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The Offer
- Choice Hotels is offering a free night at Cambria hotels when you stay twice by September 7th, 2020
The Fine Print
- Registered members with two qualifying stays at Cambria Hotels will be awarded a minimum of 5,000 to a maximum of 20,000 bonus points after the second qualifying stay. The number of bonus points awarded depends on the number of base points earned from the two separate qualifying stays, with points varying by hotel. The total of base points plus bonus points awarded, however, will be at least 20,000 points, which will allow redemption for a future free night at 50+ at Cambria Hotels (subject to Cambria Free Nights section, below).
- Cambria Free Nights: There are no blackout dates, but rooms are subject to availability. Restrictions, taxes, and fees apply. There are 50+ Cambria Hotels with reward nights available at 20,000 points or less until 11/30 to allow for a free night redemption at all Cambria Hotels during this period. Point requirements may vary based on time of year starting 12/1.
- Qualifying Channel: Members must book stays via ChoiceHotels.com, the Choice Hotels mobile app, or 800.4CHOICE. Stays directly booked through Book by Google are also eligible, if the member adds his/her Choice Privileges number to the reservation prior to check-in. Corporate travelers may book through their online booking tool, GDS, or with a travel agent; however, reservations booked through Egencia’s Preferred Rate Program do not qualify for promotional bonus points. Choice Privileges member number must be provided upon check-in. To be eligible to earn bonus points, members must set their earning preference to Choice Privileges points in their online account. Any change made to earning preference will remain in effect after the promotion has ended, unless the member changes it. Allow 72 hours from check-out for points to post. Request for bonus points made by members who did not register for the promotion will only be considered up to 60 days after the promotion ends; request thereafter will be automatically denied.
Our Verdict
Basically the more base points you earn the less bonus points you’ll earn as this promotion ensures you earn 20,000 points across the two stays. This also stacks with the Choice offer for up to 8,000 points after two stays. I doubt many people will be able to take advantage of this deal though as it’s only on Cambria hotels and there aren’t that many of these properties around.
Hat tip to FM
I took advantage of the status match for Choice Hotels just a few months ago. They matched my mid-tier Hyatt status and then with the coronavirus they had a promo where they upgraded me to their highest Choice Hotels status of diamond. I get that in general the class of hotels is very different for the most part (with the exception of Cambria and a few others which are “good” in theory). However, let me just say that Choice hotels is horrible! I’ve now stayed at a variety of their hotels, even the Cambria brand, and the customer service just plain sucks. I knew Hyatt set a relatively high bar but wow, Choice is awful. Cambria couldn’t have cared less that I was a Diamond member when I checked in.
When I pointed it out he stated “why are you telling me that.” Basically, his way of saying that it means nothing here, and at least he’s right, I’ll give him that. I called their customer service because I was only accumulating a 50 percent bonus as a Diamond member instead of 60 (it was raised presumably during the pandemic as an added incentive). Instead of just giving me the 200 points or so, which is a laughably small amount and nearly worthless anyways, they fought me on it and didn’t budge. I informed him I will never spend a dollar at their brand going forward, and I intend to keep my word. Long story short, I am running back to Hyatt and never touching another Choice hotels unless it’s to redeem the points I’ve since accumulated. By the way, even at their top tier “Diamond” level their rewards program accumulation is very meh. Triple points at Hyatt and now 25 percent back on award bookings is a no brainer. Save your time and money. Even with lowered expectations from an overall lower level brand, they still fall shockingly short in the customer service category. Moral of the story: this brand is just as terrible as you might expect.
It’s just a motel chain…what do you expect man?
Choice has some good properties but most of their hotels are rundown motels, much like most of Wyndham. Still, if you can take advantage of their promotions without having to go out of your way, there is good value to be had, particularly when redeeming with their partnership with Preferred Hotels.
I picked up diamond status last year out of a combination of staying at a location in immediate proximity to a worksite and through redeeming for free nights all over with points I either racked up with the 2 nights for 8k promo or purchased for something like .48 cents a pop in an annual sale.
In general, you’re paying less than you would with the big boys and should expect less in the USA. Quality and service has been entirely random and dependent on property. I go to one of the ascend locations and am always upgraded and treated wonderfully in a really great physical space. I’ve had good luck in Cambria locations in Chicago, terrible time at one in LA. I’ve stayed in true dumps in California and New Jersey, but really top notch low key locations in neighboring states. It’s…fine, just take reviews seriously and you can usually make the best of it.
THAT SAID, my stays for points in Scandinavia were unbelievable and why I purchase the deep discount points when they pop up and I have a trip in the next couple of months. I’ve been able to get amazing hotels and rooms in Stockholm, Malmo, and Copenhagen for 10,000 points for some properties and 6,000 points + $60 at others. Full dinners and drink service at some, wonderful hot breakfasts at all, wine left in my room nightly. Rooms often go for $250+ USD at these locations, and I generally get upgraded even though our status system is separate from there’s. Hands down the best redemptions I’ve ever made in any hotel program.
I intended to take advantage of their other sweet spot, Japan, this fall, but I that seems unlikely at this point.
TL;DR it’s not a bad status and the points are fine if you happen into it all, don’t expect top quality and be mindful of where you’re booking. Redeem everything overseas!!
The Choice Hotels I stayed in last summer were horrible. The rooms were filthy and neglected. Pillows were flatter than a pancake. No ice machines. A family was grilling in the tall grass of a filled in swimming pool. Guy was overhauling his car in the parking lot. Lots of people roaming around outside late at night. I didn’t feel safe even in my own room. Never again.
I stayed at a cambria pre-covid and I agree, service sucks. What a waste of an excellent property.
A few months ago? Well, a few months ago most hotels (of all brands) stopped providing their normal breakfast (as well as some other services). One of the benefits of Choice is that their most common brands provide a complimentary breakfast buffet, which is close to standardized by brand, But you can’t tell what their normal breakfast would be right now because Covid-19 meant temporary discontinuation of the normal breakfast at most of their properties.
So it’s hard to get an accurate impression of what the better Choice brands (like Comfort and Sleep) are like until buffet breakfasts are allowed back at hotels (but who knows when that will be)?