Register for Choice Hotels Your Extras to earn gift cards and other perks on weekday stays

Editor’s note: This post has been updated with new information.

There is a ton of value to be found in the Choice Privileges program. In fact, due to lucrative points-earning promotions and great value redemptions, I often choose Choice hotels despite limited elite perks.

Until a few years ago, I’d overlooked one of the program’s perks: Your Extras. So, today I’ll go through how you can maximize this perk for your next stay.

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What is Your Extras?

Your Extras gives you something extra when you check in on a point-eligible stay that includes a Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday night. To start earning Extras on eligible stays, you must opt-in to this program (directions are below) and select which Extra you want to receive before check-in.

You can only earn one Extra per qualifying point-eligible stay, regardless of the number of rooms, nights, check-ins and checkouts. In particular, checking out of a hotel only to check back into the same hotel later that day won’t allow you to earn an additional Extra.

Related: 6 ways Choice Privileges should improve its loyalty program

What Extras can I choose?

Your Extra options depend on your country of residence. If you’re a U.S. resident, you can choose one of the following:

• 400 Choice Privileges points
• 100 airline miles with participating carriers
• Aeromexico Club Premier, Air Canada Aeroplan, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, Amtrak Guest Rewards, Czech Airlines OK Plus, Free Spirit, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Southwest Rapid Rewards, United Airlines MileagePlus, Velocity Frequent Flyer Program
• $0.20 per gallon in Fuel Rewards savings
• $2.50 Amazon credit
• $5 Starbucks coffee card
• $3 Uber trip discount

If you’re a Canadian resident, you can choose one of the following:

• 400 Choice Privileges points
• 100 airline miles with participating carriers
• 2.50 Canadian Dollars Amazon.ca gift certificate
• 5 Canadian Dollars Tim Hortons coffee card
• 5 Canadian Dollars Starbucks coffee card

And, if you aren’t a U.S. or Canadian resident, you can choose one of the following:

• 400 Choice Privileges points
• 100 airline miles with participating carriers

You can change your earning preference at any point. However, you’ll earn an Extra for any particular stay based on your selection at the time of check-in.

Choice Privileges will send Amazon credit, Uber trip discounts and coffee gift cards to your inbox immediately after check-in. And Choice will deposit Fuel Rewards savings into your Fuel Rewards account after check-in. Meanwhile, Choice Privileges points will post to your account within 72 hours of checkout and airline miles will post to your account within four to six weeks of checkout.

Related: 19 ways to earn more Choice Privileges points

Which Extra is the most valuable?

TPG has valuations for most types of points and miles. Here’s a look at the Extras available to U.S. residents and their value, based on TPG’s valuations at the time of writing.

*These Extras aren’t available at some Choice properties. If you’ve selected one of these Extras for a stay and the hotel doesn’t offer it, contact Choice Guest Services at 888-770-6800.

TPG’s valuations don’t include Aeromexico, Czech Airlines, Qantas or Virgin Australia. So, although you can earn Extras for these programs, they aren’t included in the above table.

Related: Citi ThankYou Rewards adds Choice Privileges as a transfer partner

How do I register for Your Extras?

Even if you don’t have any weeknight Choice stays planned, you register for Your Extras anyway so you don't miss out if a stay comes up in the future. Here’s how to do it:

• Log in to your Choice account, click your name in the upper right-hand corner and click on “Your Extras.”
• Click on the large “Join for free” button.
• In the “Your Extras Preferences” section, click “Edit.”
• Select the Extra you want to earn and click the “Save Changes” button.

You only need to register once for Your Extras. But, you must have your earning preference set to Choice Privileges points in your online account to earn Extras (even if you want to earn airline miles as your Extra reward). So if you’ve set your earning preference to earn airline miles or Amtrak Guest Rewards, you won’t receive a Your Extras reward.

Here’s how to set your earning preference to Choice Privileges points:

• Log in to your account, click your name in the upper right-hand corner and click on “My Account.”
• On the right-hand side of the page, click on “Update Profile.”
• Scroll down to the “Manage Loyalty Programs” section. If “Loyalty program” doesn’t say “Choice Privileges,” click “Edit” and click the circle next to “Choice Privileges” before clicking the “Save Changes” button.

Finally, note that some properties don’t participate in the Your Extras program. This includes WoodSpring Suites properties and some MainStay Suites and Ascend Hotel Collection locations.

Related: Now live: You can transfer Capital One miles to Choice Privileges

Bottom line

If you have a Choice Privileges account, you should register for Your Extras. Although earning Starbucks coffee cards or Fuel Rewards will provide the best monetary value for most guests, not all properties offer them an Extra. As a result, you’ll need to remember to contact guest services when a property doesn’t provide your first choice.

Since I live on the road, I set my Extra preference to Choice Privileges points. This way, I know I’m guaranteed to earn an Extra on every weeknight stay without any additional effort or thought. The Extra you choose won’t significantly change your travel habits, but it’s certainly worth spending a minute or two to opt-in.