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For the next couple of days you can pick up some discounted IHG Rewards Points thanks to IHG’s latest Points ‘Flash Sale’. This one offers a 100% bonus and is only available until 19th May 2017.

The 100% bonus applies to any purchase of 5,000 or more Points (so 10,000 including the bonus). The price per point varies a bit depending on how many you buy (figures below exclude the bonus):

• 1,000 – 10,000 points for $13.50 per 1,000 points
• 11,000 – 25,000 points for $12.50 per 1,000 points
• 26,000 – 60,000 points for $11.50 per 1,000 points

Assuming you buy 26,000+ (pre bonus) to get the best price, with the 100% bonus you would therefore effectively pay ~ £4.45 ($5.75) per 1,000 Points.

Good deal?

As always, it depends.

The lowest category IHG hotel cost 10,000 Points, so would set you back about £45 if you bought Points. The highest category hotels require 60,000, so would cost ~£270.

IHG’s famous PointBreaks hotels cost just 5,000 Points, so would be a definite bargain at ~£22.50 per night, if you found one that suited your plans.

As Joe pointed out during a similar sale a few weeks ago, all of the above can make sense sometimes. In particular, he highlighted the example of using Points for nights when the cash rate is unusually high – like New Year’s Eve in Times Square:

The cash rate for the Crowne Plaza there is an eye-watering $1945.30!

and the total price is even worse once you add tax: $2265.73, which works out at about £1,750.

During the IHG Rewards Points Flash Sale you can buy 50,000 Points for ~£225. That still isn’t cheap, but is an absolute snip compared to the cash rate!

Bottom line

We see these IHG Rewards Points sales quite regularly so I certainly wouldn’t buy just for the sake of it. That said, as you can see above, there are times when it could definitely make sense to take advantage.

Terms

Offer available for purchases made between 12:00 AM ET May 16, 2017 12:00 AM ET and 11:59 PM May 19, 2017 inclusive. This is an exclusive, non-transferable offer for intended recipient only and may not be forwarded. Bonus points will be awarded upon completion of the transaction. Bonus points will be awarded to the recipient of the points purchase. Offer is subject to change. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer. Only purchases made online are eligible for bonus.

Price includes all applicable fees. Purchased points are not refundable and are applicable toward all IHG^® Rewards Club awards. Members may purchase a maximum of 60,000 points per calendar year and receive as a gift a maximum of 60,000 points per calendar year. Please allow 72 hours for points to post and appear in the recipient’s account. All other IHG^® Rewards Club Terms and Conditions apply.