Everyone always talks about earning points and status with the big 3 hotel brands: Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott (and sometimes IHG), but what about the budget brands? As someone who travels through smaller towns and often on my own dime, I rarely stay at Hiltons or Hyatts. The 3 budget chains I interact with most are Choice, Wyndham, and Best Western. For those that stay at these hotels, What is your preferred budget brand and who do you think has the best points/loyalty program?
For me, I think Best Western runs the best earning offers with bonus points, free nights, or promotional gift cards based on nights stayed rather than money spent. That said, Best Western status means nothing and it is hard to get outsized value with points themselves.
Choice's bonus offers aren't as good as Best Western and their award redemption rates are all over the place, but they have some great options in Scandanavia. Wyndham points seem the hardest to earn, but their set award chart is a big plus