How I Booked 4 Nights at the Kimpton Seafire Resort — For the Price of 1

The Kimpton Seafire is one of my favorite Caribbean resorts. From the pristine beach to excellent on-site dining options, my wife and I will never forget our stay in 2023.

However, the resort is pricey, especially during peak travel times. It’s common to see nightly rates creep up to the $1,000 mark during spring break and busy summer dates.

No, we didn’t spend $4,000+ for our 4-night stay. Instead, we strategically earned, bought, and redeemed IHG One Rewards points to spend under $750 in cash. It was an excellent deal compared to the standard room rate.

I’ll explain how we booked our stay at the Kimpton Seafire and how I earned the required points. But first, let’s look at what the property offers.

Kimpton Seafire Review

The Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa is a luxury beachfront property in the Cayman Islands on Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach.

Rooms are outfitted with floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies, making it easy to soak up views of the pristine beaches that back up to the beach.

Beach chairs are reserved for hotel guests. If you’re hungry or thirsty, raise a small flag attached to your chair, and a waiter will come to take your order. Occasionally, the staff will bring over frozen grapes as a treat while you take in the Caribbean sunshine, an unprompted but very welcome snack.

In addition to beachside service, the Kimpton Seafire has 4 on-site bars and restaurants, offering selections from low-key tacos and burgers to Spanish tapas. Other amenities include 2 pools, a fully equipped spa, and Camp Seafire for children.

How I Booked 4 Nights at the Kimpton Seafire for Under $1,000

First, let’s look at how many IHG One Rewards points we needed for our stay.

When I booked our trip to the Kimpton Seafire in early 2023, the nightly price was 70,000 points per night. As of 2025, that 70,000-point rate remains the same for most award nights.

In 2023, I applied for the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card with an outsized welcome bonus offer, which is the same one available now: Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The IHG Premier Business card is the perfect option for business travelers who regularly stay at IHG hotels.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

The IHG Premier Business card is the perfect option for business travelers who regularly stay at IHG hotels.

Welcome Offer

Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

140,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$700

Annual Fee

$99

APR

19.99% - 28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

IHG Rewards and Chase have teamed up to offer the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card, a compelling option for those who travel often for their business and stay at IHG hotels.

In this review, we will cover all of the benefits of the card, including earning rates, perks, fees, and more to help you determine whether the card is a good fit for your travel goals.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Up to 26x total points per $1 spent on IHG Hotels and Resorts
• 5x points per $1 spent on travel, at gas stations, select advertising, and restaurants
• 3x points per $1 spent on all other purchases

Cons

• $99 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Plus, enjoy a fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG^® hotel stay.
• Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels and Resorts
• Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, select advertising, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier Business cardmember
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck^® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $120 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
• IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at hotels such as InterContinental^®, Crowne Plaza^®, Kimpton^®, EVEN^® Hotels, Indigo^® Hotels & Holiday Inn^®
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

The IHG Premier Business card offers a suite of perks, including the fourth consecutive night free on all award stays. In other words, we needed to accrue 210,000 points on 3 nights to get to the fourth night comped. 

After earning the welcome offer, I had 152,000 points in my account. The card earns 3x points per dollar on all purchases, although there are various 5x and 10x bonus categories, too.

I purchased the remaining 58,000 points required for my stay during an IHG buy-points promotion. This promotion offered a 100% bonus on purchased points, bringing the cost to just half a cent each. The total cost of the points came to $290.

In addition, the Kimpton Seafire charges an $85 nightly resort fee. This is slightly higher than the $80 per night that the property charged when we stayed in 2023. Unlike World of Hyatt and Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards does not waive resort fees on award stays, so I spent an additional $320 in resort fees during our 4-night stay.

Total Cash and Points Cost

Ultimately, I spent $705 out of pocket for our stay at the Kimpton Seafire for 4 nights. This price includes the resort fee, buying 58,000 points, and the IHG Premier Business card’s $99 annual fee.

This is far cheaper than a cash stay during the dates we booked, which would’ve made the stay roughly $3,750 after resort fees. Again, that was well out of our budget at the time, so being able to strategically buy and earn IHG points made this trip possible.

How To Book Your Own Discounted Stay at the Kimpton Seafire With Points

You can also score a similar redemption at the Kimpton Seafire in a few other ways.

Thanks to an elevated welcome offer for the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, you can earn 120,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

Best of all, the IHG Traveler card has a $0 annual fee — and still includes the valuable fourth-night free perk.

HIGHEST POINTS OFFER OF 2025

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Earn up to 17x when you stay at IHG hotels, 3x on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants, and 2x on all other purchases.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

Earn up to 17x when you stay at IHG hotels, 3x on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants, and 2x on all other purchases.

Welcome Offer

Earn 120,000 Bonus Points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

120,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$600

Annual Fee

$0

APR

19.99% - 28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

If you’re someone who is looking to enhance your IHG stays by earning more points and benefits, without paying an annual fee, then the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card might be the perfect fit for you.

In this guide, we will provide a detailed view of what the card can offer so you can decide if it makes sense to add to your wallet.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Up to 17x total points per $1 on IHG stays
• 3x points per $1 on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants
• 2x point per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• Not as rewarding as the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Our Highest Points Offer of 2025! Earn 120,000 Bonus Points
• No Annual Fee
• Earn up to 17 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
• Earn 3 points per $1 spent on purchases on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
• No Foreign Transaction Fees
• Redeem 3 Nights, Get the 4th Night Free
• IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental^®, Crowne Plaza^®, Kimpton^®, EVEN^® Hotels, Indigo^® Hotels & Holiday Inn^®
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

IHG Rewards Loyalty Program Review

The IHG Traveler card lets you earn up to 17x points on stays at IHG Hotels & Resorts, 3x points on dining, gas, and select monthly bills, and 2x points on all other eligible purchases. That means you’ll rack up at least 4,000 additional points just by hitting the minimum spend for the welcome bonus.

If you time it right with a 100% IHG points purchase promotion, you could buy the remaining 86,000 points for as little as $430.

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is currently featuring its top welcome bonus of 2025: Earn 5 free nights after spending $5,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Each free night is valued at up to 60,000 points — but keep in mind, you can’t add points to extend the value of these specific certificates with the welcome offer.

BEST OFFER OF 2025

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The perfect card for IHG fans, offering a free night every year, automatic Platinum Elite status, and your fourth night free on award stays.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

The perfect card for IHG fans, offering a free night every year, automatic Platinum Elite status, and your fourth night free on award stays.

Welcome Offer

Earn 5 Free Nights – valued at up to 300,000 total points – after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Each Free Night is valued at up to 60,000 points.

5 Free Nights

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,500

Annual Fee

$99

APR

19.99% - 28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you regularly visit IHG hotels throughout the year, then the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is probably a perfect card to have in your wallet.

The IHG Premier card offers a great bundle of perks and benefits, including automatic Platinum elite status, an annual free night certificate, and travel protections.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Up to 26x points per $1 on IHG stays
• 5x points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants
• 3x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $99 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable points

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Our Best Offer of 2025! Earn 5 Free Nights
• Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Plus, enjoy a fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG^® hotel stay.
• Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
• Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier cardmember
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck^® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $120 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
• IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental^®, Crowne Plaza^®, Kimpton^®, EVEN^® Hotels, Indigo^® Hotels & Holiday Inn^®
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

However, the IHG Premier card comes with an anniversary free night certificate upon paying the $99 annual fee. This certificate is worth up to 40,000 points — and unlike the welcome bonus free nights, you can top it off with unlimited points to book a more expensive stay like the Kimpton Seafire.

Final Thoughts

The Kimpton Seafire is an excellent Caribbean resort for a long weekend of rest and relaxation, but it’s not cheap at nearly $1,000 per night. You can book it for significantly less out-of-pocket with IHG One Rewards points.

This redemption isn’t limited to the Kimpton Seafire. IHG has high-end resorts around the world, spanning everywhere from Mexico to the Maldives. Consider applying for the IHG One Rewards Premier card if you’re planning a getaway.