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IHG Revamps PointBreaks Program, Creating Three Discounted Price Levels
JT Genter
Contributor
JT is a location-independent digital nomad traveling 250,000+ miles each year with his wife Katie.
Jan. 25, 2018
•
3 min read
IHG Revamps PointBreaks Program, Creating Three Discounted Price Levels
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For years, IHG points collectors have had the chance to book hotels at just 5,000 points per night through the PointBreaks program. While past lists have included top-notch InterContinental hotels, recent lists have been quite underwhelming.
Sure, you could still save up to 80% off the standard points price of a Staybridge Suites in Fort Worth, but the offerings generally haven't been very exciting.
The good news: It seems that IHG Rewards has listened to our complaints and is revamping the program. Starting with the new PointBreaks list dropping this Monday, January 29, PointBreaks properties will be offered at three different point values: 5,000; 10,000 and 15,000 points.
To give us an idea of how this will work, IHG has provided sampling of the "more than 200 properties that will be featured" on the new list:
- Holiday Inn Kuala Lumpur Glenmarie (Malaysia): 5,000 points
- InterContinental Nairobi (Kenya): 10,000 points
- Holiday Inn San Antonio Northwest (US): 10,000 points
- InterContinental Cali (Colombia): 10,000 points
- Holiday Inn Express London – Newbury Park (UK): 10,000 points
- InterContinental Sao Paolo (Brazil): 15,000 points
- Holiday Inn Helsinki City Centre (Finland): 15,000 points
- Crowne Plaza Berlin – Potsdamer Platz (Germany): 15,000 points
The new list will be fully unveiled on Friday with bookings starting at 12 noon Eastern on Monday, January 29. The discounted stays will be available for nights from January 29 through April 30, 2018.
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At first, this might seem like a devaluation. In the past, all of the properties have been at 5,000. Now, some will be up to 3x that price. However, it all depends on the implementation when deciding whether this is better or worse for IHG Rewards members.
The first encouraging sign: more discounted properties. The last PointBreaks list of 2017 only had 100 properties. The list before that had 106 properties. On the first list for 2018, we're told that there will be at least 200 properties. We will have to wait to see the full list on Monday in order to see how many of these will be at 5,000 vs. 10,000 vs. 15,000. Perhaps there will be less than 100 hotels discounted all the way down to 5,000 points. But, across the whole list, there's double the number of properties being discounted.
The other potential improvement unveiled by IHG is that "members can book participating PointBreaks hotels using a combination of points and cash." Depending on the cash co-pay vs. points price, this could potentially be a good way to get a cheap rate on an IHG hotel — or a poor use of points.
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Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Rewards Rate
| 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
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 $6,000 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.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.