Choice Privileges Select Mastercard Review: 30,000 Annual Points Can Offset the $95 Fee

Choice Privileges Select Mastercard

• Best for: Travelers who regularly stay at Choice Hotels brands and redeem points for reward nights
• What makes it stand out: 30,000 points every account anniversary and automatic Platinum Elite status, plus 20 nights a year credited toward Choice status
• Cost: $95 annual fee; no foreign transaction fee; variable APR of 19.74%, 25.49%, or 28.49%
• Features: 10 points per dollar on Choice-booked stays; 5 points on gas, groceries, home improvement, and phone plans; 1 point on other purchases; 60,000 bonus points after $3,000 spent in 3 months; up to $120 toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every 4 years; cell phone protection up to $800
• Pros: Anniversary points can be enough for two nights at a 15,000-point property; Platinum status boosts points earned on stays by 25%; Diamond status is only 15 nights away
• Cons: $95 annual fee; mobile wallet purchases may not qualify for bonus points; some Platinum perks are also available with Gold status

The Choice Privileges Select Mastercard is a strong fit for guests who often stay at Choice Hotels brands such as Comfort Inn and plan to use points for reward nights. Its 30,000 annual anniversary points were enough for two nights priced at $178 at a Comfort Suites when we checked, which is $83 more than the card's annual fee.

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Wells Fargo issues the card for Choice Hotels, whose brands include Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, and Cambria. It is the $95 upgrade from the no-annual-fee Choice Privileges Mastercard, offering anniversary points and a higher tier of elite status.

Key features

• $95 annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, and a variable APR of 19.74%, 25.49%, or 28.49% depending on creditworthiness
• 30,000 bonus points each account anniversary, plus 60,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
• 10 points per dollar on Choice-booked stays; 5 points on gas, groceries, home improvement, and phone plans; 1 point on all other purchases
• 20 nights credited each year toward Choice elite status, enough to unlock automatic Platinum status

Pros

• Platinum status adds 25% to the points earned from paid Choice stays, while the no-fee card's Gold status adds 10%
• Up to $120 in statement credits every four years for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee charged to the card
• The 20 credited nights leave you 15 nights short of Diamond status, which includes guaranteed room availability
• Cell phone protection up to $800 per claim when the card is used to pay the phone bill, with a $25 deductible

Cons

• Purchases made through a mobile or digital wallet, such as Apple Pay, may not earn bonus points
• Gas and grocery purchases at superstores and warehouse clubs may not qualify for 5 points per dollar
• Some Platinum benefits, including early check-in and late checkout on request, are also available with Gold status
• Only 1 point per dollar is earned on everything else

A weeknight stay at the Comfort Suites near Nashville's airport cost 15,000 points or $89 before taxes, meaning the annual points bonus can cover two similar nights worth $178, which is $83 more than the $95 fee. For travelers who will not use 30,000 points a year, the no-fee card may be the better option because it still provides Gold status.

Learn more about the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard or compare it with other top hotel credit cards.

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