In particular, there's the Smarter Travel rate for 20% off the rack rate. That links to the Choice site and is an eligible rate.

Thanks to you both.

One last question - How about a stay booked through Expedia? I've got a coupon that's expiring soon, but if third-party is excluded then...

Expedia tends to push its own "speical rates", which are prepaid, and almost certainly don't qualify.

The rates that qualify are the rates you can find on the Choice website. But if those aren't the rates you can/do book on Expedia, that rules that out.

When booking at the Choice website, it tells you whether the rate you are about to book is elegibile for Choice points/miles. Expedia can't tell you that.

I would not count on Expedia counting thus. Pretty much all hotels have ruled out those types of third-party bookings (if there's third-party bookings they recognize, it's from official partners such as airline sites).

Finally, I don't know that your Expedia coupon would even get you a better rate than the Smarter Travel rates (see link in a message above). I've found Expedia's "special rates" at Choice hotels to be pretty dismal, compared to the discounts I can get at Choice's website myself.

Thank you, Stefan. I sincerely appreciate your thorough explanation.

Expedia gave me a $100 "coupon" for patiently waiting on hold. Free money. It's been sitting unused for a year and expires in... 12 days.