I’ll show you to get a $1,500 stay in a highly-rated hotel in Chicago with the 60,000 IHG point bonus from the Chase IHG card! You can use IHG points to stay longer at comfortable Holiday Inn hotels in fantastic locations around the world.
I also like that you get free Wi-Fi. And families will appreciate that at many Holiday Inn hotels, kids eat free.
Use Your IHG Points to Stay at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Across From Universal Orlando to Take the Family On Vacation to Disney World!
Enjoy a Disney vacation, visit Amsterdam, South Africa, or explore another hotel nearly anywhere in the world!
I’ll give you some ideas about how you can use the points from your sign-up bonus for Big Travel!
About the Chase IHG Rewards Club Select Card
Link: Chase IHG Rewards Club Select
When you sign-up for the Chase IHG Rewards Club Select card, you’ll earn 60,000 IHG Rewards points after spending $1,000 on purchases within the 1st 3 months of opening your account. You’ll also get:
IHG Platinum elite status (free upgrades, priority check-in, and elite rollover nights)
A free night at any IHG hotel worldwide on each card anniversary
5X IHG points for every $1 you spend at IHG hotels
2X IHG points per $1 you spend at restaurants, grocery stores, and gas stations
1X IHG point per $1 you spend on everything else
10% rebate on redeemed points (up to 100,000 IHG points a year)
NO foreign transaction fees
There’s a $49 annual fee on the card, but it’s waived for the 1st year.
This card is worth keeping even with the annual fee. That’s because you earn a free award night at ANY IHG hotel every year you renew the card. You could even stay at the InterContinental Thalasso Bora Bora like Emily and I did!
Nights there range from $800 to $900+ per night. For a card with a $49 annual fee, that’s well worth it!
Where Can You Spend 60,000 IHG Points for Big Travel at Holiday Inn Hotels?
Link: IHG Hotels
IHG is 1 of the biggest hotel chains in the world, with over 4,900 hotels to choose from in nearly every state and country.
So it’s very easy to find ways to redeem your IHG points for award stays. I’ll show you Holiday Inn hotels for stays of a few days or more.
I haven’t personally stayed in all of these hotels, but they look like great deals! Let me know if you’ve had a personal experience with them!
1. Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Across From Universal Orlando
Link: Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Across From Universal Orlando
Want to head to Orlando for a Disney World vacation with the family? Read my tips on how to fly there with Small Money, and then consider staying at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Across From Universal Orlando with your IHG points!
Want to Visit Disney World? The Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Across From Universal Orlando Offers a Free Shuttle and Free Parking!
There’s regular scheduled transportation to Disney World. And Universal Studios is directly across from the hotel! Plus, you’ll get free parking, which can save you a lot of money!
Stay 2 Nights With the Sign-Up Bonus From the Chase IHG Rewards Club Select Card!
60,000 IHG points is more than enough for a 2-night stay in March 2016. And you’ll even have 10,000 IHG points left over!
Save Over $300 When You Redeem Your Points!
You’d pay ~$329 out-of-pocket for the 2 nights.
Check out my series about how to save money when you get to Disney!
If you want to stay longer, you can pay a combination of cash and points, like 10,000 fewer points per night plus a $70 cash co-pay.
So instead of a 2-night stay for 50,000 IHG points, you could get a 4-night stay for 60,000 IHG points plus $280. That means you’ll pay $70 in cash and 15,000 IHG points for each night instead of the normal rate of ~$165. And your 60,000 IHG points are worth ~$378 for a 4-night stay ($658 – $280 = $378 paid with 60,000 IHG points).
Your points are worth more with the Cash & Points option, and you get 2 extra days at Disney. Sometimes this can be a good deal depending on the cost of the hotel, and if you want a longer stay.
As always, run the numbers and do what’s best for you!
2. Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam – South
Link: Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam – South
If you’re in Amsterdam for a few days while passing through Europe, you can use your IHG points instead of paying cash.
Bike Around Amsterdam! Explore the Many Canals and Enjoy the Artworks at the Van Gogh Museum
There are lots of IHG hotels located in the city, including Holiday Inn hotels.
Save ~$540 on 3 Nights at the Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam – South
If you want to stretch your points, you could redeem 60,000 IHG points to stay 3 nights at the Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam – South in May 2016, which would cost ~$540 in cash.
Or You Can Splurge at Stay at the Fancy InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam!
Or, if you feel like treating yourself to a night at a luxury hotel, you can use 50,000 IHG points to stay at the InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam, which retails for ~$537 a night. And, you’ll still have 10,000 IHG points left over, which you can use for 2 award nights at Points Break hotels!
3. Holiday Inn Express Chicago – Magnificent Mile
Link: Holiday Inn Express Chicago – Magnificent Mile
Get a terrific deal with IHG points in the Windy City!
Stay 2 Nights in Chicago for a Shopping Trip! Spend $1,511 in Cash to Stay at the Holiday Inn Express Chicago – Magnificent Mile, or 60,000 IHG Points and $80 With the Cash and Points Option!
Rates at the Holiday Inn Express Chicago – Magnificent Mile are $1,511 in May 2016 for a 2-night trip. You’ll be in the upscale River North neighborhood, close to shopping, and lots of places to enjoy Chicago-style pizza or hot dogs!
See “The Bean” While You’re in Chicago! There’s Also the Art Institute and Buckingham Fountain Nearby for Lots of Other Photo Opportunities
You can use your 60,000 IHG points and pay an $80 cash co-pay and get a really great deal! In this case, your 60,000 IHG points are worth $1,431 ($1,511 – $80 cash co-pay). Deals like this are an example of how you can get Big Travel with your points!
4. Holiday Inn Express Cape Town City Centre
Link: Holiday Inn Express Cape Town City Centre
Plan a trip to South Africa and stay at the Holiday Inn Express Cape Town City Centre!
The Holiday Inn Express Cape Town City Centre Is Less Than a Mile From Table Mountain, and Near the Gorgeous Waterfront
You’ll be walking to distance to lots of restaurants, cafes, and shopping, right in the heart of Cape Town! If you’re up to it, you can even hike Table Mountain (or take the cable car up)!
Four Nights Cost ~$581 After Taxes, or You Can Use Your IHG Points! Time It Right and Get 5 Nights Worth Over $700 for Free!
I checked dates in February 2016, and found a 4-night stay for ~$581 after taxes and fees. You could cover the cost with 60,000 IHG points. And, if you wait until your 1-year cardmember anniversary, you can use your annual free night certificate to get 5 consecutive nights here that would cost over $700! That’s plenty of time to take a safari!
South Africa is a dream destination for lots of folks. Make the most of your time there with a great deal!
Need More IHG Points?
Link: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Link: Chase Ink Plus
In addition to earning points from the Chase IHG Rewards Club Select card and staying at IHG hotels, you can also earn IHG points in another way. IHG is a Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partner, so you can transfer Chase points to IHG at a 1:1 ratio.
So 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points becomes 1,000 IHG points. This is an easy way to top off your account if you’re close to an award stay, or if you want to explore a new city for an extra night or two.
You Can Transfer Your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to IHG If You’re Close to an Award, but You’ll Usually Catch More Value With Other Travel Partners Like Southwest or Hyatt
That said, it’s usually a better value to transfer to other partners like United Airlines, Southwest, or Hyatt for Big Travel with Small Money.
Note: You’re allowed to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to partner airlines and hotels (such as IHG) when you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Ink Plus, or the no-longer-offered Chase Ink Bold card.
If You’re New to IHG, Do This!
Don’t forget that folks who register for a new IHG account and stay 2 nights at IHG hotels before December 31, 2015, get a certificate for a free night at ANY IHG hotel!
You can combine this offer with your IHG points to get even more free nights at an IHG hotel!
Bottom Line
You can earn 60,000 IHG Rewards points after spending $1,000 on purchases within the 1st 3 months of opening the Chase IHG Rewards Club Select card.
Use the points for Big Travel at Holiday Inn hotels like the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Across From Universal Orlando near Disney World for a family vacation, or the Holiday Inn Express Cape Town City Centre as part of a romantic getaway or dream vacation.
There are lots of ways to get Big Travel with IHG points. Tell me about your favorite Holiday Inn hotel to redeem points!
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