Strategically buying points can be a good value, especially for luxury hotel stays. A couple of weeks ago, IHG One Rewards launched its latest sale on purchased points. While this offer was supposed to expire as of today, the deadline has just been extended by a couple of weeks, so I’d like to recap those details.
This discussion thread is connected to our post: Buy IHG One Rewards Points With 100% Bonus, 0.5 Cents Each: Worth It?.
Tremendous program with great value. 4th night free is where the real value is and then the suite upgrade awards are definite and high quality suites. IHG and Wyndham are easily the two best loyalty programs with solid hotels and great value. The other chains are playing catch up but they seem to want to sit on their laurels.
I'm already sitting on nearly a million IHG points, so I'll sit this out.
Of course, the "why" of how I'm sitting on so many is important too.
Unlike other programs, IHG only makes base rooms available for points. Although programs like HHonors usually have stupid redemptions for suites and other upgraded room types, you at least have the flexibility to choose different room types. With IHG, if you want to use points, you're getting a base room. And my experience is that, even as a Diamond and even as an Intercontinental Ambassador, if you book with points, you're not getting an upgrade unless the hotel is literally empty.
Term explicitly say they do not guarantee upgrades for ambassadors on reward or free nights.
I'm already sitting on nearly a million IHG points, so I'll sit this out.
Of course, the "why" of how I'm sitting on so many is important too.
Unlike other programs, IHG only makes base rooms available for points. Although programs like HHonors usually have stupid redemptions for suites and other upgraded room types, you at least have the flexibility to choose different room types. With IHG, if you want to use points, you're getting a base room. And my experience is that, even as a Diamond and even as an Intercontinental Ambassador, if you book with points, you're not getting an upgrade unless the hotel is literally empty.
@Mallthus, it's very property-dependent, but some hotels let you book better rooms for the same amount of points as a base room. IME, it's mostly HI Express & Suites that offer studio suites. On the other end, some hotels (mostly CP/IC) let you book premium rooms, suites, and lounge access rooms for additional points. Neither is widespread, so YMMV.
Like Mallthus, I am sitting on too many points (almost 1.3 million) to take advantage of it this time, but I almost always have in the past (hence my big balance). IHG is the only program where I consistently get excess value over and above the .5 cents they charge. I routinely get .7 cpp in Thailand and have gotten as much as 1 cpp or more.
The 4th night free perk of the IHG card is great, but it gets even BETTER with the 10% rebate from the no-longer-available IHG Select card. Those 2 card remain firmly in my "keep" pile year after year.
Ben - I would REALLY love it if you would start tracking purchase bonuses for LHW Leaders Club.
It looks like they run 100% bonuses once or twice a year, and I'm kicking myself for missing the last one, which ended in June. The 100% points bonus effectively works out to a 25% discount, which can be pretty lucrative on their hotels, which include some of the most iconic and expensive in the world.
I really use IHG only domestically, and then in their suite chains (Candlewoog and Staybridge). After a quick check of the point versus cash rate on properties I use, the cash/point calculation yields close to 0.5 cents. However, just having even the AF-free Chase/IHG card gets you the 4th night free on rewards feature. So, the effective price could be as low as 0.375 cents (0.5×3/4). This all comes before you take into account that you won't be earning points on reward stays.