Choice Privileges Eat & Earn dining rewards program - The Points Guy (2024)

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In 2022, Choice Hotels launched a new dining rewards program called Choice Privileges Eat & Earn. The program lets you earn Choice Privileges points whenever you eat at participating U.S. restaurants and bars, and it's a great way to generate extra points without much effort.

Here's what you need to know about the Choice Privileges Eat & Earn dining rewards program.

Related: Airline and hotel dining rewards programs: Which is best for you?

How to earn points with the Choice Eat & Earn dining program

To earn Choice points through the Eat & Earn program, you must register and link a credit or debit card to your account. You don't need a cobranded Choice Privileges credit card to qualify — you can link almost any credit or debit card, though we recommend using one of the best cards for dining. Note that you must be a U.S. resident to use the Eat & Earn program.

Whenever you pay with a linked card at a participating restaurant, you'll automatically earn 5 Choice Privileges points per dollar spent. You'll earn points when dining in, grabbing takeout or ordering online through the Eat & Earn site. Taxes and tips are eligible for bonus points when you dine in, but when you order online through Eat & Earn, you won't earn bonus points on taxes, tips or delivery-related fees.

You'll also earn an additional 10 points every time you review a restaurant on the Eat & Earn site and 50 points when you make a reservation through Eat & Earn.

Right now, Choice is offering a welcome promotion of 500 bonus points after you join Eat & Earn, link a card, spend at least $25 at a participating restaurant and leave a review on the Eat & Earn site. Plus, you can occasionally earn extra points through promotions.

The points you earn through the Choice Privileges Eat & Earn program are in addition to the rewards you'll earn from your credit or debit card. For example, if you link your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you'll earn 5 Choice points per dollar spent at participating restaurants, as well as 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on dining.

Related: The ultimate guide to redeeming Choice points

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Should I use the Choice Eat & Earn dining program?

As of July 2024, TPG values Choice points at 0.6 cents each, meaning you'll earn the equivalent of 3% back on dining at eligible restaurants. That may sound incremental, but these rewards get you that much closer to your next free vacation.

That said, an opportunity cost may be involved with using Choice Privileges Eat & Earn over another dining rewards program. For example, American Airlines AAdvantage Dining awards 3 miles per dollar spent if you opt in for email alerts. This is fewer points or miles per dollar than Choice Eat & Earn awards, but since TPG values AAdvantage miles at 1.6 cents apiece, it provides a higher 4.8% return on eligible dining. Plus, you'd also earn Loyalty Points toward American Airlines elite status.

The dining program you choose will depend on your travel goals. If you stay at Choice hotels frequently or have a specific Choice redemption in mind, it could make sense to use the Eat & Earn program. If Choice isn't your hotel brand of, well, choice, several other brands offer dining rewards programs. You can earn hotel points with Hilton Honors Dining, Marriott's Eat Around Town and .

Related: Quick Points: Redeem Choice points for a Maldives resort, half-board hotels, suites and more

Bottom line

In most cities, multiple restaurants participate in Choice Privileges Eat & Earn, giving you plenty of opportunities to earn extra rewards. You can earn even more points by booking reservations, leaving restaurant reviews and taking advantage of promotions through Eat & Earn. However, since you can enroll each credit or debit card in only one Rewards Network dining rewards program at a time, you'll have to choose the best program to link your favorite dining card.