SFO_FT

Great news -- thanks. After completing the terms of the offer, how do I select 'free nights' rather than the (measly 17k) points? Assume I receive an e-mail from IHG directing me to a webpage on which I choose 'free nights'? Also, are the free nights good at ANY IHG property (or at least any prop that normally allows for redemptions?) or are only a limited, subset of IHG properties allowed for the 'one more night' award stays? Thx!

Points Scrounger

The points vs. nights will appear at your promo tracker page - you will click one choice, which have a small checkmark (U. K. 'tick') thereafter. I think they are theoretically good at any property, but popular ones obviously will sell out fast.

mastermc54

I'm in the exact same boat as you. I stayed at the EVEN hotel in Norwalk that exact same night as you. Still jumping through hoops with IHG customer care to get my credit.

James1715

Quick question re: qualifying nights.

I need 1 saturday night HI stay to complete this promotion, was thinking of booking a 1 night best flexible rate at a local HI (Reading). This rate below is also displayed.

Considering it includes breakfast this seems a good deal. Question is will it qualify for into the nights, or should I just play safe and book the best flexible?

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STAY YOU LEISURE
£ 59.00 GBP per room, per night
Tax: 20% per night included in rate effective 15 November, 2014 thru 16 November, 2014
VAT: Rate Includes VAT
2 PERSON(S) PER ROOM MAXIMUM
DESCRIPTION:
A combination of picturesque villages, lively historic towns and rural scenes ensure that Reading is an excellent base to stay when visiting and exploring at your leisure. Rate includes bed and breakfast.

Local attractions and events: Thames Path, Royal Ascot, Reading Abbey, Forbury Gardens, Legoland, Go Ape, Reading University, Reading Barge festival are only a short drive from the hotel. Reservations can be cancelled up to 4.00pm day of arrival without charge.


Package includes 2000 loyalty bonus points automatically deposited to your account. May not be combined with additional offers.
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chrism20

You should be fine with that rate. When you go through to the booking page where it's asks for your CC details it will say in the right hand corner how many points the reservation will earn. As long as it isn't zero you should Be fine.

artemis021

Has anyone gotten the "bonus points with breakfast" rate from a regular Holiday Inn (HI) to count toward that requirement?

moretimeoffguy

Haven't read the whole thread, but my wife and I used a one night stay at the Holiday Inn across the street from Universal Studios Orlando to satisfy our bonus points with breakfast. Also satisfied at least one other Challenge with that stay. The price was a little absurd; but the redemption value of the two free night promo option will be high; intended use is for InterContinental stays in Europe this summer--probably Rome, Paris, and/or possibly London if there are any good IC properties in London).

The property I cite above was *not* a Holiday Inn Express; just the straight Holiday Inn IHG brand. We used the one night stay at the Holiday Inn across from Universal also as a Positioning Stay. Flew into MCO the night before staying at a Universal Studios property and checked into the Holiday Inn.

Wife being a HP fan girl wanted to see Diagon Alley and have unlimited "fast pass" for various attractions at the two Universal theme parks. I'd read that if you stay one night only at one of the Big Three Loews hotels on property at Universal, that would give you two full days of both Early Pre-gate opening access to Diagon Alley as well as two full days of unlimited "fast pass" (I forget what Universal calls it, being a loyal Disney Theme Park guy myself).

We chose the Loews Royal Pacific--what I see as their version of Disney's Polynesian Resort. But to me, there's no comparison--The Poly wins, even despite its age, in theming, etc. Also has sentimental value for me--so I'm biased.

Anyway, we checked out of the Holiday Inn very early AM, like 5am or so. Then drove across the street to the Loews Royal Pacific and checked-in. Our room was even ready, surprisingly; but even if it wasn't, we knew we could get our room keys, etc, and head straight to the park gates for early entry to Diagon Alley. Second half of strategy was requesting a late check-out

If and when I do this again, I'd just book a stay at the new "value" Loews Hotel--Cabana something or other. Rooms were almost half the price of a stay at the Royal Pacific, Hard Rock, or Portofino. And gave the same early entry benefit to Diagon Alley. But did *not* give the unlimited, use as many times on each ride as you like "fast pass".

My assessment of the two Universal Parks: Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, in Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios respectively, are fantastically themed--a plenum and real joy for any HP fan. The other Universal attractions for us were "meh"--almost a joke compared to what Disney had produced. Hence, I no longer care about Universal's "fast pass" system and would go with the cheaper Cabana property for the early Diagon Alley access.

The Escape from Gringotts and Harry Potter Forbidden Adventure attractions don't even have "fast pass" access.

Maybe roller coaster fans love Universal. But I have no love for them other than the Harry Potter-themed lands; again, blew me away with the detail, creativity, inventiveness, dining, shopping, and all around immersive experience--including the Hogwarts Express train ride that takes you between the two lands. Wonderful and highly recommended for anyone fond of the HP books and/or films.

The HP actors themselves, although of course this was when they were clearly on paid promotional gigs, said in many ways the HP Universal lands were better than the movie sets; because a lot of what they did was Green Screen. Whereas in a theme park, you use forced perspective and materialized a lot of things you would not build-out for a film... Very cool stuff.

moretimeoffguy

I've done Mattress Runs before to meet IHG promo challenges. Felt most comfortable checking in, entering room, ruffling the sheets, turning on shower and moistening some toils, then leaving never to return. Never had a problem.

Needing to do a Saturday stay to complete my wife's IHG Into the Night challenges to qualify for the two free nights.

What about not showing up at all? Making the booking, knowing I'll be charged the penalty of the night's stay. Would such a thing still register as meeting a Challenge?

If the answer is a highly probably success, then I might like to try it. Sure would be more convenient for me. If there's a moderate to high chance that never even checking in would disqualify the Stay re: meeting a promo Challenge, then I'll just do my typical "check-in in person" mattress run routine.

htb

Highly likely it will not count as a qualifying stay, even though some people have reported receiving points.

You need to find someone to check in for you.

HTB.

ExpatSomchai

As a point of interest HI Heathrow T5 has some good opening rate offers which include Breakfast for £48.50

TomRF45

Apologies if this has already been answered, but one of my tasks is to apply for the IHG credit card through a 60k point link. However, I was also (separately) sent an email with the 80k sign up offer.

My question is can I apply for the 80k offer, be approved, then apply through the ITN link, not be approved for my second application, and still meet the task requirement?

moretimeoffguy

Thanks HTB. I'll just drive out to the property for check-in. Only around a 30 minute drive--not talking hours. Appreciate the help.

Steph58

Thank you for the second email contact address. Have the same experience as the others re: download app not posting. My offer does not say that I have to book via the app--just download it. Sent another email but this time to the "crt" address neuron posted. Stated I needed to be promised in writing that the download task will post, otherwise there is no point in participating and I'd cancel my upcoming reservations. They wrote back and did just that--we have "verified that the Download the IHG App offer has been completed, but the portal has not been updated." They went on to say they'd immediately post the 500 points to my account and monitor it to make sure the challenge gets posted on my ITN dashboard. The email was very apologetic and sincere IMO.

You kind of get caught up in this. But yesterday @:-) I realized this is all for 2 free nights? My challenge is relatively easy, but as a leisure traveler it's costing me extra money. I have a few needed stays which could be at any hotel (not necessarily IGH), then I'll need 1 MR. Unless I have plans to stay at a glorious IC vs. choosing points for 2 nights at an average hotel (I know point breaks, but those are an unknown long shot), am I being obsessed rather than smart about this?

Points Scrounger

Yes @ LAX ... as it turned out, the extra charge was significantly less than the "a large carte" price would've been.

A previous attempt staying at the SEA CP on their breakfast + points rate was quite a fail. IHG manually added the points, stating that the (specific rate code) wasn't qualifying for promo purposes. Somehow, these add-on rates can be offered as either the generic b+p standard one in the res system (that the promo is looking for) or a "catch-all" code indicating (some type of hotel-specific deal).

darthbimmer

Same here. My ITN dashboard and postings have been correct for the past two weeks except for the App task's points not posting.