Back in October 2024, Choice announced three award booking changes they planned to implement in early 2025:
- 50 week booking window
- The ability to use points for the types of paid rooms
- The relaunch of RewardSaver, the popular redemption tool for Radisson Hotels Americas
Over the past few weeks, travelers may have noticed some changes when searching for Choice Privileges award stays. This was not surprising, however, as Choice Privileges said it would introduce some of the changes to a small set of properties before the end of 2024.
However, on Thursday evening, Choice officially sent out an email to its members with the subject line “Get New Benefits for Your Reward Night” to announce updates to its Choice Privileges program. Now that all the updates are live, here’s my take on what the Choice Privileges changes are like in practice.
50 week booking window
One of the biggest limitations of the Choice Privileges program was the 100-day award booking history. But now, you can book award stays at Choice Privileges destinations up to 50 weeks in advance of your stay.
Best of all, most Choice Privileges award night bookings are still free to cancel right up until just before your stay.
Related: The ultimate guide to redeeming Choice points
New look, same premium price
Until recently, Choice Privileges published redemption rates on each property’s home page. These usage rates usually vary between Friday and Saturday nights and usually change every few months.
However, you will no longer see the reward values published on each location’s page. Instead, you can now see the cost of points each night by going to each property’s page, selecting “Reward Points” as the value and clicking the check-in date box.
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As you can see in the screenshot above, a weekday night and one weekend night at this location costs 35,000 points, and another weekend night costs 45,000 points.
An email Choice sent its members on Thursday noted, “Choice may change reward levels at any time without notice; usage levels generally vary by location and time of year.” Therefore, although the rates on the calendar may change at any time, it is unlikely that the Choice will change to a fully variable award price. Instead, I expect that Choice will stick to its current practice of applying certain return levels to all fixed dates based on the day of the week.
Related: Alternative ways to redeem Choice Rights points
8,000 points per night across Japan
Interestingly, every Choice Privileges property in Tokyo can currently be booked for 8,000 points per night.
Japan is one of my favorite places to redeem Choice points – I’m writing this article from one of the Comfort Hotel locations in Tokyo – so I know that several places in the city previously cost 16,000 and 20,000 points per night instead of 8,000 points per night.
It is generally not useful to compare current award rates with previous rates as Choice Privileges award rates have historically changed every few months. However, Tokyo’s architecture should be noted as it remains at the same level of awards for years.
Interestingly, I have yet to find a Choice Privileges property in Japan that does not cost 8,000 points per night. However, the Ascend Collection location in Takayama, Japan, suspiciously only has prize availability on Sunday nights.
Related: How to earn Choice Rights points — from hotel stays to credit card rewards
Use Choice points for paid room types
For years, it has been possible to book premium room types at some Choice Privileges locations for the same number of points as a standard room. Even with the latest changes, you can book superior room types for the same number of points as a standard room. For example, check out all the room types you can book for 20,000 points per night at Bluegreen Vacations Fountains, Ascend Resort Collection.
Related: How and why to book Bluegreen Vacations resorts with Choice Hotels
In some properties, certain premium room types will cost you more points. However, from what I found in my search, the rates for the paid room types are reasonable. For example, you can spend 20,000 points per night for several standard room types at the Radisson Panama City Beach – Oceanfront or 26,000 points per night for a two-bedroom ocean view room that sleeps up to nine guests.
Related: How and why to sign up for Preferred Hotel Weeknight Benefits
RewardSaver ratings
Finally, Choice is also re-introducing RewardSaver pricing. These rates are not hard to find and seem to offer a real discount on the award price. For example, 16 of the 56 hotels on the sample results page for August stays in Nashville offered RewardSaver rates.
And yes, RewardSaver rates can reduce the cost per night to 6,000 points. It took some searching, but I found another RewardSaver night booked for 6,000 points in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Related: How to earn points with the Choice Privileges Eat & Earn rewards program
Bottom line
I’m excited that the changes to booking Choice Privileges awards are live. Of course, award values will fluctuate over time – as they have in the past – but there’s great value to be had, especially now that you can book more room types with points and award protection lasts up to 50 weeks in advance.
Families and groups can find Bluegreen Vacations always the best. In the meantime, we can all enjoy booking premium room types — some of which offer more space, better views or the ability to sleep more guests — for little or no extra points compared to a standard room in most destinations.
However, checking premiums before using Choice points is still important. While you can get the best value for redemptions on some award bookings, you may want to save your points for other stays when the points rate is high and the cash rate is low.
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