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IHG One Rewards isn’t as well-loved in the points and miles community as programs like Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt. But IHG hotels and resorts are available in many destinations, and it’s easy to get good value when redeeming IHG points.
Earning IHG points is also relatively easy. For example, new [applyLink pid=”6799″ overridetext=”IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card”] (see [termsConditions pid=”6799″ overridetext=”rates and fees”]) applicants can earn 120,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening when they apply by July 23. And new applicants for the [applyLink pid=”6153″ overridetext=”IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card”] (see [termsConditions pid=”6153″ overridetext=”rates and fees”]) can earn five free nights (each night valued at up to 60,000 points) after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening when they apply by July 23.
Let’s discuss how to maximize IHG One Rewards redemptions.
Calculate your IHG redemption rate
IHG uses dynamic award pricing. This means the number of points you’ll need to redeem for a stay varies based on your booking date, the property you choose, your stay dates and other factors.
But even with dynamic pricing, getting good value from your IHG points is still possible. TPG’s July 2025 valuations peg their value at 0.5 cents each, but you can often get a higher redemption rate when redeeming IHG points.
For example, let’s assume you want to book a standard room with one king bed at the Holiday Inn Washington-Central/White House for the night of April 10, 2026. You could book a rate with free cancellation until one day before your stay for $268.77 or 38,000 points. If you redeem IHG points for this night, you’ll get a redemption rate of 0.71 cents per point.
That said, you won’t always get a good redemption value. Always compare the cash rate to the points rate and calculate your redemption rate. If your redemption rate is low, consider booking a paid rate for your stay and saving your points for a higher-value redemption.
Related: The best IHG hotels in the world
Maximize IHG points by being flexible
Another way to maximize your IHG points is to be as flexible as possible. For example, you could save points (or money) in the above scenario by shifting your stay to other dates. Specifically, award rates range from 33,000 to 52,000 points per night in the two weeks surrounding the night in the above scenario.
Likewise, if you are flexible as to where you stay in a city — or even the city you visit — you may be able to redeem fewer points. For example, you can save points by staying near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, for the one-night stay discussed in the previous section. By doing so, you could redeem 20,000 points for your stay.
In short, being flexible can help you redeem fewer points for your stays and maximize your points.
Related: Which credit card should you use for IHG stays?
Check Points and Cash redemptions
It’s also worth checking Points and Cash rates. As the name suggests, Points and Cash rates let you combine IHG points and money to stretch your points further. You can see these redemption options by selecting “Points + Cash” from the search results once you choose a hotel.
When you make a Points and Cash reservation, you buy points using the cash portion of the booking. If you need to cancel, your refund will be entirely in points, rather than the combination of cash and points you initially used.
As with all redemptions, run the numbers to see if a Points and Cash booking makes sense. In the above example, you could book a night that would cost $268.77 or 38,000 points for:
| Points and Cash rate | Points purchased for the cash part of the booking | Points purchase rate for the cash part of the booking | Redemption rate for the points part of the booking |
| 8,000 points and $179 | 30,000 points | 0.60 cents per point | 1.12 cents per point |
| 13,000 points and $156 | 25,000 points | 0.62 cents per point | 0.87 cents per point |
| 18,000 points and $129 | 20,000 points | 0.65 cents per point | 0.78 cents per point |
| 23,000 points and $99 | 15,000 points | 0.66 cents per point | 0.74 cents per point |
| 28,000 points and $69 | 10,000 points | 0.69 cents per point | 0.71 cents per point |
| 33,000 points and $38 | 5,000 points | 0.76 cents per point | 0.70 cents per point |
You can get a good redemption rate and points purchase rate with the 8,000 points and $179 Points and Cash rate. However, keep in mind that you can occasionally purchase IHG points outright for 0.5 cents each, and that Points and Cash rates aren’t eligible for earning points (even on the cash portion of your rate) as you’re effectively buying points at booking with the cash portion of your rate.
Related: Now you can transfer IHG points to others for free: Here’s how
Use the IHG fourth-night reward perk
If you have the [applyLink pid=”6153″ overridetext=”IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card”], the [applyLink pid=”6799″ overridetext=”IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card”] or the [applyLink pid=”8249″ overridetext=”IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card”] (see [termsConditions pid=”8249″ overridetext=”rates and fees”]), you can benefit from your card’s fourth-night reward perk on stays of four nights or more when you book your stay entirely with IHG points. This perk effectively drops the cost of every fourth night on award stays of four nights or longer to zero points.
To use this perk, log in to an account associated with an eligible IHG credit card, search for a stay of four nights or longer and opt to redeem IHG points. You’ll see discounted rates in your search results.
There’s no cap on how many times you can use this perk yearly, and you can even get more than one fourth-night reward on a single stay. For example, you’d get two fourth-night rewards on a stay of eight to 11 nights and three on a stay of 12 to 15 nights.
Related: Why you should get (and keep) the IHG One Rewards Premier card
Check for IHG price drops
You can also maximize your IHG points by periodically checking for drops in award pricing for your upcoming stays.
To do so, do a new award search for your dates and see if the rates are lower. If they are, cancel your stay and rebook (or, if you have enough points in your account, book the new stay and then cancel the higher-priced stay).
Related: Should you buy IHG points or transfer rewards from Chase?
Consider premium room types
At some IHG hotels and resorts, you can book select premium room types for more points than standard room types. For example, you can book various views and room types (including some that provide club lounge access) at the InterContinental Miami with points.
So, if a premium room type would provide value to you — perhaps due to more space, additional sleeping areas or a better view — then you might be able to maximize your IHG points by booking a premium room type for additional points. However, beware that while the points difference is small for some premium room types, it’s massive for others. As such, consider whether the additional points are worth redeeming.
Related: 7 ways to get a hotel room upgrade
Earn IHG elite status
Earning IHG elite status will give you more perks during your stay. The best perks — like the option to choose breakfast as a welcome amenity at full- and select-service brands — are only available for top-tier Diamond Elite members. Here’s a look at some of the pathways to earn Diamond Elite status through the end of the following calendar year:
- Stay 70 qualifying nights in a calendar year
- Earn 120,000 qualifying points in a calendar year
- Spend $40,000 on your [applyLink pid=”6153″ overridetext=”IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card”] or [applyLink pid=”8249″ overridetext=”IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card”] in a calendar year
- Spend $75,000 on your [applyLink pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Reserve®”] (see [termsConditions pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”rates and fees”]) in a calendar year
- Spend $120,000 on your [applyLink pid=”10965″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠”] (see [termsConditions pid=”10965″ overridetext=”rates and fees”]) in a calendar year
Even if Diamond Elite status is out of reach, it’s still easy to earn Platinum Elite status. This status typically requires 40 qualifying nights or 60,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. However, you can get Platinum Elite status as an automatic perk through the InterContinental Ambassador program or by having the [applyLink pid=”6153″ overridetext=”IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card”], the [applyLink pid=”8249″ overridetext=”IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card”] or the [applyLink pid=”6976″ overridetext=”United Club℠ Card”] (see [termsConditions pid=”6976″ overridetext=”rates and fees”]; requires enrollment) in your wallet. Plus, cardholders of the [applyLink pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Reserve”] and [applyLink pid=”10965″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business”] can enroll in complementary Platinum Elite status through Dec. 2027.
If you want more benefits when redeeming IHG points for stays, you’ll likely find snagging IHG elite status worthwhile.
Related: IHG Milestone Rewards: Earn confirmable suite upgrades, points and more
Bottom line
It’s relatively easy to maximize redemptions with the IHG One Rewards program. By checking redemption rates before booking and opting to redeem points when the redemption rate is high, you’ll get solid value from your IHG points. And if you don’t already have an IHG credit card, consider applying for the [applyLink pid=”6153″ overridetext=”IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card”], the [applyLink pid=”6799″ overridetext=”IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card”] or the [applyLink pid=”8249″ overridetext=”IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card”].
