I agree with the poster who said the Choice Hotels brands tend to be significantly cheaper than the Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn and Best Western motels. I'm planning a roadtrip to the southwest and can usually get a Comfort Inn or Sleep Inn for about $60 with some modest AAA discount, whereas the more expensive "midpriced" chains seem to be in the $90 range. AAA, which tends to "overrate" Comfort Inns IMHO, tends to award them 3 stars, although sometimes only 2. You also usually get an extended continental breakfast at Comfort Inn. I've also noticed that the Choice Hotel promos tend to get you rates comparable to "mom and pop" properties, which tend to be even more modest in quality.

Obviously, none of this is as good as a priceline rate, but you usually can't get priceline if your travels take you to smaller towns -- especially those beyond the interstates. Since I'm used to staying in 3 star and 4 star hotels through priceline for much less than 90 bucks, I can't bear to pay that for a Holiday Inn Express! Choice Hotels, regardless of their frequent traveler program, is likely to get more of my business.