Not as flashy as the points from Marriott Bonvoy or World of Hyatt, Choice Privileges actually encompasses thousands of properties around the world but for the right traveler, with the right redemption in mind, the points it offers can still prove to be a solid value. Targeted members have a chance to purchase Choice Privileges points with a 40% discount which reduces the cost of each point to about 0.74 cents per point for each purchase of 8,000 points or more. This offer will run until July 1, 2026.

But before you click, the truth is that you would have to go a little deeper than the headline to determine if this is worth your while to act on. Let's do it.

When the Offer is actually in effect

The promotion is straightforward: If you spend less than 8,000 points, you will not qualify for the bonus, but spending 8,000 points or more will give you the full 40% uplift. There is a maximum of 180,000 points that can be earned on purchases before the bonus drops off which means the maximum bonus points anyone could earn under this offer is 72,000, if they made the bonus purchase limit.

This is a targeted offer and not available to all Choice Privileges members. If you have entered your account and have seen the promotion, the math is pretty simple at 8,000 points or less: 11,200 points for 8,000 points. When you're considering your own redemptions and assessing their value, you'll need to keep this number in mind when you calculate the effective cost at 0.74 cents per point.

The Honest Value Assessment

Now is the time to be honest about our analysis. The average stock price for Choice Privileges is about 0.6 cents per share. The 40% bonus puts your cost down to 0.74 cents per point, which is still a higher valuation than the estimated point value. Sitting on a purely math basis, you'd have to get more than average value from your redemption to make the purchase a positive one.

It is not impossible, but it does reduce the range of situations in which it's obvious that one should purchase. Choice Hotels won't charge extra for extra guests when the property is full and suites will be two points rate the same as standard rooms two structural elements that can boost certain redemptions beyond their face value.

In the past, the greatest redeeming features of the program have been at those properties with high cash rates but not a commensurate number of points, such as boutique properties in Europe, full-service hotels in markets where demand for a time surges, and specific Ascend Hotel Collection properties with more character than a typical mid-tier chain experience.

Relations consensualy and harmoniously; When Buying Actually Makes Sense

The most secure reason to purchase points at any point promotion isn't the speculation it's an endorsed redemption. If you know of a Choice property you would otherwise pay cash for, and the points to buy are 0.74 cents each, and the total cost of the points is meaningfully cheaper than the cash value, then the purchase is clearly and obviously worthwhile in itself.

Assume that you would need 30,000 points for two nights' accommodation, but the cash equivalent is $280. About $222 is the cost. The spread is truly available, and it is easily calculated. This is the time when it's most economically advantageous to take this offer, and the 40% bonus will be most effective.

But if there is no particular redemption goal, the risks to speculatively bank purchased points are increased, especially with Japan's recent devaluation ‘push’ from Choice Privileges that unexpectedly hiked points costs on a wide-ranging swath of high dollar properties. It is a good reminder from that episode, that bought points will always be re-priced.

Other Ways to Earn Without Buying

Know that if the purchase math doesn't apply to your case, there are a number of transfer partnerships that can be acquired from one's existing points portfolio that provide points for Choice Privileges:

• Citi ThankYou Rewards comes with one of the best transfer rates of any major credit card, and transfers to Choice at a 1:1.5 ratio.
• Wells Fargo Rewards has the best transfer ratio among transfer partners (1:2),
• Capital One miles and American Express Membership Rewards both transfer at 1:1 good but less efficient than Citi and Wells Fargo.

If you have points in the Citi or Wells Fargo programs, the transfer rate should be foremost in your consideration if you are looking to use points for a Choice redemption. When the purchase price is higher than the standard valuation it is generally better to stretch the points than to buy them outright as this makes use of a favorable transfer ratio.

For those who prefer to earn points through their normal spending, Choice Privileges offers two co-branded credit cards in the U.S.: the Choice Privileges Mastercard and the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard.

How to Make the Most of Your Card at the checkout line

The purchase codes are not hotel purchase codes and thus make a difference when you are at checkout. The Capital One Venture X card and Capital One Venture Rewards card both offer 2x miles on every spend, which are easy points to maximize on a Capital One points buy. It's no different and the Chase Freedom Unlimited offers 1.5% cash back on purchases made outside of categories. Both methods give the bonus points additional value, making it more economical to make the purchase step-by-step.

Quick Summary: What to Know Before Buying

• Valid until July 1, 2026 and is subject to 40% bonus for all purchases of 8,000 points or more.
• Effective cost with bonus: around 0.74 cents per point (above standard valuation of 0.6 cents per point)
• The bonus amount is capped at 180,000 points for the most purchases made before the bonus is awarded.
• Buy codes for Points.com, not as a hotel or a travel; use a flat-rate spending card to get the best rate.
• Best to top off without any purchase: Citi ThankYou at 1.5 points, Wells Fargo Rewards at 2 points.

The Bottom Line

With Choice Privileges' current 40% buy points bonus, the per-point price is 0.74 cents, compared to the average of 0.6 cents the program values each point at, meaning that buying them works out best when it is in connection to a specific upcoming redemption event where a higher cashout would be the otherwise best way to spend the same amount of money. This is an offer that isn't to be missed if you have a specific destination in mind and have budgeted for a dollar comparison. 

For all but the aforementioned, it's a fair trade, but not the best buy points deal that the program has had, and as the recent devaluation of properties in Japan reminds everyone, purchased points have future risk of repricing. Purchasing for purpose, not speculation.