Have you heard of the IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card? It’s a bit of a relic, but in the best way possible. Chase stopped offering the card back in 2018 and replaced it with the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if you or someone you know still carries the Select card. It’s like a time capsule, with all the perks and benefits of the past.
For starters, the card still has the same $49 annual fee that I did when it was replaced. For that, you receive the following benefits.
- Automatic Platinum Elite Status
- 10% rebate on IHG® Rewards Club point redemptions
- Anniversary Free Night
That’s an amazing set of benefits for just $49. The 10% rebate applies to all redemptions, regardless of how long you stay. Additionally, it can be combined with the 4th-night free benefit from the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card. Although the anniversary-free night is limited to rooms costing 40,000 points or less, this mainly excludes top-tier hotels and popular weekend stays.
Chase has not expressed any intention to discontinue the Select card, but I’ve been wondering if it’s worthwhile to keep it. That’s because it’s becoming more difficult to use the 40,000-point free night award each year.
I’ve always been able to find somewhere to use them but it hasn’t been easy. Here are some of the places we’ve stayed recently:
- Crowne Plaza Dulles Airport
- Staybridge Suites Plano – Legacy West
- Holiday Inn Express Walnut Creek
- Holiday Inn NYC – Lower East Side
- Holiday Inn Club Vacations – Cape Canaveral Beach Resort
As I glance over the list, I can’t help but marvel at the fact that we were able to stay at so many different hotels using a card that only costs $49. None of the hotels on this list were priced below $150 per night, including taxes. So, it’s safe to say that the card is still a pretty good deal.
However, I am a bit skeptical about the ongoing availability of hotels costing less than 40K points, which is why I’m keeping my IHG Select card on probation. It’s kind of exciting to hunt for these reasonably priced rooms to use the free night, but I am curious about how long I will find it fun. When the novelty wears off, I might lose interest in trying to find a good use for them. And when that happens, it will be time to bid farewell to this card and send it straight to the shredder.
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12 comments
Are you stoned? Use the card at a Holiday Inn Express off any highway and you effortlessly come out ahead. The 10% back coupled with the four-for-three night deal is a no-brainer for everyone despite inane no-brain blog posts like this.
I just used a Select card FNC in NY at the Kimpton Eventi for a Sun night which was 39k points
How many points do you redeem a year on average? Even if it’s only 100k, the card pays for itself. What I do is buy IHG points when they are selling at a 50% discount and I redeem, and have both credit cards to get the 4th night free AND get the 10 percent back. There is also value in the 40k free night certificate for stays outside the USA.
One good thing about IHG being dynamic is that when there are points sales on awards you can use the free night cert. there was an award sale for 15% rooms and it made some IC hotels going for $300/night 40k points.
Many hotels in Manhattan can be had for 40,000 and it also depends on the time of year. Using this card on points along with the Business IHG card for 4 nights gives you the 4th night free as well as 10% points returned.
I think it’s a no-brainer to keep it even if you only redeem the free night for a $100 free night, although I do miss the old days of using the unlimited free night at the Intercontinental Times Square. My wife and I would book our free nights back-to-back for a weekend in NYC.
Agree with those saying the 10% points back coupled with also having an IHG card giving you 4th night free is great value. Also, you really need to search harder. So far this year, I have used the certificate at the “Intercontinental Park Lane” (ok….yes IHG was hacked by the Vietnamese at the time, but what a great deal:) I also was able to reserve a room at the Intercontinental Stings Tokyo but had to cancel after a flight change. Besides those 2 great redemption, I still find a LOT of great value out of 40,000 point certificates if you search diligently.
While I chuckle at the first comment, I do agree with the sentiment. The 40k award continues to be very useful. I always find a clutch redemption. Lately it’s worked out well to cover arriving the night before our Port Canaveral cruises. It’s the card that keeps on giving for only $49 a year, and having platinum doesn’t hurt.
Curious to know if you’re finding availability at the Holiday Inn Vacation Club at Canaveral or are you staying at the other IHG properties further south of the port.
Like the 1st comment ….you must be stoned ……This card is a no brained ….most all chain hotels nights are 125 and up ….you would pay 49.00 for a 125 (that’s a bad example) ….this year I used it for a kimpton in Pittsburgh that was 380 with taxes ……10% back on top of a free night ..I’ve redeemed 800,000 high this year giving me 80,000 back ……I’m in shock that one would get rid of or even thinking about it
I just literally booked the Kimpton theta in times square with the free night certificate for a work trip. $330 room first time I’ve been happy to have the free night as I’ve tried to use it in the past and usually just goes unused.
Honestly, I have a much harder time using up Hyatt’s Cat 1-4 certificate every year given that the options are dwindling every year at an alarming speed. If you were lucky enough to get in on holding both IHG select and premier cards, hang on to both!!!