Forget about that roadside Quality Inn on I-95 for a Choice Privileges points reward. These days I measure the value of Choice Privileges points by the cost of hotel rewards in Norway and Sweden and Denmark. I redeemed 216,000 Choice Privileges points for 13 nights in Norway and saved about $6,000 on published rates for the deluxe rooms and hotel suites I booked.
Norwegian Airlines flying out of New York, Fort Lauderdale, Oakland and Los Angeles means there are low fares available most of the year between the USA and Scandinavia. Next July we are flying WOW Air Boston to Copenhagen for under $500 per ticket. Choice Privileges points, along with Club Carlson Visa for 2-for-1 stays at Radisson and Park Inn, make Scandinavia more affordable than ever for American tourists.
Choice Privileges Triple Points Dec 29-Feb 18, 2015
Choice Privileges triple points for stays from December 29 through February 18, 2015 that include a midweek Sunday to Thursday night. You can earn 30 points per $1 at most brands including Ascend Collection, Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, Clarion, Sleep Inn and Cambria Suites. Earn 15 points/$1 at MainStay, Suburban, Rodeway and EconoLodge. This offer is only for Choice Privileges members in the USA and Canada. Members may earn a maximum 30,000 bonus points with this offer ($3,000 in hotel spend at most brands).
This is better than 8,000 points after two stays for most members since you can pick up triple points for every night of your stay that includes a Sunday to Thursday night and no need to hotel hop or plan one night stays.
The Value of Choice Privileges points in Norway
Nordic Choice Hotels in Scandinavia and the Baltic countries are a separate Choice Hotels program that allows Choice Privileges members to redeem points for reward nights, but not earn points for paid stays. Most hotels in Norway are 16,000 points per reward night. You must join Nordic Choice Club to earn points.
The average hotel reward night I booked in Norway during my two week trip in September 2014 had a listed rate of $450 per night. The Norwegian Krone has had a 15% devaluation in the past three months due to their economy largely based on oil revenue that has fallen precipitously in the past few months. The average rate for hotels now is more likely in the $200 to $300 per night range for Norway, which has a price index typically in the top three highest worldwide.
So, when I look at the potential value of 30 points per dollar in hotel spend over the next two months, I think $534 earns 16,000 points which is one free night in Norway. That is at minimum a $200 value. One of the interesting features of using Choice Privileges points for Nordic Choice Hotels is the frequent availability of a high category room or suite for the standard 16,000 points reward night.
A hotel like The Thief Oslo is typically $300+ per night. The Thief is the #1 rated hotel in Oslo on TripAdvisor. It is 20,000 points per reward night using Choice Privileges points, when available for points.
Personally, I will be looking for opportunities to buy Choice Privileges points at a discount in 2015. I will also look for opportunities to stay at Choice Hotels on paid nights. There are plenty of hotel choices for the USA. Choice Privileges is one of the best programs for earning points if you plan on visiting Scandinavia and want to save big on the price of hotels by redeeming hotel points.
Choice Privileges Triple Points Terms
*Registration required at ChoiceHotels.com before the qualifying stay. Members must book trips via ChoiceHotels.com, the Choice Hotels mobile app, or 800.4CHOICE at qualifying rates. Corporate travelers may book through a travel agent or corporate online booking system. Choice Privileges member number must be provided upon check-in. Between 12/29/14 and 2/18/15, members will be awarded triple bonus points for every qualifying stay that includes a Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday night, up to 30,000 bonus points. A stay includes all consecutive nights at the same hotel regardless of check-ins or check-outs. Trips at vacation rental property locations do not qualify for promotional bonus points. To be eligible to earn the bonus, members must set their earning preference to Choice Privileges points in their online account. Any change made to earning preference will remain in effect after the promotion has ended. Allow 72 hours from check-out for points to post. You must maintain an address in the U.S. (including U.S. territories) or Canada to be eligible for this promotion. For Choice Privileges program details, eligible rates, eligible countries and point redemption rules, visit choiceprivileges.com. Hotels are independently owned and operated.
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