If Iceland’s Bardarbunga volcano does not blow its top preventing air travel between the USA and Europe, then in a couple of weeks I will be hotel hopping in Norway with $6,000 in free Choice Hotels on points.
This is a great deal for $850 in Choice Privileges points that were available for purchase in the Daily Getaways offer in May 2014.
My plans currently have me staying in Choice Hotels for all but two nights of my trip.
Here are the Nordic Choice Hotel properties I have booked with Choice Privileges points.
Oslo, Norway – The Thief, an Ascend Hotel Collection member
- Double Bed, Standard Room, balcony
- Award Rate = 20,000 points per night.
- Room Rate = 2,890 NOK ($467 USD)
- TripAdvisor Hotel Ranking for Oslo = #1 of 88 hotels.
Oslo, Norway – Clarion Collection Hotel Folketeateret.
- Double Bed, Standard Room, balcony
- Award Rate = 16,000 points per night.
- Room Rate = 1,280 NOK ($208 USD)
- TripAdvisor Hotel Ranking for Oslo = #2 of 88 hotels.
Oslo, Norway – Clarion Hotel Royal Christiana.
- Double Bed, Suite
- Award Rate = 16,000 points per night.
- Room Rate = 3,200 NOK ($519 USD)
- TripAdvisor Hotel Ranking for Oslo = #21 of 88 hotels.
Holmsbu, Norway – Quality Resort & Spa, Holmsbu
- Double Bed, 3-bedroom suite, ocean view, 2 bathrooms, living room
- Award Rate = 16,000 points per night.
- Room Rate = 3,632 NOK ($589 USD)
- TripAdvisor Hotel Ranking for Holmsbu = #1 of 1 hotels.
Larvik, Norway – Farris Bad, an Ascend Hotel Collection member
- Double Bed, Deluxe Room
- Award Rate = 16,000 points per night.
- Room Rate = 3,157 NOK ($512 USD)
- TripAdvisor Hotel Ranking for Larvik = #1 of 5 hotels.
Son, Norway – Quality Resort & Spa Son
- Double Bed, Suite
- Award Rate = 16,000 points per night.
- Room Rate = 3,050 NOK ($495 USD)
- TripAdvisor Hotel Ranking for Son = #1 of 1 hotels.
Bergen, Norway – Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret
- Double Bed, Deluxe room
- Award Rate = 16,000 points per night.
- Room Rate = 3,050 NOK ($495 USD)
- TripAdvisor Hotel Ranking for Bergen = #1 of 42 hotels.
All hotel plans are soft until 4pm day of arrival.
One of the great advantages of award travel is each Nordic Choice Hotel I have booked can be canceled with no penalty up to 4pm day of arrival.
My wife when discussing my travel plans fondly quotes an Aaron Sorkin line from the character played by Michael J. Fox in the 1995 movie The American President with Michael Douglas and Annette Bening.
Lewis Rothschild: I tell any girl I’m going out with to assume that all plans are soft until she receives confirmation from me thirty minutes beforehand.
Robin McCall: And they find this romantic?
Lewis Rothschild: Well, I say it with a great deal of charm.
Choice Privileges points hold high value for travel in Norway and Sweden with more than 175 hotels about evenly distributed between these two countries.
The hotels listed here are reservations I have booked, however, my plans are likely to change. I am still looking at an Arctic region trip if my SAS miles post from a Diners Club points transfer and there is flight award availability.
Yesterday, I purchased 1,000 Best Western Rewards points to open the possibility of an additional reward night through Best Western if I make it to the Lofoten Islands.
Norway is an expensive country to visit. Choice Privileges points reduce the cost of this two week trip by thousands of dollars. Free breakfast is provided at all the hotels and many also offer an evening social buffet.
Even if I don’t make it north of the Arctic Circle this trip, Nordic Choice Hotels should keep me satisfied with a fine selection of hotel award stays.
*****
Ric Garrido of Monterey, California is writer and owner of Loyalty Traveler.
Loyalty Traveler shares news and views on hotels, hotel loyalty programs and vacation destinations for frequent guests. Check out current hotel loyalty program offers across all the major chains in Loyalty Traveler’s monthly hotel promotions guide.
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