Bits: worst value IHG redemption ever?, get missing Accor points reinstated

News in brief:

The worst IHG redemption – is this where Istanbul is now?

In February I will be heading down to Istanbul for a couple of days to check out Turkish Airlines long haul aircraft and their widely applauded lounge facilities.

Needing a hotel for two nights, I was planning to use the free night vouchers from our IHG credit cards.  Until I saw the prices.

The InterContinental in Istanbul, in early February, is €77 per night.  That is £56.

Alternatively, I could use 50,000 IHG Rewards Club points.

I know that Istanbul has not had the best press recently, but neither has Paris – I don’t see the InterContinental there selling for £56.

Looking at Expedia, it is carnage across the sector.  Only the Shangri-La and Four Seasons seem able to charge over £200.  The Park Hyatt, which is new and apparently very impressive, is just £128.  The Conrad is £100.

As an example of how low these prices are, Amex Travel wants £210 per night for the Park Hyatt.  This is their contracted Fine Hotels & Resorts rate which is meant to be roughly the same as the hotel rate – it is now 65% higher.

I know the weather isn’t great in Istanbul in February but it will be a lot better than the UK, and at these prices you get a very cheap short break.

Get your missing Accor points reinstated

If you earned 1,050 free Le Club AccorHotels points from their recent quiz, you may have found your points removed by Accor.  This promotion was subject to a major fraud and Accor stripped all of the accounts which looked even vaguely dodgy.

If your points were removed, the good news is that Accor is happy to reinstate them.  Get in touch with Customer Services and, once you’ve convinced them that you exist, the points will be returned to your account.  This has worked OK for a couple of Head for Points readers.

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Accor Live Limitless update – April 2024:

Earn bonus Accor points: Accor is not currently running a global promotion

New to Accor Live Limitless?  Read our review of Accor Live Limitless here and our article on points expiry rules here. Our analysis of what Accor Live Limitless points are worth is here.

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