How to Decide Whether to Redeem IHG Points or Pay Cash for a Hotel Stay

A simple way to start is to see how much value you're getting for your points on a specific stay.

• Formula: (Cash Price of Room minus Taxes and Fees) divided by Number of Points Required = Value per Point

• Example: A room costs $150 total, or $130 before tax, and the Reward Night option is 20,000 points. The calculation is $130 divided by 20,000, which equals $0.0065 per point.

Whether the cash rate for a specific stay is unusually high or low changes which option makes more sense.

• Use points when cash rates are high: During major events, holidays, or in expensive cities, cash rates can climb sharply. This is often a strong time to use points, since the points required for a Reward Night may not increase as dramatically as the cash price, which can improve your value per point.

• Pay cash when rates are low: If a hotel is offering a particularly good cash rate, it may make sense to pay cash and preserve your points for a stay where they will be worth more.

Your personal travel style and goals matter as much as the math.

• Saving money now: If your priority is reducing the out-of-pocket cost of an upcoming trip, redeeming points is generally the more direct way to do that.

• Saving points for a bigger trip: If you're working toward a luxury stay, such as an InterContinental property, or a longer vacation, you may prefer to pay cash for shorter or less expensive trips and conserve your points for that larger redemption.

Many members compare both options before every booking rather than following a fixed rule. Look at the total cash rate, the points required, and how quickly you expect to earn points again before deciding. The right choice depends on your travel goals and your current points balance, and it can reasonably change from one trip to the next. 

If neither a full points redemption nor a full cash payment feels right, IHG One Rewards Points & Cash lets you combine a smaller number of points with a cash payment to book a Reward Night.² This option can stretch a limited points balance further, or let you book a Reward Night sooner than waiting to earn enough points for a full redemption.

For questions about the points required for a specific hotel or date, check the rate details shown during booking on IHG.com. For questions about your points balance or a completed booking, contact IHG Customer Care. General redemption questions are also covered in the IHG Customer Care FAQ.