Choice Privileges Mastercard Credit Card Review
Key Takeaways
With a solid signup bonus for a no annual fee card plus automatic Gold Elite status, this is a good card to have in your wallet if you only stay at Choice properties occasionally (not even every year). But if you do stay at Choice hotels once or more per year, the small $95 annual fee for the Choice Privlieges Select card is worth it for the 30,000 anniversary points alone, not to mention the other benefits and perks the card offers.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
The Choice Privileges Mastercard has no annual fee and offers a welcome bonus of 40,000 (current special 60,000) after spending $1,000 (currently $1,000) within the first 3 months. Cardholders also receive 10 Elite Qualifying Nights when they're approved and every calendar year thereafter, which is enough to earn automatic Gold Elite status.
Gold Elite status includes:
- 10% bonus points on eligible stays
- 9 rollover nights each year
- Elite reserved parking
- Early check-in and late checkout
- Elite welcome gift
- Elite customer service hotline
- Status match with PENN Play Rewards
- Room upgrades
Beyond Gold Elite status, the card also includes:
- 5x points on eligible Choice Hotels stays and Choice Privileges points purchases
- 3x points at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores, and on phone plan services
- Cell phone protection and a variety of travel and purchase protections
When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply
We don't recommend this card if:
- You never stay at Choice properties
What to Know About Choice Privileges
Choice Privileges is a top choice for budget-friendly hotels
- They have a massive footprint, especially in smaller towns and cities
- There is surprisingly good redemption value in Europe and Asia
- They have strong transfer partners, including a favorable 1:2 transfer rate with Wells Fargo and 1:1.5 with Citi
- Earning elite status is not as difficult as with other programs
- There is inconsistent quality and premium options are limited
How The Choice Privileges Mastercard Credit Card Fits In The Choice Privileges Ecosystem
Choice Privileges offers one other credit card: the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard.
The card has a $95 annual fee and includes:
- A 60,000-point welcome offer after spending $3,000 within the first 3 months
- 30,000 bonus points each account anniversary, which can be worth up to 3 award nights when stays start at 8,000 points per night
- 20 Elite Qualifying Nights each calendar year, including the year you're approved, which is enough for automatic Platinum Elite status
- 10x points on eligible Choice Hotels stays and Choice Privileges points purchases
- 5x points at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores, and on cell phone plan services
- Cell phone protection and a variety of travel and purchase protections
If you stay at Choice Hotels at least once per year, we think the Select card is worth its $95 annual fee. The 30,000 anniversary points alone can more than offset the fee, while automatic Platinum Elite status and the card's stronger earning rates provide additional value.
Card Information
Differentiating Perks
Historical Card Offers
{{ offerStats.averageFrequency != null ? Math.round(offerStats.averageFrequency) + ' Months' : 'N/A' }}
Average Frequency
{{ offerStats.averageOfferLength != null ? offerStats.averageOfferLength.toFixed(1) + ' Months' : 'N/A' }}
Average Offer Length
{{ offerStats.estimatedNextOffer ? (['Jan','Feb','Mar','Apr','May','Jun','Jul','Aug','Sep','Oct','Nov','Dec'][offerStats.estimatedNextOffer.getMonth()] + " '" + String(offerStats.estimatedNextOffer.getFullYear()).slice(-2)) : 'N/A' }}
Estimated Next Offer
Choice Privileges Mastercard Application Rules
Card approval not subject to 5-personal-cards-in-24-months rule
You may not be eligible to open a Wells Fargo card if you have opened one in the past six months
You’re not eligible for a new card bonus if you’ve received a bonus from either personal Choice card within the past 15 months.
