Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

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

Links on Head for Points may support the site by paying a commission.  See here for all partner links.

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)

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

  • M says:

    An error has occurred. Please contact your nearest reservation office and a representative will be able to assist you.
    🙁

  • Dan says:

    Any thoughts on Paris IC Grand vs Kimpton?

    • Andrew says:

      The decor at Le Grand looks a little more like a retirement than I would like.

    • Rob says:

      I wrote about both last year. Kimpton is funkier with rooftop bar, IC is the epitomy of a classic hotel (just redone).

  • Gtellez says:

    Which IC is better in Singapore? I never been so I don’t know which area is better. One seems more classy and the other more modern. I’m IHG diamond if that makes any difference (but not ambassador)

    • Blair Waldorf Salad says:

      The classy one at Bugis Junction is my fave IC ever (and one of my favourite hotels). I had club access mind you. I wouldn’t even entertain the other modern one.

    • Michael says:

      The Robertson Quay one is fine, nice enough modern rooms albeit quite small. Nice area with lots of decent restaurants in bars in the immediate area. I stayed on points, think it was only 36,000 a night or thereabouts so I thought it was a good deal, with Diamond breakfast included. They weren’t really offering much up though, I had to remind them about the breakfast benefit option when they tried to sell it to me at check in.

      Has a pool but is quite small and just straddles the side of the hotel, looks more lap pool style, long and narrow.

      Breakfast is in Publico, which becomes a very busy and popular restaurant and bar for non hotel guests throughout the day and night (it sits on the waterfront).

      The other IC Singapore is more a classic and beautiful hotel, I would go there if it is close in cash rate or point level. If Robertson Quay cheaper then by all means it’s still a nice hotel.

      There is also the Regent, which was also quite nice, much bigger pool than the IC RQ, large rooms, classic style oversized lobby with glass elevators up the middle and with lots of different dining and drinking venues, including Michelin star restaurant. More dated style of decor though, but I enjoyed it there.

      Lastly, of the IHG places I have stayed in SG, the CP Changi is great for an overnight before an early next day flight or late arrival. Nice big pool makes it feel much better than a standard airport hotel.

  • Novice says:

    Ic London park lane vs kimpton fitzroy ??? Which is better ; that is if points ever post in time.

    • Benilyn says:

      I’d say PL for location personally

    • CatchFlightsNotFeelings says:

      We use kimpton fitzroy for work as round the corner. Can often get a corporate rate for £150 so the savings here arent that impressive. Its a lovely area inside but near Russell Square rather than Hyde Park so not as impressive a location! Though still walkable to oxford street and covent garden so depends what you want to do.

  • Traveller says:

    Thanks for this tip off Rob. You just saved me 11,000pts as I was able to cancel then rebook for an upcoming SIN stay. Same hotel/date/room just reduced by 11k IHG points. Owe you a beer.

  • Matt says:

    Hi Crew, I’m Diamond (until Feb next year), but have not stayed in IHG this year under the new programme.
    Apart from a possible free breakfast do any of the chains offer anything extra (lounge etc) in Indigo/Crown Plaze/Intercontinental?
    Obviously I have not triggered any milestone rewards this year…

  • Chas says:

    Has anyone got any recent experience of how quickly Eurostar points take to transfer? Accounts already linked, and points already successfully transferred, but I didn’t pay any attention to how long they tool. In my rush to transfer some over to buy tickets for this weekend, I glossed over the “up to 5 working days”…. More haste, less speed 😩

    • Chas says:

      Sorry – I now realise that this looks completely out of place. It’s relevant as I just snagged Kimpton Amsterdam for this weekend (Sat wasn’t available, so took a cash price for that night instead of points)

  • palty says:

    i jut purchased some points about an hour ago anyone know how long it takes to get them credited into my account?

    • CatchFlightsNotFeelings says:

      Its been 24 hours for me and still no sign. IHG said up to 72 hours. Seriously dont know why it takes so long in todays technological world.

      • Rob says:

        Security. What stops you using a stolen credit card, buying points and redeeming immediately for Amazon evouchers?

        Clearly there are triggers which lead to a delay and you triggered them.

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

The UK's biggest frequent flyer website uses cookies, which you can block via your browser settings. Continuing implies your consent to this policy. Our privacy policy is here.