(EXPIRED) Choice bringing back $50 gift cards for 8K (Amazon, BP, more)

Choice Privileges (the loyalty program of Choice hotels) is bringing back a popular promotion: stay two times during the qualifying period (June 12th to August 17th) and earn enough points for a free $50 gift card. In reality, Choice is offering you the chance to stay twice and earn 8,000 points. They are then discounting select $50 gift cards — charging 8K poitns per $50 gift card (instead of the normal rate of 16K). Note that the discounted gift card pricing is not yet available.

The Deal

• Register first, then stay twice with Choice Hotels and earn 8,000 points — enough for a $50 gift card to the following US stores:
  • Amazon
  • Applebee’s
  • Best Buy
  • Chili’s
  • BP Gas stations
  • iTunes
  • Lowe’s
• Direct link to this promotion

Key Terms

• Must register before staying
• Can redeem points for gift cards until September 30, 3018
• Rates that are eligible to earn Choice points can earn this promotion. As a reminder:
  • Rates eligible to earn points:
    • Best Available Rate, Advance Purchase, Corporate, VIP and Net Preferred, Government/Military, Travelers’ Discount, AAA/CAA, PSCIEN, Package Rates, Small Organization Savings/Significant Savings, Senior Rate, Sports Rate, CPSA, Preferred Customer Savings Rate, Savings at Work, negotiated rates (N) and select LSRPs (select locally negotiated rate plans)
  • Rates not eligible to earn points
    • Rooms booked at rates below $40 per night, complimentary rooms, rooms paid for as part of a convention or meeting, or rooms booked through a travel agent or third party online retailer as part of pre-paid wholesale rates, wholesale packages or senior tour
• See full terms

Quick Thoughts

This is a nice little promotion that comes around now and then. The $50 gift cards aren’t live yet. From the terms, it’s not clear to me whether you will actually have to book new reservations or if you can use points already in your account. If you are able to use points purchased in Daily Getaways, you could come out ahead on this promotion even if not the most ideal use of Choice points.

If you’re planning to partake in this promotion, also be aware of this key limitation on redeeming your points for gift cards:

In other words, you can’t scale this one up too easily. Still, for those sitting on a balance of Choice points, Amazon or eBay gift cards might make sense.

I would expect that redemption for gift cards will not begin until later this next week (either June 12th or June 14th — the latter would be the first day you could have earned points from two stays under this promotion.

Also keep in mind that while the travel period for this promo ends in August, you have until the end of September to redeem for gift cards. Finally, don’t forget the fact that stays that cost fewer than $40 per night will not earn Choice points, nor will they qualify for this promotion.

Personally, I prefer to use Choice points for hotel stays — they come in particularly useful in Scandinavia. However, if you don’t often stay with Choice, you may like the ability to cash out via this promo.

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