Choice Privileges - Who's stay at CPs this season?

With the lack of an enticing offer, I'm wondering who's decided to keep staying at Choice properties for now? I've moved the bulk of my stays back to IHG for the stay 2 get 1 promo.

I took my wife along with me for a day last week, so I stayed at a CI I knew I would get an upgrade in. But otherwise, no. I'm in cash saving mode, so I'm doing Red Roofs, and am not too disappointed. The IHG's in the areas I go to are 2x Red Roofs (and generally 1.1-1.2x Choice), so my decision is made....

Actually the new gift card offer is somewhat enticing - assuming you are going to the right places. My travel budget is rather tight so I'm tending towards choice as my "2nd tier" provider.

Not since the last 8,000 points for two stays promo ended. Though I am seeing several of the cities I'm interested in showing Choice hotels at ~$35/night, and not just the "economy group". So, if one is averaging out the cost of stays, it's pretty good, even vs. Motel 6. Which could pull me back if I get in a fix. Until their next serious promo.

I need at least 3 nights in a hotel every week (except Christmas break), and I'm already at 7 of the 10 stay max for Sweet Dilemma 5 free nights at IHG. So IHG alone wouldn't do it for me (especially since Sweet Dilemma free nights means you earn zero points on ALL stays through the end of the year, even stays after you've maxed out on earning those 5 free nights). Earning a few points for Choice is better than zero points and zero free nights for (extra) stays at IHG, isn't it?

However, in my case I've also been using mostly hotels for my 6 Southwest Partnerpalooz hits (and btw couldn't use IHG for that because no way to earn Southwest credits at IHG through the end of the year since I'm singed up for the free nights). So I did one Choice stay just for that (earning Southwest instead of points). But then I needed several nights in Moab UT last month, and the Sleep Inn there (where I've stayed on points "in season" twice before) was very cheap now, so I just paid and earned regular points there. The properties in Moab in HHonors, IHG, and BW were at least double the rate of the Sleep Inn, so out of the question for a paid vacation stay for me. (And, again, IHG would do no good for a 5-night stay because I'd earn the same 1/2 a free night for that as for a cheap one-night stay!)

However, now I'm going to go for the WyndhamRewards points promo which is a bit Choice-ish (earn many thousands of bonus points for every other cheap one-night stay, capped). Plus I still have one BW free night voucher I have to use up before Dec 25. So I doubt I'll need to use Choice again before 2011.

Actually need a couple of RR credits to top off a Southwest account. Forgot about that value. So some ~ $35 nights over the holidays will do, nicely. Then again, better to wait until the new year. I keep forgetting that a stay at one of the economy group is still a stay in both programs. January in Monterey is sweet. :)

Thanks for the responses.

I'm at 3 free "sweet" nights from IHG now, but had a couple of Choice nights thrown in where the prices put IHG out of the market for me. I'll probably be back at a nice Comfort Suites near NYC next week to get the 3 night stay gift card. Other than that, I'll probably keep looking at IHGs for the next 4 stays to get the other 2 free nights. Although, I wish the sweet dilemma was points and not free night codes. I may have a hard time burning up 5 free nights before May.

Anyone have any luck getting the gift card from Choice yet for the current promo?

They're actually the best properties when I visit my kids. They're $30 a night cheaper than comparable places in the immediate vicinity. Even Hotwire can't match the price for a comparable hotel and Pricelining Oxford, Alabama scares the bejeepers out of me. We stay 2-5 nights/quarter with or without promos.