IHG Hotels And Resorts Costing Under 40,000 Points—IHG Credit Card Free Night Certificates

With the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card members are eligible to redeem an Anniversary Reward Night Certificate for stays costing up to 40,000 IHG One Rewards points at any participating IHG hotel or resort in the world. This includes a wide variety of hotel options, including Holiday Inns, Intercontinental Hotels, Crowne Plaza Hotels and more.

IHG uses dynamic pricing for award prices, meaning that the more a hotel costs in cash, the more it typically costs in points. Because of this, the hotels listed below won’t always be available to book for 40,000 points or less per night. Even so, it’s not always a guarantee that a hotel will be available with points. If a hotel isn’t available on a specific date on points, you can search the calendar and see which dates are available.

We’ve found several of the most exciting locations and hotel services offered across the globe for certificate redemptions. Below are some of IHG’s best hotel experiences redeemable for 40,000 points or less.

Hotel Indigo Asheville Downtown

Rates start at around 25,000 IHG One Rewards points a night.

Asheville, North Carolina is a mecca for anyone who appreciates the outdoors. In its backyard, you’ll find scenic drives, mountain biking routes and hiking trails. You won’t have to choose between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains—both are easy day trip options, close enough that you can return to town when you’re ready for one of the many area breweries, restaurants and city tours.

The hotel is comfortable and emphasizes the best of the local area: you’ll find curated photography, floor-to-ceiling windows and views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. True to form with Asheville’s local culture, you’ll also find that rooms are pet-friendly (fee applies) so your furry friends can join you overnight in-between visits to area businesses and attractions.

Though the Hotel Indigo sits downtown in walking distance to the best of the city, it’s also convenient to the Biltmore Estate, one of the region’s biggest draws. Only a 15-minute drive away, you can find yourself on the expansive grounds, tasting house wines or touring the impressive mansion.

InterContinental Marine Drive – Mumbai

A night at the IC Marine Drive starts around 26,000 IHG One Rewards per night.

This InterContinental hotel boasts incredible panoramic views of the Arabian Sea, with expansive windows lining opulent rooms. Located in the heart of the city’s Art Deco District, the hotel’s attention to design and luxury only accentuate its successful preservation of the heritage site’s authentic charm. This InterContinental is regularly available for under 40,000 points per night, but compared to cash rates, it’s only a good use of a free night certificate during high season.

Guests have access to a variety of exceptional onsite dining experiences during their stay, with the relaxed living room style of the L&S bistro, the traditional Indian cuisine of Kebab Korner, a beloved heritage restaurant in Mumbai since 1971 or the astounding poolside view of the city at the Dome rooftop bar and grill.

The hotel has immediate access to the Marine Drive trail, which is walkable and bikeable all the way down to Nariman Point. Several blocks from the doors of the hotel is the Mahatma Gandhi Garden, where guests can retreat to enjoy some time outside or meditate before Gandhi’s statue.

Also nearby is the Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai’s museum of contemporary art, as well as the National Gallery of Modern Art, the ornate and historic museum of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya and the historic landmark of the Gateway of India Mumbai at the edge of the water. For those interested in the history of Mumbai, this Intercontinental hotel places guests in the thick of the city’s celebration of modern art and business.

Holiday Inn Cairo Maadi

Staying a night at the Holiday Inn Cairo Maadi will run from 19,000 IHG One Rewards points and up.

At the Holiday Inn in Cairo guests can enjoy the comforts of familiar amenities with spectacular views over the Nile River. Most won’t think of a Holiday Inn as a luxury hotel, but this Holiday Inn is five-star with private balconies and a rooftop pool. This hotel is regularly bookable for under 40,000 IHG One Rewards points per night and provides a quiet retreat compared to staying elsewhere in the city.

The hotel offers several restaurants and lounges onsite for those who wish to dine in, which include a variety of international cuisine and cocktail options. Also onsite is a casino and gift shops to find souvenirs to bring home from this exceptional property.

As comfortable as the hotel may be, the Giza pyramids call guests to them from across the river, and a visit to Cairo simply wouldn’t be complete without seeing these wonders of the world up close. While in Giza, the Great Sphinx is also a must-see. The Nile River offers felucca rides, a perfectly relaxing way to experience Cairo’s sunset on the water after a long, hot day of exploring.

voco Edinburgh—Royal Terrace

Nights start around 35,000 IHG One Rewards points.

Conveniently located on the edge of Edinburgh’s happening New Town, the voco Edinburgh—Royal Terrace hotel provides guests a quiet oasis, set on a peaceful residential street in Scotland’s bustling cultural hub. As with many hotels in good locations in the U.K., it’s not always going to be possible to redeem your certificate (or spend fewer than 40,000 points per night) here. However, in spring, fall and winter you can also find value.

The hotel offers free Wi-Fi and a gorgeous dining experience at the Terrace Restaurant, which opens out onto the hotel’s lush courtyard garden. Guests can also experience a United Kingdom tradition of afternoon tea at the restaurant or try some of Edinburgh’s finest Scottish beers and malt whiskies in the hotel’s bar.

The Crowne Plaza is a 30-minute walk from Edinburgh Castle, which provides a stunning view of the Grey City, known for its rows of romantically aged, gray stone buildings. Close by are also the National Museum of Scotland, the Palace of Holyrood House and the spacious green hills of Holyrood park with Arthur’s Seat at its peak. Known as the world’s leading festival city, Edinburgh offers visitors exciting opportunities to experience festivals of all different kinds throughout the year. These include festivals in theater, film, music, science, literature and more.

Hotel X Brisbane Fortitude VLY, Vignette Collection

Award nights starting at 32,000 IHG One Rewards.

IHG’s new luxury brand, the Vignette Collection, celebrates one-off properties with a fresh, distinctive focus. At the Hotel X, you’ll find modern rooms with avant garde touches for an in-style stay that will have you wondering if you’re actually still at a chain hotel. Best of all, rooms are available for under 40,000 points per night many nights of the year—including in high season.

The Hotel X is in Fortitude Valley, an area known for nightlife, restaurants and shopping. And, just like the hotel itself, you can expect plenty of individualism here instead of chains. You’re more likely to stumble on an indie record shop than a familiar brand and you could spend weeks hopping between cocktail lounges, brunch spots and art galleries.

At the property itself, you’ll find a rooftop pool with panoramic city views, two restaurants and an evening reception to make you feel extra welcomed. They’ve also thought of everything: you can easily add-on extras like valet parking, airport transfers and even nanny service if you need a helping hand.

InterContinental Costa Rica at Multiplaza Mall

Award nights start at roughly 37,000 IHG One Rewards points.

This luxury hotel is one of San José’s finest. Guests can explore the city of San José and the beautiful nature of Costa Rica’s forests and beaches beyond, while having a comforting, accommodating sense of home to return to each night. While San José isn’t likely to be the only stop in Costa Rica, it’s a convenient place to fly in and out of for access to the cheapest flights. That makes staying at the InterContinental a luxurious option to start or end a trip. With room rates around 35,000 points or $240 per night, it’s a solid use of a free night certificate.

In the heart of the Escazù district, the hotel is located conveniently in the center of the Multiplaza Mall complex for easy access to delicious dining, refreshing cocktails accompanied with live music performances, an outdoor pool and peaceful treatments at the Intercontinental Spa. Rooms look out over the beautiful flora around the hotel’s pool and courtyard garden area, as well as out over the surrounding hills of San José.

When guests venture beyond the Multiplaza Mall, they can reach the downtown center of San José within about 15-20 minutes by car, passing by Costa Rica’s National Stadium. Once in the thick of San José’s colorful city life, visitors can take walking food tours, explore museums such as the Museum of Pre-Columbian Gold and the National Museum or take a relaxing stroll through the spacious city park of La Sabana. Whether staying within the city center or venturing into the exciting natural wonders that Costa Rica has to offer, visitors will never run out of ideas for outings during their stay.

IHG One Rewards Credit Cards

Two IHG co-branded credit cards—the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card—include an anniversary night certificate annually. Both cards also include another valuable cardmember benefit: when you book four consecutive award nights using points, you can get the fourth night free. These perks make their respective annual fees easy to justify.

Though the cards include similar benefits, their earning structures are different.

The personal IHG Premier Card earns up to 26 points per dollar spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts, 5 points on travel, gas stations, and restaurants and 3 points on all other purchases in addition to a welcome bonus: Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

The IHG Premier Business Card instead earns up to 26 total points per dollar at IHG® Hotels and Resorts, 5 points per dollar on travel, dining, select business, and at gas stations and 3 points per dollar on all other purchases. It also has a welcome bonus for new cardholders: Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, plus 35,000 bonus points after spending a total of $7,000 in the first 6 months from account opening.

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is another solid option for IHG members, as it doesn’t charge an annual fee while still earning IHG One Rewards points on all purchases. This card does not offer an annual complimentary free night certificate.

Bottom Line

While you can earn and redeem points anytime, IHG’s Anniversary Night certificates are a useful way to book an award night in one fell swoop. Though certificates are limited to hotel nights priced under 40,000 points, there are still plenty of choices—and the option to cover the price difference in points from your account if needed. Most cardmembers should have no trouble finding a hotel that fits their expected travel plans given this flexibility.