Are IHG Points Worth Buying?

Is It Worth Buying IHG Points?

If you travel often, you probably think of hotel points as a second currency: they are earned, saved, and sometimes even purchased. The million-dollar question, or maybe 50,000-point question, is: are IHG points worthy of purchase? The short answer is: sometimes, yes—but only under the right circumstances. Buying IHG points can somehow correspond or align with promotions and perks, but most of the time, buying points with cash is like paying extra for airline peanuts: you can do it, but it rarely makes sense.

Understanding the Value of IHG Points

You need to know what your points are worth before deciding if it is worth it to open your wallet. On average, IHG points have a base value of between 0.5 and 0.7 cents per point. This means that 10,000 points are equivalent to about $50-$70 in hotel stays.

Compared to other hotel rewards programs, IHG points land somewhere in the middle:

•             Marriott points hover around 0.8–0.9 cents.

•             Hilton points typically sit closer to 0.6 cents.

•             Hyatt points punch well above average at over 2 cents each.

So, while IHG is not the heavyweight in points, what it does offer is flexibility, with an abundance of redemption opportunities. Sometimes a little flexibility weighs more than all the might, else what will you do: wait for a Hyatt to open nowhere, or check into a Holiday Inn in Rome?

When Buying IHG Points Might Be Worth It

So, back to our big question: are IHG points worth buying? The answer is yes—but only in specific situations where you’re squeezing more value out of them than you paid.

1. During Big Promotions

IHG frequently runs sales that offer up to a 100% bonus on purchased points. This effectively cuts the cost per point in half, making them significantly more valuable when redeemed for hotel stays. Think of it as the Black Friday of hotel points—you wouldn’t normally buy a toaster at full price, but half off? Maybe.

2. Using the Fourth Night-Free Perk

If you hold an IHG-branded credit card, you’ll often get the fourth night free when redeeming points for a four-night stay. This perk stretches the value of purchased points, making it a smart move to buy points for the first three nights while enjoying the fourth night on the house.

3. For Expensive Hotel Stays

Sometimes, cash prices for luxury hotels are sky-high, but the points redemption remains reasonable. Buying points in this case can save you serious money. For example, a $500-per-night InterContinental room that costs 50,000 points could make buying points a clever strategy—especially if you grab them during a promotion.

4. Topping Off Your Balance

If you’re just a few thousand points short of a redemption, buying a small amount can be worthwhile. It’s the equivalent of paying for the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle—without it, you’re stuck with an incomplete picture.

When Buying IHG Points Is Not Worth It

While buying points has its sweet spots, there are plenty of situations where it’s not a good deal:

• Without Promotions: Purchasing points at full price usually costs more than the value you’ll get when redeeming them.
• At Baseline Value: If you’re only getting 0.5 cents per point back, you’re basically breaking even—or losing money.
• In Large Quantities: Stockpiling points “just in case” can be risky since loyalty programs can devalue them at any time. It’s like hoarding milk; it might go sour before you use it.

How to Decide If Buying Makes Sense

Here’s a simple checklist to determine if buying points is a smart move:

1. Calculate the Cost Per Point – Divide the money you’re paying by the number of points you’ll get during a promotion.
2. Check the Hotel Cash Rate – See how much the same room costs in dollars.
3. Check the Points Rate – Find out how many points are required for that stay.
4. Compare the two – If buying points saves you money compared to paying cash, then you’ve found a winning strategy.

Alternatives to Buying IHG Points

Instead of spending cash on points, there are other ways to grow your balance:

• Stay with IHG Hotels. Customers earn 10 base points for every $1 spent, sometimes even more with an elite status.
• Use an IHG Credit Card. Earn points not only for hotel stays but also for restaurant bills, airline tickets, and everyday spending.
• Take Advantage of Promotions. Seasonal promotions provide you with accelerated ways to accumulate points.

These alternatives help you build your points stash without spending extra money upfront.

Are IHG Points Worth Buying?

So, let’s answer the big question once more: are IHG points worth buying? The final verdict is that they’re rarely worth it at full price, but they can be an excellent deal during bonus promotions, when booking luxury hotels, or when topping off your balance for a planned redemption. The key is strategy—you should only buy points when the math clearly works in your Favor. Otherwise, you might as well be buying sand at the beach.

Want to Sell IHG Points Instead?

If you’re sitting on a pile of IHG points you don’t plan to use, why not turn them into cash? At CashForMyMiles.com, we offer a safe and fast way to sell IHG points for instant money. Our process is secure, straightforward, and payments are immediate—so your points won’t just sit around collecting virtual dust.