The Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® combines strong rewards at Choice properties with valuable bonus earnings at gas stations, grocery stores, and home improvement locations. The card delivers significant value through its 30,000 anniversary bonus points and automatic Platinum elite status benefits.
This credit card review will cover everything you need to know about this card to determine if you should add this card or a different card to your wallet. Let’s dive right in.
Welcome Bonus of Choice Privileges Select Card
The Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® currently offers the following welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.
Wells Fargo limits credit card applications to one every six months across their entire card portfolio, so make sure to time your application strategically if you’re interested in multiple Wells Fargo cards.
Earning Points with Choice Select Card
The Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® earns points at the following rate:
The 10x earning on Choice stays makes this card competitive with other premium hotel cards, though Choice points are generally valued lower than transferable currencies.
While the 5x bonus categories cover useful everyday spending areas, you’ll likely get more value from cards earning transferable points in these categories since Choice points are worth significantly less per point.
The 1x earning rate on general purchases is particularly weak when factoring in the lower value of Choice points compared to programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards.
Annual Fee
The Choice Privilege Select comes with a $95 annual fee, which can be easily offset by the 30,000 anniversary bonus points (valued at approximately $180) plus other benefits like TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit and automatic Platinum elite status.
Card Benefits and Perks
Below are card benefits and perks of the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®: Anniversary Points: Each year on your account anniversary, you’ll receive a generous 30,000-point bonus. These points can help fund future hotel stays at Choice properties worldwide, from budget-friendly options to upscale hotels. Choice Platinum Status: The Choice Privelges Select credit card offers automatic Choice Platinum elite status for holding the card. Choice Platinum elite status offers benefits such as a welcome gift on arrival, a 25% points bonus, early check-in, late checkout, elite reserve parking, and Avis Preferred Plus elite status. 20 Elite Night Credits: Each year cardmembers receive 20 elite night credits allowing you to earn top-tier Diamond Elite status with only 20 additional nights. Cell Phone Protection: When you use your card to pay your monthly phone bill, you’ll receive valuable coverage against damage or theft of your device. Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Credit: This card offers a credit for TSA PreCheck (expedited airport security) or Global Entry (expedited airport security and customs). No Foreign Transaction Fees: You’ll save money on every purchase while traveling internationally since this card doesn’t add the typical 3% surcharge that many other cards impose. Secondary Rental Car Insurance: This card provides backup protection for rental car damage or theft when you charge the full rental to your card. Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance: This protection reimburses you for non-refundable, prepaid travel expenses if you need to cancel before departure or cut your trip short due to covered situations like severe illness or weather events. Coverage activates when you pay for your trip with the card, but it’s important to note that reimbursement only applies for specific covered reasons rather than any cancellation. Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Your checked luggage gets extra protection against loss, theft, or damage beyond the basic compensation offered by carriers when you pay for travel with this card. World Elite Benefits: This card is a World Elite Mastercard, which gets you access to these special benefits and discounts: DoorDash ($5 off your first DoorDash order each month), Lyft (Take 3 rides in one month and earn a $5 Lyft credit), Shoprunner (free two-day shipping), and Fandango (spend $20 and get $5 back).
Redeem Choice Privileges Points
Choice Privileges points offer versatile redemption options, with hotel stays typically providing the best value. Members can book reward nights at Choice properties worldwide, starting from 8,000 points per night. The program’s flexibility allows booking various room types, including apartments and suites, often at competitive rates. Choice points can be used for stays at partner brands like Bluegreen Vacations, casino hotels, and all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. This expands the range of accommodation options available to members, from family-friendly resorts to exciting casino destinations. For those short on points, the points plus cash option allows bookings with as few as 6,000 points. Choice also partners with Preferred Hotels & Resorts, enabling members to book luxury stays for 20,000 to 87,000 points per night. Beyond hotel stays, Choice points can be transferred to various airline loyalty programs, including major carriers like United, British Airways, and Air France-KLM. While not always the best value, points can also be redeemed for gift cards, cruise credits, or unique experiences like college sports events and NASCAR tickets.
Pros and Cons
Here’s a quick overview of this card’s advantages and disadvantages:
Pros:
Strong Earning Structure: You’ll earn 10x points on Choice Hotel stays and 5x points on common categories like gas, groceries, and home improvement stores, making it easy to accumulate points quickly.
Anniversary Points: You receive 30,000 bonus points each card anniversary, which more than offsets the $95 annual fee and can be worth several free hotel nights.
Elite Status Benefits: The card provides automatic Platinum status with 20 elite night credits annually, giving you perks like early check-in, late checkout, and bonus points on stays.
Travel Benefits Package: The card includes valuable travel perks like TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit, cell phone protection, and no foreign transaction fees
Cons:
Annual Fee: The $95 annual fee may not be worth it if you don’t stay at Choice Hotels regularly enough to use the benefits.
Limited Luxury Options: While Choice has some upscale properties, the majority are budget and mid-tier hotels, limiting aspirational redemption options.
Program Restrictions: Points can primarily only be used within the Choice Hotels ecosystem, offering less flexibility than transferable points programs.
Limited Base Earning: The card only earns 1x points on purchases outside bonus categories, making it inefficient for everyday spending compared to other travel rewards cards.
Alternatives to Choice Select Card
Now that you know about this credit card’s various benefits and pros and cons, it’s time to see its alternatives.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review) is one of the most popular travel rewards cards because it offers nice welcome bonus and extra points on travel and dining, which can be transferred to airline and hotel partners or redeemed directly for travel at a rate of 1.25 cents per point through Chase Travel℠. The Sapphire Preferred also offers great travel and purchase protections for a card with a $95 annual fee. Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Earning Rewards: 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2x points on all other travel purchases, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Card Benefits: Ability to transfer to airline and hotel partners, 25% bonus when redeeming points through Chase Travel, $50 annual hotel stay credit via Chase Travel, 10% anniversary points bonus, no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car insurance, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty. Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Emirates, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Hyatt, IHG, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Singapore KrisFlyer, Southwest, United, and Virgin Atlantic.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (review) offers nice rewards at Hilton properties while providing automatic Gold status that includes valuable perks like room upgrades and breakfast benefits. This mid-tier Hilton card hits a sweet spot for occasional Hilton guests who want elite perks without premium card costs. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earning Rewards: 12x points on eligible purchases made directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio; 6x points at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations; 4x Points on U.S. Online Retail Purchases; 3x points for all other eligible purchases. Main Benefits: Hilton Gold elite status, up to $200 Hilton credit (up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a Hilton property), free night award after eligible spending of $15,000 in a calendar year, and National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive Status.
Is the Choice Privileges Select Worth It?
The Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® presents a mixed value proposition with its $95 annual fee and hotel-specific benefits.
The card provides 10x points on Choice Hotels stays and 5x points on common expenses like gas and groceries, which can help build your points balance quickly.
The automatic Platinum status and 30,000-point anniversary bonus add value for frequent Choice Hotel guests, though you’ll need to stay at Choice properties regularly to maximize these perks.
The welcome bonus provides enough points for several reward nights at participating properties, making the first year particularly valuable.
For travelers who primarily stay at Choice Hotels properties and value the elite status benefits, this card could be worth considering, but those seeking more flexibility might prefer a general travel rewards card instead.
