What the Choice Hotels Credit Card Does
The Choice Hotels credit card is a co-branded card issued by a bank in partnership with Choice Hotels International, the company that operates brands like Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, Clarion, and MainStay Suites. When you use this card for any purchase, you earn points that you can redeem for free nights, room upgrades, and other rewards at those hotels. You also earn bonus points when you book a room directly through Choice Hotels.
The card works like any other credit card for everyday spending — groceries, gas, restaurants — but the rewards are designed specifically for people who stay at Choice Hotels properties regularly or want to start doing so. The points never expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing.
Key Takeaways
- You earn points on every purchase made with the card, and those points can be redeemed for free nights at any Choice Hotels brand property.
- The card typically offers a sign-up bonus of points after you spend a certain amount in the first few months, though the exact offer changes over time.
- Elite status in the Choice Hotels loyalty program (such as Gold or Platinum) comes automatically with the card or can be earned faster through card spending.
- Annual fees vary depending on which version of the card you hold, and some versions waive the first year's fee.
- Points earned through the card can also be used for other rewards beyond hotel stays, such as gift cards or airline miles, though hotel redemptions typically offer the best value.
How Points and Rewards Work
Every dollar you spend with the card earns a set number of points — the exact rate depends on which version of the card you have and what you are buying. Most versions earn points on all purchases, with bonus earning rates on hotel bookings made through Choice Hotels' website or app.
Points accumulate in your Choice Hotels loyalty account, which is separate from your credit card account but linked to it. You can check your balance anytime through the Choice Hotels website or mobile app. When you have enough points for a free night, you log into your loyalty account and search for available dates at the hotel you want to visit. The number of points required varies by hotel — a budget property like Comfort Inn costs fewer points than a higher-end Clarion property.
One important detail: most Choice Hotels properties have a "standard room" redemption rate, which is the baseline number of points required. Some rooms cost more points during peak seasons or at premium locations. You can also use points to upgrade from a standard room to a suite or better view, though this typically costs additional points beyond the base redemption.
Sign-Up Bonus and First-Year Benefits
When you open a Choice Hotels credit card, the bank offers a sign-up bonus — usually a large number of points awarded after you spend a certain amount on the card within a set timeframe, often three months. This bonus alone can cover one or more free nights depending on the hotel category you choose.
Some versions of the card waive the annual fee for the first year, which means you can earn the sign-up bonus and use the card for three months without paying anything. After the first year, you will owe the annual fee unless you close the account. A few versions of the card have no annual fee at all, though these typically offer lower earning rates or smaller sign-up bonuses.
The exact sign-up bonus amount and spending requirement change periodically, so the offer you see today may differ from the offer next month. Check the card issuer's website for the current promotion before you open an account.
Elite Status and Membership Perks
Choice Hotels runs a tiered loyalty program with levels like Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. The credit card typically grants you entry-level elite status automatically — often Gold or Platinum depending on the card version — which gives you benefits like room upgrades, late checkout, and bonus points on stays.
If you already have elite status from previous stays, the card may accelerate your progress toward the next tier. For example, if you are working toward Platinum status, credit card spending might count toward that goal faster than regular hotel stays would. The exact rules vary by card version and current promotions.
Elite status perks are valuable if you stay at Choice Hotels frequently, but they matter less if you only take one or two trips per year. Read the specific benefits for your status level before opening the card to understand what you actually get.
Annual Fees and When They Make Sense
Most Choice Hotels credit cards charge an annual fee, typically ranging from $49 to $95 depending on the version. Some cards waive this fee for the first year, and a small number have no annual fee at all. The fee is charged to your credit card account once per year, usually on your account anniversary.
Whether the card makes financial sense depends on how much you stay at Choice Hotels and how much you spend on the card overall. If you take at least one or two paid stays per year at a Choice Hotels property, the elite status and earning rates may offset the annual fee. If you never stay at these hotels, the card is unlikely to be worth the cost.
You can cancel the card anytime to avoid paying the annual fee again. Some people open the card, use the sign-up bonus, take a free night or two, and then close it before the second annual fee hits. This strategy works if you do not plan to use the card regularly.
Earning Points on Everyday Purchases
The main advantage of a hotel credit card is that you earn rewards on spending you do anyway — groceries, utilities, restaurants, online shopping. Instead of earning nothing on that spending, you accumulate points toward free hotel nights.
The earning rate on everyday purchases is typically lower than the bonus rate for hotel bookings. For example, you might earn 1 point per dollar on most purchases but 4 or 5 points per dollar when you book a room through Choice Hotels. This means the card rewards you most when you use it for hotel stays, but it still builds points from regular spending over time.
If you have other credit cards that offer higher rewards on groceries, gas, or restaurants, you might use those cards for those categories and reserve the Choice Hotels card for hotel bookings and general spending. This approach maximizes your total rewards across all your cards.
Redeeming Points Beyond Hotel Stays
While free hotel nights are the primary use for Choice Hotels points, you can also redeem them for other rewards. Most programs allow you to convert points into airline miles, gift cards, or merchandise. However, these redemptions typically offer worse value than using points for hotel stays.
For example, if a free night costs 25,000 points and a $100 gift card costs 30,000 points, you are getting better value from the hotel night. Before you redeem points for anything other than a hotel stay, compare the point-to-dollar value to make sure you are not wasting them.
Some Choice Hotels properties also partner with other programs, allowing you to transfer points to partner loyalty programs like airline frequent flyer accounts. The transfer rate and availability vary, so check your account to see which partners are available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to stay at Choice Hotels to make the card worth it?
No, but the card makes the most financial sense if you stay at Choice Hotels at least once or twice per year. If you never use Choice Hotels properties, the annual fee will likely outweigh the rewards you earn on everyday spending. Consider whether you would actually book at these hotels before opening the card.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points remain in your Choice Hotels loyalty account and do not disappear when you close the credit card. However, if your entire loyalty account becomes inactive — meaning you do not earn or redeem points for an extended period — Choice Hotels may close the account and forfeit the points. Staying active in the program, even without the card, keeps your points safe.
Can I use points at any Choice Hotels property?
Almost all Choice Hotels properties accept points for free nights, but a small number of locations may have blackout dates or limited availability. Check the Choice Hotels website or app to see which properties have rooms available for your desired dates before you commit to redeeming points. Premium locations and peak seasons may have fewer point-redemption options.
How do I know if the sign-up bonus is worth it?
Calculate how many free nights the bonus covers at a hotel you actually want to stay at. If the bonus is 50,000 points and a standard room at your preferred hotel costs 25,000 points, you are getting two free nights. Compare that value to the annual fee and any spending requirement to decide if it makes sense for you.
Can I earn points faster by using the card instead of paying cash?
Yes. When you pay cash for a hotel stay, you earn points based on the room rate through the loyalty program. When you use the credit card to book, you earn both the hotel stay points and the credit card points, which accelerates your earning. This is one of the main reasons to use the card for hotel bookings specifically.