Using Hotel Points

Fellow travelers have shared their many friends and family perks from the national chains. Years ago I started to accumulate hotel points, using an anniversary night or combinations of points with dollars can go a long way.

My favorite hotel credit card is IHG through Chase because the $49 annual fee does not have category restrictions. The one free anniversary night each year may be used in any of their worldwide locations, Intercontinental, Crown Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn Express and others.

IHG offers their customers creative accelerated point programs with stays and using the Chase card for double points on 'everyday purchases' like groceries, gasoline and restaurants. Hotels offer tier pricing (most of the time) or a free night for 15K+ points depending on the locations and time of year.

Customer Preferences List exceeds those of the others with the exception of Marriott inquiring as to ones pillow preference. IHG's website is easy to search and as with most membership check-ins there is free Wi-Fi and bottled water or bonus points.

Two weeks ago we used an anniversary night at the Crown Plaza, Kensington in London and then paid $110 USD with 40K points for the second night, booking a basic hotel room.

After making to two separate reservations on line, I emailed Crown Plaza asking if we could remain in the same hotel room for both nights. A prompt reply with a person's name said they made a note of it.

Standing in line to check-in we overheard the receptionist quote the nightly rate of 399 BPS, over $550 USD. The pleasant surprise, as IHG members we were upgraded to a two-story suite with a posted price of 499 BPS.

Accessible by elevator on both floors, the lower level had a sofa, desk, table to seat four, TV, stocked mini-bar fridge (additional fees applied) and a stairway up to the second floor to the sleeping quarters complete with coffee/tea set ups, biscuits (cookies), a safe, USB outlet, multiple 110V and 220V plugs. The pleasant staff and an excellent location near the Glouster Road Tube stop would be our first choice again on a return trip to London.

This past weekend we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Hixon, TN outside of Chattanooga using points for another reward night. The new ‘Formula Blue’ concept has a bright lobby and updated breakfast area. Across from check-in is a computer/business center and on the lower level a fitness room and square pool with round hot tub.   

The contemporary hotel room design was fresh, including the basics, min-fridge, Keurig coffee/tea station, microwave, USB and multiple power outlets. Another wonderful staff made this a nice experience, especially when one is reminded to pick warm cookies in route to your room.