• Chevron
• Exxon Mobil
• Sunoco

GAS Gift Card Denominations and point redemption values:

$25 Gas Card = 8,250 points (regularly 11,000 points)

• Redemption value = $3.03 per 1,000 points.

$50 Gas Card = 15,000 points (regularly 20,000 points)

• Redemption value = $3.33 per 1,000 points.

$100 Gas Card = 28,500 points (regularly 38,000 points)

• Redemption value = $3.51 per 1,000 points.

$200 Gas Card = 55,500 points (regularly 74,000 points)

• Redemption value = $3.60 per 1,000 points.

These redemption values are likely far less than you will get with a hotel room redemption where you are likely to get at least $5.00 to $6.00 or more per 1,000 points, but if you have plenty of Priority Club points and need to save cash on gas, then these values are reasonable redemption rates.

I redeemed 15,000 points for $500 in room savings this week when the new PointBreaks list came out for stays through July 31, 2012. That is $33.33 per 1,000 points redemption value for 10x the gas card rate.

I’ll pay $100 cash for my gas driving to my Priority Club PointBreaks hotel stay in July.

Priority Club Gas Cards

According to this WebFlyer post, other Priority Club retailer gift cards will be discounted each week through Labor Day weekend.

Oceania has not participated in some time and PointBreaks are offered at the InterContinental Fiji and Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise, Australia.

There are a dozen InterContinental Hotels on this list with four in Africa including InterContinental Mauritius.

United States (link)

ALABAMA

CANDLEWOOD SUITES BIRMINGHAM

HOLIDAY INN MOBILE WEST – I-10

ARKANSAS

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL LITTLE ROCK

HOLIDAY INN LITTLE ROCK-PRESIDENTIAL-DWNTN

ARIZONA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL PHOENIX-AIRPORT

HOLIDAY INN HOTEL AND SUITES TUCSON AIRPORT-NORTH

CALIFORNIA

CANDLEWOOD SUITES GARDEN GROVE/ANAHEIM AREA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL LOS ANGELES HARBOR HOTEL

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES BARSTOW

STAYBRIDGE SUITES SAN DIEGO RANCHO BERNARDO AREA

CONNECTICUT

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES HARTFORD CONVENTION CTR AREA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL DANBURY

FLORIDA

CANDLEWOOD SUITES CLEARWATER

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES TAMPA STADIUM AIRPORT AREA

HOTEL INDIGO MIAMI DADELAND

STAYBRIDGE SUITES JACKSONVILLE

GEORGIA

HOTEL INDIGO ATLANTA MIDTOWN

HOLIDAY INN ATLANTA-PERIMETER/DUNWOODY

IOWA

HOLIDAY INN HOTEL AND SUITES WEST DES MOINES-JORDAN CREEK

ILLINOIS

CANDLEWOOD SUITES CHICAGO/HOFFMAN ESTATES

HOLIDAY INN MOUNT PROSPECT – CHICAGO

STAYBRIDGE SUITES SCHAUMBURG

INDIANA

HOLIDAY INN LOUISVILLE-NORTH (CLARKSVILLE)

HOLIDAY INN TERRE HAUTE

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES COLUMBUS EDINBURGH

KANSAS

HOLIDAY INN OLATHE MEDICAL CENTER

KENTUCKY

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL LEXINGTON NEAR UK / KEENELAND

LOUISIANA

HOLIDAY INN BATON ROUGE COLLEGE DRIVE I-10

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES BOSSIER CITY – LOUISIANA DOWNS

MASSACHUSETTS

HOTEL INDIGO BOSTON-NEWTON RIVERSIDE

MARYLAND

HOLIDAY INN COLUMBIA

MAINE

HOLIDAY INN PORTLAND-BY THE BAY

MICHIGAN

CANDLEWOOD SUITES DETROIT-WARREN

MINNESOTA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL BLOOMINGTON MSP AIRPORT / MOA

MISSOURI

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL ST. LOUIS AIRPORT

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS ST. LOUIS AIRPORT- RIVERPORT

MISSISSIPPI

HOLIDAY INN MERIDIAN E – I 20/I 59

MONTANA

HOLIDAY INN BOZEMAN

NORTH CAROLINA

HOTEL INDIGO RALEIGH DURHAM AIRPORT AT RTP

STAYBRIDGE SUITES CHARLOTTE-ARROWOOD

NORTH DAKOTA

STAYBRIDGE SUITES MINOT

NEBRASKA

STAYBRIDGE SUITES LINCOLN I-80

NEW HAMPSHIRE

HOLIDAY INN HOTEL AND SUITES NASHUA

NEW JERSEY

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL MONROE SOUTH BRUNSWICK

HOLIDAY INN GW BRIDGE-FORT LEE NYC AREA

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS WEST ATLANTIC CITY

NEW MEXICO

CANDLEWOOD SUITES ALBUQUERQUE

NEW YORK

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL SYRACUSE

HOLIDAY INN ALBANY, NY – WOLF ROAD

HOTEL INDIGO ALBANY LATHAM

OHIO

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL CLEVELAND SOUTH – INDEPENDENCE

INTERCONTINENTAL CLEVELAND

STAYBRIDGE SUITES TOLEDO – MAUMEE

OKLAHOMA

CANDLEWOOD SUITES LAWTON FORT SILL

STAYBRIDGE SUITES OKLAHOMA CITY-QUAIL SPRINGS

OREGON

HOLIDAY INN PORTLAND-AIRPORT (I-205)

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS ROSEBURG

HOLIDAY INN RESORT THE LODGE AT RUNNING Y RANCH

SOUTH CAROLINA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL CHARLESTON AIRPORT – CONV CTR

HOLIDAY INN HOTEL AND SUITES COLUMBIA-AIRPORT

TENNESSEE

HOLIDAY INN OPRYLAND-ARPT (BRILEY PKWY)

STAYBRIDGE SUITES MEMPHIS-POPLAR AVE EAST

HOLIDAY INN CHATTANOOGA – HAMILTON PLACE

TEXAS

CANDLEWOOD SUITES HOUSTON IAH / BELTWAY 8

CANDLEWOOD SUITES DALLAS PARK CENTRAL

HOLIDAY INN HOUSTON-INTERCONTINENTAL ARPT

HOLIDAY INN CORPUS CHRISTI-EMERALD BEACH

INTERCONTINENTAL HOUSTON NEAR THE GALLERIA

STAYBRIDGE SUITES SAN ANTONIO – STONE OAK

UTAH

HOLIDAY INN HOTEL AND SUITES SALT LAKE CITY-AIRPORT WEST

VIRGINIA

CANDLEWOOD SUITES RICHMOND WEST END SHORT PUMP

HOLIDAY INN VIRGINIA BEACH – NORFOLK

WASHINGTON

HOLIDAY INN DOWNTOWN-EVERETT

STAYBRIDGE SUITES VANCOUVER-PORTLAND METRO

WYOMING

HOLIDAY INN ROCK SPRINGS

Canada link.

ALBERTA

HOLIDAY INN HOTEL AND SUITES WEST EDMONTON

BRITISH COLUMBIA

HOLIDAY INN VANCOUVER AIRPORT- RICHMOND

ONTARIO

HOLIDAY INN HOTEL AND SUITES OTTAWA-DOWNTOWN

QUEBEC

HOLIDAY INN SELECT MONTREAL CENTRE VILLE DOWNTOWN

Mexico

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL MEXICALI-BAJA CALIFORNIA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL TUXPAN

HOLIDAY INN QUERETARO-CENTRO HISTORICO

HOLIDAY INN MONTERREY-PARQUE FUNDIDORA

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES MEXICO CITY AT THE WTC

INTERCONTINENTAL PRESIDENTE PUEBLA

Central & South America

ARGENTINA

INTERCONTINENTAL NORDELTA TIGRE – BUENOS AIRES

BRAZIL

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL BELEM

CHILE

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS IQUIQUE

ECUADOR

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS QUITO

EL SALVADOR

HOLIDAY INN SAN SALVADOR

GUATEMALA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL GUATEMALA

HONDURAS

INTERCONTINENTAL REAL TEGUCIGALPA

NICARAGUA

HOLIDAY INN MANAGUA – CONVENTION CENTER

Europe

ANDORRA

HOLIDAY INN ANDORRA

CYPRUS

INTERCONTINENTAL APHRODITE HILLS RESORT HOTEL

DENMARK

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL COPENHAGEN TOWERS

FRANCE

HOLIDAY INN LILLE – OUEST ENGLOS

GERMANY

HOLIDAY INN DÜSSELDORF AIRPORT – RATINGEN

ITALY

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL VERONA – FIERA

LITHUANIA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL VILNIUS

POLAND

HOLIDAY INN KRAKOW CITY CENTRE

PORTUGAL

HOLIDAY INN PORTO – GAIA

ROMANIA

INTERCONTINENTAL BUCHAREST

RUSSIA

STAYBRIDGE SUITES ST. PETERSBURG

SLOVAKIA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL BRATISLAVA

SPAIN

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL ESTEPONA – COSTA DEL SOL

TURKEY

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL ANTALYA

UNITED KINGDOM

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS EXETER M5, JCT. 29

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS NEWCASTLE – METRO CENTRE

HOLIDAY INN GLASGOW AIRPORT

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS GLASGOW – CITY CTR RIVERSIDE

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL LONDON – GATWICK AIRPORT

HOLIDAY INN OXFORD

HOLIDAY INN PORTSMOUTH

HOLIDAY INN STRATFORD UPON AVON

HOLIDAY INN TAUNTON M5, JCT.25

HOLIDAY INN LANCASTER

Africa

EGYPT

INTERCONTINENTAL CITYSTARS CAIRO

KENYA

INTERCONTINENTAL NAIROBI

MAURITIUS

INTERCONTINENTAL RESORT MAURITIUS

MOROCCO

HOLIDAY INN MARRAKECH – HOTEL DU GOLF

SOUTH AFRICA

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS DURBAN – UMHLANGA

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS PRETORIA – SUNNYPARK

ZAMBIA

INTERCONTINENTAL LUSAKA

ZIMBABWE

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL HARARE-MONOMOTAPA

HOLIDAY INN BULAWAYO

Middle East

ISRAEL

HOLIDAY INN ASHKELON

JORDAN

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL AMMAN

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL DUBAI – DEIRA

Asia

CHINA-PEOPLES REPUBLIC

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL ZHONGSHAN XIAOLAN

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL SHENZHEN LONGGANG CITY CENTRE

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL GUANGZHOU HUADU

HOLIDAY INN HANGZHOU CBD

HOLIDAY INN SHANGHAI SONGJIANG

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS SHANGHAI NANHUIZUI

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS SHANGDI BEIJING

HOTEL INDIGO SHANGHAI ON THE BUND

INTERCONTINENTAL WUXI

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL HEFEI

INDIA

HOLIDAY INN PUNE HINJEWADI

INDONESIA

HOLIDAY INN RESORT BATAM

MALAYSIA

INTERCONTINENTAL KUALA LUMPUR

TAIWAN

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS TAOYUAN

THAILAND

CROWNE PLAZA RESORT PHUKET PANWA BEACH RESORT

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS BANGKOK SIAM

HOLIDAY INN RESORT REGENT BEACH CHA AM

VIETNAM

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL DANANG

Oceania

AUSTRALIA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL SURFERS PARADISE

FIJI ISLANDS

INTERCONTINENTAL FIJI GOLF RESORT & SPA

VANUATU

HOLIDAY INN RESORT VANUATU

I have my eyes set on a cheap multi-day stay in Oregon. A few days in the happiest place on earth in So Cal followed by a few days in the hoppiest place on earth up in Oregon seems like a good start to the first half of summer.

This post looks beyond the Points & Cash Reward nights to examine how Priority Club Reward Nights have increased by as much as 63% in the past six months using $7 per 1,000 points as the fair exchange rate for points. 

Priority Club Points & Cash Rewards

Points & Cash Rewards were added in 2009 as a Priority Club Rewards redemption option. The basic idea is a hotel like a Crowne Plaza at 25,000 points per night can be booked for fewer points by paying a cash supplement to buy 5,000 points for $40 or 10,000 points for $70 at the time of booking.

Points & Cash Rewards allow a member to conserve points in his/her account while buying points at a rate less than the lowest normal purchase price of $11.50 per 1,000 points.

Priority Club Rewards “Points & Cash” is an option for obtaining a Reward Night. You may choose to redeem Priority Club points for a Reward Night in three ways: using your existing points for all required points for the desired Reward Night; using your existing points and 5,000 points purchased for US $40 to total the required points; or using your existing points and 10,000 points purchased for US $70 to total the required points. The total purchase on any single day may not exceed $280 US.

Priority Club Rewards Membership Terms

There is no limit to the number of Points & Cash reservations a person can make in one year, although there is a limit of $280 in points that can be purchased for Points & Cash Rewards in a single day. This means you can only book a maximum four reward nights using the 10,000 points for $70 per night option or 7 nights using the 5,000 points for $40 option.

Of course, you can always buy more Points & Cash nights the next day.

Holiday Inn Express Van Nuys, California is 15,000 points for a standard reward night. Points & Cash reward nights are 5,000 points + $70. You can save 10,000 points in your account buying 10,000 points at time of booking for $70. The AAA rate is $142 after tax. 5,000 points saves $72 which is a good redemption value.

However, Points & Cash reward nights do not earn points for your stay. That may be a significant factor to consider if there are good Priority Club promotions.

2009/2010 rate for Points & Cash Rewards

• Buy 5,000 points for $30
• Buy 10,000 points for $60

In November 2010 the rate increased to $40 to buy 5,000 points. The price to buy 10,000 points remained unchanged at $60 until May 2012 when the rate went to $70.

2011 rate for Points & Cash Rewards

• Buy 5,000 points for $40
• Buy 10,000 points for $60

May 2012 rate for Points & Cash Rewards

• Buy 5,000 points for $40
• Buy 10,000 points for $70

Priority Club Points & Cash rewards have always been a sort of hit or miss value depending on the published rates of the hotel.

I stayed at the Crowne Plaza – The Hamilton in Washington D.C. last year for 15,000 points + $60 when the hotel rate was about $300 after tax. That was a great deal. I could have redeemed 25,000 points and got a redemption value of $12 in hotel savings for every 1,000 points I spent. The Points & Cash reward improved my redemption value by letting me spend only 15,000 points + $60 and saving $240. My redemption value improved to $240/15,000 for $16 per 1,000 points. And it only cost me $6 per 1,000 points to buy the 10,000 points for my reward night. This example is still a great deal even at the current price of $70 to buy 10,000 points.

[A side note for all you “Advanced Redeemers” who might point out that paying for a room night also earns points and the actual redemption value is actually less than I have shown. That is true, but more complicated.

My argument is that figuring the points you could earn is not a necessary factor to consider in most redemptions. At some time you need to spend points to get any value from loyalty points. Not all of us have the cash to pay for every room night instead of using points, so there is no need to consider points you would earn paying a $300 room rate when that is not even an option for your budget.]

Points & Cash are not always a good deal though when the redemption rate is less than $70 per 10,000 points.

For example, assume a Holiday Inn hotel is $135 per night or 25,000 points. After tax the room is $150. This is a redemption value of $6 saved per 1,000 points spent for a 25,000 points reward night.

Paying $70 to buy 10,000 points means you only need to spend 15,000 points, but now the 15,000 points is only saving $80 compared to paying $150 for the room night.

$80/15,000 points is  a redemption value of $5.33 per 1,000 points. Paying $7 per 1,000 points and redeeming you points for $5.33 means you are buying points at a higher rate than you are redeeming. Plus Points & Cash rewards do not earn points or promotion credit so you are getting even less value from your points.

Priority Club’s Points & Cash Loophole

An aspect of Points & Cash that is sometimes referred to as the “travel hack” is the ability to book a Points & Cash reward, buy points at $70 for 10,000 points, and then keep the points if you cancel the Points & Cash reservation.

Essentially a Priority Club member can buy points for $70 per 10,000 points without needing to stay in hotels to earn points. I do not advocate overusing this method, but it works as a way to get more Priority Club points. This loophole does not seem to be affected by the increase in cost to $70 per 10,000 points for Points & Cash Reward nights.

The reason why most bloggers have valued Priority Club points at $6 per 1,000 points is due to the ability to buy points at that rate.

Is $7 per 1,000 points the new Priority Club normal value?

The recent change now pushes up the cost to $7 per 1,000 points.

So does that mean the value of Priority Club points has gone up to $7 per 1,000 points from $6 per 1,000 points?

I don’t think so in most cases. I actually thought $6 per 1,000 points was a reasonable valuation for Priority Club points, yet even that value was hard to find at many hotels compared to the standard reward rate; especially since Priority Club added higher reward tiers for most brands in January 2012.

For example, many Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels are 25,000 points per night. That meant the hotel needed to have a rate of $150 after tax to get $6 per 1,000 points redemption value using the Points & Cash purchase rate for buying points.

Now that same hotel would have to be $175 after tax to get a $7 per 1,000 points redemption value using the Points & Cash loophole.

The combination of adding higher reward night tiers in January 2012 and increasing the rate to buy points using Points & Cash Rewards to $70 for 10,000 points in May 2012 means hundreds of hotels cost significantly more per reward night than they did six months ago. 2012 has seen a significant points devaluation for Priority Club.

Here are tables to show what I mean when it comes to redeeming Priority Club points for hotel nights.

December 2011 Priority Club reward night values

In 2011 when the hotel rate after tax exceeded the amount shown in the $6/1,000 points table, then a person could buy Priority Club points through the Points & Cash loophole and save money on the cost of the hotel night.

Still there were plenty of hotels in the 4,500 IHG hotel chain where room rates were lower than the rate shown in the $6 table. I frequently found Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels cost 25,000 points when rates were well below $150 after tax. The Points & Cash loophole had little value for hotel rate savings at many hotels even when it cost $60 to buy 10,000 points.

May 2012 Priority Club Reward Night Values ($7/1,000 points)

Crowne Plaza Hotels up 63% in reward points cost.

Six months ago all Crowne Plaza hotels worldwide were 25,000 points per night. Any Crowne Plaza that cost more than $150 after tax per room night could be obtained for $150 buying points through the Points & Cash loophole.

Now all the Crowne Plaza hotels that went up to 35,000 points per night in January 2012 will cost $245 to buy through the Points & Cash loophole.

That is an increase of $95 per night or 63% more in points cost than six months ago.

That is a significant devaluation in the Priority Club Rewards program for 2012.

InterContinental Hotels up 46% in reward points cost.

An InterContinental that was 40,000 points in 2011 could be booked for $240 per night through the Points & Cash loophole for buying points.

In May 2012 the cost of an InterContinental Hotel at 50,000 points will be equivalent to a $350 room night. That is $110 more per night to buy points or a 46% increase for the cost of a reward night using the Points & Cash loophole. That is a significant devaluation in the Priority Club Rewards program for 2012.

Bottom line: Priority Club has left the Points & Cash loophole open to buy points for $70 per 10,000 points. This may be a cheap avenue to more points for some members.

But I don’t think that the value of Priority Club points has increased to $7 per 1,000 points.

The opportunity to save cash on hotel room nights buying points through the Points & Cash loophole has diminished. The points redemption deals with Priority Club Rewards have lessened in the past six months.

These changes definitely devalue the Priority Club program on the points redemption side.

At least Priority Club still offers great points earning potential by allowing stackable bonus offers on hotel stays and PointBreaks are still the hotel loyalty industry’s best bargain at 5,000 points per night.

For miles earners the offer is 200 bonus miles per night, up to a maximum 4,000 bonus miles for the promotion.

Priority Club Facebook.

Priority Club Facebook promotion registration (active May 14).

Priority Club website promotion registration page (will become active June 1).

“Must be a Priority Club® Rewards Facebook “Fan,” a Priority Club® Rewards member, and must register member number in advance to participate in this promotion.”

This term on the Facebook page implies no bonus credit will be given for hotel stays May 14 – May 31 for hotel stays completed prior to Facebook promotion registration.

This offer applies to stays at IHG brands worldwide:

• InterContinental Hotels
• Crowne Plaza
• Hotel Indigo
• Holiday Inn
• Holiday Inn Express
• Staybridge Suites
• Candlewood Suites

Participating Airlines for Miles Earners

Americas Airlines

• United Airlines
• American Airlines
• Alaska Airlines
• US Airways
• Delta Airlines
• Aeromexico
• Lanchile
• Varig Brasil
• Continental Airlines
• Air Canada
• AIR MILES Reward Program

Asia Pacific Airlines

• Air China
• Asia Miles
• China Airlines
• China Eastern
• China Southern
• Eva Air
• Air New Zealand* (5 Air New Zealand Airpoints up to 100 Airpoints)
• All Nippon Airways
• Japan Airlines
• Jet Airways
• Korean Airways
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qantas Airways Limited
• Singapore Airlines
• Thai Airways International
• Virgin Blue Velocity
• Asiana Airlines

Europe, Middle East and Africa Airlines

• Etihad Airways
• Emirates
• Gulf Air
• Jet Airways
• Saudi Arabian Airlines
• South African Airways
• Air Berlin
• Air France/KLM
• British Airways
• Virgin Atlantic

LOYALTY TRAVELER ADVICE: A general piece of advice for any hotel loyalty program fan of promotions is to “LIKE” all the hotel program pages. A program like Best Western runs far more promotions for its Facebook fans than you will see on the Best Western websites.

There is a twist to this offer for Priority Club Facebook fans who “Like” the Priority Club page. Members can register for this offer beginning Monday, May 14 through Facebook and start earning bonus points for stays in May, two weeks before the official promotion launch. 

I think the promotion limit is still 20,000 points for Facebook fans starting early, but we will need to see the exact terms to know the real deal.

I received advance notice from the Priority Club PR firm for this offer. One of the other details mentions 250 bonus points for booking reservations online through any IHG websites.

The Priority Club Summer 20,000 promotion registration page is not active yet www.priorityclub.com/bonus20000.

I’ll post more promotion details when they come around.

Another Offer is 25,000 bonus points for Holiday Inn Club Vacation.

Another promotion that I missed for the past few weeks since it has been running is 25,000 bonus points for a 4-night Holiday Inn Club Vacation through May 25.  There is little time left to take advantage of this offer, but it might help some of you travelers. I have not analyzed this offer to check rates.

There are eight InterContinental Hotels on the list including Foshan China, Tel Aviv, Seoul, Tahiti and Caracas.

Crowne Plaza St. Paul, Minnesota appears to be the premier property offered in the USA.

Book through Thursday for a reward stay this Friday May 4, Saturday May 5 and/or Sunday May 6.

And when is Priority Club going to expand this offer to other weeks besides one weekend a month? This seems like a nice promotion with severely limited dates for use.

Sunday nights are not eligible for this offer even though Sunday is often considered the start of the weekday nights in the hotel industry.

This is a mail-in rebate which is a pain, but that is IHG for you. This program regularly offers promotions like flight credit, airline baggage and credit card rebates requiring mail-in forms be submitted for the rebates.

This Get $50 offer should be stackable with other Priority Club bonus points offers happening concurrently.

HERE’S HOW YOU GET YOUR $50 TRAVEL BONUS PREPAID MASTERCARD:

1. Register for the promotionbefore your stay.

2. Book a qualifying stay at any hotel in the IHG Family of Brands between April 16, 2012, and August 2, 2012.

3. Download and fill out the rebate form from ihgrebate.com.

4. Mail your registration confirmation and completed rebate form along with your hotel bill showing your qualifying stay to:
     Dept. 12-82807

     P.O.Box 540027

     El Paso, TX 88554-0027

5. Your $50 Travel Bonus Prepaid MasterCard will arrive within 6–8 weeks.

Rebate:

One $50 rebate ($50 Travel Bonus Prepaid MasterCard®) will be awarded on a qualifying minimum two-night weekday stay booked on or after April 16, 2012 at participating InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Hotel Indigo®, Holiday Inn®, Holiday Inn Express® and Express by Holiday Inn™, Holiday Inn Club Vacations®, Holiday Inn Resorts, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites® hotels for U.S. resident stays worldwide between April 16, 2012 – August 2, 2012.

Up to four qualified rebates awarded per household for stays during the promotional period.

Limit one (1) rebate per qualifying rebate redemption form per weekday period.

The main rule to remember is the prepaid MasterCard incurs an automatic $3 per month fee after six months past issue date. Use the $50 MasterCard within six months if you want the full $50 value. 

Rebate documents required:

1) Copy of Registration confirmation,

2) Hotel folio (bill) and

3) Rebate redemption form which can be found at www.ihgrebate.comalong with copies of the other required documents as stated above to the address shown on the rebate redemption form.

Rebate redemption form must be postmarked no later than September 1, 2012. Any rebate redemption form postmarked after September 1, 2012 will not be honored.

These rates require 50% points per reward night for select hotels in seven brands: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites.

Reward reservations may be cancelled within the specific cancellation policies for the hotel and points will be returned to member’s account. Members can book multiple rooms, up to 10 rooms at the same hotel.

North Carolina, Colorado, New York and Texas have the most hotels in this weekend offer.

Last Minute Reward Nights (103)

• Brazil (1)
• Canada (4)
• China (People’s Republic) (3)
• Italy (1)
• Mexico (2)
• New Zealand (1)
• Poland (1)
• Portugal (1)
• United Arab Emirates (1)
• United Kingdom (2)

United States (86)

• California (2)
• Colorado (7)
• Florida (4)
• Idaho (1)
• Illinois (2)
• Indiana (3)
• Iowa (4)
• Kansas (2)
• Kentucky (1)
• Maine (1)
• Maryland (1)
• Massachusetts (2)
• Michigan (4)
• Minnesota (1)
• Nebraska (1)
• New Hampshire (2)
• New Mexico (2)
• New York (6)
• North Carolina (14)
• North Dakota (1)
• Ohio (1)
• Pennsylvania (3)
• South Carolina (4)
• South Dakota (2)
• Tennessee (1)
• Texas (6)
• Utah (1)
• Virginia (4)
• Wisconsin (1)
• Wyoming (2)

Friday, March 30 I published a way to buy 60,000 points and Priority Club Platinum status for $460. On Monday, April 9 you can buy 75,000 points and Priority Club Platinum status for about $451 through the Daily Getaways offers. Priority Club points purchased through the Daily Getaways offers are elite qualifying points. You can buy just 60,000 points and lower the cost of Platinum status to $361 if you want to take a gamble there will be availability to buy from two different Priority Club offers during the Daily Getaway sale.

It is possible to buy 500,000 points for $3,000 through the Monday April 9 Daily Getaways, but perhaps an unlikely probability that you can be fast enough to buy the maximum set of points from each of the four offers before they sell out.

Although Priority Club points in the past two years did not sell out as quickly as other hotel loyalty points that do not have backdoor options for cheap points purchases. I explained the Points & Cash procedure for buying 10,000 points for $60 in the March 30 post. Daily Getaways is a good opportunity to acquire a large number of Priority Club points, up to 500,000 points, at relatively low cost ($60 per 10,000 points) in perhaps a more acceptable method than booking and cancelling Priority Club Points & Cash reward stays to build your account balance.

Buy cheap Priority Club Rewards points at Daily Getaways April 9, 2012

There are four offers to buy points from Priority Club on the first day of this year’s Daily Getaways beginning at 1:00 pm eastern time April 9.

Presale starts at 12 noon ET. You only need to Like IHG Facebook to gain access to Presale where a specific number of sets of points are available.

4 Priority Club points offers. You may buy up to 5 sets from each offer. 

• Priority Club 10,000 points (generic offer) = $67.
• 650 sets and 130 presale sets.
• Priority Club 25,000 points (Holiday Inn offer)= $167.
• 420 sets and 90 presale sets.
• Priority Club 25,000 points (Crowne Plaza offer)= $167.
• 125 sets and 25 presale sets.
• Priority Club 40,000 points (InterContinental offer)= $267.
• 300 sets and 75 presale sets.

This Daily Getaways offer is advertised as “Stay 1 night at a Crowne Plaza for $167.” The sale is for 25,000 points and these points can be used for any Priority Club reward you choose. The points are valid for reward nights at 4,500+ hotels in all IHG brands: InterContinental Hotels, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Hotel Indigo, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites. Priority Club and other hotel loyalty programs selling points use the Daily Getaways to promote their hotel brands within the loyalty program

Presale Registration through Facebook Likes

A new feature of the Daily Getaways sales for 2012 is the opportunity to register for a Presale by liking the Facebook pages of participating vendors. This is really easy since the link is right on the sale page. The Presale offers begin at noon eastern time zone for one hour before the regular sale. There are a specific number of packages offered in the presale hour and the regular sale.

Priority Club Points Offer #1 – 10,000 points for $67 (AmEx = $60.30)

650 sets of points. 130 sets of points available during pre-sale.

Buy 10,000 points for $67 or AmEx $60.30. The price for all Daily Getaways offers is 10% less if payment is made with an American Express card.

You can buy up to 5 sets of points for 50,000 points with this offer.

Priority Club Holiday Inn Offer #2 – 25,000 points for $167 (AmEx = $150.30)

420 sets of points. 90 sets of points available during pre-sale.

The Holiday Inn sale has more sets of points so this is the best link if you want to buy a large quantity of points. You can buy 25, 50, 75, 100 or 125,000 points through this single offer. The Crowne Plaza deal below is the same offer and price, but fewer items for sale so your chances are better to try this link first, unless you want more than 125,000 points, in which case, you should try the offers with fewer items first and then come to this sale.

Priority Club Crowne Plaza Offer #3 – 25,000 points for $167 (AmEx = $150.30)

120 sets of points. 25 sets of points available during pre-sale.

This Crowne Plaza page sale has the fewest items for sale. Start here and buy fast if you want to maximize purchases and try to buy more points from the other offers. Remember you can use the points for any IHG brand hotel and there is no requirement to Crowne Plaza your hotel stay.

Priority Club InterContinental Hotels Offer #4 – 40,000 points for $267 (AmEx = $240.30)

300 sets of points. 75 sets of points available during pre-sale.

This is a good offer if you want a quick 80,000 points and Priority Club Platinum elite without messing around in two Daily Getaways Priority Club sales. This is also the offer if you want to buy big at $1,200 and go for 200,000 points in a single purchase.

200,000 points is a nice safe deposit box of points for hotel stays. I generally recommend you have a plan in place when buying points. But since IHG Priority Club just increased the points needed for hundreds of hotels in January 2012, you can be fairly confident the points won’t devalue much this year. There are several hotels around the globe where 200,000 points will save far more than $1,200 on a 4 or 5 night stay.

Priority Club also regularly offers discount hotel reward nights at 50% and more off with PointBreaks, Last Minute Reward Nights, and the one day sales they tested in the past couple of months.

Here is the calendar that currently displays the first two weeks of Daily Getaways offers. I’ll blog about many of these offers over the next six weeks.

Strategies for the Daily Getaways sales:

The aspect of these sales I did not see mentioned in most of the blog posts this morning is how few people can take advantage of these deals. If there was a one item limit per person, then about 1,800 different people could buy some Priority Club points at a discount through the Daily Getaways.

The actual rules allow a single person to buy 5 sets of points from each of the four offers. Everyone trying to maximize these offers could result in fewer than 400 travelers buying these cheap points.

My point is you need a plan and be quick on the mouse when the sale starts if you want to get the best deals.

Last year when Hyatt points were on sale for $250 ($225AmEx) for 24,000 points, the sale was locked up within seconds and the points sold out within a minute. It then became a matter of reclicking and a few people got into the sale over the next few minutes while for most buyers the Hyatt Daily Getaways were over by 1:01pm.

Daily Getaways Strategy

1. My experience from the past two years suggests once you click on the Daily Getaway offer to purchase an item and you actually get into the purchase webpage, then you are locked in with the option to buy up to the maximum number of items for sale with the offer. Usually once you access the purchase page, then you can relax and breathe as you make your purchase, unless you are speed buying and planning to try and buy from more than one offer.

It appeared to me the past two years that getting access to the purchase page is the primary challenge, but once you are in, then at least one set of points is reserved for you while you enter your credit card payment information.

2. There are a limited number of points sets available and a maximum quantity limit for each offer. The number of items plays a strategic role for the buyer. If you want to maximize points purchases then try for the items with fewer sets for sale first and then go to the items with more sets. Some of these sales are gone within the first minute and you may find it difficult to buy the maximum number of items before they sell out.

3. Some offers suggest points are for a specific hotel brand like Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn or InterContinental Hotels. These are brand marketing efforts only and when you buy Priority Club points you are free to use the points for any hotel brand reward stay on points or other purpose you choose.

4. Daily Getaways prices are 10% less when payment uses American Express card, the travel sale co-sponsor.

Related Post:

Why are Daily Getaways Dealing Travel April 9-May 11? (April 2, 2012)

I am now looking at booking some 5-night stays for the price of a single night at Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels in the western states.

I love Pointbreaks.

Good time to buy Priority Club Points

You can normally buy up to 50,000 Priority Club points in a calendar year. The cost to buy 5,000 points is $67.50.

There is currently a special to buy Priority Club points with a 20% to 50% bonus points depending on the number of points purchased. You can buy up to 75,000 points with this special offer.

You can buy 60,000 points for $460 with this sale or 75,000 points for $575.

Buying points for PointBreaks can be a significant savings on published hotel rates.

Crowne Plaza Anchorage-Midtown, Alaska

$786.24 is the prepaid nonrefundable rate for these dates at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Anchorage–Midtown. Priority Club members can buy 15,600 points for $162.50 and book Pointbreaks rewards to save over $500 on a 3-night stay.

And these rewards may be cancelled and points returned if your plans change.

PointBreaks Hotels for stays through May 31, 2012

United States

Click on your choice of location below to make a reservation:

ALASKA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL ANCHORAGE-MIDTOWN

ALABAMA

CANDLEWOOD SUITES EASTCHASE PARK

ARKANSAS

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES VAN BUREN-FT SMITH AREA

ARIZONA

CANDLEWOOD SUITES SIERRA VISTA

CALIFORNIA

STAYBRIDGE SUITES CHATSWORTH

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES DANA POINT-HARBOR/DOHENY BEACH

HOLIDAY INN LA MIRADA

HOLIDAY INN LOS ANGELES-INTL AIRPORT

HOLIDAY INN SAN CLEMENTE (CAMP PENDLETON)

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS SIMI VALLEY

CANDLEWOOD SUITES TURLOCK

COLORADO

CANDLEWOOD SUITES MERIDIAN BUSINESS PARK

HOLIDAY INN SUMMIT COUNTY-FRISCO

STAYBRIDGE SUITES DENVER SOUTH-PARK MEADOWS

CONNECTICUT

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES PLAINFIELD

DELAWARE

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES DOVER

FLORIDA

HOLIDAY INN CORAL GABLES – UNIVERSITY

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES DESTIN (MID BAY BRIDGE)

HOTEL INDIGO JACKSONVILLE-DEERWOOD PARK

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

HOTEL INDIGO SARASOTA

HOLIDAY INN TALLAHASSEE CAPITAL CENTER

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES TAMPA/ROCKY POINT ISLAND

GEORGIA

HOLIDAY INN ATLANTA DWTN – CENTENNIAL PARK

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES ATLANTA / BUCKHEAD

HOLIDAY INN GWINNETT CENTER

IOWA

HOLIDAY INN HOTEL AND SUITES COUNCIL BLUFFS-I-29

CANDLEWOOD SUITES WATERLOO- CEDAR FALLS

IDAHO

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES IDAHO FALLS

ILLINOIS

CANDLEWOOD SUITES ELGIN NW-CHICAGO

STAYBRIDGE SUITES LINCOLNSHIRE

STAYBRIDGE SUITES ROCKFORD

HOTEL INDIGO CHICAGO-VERNON HILLS

INDIANA

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES BEDFORD

HOTEL INDIGO INDIANAPOLIS FISHERS

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS INDIANAPOLIS SOUTH

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS INDIANAPOLIS AIRPORT

KANSAS

CANDLEWOOD SUITES JUNCTION CITY/FT. RILEY

CANDLEWOOD SUITES CANDLEWOOD SUITES OLATHE

KENTUCKY

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES ELIZABETHTOWN

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES LONDON

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS RADCLIFF – FORT KNOX

LOUISIANA

CANDLEWOOD SUITES DENHAM SPRINGS

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS MINDEN

HOLIDAY INN HOTEL AND SUITES SLIDELL

MARYLAND

STAYBRIDGE SUITES BALTIMORE-COLUMBIA

HOLIDAY INN CUMBERLAND-DOWNTOWN

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES HAGERSTOWN

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL BALTIMORE NORTH – HUNT VALLEY

MAINE

HOLIDAY INN BATH (BRUNSWICK AREA)

MICHIGAN

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL AUBURN HILLS

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES ST. JOSEPH

MINNESOTA

CROWNE PLAZA SUITES MSP AIRPORT – MALL OF AMERICA

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES EAGAN SW-MALL AND AIRPORT AREA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL MINNEAPOLIS NORTH

MISSOURI

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL SAINT LOUIS – CLAYTON

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES KANSAS CITY-LIBERTY (HWY 152)

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES SPRINGFIELD

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES ST CHARLES

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL ST. LOUIS – DOWNTOWN

MISSISSIPPI

CANDLEWOOD SUITES VICKSBURG

NORTH CAROLINA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL CHARLOTTE UPTOWN

STAYBRIDGE SUITES RALEIGH-DURHAM APT-MORRISVILLE

CANDLEWOOD SUITES ROCKY MOUNT

CANDLEWOOD SUITES WILSON

NEBRASKA

CANDLEWOOD SUITES BELLEVUE

NEW HAMPSHIRE

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL NASHUA

NEW JERSEY

HOTEL INDIGO BASKING RIDGE

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL EDISON

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL NEWARK AIRPORT

NEW MEXICO

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS RUIDOSO

NEW YORK

HOLIDAY INN WESTBURY-LONG ISLAND

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES CHESTER-MONROE-GOSHEN

HOLIDAY INN PLAINVIEW-LONG ISLAND

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES SALAMANCA

OHIO

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES GAHANNA/COLUMBUS AIRPORT E

CANDLEWOOD SUITES PERRYSBURG

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS CINCINNATI-WEST CHESTER

OKLAHOMA

CANDLEWOOD SUITES BARTLESVILLE EAST

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES OKLAHOMA CITY-PENN SQUARE

STAYBRIDGE SUITES TULSA-WOODLAND HILLS

OREGON

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES ASHLAND

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES BEND

STAYBRIDGE SUITES PORTLAND – AIRPORT

PENNSYLVANIA

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES CHAMBERSBURG

STAYBRIDGE SUITES MALVERN

CANDLEWOOD SUITES READING

RHODE ISLAND

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES WARWICK-PROVIDENCE (AIRPORT)

SOUTH DAKOTA

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS RAPID CITY

HOLIDAY INN SIOUX FALLS-CITY CENTRE

TENNESSEE

CANDLEWOOD SUITES MEMPHIS

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS NASHVILLE AIRPORT

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES KNOXVILLE-NORTH-I-75 EXIT 112

TEXAS

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES CLUTE – LAKE JACKSON

STAYBRIDGE SUITES DALLAS-ADDISON

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES GAINESVILLE

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES DFW-GRAPEVINE

CANDLEWOOD SUITES HOUSTON-CLEAR LAKE

CROWNE PLAZA SUITES HOUSTON RIVER OAKS

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES MCALLEN (AIRPORT/LA PLAZA MALL

VIRGINIA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL HAMPTON-MARINA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL DULLES AIRPORT

VERMONT

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES WHITE RIVER JUNCTION

WASHINGTON

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES TACOMA

WISCONSIN

CANDLEWOOD SUITES APPLETON

HOLIDAY INN HOTEL AND SUITES LA CROSSE

CANDLEWOOD SUITES MILWAUKEE AIRPORT-OAK CREEK

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES PLEASANT PRAIRIE / KENOSHA

WYOMING

HOLIDAY INN SHERIDAN-CONVENTION CENTER

Canada

ONTARIO

HOLIDAY INN GUELPH HOTEL & CONFERENCE CTR

NEW BRUNSWICK

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL MONCTON DOWNTOWN

QUEBEC

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES MONTREAL CENTRE-VILLE DOWNTOWN

ONTARIO

STAYBRIDGE SUITES OAKVILLE-BURLINGTON

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL TORONTO AIRPORT

Mexico

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS GUANAJUATO

HOLIDAY INN IXTAPA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL LEON, GTO

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL TOLUCA-LANCASTER

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL MONTERREY AEROPUERTO

HOLIDAY INN MEXICO TOREO-SATELITE

HOLIDAY INN REYNOSA-INDUSTRIAL PONIENTE

Central & South America

COLOMBIA

INTERCONTINENTAL CALI

COSTA RICA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL SAN JOSE COROBICI

HONDURAS

INTERCONTINENTAL REAL SAN PEDRO SULA

Europe

CZECH REPUBLIC

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL PRAGUE

FINLAND

HOLIDAY INN HELSINKI – WEST RUOHOLAHTI

GERMANY

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS FRANKFURT – MESSE

GREECE

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL ATHENS – CITY CENTRE

HUNGARY

HOLIDAY INN BUDAPEST – BUDAÖRS

IRELAND

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL DUNDALK

ITALY

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL VENICE EAST – QUARTO D’ALTINO

NETHERLANDS (HOLLAND)

HOLIDAY INN IJMUIDEN – SEAPORT BEACH

SPAIN

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS BARCELONA – MOLINS DE REI

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS MADRID AIRPORT

INTERCONTINENTAL MAR MENOR GOLF RESORT & SPA

UNITED KINGDOM

HOLIDAY INN BELFAST

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL HEYTHROP PARK – OXFORD

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL GLASGOW

HOLIDAY INN IPSWICH

HOLIDAY INN MAIDSTONE – SEVENOAKS

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS SWINDON – WEST M4, JCT.16

Africa

KENYA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL NAIROBI

SOUTH AFRICA

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS CAPE TOWN CITY CENTRE

Middle East

ISRAEL

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL EILAT

SAUDI ARABIA

INTERCONTINENTAL DAR AL HIJRA MADINAH

Asia

CHINA-PEOPLES REPUBLIC

HOLIDAY INN BEIJING CHANG AN WEST

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS CHENGDU GULOU

HOLIDAY INN DATONG CITY CENTRE

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL HANGZHOU GRAND CANAL

INTERCONTINENTAL QINGDAO

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL CENTURY PARK SHANGHAI

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL SHENYANG PARKVIEW

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS TIANJIN CITY CENTER

INDIA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL BENGALURU ELECTRONICS CITY

INDONESIA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL JAKARTA

KOREA-REPUBLIC OF

INTERCONTINENTAL ALPENSIA PYEONGCHANG RESORT

PHILIPPINES

INTERCONTINENTAL MANILA

THAILAND

HOLIDAY INN HOLIDAY INN BANGKOK

VIETNAM

INTERCONTINENTAL ASIANA SAIGON

Oceania

There are no properties available at this time.

Offer and participating hotels are subject to change at any time, valid for booking through May 31, 2012. Reward night terms and conditions apply.

Loyalty Traveler post -  Buy 60,000 Points for $460 and Platinum Elite Status (March 30, 2012) – this post explains the advantage of paying $77 for 10,000 points rather than $60 for 10,000 points through Points & Cash cancellations.