Maximizing IHG Rewards Membership for household journey

Replace: Some affords talked about beneath are now not obtainable. View the present affords right here.

The InterContinental Accommodations Group (IHG) has greater than 5,000 properties sprawled throughout 100 international locations. The IHG universe contains the luxurious InterContinental Accommodations and lots of different manufacturers: Kimpton, Regent, Voco, Lodge Indigo, Staybridge Suites, Crowne Plaza, Candlewood Suites, Hualuxe, Avid Accommodations, EVEN Accommodations, Vacation Inn, Vacation Inn Resorts, Vacation Inn Specific and Vacation Inn Membership Holidays.

Whether or not it is a luxurious trip or a snug keep close to the grandparents, you’ll be able to virtually at all times discover a family-friendly IHG property and you’ll reap good advantages by belonging to the IHG Rewards Membership.

Earn 125,000 bonus factors plus a Reward Evening after spending $3,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening with the IHG Rewards Premier Credit score Card.

For extra TPG information delivered every morning to your inbox, join our day by day e-newsletter.

Listed below are a few of the methods you’ll be able to profit from stays with IHG Rewards.

Kids, as much as age 11, take pleasure in a free meal at Vacation Inn eating places worldwide (12 and underneath in Europe, Asia Pacific, the Center East, Africa and Higher China), they usually can keep free of charge of their dad and mom’ room (as much as two youngsters, ages 18 and youthful within the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean and South America). Though few properties within the U.S. cost additional for youngsters, it occurs on a regular basis in Europe so this can be a invaluable perk.

Associated: get free resort breakfast

Keep at Vacation Inn Kidsuites

Many Vacation Inn properties provide Kidsuites, which might be so simple as a small partitioned space with a tv and Xbox for the youngsters, or as elaborate as a separate, themed bed room — typically with bunk beds.

Every day Publication

Reward your inbox with the TPG Every day e-newsletter

Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants

Search for Vacation Inn Resorts with household actions

Of all of the IHG manufacturers, Vacation Inn Resorts appear to be probably the most family-friendly. Many embrace waterparks, actions resembling cooking courses, arts and crafts, and youngsters golf equipment. Some particularly standard resorts embrace:

• Vacation Inn Resort Orlando Lake Buena Vista
• Vacation Inn Resort Orlando Suites – Waterpark
• Vacation Inn Resort Montego Bay All-Inclusive
• Vacation Inn Resort Aruba-Seaside Resort & On line casino
• Vacation Inn Resort Cayman Islands

Kimpton affords family-friendly facilities

Kimpton greets youngsters with a welcome present and affords rooms with bunk beds, a Youngsters Pleased Hour or Hula-Hoops within the health heart. Different facilities (some complimentary) embrace kayaks, bikes and swimming pools.

Dad and mom can request a toddler security equipment to “childproof” the room. (Listed below are some suggestions for babyproofing resort rooms.) Lodge eating places provide booster seats and excessive chairs and the resort may also assist you discover a babysitter for a mother or father’s evening out.

Complimentary breakfast at choose manufacturers

Sadly, standing with IHG does not include as many perks as you may discover with different applications (resembling membership lounge entry, late checkout, welcome presents or breakfast). However, a lot of IHG’s low-tier properties embrace complimentary breakfast day by day to all friends included within the nightly fee. No standing wanted.

• Vacation Inn Specific: At Specific Begin Breakfast, households can take pleasure in recent eggs, egg white omelets, bacon and sausage, yogurt, cinnamon rolls and make-your-own pancakes.
• Staybridge Suites: Scorching breakfast buffet with all of your favorites, together with recent and wholesome objects.
• Avid Accommodations: This comparatively new model throughout the IHG chain affords on-the-go breakfast objects: hard-boiled eggs and egg sandwiches, breakfast bars and yogurt, and lots of different objects. Espresso is obtainable to friends 24 hours a day.

You should purchase factors cheaply

Though I by no means counsel speculatively buying factors, the IHG Rewards Membership program runs promotions all year long when you’ll be able to buy factors with a whopping 100% bonus. When this promotion pops up, you’re buying factors at a low 0.5 cents per level. This implies you’ll be able to keep in an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora for a set $350 per evening (even much less relying on what number of nights you keep and if you’re an IHG cardholder). (Seaside bungalows on the InterContinental Le Moana Bora Bora worth out at 70,000 factors per evening. When you purchase miles at 5 cents every and redeem these factors for a bungalow, you are paying the equal of $350.)

IHG additionally permits you to e book Level + Money reservations for those who do not need sufficient factors for a full award redemption. This lets you buy the remaining factors at a fee of 0.6 to 0.8 cents per level. IHG typically even runs promotions on the money portion. These promotions typically let you “purchase” factors for lower than a half-cent per level.

Speed up promotions

The IHG Rewards Membership program often has a promotion the place you’ll be able to earn bonus factors in your keep. Usually known as the Speed up promotion, members obtain totally different affords and “duties” to finish to maximise the variety of factors earned. Relying in your provide and your upcoming journey plans, these promotions can present nice worth for households. The provide often is the probability to earn double factors on each keep, or full two weekend stays and obtain a sure variety of bonus factors.

Accommodations as little as 10,000 factors per evening, at all times

IHG Rewards Membership affords an easy rewards program. There are 13 classes with motels requiring wherever from 10,000 to 70,000 factors for a free evening keep. The 40,000-point motels are sometimes the “candy spots” within the award chart because the reward evening certificates that comes with the IHG Rewards Premier Credit score Card is capped at motels pricing 40,000 factors or much less.

Households have many alternatives to redeem factors. Both redeem as you earn, or save up for that incredible resort that will have in any other case been unobtainable with money.

Incomes standing is straightforward however not helpful

Incomes standing is straightforward via the IHG Rewards Premier Credit score Card (computerized Platinum standing), through a standing match or just by staying at IHG properties. Nonetheless, advantages of standing aren’t almost pretty much as good as a few of the different resort chains (no assured advance upgrades, membership lounge entry or complimentary breakfast). Nonetheless, some standing is healthier than no standing in any respect.

Platinum Elite standing, for instance, will grant your loved ones the next advantages:

• Bonus factors: On paid stays, you may obtain a 50% bonus on all factors earned. Or, if you’re utilizing factors for a free evening keep, any incidentals you cost to the room will even earn the bonus.
• Room upgrades: Upon check-in, you need to be given a complimentary room improve, though suites are excluded. Sadly, award stays are additionally excluded from this profit. I would not stroll into an IHG property and anticipate an improve, however as I discussed earlier than, your probabilities of getting upgraded are increased with Platinum standing, so it’s higher than nothing.
• Late checkout: Though Platinum members get late checkout, there isn’t a rule concerning the additional time. It’s as much as the discretion of the resort, so I counsel asking at check-in. Paying with that “Platinum card” additionally won’t damage.

Notice: In earlier years, we’d have touted IHG’s PointBreaks promotions, which diminished the variety of factors per evening required for a free evening to simply 5,000. The listing of properties rotated quarterly. Nonetheless, PointBreaks shouldn’t be at present lively.

IHG additionally has a ton of Vacation Inn Membership Holidays the place you need to use your factors for an upgraded suite with a kitchen. The Vacation Inn Membership Holidays Orlando At Orange Lake Resort falls into that class the place you’ll be able to e book a 1,200-square-foot two-bedroom villa that sleeps eight (with a washer/dryer) — all from simply 40,000 factors an evening. Staying right here will let you take pleasure in a 1,450-acre resort and go to Mickey at close by Walt Disney World. You may even have a completely outfitted kitchen and a washer/dryer.

Among the many leisure amenities are seven swimming pools, 4 waterslides and a lazy river, tennis, racquetball, basketball or golf, together with mini-golf for the youngsters.

When you signed up for the IHG Rewards Premier Credit score Card and earned 125,000 bonus factors plus a Reward Evening after spending $3,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening, you’d have greater than sufficient factors for a three-night keep at Vacation Inn Membership Holidays Orlando at Orange Lake Resort.

Associated: Information to visiting Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney World

Vacation Inn Buena Park-Close to Knott’s

When you want to go to Mickey on the opposite coast, you’ll be able to keep on the Vacation Inn Buena Park-Close to Knott’s. Though there are lots of IHG properties in Anaheim, if you’re open to staying a couple of miles away, you’ll be able to take pleasure in this property from 25,000 IHG factors an evening. (The entire different close by properties are a minimum of an extra 10k factors an evening.)

When you’re operating numbers based mostly on IHG’s present 125k welcome-point bonus, you’d have the ability to e book six nights at this property. (5 nights paying with factors and cardholders obtain the fourth evening free on all award stays.)

Though you’ll not be inside strolling distance of Disneyland whereas staying at this resort, you’re solely six miles away and the property offers a complimentary shuttle, saving you cash on parking. And in case you have youngsters, Knott’s Berry Farm is true down the road. This property affords the most important out of doors heated pool in Buena Park, good for those who determine to take a day to loosen up by the pool.

Associated: plan a visit to Knott’s Berry Farm

Vacation Inn Resort Grand Cayman

At 25,000 factors an evening, the Vacation Inn Resort Grand Cayman is a complete steal. You may get greater than 1 cent per level in worth many instances of the 12 months by redeeming at this tropical resort.

It is not the fanciest possibility on Grand Cayman and awards aren’t obtainable each evening, however it’ll get you solar, sand and pool time in a double queen-bed room that sleeps 4. Even higher, ocean-view rooms present up as an possibility you’ll be able to e book on factors. Grand Cayman is a Southwest Airways vacation spot with nonstop flights from Fort Lauderdale, Baltimore-BW and Houston-Passion, so you have bought a Caribbean getaway on a budget in case you have a Companion Go or Fast Rewards factors burning a gap in your pocket. When you make the journey, listed here are a few of our favourite issues for households to do in Grand Cayman.

Vacation Inn Resort Montego Bay All-Inclusive, Jamaica

When you’re on the lookout for a no-stress getaway, take a look at the Vacation Inn Resort Montego Bay. The all-inclusive 50,000-per-night factors fee contains two adults and two youngsters underneath 12. (Additional folks 13 and older are charged $80 per evening, collected on the resort.) With charges simply topping $350 per evening, the resort is a strong worth. Though “Vacation Inn” and “luxurious trip” is probably not in the identical sentence fairly often, the resort’s location on a personal island will get nice opinions from friends. Montego Bay can also be a Southwest Airways vacation spot if that helps deliver the journey nearer to actuality.

Vacation Inn Resort Aruba

The Vacation Inn Resort Aruba is one in all my favourite IHG properties to go to with factors. This resort is true within the center of Palm Seaside the place you may discover many different high-end motels, however the different properties require considerably extra factors — regardless that they’re all on the very same seashore. At this Vacation Inn property, rooms price simply 40,000 IHG factors for a one-night keep.

Lodge Indigo San Diego-Del Mar

The Lodge Indigo San Diego Del Mar is in a quaint seashore group that will make for a calming household getaway. The resort prides itself on being dog- and kid-friendly. The rooms function two queen beds and a few provide an ocean view. The resort opinions point out pleasant workers and a super-convenient location. Price is from 30,000 IHG factors per evening (room charges on this location at peak season are about $300 per evening).

Vacation Inn Lodge & Suites, Montreal Centre-Ville Ouest

Montreal is a terrific long-weekend vacation spot and IHG factors properties provide strong values all through the town. The best choice is the Vacation Inn Lodge & Suites Montreal Centre-ville Ouest because it prices an inexpensive 30,000 IHG factors an evening versus money charges of $200 or extra all through a lot of the 12 months.

Vacation Inn & Suites Clearwater Seaside S-Harbourside

Florida seashore locations is usually a good match for households who need to get away with out leaving the mainland. Flights to Florida from different US gateways are sometimes cheaper and extra plentiful than flying to the Caribbean. This makes the Vacation Inn & Suites Clearwater Seaside S-Harbourside the proper vacation spot to think about with IHG factors.

At simply 30,000 IHG factors an evening, you’re at a resort proper on the water and a trolley journey away from Pier 60 at Clearwater Seaside. Plus, this property is true subsequent door to the brand-new Splash Harbour Water Park. Parking is complimentary and there aren’t any resort charges.

Kimpton Lodge Palomar Washington, D.C.

You’ll be able to redeem your IHG factors at Kimpton properties, which brings extra funky and upscale choices to the desk. Kimpton properties are primarily in main cities resembling New York, Austin and Denver, though there are few outliers (such because the Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa in Grand Cayman, Kimpton Shorebreak Resort in Huntington Seaside, California, and the Kimpton Taconic in Manchester, Vermont).

If you’re on the lookout for a family-friendly metropolis vacation spot, Washington, D.C., there are virtually a dozen Kimpton properties, such because the Kimpton Lodge Palomar Washington, D.C. This property prices 50,000 IHG factors per evening and places you proper in Dupont Circle, the place you’ll be able to take the Metro or stroll to the zoo in Woodley Park, the Nationwide Mall and the various museums away from the mall. After a protracted day of exploring, there may be an indoor pool ready for your loved ones.

The most effective advantages of this card is that you’re going to obtain a reward-night certificates on each anniversary 12 months — redeemable for properties that price as much as 40,000 factors an evening. When you can make the most of this certificates yearly, this profit alone is valued at $200. If each you and your important different maintain this card, that can provide you two complimentary nights a 12 months (learn: weekend getaway). You’ll be able to consider this perk as paying for the annual price after which the entire different advantages you obtain are pure add-ons.

Fourth evening reward on award stays

My second favourite advantage of this card is that when reserving award stays, you obtain your fourth-night reward. This is applicable to each fourth evening of a single reservation. So in case you have an eight-night keep, you may obtain the reward evening twice. Though a couple of different resort chains offer you a free evening when utilizing factors, it sometimes applies to your fifth evening free.

Complimentary World Entry or TSA PreCheck

When you or your loved ones haven’t got World Entry, this card affords an as much as $100 assertion credit score. All it’s important to do is pay the $100 World Entry software price and you may obtain a $100 assertion credit score. And the most effective half is that the names don’t must match, so if you have already got World Entry, you need to use it to pay on your kid’s software. If your loved ones is touring internationally (together with a lot of the Caribbean), zipping via customs through the use of the World Entry kiosk is big. There may be nothing worse than standing in a protracted line after getting off a protracted flight with younger youngsters. All kids must have World Entry to undergo the World Entry line, no matter age.

World Entry is legitimate for 5 years. It’s also possible to use the assertion credit score on TSA PreCheck however with World Entry, you routinely obtain TSA PreCheck, so that you may as nicely get World Entry.

Platinum Elite standing

IHG might be one of many weaker resort loyalty applications in terms of standing, however strolling right into a resort with some standing is healthier than no standing in any respect. Many households will even parlay their IHG Platinum standing to finish a standing match or standing problem with one other resort chain. This contains incomes Hilton Honors standing, Marriott Bonvoy standing, Wyndham Rewards standing, Selection Privileges standing and Radisson Rewards standing. And sure, having Platinum standing merely from the bank card will qualify.

I additionally love that IHG factors won’t ever expire in case you have standing. With out it, factors expire if there isn’t a exercise within the account for 12 months. Having standing (even whether it is simply by being a cardholder) will make sure you by no means have to fret about dropping your factors.