Guide · Hotels & Stays

Should You Buy IHG Points?

Updated August 3, 2026

IHG has run promotions on bought points, including 100% bonuses that give you twice the points for the same money. Promotions change and may not be running now. A bonus only helps if the points cover a stay you actually want.

The main risk: points bought with no stay in mind carry a risk. A 100% bonus that doubles a balance you never redeem is not a discount. It is cash converted into a currency that can lose value if IHG changes its program, and IHG's terms decide whether bought points can be refunded. That is why this guide looks only at buying for a specific stay.

When can buying IHG points make sense?

Buying can make sense for an expensive stay where the cash price is high and the points price is comparatively low.

Examples: a splurgy InterContinental, a boutique Vignette or Hotel Indigo, or an all-inclusive beach resort over a holiday week.
Everyday, fairly priced hotels. If the cash rate is reasonable, paying cash may make more sense and keeps your flexibility.

Buying may make sense when...	Paying cash may make more sense when...
You have a specific pricey stay in mind	You are buying "to have points"
Cash is high and the points price is not	The room is a fair, moderate cash price
You can stay 4+ nights (see below)	A 1- or 2-night stay, no free night triggers
The bonus is at or near 100%	The bonus is small and no stay is urgent

How does the 4th reward night free work?

Here is how the card benefit works:

IHG One Rewards Premier cardholders get the 4th night free on standard room reward stays of 4 or more consecutive nights at the same property, according to Chase. The card has an annual fee (about $150 per Chase, as of Oct 2026) and its terms can change. Chase lists no yearly limit.
If you buy points during a bonus and use the 4th night benefit, you would pay points for three of the four nights. What you save depends on the points price, the bonus, and the card's annual fee.

One stay I booked: I spent a week at an all-inclusive Iberostar in Jamaica on IHG points. Iberostar resorts can be booked with IHG points, and because I hold the IHG One Rewards Premier card, my 4th night was free. That is one example, not a typical or guaranteed result. What you pay in points, and what you save, depends on the property, the dates, award availability, and whether you buy points during a bonus.

How can you compare buying points with paying cash?

Price the stay in cash first. That is your benchmark.
Check the points price for the same nights, and aim for 4+ nights if you hold the Premier card.
Compare the two. Buying points may make sense only when they clearly cost less, and many people buy only enough to cover the stay.
Check your own offer, because IHG sometimes targets different bonus sizes to different members. Points can expire after a long period without account activity, so check IHG's current terms.

FAQ

How do I know if buying beats paying cash?

Price the exact night in cash, then look it up in points. If the cost of the points you would buy (with the bonus) is clearly lower than the cash rate, buying points may cost less. If the two are close, paying cash keeps your flexibility.

What is the 4th-reward-night-free benefit?

According to Chase, standard room reward stays of four or more consecutive nights at the same property get the 4th night for zero points with the IHG One Rewards Premier card. Check Chase's current terms for limits.

Can I really book all-inclusive resorts with IHG points?

Yes, IHG lists Iberostar Beachfront Resorts, and a number of those all-inclusive properties can be booked with points. Availability and points prices vary by property and date.

Sources

Card and program details trace to IHG and Chase directly as of the date shown on this guide. Bonus sizes and terms change, so confirm the current offer before you buy.

IHG and Chase do not sponsor or endorse this guide. We may be paid if you apply through a link on our card pages, and we may or may not receive compensation from any other link. Getting paid costs you nothing extra and doesn't decide what we cover or what we say. You can also browse all guides or our hotel program pages.