2019 Category Changes Means These 145 Properties Are Now Cheaper Using Ihg Points

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.IHG’s 2019 category changes were rough on IHG Rewards members. Overall, 693 properties changed categories, with most (548) of these being increases. Unfortunately, it’s too late to get the prior rate at these properties as the changes went into effect January 25.The good news is that there’s 145 IHG properties where the award cost just dropped. If you have an upcoming points stay at one of these properties, you can cancel and re-book at a lower rate. Or, perhaps this list will spark an idea for an upcoming trip. Either way, let’s try to make some lemonade out of this category change lemon.InterContinental HotelsIn a hotel loyalty group that’s better known for Holiday Inn Express hotels, IHG’s InterContinental brand is one of the group’s few luxury brands. And eight of these properties just decreased in price.Unfortunately for US-based travelers, all of them are outside the US, including five in China. Of the non-Chinese hotels, there’s one that we’ve seen on a few PointBreaks lists over the last year: InterContinental Mendoza dropped from 25,000 points per night to 20,000 points per night. While Venezuela likely isn’t on many traveler’s 2019 list of places to go, the InterContinental Tamanaco Caracas dropped to 25,000 points per night.Hotel NameCityCountryNew Point Requirement (per night)Valuation of Points (per night)MendozaMendozaArgentina20,000$120TangshanTangshanMainland China20,000$120Lhasa ParadiseLhasaMainland China20,000$120Shanghai ExpoShanghaiMainland China25,000$150Heilong LakeMeishanMainland China25,000$150Tamanaco CaracasCaracasVenezuela25,000$150Hanoi Landmark72HanoiVietnam30,000$180OneThousand Island Lake ResortHangzhouMainland China40,000$240Kimpton HotelsKimpton properties fared surprisingly well in the 2019 category changes, with only two properties increasing and eight properties decreasing categories. That left Kimpton with the biggest net drop of any IHG brand. With that said, the cheapest of these properties is still 35,000 points per night — which is $210 per night based on TPG’s valuation of IHG points. Make sure to check cash prices to make sure you’re getting good value from your IHG points.Hotel NameCityStateNew Point Requirement (per night)Valuation of Points (per night)Hotel Monaco BaltimoreBaltimoreMD35,000$210GoodlandGoletaCA45,000$270Sawyer HotelSacramentoCA45,000$270Tryon Park HotelCharlotteNC45,000$270Lorien Hotel and SpaAlexandriaVA45,000$270Taconic HotelManchesterVT45,000$270Angler’s Hotel South BeachMiami BeachFL55,000$330Vero Beach Hotel and SpaVero BeachFL60,000$360European HotelsOf the 145 properties that dropped, only 10 are located in Europe: three in the United Kingdom, two in France, two in Germany, two in Istanbul (Turkey) and one in Serbia.Hotel NameChainCityCountryNew Point Requirement (per night)Valuation of Points (per night)Montpellier - CorumCrowne PlazaMontpellierFrance25,000$150Paris - Charles de GaulleCrowne PlazaRoissy-en-FranceFrance25,000$150SiegenHoliday Inn ExpressSiegenGermany15,000$90SingenHoliday Inn ExpressSingenGermany15,000$90Belgrade - CityHoliday Inn ExpressBelgradeSerbia10,000$60Istanbul - AltunizadeHoliday Inn ExpressIstanbulTurkey10,000$60Istanbul - Tuzla BayHoliday InnIstanbulTurkey15,000$90CardiffHotel IndigoCardiffUnited Kingdom45,000$270NorwichHoliday Inn ExpressNorwichUnited Kingdom15,000$90WiganHoliday Inn ExpressWiganUnited Kingdom15,000$90New Category 1 HotelsAmong the changes are 28 hotels that decreased to just 10,000 points per night. At current TPG valuations, that’s just $60 all-in for a hotel night. And during frequent 100% buy-point bonuses, you can buy these points for just $50 per night.Unfortunately these hotel brands aren’t too exciting. There’s 16 Holiday Inn, seven Holiday Inn Express, four Candlewood Suites and one Holiday Inn. Geographically, 12 of the 28 are in Mexico, three are in Brazil and five are located in the US — with four of those located in Texas.Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.Hotel NameChainCityCountryFortalezaHoliday InnFortalezaBrazilNatalHoliday InnNatalBrazilSao Paulo Parque AnhembiHoliday InnSao PauloBrazilCucutaHoliday InnCucutaColombiaPutian XiuyuHoliday InnPutianMainland ChinaShanghai VistaHoliday InnShanghaiMainland ChinaMonclovaHoliday InnMonclovaMexicoCd. del CarmenHoliday Inn ExpressCiudad del CarmenMexicoMexico Zona RosaHoliday Inn & SuitesCiudad de MexicoMexicoToluca Zona AeropuertoHoliday Inn Express & SuitesTolucaMexicoLeonHoliday InnLeonMexicoMoreliaHoliday InnMoreliaMexicoPuebla FinsaHoliday InnPueblaMexicoSan Luis Potosi-QuijoteHoliday InnSan Luis PotosiMexicoHermosilloHoliday InnHermosilloMexicoMatamorosHoliday InnMatamorosMexicoCoatzacoalcosHoliday InnCoatzacoalcosMexicoXalapaHoliday Inn ExpressXalapaMexicoUfaHoliday InnUfaRussiaBelgrade - CityHoliday Inn ExpressBelgradeSerbiaPretoria - SunnyparkHoliday Inn ExpressPretoriaSouth AfricaAnkara - KavaklidereHoliday InnAnkaraTurkeyIstanbul - AltunizadeHoliday Inn ExpressIstanbulTurkeyMerrillvilleCandlewood SuitesMerrillville, INUnited StatesCotullaCandlewood SuitesCotulla, TXUnited StatesFloresvilleHoliday Inn Express & SuitesFloresville, TXUnited StatesHarlingenCandlewood SuitesHarlingen, TXUnited StatesHouston CityCentre I-10 WestCandlewood SuitesHouston, TXUnited StatesGetting IHG PointsIf you need more points, IHG just launched a 75% buy points bonus promotion. This drops the price of IHG points to 0.57 cents each — less than TPG’s valuation at 0.6 cents each — when you buy at least 26,000 points. This could be a good deal if you find a good value redemption at these or other IHG properties. However, if you don’t have an immediate need for IHG points, it’s best to wait until another 100% buy points promotion pops up.Another way of getting IHG points is through the IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card — which is currently offering 80,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening plus an additional 40,000 bonus points after spending a total of $5,000 on purchases within 6 months of account opening . In addition to a solid sign-up bonus, this card helps you get more value out of your points by granting IHG Platinum Elite status — which has gotten me suite upgrades at many properties — and fourth-night free on awards stays.Bottom LineWhile the 2019 IHG category changes were rough overall, there were 145 properties that dropped in value. If you have existing points reservations at any of these properties, now is a good time to cancel your more-expensive reservation and re-book at the lower rate. Or, maybe this list prompts some ideas for an upcoming trip.Just remember that there’s a reason that these properties decreased in category. Check the cash price to make sure you’re getting a good use out of your IHG points.Full ListI promised you 145 properties decreasing in value, and we haven’t covered all of them quite yet. So, here’s the full chart of all IHG properties that just decreased in award price:Hotel NameChain DescriptionCity, StateCountryNew Point Requirement (per night)MendozaInterContinentalMendozaArgentina20,000Hawkesbury ValleyCrowne PlazaWindsor, NWAustralia25,000FortalezaHoliday InnFortalezaBrazil10,000NatalHoliday InnNatal - RnBrazil10,000Sao Paulo Parque AnhembiHoliday InnSao PauloBrazil10,000Medicine Hat Transcanada Hwy 1Holiday Inn Express & SuitesMedicine Hat, ABCanada20,000Red DeerHoliday Inn ExpressRed Deer, ABCanada15,000West EdmontonHoliday Inn & SuitesWest Edmonton, ABCanada20,000TerraceHoliday Inn Express & SuitesTerrace, BCCanada15,000Fredericton-Lord BeaverbrookCrowne PlazaFredericton, NBCanada20,000CucutaHoliday InnCucutaColombia10,000Montpellier - CorumCrowne PlazaMontpellierFrance25,000Paris - Charles de GaulleCrowne PlazaRoissy-En-FranceFrance25,000SiegenHoliday Inn ExpressSiegenGermany15,000SingenHoliday Inn ExpressSingenGermany15,000Bengaluru RacecourseHoliday Inn Express & SuitesBangaloreIndia15,000Resort MiyazakiHoliday Inn - ANAMiyazaki-ShiJapan15,000Suwon IngyeHoliday Inn ExpressSuwon SiRepublic of Korea15,000VientianeCrowne PlazaVientianeLaos20,000Changbaishan SuitesHoliday InnJilin ProvinceChina25,000Beijing Temple Of HeavenHoliday InnBeijing, BJChina15,000Putian XiuyuHoliday InnPutian, FJChina10,000Yangjiang City CenterHUALUXEYangjiang, GDChina30,000Haikou SeaviewHUALUXEHaikou, HAChina30,000Hainan Clear Water BayHoliday Inn ResortSanya, HAChina15,000TangshanInterContinentalTangshan, HEChina20,000ZhangjiakouHUALUXEZhangjiakou, HEChina30,000Nanchang High-tech ZoneHUALUXENanchang, JXChina15,000Shanghai VistaHoliday InnShanghai, SHChina10,000Shanghai ExpoInterContinentalShanghai, SHChina25,000Heilong LakeInterContinentalMeishan, SNChina25,000Tianjin HaiheHotel IndigoTianjin, TJChina15,000Lhasa ParadiseInterContinentalLhasa, XZChina20,000OneThousand Island Lake ResortInterContinentalHangzhou, ZJChina40,000HangzhouOneThousandIslandLakeCrowne PlazaHangzhou, ZJChina25,000MexicaliHoliday Inn Express & SuitesMexicali, BNMexico15,000ChihuahuaStaybridge SuitesChihuahua, CHMexico15,000MonclovaHoliday InnMonclova, CIMexico10,000TorreonHoliday Inn ExpressTorreon, CIMexico15,000ManzanilloHoliday Inn ExpressManzanillo, CLMexico15,000Cd. del CarmenHoliday Inn ExpressCiudad Del Carmen, CMMexico10,000Mexico City-Plaza UniversidadHoliday InnCiudad De Mexico, DFMexico15,000Ciudad de Mexico-Trade CenterHoliday InnCiudad De Mexico, DFMexico20,000Mexico Zona RosaHoliday Inn & SuitesCiudad De Mexico, DFMexico10,000Mexico Santa FeHoliday Inn ExpressCiudad De Mexico, DFMexico15,000Mexico Santa FeHoliday InnCiudad De Mexico, DFMexico15,000Mexico - ToreoHoliday Inn ExpressNaucalpan, EMMexico15,000Toluca Zona AeropuertoHoliday Inn Express & SuitesToluca, EMMexico10,000ChilpancingoHoliday InnChilpancingo, GRMexico15,000Leon Plaza MayorHoliday Inn & SuitesLeon, GTMexico15,000LeonHoliday InnLeon, GTMexico10,000Silao Aeropuerto - TerminalHoliday Inn Express & SuitesSilao, GTMexico15,000Guadalajara Centro HistoricoHoliday Inn & SuitesGuadalajara, JAMexico15,000Guadalajara ExpoHoliday InnZapopan, JAMexico15,000MoreliaHoliday InnMorelia, MCMexico10,000HuatulcoHoliday InnSanta Maria Huatulco, OAMexico15,000PueblaStaybridge SuitesPuebla, PUMexico15,000Puebla FinsaHoliday InnPuebla, PUMexico10,000San Luis Potosi-QuijoteHoliday InnSan Luis Potosi, SLMexico10,000San Luis PotosiStaybridge SuitesSan Luis Potosi, SLMexico15,000HermosilloHoliday InnHermosillo, SOMexico10,000VillahermosaCrowne PlazaVillahermosa, TBMexico20,000MatamorosHoliday InnMatamoros, TMMexico10,000CoatzacoalcosHoliday InnCoatzacoalcos, VEMexico10,000XalapaHoliday Inn ExpressXalapa, VEMexico10,000Muscat OCECCrowne PlazaMuscatOman25,000Moscow - TaganskyHoliday InnMoscowRussia15,000Moscow - SeligerskayaHoliday InnMoscowRussia15,000St. Petersburg - TchaikovskogoHotel IndigoSt. PetersburgRussia25,000UfaHoliday InnUfaRussia10,000Riyadh RDC Hotel & ConventionCrowne PlazaRiyadhSaudi Arabia25,000Belgrade - CityHoliday Inn ExpressBelgradeSerbia10,000Cape TownHoliday InnCape TownSouth Africa15,000Pretoria - SunnyparkHoliday Inn ExpressPretoriaSouth Africa10,000Ankara - KavaklidereHoliday InnAnkaraTurkey10,000Bursa - City CentreHoliday InnBursaTurkey15,000Istanbul - AltunizadeHoliday Inn ExpressIstanbulTurkey10,000Istanbul - Tuzla BayHoliday InnIstanbulTurkey15,000CardiffHotel IndigoCardiffUnited Kingdom45,000NorwichHoliday Inn ExpressNorwichUnited Kingdom15,000WiganHoliday Inn ExpressWiganUnited Kingdom15,000Birmingham Five Points S - UABHotel IndigoBirmingham, ALUnited States25,000MorriltonHoliday Inn Express & SuitesMorrilton, ARUnited States15,000GoodlandKimptonGoleta, CAUnited States45,000Sawyer HotelKimptonSacramento, CAUnited States45,000Sunnyvale - Silicon ValleyHoliday Inn ExpressSunnyvale, CAUnited States30,000Angler’s Hotel South BeachKimptonMiami Beach, FLUnited States55,000Vero Beach Hotel and SpaKimptonVero Beach, FLUnited States60,000CrestwoodHoliday Inn ExpressCrestwood, ILUnited States15,000MerrillvilleCandlewood SuitesMerrillville, INUnited States10,000Tell CityHoliday Inn Express & SuitesTell City, INUnited States15,000VincennesHoliday Inn ExpressVincennes, INUnited States15,000AtchisonHoliday Inn Express & SuitesAtchison, KSUnited States15,000AlexandriaCandlewood SuitesAlexandria, LAUnited States15,000Morgan City - Tiger IslandHoliday Inn Express & SuitesMorgan City, LAUnited States15,000Hotel Monaco BaltimoreKimptonBaltimore, MDUnited States35,000Belcamp - Aberdeen AreaHoliday InnBelcamp, MDUnited States15,000Pocomoke CityHoliday Inn ExpressPocomoke City, MDUnited States20,000Benton HarborHoliday Inn Express & SuitesBenton Harbor, MIUnited States25,000BemidjiCandlewood SuitesBemidji, MNUnited States15,000Tryon Park HotelKimptonCharlotte, NCUnited States45,000MinotStaybridge SuitesMinot, NDUnited States15,000WillistonCandlewood SuitesWilliston, NDUnited States20,000Omaha WestStaybridge SuitesOmaha, NEUnited States20,000Omaha - 120th and MapleHoliday Inn Express & SuitesOmaha, NEUnited States15,000Salem (I-93 At Exit 2)Holiday InnSalem, NHUnited States20,000Jersey City - HarborsideCandlewood SuitesJersey City, NJUnited States30,000Totowa WayneHoliday InnTotowa, NJUnited States20,000RoswellHoliday InnRoswell, NMUnited States15,000MaloneHoliday Inn Express & SuitesMalone, NYUnited States20,000Toledo-Maumee (I-80/90)Holiday InnMaumee, OHUnited States20,000MedinaHoliday Inn Express & SuitesMedina, OHUnited States15,000Columbus South - ObetzHoliday Inn ExpressObetz, OHUnited States15,000Toledo - Rossford - PerrysburgStaybridge SuitesRossford, OHUnited States20,000Sunbury-Columbus AreaHoliday Inn Express & SuitesSunbury, OHUnited States15,000AlvaHoliday Inn Express & SuitesAlva, OKUnited States15,000Midwest CityCandlewood SuitesDel City, OKUnited States15,000GuymonHoliday Inn Express & SuitesGuymon, OKUnited States15,000PerryHoliday Inn Express & SuitesPerry, OKUnited States15,000Belle VernonCandlewood SuitesBelle Vernon, PAUnited States15,000Pittsburgh-Cranberry TownshipStaybridge SuitesWarrendale, PAUnited States20,000Bay CityHoliday Inn Express & SuitesBay City, TXUnited States15,000Brookshire - Katy FreewayHoliday Inn Express & SuitesBrookshire, TXUnited States15,000BrownsvilleHoliday InnBrownsville, TXUnited States15,000CotullaCandlewood SuitesCotulla, TXUnited States10,000CueroHoliday Inn Express & SuitesCuero, TXUnited States15,000FloresvilleHoliday Inn Express & SuitesFloresville, TXUnited States10,000HarlingenCandlewood SuitesHarlingen, TXUnited States10,000HOU I-10 West Energy CorridorHoliday Inn Express & SuitesHouston, TXUnited States15,000Houston CityCentre I-10 WestCandlewood SuitesHouston, TXUnited States10,000Houston NW Beltway 8-West RoadHoliday Inn Express & SuitesHouston, TXUnited States15,000Houston SW - Galleria AreaHoliday Inn Express & SuitesHouston, TXUnited States15,000Houston W - Westchase AreaStaybridge SuitesHouston, TXUnited States20,000KenedyHoliday Inn ExpressKenedy, TXUnited States15,000PerrytonHoliday Inn Express & SuitesPerryton, TXUnited States15,000Plano - The ColonyStaybridge SuitesThe Colony, TXUnited States20,000Lorien Hotel and SpaKimptonAlexandria, VAUnited States45,000South HillHoliday Inn Express & SuitesSouth Hill, VAUnited States15,000Taconic HotelKimptonManchester, VTUnited States45,000PlattevilleHoliday Inn Express & SuitesPlatteville, WIUnited States15,000FairmontHoliday Inn Express & SuitesFairmont, WVUnited States20,000WestonHoliday Inn Express & SuitesWeston, WVUnited States20,000Tamanaco CaracasInterContinentalCaracasVenezuela25,000Hanoi Landmark72InterContinentalHanoiVietnam30,000MutareHoliday InnMutareZimbabwe15,000