Choice Privileges Select Mastercard Review: A Solid, Budget-Friendly Hotel Credit Card

Choice Privileges Select Mastercard Benefits

The Choice Privileges Select Card can earn decent rewards and justify its ongoing cost.

Strong Rewards for Everyday Spending

The Choice Privileges Select helps you quickly accrue Choice Privileges points with your everyday spending. You’ll earn 5x points in a variety of categories, such as gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and phone plan services. These rates compare favorably to what you’d find with the best hotel credit cards.

You can also rack up significant rewards on your Choice stays. I make sure to pay my room charges with my card, since I’ll earn 10x base points, a 25% bonus for having Platinum Elite status and 10x points for paying with the card, giving me a massive return of 22.5x points for my stay.

Perks Justify the Cost

Although the card has a $95 annual fee, you’ll earn 30,000 bonus points each year after your account anniversary, which can be worth up to three reward nights. If you stay at Choice properties regularly, that should more than justify the card’s expense.

You can also take advantage of automatic Choice Platinum Elite status, which gets you benefits such as early check-in, late checkout, room upgrades when available, a welcome gift on arrival and 25% bonus points on paid stays. The card also offers up to $120 in credit toward the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every four years.

Since points don’t expire if you use your card, I like knowing I’ll have a quick, affordable option whenever I need it.

Unique Redemption Opportunities

While Choice hotels may not be everyone’s top choice domestically, you can get outstanding value in specific geographic regions of the world. For example, I’ve strategically used Choice points in the Caribbean and Northern Europe to get outsized value in areas where Choice was the only option for using points.

Cell Phone and Travel Protection

The Choice Privileges Select comes with built-in coverage for cell phone or travel mishaps. Cardholders receive:

• Cell phone protection: When you pay your wireless bill with the card, you’re eligible for up to $800 in coverage for cell phone damage, theft or accidental parting, subject to a $25 deductible. There’s a maximum of two paid claims and $1,600 in reimbursement per 12-month period.
• Car rental insurance: Pay for your rental with the card and decline the agency’s collision damage waiver, and you’ll receive secondary car rental coverage in the US (primary coverage otherwise) of up to $50,000. A handful of countries and vehicle types are excluded.
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance: When you pay your fare with the card, you qualify for up to $5,000 per covered traveler, per trip, in reimbursement if your travel is canceled or interrupted for a covered reason (maximum $20,000 in reimbursement per 12-month period).
• Lost baggage reimbursement: If you paid for your ticket with the card and your bags are lost due to theft or misdirection, you’re eligible for up to $3,000 per trip for all covered travelers to reimburse you for the missing items.
• Travel accident insurance: You can be eligible for up to $1,000,000 in coverage if you suffer a covered loss while on a trip you paid for with your card.

Choice Privileges Select Mastercard Drawbacks

If Choice hotels aren’t part of your travel plans, you likely won’t get good value from this card.

Limited Rewards Value

Like most hotel currencies, Choice points aren’t as valuable or flexible as those earned with general travel credit cards. My general rule of thumb is to get over 1 cent per point in value, which isn’t always the case with Choice points. You’ll also lose value using points for anything other than Choice reward nights.

Transfer Partners Aren’t Worth It

Although Choice Privileges has over a dozen transfer partners, including Southwest Rapid Rewards and Atmos Rewards, you’d lose significant value transferring your points. While it can be helpful to top off your balance if needed, you’d be better off exploring other options if you need points in any of those programs.

Properties Aren’t as Luxurious

If you’re seeking luxury stays, Choice’s options are limited. While Choice has more than 20 brands and over 7,400 properties, including some luxury hotels in select locations, the majority of them are no-frills accommodations intended for budget travelers.

Who Is the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard Best For?

The Choice Privileges Select Card is a decent option if you’re a frequent traveler looking to stay on a budget and don’t mind not having luxury. You can quickly boost your balance with everyday spending and anniversary bonus points, making the cost easy to justify if you have travel plans that could include Choice properties.

However, the annual fee and limited rewards flexibility can be a drawback if you don’t have a plan for how you’ll use Choice points.

Is the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard Right for You?

The Choice Privileges Select is right for you if you want to earn decent rewards while traveling on a budget. Here are some of the card’s best features to consider:

• 5x points on gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and phone plan services
• Up to 22.5x points (with Platinum status) when paying for Choice stays with your card
• Outstanding cell phone protection
• Anniversary bonus points can be worth more than the card’s cost

Alternatives to the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard

The Choice Privileges Select is a good option for Choice loyalists. Here are two alternatives to consider if you’re unsure about it.

• Choice Privileges® Mastercard®: The no-annual-fee Choice Privileges Card is essentially a watered-down version of its premium counterpart. You’ll only earn 5x points on Choice stays, 3x points in the same bonus categories and get automatic Gold status. It offers fewer points as a welcome bonus, but requires less spending. You also won’t get annual bonus points or the Trusted Traveler credit. If you’re considering a Choice co-branded card, you’d be better off with the Choice Privileges Select, since it offers stronger features across the board and can offset its cost easily.
• Citi Strata Premier® Card: For the same $95 annual fee, the Citi Strata Premier Card, an advertising partner, offers superior versatility. It’s one of the top choices for everyday spending with bonuses in several categories. Citi ThankYou® Points are significantly more valuable and have multiple redemption options, including transferring to Choice Privileges. You’ll also get perks like travel protection and an annual hotel benefit, which you can use to book Choice properties. Unless you’re locked into the Choice brand, you’ll likely enjoy the flexibility and enhanced reward value of the Strata Premier Card.