IHG often has great signup bonuses on their cards, but they fall somewhat under the radar compared to the other hotel brands. They have long been my second-favorite brand (after Hyatt, of course). We have many readers asking us about how we use our IHG points, so here goes!

First of all, there are several IHG brands. From family hotels to luxury hotels, there is something for everyone. Staybridge Suites, Atwell Suites, and Candlewood Suites are especially nice for families as they give you more room, offer free breakfast, and sometimes have a kitchen.

 

 

InterContinental Hotels

This is the highest brand of IHG that Alex and I have stayed at. I really enjoy them, and they are luxurious. Think chandeliers and marble, and you have an InterContinental hotel. Maybe not the best for a family, but great for a couples’ getaway or girls’ trip!

Here are a few great ones we’ve tried:

InterContinental The Clement Monterey

Alex stayed at the InterContinental The Clement Monterey with her sister, Kasey. She raved on and on about the views. I found rooms ranging from 52K to 101K points per night—talk about a range!

 

 

InterContinental Abu Dhabi

I stayed one day at the InterContinental Abu Dhabi on a long layover to the Maldives. It was literally just for a quick nap and a home base for us so we could get out and explore Abu Dhabi! The lobby was spectacular; the rooms were a little dated. I was able to use a free-night certificate for this room, so that made it more than worthwhile, as the annual fee is only $95 on the IHG card that gave me the certificate.

 

 

Intercontinental Dubai

My first stay at an Intercontinental Hotel was in Dubai. The Intercontinental Dubai in Festival City was a gorgeous hotel in a really fun location. I used a free-night certificate for that stay, which is still possible—there are many nights available for 30K/night.

 

 

There are many InterContinental hotels in the United States. I haven’t stayed at any yet, but the following intrigue me:

• InterContinental San Diego
• InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile
• InterContinental New York Times Square

(Editor’s note: Traci, TMS’s editor, has stayed at the InterContinental New York Times Square with her family of four and thought it was great!)

Kimpton Hotels

If you asked me how we use our IHG points most of the time, you’d get one answer—Kimpton Hotels. They are my favorite IHG brand because they each have their own personalities, so to speak, and feel boutiquey. I could go on and on about them. If I’m not staying at a Hyatt, I want to stay at a Kimpton. Here are some of my favorites so far 😉

Kimpton Charlotte Square Edinburgh

I used a free-night certificate for this room that was delightfully quirky! It was convenient for walking basically anywhere in Edinburgh, had an amazing breakfast, and was a great stay if you go to Scotland. My only complaint is that we booked it for just one night—it was seriously one of my favorite stays! I highly recommend the Kimpton Charlotte Square Edinburgh.

 

 

Kimpton Margot Sydney

The Kimpton Margot Sydney has its own quirky feel—a ’50s vibe. For as little as 38K points or a free-night certificate, you can stay here in the magnificent city of Sydney, Australia. If you stay there, be sure and eat at their restaurant, Luke’s Kitchen. It is really good!

 

 

Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver

Want a Kimpton in the US? The Kimpton Hotel Monaco is a great choice, and with flexibility, I can stay at one for 50K/night. It is in downtown Denver and makes a great stay after a ski trip in the mountains before you fly out from Denver Airport.

 

 

Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington, D.C.

Alex and I stayed at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco when we visited Washington, DC. We had a really nice suite, but the green lobby was my favorite part of the hotel. The location was superb at just a few minutes’ walk from the National Mall, so it is an ideal place to stay if you’re visiting the nation’s capital. 

 

 

Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa, Grand Cayman Islands

Alex and I have raved about our stay at the Kimpton Seafire Resort to everyone—it runs at 70k/night but is worth every point. It’s located on Seven Mile Beach and is simply stunning. We enjoyed it so much that we didn’t even explore Grand Cayman; we just enjoyed the Kimpton Seafire. Jess has stayed at this property as well and loved it just as much as we did!

 

 

Kimpton Grand Roatán

I’ve been to the Kimpton Grand Roatán twice in 12 months, which I guess means that I like it! The decor is beautiful, the views are gorgeous, and the snorkeling is great. Whether you’re there for the reef, the romance, or just the remote tropical escape, Kimpton Grand Roatán is one of those destinations that balances relaxed luxury with natural beauty.

 

 

I can’t wait to continue this love affair with Kimpton. Here are some others that I’d like to stay at:

• Kimpton Fitzroy London (Jess enjoyed her stay here)
• Kimpton Vividora Barcelona (we have this one booked soon!)
• Kimpton St Honoré Paris

 

Crowne Plaza Hotels

Before I started using credit card points and miles, the Crowne Plaza brand was one I stayed at quite frequently. I can’t remember any standing out to me, though. However, Jess had a recent stay in Bruges, Belgium, that included a stay at the Crowne Plaza Brugge, which she really liked. It was the perfect location for the Christmas markets! Crowne Plaza seems to be more economical too!

 

 

The US News has a list of the top Crowne Plaza hotels for 2023 that will give further inspiration. Again, they might make some great family stays.

 

Hotel Indigo

The Hotel Indigo brand has long been on my radar. I have only stayed at one and that was in London. It was a fun stay as they are very boutiquey, which you know I love.

The Hotel Indigo London Kensington cost me less than 50K/night for my stay there. My room was an explosion of purple, grey, black, and pink. And I loved it!

 

 

These are some others that I am interested in staying at.

Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets (Adelaide, Australia)

Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets looks promising. From the pictures, this hotel has a cute, funky vibe. I found rooms for 29K points/night, making it affordable, too.

 

 

Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach

This hotel is located on a beach in Bali and is affordable at 35K points/night. A standard IHG card welcome offer could get you four nights free—pretty remarkable.

 

 

 

voco Hotels

Until my Scotland trip, I had never heard of or stayed at this brand. The voco Edinburgh sold me on this mid-range hotel. I enjoyed its modern, boutiquey feel.

 

 

Bottom Line

These are some of the ways we used our IHG points—maybe this will provide you with some inspiration! There are countless IHG hotels all over the world. Our experience with IHG hotels has been very favorable, so we feel confident that you, too, will find many great stays with your IHG points. Let us know what fabulous IHG hotel you stay at, and we will add it to this list.

 

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