst rooms and get you slightly later checkout during some stays.

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American Express® Gold Card

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Rewards rate

Rewards rate
Rate	Category
4X	Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4X	Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
5X	Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
3X	Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
2X	Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
1X	Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

Intro offer

As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

Annual fee

$325

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Recommended credit

Excellent to Good

Pros + cons

Pros

Valuable dining and food-related credits
Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)

Cons

Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits

More details

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
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Annual Fee is $325.
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