The IHG One Rewards program is often overlooked by award travelers, but it offers great value when it comes to redeeming IHG points for stays at various IHG properties. Whether you’re staying at a local Candlewood Suites or an aspirational InterContinental resort, you can easily get good value from your IHG points.
If you don’t frequently use the IHG One Rewards program, you may need to earn IHG points to cover a stay at an IHG property with points. There are two quick ways to earn IHG points: buying them or transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points. In this guide, we will look at both options so you can determine which one is best for you.
Buying IHG One Rewards points is a straightforward process. IHG typically offers points for sale at different rates, with the price per point decreasing as the number of points bought increases. For example, you can buy 1,000 to 10,000 points for 1.35 cents per point, 11,000 to 25,000 points for 1.15 cents per point, and 26,000 to 150,000 points for 1 cent per point.
However, IHG frequently runs promotions where you can buy points with a bonus. The best offer is a 100% bonus, which means you can buy points for as little as 0.5 cents per point. During these sales, you can purchase 150,000 IHG points and receive an additional 150,000 bonus points for $1,500. It’s important to note that purchased points do not count towards IHG elite status and are non-refundable.
When you buy IHG points, the purchase is made through points.com, which means it won’t be coded as a travel purchase on your credit card. Therefore, it’s recommended to use an everyday spending card that earns bonus rewards on all purchases, such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or the Citi Double Cash Card.
However, if you have an eligible IHG credit card like the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, or IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, you can save 20% on IHG points purchases. This discount cannot be combined with other promotions, but if you’re buying IHG points without a bonus, it’s worth using an eligible IHG credit card to pay and save 20% on your purchase.
Another option to earn IHG points is to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to IHG One Rewards. Chase Ultimate Rewards points are earned with select Chase credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, and Ink Business Preferred Credit Card. You can transfer Chase points to IHG in increments of 1,000 points at a 1:1 ratio.
To transfer Chase points to IHG, you need to log in to the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, select the Ultimate Rewards account you want to use, click on “Travel,” then “Transfer points to partners.” Choose “Hotels” and click on the “IHG Hotels & Resorts” tile. Enter your IHG One Rewards account number and the number of Chase points you want to transfer. The points should reach your IHG account instantaneously.
When deciding whether to buy IHG points or transfer Chase points to IHG, it depends on your current situation. If you have ample Chase Ultimate Rewards points, are short on cash, or have reached the annual cap for buying IHG points, transferring Chase points may be a good option. However, it’s important to note that based on The Points Guy’s valuations, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 2.05 cents each, while IHG points are worth only 0.5 cents each. Therefore, transferring Chase points to IHG without a bonus means losing 1.55 cents per point.
On the other hand, buying IHG points can be a better option, especially during sales with up to a 100% bonus, where you can buy IHG points for as low as 0.5 cents each. This equals The Points Guy’s valuation of IHG points. Additionally, if you’re planning to redeem IHG points for stays of four nights or longer, it’s worth considering applying for an eligible IHG credit card that offers the fourth-night-free reward perk. With this perk, you’ll pay the points rate for the first three nights and zero points for the fourth night.
In conclusion, the IHG One Rewards program offers great value when redeeming IHG points for stays at various IHG properties. Whether you choose to buy IHG points or transfer Chase points to IHG, it’s important to consider your current situation and the value you can get from each option. With careful planning and understanding of the program, you can make the most out of your IHG points and enjoy memorable stays at IHG properties.