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.
| 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 | New! 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. |
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
- 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.
- New! 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.
- Updated! $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.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy 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.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.