UPDATE: This offer has expired. You can check out the latest offer here.
Originally, the 70,000 point offer for the IHG Rewards Club Select credit card was set to end tomorrow, March 31, 2015. Fortunately, for those that are still on the fence of whether or not to apply for this card, the offer has been extended! As of right now, there is no new expiration date. I personally applied for this card two weeks ago and after a call with the reconsideration department I was able to move some credit line over from another Chase credit card and got approved. A few days after I applied, I then heard about a targeted 80,000 point offer for this card. I sent Chase a direct message asking them to match the higher offer. Two days later and I still haven’t heard back, but I’ll sure to update with some hopeful good news. Other readers have reported some success as Chase is typically pretty good with matching offers as long as you applied for the card within the past 90 days.
I am actually quite annoyed at myself that it has taken me this long to apply for the card. While the bonus points are great and all, this card has one of the best anniversary benefits out there. Every year (on your anniversary date), they give you a free night to use at ANY InterContinental Hotels Group worldwide. This can be used at a high end InterContinental hotel in Bora Bora or an inexpensive Holiday Inn Express along the highway. And if you like Vegas, you can even use your free night at The Palazzo or The Venetian. As long as there is free night availability (which is different availability then redeeming with points), you can redeem your free night award! The certificate also does not expire until a year after it is deposited into your account! The annual fee is only $49 (first year waived), so in theory you are getting a certificate to use at any hotel for only $49. Even your inexpensive Holiday Inn hotels are typically much more than this!
This is much better than the free night earned from Marriott and Hyatt since there is no category restriction. With both Marriott and Hyatt you get a similar benefit by being a cardmember, but the certificate is capped at a category 5 for Marriott and category 4 for Hyatt. Both my husband and I applied for the card on the same day which will give us 2 free nights a year to use!
With this card you get 5 points per dollar at any IHG hotel, 2 points per dollar spend on gas, groceries, and dining, and 1 point on everything else. Definitely not a card I’d use for everyday spend, but a great card to have solely for the benefits! Another great perk of this card is when you use your points to redeem for a free night you’ll get a 10% rebate on the points redeemed back into your account within 4-6 weeks after your stay (with no yearly cap). You also get IHG Platinum status with this card although I do not put much value on that status.
I am looking forward for the free nights to be applied to both mine and my husbands account next year. I am actually eyeing the Z Ocean Hotel in South Beach as it is an all suites property and perfect for kids. This is a card that is not talked about often, but in my opinion has huge value. Especially with the current sign up bonus. If you have this card, where have you used your free night?
Related blog posts about the InterContinental Hotels Group loyalty program:
- Free Night Annually with the IHG Credit Card
- Various Ways to Earn IHG Points
- “Buying” IHG Points for .7 Cents/Point
- Understanding IHG PointBreak Offers
Key Links:
- IHG Rewards Club Select Visa Credit Card – Earn 70,000 points after you spend $1,000 within the first three months. Receive a free night certificate annually (starting with your second year as a card member). No annual fee the first year, then $49/year. Card application link.
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