Points Talk®: Your Travel Dreams, Made Possible by Points

124. All About the IHG Hotel Program

8 snips

Apr 15, 2025

They dig into IHG One Rewards and why its huge brand portfolio makes it perfect for road trips and practical stays. The conversation covers Chase-issued IHG cards, annual 40k free-night certificates, and clever topping-off strategies. They explain when buying IHG points during 100% bonus sales can be a bargain. Favorite and dream IHG properties get a shoutout, from Kimptons to luxury Six Senses.

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ANECDOTE

Handwritten Index Cards Scored A Free Scotland Trip

Jess mailed in 90 index cards to win an IHG promotion and scored enough points for four free nights in Scotland.
The contest (around 2015–2016) was a huge early windfall and Jess notes IHG hasn't run anything like it since.

ADVICE

Keep The Premier Card For The Top-Up Free Night

Consider the IHG One Rewards Premier card for the 40,000-point annual free night and the ability to top it off with points indefinitely.
The card also includes TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit every four years and automatic platinum status with useful perks.

ADVICE

Buy Points During 100% Bonus Sales

Buy IHG points during frequent 100% bonus sales to top off balances for aspirational redemptions.
Pam says buying 105k points with a 100% bonus (210k total) can secure four high-end nights for roughly $350.

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In this episode, we're diving deep into IHG One Rewards—a hotel program that often flies under the radar but has serious potential. From practical Holiday Inns to luxury Kimptons and InterContinentals, we're sharing our experiences using IHG points and free-night awards, how we earn them, and why buying IHG points (yes, buying!) can actually be a smart move.

What Even Is IHG?

Before diving into points and miles, most of us didn't even know IHG was the brand behind properties like Holiday Inn, Candlewood Suites, Kimpton, Hotel Indigo, and InterContinental. Jess shares how she earned free IHG stays back in the day by mailing in 90 index cards, and Pam tells how she thought Crowne Plazas were the height of luxury before she knew the full IHG lineup.

IHG Credit Cards: What to Know

Alex breaks down the three different IHG credit card options and how their benefits stack up so you can decide which one might work best for you. She also outlines two of the unique benefits that make two of these cards a great deal: getting a fourth night free on award stays and earning free-night certificates you can top up.

Buying IHG Points Can Actually Make Sense

Pam shares why she regularly buys IHG points—especially during 100% bonus sales—for heavily discounted stays at high-end IHG properties. She calls it a "no-brainer," and Jess agrees—IHG is one of the only programs where buying points often makes sense.

Where We've Used IHG Points and Awards

From a Kimpton in Barcelona, to airport Holiday Inns, to a Crowne Plaza in Bruges, we share how we've stretched our points and free-night certificates. Jess highlights how easy it is to top off a 40k free-night certificate online, and Alex reminds everyone about the best ways to book longer stays for couples.

We also discuss:

IHG status levels
Using certificates online (a breeze!)
The IHG brands we love most
Our dream stays: Six Senses, Kimpton in Sydney, and Hotel Indigo Galápagos

Links:

All About IHG Credit Cards: All About IHG Credit Cards - Travel Mom Squad - https://travelmomsquad.com/ihg-revamps-credit-cards
Purchasing IHG Points: Does It Make Sense? Purchasing IHG Points: Does It Make Sense? - Travel Mom Squad - https://travelmomsquad.com/purchasing-ihg-points-does-it-make-sense/
Links For All Things Travel Mom Squad: stan.store/travelmomsquad

Episode Minute By Minute:

00:30 – Our intro to IHG
03:00 – What cards we've had and what we recommend
06:45 – The best perks and status levels with IHG cards
09:30 – Why we buy IHG points (and how it saves $$$)
13:30 – Free-night certificates and how to use them wisely
18:00 – Where we've stayed using IHG points and awards
21:00 – The brands we love: Kimpton, Indigo, InterContinental
26:00 – Favorite past stays + the IHG hotels we want to try next

If you've been sleeping on IHG, take another look. Whether you're after practical one-night stays or a luxury resort getaway, there's more value here than you think.

🎧 Tune in now and start planning your next points-powered stay.