The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Advertiser disclosure
The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Reviews
Choice Privileges Select Mastercard review: Elite status and bonus points each year
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.
March 14, 2025 • 10 min read
SIMON2579/GETTY IMAGES
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 note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Quick summary
A hotel loyalty card offers strong value for frequent guests at a major hotel group, featuring anniversary bonus points and elite night credits.
Cardholders receive perks such as Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee reimbursement and cellular phone protection.
Points earned are best redeemed for hotel stays, with award nights starting at 6,000 points and capped at 35,000 points for most properties.
The card is most appealing for those who regularly stay at properties within the hotel group and value ongoing annual benefits.
What to consider
A modest annual fee applies, but recurring anniversary points can offset this cost for frequent users.
Elite night credits help accelerate status, but elite perks may not match those of competing hotel programs.
Points can be transferred to select airline programs, though this generally offers less value than hotel redemptions.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of alternative cards, including options with no annual fee or broader rewards flexibility.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
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.
The Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® is a compelling option for travelers who enjoy staying at Choice Hotels® properties. The card offers valuable perks, including 10 points per dollar spent when you use it to pay for qualifying Choice Hotels stays, 30,000 bonus points every account anniversary and 20 elite night credits each calendar year. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
If you enjoy the Choice Privileges hotel loyalty program or frequently book paid stays at Choice Hotels, you could get serious value from the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard. That's why this card is high on my list of cards to add to my wallet due to the benefits it provides in exchange for a modest $95 annual fee.
To qualify for this card, we recommend a credit score of at least 670, but it is possible to get approved with a lower credit score.
Cardholders get various perks that can provide more value than the annual fee. Here’s what you need to know about the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard.
The information for the 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.
Choice Privileges Select Mastercard pros and cons
Pros
Cons
High number of elite night credits each calendar year
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
Anniversary points bonus
Solid earnings rate on Choice hotels
Cellular telephone protection
Has an annual fee
THE POINTS GUY
TPG's March 2025 valuations peg Choice points at 0.6 cents each, making this welcome bonus worth $360.
One benefit on the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard — 30,000 bonus points every account anniversary — should provide significantly more value each year than the card’s $95 annual fee.
Those 30,000 Choice points are worth $180, according to our March 2025 valuations. So, assuming you enjoy redeeming Choice points, you should get value by keeping the card in your wallet for the long term.
Plus, you’ll get 20 elite night credits each calendar year. These elite night credits are enough for Platinum status, but they could also help you reach the 40 elite nights you need each calendar year for top-tier Diamond status.
Although the perks of Choice Privileges' elite status aren’t comparable to what you’d get with other hotel loyalty programs, they will get you elite bonus points on stays and bonus perks on weeknights.
HISPANOLISTIC/GETTY IMAGES
You may also want to use your Choice Privileges Select Mastercard to enroll in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
Global Entry has become a must-have for me, as it makes it quick and easy to reenter the U.S. after traveling abroad and includes TSA PreCheck. You can get a statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for an application fee to either program charged to your card.
The Choice Privileges Select Mastercard doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, so you can use it outside the U.S. without incurring fees when Mastercard converts your transactions to U.S. dollars.
You’ll also get up to $800 of cellular telephone protection against damage or theft (subject to a $25 deductible) when you pay your monthly cellular telephone bill with your card.
When you use this card to pay for stays at participating Choice Hotels properties that you booked directly, you’ll earn 10 points per dollar spent. However, some international Choice Hotels locations don’t participate. So, check the list of eligible locations before assuming you’ll earn 10 points per dollar when paying for your stay with this card.
SRDJANNS74/GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCK PHOTO
You’ll also earn 10 points per dollar spent when you use your card to pay for qualifying purchases of Choice Privileges points.
On top of that, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar spent when you use your Choice Privileges Select Mastercard to pay for purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and on phone plan services. You'll also earn 1 point per dollar spent on other eligible purchases with your Choice Privileges Select Mastercard.
You may already have other cards that earn more in some or all of the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard’s bonus categories. But, even if you don’t expect to use the card for many purchases after you earn the welcome offer, it could still be well worth getting and keeping due to its cardholder perks.
Redeeming points on the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard
There are many ways to redeem the Choice Privileges points you earn with the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard. But you’ll usually get the most value when redeeming for Choice Hotels stays.
Choice Privileges offers set rates for each hotel based on the day of the week you stay. The rates can change every few months but are clearly defined on the landing page for each hotel.
ILONA TITOVA/GETTY IMAGES
Award nights at most Choice Hotels properties cost between 6,000 and 35,000 points. So you can stay in the heart of most major cities (including New York City) for 35,000 points per night or less.
There are many opportunities to redeem Choice points for a stay in New York City. CHOICEHOTELS.COM
I like redeeming Choice points for stays in Europe and Japan, where I can often snag a centrally located hotel for just 8,000, 10,000 or 12,000 points per night.
You could redeem Choice points to stay in Tokyo. CHOICEHOTELS.COM
You can even get a discount when you redeem points to stay at hotels featured on Choice Hotels’ Sweet Spot Rewards list. However, know that you can only book Choice Privileges award nights 50 weeks in advance.
However, transferring Choice points to airline loyalty programs will almost always provide significantly less value than redeeming for hotel stays. As such, we recommend getting a card that earns transferable points or an airline credit card if you’re primarily interested in earning airline miles.
Which cards compete with the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard?
There are many reasons you may be considering the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard. But, if you aren’t entirely sure it’s the best card for you, here are some other cards to consider:
If you don’t want to pay an annual fee: The offers some Choice Privileges perks for no annual fee. With it, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar spent on Choice stays and 3 points per dollar spent at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and on phone plans. You'll also get 10 elite night credits and cellular telephone protection. To learn more, check out our full review of the Choice Privileges Mastercard.
If you want to earn more general rewards: The (see rates and fees) earns more general rewards that you can transfer to Choice Privileges or redeem for other travel. It earns 10 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com, 3 points per dollar spent on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, electric vehicle charging stations, air travel and non-Citi Travel hotels, and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. To learn more, check out our full review of the Citi Strata Premier.
If you prefer cash back: The (see rates and fees) is a great cash-back card because of its simple rewards structure. You'll earn 2% back on all purchases (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay). It has no annual fee. To learn more, check out our full review of the Citi Double Cash.
For more options, check out our full list of the best hotel cards to find the best card for you.
The information for the Choice Privileges has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Is the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard worth it?
Even if you don’t expect to spend much on the card, it could still be worth getting and keeping the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard due to its ongoing perks. For example, the 30,000 points you’ll get after each account anniversary should be worth significantly more than the card’s annual fee. However, those who rarely stay at Choice properties will likely prefer a different card.
Bottom line
The Choice Privileges Select Mastercard isn’t for everyone. Still, it offers enough benefits to justify the annual fee and is a solid option for those who enjoy redeeming Choice points or frequently stay at Choice Hotels. In addition, the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit and cellular phone protection are great perks for a card with such a low annual fee.
