Best ways to redeem IHG points

IHG Rewards Club points are best used for booking hotel stays with IHG, though you can also use your points to buy gift cards and other merchandise or donate to charity. Rewards Club members can also transfer their points to 39 different travel partners.

However, your points won’t stretch quite as far with some redemption options, so carefully consider the value before you cash in.

Earn 140,000 bonus points in your first three months

IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card

Why should you get this card? Though IHG points are a bit inflated, the bonus on the new IHG Rewards Premier card is a great incentive to sign up. Learn more

More things to know: 140,000 bonus points plus 1 Free Night if you spend $3,000 in first three months Up to 26 points per dollar on IHG hotel stays 5 points per dollar on gas station, grocery store and restaurant purchases 3 point per dollar on other purchases 10,000 bonus points every year you spend $20,000 Reward night on your card member anniversary Automatic Platinum Elite status with IHG Rewards Club

IHG Rewards Club redemption options

Reward nights

By redeeming your points for rewards nights, you’ll be able to maximize their value, which is currently around 0.55 cents per point. This is calculated based on the average value when redeemed for properties of different prices (including budget, mid-tier and luxury properties) across different dates and locations.

A reward night at an IHG property costs anywhere from 10,000 to 70,000 points. But given IHG Rewards Club’s recent shift away from a fixed reward redemption chart to a dynamic award pricing model, pricing will vary based on a number of factors, including demand, when you plan to travel and the cost of a cash stay.

Luxury brands like InterContinental and Kimpton offered the best value on average – 0.79 cents per point. That’s compared to an average value of 0.71 cents per point when redeemed at mid-tier properties like Crowne Plaza and 0.74 cents per point when redeemed at budget properties like Holiday Inn Express.

We may see prices go up in the near future, which could diminish IHG point value once more.

Getting this type of value for IHG rewards nights isn’t uncommon. Some IGH rewards credit cards will even allow you to get a fourth-night reward when redeeming IHG points, according to The Points Guy. You’ll pay zero points for every fourth night when you redeem points for a stay of four nights or longer.

Gift cards

If you don’t have a trip lined up but still want to redeem your points, you’ll be able to redeem them for gift cards. Unfortunately, this is the only cash redemption option, and you’ll receive only around a quarter of a cent per point.

Merchandise

Another way to redeem IHG Rewards Club points is through its online catalog, where you can shop for various merchandise. The value of your points varies drastically based on the item you buy, so savvy shoppers can often find great deals. However, most purchases earn you only around 0.25 cents per point. If you choose to shop for merchandise with your points, be sure to research the cost of each item in cash to ensure you are getting a good deal.

Alternatively, you can use your points to pay for digital downloads. Like merchandise, these rewards don’t always get a high value out of your points – though they tend to be a little more fruitful.

Transfer to a partner airline

If none of these redemption options appeals to you, you can also transfer IHG points to 39 partner airline programs. The transfer rate for most partners is poor (5:2 in most cases), but since many airline miles are worth more than an IHG point, you can still stretch your points a bit further in some cases.

Reward nights at an IHG hotel will always get the best value for each point. However, the transfer partners listed below will get a better deal than the other IHG redemption options. (View a full list of IHG transfer partners and transfer rates on its website.)

Bottom line

To stretch your IHG points, redeem for reward nights whenever possible. If you need to redeem for other purchases, opt for merchandise or a point transfer. If you are willing to hunt for a good deal, these options can all get good value out of your rewards.