If you are familiar with the IHG One Rewards program, you likely know the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (see rates and fees) and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (see rates and fees) offer an anniversary free night with a redemption value of up to 40,000 points after each account anniversary.
But this article is about the free night certificates with a redemption value of up to 60,000 points you can earn through the IHG Premier’s current welcome offer.
That’s right. The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is currently offering five free nights, each with a redemption value of up to 60,000 points, after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. So, here’s what you should know about these free night certificates, including some of the best places to use these certificates.
Note that all prices and points listed were accurate at the time of publication.
How to use 60,000-point IHG free night certificates
Each of the five free nights available through the current IHG Premier welcome offer is valid for one night at an IHG One Rewards property with a redemption level up to 60,000 points. Unfortunately, you can’t top off these free night certificates with points from your account, so you can only use each certificate for a night costing 60,000 points or less.
Normally, you must book separate back-to-back reservations when redeeming IHG anniversary night certificates. However, the terms of the current IHG Premier welcome offer state, “Multiple free nights can be booked at once so long as free night inventory is available each night of booking.”
You must redeem and complete your stay with each free night within 12 months of IHG issuing the certificates into your account. However, be aware that it may take up to eight weeks for IHG to deposit the free nights into your account once you meet the minimum spending requirements for the bonus.
Since the time between when you apply for the IHG Premier card and when you get access to use the certificates will likely be months, don’t set your heart on using these certificates for a specific stay. After all, IHG’s dynamic award pricing means that the cost of each award night will vary depending on the property you want to book, the dates you want to stay and the time at which you book.
This being said, you can use 60,000-point free night certificates in plenty of ways. So, here are some IHG hotels and resorts that offer award nights costing 60,000 points or less per night on many dates.
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Related: The 19 best IHG hotels in the world
InterContinental New York Times Square
The InterContinental New York Times Square is in Midtown Manhattan’s Theater District near Times Square. I found award nights at this hotel ranging from 28,000 to 121,000 points per night and paid rates starting at $220 per night. However, keep in mind these rates don’t include the mandatory amenity fee of $40 per night.
I stayed at the InterContinental New York Times Square in 2022 and didn’t enjoy the soft bed and nightly amenity fee. But I’m still including this option since New York City is a compelling option for using 60,000-point free night certificates due to the sheer quantity of IHG hotels and resorts. So even if you don’t use your certificates at the InterContinental New York Times Square, you’ll find plenty of other options in New York City for using your certificates.
Related: The top InterContinental hotels across the world
Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel and Spa
The Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel and Spa is an oceanfront resort with a heated oceanside pool and a resident mermaid program. Some rooms at this property offer ocean views and kitchens, but note that the interior essential rooms (which offer the lowest award night rates) only have a tiny window.
I found award nights ranging from 35,000 to 121,000 points per night and paid rates starting at $182 per night, excluding the $53 resort fee. However, if you’re willing to visit Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel and Spa during non-peak dates, you may find five consecutive nights that cost less than 60,000 points per night.
Related: The top Kimpton Hotels across the world, according to IHG Diamond members
Hotel Indigo San Diego-Gaslamp Quarter
I went to San Diego for the first time last year, and I loved the city. If San Diego is a city you want to visit, the Hotel Indigo San Diego-Gaslamp Quarter may be the perfect place to use a few 60,000-point free night certificates. Just one block from Petco Park and steps from the Gaslamp Quarter, this Hotel Indigo is well located in East Village.
I found award nights ranging from 31,000 to 121,000 points per night and paid rates starting at $218 per night. However, note that these rates exclude the mandatory $32 per night amenity fee.
Related: The best hotels in San Diego
Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel
You have plenty of options if you want to use your 60,000-point free night certificates in Miami. One of the most popular options is the Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel on Miami’s South Beach. There’s plenty to do around the hotel, but many guests say they spent most of their vacation at the hotel’s pool, beach area and restaurants.
When I wrote this article, I found award nights ranging from 26,000 to 134,000 points per night at the Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel and paid rates starting at $140 per night. However, these rates exclude the $56 per night resort fee.
Related: 14 best Miami Beach hotels
InterContinental Presidente Cancun Resort
The InterContinental Presidente Cancun Resort is a beachfront resort in Cancun, Mexico. Although it’s not all-inclusive, it offers white-sand beaches, lagoon-style pools, and ample dining options on-site and at nearby local venues.
When I wrote this article, I found standard award nights ranging from 33,000 to 111,000 points per night and paid rates starting at $218 per night. These rates don’t include the $12 per night resort fee.
Related: 14 best all-inclusive resorts in Cancun
Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman
Many travelers rave about the Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa, which unfortunately costs at least 70,000 IHG points per night. But you can stay next door at the Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman for less than 60,000 points per night on most dates. The Hotel Indigo is near Seven Mile Beach, and it offers access to complimentary bike rentals and a beach club as part of its $65 per night resort fee.
I found award nights ranging from 47,000 to 50,000 points per night and paid rates starting at $262 per night. These rates exclude the $65 per night resort fee, though.
Related: 8 amazing places to use points for a trip to the Caribbean
Holiday Inn Resort Aruba-Beach Resort and Casino
A beach vacation to Aruba is possible with 60,000-point IHG free night certificates if you stay at the Holiday Inn Resort Aruba-Beach Resort and Casino. This resort offers a great beachfront location, complimentary bikes, water sports, minigolf and a kids club.
When I wrote this article, I found award nights ranging from 46,000 to 103,000 points per night and paid rates starting at $328 per night.
Related: Best all-inclusives in Aruba for a perfect Caribbean vacation
Crowne Plaza Paris – Republique
You can also use 60,000-point IHG free night certificates to stay in Paris. I found award nights ranging from 39,000 to 120,000 points per night and paid rates starting at $256 at the Crowne Plaza Paris – Republique. This Crowne Plaza location is in a historic 1866 building on the iconic Place de la République.
You can use your free night certificates at this Crowne Plaza on many dates. But even on dates when the Crowne Plaza costs more than 60,000 points per night, you may find another IHG hotel in Paris that costs 60,000 points or less per night.
Related: The best hotels in Paris
Kimpton De Witt
The Kimpton De Witt in Amsterdam is my favorite hotel for redeeming IHG anniversary night certificates, but it’s also a good option for redeeming 60,000-point free night awards. This Kimpton is centrally located near the central train station and within walking distance of most of Amsterdam’s tourist sights. But it’s the comfortable yet quirky room design and friendly staff that keep me coming back to this hotel.
I found award nights ranging from 32,000 to 120,000 points per night, and paid rates starting at $209 per night, at the Kimpton De Witt.
Related: Travel to Europe using points and miles: How to redeem your rewards for flights
Vignette Collection Noku Maldives
Most of the Maldives resorts you can book with points require a ridiculous amount of them. But you can book the Vignette Collection Noku Maldives for 60,000 points or fewer per night on many non-peak dates. I found award nights ranging from 51,000 to 120,000 points per night and paid rates starting at $395 per night.
This private island Maldives resort offers 20 beach villas and 30 over-water villas. You can book a beach villa without a private pool using points (or free night certificates), but you may be able to upgrade to a pool villa or an overwater villa by paying a cash copay directly to the property after booking. Remember that you’ll also need to pay $540 per person for round-trip seaplane transfers.
Related: Where is the Maldives, and is the long journey worth it?
InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay
Singapore is one of my favorite cities, and the InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay is in the neighborhood where I stayed during my first trip there. It’s along the Singapore River in the active Robertson Quay district, but you’ll find it easy to access the rest of Singapore from this location. And if you have an annual Club Lounge access membership through IHG’s Milestone Rewards program, you’ll be happy to know the hotel has a club lounge.
I found award nights at the InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay ranging from 34,000 to 120,000 points per night, while paid rates started at $244 per night.
Related: IHG elite status: What it is and how to earn it
Bottom line
The current IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card welcome offer is compelling. After all, you can earn five free nights, each with a redemption value of up to 60,000 points, after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
You could use the five free nights for a five-night trip, five one-night stays or any other possible combination. But, especially since you can’t top-off these free night certificates with points from your IHG account, you likely won’t book five nights that cost exactly 60,000 points each.
I wouldn’t let this stop me from signing up during this welcome offer if I could redeem these certificates for nights costing at least 40,000 points each. But, if you prefer earning points instead of free night certificates as your welcome offer, consider signing up for the no-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card (see rates and fees), which is currently offering 120,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.