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Originally Posted by lihue1k
I'm a choice platinum member with more than 80 night in 2003, 4 & 5.
My perspective: a) As reported earlier Choice almost always have some sort of promotion going, for the first 4 months of this year it's been 3X points. Let's put that in perspective: I'm paying around $80 per day for the room but I'm getting 2400 points per night in credit. I can later this year rent the same room using points for 6000 points per night - very nearly a 1 : 2 free room rate, you will not find that with any other plan hotel, airline or other similar program. b) It would never occur to me to compare Choice to SPG - the products offered are totally different and I doubt that anyone who is used to Starwood would be satisfied at most Choice properties. Choice properties typically run from the "hey this is not so bad" to the "oh my god what have I done". Never dangerous but also never better than average I would compare Choice as a whole to Best Western not Sheraton. c) Ah yes, that free breakfast. Can be a value, but realize that it's generally just some watered down OJ, cold cereal and muffins. Still if all you want is a quick bite in the AM before starting the day they will get it done. d) Locations. Choice properties tend to be smaller, older and less full service compared to Starwood - the positive is that they are just everywhere. Any good size metro area is likely to have 10+ Choice properties. There's almost always one where you need to be. I'd say 50% are properties I'd never return to a second night but which served their purpose for the short stay I had. e) Redeeming awards. I've never, no matter where, no matter when had a problem finding a room in the general area I wanted to stay 30 days ahead. Sometimes it's not at the property I want but something in the area has always been available. It's no surprise to me that one couldn't find a free room at a ski resort during high season, I imagine the same problem might come up at the beach on 4th of July - but then I imagine SPG might have similar difficulties. I've been running on way too long. Hope this helps someone. Aloha Lihu'e 1k Wonderful post with excellant comparison between choice and SPG. Although I think you were a bit harsh on the breakfast side. Not all properties offer the same service. I would say 30% of the time you will be surprised to see full continental brakfast buffet with hot cereal and eggs. |
Originally Posted by maulah
Wonderful post with excellant comparison between choice and SPG. Although I think you were a bit harsh on the breakfast side. Not all properties offer the same service. I would say 30% of the time you will be surprised to see full continental brakfast buffet with hot cereal and eggs.
You are of course right, some properties really do exceed on the breakfast. It pays to check out the properties in areas you return to time after time, they can vary considerably. Lihu'e 1k |
Originally Posted by maulah
Wonderful post with excellant comparison between choice and SPG. Although I think you were a bit harsh on the breakfast side. Not all properties offer the same service. I would say 30% of the time you will be surprised to see full continental brakfast buffet with hot cereal and eggs.
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Do you need to be a member of the Choice program to earn FF miles on stays?
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Yes, I think you have to be a member and then at the time of check in you give your membership number with your preference
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Originally Posted by MileKing
Do you need to be a member of the Choice program to earn FF miles on stays?
The reason I'm hesitant of joining the Choice program in the first place is they might screw up and give me Choice points instead. |
Give the airline info at check-in and confirm it is on your folio at check-out.
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Choice - is lousy in posting points
It took about 2 or 3 reminders to have points posted after each stay. I avoided staying at Choice Hotels. My recent trip hasn't been posted for 3 weeks.
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My last two back-to-back stays posted correctly (including bonuses) after just about three weeks without my having to contact Choice.
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Originally Posted by coachflyer
It took about 2 or 3 reminders to have points posted after each stay. I avoided staying at Choice Hotels. My recent trip hasn't been posted for 3 weeks.
My own experience is mixed. The Quality I frequent never missed giving me points, for 4 years they were perfect. Very suddently last fall it became hit or miss and from the start of this year they are batting 0.000. I've complained repeatedly and always get a shrug of the shoulders. :mad: To their credit I send in the receipts on the 15th day (Choice says allow two weeks) and they credit my points, bonuses etc within a week or so. Still who wants to try and manage all this? I also notice (though I admit this may be just dumb luck) that web bookings seem to give points with near zero trouble while reservations made directly with the hotel are more prone to problem. Lihu'e 1k |
Originally Posted by Infinity
No. I'm not a member of the Choice program and I have always gotten my airlines miles. Usually I just present my airline membership card at check-in.
The reason I'm hesitant of joining the Choice program in the first place is they might screw up and give me Choice points instead. |
Originally Posted by vickiburton
This is great news! If you reserve online, do you have the opportunity to input your FF number at that time?
However, make sure you give them your FF number at check-in and verify it again on your printed statement when you check-out. It usually takes about 2.5 weeks for the miles to show up on my account. |
To join the Choice Privileges rewards program, please fill in the form below. Click the "Submit Application" button once at the bottom to receive your member number. It will be activated within one business day. You must have a United States address in order to join the program. |
Originally Posted by maulah
What is the general experiance of people with choice hotels. Despite the fact that I am a starwood member I have never stayed at any of their properties simply because:
A: I usually travel as a party of five people. (2 adults and 3 childern) and majority of starwood properties do not allow more than 4 people in a room. B: No breafast is served in any of strwood properties while free breadfast in my favorite Comfort Suites and you add five people! Now that is a big saving. Also I was thinking of appying for their visa card by BOA. Any thoughts on that. For some reason I dont see many choice previleges fans on this forum. Am I right? Please enlighten me with your thoughts. I have been in Choice Priveledges for a year or so, and their program does have some advantages. (I normally do HHonors) Recently they had a "stay 2 nights, get one free" promotion which netted me 2 free nights. I wasn't able to redeem the free nights at all of their properties, but generally there were three or four properties in each city where I could redeem the points. I have also found that their hotel rates are a little cheaper than a comparable Hampton Inn or Fairfield Inn, especially with a senior citizen's rate. Their telephone reservations staff is usually very helpful, too. I would caution that their properties vary widely in quality, and it is not always easy to pick a good property. For example, their Clarion Brand is advertised as being superior, but the ones I've seen tend to be dated and a little seedy. One, in Charleston S.C.was downright filthy. I've had my most pleasant stays at the Confort Inns and Suites properties. When booking, look for their gold and silver award winning properties. They tend to be better quality. Also look for the newer properties. Sleepytime |
Originally Posted by sleepytime
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I have been in Choice Priveledges for a year or so, and their program does have some advantages. (I normally do HHonors) Recently they had a "stay 2 nights, get one free" promotion which netted me 2 free nights. I wasn't able to redeem the free nights at all of their properties, but generally there were three or four properties in each city where I could redeem the points. I have also found that their hotel rates are a little cheaper than a comparable Hampton Inn or Fairfield Inn, especially with a senior citizen's rate. Their telephone reservations staff is usually very helpful, too. I would caution that their properties vary widely in quality, and it is not always easy to pick a good property. For example, their Clarion Brand is advertised as being superior, but the ones I've seen tend to be dated and a little seedy. One, in Charleston S.C.was downright filthy. I've had my most pleasant stays at the Confort Inns and Suites properties. When booking, look for their gold and silver award winning properties. They tend to be better quality. Also look for the newer properties. Sleepytime |
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