InterContinental Hotels Raises Prices on Popular PointBreaks Rates
- 5,000 points per night - 33 hotels (11 in the U.S.)
- 10,000 points per night - 133 hotels (76 in the U.S.)
- 15,000 points per night - 39 hotels (20 in the U.S.)
Here's how IHG Rewards loyalists reacted to the changes on
FlyerTalk
, a discussion site for frequent travelers:
-
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For years, PointBreaks has been one of the signature promotions of InterContinental Hotels Group's IHG Rewards program: a roster of hotels available for award booking for just 5,000 points per night. The list of discounted properties changed quarterly, and at times featured more than 200 participating hotels.
Over time, however, the list dwindled in size, most recently featuring fewer than 100 discounted properties, just 64 of which were in the U.S. And the quality of the participating hotels has eroded as well—fewer (if any) InterContinentals, more Holiday Inn Expresses.
InterContinental must have been aware that the once-popular promotion was slipping into irrelevance because, for the first time, the
new PointBreaks
will offer three discounted rates: 5,000, 10,000, and 15,000 points per night.
Offer Details
Effective immediately, IHG Rewards members can book PointBreaks award nights at around 200 hotels, for stays through April 30.
Unlike past PointBreaks, discounted stays are offered at three levels: 5,000, 10,000, and 15,000 points per night.
Also unlike past PointBreaks, the latest discounted stays may be booked using either points or a combination of points and cash.
Related: WalletHub Says Delta’s Is the Best Frequent-Flyer Program. Is It?
Deal or No Deal
The new list includes just over 200 discounted hotels, at the following price points:
Doesn't seem like a good change. PB were the only attractive thing left with IHG.
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You get the idea.
As always, the question with PointBreaks is whether any of the discounted hotels work for you. And whether it’s long or short, the PointBreaks list remains worth perusing. There just might be a hotel that fits into your existing travel plans, or that could be the centerpiece of an opportunistic trip.
No dawdling, though: Room nights available at the PointBreaks rates are limited, so act quickly to lock in a deal that works for you.
Reader Reality Check
Is this the beginning of the end of PointBreaks, or a welcome new beginning.
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After 20 years working in the travel industry, and 15 years writing about it, Tim Winship knows a thing or two about travel. Follow him on Twitter@twinship.