How to get cheaper IHG hotel stays by buying points
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Until 5 November 2026, IHG adds a bonus of up to 100% to points you buy, which brings the price down to half a US cent a point. At the right hotel, that's cheaper than booking directly: one night at Six Senses Kyoto costs US$830 in bought points instead of US$1,493. Don't buy points because they're on sale: buy them when they make a stay you're planning cheaper.
The current sale: up to 100% bonus
Until 11:59pm US Eastern time on 5 November 2026, IHG adds a bonus to every purchase of 5,000 points or more. Points normally cost 1 to 1.35 US cents each; the bigger the purchase, the bigger the bonus and the less each point costs:
| You buy | Bonus | Per point | For example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 – 4,000 | None | 1.35¢ | US$54 → 4,000 |
| 5,000 – 10,000 | 80% | 0.75¢ | US$121.50 → 16,200 |
| 11,000 – 25,000 | 90% | 0.61¢ | US$230 → 38,000 |
| 26,000 – 39,000 | 90% | 0.53¢ | US$390 → 74,100 |
| 40,000 – 200,000 | 100% | 0.50¢ | US$400 → 80,000 US$2,000 → 400,000 |
Buying slightly more can cost less:
- Buy 11,000 points instead of 10,000: US$126.50 instead of US$135.
- Buy 26,000 points instead of 23,000 to 25,000: US$260 instead of up to US$287.50.
You can buy up to 200,000 points a calendar year, including any you've already bought in 2026. If you bought 50,000 earlier this year, you can buy 150,000 in the sale.
Check your bonus before you pay. The offer is only for members IHG has sent it to, and you only see your bonus once you sign in.
Points vs cash
Here are some hotels we compared for points vs cash, one night each. (Prices are always subject to change.)
Points or cash: how to check
- Look up the stay on IHG twice: once in cash and once in points, for the same room and dates.
- Divide the cash price by the points. That's what each point is worth on this stay. A US$1,493 room that costs 165,000 points makes each point worth 0.90¢.
- Compare it with what points cost to buy (see the table above: 0.50¢ at best). If buying is cheaper, buy the points; if not, pay cash.
Getting more from your points
- Fourth night free. The US IHG One Rewards Premier, Premier Select and Business credit cards give you four award nights for the points of three.
- Top up a free night. Some IHG credit cards give free night awards worth up to a set number of points, and you can usually add points to book a room that costs more.
- Try other dates. IHG prices rooms dynamically, so the points a room needs change from night to night. Check the cash price for the same nights too.
Before you buy
- Have a stay in mind. Bought points can't be refunded, and because IHG prices rooms dynamically, the points a room needs can change before you book.
- Check a points room is available. IHG has no blackout dates, but limits how many rooms it offers for points.
- Pay with a card that earns points or miles. You'll earn your card's everyday rate, but some cards exclude Points.com purchases, so check first. It doesn't count as hotel spend, so an IHG credit card won't earn its hotel bonus. Prices are in US dollars, so an Australian or UK card may add a foreign transaction fee. Compare credit cards →
- Tax may be added. The price includes fees, but not any tax that applies.
- Allow up to 72 hours. That's how long IHG says points can take to reach your account.
- No status credit. Neither the points you buy nor the bonus count towards elite status.
- Keep your account active. Without elite status, points expire after 12 months with no activity. Earning or using any points resets the clock.
- If you miss this sale. IHG also ran 100% bonus sales in August and September 2026. At the normal price, points cost double or more.
Referral Rat isn't affiliated with IHG and earns nothing from this page. IHG's own terms apply. Sources: IHG's offer terms and points store (prices, bonuses and limits), One Mile at a Time (hotel prices, credit card benefits).