Buying IHG Points With a 100% Bonus — Reader Success Story
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Today I want to share a story from TPG reader David, who got a steep discount on a hotel stay in Boston:
My wife is hoping to be a charity runner for the Boston Marathon next year. She has to apply, be accepted and raise funding for the charity, but we're hopeful all that will happen. We're looking at lodging, but hotels where the race shuttles pick up around the Boston Common are extraordinarily expensive for that weekend. There are some Airbnb options farther away, but they're still expensive, and I think the area around the Common will be better for entertaining our two little kids until my wife finishes.
I saw IHG's promotion for a 100% bonus on points purchases, and though I know buying points doesn't often make sense, I realized this could save us money. I paid $1,000 for 100,000 points, which doubled with the current promotion to 200,000 points. Combined with the points I already had, that was enough for four nights at the Kimpton Nine Zero. The cash rate for those four nights was almost $3,200.
I haven't been able to pull the trigger on the IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card (in part because of the reduced PointBreaks offerings lately), so we won't be getting a fourth night free. But I still have my old Rewards Club Select card, so in addition to a great stay with a nice breakfast in a hotel close to where we want to be (and for a fraction of the cost), we'll receive 10% of the points we spent back after the stay. This felt like pretty good value to me for the location and the ability to cancel.
David's story is a textbook example of when buying rewards makes sense. His purchase met all the criteria: he was able to buy IHG points at a substantial discount, he had an immediate plan to redeem them (that is, he wasn't buying speculatively), and most importantly, the redemption value was well above the purchase price. These might seem like exceptional circumstances induced by a major sporting event, but the same strategy may also be fruitful over a holiday, during peak travel times, or anytime rates are high. One caveat: points purchases generally don't process right away, so I don't recommend this approach if you're booking at the last minute.
Earlier this year, Ethan Steinberg made a compelling case for why you shouldn't upgrade from the old IHG Select card to the new IHG Premier card. However, I think there's a case to be made for pairing the Select card with either the Premier card or the lower-tier IHG Rewards Traveler Credit Card, both of which offer the Fourth Reward Night. That benefit alone increases the value of your points by as much as one third on stays of four nights or longer, and as David indicated, it stacks with the 10% rebate on the Select card, so you can save even more on an already discounted stay. The combination is an easy win for anyone who books IHG award stays regularly.
Related: The Best Credit Card for Buying IHG Rewards Points
I love this story and I want to hear more like it! In appreciation for sharing this experience (and for allowing me to post it online), I'm sending David a gift card to enjoy on future travels, and I'd like to do the same for you. Please email your own award travel success stories to info@thepointsguy.com; be sure to include details about how you earned and redeemed your rewards, and put "Reader Success Story" in the subject line. Feel free to also submit your most woeful travel mistakes. If your story is published, we'll send you a gift to jump-start your next adventure. Due to the volume of submissions, we can't respond to each story individually, but we'll be in touch if yours is selected.
Safe and happy travels to all, and I look forward to hearing from you!
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.