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IT’S BACK, BE QUICK: Many IHG hotels showing at half price or less for points!

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The crazy IHG redemption deal which popped up a couple of Sundays ago is back. Whether or not it is an IT error, you should MOVE NOW.

Many IHG hotels globally, for many dates, are currently bookable for roughly half – or less – the usual number of points.

EDIT, Wednesday evening: This deal is now, in the main, dead, especially for those hotels where the discounts were most impressive.

The pricing appears to be:

  • Kimpton – 45,000 points
  • Regent / InterContinental – 35,000 points to 45,000 points
  • Hotel Indigo – 30,000 points
  • Crowne Plaza – 25,000 points
  • Holiday Inn / Holiday Inn Express – 20,000 points

Last time I booked Kimpton Paris and the new Kimpton Mallorca for 45,000 points and InterContinental London for 40,000 points.

The Kimpton Paris, for the date I wanted, was over 100,000 points per night when I looked a few days earlier, with a €660 cash rate.

It isn’t clear if not all hotels are taking part or only certain dates are included. I can’t get the InterContinental Amstel for when I need to be in Amsterdam, for example, but I know others have booked it.

The real value here is at hotels which are usually hugely expensive for cash and would therefore be 100,000+ points per night under IHG’s new dyanamic pricing model. Not every hotel is a bargain under this deal – in some cheap cities, prices will have gone up today because these are properties which benefit from dynamic points pricing.

Funamentally …. if you’re getting over 1p per point it is a steal. If you’re getting 0.75p per point it is far better than normal. If you’re getting 0.4p to 0.5p per point then don’t get excited – this is what you’d usually expect.

This could be a mistake but it could be an unprecedented flash sale which is due to be announced tomorrow. Mr & Mrs Smith hotels are not included, which leads me to believe that this is a deliberate sale of some sort. Regardless, it is worth making some speculative bookings – remember that all reward nights can be cancelled.

Don’t hang around – with free cancellation there is NO downside, albeit check the rules for peak times such as New Year’s Eve.

Should you buy points?

There is currently a 75% bonus if you buy IHG points. You can buy here.

People who did this last time said that they were posting immediately. I am not guaranteeing this to you but it is working for others. Note that some people had issues when trying to make multiple purchases as security delays appear to kick in.

The ‘buy points’ page is here if you choose to risk it. You can learn more about IHG One Rewards in our overview article here.


IHG One Rewards update – April 2024:

Get bonus points: IHG One Rewards is offering 2,000 bonus points for every two cash nights you stay (not necessarily consecutive) between 1st April and 31st May 2024. You can read our full article here and you can register here.

New to IHG One Rewards?  Read our overview of IHG One Rewards here and our article on points expiry rules here. Our article on ‘What are IHG One Rewards points worth?’ is here.

Buy points: If you need additional IHG One Rewards points, you can buy them here.

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

Comments (268)

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  • j-w says:

    Thanks for the tip – saved $250 by cancelling an existing cash reservation and swapping it for the points I picked up during the diamond status challenge a few months ago!

  • Blair Waldorf Salad says:

    Thanks! Also grabbed IC Rome. Still doesn’t match my best redemption this year of Palazzo Las Vegas for 22-27K points per night when pre-tax price was £170. We never could have imagined the bounty available when traditional IHG incompetence met a ‘new tech’ dynamic pricing system.

    • NorthernLass says:

      Sadly no IHG offerings in Vegas currently apart from HIs and similar.

      • SGJNI says:

        The Venetian/Palazzo have been available at times for 25,000 points if you miss out Saturdays. Mind you, the cash rate was only $199 plus tax plus resort fee! Staying in The Palazzo next week.

        • Blair Waldorf Salad says:

          Yes i’m there next week too. The cash prices must have got away from me by the time I booked compared to your $ prices. I dithered between hotels a lot and may still change just to experience what’s good there.

          • SGJNI says:

            I have paid for Mon/Tue in The Venetian at the low price, then moving to the Palazzo Wed/Thurs on points. I much prefer The Palazzo but thought I’d give The Venetian another try. At one point The Conrad was $99 a night but I have decided to try for 40 nights for the Milestone rewards this year. I must be mad!

        • NorthernLass says:

          Our stay is next June, I think those 2 have now withdrawn from IHG?

          • Blair Waldorf Salad says:

            FT forums seem to think so but no, for now freely available and a dedicated (shorter) check in desk for IHG elites.

        • Harry T says:

          You pay the resort fees on points bookings, so you need to factor that in.

          • Blair Waldorf Salad says:

            Yes sadly that’s the case with IHG higher end properties in NY, SF, etc. too. But since it’s same amount being added to the cash price as the points price it nets off in terms of effect on the redemption value per point calculation.

  • NorthernLass says:

    Also check the magic e-standby upgrades if they appear on your IC bookings. I booked a standard cosy (read: broom cupboard) at The George and got the offer to upgrade to a junior suite for £54 pn!

    • Richie says:

      Where do you find the eStandby upgrades. Seen them with Hilton but not IHG

    • DJ says:

      They never show up for IC Park Lane bookings.

      But it works for many others for sure!

    • Blair Waldorf Salad says:

      Of around 60 upcoming reservations in 2022/23 (booked per night obviously….) I found an e-standy upgrade on one night at one hotel. It was exactly where you said it would be. I wasn’t keen though cos it’s just a cheap one night stay at CP Dubai Festival City after a late arriving flight and before heading to a beach hotel.

      • DoubleA says:

        I have offers at Swindon! and the O2 – nothing for Grand Cayman or Boston.
        The main offer at Swindon was breakfast for £10 – great offer for a Diamond..

  • BJ says:

    @Rob, any whispers on an Ambassador sign up offer? I’m living dangerously awaiting Black Friday. Without it I’ll need to take one of the more creative routes to retain Diamond 🙂

    • NorthernLass says:

      Is it not worth just signing up for if it’s the only way to keep your sparkle, BJ?!

      • BJ says:

        There is the route Rob suggested, which I can combine with cheap Asian stays so that’s my fallback. I was hoping for an offer with free nights or points.

  • slidey says:

    Which is better, IC dubai marina or IC ras? 🙂

    • Rob says:

      Ras is brand new and is apparently a beach resort. Marina is NOT a beach resort, and indeed isn’t even a resort – it’s a standard skyscraper hotel. Of course, Ras is 60 minutes down the road with nothing to do outside the hotel.

    • Comrade Chag says:

      Quick-quick, book! Don’t miss out 😀

  • LostInAsia says:

    IC Bali is 35k over Christmas but does anyone know what it normally is?

    Comes to about 0.6p per point so not necessarily a reduction.

    • Paul says:

      That is normal if not higher that recent rates. The big benefit is that you book that then upgrade at $150 +21% per night to get full club access including club room. If you have Ambassador status you end up in a duplex. This is perfect for 2 adults and 2 kids and a bargain.

      Note kids under 12 don’t get into the club, but all benefits are available at the club pool

      I have just spent 14 days there, my 8th or 9th stay, it is fabulous particularly if you stay in the club side but even if you don’t the resort is wonderful.

      It rains a lot at Christmas but there are also period of sunshine.

  • BajiNahid says:

    If we buy points are they posting quick? Thanks

    • Jordan says:

      I just purchased some and it was instant, however I bought some last week for the Leeds fest offer and took 48hours. So it really depends

  • RussellH says:

    Our two upcoming CP bookings for Lille and Lyon in November are now much MORE expensive at 25 000 points. Lyon booked for 16 000 and Lille for a bit more, but still less than 20 000.

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