From Choice Hotels: 1 Free Night After 2 Stays

After 20 years working in the travel industry, and 15 years writing about it, Tim Winship knows a thing or two about travel. Follow him on Twitter @twinship.

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Over the past several years, Choice’s recurring promotional offer has been 8,000 points after two stays.

Sometimes it’s promoted as such: 8,000 points after two stays. More often though, the headline promotes either a free night or a gift card — both of which are available for 8,000 points.

For its latest promotion, the featured bonus is a free night:
“Stay 2 Times, Earn 1 Free Night.” But what you’re really earning is 8,000 Choice Privileges points — enough to redeem for a gift card, or for a free night at one of 1,500 lower-priced hotels in the Choice network.

Compared to past versions, the promotion has improved in two key respects. First, Choice has modified its points-expiration policy, from hard expiration after two years, to indefinitely extendable with account activity every 18 months. That makes the points more valuable. And second, the definition of “stay” has been changed, also for the better. Previously, stays at Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, or MainStay Suites hotels were defined as two or more consecutive nights at one hotel. Now a stay at those brands can be as short as a single night. That makes it easier to earn the bonus points.

Offer Details

Between September 1 and November 11, Choice Privileges members can earn 8,000 points after two stays. Again, that’s enough points for a free night at more than 1,500 Choice hotels.

Qualifying stays must be booked at ChoiceHotels.com, via the Choice mobile app, or by calling 1-800-4CHOICE, although Diamond and Platinum members may book direct with the hotel, and corporate travelers may book through a travel agent or corporate booking system.

There’s no limit to the number of times the bonus may be earned.

Registration is required.

Deal or No Deal

Earning enough points for a free night after two stays, even at a lower-end hotel, is a potentially high-value offer, especially if the qualifying stays are single nights at lower-priced properties.

That makes this one of the more lucrative of the current hotel promotions.
Reader Reality Check

Have you seen a better hotel promotion for fall stays?

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After 20 years working in the travel industry, and 15 years writing about it, Tim Winship knows a thing or two about travel. Follow him on Twitter @twinship.

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