Choice Privileges - Last minute award booking

Hope to be traveling around Japan soon for the blossom season coming up and don't really want to make a rigid itinerary since we can't be sure exactly which areas will be the best for viewing until we arrive. Fortunately Japan has a good selection of properties around the country but I'm assuming you can't just show up in person and do a same-day booking of a room (assuming one is available) via points? Booking must be done online? So once you find the place you want, you would have to get online (even if you're in the property's lobby?) and book it through your profile. Is that right? I know there's a booking window that opens up at 30 or 60 days out but I'm assuming that booking window doesn't close before the night of your expected stay?
(hope this is making sense.)

Hope to be traveling around Japan soon for the blossom season coming up and don't really want to make a rigid itinerary since we can't be sure exactly which areas will be the best for viewing until we arrive. Fortunately Japan has a good selection of properties around the country but I'm assuming you can't just show up in person and do a same-day booking of a room (assuming one is available) via points? Booking must be done online? So once you find the place you want, you would have to get online (even if you're in the property's lobby?) and book it through your profile. Is that right? I know there's a booking window that opens up at 30 or 60 days out but I'm assuming that booking window doesn't close before the night of your expected stay?
(hope this is making sense.)
Points can be redeemed online or by calling a US 800 number, IIRC. You can always call the hotel and double-check. I believe you can book up until 11pm or midnight local time that day.

If you are doing last minute bookings, remember to check that there is nothing that would sell out the local properties (festivals and such) before going there. You don't want to be stuck in a small town at 11pm with no hotels available, whether paying with points or cash.

Points can be redeemed online or by calling a US 800 number, IIRC. You can always call the hotel and double-check. I believe you can book up until 11pm or midnight local time that day.

If you are doing last minute bookings, remember to check that there is nothing that would sell out the local properties (festivals and such) before going there. You don't want to be stuck in a small town at 11pm with no hotels available, whether paying with points or cash.

Thanks. I'll try and find that 1-800 number.

I know that this may be frowned upon as possibly not being quite ethical, but I do have a related question I am wondering if anyone would know the answer to.

Would it be possible???

Lets say someone wants to book an award night for a hotel that will likely be very busy for a specific date. That date is 5 months away, and there are still plenty of rooms available. However it is not possible to book an Award Stay until 60 days prior, at which point the hotel "may" be full.

Would it be possible to book a cancellable paid reservation NOW, in effect "saving" a room. Then at the 60 day mark either "switch" the paid reservation to a reward, or simply cancel the room making it available to book with points.

I am not terribly familiar with Choice Awards terms and conditions. I see that they boast "no black out dates" however do they have capacity control on the number of award rooms available? For example if there were only one room left at a property, could I still use points to book?? If not, I suppose the above suggestion would not work.

I would really appreciate more information on the points booking process from someone who knows more than me. (Which admittedly would not be hard to find... LOL)


Points can be redeemed online or by calling a US 800 number, IIRC. You can always call the hotel and double-check. I believe you can book up until 11pm or midnight local time that day.

If you are doing last minute bookings, remember to check that there is nothing that would sell out the local properties (festivals and such) before going there. You don't want to be stuck in a small town at 11pm with no hotels available, whether paying with points or cash.

The paid reservation cancel scheme may work, but it doesn't work always.

With regard to the question about capacity controls, it has never hit me as that which shows up for daily sale online has generally showed up for points bookings too. I find Choice much better in this regard than Hyatt, Hilton or Starwood.

The paid reservation cancel scheme may work, but it doesn't work always.I think there's another thread on this very topic, and the consensus is that it's risky. I would have no problem calling Choice and see if I could do just that with their cooperation. I have heard they sometimes can make it happen for you. At any rate, I doubt that you'll be labeled as a "troublemaker" or any other ill effects.

With regard to the question about capacity controls, it has never hit me as that which shows up for daily sale online has generally showed up for points bookings too. I'm trying to parse this sentence and having a tough time. :)

But. somewhat related - I have noticed a number of properties where rooms are available for cash but not for points. According to some T&C's posted here elsewhere, this should be a no-no for a property. Of course, we all know that Choice HQ doesn't have much leverage with the franchisees, but I would think that if enough people complain they might be able to bring a little pressure to bear.

Would it be possible to book a cancellable paid reservation NOW, in effect "saving" a room. Then at the 60 day mark either "switch" the paid reservation to a reward, or simply cancel the room making it available to book with points.

The problem is that just because you cancel and now a room is available, it doesn't mean that hotel will allow it to become an award room. They have the right to hold it out for a paid room.

I think there's another thread on this very topic, and the consensus is that it's risky. I would have no problem calling Choice and see if I could do just that with their cooperation. I have heard they sometimes can make it happen for you. At any rate, I doubt that you'll be labeled as a "troublemaker" or any other ill effects.

I'm trying to parse this sentence and having a tough time. :)

But. somewhat related - I have noticed a number of properties where rooms are available for cash but not for points. According to some T&C's posted here elsewhere, this should be a no-no for a property. Of course, we all know that Choice HQ doesn't have much leverage with the franchisees, but I would think that if enough people complain they might be able to bring a little pressure to bear.

According to the general franchise agreements for US properties, that no-no should be a no-no. Did you see that discrepancy for US properties?

You have far more experience with this program than anyone I know, so if you have seen it, then I am sure it has occurred.