What Is IHG Cash + Points?
IHG One Rewards’ Cash + Points option gives you an alternate route to redeem reward nights by combining cash and points, instead of paying entirely in cash or fully on points. It’s a flexible redemption model that often yields better value than straight points redemption — especially during peak travel dates or when your point balance is low.
In simple terms:
You pay part in cash and part in points, and you still earn points on the cash portion — making it a strategic way to stretch your loyalty currency.
Access FAQs here
Why Cash + Points Matters
● Lower upfront point cost:
Instead of committing a full points night, Cash + Points lets you use fewer points per night.
● Earn points on paid portion:
Unlike free award nights, the cash portion of a Cash + Points night is treated as a paid stay, so you still earn base IHG One Rewards points and potentially elite night credits (if eligible).
● Great for peak dates:
When award availability is limited or point costs are high, Cash + Points can unlock nights that otherwise feel “unreachable.”
● Flexible for budgeting:
It gives you the flexibility to decide how much cash vs points you want to spend.
How Cash + Points Works
When you reserve a Cash + Points night at an IHG hotel:
- You pay a reduced points amount plus a discounted cash rate
- The reduced points depend on the hotel category and date
- Cash portion is treated like a paid stay for point earnings
- A Cash + Points stay is a regular qualifying stay if booked at a qualifying rate
For example:
If a reward night at a property costs 40,000 points, the Cash + Points option might let you pay:
- 20,000 points + $50 USD
instead of the full 40,000 points — effectively doubling how far your points go.
Points Earnings on Cash + Points Nights
This is where the strategy gets interesting.
Unlike award nights booked purely on points, a Cash + Points night:
- Earns IHG One Rewards base points on the cash amount
- May qualify for elite night credit when booked on a qualifying paid rate
- Bonus points from elite status may also apply on the cash portion
Case in point:
You book a Cash + Points night for 20,000 points + $50 USD.
You still earn points on the $50 cash spend, which is a smart way to top up your IHG balance.
IHG Points Are Now More Valuable Than Ever
Here are a few key reasons why the value of IHG One Rewards points is having a major breakout moment:
- Friendly for Entry-Level Members
Even basic (no-status) members can enjoy complimentary breakfast at select hotels when redeeming points for award stays. - Suite Upgrade Awards on Reward Nights (Up to 5 Nights at a Time)
Suite Upgrade Awards can be applied to reward stays for up to five consecutive nights, with a relatively low qualification threshold of just 20 elite nights. - Legitimate Elite Night Earning for Bookings Made for Others
You can book award stays for friends or family, and the booking member still earns elite qualifying nights—an officially allowed way to accumulate nights. - Frequent 15% Discount on Award Redemptions
IHG regularly offers promotions that allow members to redeem points at up to 15% off, stretching the value of every point even further. - Frequent 100% Bonus on Purchased Points
Points purchases are often accompanied by 100% bonus offers, making it easier and more cost-effective to stockpile points for high-value redemptions.
Reward Nights with Complimentary Breakfast
🆕 Regent Hong Kong
👉 https://travelideas.us/ihg-hkghc
🆕 Regent Berlin
👉 https://travelideas.us/IHG-berct
🆕 Regent Porto Montenegro
👉 https://travelideas.us/IHG-tivpm
🎡 InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort
👉 https://bit.ly/44Vc8H7
🎡 Crowne Plaza Phu Quoc Starbay
👉 https://bit.ly/3EHiuze
🎡 Regent Phu Quoc
👉 https://bit.ly/3rixWPe
🎡 Regent Taipei
👉 https://bit.ly/44Psoth
(The hotel has removed complimentary breakfast details from its official listing, but the editor personally verified in May that breakfast was still provided.)
🎡 ANA InterContinental Appi Kogen Resort (Japan)
👉 https://bit.ly/3LnP2Sk
🎡 Kimpton Kitalay Samui
👉 https://bit.ly/44QCWYY
🎡 Regent Shanghai on the Bund
👉 https://travelideas.us/I-shabn
🎡 Regent Shanghai Pudong
👉 https://travelideas.us/I-shasd
🎡 Regent Beijing
👉 https://travelideas.us/I-pekjb
🎡 Regent Chongqing
👉 https://travelideas.us/I-ckgrh
🎡 Crowne Plaza Resort Fiji Nadi Bay & Spa
👉 https://travelideas.us/I-nannb
🎡 InterContinental Riverfront Hotel
👉 https://travelideas.us/I-vtgvt
Common Questions About Cash + Points
Q: How do you determine how many points it takes to redeem a Reward Night at each hotel on a given stay date?
A: The amount of points that IHG One Rewards members must redeem for a Reward Night at a given hotel varies up and down just like cash rates. These fluctuations are based on various factors, such as the cost of the room, the Best Flexible Rate, and demand.
Q: How often can a hotel’s point amounts change?
A: Point amounts per hotel can vary daily just like cash rates. For a multi-night stay, you will see both an average-point amount and daily-point amount, just like with cash bookings.
Once you make a booking, you will lock in the required point amounts. While the hotel’s points requirement could go up or down after booking, this will not affect your original booking.
Q: How many points are required for a Reward Night?
A: As of November 2022, Reward Nights can be redeemed for as few as 5,000 points per night. The actual number of points required for a hotel on a specific stay date may vary depending on the cost of the room, seasonality, demand, and other variables.
Q: Will I earn any points or miles on Reward Nights?
A: When staying on a Reward Night, you will not earn points or miles on the room rate or room rate equivalent. However, you may earn points or miles for all other Eligible Charges. “Eligible Charges” can include, for example, food and beverage, telephone, laundry, and in-room film charges to your room. Eligible Charges can vary per hotel brand and location.
Points & Cash
Q: How does Points & Cash work?
A: When using Points & Cash, the cash portion is the immediate purchase of additional points towards a Reward Night booking. This allows members to be more flexible with their points and redeem Reward Nights faster. When a night is cancelled, the cash portion of Points & Cash is nonrefundable, but you do receive your points back, including the ones you purchased.
Cancellation
Q: If I cancel a Reward Night reservation that was made through the Points & Cash programme, can I get a refund?
A: If a Reward Night booked using Points & Cash is cancelled in accordance with the hotel’s policies, all points—including the points purchased at the time of booking—will be redeposited into your IHG One Rewards account. The cash portion used for your Points & Cash purchase is nonrefundable.
Q: What will happen to my points if I cancel beyond the cancellation date?
A: If you cancel your Reward Night reservation after the time permitted by the hotel’s cancellation policy, the points will still be redeposited into your IHG One Rewards account, but the hotel will charge the credit card used to make the reservation the amount of the hotel’s cancellation fee.
The Strategic Sweet Spot
For frequent travelers with elite status, Cash + Points becomes a best-of-both-worlds model:
✔ You preserve your point balance
✔ You still earn points on cash spend
✔ You qualify for night credits
✔ You unlock stays that purely points bookings might not show
It’s an elegant alternative to “all–or–nothing” redemption logic.
