InterContinental Hotels: Priority Club & Inter-Continental Ambassador - Cannot book suites using Priority Club points?

I've already tried 2 Holiday Inn in the area that I am going to, and for some reason the points option does not show Suite availability, whereas the normal cash search does.

Is this typical of priority club? Are points not eligible for suite reservations?

Not usually. You may be able to negotiate a cash upgrade directly with the hotel.

I'm not sure you can negotiate a "cash upgrade" on an award stay, but if you have status, you may be able to request a free upgrade. Different hotels have different policies regarding that. At 1 hotel, I was able to get them to "lock" a suite for my stay, but several others said they can "make a note" and give it to me if nobody else book it with cash. (All of this is in USA/Canada.)

There are some hotels (a HI in Berlin comes to mind, as does a CP in Cyprus) that have suites on the reward booking page for the same amount of points as a regular room...but it's rare.

Just beware that the hotel might charge you at full price. I've had an experience with CP Jakarta. I told them that I would like to upgrade by paying cash. The hotel told me that since reward night is valued at $0, therefore I have to pay full price of the suite. What makes worse is their price offer is higher than their flexible rate (perhaps it's rack rate :mad:). My advise is you should email them in advance so you might know what will happen then. Good luck !

Suite redemptions are rare, there's a thread here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/intercontinental-hotels-priority-club-inter-continental-ambassador/407026-suite-redemption-alert-13.html

You may get an upgrade on a reward night based on status, but it is not a published benefit.

I've only seen one property that let me reserve a room other than the base standard rooms, and that was for a jacuzzi king bed room in West Yellowstone, MT.

I have paid the difference before between the standard room and an upgraded room before. I emailed the hotel a few weeks before I arrived and offered to pay for an upgrade. Didn't even bother asking for a free upgrade as I was looking to upgrade 2 rooms. Got both upgrades but did pay a bit extra for it. Looking back at it, it was well worth the extra cost as the upgrade provided a phenomenal riverfront view.

I know a few IC offer cash upgrade but the price is hefty

Call the hotel directly and work with their management. I recently worked a deal using points for the Penthouse Suite at a beach property. No suites showed up online when I made the initial reservations, but he hotel GM was willing to work a deal and make the change for me. I suspect that not all GMs will want to do that. So don't get mad if they don't want to work with you. Just hang up and call another hotel to see if they are willing to work with you.

I recently booked 6 nights at the CP Estepona on reward nights, after a nice email exchange they upgraded me free of charge to executive room.

I then emailed them again and asked about the possibility of a suite, they would not offer it as a free upgrade, however they offered a 50 euro suppliment charge for the room.

The standard room was 90 euro (free on rewards), exec 130 euro (i got free upgrade) and suite 205 euro (Paid reward night + 50 euros) per night.
I jumped at the chance and they charged me 300 euros for the stay and the suite was excellent.

I think its down to each individual hotel.

I've already tried 2 Holiday Inn in the area that I am going to, and for some reason the points option does not show Suite availability, whereas the normal cash search does.

Is this typical of priority club? Are points not eligible for suite reservations?
Yes. It is rare to be able to book a suite in a not-all-suites Priority Club hotel on points.

Is there a Staybridge Suites in that area? Or a Candlewood Suites? Every room at those brands is a suite (although some are single-L-shaped-room suites only). The easist way to book a suite with points is to book at an all-suites hotel (if one is available in the area you need).

(Note: Staybridge Suites has breakfast, but Candlewood Suites doesn't. Both of these are "extended stay" oriented brands, and Candlewood expects you to use the kitchen in your suite to make your own breakfast!)