How to Book Your Vacation with IHG Reward Nights

Aaron and I love to travel, but since we're both teachers, it's not something that we can afford to drop a ton of money on all the time. Our solution? We're members of some fabulous travel rewards programs, and we pay our bills with their credit cards. This way, we make our money work for us, and we still get to travel without feeling guilt or going off budget. One of our favorite rewards programs, and very favorite hotel company to stay with, is the InterContinental Hotels Group.

A while back, I shared a post about the IHG Rewards Club Credit Card: how we use it, how you earn points, and how you redeem them. Today I'm here to show you how to search within point ranges to book your dream vacation.

Although I won't be visiting anywhere in the Caribbean for a while because I'm pregnant, I'm already looking forward to doing some traveling with our little one this summer. Next on my travel bucket list? Book a trip to Miami and Key West! 

Step One:

When I'm ready to search for a hotel to book with our reward points, I go to the Reward Nights Link, and then type "Miami, FL" into the destination box. You'll select your dates next (see photo above), and the choose a point range you're looking to stay within. If you know you only have a certain amount of points, you can search for that amount, or you can buy more points. IHG is extra amazing because it lets you combine cash and points to find the perfect fit for your reservation purchase. 

Step Two:

Once you search, you'll come to a list that looks like this:

Underneath the "check rates" box for each hotel, you'll see the point values, showing different increments and points as well as cash combo options. You can even sort your results by "rates" if you'd like, and then you'll probably get the best bang for your buck! 

Aaron and I usually travel with a rental car, so we don't mind staying a little farther from the cities. We usually try to stick to booking rooms that cost 5,000 to 15,000 points, but now and then, you may want to splurge and book an awesome room in a downtown area. Here are some Miami options we would consider:

Step Three:

When you're ready, select the Miami hotel you want. You can even pick extra bonus packages, and breakfast is included most of the time! Another awesome thing about the InterContinental Hotels Group is that they let you cancel up until the evening of your reservation, and you'll get your points back (for free). The flexibility of the program is amazing, and we have always had incredible stays at clean, comfortable hotels. 

Even though we'll have baby in tow, we're excited to plan next year's vacation. With the help of great travel groups like IHG, traveling doesn't have to break the bank. Let me know if you have questions or need help. Maybe we will see you in Miami! 

Currently,

Kelsie