What the Choice Hotels Credit Card Actually Gives You
The Choice Hotels credit card is a co-branded card issued by a bank (currently Wyndham Credit Card, issued by Barclays) that earns points when you stay at Choice hotel brands or spend money elsewhere. The card itself does not may provide a room rate, a free night, or membership in the Choice loyalty program — those are separate things you may already have or may need to join separately. What the card does is let you accumulate points faster than paying cash, and it gives you a few perks that come with the card itself, not with the hotel chain.
The specific rewards, annual fee, and perks change over time and vary by which version of the card you hold. Before you explore, you need to know what the current card offers, what it costs per year, and whether the points you earn will actually be worth more than the fee you pay.
Key Takeaways
- The Choice Hotels credit card earns points on hotel stays and everyday purchases, but the earning rate and annual fee vary by card version.
- You do not automatically get Choice loyalty membership or elite status just by holding the card — you may need to join the program separately.
- The card's value depends on how often you stay at Choice hotels and whether the points you earn exceed what you pay in annual fees.
- Points from the card can usually be redeemed for free nights, room upgrades, or other rewards through the Choice loyalty program.
- You should compare this card against other hotel cards and against paying cash before deciding whether the annual fee makes sense for your travel habits.
How Points Earning Works on This Card
When you use the Choice Hotels credit card to pay for a stay at a Choice-branded hotel, you earn points at a rate set by the card issuer — this is typically higher than the base rate you would earn by paying with cash or another card. The exact number of points per dollar spent varies depending on which Choice hotel brand you stay at and which version of the card you hold.
You also earn points on everyday purchases made outside of hotels — groceries, gas, restaurants, and other spending. This earning rate is usually lower than the hotel earning rate, and it applies to all purchases on the card. Some cards offer bonus points for the first few months after you open the account, but this bonus is temporary and should not be the main reason you choose the card.
Points accumulate in your Choice loyalty account (assuming you have one linked to the card). If you do not have a Choice loyalty account yet, you will need to create one to see your points balance and redeem rewards. The card issuer and the hotel chain are separate companies, so you may need to log into two different websites or apps to manage your card and your points.
What the Card Costs and What Comes With It
The Choice Hotels credit card charges an annual fee. This fee is charged once per year, usually on the anniversary of when you opened the account. The amount varies by card version — some versions have no annual fee, while others charge $95 or more. You pay this fee whether you use the card or not, so you need to earn enough points to make the fee worth it.
Beyond the annual fee, the card may come with perks such as a free night certificate (a voucher for one free night at a Choice hotel, usually up to a certain dollar amount), room upgrades, late checkout, or other benefits. These perks are meant to offset the annual fee, but their actual value depends on whether you use them. A free night certificate is only valuable if you actually stay at a Choice hotel and redeem it before it expires.
Like any credit card, you also pay interest on any balance you carry from month to month. If you carry a balance, the interest charges will likely exceed any points you earn, so the card only makes financial sense if you pay off the full balance each month.
When This Card Makes Financial Sense
The Choice Hotels credit card is worth considering if you stay at Choice hotels regularly — typically at least a few times per year — and you would pay the annual fee anyway because the perks (like the free night certificate) cover most or all of it. If you stay at Choice hotels once a year or less, the annual fee is unlikely to pay for itself in points and perks.
The card also makes more sense if you spend a lot of money on everyday purchases and can earn points on that spending. However, the everyday earning rate is usually modest, so the card's value comes mainly from hotel stays, not from groceries or gas.
You should also consider whether you would use the perks that come with the card. A free night certificate is only valuable if you actually book a Choice hotel stay and redeem it. If you never use the certificate, the annual fee is pure cost with no benefit.
How to Redeem Points and What They Are Worth
Points earned on the Choice Hotels credit card are held in your Choice loyalty account and can be redeemed through the Choice website or app. The most common redemption is a free night at a Choice hotel, but the number of points required varies widely depending on the hotel's location, brand, and season. A budget hotel in a small town might cost 10,000 points for a free night, while a premium hotel in a major city might cost 50,000 or more.
You can also use points for room upgrades, airline miles transfers, or other rewards depending on what the Choice program offers at the time. The value of a point varies depending on what you redeem it for, so you should check the current redemption rates before deciding whether the points you earn are worth the annual fee.
Points do not expire as long as you have activity in your Choice loyalty account at least once every 12 months. Activity includes staying at a hotel, earning points on the credit card, or even just logging into your account. If your account goes inactive, points may be forfeited, so you need to use your account or card at least once per year to keep your points.
Choice Hotels Credit Card vs. Other Hotel Cards
Other hotel chains and credit card issuers offer similar co-branded cards with their own earning rates, annual fees, and perks. A card from a different hotel chain might offer higher earning rates, a lower annual fee, or perks that are more valuable to you depending on where you stay. Before you choose the Choice card, compare it against cards from other chains you might use, such as Marriott, Hilton, or IHG.
You should also consider whether you would be better off with a general travel rewards card that earns points across multiple hotel chains and airlines, rather than a card tied to one chain. A general travel card might earn fewer points per dollar at Choice hotels, but it gives you flexibility to stay at different chains and redeem points more broadly.
The best card for you depends on your actual travel patterns — where you stay, how often you stay, and what you value in a reward. A card that looks good on paper might not be worth it if you do not stay at that chain often enough to earn back the annual fee.
How to Decide Whether to explore
Before you open a Choice Hotels credit card, write down how many nights you stayed at Choice hotels in the past year and how many you expect to stay in the next year. Multiply that number by the average points you would earn per night (check the current card terms for this rate). Then subtract the annual fee from the total points value to see whether you come out ahead.
You should also check whether you already have a Choice loyalty account and what status you hold. If you are already a member, opening the card might give you a bonus that accelerates your progress toward elite status. If you are not a member, you will need to join the program separately — the card does not do this for you automatically.
Finally, check your credit score before you explore. Credit card issuers use your credit score to decide whether to approve you and what interest rate to offer. explore for a card will create a hard inquiry on your credit report, which may lower your score slightly for a few months. If your score is already low, you might be denied or offered a higher interest rate, which would make the card even less valuable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get Choice loyalty membership automatically when I open the card?
No. The credit card and the loyalty program are separate. You can open the card without joining the loyalty program, but you will not be able to see or redeem your points without a loyalty account. You should create a loyalty account (free) before or right after you open the card so your points are linked to your account.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points stay in your Choice loyalty account as long as the account remains active. Closing the credit card does not close your loyalty account or erase your points. However, if your loyalty account goes inactive (no activity for 12 months), your points may be forfeited, so you need to keep the account active even after you close the card.
Can I earn points on hotel stays booked through a third-party website like Expedia?
Usually not. Most hotel loyalty programs, including Choice, only award points when you book directly through the hotel's website or call the hotel directly. Booking through Expedia, Hotels.com, or other third-party sites typically earns no points, even if you use your Choice credit card to pay. Always book directly with the hotel if you want to earn points.
What is the interest rate on this card if I carry a balance?
The interest rate (called the APR, or annual percentage rate) depends on your credit score and the card issuer's current rates. You can find the APR in the card's terms and conditions before you explore, or you can ask the issuer directly. If you carry a balance, the interest charges will quickly exceed any points you earn, so only open this card if you plan to pay off the full balance each month.
Can I use points to pay for a stay if I book through a travel agent?
This depends on the travel agent and the Choice program's current rules. Some travel agents can book Choice hotels and explore your points, but others cannot. If you use a travel agent, ask them directly whether they can redeem your Choice points before you book. In most cases, you will have better control and faster processing if you redeem points directly through the Choice website or app.