I'm interested in the 4 cards limit- is this based on not wanting to negatively impact your credit rating? I've opened 4 accounts this year, I track my Noddle and Experian score and noted that it dipped slightly after new accounts were open, but then climbed back to normal within 1-2 months.
Yep - completely unscientific I'm afraid! Just what I've been doing for years without any issues, and it fits in with my usual 'churn pattern'. I certainly know people who are considerably more aggressive in terms of their applications who don't seem to have suffered any negative consequences, so yeah every couple of months is probably fine.
So the Platinum IHG card costs £99 but gives you one "free night." Can the free night be used anywhere and anytime you want?
Have to use it within 12 months. Have only used mine in the UK so far but I don't think there are limitations on geography. So it's just down to whether the hotel you choose has free night availability on your preferred date.
Quick update; I have booked my latest free night for one of the Intercontinental's in New York. Unfortunately the Barclay was unavailable.
Very nice John - when you off? I'll be in NYC myself in October/November I think - not quite IC standard, but 5 nights at one of the downtown Cat 4 Marriotts for 100k Marriott Points is a bargain. I've already used my IHG Certs for a couple of nights in Boston on the same trip.
April next year in school hols with the family. Had a stash of IHG points so booked 5 nights total, 3 in a Holiday Inn and 1 in the IC with points, then the free night voucher for the last night in the IC as well. Might be a bit nuts using 2 hotels but wanted to try the IC.
Haha - I once did a 16 night trip where I spent every single night at a different hotel or on a plane (Shannon - Boston - LA - Vegas - LA - Paris - Berlin - London)! That might have been taking things a bit far in retrospect, but in general I actually like hotel hopping. It gives you the chance to see different parts of a city - and to take advantage of as many deals/bonus point offers/ best rate guarantees/award chart sweetspots as possible.
For me IHG points get free hotel stays; there are other ways to redeem them but in my opinion hotels are the best way. Lots of useful articles on their loyalty programme on this site and similar ones. Our family have had 3 separate trips for long weekends in London with free hotels, various other trips away with yet more free hotels, and now our upcoming trip to New York with 5 nights free hotels.
