RNE

I'm looking at using points to stay at the subject hotel in mid June. Is IHG seriously offering to reduce the room rate by a measly $11.39 in exchange for a whopping 20,000 points? Why would anyone go for that? What gives?!

dw

A good example of a time when room rates are so low, it's not worth using points.

Dave Noble

You can use all points or cash plus points - what it is highlighing is the points plus cash rate which uses the minimum number of points


If you actually go into the booking and IHG® Rewards Club Reward Nights rate, you can see that the options are
35,000 points per night
30,000 points + 40 USD
25,000 points + 70 USD
20,000 points + 99 USD

You can stay using just points at 35 k per night

As a fairer comparison, the $103 does not include taxes and there is 28.5% tax to add to the $110.39, bringing it to approc $141.83 , so is

$141.83 vs 20,000 points plus $99

Also, this is likely comparing against an unflexible rate that cannot be cancelled or changes, whilst the points rate allows changes

A flexible rate would be slightly more expensive - looking at a random date, seems to be about $10 plus tax more , so about $154 vs 20k plus $99 would be a fairer comparison

In this case, the 20k points are worth about $55 and 35k points are worth about $154

RNE

So... better but still a bad redemption. Got it. Thanks.

Super Mario

I was there last year and it was about 40,000 points to stay at a room that was about $120 a night in October. No deal

craigthemif

I'm sure there would be no complaints if the room rate was $250.

It works both ways... Be aware of the value of your points before spending them.

scubaccr

Yes,seen Amsterdam hotels on looking 29/July for Sep nights, all brands and independents, are chockful week of 9-16 Sep, either soldout (paid rates), or high rack rate remaing 5-rooms rates. IHG also increased Amsterdam rates by 10k points/hotel last revaluation this year. HIE Arena had 3rooms left at range 240-280++euro/night that normally can be booked in 75-110euro range

BUT although no awards left if checking nights individually, when looking to book 12-16Sep , at average 250/eur/night saying last 3rooms, HIE Arena also offered on award, but non-cancelable stay, so I booked 4nights total 100k points saving 1000++euro (us$1150++ = us$1400) cash.
Value thus $140/10k whilst I can buy the points back for circa $55/10k. Obviously the HIE Arena knows will get full ADR not ihg corporates pittance for my 4nights and has released to ensure hits 95% occupancy and knows may also not sell rooms at that high rate. HI Rai Amsterdam, HIE Sloterdijk, HI Arena are also doing exactly the same trick again for their last less than 4 rooms.
(Downside is if I no show,as full stay/nights non cancelable, I will get pts refunded and be charged each of 4nights ie $1400 to my CC. Though early departure fee 90euro in my confirmation so I would try argue HIE can only charge first night circa 250euro plus 90euro early departure. Obviously i intens to turn up )

I have far in excess of 100k and need burn off my IHG points stack anyway. But for those w/o 100k points then 15k+usd65(10k purchase) would be great time to p+c as usd65+15k/night used effectively worth/saving us280/night for your own 15k