IHG Rewards Club is offering 50% off redemptions at several resorts in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean made between August 24 and September 9 for travel September 1 through October 31. Here are the hotels where this offer is available:
- InterContinental® Presidente Cozumel; Cancun; Playa Bonita Panamá; Cartagena, Colombia
- Crowne Plaza® Acapulco, Mexico
- Holiday Inn® Cartagena Morros, Colombia; Aruba; Acapulco, Grand Cayman
- Holiday Inn Express® Cartagena Bocagrande, Colombia; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Intercontinental Cozumel
This deal makes the Intercontinental in Cozumel — normally 40,000 points — just 20,000 points per night for September and October.
The Intercontinental Cancun is normally 30,000 points per night. It becomes just 15,000 points per night during the promotion.
The Holiday Inn Express Puerto Vallarta is normally 20,000 points per night. It becomes just 10,000 points per night during the promotion.
Since you can buy IHG Rewards Club points for 7/10ths of a cent apiece that makes these hotels remarkably cheap.
So that Holiday Inn Express Puerto Vallarta effectively becomes just $70 per night. You’d think that looks pretty great for this:
… but the reason they offer these award discounts is to put incremental heads in beds during low season. It’s the same reason the hotels discount their rates so much. Let’s have a look at what you’d pay without spending points (and instead earn points on your rate), here’s a search for a week in early October:
So while it’s fewer points than usual, that alone doesn’t mean you’re getting a ‘good deal’ on points. Make sure you know what you’re getting. And while I’m a huge fan of shoulder — and sometimes even off-season — be sure you want to go at that time. (I tend to like my resorts empty, and I don’t mind things super hot… or even stormy when it’s limited to an hour or so per day.)
Holiday Inn Express in Cabo san Lucas and Puerto Vallarta normally price between $55-$70, depending on the booking engine. That’s both the shoulder and in-season rate.
Hurricane bait. No Gracias!
how does Cozumel compare with Cancun? club facilities, upgrades/benefits for award nights?
have been to Playa Bonita in Panama, quite a nice property with beach in front, nice infinity pool.
Cozumel is a nicer overall facility, great staff. Cancun has a great beach and is closer to nightlife. If you are a diver, Cozumel is the place. In Cozumel last year, upgraded on a points stay as a PC Plat (no IC status) to Ocean View just by asking a mgr. a few days ahead. No club at Cozumel, not sure about Cancun.
Any idea when this will go live? Doesn’t seem to be active at the IC Cancun yet…