r/ihghotelsresorts

Hi guys! I’ve been cruising through life only occasionally using credit cards and just getting cash back. I decided to dip my toes into travel rewards credit cards. I chose IHG because I already have chase and I have enjoyed several IHG properties in the past (such as Hotel Indigo in NYC). I know if I spend a certain amount within a certain time frame I will get the rewards points which I plan on doing.

How can I best maximize this card? What hotels do you recommend? We have two elementary-aged kids and prefer nice hotels/resorts.

Through June 6, 2026, IHG One Rewards is running a promotion offering a 100% bonus on purchased points. During this sale, members can buy points for $0.005 (0.5 cents) each, which is the lowest price IHG offers all year. This is time to load up your points if you need it in the next 1-3 months.

Tomorrow is the big day to see how point values change.

If they drop as expected - and points are worth 30% less, how will that change your calculus on which hotel programs and credit cards to go after?

I moved to Hyatt 3 years ago after being a Marriott loyalist for 10+ years. Too many people all trying to stay at Marriott and the properties were not keeping up and everyone was platinum or higher, so status didn’t get you much.

When I went all in on Hyatt, I also had Hilton as the next best choice but after two devals, I’ve kept IHG as my second choice bc it’s very very predictable, easy to earn and buy, great 4th night benefit. Not great for other credit card partners though.

Here is my take- I think I will drop Hyatt to 2nd choice and promote IHG to the top. IHG doesn’t have as many stunning properties, and is not as advantageous as globalist (club lounge and free parking and all), but you get the upgrades and breakfast and reasonable / predictable points bookings. I’m on my way to diamond already (via CSR spend). Interested on how others will shift.

For Hyatt I will use for lower end properties where point values go far and I can bring the whole family. And when that isn’t available, holiday inn express it is ;)

I also think points boost on chase will become a lot more valuable so will keep points there versus transferring to hotel partners.

The Hyatt party was great while it lasted….

Update: good discussion and some convincing points made that it’s not all about the “points”, which I agree with. The service and benefits of being globalist are great and better availability for loyal customers is something that could keep me loyal to Hyatt. If they lose those benefits and don’t give good availability, then, yes, I’m out!!!!

Seems to be a common theme here. One minute I was doing a survey for 500 points, then paying $159 for a 4 night stay. It wasn’t until after my card was charged that I was briefed on the presentations that are to be attended while we are there. What can I expect?

My husband and I are planning to visit Amsterdam this fall. I currently have a reservation at the Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam - City Hall. After many months, I finally received an offer to buy points at a 100% bonus which I plan to take advantage of (even if I don’t buy the full amount). I hold the IHG Premier card so I get the fourth night free on award stays; the stay in Amsterdam is for five nights.

I am now able to purchase enough points to have enough for a stay at the Kimpton De Witt. I am diamond elite, so I am curious about the free breakfast benefit and if anyone has any data points on how it works there. Part of the appeal of the Holiday Inn Express is the free breakfast (since Amsterdam is not a cheap city), so I want to ensure that the diamond break benefit is substantial before deciding to adjust our reservation.

I am buying additional points regardless of our decision to change our reservation.

Diamond elite member here. I booked a government rate at a hotel near a US university using the IHG app because, well, I work for a govt agency and will be participating in a govt panel that happens to be on a Saturday.

Not sure if I’ll be able to find childcare for my children over the weekend of my conference, so I booked my room for 2 adults, 2 kids in an appropriate room type using the government rate from Friday-Sunday. Rate details in the app and email confirmations all show that I have a 4-day free cancellation window, that my cc will be charged 3 days prior to check in, that I have to show my govt id blah blah blah.

Well, I just received an email from the “manager”, using their private hotel company’s email address, “kindly” asking me to read their “important policy update on government rate restrictions.” Namely, that government rates are not available on Fridays and Saturdays and special events, that maximum number of persons per room is 2, that a 1-night nonreturnable deposit is due at the time of booking, among some other terms.

Anyways, that’s strange, because I already have a binding contract as per my IHG reservation.

The email sent is written in very poor English, poor grammar without even complete sentences, and doesn’t give me any instructions to resolve the conflict between the rate terms I’ve reserved vs these new rate terms they’ve sent me.

How would you proceed??

TLDR: Diamond elite member booked a reservation with very specific rate terms using the IHG app. Hotel emailed me completely different rate terms without even referencing my existing reservation, just to make me aware of their policy.

100% . Just dropped

We try to choose IHG hotels when they’re in good locations. Outside of the US we’ve been pleasantly surprised with their vegan options at breakfast. Indigo hotels in Helsinki, London, Bath. Holiday Inns in Osaka and London, and the IC Strings in Tokyo. That last was a dream!

What I’m wondering is, was my impression of ICs too favorably influenced by Tokyo? We’re at the IC Budapest at the moment, and the buffet is huge, yes, but not at all Vegan Friendly. There’s fruit, muesli, and a few cold veggies. The labels are hit or miss so I’m not sure about the bread. The hot food basically has mushrooms and potatoes. Plant milk is available, by request so you have to ask. (Asking is a challenge because this place is crazy packed!)

We’ve booked the IC in Warsaw later this year and I’m wondering what the will be like? Maybe we should stick to Indigos?

We booked a premium king with lounge access for three nights At IC Le Grand. I checked the reservation and it has an upgraded room, but it no longer says lounge access. Will we still have the lounge access? Diamond/Ambassador member, first time staying at Le Grand.

Thanks.