Hotels in the Choice Privileges loyalty program are now displaying redemption rates during the period between February and mid-April. If you intend to travel during that time, it’s worth checking out the options in case anything fits into your plans. Choice is a quirky program but can be very useful to save on lodging in certain destinations.
Choice Privileges
Choice Privileges is the loyalty program for brands like Comfort Inn, Quality Inn and Econo Lodge. There are also a number of higher end or smaller properties in its Ascend Collection. (If you’re familiar with Inn On The Lake near the Halifax airport, you might not even be aware that it’s a Choice hotel.)
Choice is one of the most unconventional reward programs in that members can only make a reservation 100 days out or less from the stay. It’s annoying as it makes it hard to plan a trip long in advance. And for most of its hotels, you won’t know how many points will be required until the reward rates for that period are released. Hence the reason for this post.
With no hotel directory, you just need to search the website for options. If you have flexibility with your destination, use the filter to expand your search to 100 km. Also remember to check both weekdays and weekends as they often have different point requirements. Scroll down on the hotel info webpage to get the details.
European Sweet Spots (February 1 – April 15, 2022)
I’m going to highlight some hotels where I’d consider redeeming points for a free stay. My focus tends to be on reasonably central hotels in interesting destinations with reward rates in the 8000-12,000 point range. I’d raise it to 16,000 in exceptional cases where upgraded rooms are available on points or if there is an evening meal included as is the case at some Clarion Collection properties in Scandinavia.
London, England
There are a few Choice hotels in London and rooms are likely very small and basic. But if you’re going to be out sightseeing all day and want to avoid spending a lot on accommodation, redeeming 8000 points for a place to sleep is not a bad deal.
Comfort Inn Westminster
Feb 1, 2022 – Apr 15, 2022: Sun – Thu 8,000 Fri – Sat 8,000
Galway, Ireland
Chain hotels are a bit scarce in Ireland beyond Dublin. This one in Galway has been on my radar for a while. It typically retains its reasonable reward rates through to the end of June but spikes in the summer and fall.
The House Hotel, Ascend Hotel Collection
Feb 1, 2022 – Apr 15, 2022: Sun – Thu 12,000 Fri – Sat 16,000
Strasbourg, France
There are actually two options in the Alsace region with one in Colmar as well for the same number of points.
Comfort Hotel Strasbourg
Feb 1, 2022 – Apr 15, 2022: Sun – Thu 8,000 Fri – Sat 8,000
Lyon, France
This hotel in Lyon features rooms with kitchenettes.
Comfort Suites Rive Gauche Lyon Centre
Feb 1, 2022 – Apr 15, 2022: Sun – Thu 10,000 Fri – Sat 10,000
Toulouse, France
This one’s a 4.6 on Google reviews.
Quality Hotel Toulouse Centre
Feb 4, 2022 – Apr 15, 2022: Sun – Thu 10,000 Fri – Sat 8,000
Venice, Italy
16,000 is a bit higher than I’d like but you can usually book a suite on points at his hotel and it looks like a really neat place to stay. I first wrote about his one on the blog back in August 2020 and for some reason I keep expecting it to hike the points or leave the program.
Hotel Aquarius Venice, Ascend Hotel Collection
Feb 1, 2022 – Apr 15, 2022: Sun – Thu 16,000 Fri – Sat 16,000
Sorrento, Italy
Another location with little in the way of chain hotels.
Comfort Hotel Gardenia Sorrento Coast
Feb 1, 2022 – Apr 15, 2022: Sun – Thu 10,000 Fri – Sat 12,00
Prague, Czech Republic
There are actually four Choice hotels in Prague and two are well located for tourists. I stayed at the first one and would recommend it.
Clarion Hotel Prague City
Feb 1, 2022 – Apr 15, 2022: Sun – Thu 8,000 Fri – Sat 8,000
Clarion Hotel Prague Old Town
Feb 1, 2022 – Apr 15, 2022: Sun – Thu 8,000 Fri – Sat 8,000
A Note on Scandinavia
The nordic countries are where the program really shines. There are numerous hotels and Choice points can really save you a lot of money in a region notoriously expensive for tourists. In contrast to the rest of Europe, the reward rates here are static so one can be more confident that you’ll be able to book for a certain number of points when your 100 day window opens up.
I’ve been wanting to go back for a long time and have been eyeing a few Clarion Collection hotels in Norway. My alternative would be a return visit to Stockholm along with maybe another Swedish city. I recently purchased some Choice points through the Daily Getaways sale and as of writing there are still packages available.
Conclusion
As usual, reward rates are all over the place with little predictability from one period to the next. I suppose one could argue that the idiosyncrasies of the program and its relative unpopularity among points and miles enthusiasts is what makes it a handy loyalty currency to leverage. If you’re mainly interested in travel and not looking for luxury, you should definitely check out the options with Choice.
Thanks for the tips on Choice. I’ve lived in metro Halifax my whole life and been interested in points for years, but had no idea Inn on the Lake was part of the Choice family. I’m especially interested in the London option as I find hotels so dear there.