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

BY 

Michael McHugh

- UPDATED: July 15, 2021

1. Travel  / 
2. Hotels

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The IHG Rewards program is one that travelers new to points and miles may not hear much about. And while IHG may not get the same amount of attention as Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt, that does not mean it should be written off.

IHG has a full suite of hotel brand offerings for any traveler, and 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 Rewards points. Currently, we value IHG Rewards points at around 0.5 cents per point, so if you can book hotels for more than our cents per point value, you are in good shape.

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. It’s also important to include taxes and fees in your calculation of value received since taxes and fees are usually included in reservations made with points.

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 Rewards points and then which hotels you should consider booking.

IHG Rewards Credit Cards

IHG Rewards resembles World of Hyatt when looking at its credit card offering. Unlike Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy, both of which have an array of credit cards to choose from, IHG currently offers 2 credit cards exclusively issued by Chase.

IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card

CREDIT CARD

CARD INFO

IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card Learn More (at Chase's secure site)

Earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening Earn up to 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. Enjoy a Reward Night after each account anniversary year at eligible IHG hotels worldwide. Plus, enjoy a reward night when you redeem points for any stay of 4 or more nights Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier card member Good to Excellent Credit Recommend (670-850) Annual Fee: $0 for the first year, $89 thereafter

The IHG Premier card is geared towards travelers who value IHG elite status and can receive value from the anniversary award night.

The card will rotate a huge sign-up bonus throughout the year, and on the benefits and perks front, it comes with an anniversary reward night at any IHG property requiring up to 40,000 points per night. Cardmembers also receive complimentary IHG Platinum elite status and a fourth-night free benefit on all award bookings.

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.

IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card

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 up to 15 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. No Annual Fee

The IHG Traveler card allows you high earnings when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts, along with bonus earnings on everyday spending 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.

IHG Award Chart

IHG does not have an award chart because it uses dynamic pricing, similar to Hilton Honors. The number of points required to book a room will vary depending on several factors, including the cash rate, the date range, seasonality, and availability.

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

1. ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa (Japan)

InterContinental – ANA Beppu Resort & Spa is one of IHG’s most expensive resorts. It’s also one of the most unique properties in its portfolio because it is one of the rare hot spring resorts that can be booked using points.

This exceptional, aspirational property offers an indulgent wellness experience centered around traditional Japanese hot spring baths (onsens) with a fusion of Western luxury elements.

This hotel contains an all-day restaurant, a fine-dining Japanese restaurant, a Club InterContinental lounge, a beautiful cocktail bar, a gym, an outdoor infinity pool, a public hot spring bath with water said to have medicinal properties, bay views, meeting/event space, and business center.

This property costs around 60,000 points per night, although this number might fluctuate slightly due to IHG’s dynamic pricing system.

If you paid cash, you’d be spending a minimum of $600 per night, an average of $760 per night, and a maximum peak season rate of $1,750 per night, which would net you a value of up to 2.9 cents per point!

2. InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa (French Polynesia)

If you have the privilege of visiting Bora Bora and enjoying its incredible natural beauty, you’ll be pleased to learn that InterContinental has a few incredible resorts.

In particular, the most luxurious property is the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa that offers 2 fine-dining French restaurants, a beachfront eatery and bar, 3 cocktail bars, a spa, a gym, tennis courts, a water sports center, a lagoonarium, a phenomenal concierge, and a number of complimentary resort activities.

Best of all, even standard room rewards are overwater villas at least 1,022 square feet in size, complete with plush bedding, luxurious décor, and private terraces.

This property costs around 70,000 points per night for award stays, assuming you can find standard room availability. For paid rates, the average sits around $1,100 per night, while the low season rate is approximately $720 per night and the peak season rate is up to $1,300 per night. That’s up to 1.9 cents per point in value!

3. 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.

The hotel requires 100,000 to 120,000 points per night, but if you have the points to spend you will not be disappointed with the value you receive.

This hotel is one of the most expensive at nearly $1,700 per night during the high season and $900 per night on average. The great news for those with IHG Rewards points is that you can receive up to 1.7 cents per night value with points.

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

4. Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa (Cayman Islands)

What U.S. traveler does not want to visit the Caribbean in the wintertime? For most Americans, the Caribbean is an easy getaway from the cold temperatures. 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.

During the peak season, expect to redeem around 70,000 points per night for a standard room — for reference, cash bookings during this time usually hover around $1,300 per night. However, low season cash rates can go as low as $500 per night.

Even during the low season, the points price doesn’t seem to change, so you’ll generally want to redeem points for high-season bookings here. With a high-season booking, expect to get a value of around 1.9 cents per point, which is nearly 4x the ordinary value, making this one of the best Kimpton hotels to book with points!

Hot Tip: There is an $80 daily guest amenities fee charged to your hotel bill. The cents per point value does not include this fee in the calculation.

5. 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.

Points rates can fluctuate between 51,000 and 85,000 points per night, depending on when you book.

However, if you look at paid rates, cash prices range between $175 and $800 per night, so if you book during the peak season (generally around January to April), you’ll get a return of up to 0.95 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.

6. InterContinental London Park Lane (England, U.K.)

Nestled in the Mayfair neighborhood, the InterContinental London Park Lane screams classic hotel luxury. Bars and restaurants, as well as a gym 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.

Depending on when you’re staying, you’ll redeem 63,000 to 70,000 IHG Rewards points per night; when you consider peak cash rates of $800 per night, you could end up netting a value of 1.14 cents per point!

Hot Tip: For other great options, check out the best hotels in London to book with points.

7. 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 54,000 points per night to book a room. However, during the low season, you’ll find standard rooms at as little as 23,000 points per night.

Cash rates are not bad either can go as high as ~$400 per night during the high season, $150 per night during the low season, and $250 per night on average.

This gives travelers who book a stay during this time a return of more than 0.74 cents 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. 

8. 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.

» Related: The Best Ways to Fly to Europe With Points & Miles

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

When redeeming points, you’ll spend around 25,000 to 56,000 points per night, depending on whether you’re booking during the low or high season.

On the flip side, cash rates can vary from $150 per night during the low season to $500 per night during the high season. The resulting value is up to 0.9 cents per point!

9. Kimpton Hotel Monaco Chicago (Chicago, IL)

The Windy City has no shortage of hotel options, which is great for points and miles travelers.

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

To book a stay here, expect to redeem 24,000 to 62,000 points per night. During the high season, you’ll almost always see standard reward rates in the ballpark of 60,000 points per night.

Cash rates range from $180 per night during the low season to $550 per night during the late winter and early spring seasons. That’s a value of around 0.9 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 Chicago. 

10. 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 to 70,000 points per night to book this hotel. However, one of the quirks of this hotel is that the fluctuation in points price doesn’t correspond to the high or low season.

Indeed, you’ll often find high season points rates of 60,000 points per night and low season points rates of 70,000 points per night.

If paying cash, though, you’ll notice a price range of $425 to $800 per night, with the average being around $575 per night. With that said, you can get a value of up to 1.15 cents per point here!

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

11. 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, a fitness center, a spa, and 2 restaurants.

To book a points stay here, you’ll spend around 34,000 to 84,000 points per night, whereas paid stays will run around $200 to $850 per night.

The resulting cents per point value is around 1 cent per point, which is double our valuations!

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

12. 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 Rewards 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.

There’s a massive fluctuation in points rates, and it’s tied to the cash rate on the same dates — you’ll have to redeem 28,000 to 85,000 IHG Rewards points per night, depending on the exact dates.

For stays booked with cash, you’ll be responsible for room rates of anywhere from $225 to $825 per night, netting you a value of up to 0.97 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 Rewards points. 

13. 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 61,000 to 92,000 points per night to book a room at the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand. Cash rates average $550 per night with a low of $450 per night and a high of $700 per night, giving you approximately 0.76 cents per point in value.

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

14. Kimpton Gray Hotel (Chicago, IL)

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.

During the peak season (late winter to early spring), expect to use 62,000 points per night. However, during the low season, points rates as low as 24,000 points per night can be located.

You’ll spend approximately $175 to $550 per night if paying cash here, which would bring the points value of your high-season booking all the way up to 0.9 cents per point.

Bottom Line: With nearly 1,400 reviews and a 4.6 rating on Google Maps, this hotel is delivering for its guests. 

15. InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile (Chicago, IL)

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.

The points cost stays consistent at around 50,000 points per night, despite cash rates fluctuating between $200 and $500 per night. Booking a night during the high season using points results in a 1 cent per point value.

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

16. 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 the low season, guests can expect to redeem 49,000 points per night. For high season bookings, that price increases to 59,000 points per night.

In comparison, cash rates are at least $350 per night and can increase to $450 per night. This means that you will be receiving around 0.76 cents per point of value.

Other Ways To Earn IHG Rewards 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 Rewards points that you will earn. The IHG Premier card sign-up bonus is a quick way to earn IHG Rewards points.

Chase credit cards are another way to earn IHG Rewards points. While transferring Chase points to IHG might sound like a reasonable idea, we do not recommend it. Unless you are short on IHG Rewards 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 Rewards 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 Rewards point value is ~0.5 cents per point, however, we were able to find several properties where you can receive 2 to 4 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 Rewards 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 Rewards points.

The information regarding the IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.