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[Expired] How I’m Scoring 5 Free Hotel Nights This Summer With the IHG Premier Card

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Juan Ruiz
Edited by: Michael Y. Park
& Stella Shon
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Update:

The offer information below has expired and is no longer available.

If you’re planning a summer 2025 vacation and want to book some fancy hotels, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card has a new welcome bonus offer that should pique your interest.

For a limited time, eligible applicants of the IHG Premier card can earn 5 free nights (worth 60,000 points each) by spending $5,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.

This matches the best welcome offer we’ve seen on this card since last summer, allowing for the possibility of redeeming up to 300,000 points by fully maximizing the welcome offer on higher end hotel redemptions.

I couldn’t pass up this fantastic new bonus offer, so I applied for the IHG Premier card with the goal of redeeming my free night certificates for an upscale hotel stay this summer.

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IHG Premier Card: Earn 5 Free Nights

IHG free night certificates are rewards offered through IHG co-branded credit cards that allow you to book 1 night at select IHG hotels without needing any points or cash — just the certificate itself.

The welcome bonus offer of the IHG Premier card includes 5 free night certificates, worth up to 60,000 IHG One Rewards points each. We value IHG One Rewards points at 0.5 cents apiece, making this welcome offer worth up to $1,500 in hotel stays.

That said, you can only use free night certificates for a single night — you cannot book multiple nights totaling 60,000 points. In addition, the free night awards earned from this welcome bonus offer cannot be topped off with additional points (or cash), but fortunately, there are plenty of properties that can be booked for under 60,000 IHG points.

Now that I’ve explained how IHG free night certificates work, here’s how I plan to use them for a 5-night trip at luxury IHG hotels this summer.

2 Nights in Picturesque New England

Manchester, Vermont, is a beautiful summer destination that offers outdoor activities such as hiking, zip-lining, and lovely lakes. And because Kimpton is my favorite IHG brand, I have been eyeing the Kimpton Taconic Hotel in Manchester for a family vacation.

Kimpton Taconic
The Kimpton Taconic. Image Credit: IHG

This presents an excellent opportunity for me to maximize the value of my IHG free night certificate, as I see that award pricing for a family (more than 2 guests) in the summer falls under the 60,000-point mark.

Kimpton Manchester Vermont
Image Credit: IHG

When looking up cash rates during the high-demand summer months, I noticed that nightly rates can vary from $300 to more than $400, including taxes and fees. Therefore, redeeming my 60,000-point certificates is like saving around $1,200 on a 3-night stay.

Hot Tip:

We value IHG One Rewards at 0.5 cents apiece. A summer redemption at the Kimpton Taconic Hotel will earn me 0.5 cents per point, or possibly more.

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3 Nights in the City That Never Sleeps

After spending a few nights in Vermont, our family plans to celebrate my twin daughters’ birthdays in New York City. For this portion of the trip, I’m seriously considering returning to the InterContinental New York Times Square.

Intercontinental Hotel Times Square New York City
Intercontinental Hotel Times Square, New York City. Image Credit: Chris Hassan

I’ve stayed here before and appreciated how it balances luxury, convenience, and a fantastic Midtown Manhattan location — so close to the heart of Broadway, with easy access to Central Park, Hudson Yards, and attractions that are great for families.

I find this hotel even more appealing because of the value I get when redeeming IHG One Rewards points. During peak summer dates, cash rates at the InterContinental Times Square can easily run from $400 to over $700 per night.

InterContinental Times Square Cash Rates
Image Credit: IHG

With IHG’s dynamic pricing, I found several award nights under 60,000 points, and sometimes even less if I’m flexible over the summer. Cash rates average $406, resulting in a value of 0.6 to 1 cent per point. This is a great redemption that will save me over $800 for a 2-night reservation.

IHG InterContinental Times Square Points Rate
Image Credit: IHG

Overall, staying at the InterContinental Times Square for my daughters’ birthday in NYC makes a lot of sense. I find it an excellent way to use my free night certificates in a city where hotel prices skyrocket during the summer — and where being in a convenient Midtown location matters.

Bottom Line:

I’m saving over $2,000 on 5 nights of hotel stays for our family trip this summer, all thanks to the new welcome bonus on the IHG Premier card. It’s an amazing deal, especially considering the card’s modest $99 annual fee.

Final Thoughts

From city getaways to seaside luxury and boutique charm, IHG’s varied brands, along with the value of these certificates, make selecting a hotel for an upcoming summer vacation somewhat challenging — but it’s a wonderful dilemma to face. I’m excited to redeem these certificates for a late summer trip with my family.

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About Juan Ruiz

Juan is a leading expert in credit cards, loyalty programs, and airlines and hotels, with over a decade of experience helping readers and clients maximize points, miles, and travel value. His insights have appeared in prestigious outlets including USA Today, Travel & Leisure, CNN Underscored, Forbes, and The Points Guy, where he’s known for making complex travel strategies accessible and actionable. As the founder of JetBetter, Juan turns the complex world of points and miles into effortless, high-value travel, guiding clients through award redemptions, uncovering maximum value, and delivering stress-free, expertly planned trips that both travelers and industry insiders rely on.

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