Originally Posted by
good_boy_1234
I am new in the IHG world as I just got the premier credit card...although the 4th free night is exciting, it doesn't make sense to be only from rewards redemption. Does combo of points and cash make you eligible for the free 4th night or exclusively 3 nights from points?
If you mean, can you book two paid nights, one award night, and get a fourth night free, then no.
If you mean, can you get a fourth night free using the "points and cash" rate that lowers the points rate for a copay, then also no, but with a workaround.
When you make a "points and cash" booking, you're really just buying points at a reduced rate. But if you cancel the booking, you get the points back, not the cash.
Suppose you want to book 4 nights at a hotel costing 22,500/nt, or 12,500 + $60/nt. Four nights would cost you 67,500 (including 4th night free), but P&C would still be 50,000 + $240. You want to pay 37,500+$180. So what you do is book a 3 night stay for 37,500+$180. Then cancel that, you get 67,500 points returned (effectively you've bought 30K for $180). Then with those 67500, book a 4 night award stay.