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

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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.


Accor Live Limitless update – December 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.

Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from Accor and the other major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.

Comments (46)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • ElectroGoblin says:

    Not only have my 1100 points remained in the account since I got them, but they boosted me to the silver level. It’s not a major improvement; free internet (that is usually available anyway) and late check out… I may give a try with them as my usual chain (melia) doesn’t have many properties in France apart from Paris…

    Thanks Raffles!

  • Rashad says:

    Thank you very much Rob for highlighting missing Accor points, I have got mine back same day I have emailed to Accor Customer Services.

  • Tilly71 says:

    Went today to convert accor points to IB plus but now my account states min of 2000 points required before we can transfer, any way around this?

  • AndyS says:

    I also had my acor points disappear, but a simple “contact us” form and they are back. Thanks for the info Rob.

  • Marsha says:

    I too have had two family Accor accounts re-credited overnight. I’ve just followed the original post on converting them again. Thanks for the update.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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