IHG One Rewards 100% Bonus on Purchased Points – Is It a Good Deal?

IHG One Rewards is running a limited-time promotion that allows members to buy points with a 100% bonus. This effectively cuts the price per point in half and can be a smart way to save on future stays—if used wisely. Let’s break down the details, potential value, and key considerations before you buy.

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🔑 Offer Details

• Bonus Amount: 100% bonus on purchased points (buy X, get X free).
• Price: With the bonus, the cost drops to roughly 0.5 cents per point.
• Purchase Limits: You can buy up to 200,000 points before the bonus (for a total of 400,000 points including the bonus).
• Minimum Purchase: Typically 5,000 points to trigger the bonus.
• Timing: Purchased points generally post within 72 hours.
• Elite Status: Purchased points do not count toward elite status qualification.
• Payment Processing: Points are sold through a third-party platform, so the charge won’t code as a hotel purchase on your credit card.

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💳 Best Way to Pay

Since these purchases don’t code as hotel spend, you won’t get extra points from hotel-category bonuses. To maximize return:

• Use a general travel card or a card with strong everyday rewards (like a 2% cash back or 2x points card).
• Consider a card where you’re working on a welcome bonus spend requirement for extra value.

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🌍 When Buying Points Makes Sense

The 0.5 cents per point rate can be a solid deal if you redeem points for stays where you receive more than 0.5 cents per point in value.
Great use cases include:

• Luxury Properties: Redeem at InterContinental, Regent, or Six Senses hotels where nightly rates can be high.
• Last-Minute Bookings: Points can provide savings when cash rates spike during busy travel seasons.
• Topping Off Your Balance: Buying a small amount to complete an award booking often beats paying cash.

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🏨 Example Scenarios

• A luxury property charging 80,000 points per night with a cash rate of $600 provides a value of 0.75 cents per point—well above the purchase price.
• Using a co-branded IHG credit card with a Fourth Night Free reward stay benefit increases your effective value per point even further.

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⚠️ Things to Consider

• Dynamic Award Pricing: IHG uses dynamic pricing, so award rates fluctuate with demand. Always check current rates before buying.
• Points Expiration: IHG points expire after 12 months of inactivity unless you earn or redeem to keep the account active.
• No Refunds: Points purchases are final, so avoid buying speculatively unless you have a redemption planned.

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✅ Bottom Line

The IHG One Rewards 100% bonus sale is one of the best opportunities to purchase points at a discounted rate.
However, the deal only makes sense if:

• You have a specific booking in mind, and
• The redemption gives you more than 0.5 cents per point in value.

If you’re simply looking to stockpile points without an immediate use, it’s safer to wait for a future trip before buying.