16 Best IHG Luxury Hotels to Book With Points for Maximum Value

BY 

Michael McHugh

- UPDATED: January 30, 2020

1. Use Points  / 
2. Use Hotel Points

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The IHG Rewards Club program is one that travelers new to points and miles may not hear much about. The big 3 hotel programs of Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt are likely the first ones that are mentioned to someone who is just starting.

While IHG may not get the same amount of attention as the other 3, that does not mean it should be written off. IHG has a full suite of hotel brand offerings for any traveler. For luxury travelers, IHG has you covered as well.

As with all of the luxury hotel articles that we have covered in this series, the goal is to show the best luxury hotels that you can book with your IHG points.

As of early 2020, we value IHG points at ~0.5 cents per point and have set a floor of 0.8 cents per point for properties to make this list. If you can book hotels for more than our cents per point value, you are in good shape.

This list of hotels required a few assumptions when putting it together, including the following:

1. Google Travel destination guides were used to determine peak travel dates for each city
2. Weekend cash rates were used to see how much cash you would pay if you did not use points
3. A cents-per-point value was determined by averaging the cash and points cost of a hotel over 2 months

When you go to book any of these hotels, it is important to note that the cash cost will fluctuate throughout the year. The points required will be the same so the cents-per-value you receive may not match what we are showing below.

Now that the groundwork has been laid, let’s highlight the luxury IHG hotels that you can book for the best value. First, we’ll cover the best ways to earn IHG points and then which hotels you should consider booking.

IHG Rewards Club Credit Cards

IHG resembles Hyatt concerning its credit card offering. Unlike Hilton and Marriott, both of whom have an array of credit cards to choose from, IHG currently offers 2 credit cards.

IHG^® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card

Chase is the issuer of the IHG Premier card, an updated version to the IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card (no longer open to new applicants). This credit card is geared towards travelers who value IHG elite status and can receive value from the anniversary award night.

The IHG Premier card is a Chase 5/24 credit card. This is important to take into account as you will not be approved if you have opened 5 or more personal credit cards from any issuer in the past 24 months. Some business cards count as well, so we recommend checking out our Chase 5/24 guide to see if you are eligible for this card.

With that said, the IHG Premier card will rotate a huge sign-up bonus throughout the year.

On the benefits and perks front, this card comes with an anniversary reward night at any IHG property requiring up to 40,000 points per night. Cardmembers also receive complimentary IHG elite status and a fourth night included on an award booking.

IHG^® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card

Chase’s other card offering is the IHG Traveler card allows you high earning when you stay at IHG Hotels and Resorts, along with bonus earning on every day spend at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants.

As a cardmember, one of the biggest benefits is that you will get a reward night when you redeem points for any stay of 4 or more nights – all without an annual fee!

The card also offers a way to earn Gold Elite status through card spend, which allows you a faster path to status without the stay requirement.

CREDIT CARD	CARD INFO
IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card	Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening Earn 15x total points at IHG Hotels and Resorts worldwide when you combine your IHG card benefits with existing IHG Rewards Club member benefits. Earn 5x points with the card when you stay at any hotel in the IHG family of brands, plus 10x points from IHG for being an IHG Rewards Club member. Earn 2x points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants; then 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. No Annual Fee
IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card	Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening Earn 25 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel Earn 2x points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants; then 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. Annual Fee: $89

IHG Award Chart

The IHG website does not show an award chart, but we have it listed below for an easy reference. The number of points required to book a room for each hotel category is listed below.

IHG resembles both Hyatt and Marriott by offering an award chart. Hilton, on the other hand, uses dynamic pricing, so the only way to know how many points you will need per hotel is by running an award search.

A difference between the IHG award chart and both Hyatt and Marriott is peak and off-peak pricing. Hyatt recently followed in Marriott’s footsteps by introducing this pricing structure. IHG currently does not offer peak and off-peak pricing.

IHG PointBreaks

Every quarter, IHG releases its list of PointBreaks hotels. When the list is released, you can book IHG hotels for as low as 5,000 IHG points per night.

As you might imagine, these discounted points hotels book up quickly. We recommend keeping a tab on the PointsBreaks page so that you do not miss out.

Points + Cash

For those travelers who may be low on points, IHG offers a way to book hotels with a cash co-pay. Not all properties offer this option, so you will need to run an award search to see if this option is available at the hotel that you want to book.

Best Luxury IHG Hotels

InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort

The Maldives is a destination that you hear and read about all the time. While it’s a long way from the U.S., it can be a great place to visit if you find yourself in that part of the world.

Located on the Raa Atoll, the InterContinental Maldives offers guests everything they could need on a vacation. From the overwater spa to the fitness center to the executive rooms and suites to the UNESCO marine conservation site, there are plenty of things to do.

This hotel isn’t cheap at nearly $1,700 per night. The great news for those with IHG points is that you can receive nearly 1.7 cents per night value with points. The hotel requires 100,000 points per night, but if you have the points to spend you will not be disappointed with the value you receive.

Hot Tip: The InterContinental Maldives requires you to book a 20-minute flight to Dharavandhoo Domestic Airport followed by a 35-minute boat ride to the resort. The round trip transfer cost is $600 for adults and $300 for children (2-11 years old).

Points Required: 100,000 points per night

December – April Rate: ~$1,686 per night

Points Value: 1.69 cents per point

Bottom Line: If you have the IHG points to book this hotel, this redemption can provide excellent value. The value of IHG points is ~0.5 cents per point, meaning this hotel can offer more than 3 times the value of average IHG points. 

Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa (Cayman Islands)

What U.S. traveler does not want to visit the Caribbean in the wintertime? For most of you in the U.S., the Caribbean is an easy getaway from the cold temps. All of the major U.S. airlines offer nonstop flights from several cities to the Caymans. JetBlue and Southwest also have nonstop flights throughout the year, and a flight to the Caribbean can be booked on points.

If you decide to book a trip to the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, you will be pleasantly surprised by the amenities offered. There’s a spa, a 1,770-square-foot fitness center, 3 restaurants, kayaks, paddleboards, water tricycles, and a sailboat.

The peak season for the Caymans is December to April where you will need 70,000 points per night to book a room. Cash rates hover around ~$1,161 during this period, giving you a return of nearly 1.7 cents per point in value.

Hot Tip: There is a $75 daily guest amenities fee charged to your hotel bill. The cents per point value does not include this fee in the calculation.

Points Required: 70,000 points per night

December – April Rate: ~$1,161 per night

Points Value: 1.66 cents per night

Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel (Miami, FL)

Not only is the Caribbean an ideal winter destination for U.S. travelers, but so is south Florida. With so many branded hotels in this area, it is helpful to know which hotels offer the most value.

The Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel is located on South Beach. This hotel offers its guests a pool, fitness classes, and beach access. You can also book banana boats, kayaks, paddleboards, parasails, and wave runners during your stay.

Cash rates during the January to April peak season are ~$667 per night. That’s not cheap, so this is where your IHG points come in handy. 55,000 points per night are what you will need to book a room netting a respectable return of 1.21 cents per point.

Hot Tip: Guests will need to pay the $34 daily amenity fee during their stay. The point values stated above do not include this daily fee.

Points Required: 55,000 points per night

January – April Rate: ~$667 per night

Points Value: 1.21 cents per points

Kimpton Hotel Palomar (Chicago, IL)

For those of you who have been to Chicago, you know how incredible the city is during the summertime.

The Windy City has no shortage of points hotels and it is great to see that we have a luxury IHG option in the Kimpton Hotel Palomar. The fitness center, access to city bikes, indoor heated pool, spa, and daily wine hour are a few of things you will find during your stay at this hotel.

June to August is peak travel time for Chicago where you will need 50,000 IHG points per night to book a stay. At nearly $600 per night during this time, redeeming your IHG points will net you 1.1 cents per point in value.

Hot Tip: Jeni’s Ice Cream is available for in-room deliveries!

Points Required: 50,000 points per night

June – August Rate: $580 per night

Points Value: 1.16 cents per point

InterContinental London Park Lane (England, UK)

abCheck out the InterContintental London Park Lane as a place to stay in London. Image Credit: IHG

Nestled in the Mayfair neighborhood, the InterContinental London Park Lane screams classic hotel luxury. Bars and restaurants, as well as a fitness and spa, are what guests will have access to during their stay.

London is not a cheap city, especially during its peak travel time of June to September where cash rates are nearly $800 per night. 70,000 IHG points secure a room at this hotel during these dates giving you a return of more than 1 cent per point in value.

Hot Tip: The InterContinental London will be undergoing renovations until Spring 2020. If you book a stay during this time, the Club InterContinental will be closed.

Points Required: 70,000 points per night

June – September Rate: $759 per night

Points Value: 1.08 cents per point

InterContinental Resort Mauritius

Resorts in the Maldives receive a ton of love but you may also want to check out the resorts in Mauritius, an island east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean with incredible beaches and views.

A bar, restaurant, and spa are located on the property of the InterContinental Resort Mauritius.

The U.S. winter season is peak travel time for this area where you will need 30,000 points per night to book a room. Cash rates are not bad either at ~$300 per night. This gives travelers who book a stay during this time a return of more than 1 cent per point in value.

Hot Tip: Unlike the Maldives, boat and/or seaplane transfers are not required to get to and from the main airport. The drive from the airport to the resort will take ~ 1 hour. 

Points Required: 30,000 points per night

December – February Rate: $312 per night

Points Value: 1.04 cents per point

Bottom Line: For an island destination, the cash rates at the InterContinental Resort Mauritius are reasonable. As you can see from IHG hotels in the Maldives, this resort in Mauritius is much more affordable. 

Kimpton De Witt Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Amsterdam is a European city with so much to offer. Known for its museums, canal system, architecture, and cycling, it’s the perfect city to stroll around.

The Kimpton De Witt Amsterdam is a hotel to book for your stay in the city. It is a boutique hotel in the center of the city with on-property dining, among other amenities.

This hotel is not cheap at $530 per night during Amsterdam’s peak travel dates. 55,000 points per night are what you will need to book a stay. The resulting value is nearly 1 cent per IHG point.

Points Required: 55,000 points per night

June – October Rate: $530 per night

Points Value: 0.96 cents per point

Kimpton Hotel Monaco (Chicago, IL)

Joining the Kimpton Hotel Palomar Chicago is another IHG property in Chicago. The city has no shortage of hotel options, which is great for points and miles travelers.

Kimpton Hotel Monaco is in the Chicago Loop neighborhood just south of the river. The Riverwalk, Magnificent Mile, and Millennium Park are all within a short walk, confirming this hotel is in a great location.

Cash rates are slightly more than $475 per night while you will need 50,000 points per night to book this hotel. This results in a nearly 1 cent per point value.

Points Required: 50,000 points per night

June – August Rate: $478 per night

Points Value: 0.96 cents per point

Bottom Line: In terms of convenience to the sites Chicago has to offer, it will be hard to surpass the Kimpton Hotel Monaco. 

InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam (Netherlands)

In addition to the Kimpton De Witt, IHG has another Amsterdam property to check out in the InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam.

Located along the Amstel River, this waterfront hotel has easy access to the metro, a restaurant, lounge, bar with a river-view terrace, fitness center, indoor heated pool, sauna, and a steam room.

Guests will need 60,000 points per night to book this hotel that averages $558 per night during peak travel dates. With that said, 0.93 cents per point is the value you will receive.

Points Required: 60,000 points per night

June – October Rate: $558 per night

Points Value: 0.93 cents per point

Bottom Line: Whether you book the InterContinental Amstel or the Kimpton De Witt, both hotels are great options for your trip to Amsterdam. 

Kimpton EPIC Hotel (Miami, FL)

The Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel is not the only Miami property IHG has to offer. The EPIC Hotel is another Kimpton property in downtown Miami.

Property amenities include 2 pools, a bar, cabanas, fitness center, spa, and 2 restaurants.

Guests can expect to pay $510 per night during peak travel dates. 55,000 points per night snag you a free room which means the resulting cents per point value is 0.93.

Points Required: 55,000 points per night

January – April Rate: $510 per night

Points Value: 0.93 cents per point

Hot Tip: If the beach is what you are after, the Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel makes more sense to book. 

Kimpton Hotel Allegro (Chicago, IL)

Yet another Chicago hotel to make the list is the Kimpton Hotel Allegro.

This hotel, located in the Theater District, has a spa, Italian restaurant, cocktail bar, and fitness center and is pet-friendly.

The Kimpton Hotel Allegro is the most affordable points option for Chicago hotels on this list at 40,000 points per night. Guests will pay right at $370 during peak travel dates so your points will be worth slightly more than 0.90 cents per point.

Points Required: 40,000 points per night

June – August Rate: $371 per night

Points Value: 0.93 cents per point

Bottom Line: Our list details 5 luxury IHG properties in Chicago (4 Kimpton Hotels and 1 InterContinental Hotel) that deliver solid value by booking with points.

Kimpton Angler’s Hotel South Beach (Miami, FL)

To keep up with Chicago, the Kimpton Angler’s Hotel is another property in Miami that you can book with your IHG points.

While not as close to the sand as the Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel, the Kimpton Angler’s Hotel is still located near the beach. This South Beach hotel has a pool, hot tubs, loaner bikes, an on-property restaurant, plus a bar.

As you might expect, cash rates during peak travel dates are high at $500 per night. The good news is that 55,000 points per night are what you will need to book a room. 0.91 cents per point is the resulting value for your IHG points.

Points Required: 55,000 points per night

January – April Rate: $500 per night

Points Value: 0.91 cents per point

Bottom Line: The opportunity to choose from 3 luxury Kimpton Hotels is great news for those looking to make a trip to Miami on IHG points. 

InterContinental Paris – Le Grand (France)

Travelers looking for art, fashion, food, culture, and sites know that Paris has it all.

The InterContinental Paris – Le Grand is ideal for those who want a luxurious experience in Paris. Amenities include fine dining, a bar, spa, fitness center, and a steam room.

Le Grand guests will need 70,000 points per night to book a room at the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand. Cash rates average $634 per night giving you a 0.91 cents per point value.

Points Required: 70,000 points per night

May – July Rate: $634 per night

Points Value: 0.91 cents per point

Bottom Line: Prime location plus luxury is what you will receive by booking a room at the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand. 

Kimpton Gray Hotel (Chicago, IL)

The second to last Chicago hotel to make this list is the Kimpton Gray Hotel.

Located in the Chicago Loop neighborhood, the Kimpton Gray hotel is in a building that dates back to 1894. This hotel is pet-friendly and offers loaner bikes, a spa, fitness center, bar and restaurant, and rooftop lounge.

$412 per night is the average cash rate during peak travel dates. 50,000 points per night are what you will need to book a room. This means that you will be receiving slightly more than 0.8 cents per point in value.

Points Required: 50,000 points per night

June – August Rate: $412 per night

Points Value: 0.82 cents per point

Bottom Line: With nearly 1,200 reviews and a 4.6 rating on Google Maps, this hotel is delivering for its guests. 

InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile

The InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile is the last Chicago hotel to make our luxury IHG hotel list.

A steakhouse, wine bar, indoor pool, fitness center, and spa are the amenities guests will have access to during their stay.

50,000 points per night are what you will need to book a free night. Cash rates are slightly more than $400 per night resulting in a 0.82 cents per point in value.

Points Required: 50,000 points per night

June – August Rate: $411 per night

Points Value: 0.82 cents per point

Bottom Line: Chicago is flooded with luxury IHG hotels that you can book with points. 

InterContinental David Tel Aviv (Israel)

Located on the Mediterranean, Tel Aviv is where travelers go for museums, beaches, nightlife, cafes, restaurants, and shopping.

The InterContinental David Tel Aviv is in the Neve Tzedek neighborhood. Hotel amenities include rooms with ocean views, a fine-dining restaurant, a terrace bar, a cigar lounge, a fitness center, a spa, and an outdoor pool.

During peak travel dates, guests can expect to pay $400 per night or 50,000 points per night. This means that you will be receiving right at 0.80 cents per point in value.

Points Required: 50,000 points per night

December – February Rate: $399 per night

Points Value: 0.80 cents per point

Other Ways to Earn IHG Points

Members with IHG elite status will be able to rack up points quickly by focusing their stays at IHG properties. The higher your elite status, the more IHG points that you will earn. The IHG Premier card sign-up bonus is a quick way to earn IHG points.

Chase credit cards are another way to earn IHG points. While transferring Chase points to IHG might sound like a reasonable idea, we do not recommend it. Unless you are short on IHG points, we recommend redeeming Chase points with Chase’s other more valuable partners like Hyatt.

Bottom Line: Staying at IHG properties and putting your spending on an IHG credit card are the 2 best ways to earn IHG points. A combination of these 2 will ensure that you have enough points for any of the hotels in this article.

Final Thoughts

What was surprising to us is the value you can receive when booking IHG luxury hotels. The IHG point value is ~0.5 cents per point, however, we were able to find several properties where you can receive 2-3 times that value. With that said, IHG still comes in fourth in our rankings. Hyatt is number 1 followed by Marriott in second place and Hilton in third place.

While IHG elite status does not offer many of the benefits and perks that you will find at Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott, the brand does have a luxury property portfolio where you can receive outsized value with your IHG points.