InterContinental Hotels: Priority Club & Inter-Continental Ambassador - RI-Boston-PortlandME best use of 80K pts

PriorityClub newbie has 80K pts & Platinum card from Chase Visa 1st spend, wants to use all on late August 11-day Providence-Newport-Boston-PortlandME itinerary.

Asking just for general advice on how to get "most" out of them. Have already tested sample dates & seen rewards costs -- but are there other angles, e.g. recently with Marriott, I got 5th night free & free Platinum Elite status = Elite Lounge free food.

Purpose: taking new tourism photos of attractions, activities, shopping, dining, recreation, etc., each location.

In case someone is already very familiar with properties:
not high-end, 20K pts/night or less, but safe. Will have rental car, need free parking, but want walking access to public transportation. Thanks in advance!

Unfortunately, I think you'll either have to cut your trip back to three nights, or take away the "walking distance" to public transportation requirement to pull this off.

Portland-by-the Bay is nice, and it's in the city, although I didn't need public transportation while there so I don't know its proximity to that. It's 25K points though. The other Portland HI is off an expressway, so you can't walk from there.

None of the properties listed for 20K are actually IN Boston. You can commute from Somerville or Braintree, but they aren't in the city.

Maybe you can use cash and points?

Thanks for info!
Sorry, to clarify, its only in Boston that non-city-center lodging with free parking & getting to/from city center attractions via public transportation is a budget consideration.

(assumption: city center parking = $20+ daily with no in & out)

I only have experience with the Portland property that I already mentioned, but one piece of advice is that some of the towns that have names like the "Holiday Inn Boston-Dedham" are actually not very close to Boston at all. Just pay attention to the "miles from distance" notation to the listings.

Also, at least in the more distant Boston suburbs, the PC properties are usually located in an office park or off a highway, so you can't walk anywhere, except maybe a nearby restaurant.

Most towns that have subway or commuter rail have lots you can park in for a fee, but on a weekday, some of them can fill up early.

Hi!

Don´t book the Holiday Inn by the Bay. I was there 3 weeks ago. Old building, no windows to be opened, no platium benefits, mold in the bathroom, extrem loud AC. The best was the free parking and the good location.

I can recommend the Holiday Inn Express Freeport, the Holiday inn Select Boston Woburn
and the Holiday Inn Nashua.
best wishes

Stefan

Hi!

Don´t book the Holiday Inn by the Bay. I was there 3 weeks ago. Old building, no windows to be opened, no platium benefits, mold in the bathroom, extrem loud AC. The best was the free parking and the good location.

I can recommend the Holiday Inn Express Freeport, the Holiday inn Select Boston Woburn
and the Holiday Inn Nashua.
best wishes

Stefan

I was there a few weeks ago, and we were upgraded to a bay view and given a gift bag, plus the furnishings in our room looked new. The hotel is old from the outside, but they just went through a major refurbishment inside. I'm pretty picky, and although I did have a few minor complaints, I basically thought it was nice for a Holiday Inn. I don't remember if the window opened though, and we did have a loud AC.

I was there a few weeks ago, and we were upgraded to a bay view and given a gift bag, plus the furnishings in our room looked new. The hotel is old from the outside, but they just went through a major refurbishment inside. I'm pretty picky, and although I did have a few minor complaints, I basically thought it was nice for a Holiday Inn. I don't remember if the window opened though, and we did have a loud AC.

I was also there a few weeks ago for 1 night as I work right across the street. I agree with the quote above. Nice new updated furnishings and I also received a goodie bag and a comp drink in the lounge as well as free coffee and juice in the coffee shop downstairs. It is an older property, but you would never know from the room renovations. Also they have a nice indoor pool and the location is great for exploring Portland and the Old Port. I was also upgraded to a bayview King on the top floor...

Thanks for responses! Have booked (3) properties so far. If possible, go here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/new-england/1372812-booked-these-3-ma-ri-holiday-inns-they-clean-safe.html

& answer there. regards.

Middletown is a Pointbreaks property. Your timing was perfect.

Hyannis is an older property. I've stayed there on points. It's not the prettiest part of the Cape, but safety is certainly not an issue. Our room was clean and fine for a night or two. Cooke's is close by and very good if you want a casual (order at the counter) seafood place.

The mods may combine your threads, so I'm answering here. ;)

Thanks for responses! Have booked (3) properties so far. If possible, go here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/new-england/1372812-booked-these-3-ma-ri-holiday-inns-they-clean-safe.html

& answer there. regards.

The HI Express Swansea has nice comfy rooms and is a step above a normal HI Express.