Quick Points: 2 easy ways to get more value from your IHG points

IHG One Rewards uses dynamic award pricing, so award rates vary alongside paid rates. Even so, there are still several ways savvy travelers can get more value from their IHG points.

I've previously written about how to maximize IHG award redemptions. But, in this Quick Points post, let's discuss two easy ways to get more value when redeeming IHG points.

Use the fourth-night-free benefit

The best and easiest way to get more value from your IHG points is to get the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (see rates and fees), IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card (see rates and fees) or IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (see rates and fees) and then redeem your points for stays of lengths evenly divisible by four (such as four, eight or 12 days).

That's because these three cards offer the valuable IHG fourth-reward-night-free benefit. This perk allows members with select IHG credit cards to pay zero points for every fourth night when they redeem IHG points for stays of four nights or longer.

On longer stays, eligible cardholders also pay zero points for the eighth, 12th, 16th and so on nights. You can get even more value from this perk when the zero-cost nights fall on dates with more expensive award rates, which often include New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day and weekend nights.

Related: How (and why) to calculate award redemption values

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Redeem with lower-earning brands

You'll earn 10 points per dollar spent — plus an elite bonus if you have IHG elite status — on paid stays at most IHG hotels and resorts. But you'll only earn 5 points per dollar spent — plus the elite bonus if you're eligible — at Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites.

When you redeem IHG points for your stay, you miss out on earning points on your room rate. So, while your redemption rate likely won't be any higher, you'll miss out on fewer points when you redeem for stays at Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites and book paid rates for other IHG stays.

Related: Best hotel brands with full kitchens you can book with points

How to earn IHG points

There are plenty of ways to earn IHG points, but the easiest are through IHG bonus points promotions and IHG credit cards. Here's a look at the current welcome offers on IHG credit cards:

• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Earn 175,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card: Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, plus up to an additional 30,000 bonus points by earning 3 additional points per dollar on purchases that earn 2 and 3 points per dollar on up to $10,000 spent in the first six months.
• IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card: Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

I've seen IHG award nights priced as low as 5,000 points per night. So, while you could spend one of these bonuses on a single night, you could also get many nights — just by adding a single card to your wallet.

Related: Why you should get (and keep) the IHG One Rewards Premier card