Traveling Expats

If you have read our last blog post titled “Unleashing the Magic of Munich,” you are aware that we enjoyed a four-night stay at the Holiday Inn Express City West using our IHG points, incurring no cost. The hotel’s proximity to the S-Bahn station, a mere two-minute walk away, offers exceptional convenience for reaching downtown Munich in just 15 minutes. Additionally, guests can indulge in a delectable breakfast buffet featuring a wide array of food and beverage choices. We wholeheartedly endorse this hotel as a top choice for those exploring Munich using IHG reward points.

You may be curious about the method employed in earning so many IHG reward points. It was rather straightforward. In December 2023, Lee applied for an IHG One Reward Premiere credit card and made purchases totaling $3,000 within three months, resulting in earning 165,000 IHG Reward Points.

Some may perceive spending $3,000 over three months as significant, but when broken down, it equates to $1,000 per month. Consider your typical monthly expenses on groceries, fuel, and dining out; it’s probable that you already spend more than $1,000 monthly on these necessities. Enrolling in the IHG Reward Premiere credit card and investing $3,000 within three months can yield 165,000 reward points, which can be utilized for upcoming travel arrangements.

If you are contemplating a stay at an IHG property this year, such as Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express , etc., acquiring the IHG One Rewards Premier card is highly recommended.

The IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card offers significant benefits to individuals planning to stay at an IHG property for a minimum of four nights each year. However, for those with minimal stays at IHG properties, this card may not be the most practical choice.

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card carries a $99 annual fee. This card offers a plethora of perks and advantages to offset this cost. These include a generous 165,000-point welcome bonus upon meeting the minimum spending requirement, immediate Platinum Elite status entailing complimentary upgrades and early check-in privileges, up to 16 times rewards on IHG purchases, an annual complimentary night stay, and $150 in travel credits. Considering these benefits, deriving $99 worth of value from this card is nearly inevitable.

165,000 bonus points are available upon spending $3,000 on purchases within the initial 3 months from account opening.

Rewards Rates

• 10x10X on IHG purchases 
• 5xEarn 5X points on travel, gas stations, and restaurants
• 3xEarn 3X points on all other purchases

This card offers a complimentary night worth up to 40,000 points on each account anniversary. Moreover, you have the flexibility to enhance your rewards by topping them up for a more luxurious stay. Notable benefits include automatic IHG Platinum elite status, with an opportunity to progress to Diamond status, up to $50 in United TravelBank cash annually, reimbursement for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus application fees every four years, and additional perks—all for an annual fee of $99.

Taking into consideration the card’s fourth-night-free benefit, where redeeming points for three nights grants you the fourth night complimentary, you have the potential to enjoy up to 20 complimentary award nights at IHG hotels using this single sign-up bonus. Award nights commence at a mere 10,000 points each, offering a spectrum of choices from domestic options in the United States to accommodations overseas in cities like Munich Holiday Inn Express City West for 20.5K points per night but if you stay for more than three nights, it’s only 17.5K per night using IHG reward points.

After a 4-night stay in Munich utilizing 65,000 IHG reward points, we have a remaining balance of 95,000 points earmarked for future travel endeavors. This card serves as an excellent entry point into the realm of travel hacking.

If you are interested in acquiring IHG Reward Points through the IHG Credit Card, click on the provided links in this post. Your action not only helps us but also comes at no cost to you. Your support is greatly appreciated and invaluable to us.

If you’re feeling lost, confused, or just craving a chat, don’t be shy! Drop us a line for a chinwag, share your victories, or shoot over any burning questions. We’re all ears and ready to dive into the fun with you!

Happy Travels!

Betty and Lee