{"id":224450,"date":"2025-08-30T23:59:37","date_gmt":"2025-08-30T23:59:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=224450\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T14:21:54","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T14:21:54","slug":"intercontinental-crete-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/hotels\/ihg-one-rewards\/intercontinental-crete-review\/","title":{"rendered":"From Unbeatable Value to an Epic Infinity Pool: Four Things I Loved About My Stay at InterContinental Crete"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The only thing I love more than a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/hotels\/free-night-certificates\/\" rel=\"noopener\">free hotel night<\/a> is a free hotel night in Greece. I can never seem to go back often enough, and it\u2019s impossible to get bored of the scenery, the sunshine, and Mediterranean food. That\u2019s why my Greek passport stamps outnumber all the rest.<\/p>\n<p>This time, I finally got to return and explore an island I hadn't yet visited \u2014 and I did it for almost nothing by redeeming five IHG free night certificates for an extended stay at the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ihg.com\/intercontinental\/hotels\/us\/en\/crete\/herct\/hoteldetail\" rel=\"noopener\">InterContinental Crete<\/a>. And it was awesome.<\/p>\n<p>Here are four highlights that made this stay one to remember.<\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_light_blue no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Page Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#Unbeatable_Value_for_IHG_Free_Night_Certificates\">Unbeatable Value for IHG Free Night Certificates<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Recognition_of_IHG_One_Rewards_Platinum_Elite_Benefits\">Recognition of IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite Benefits<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#The_InterContinental_Crete_Itself\">The InterContinental Crete Itself<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Agios_Nikolaos_Greece\">Agios Nikolaos, Greece<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Bottom_Line\">Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n<h2><span id=\"Unbeatable_Value_for_IHG_Free_Night_Certificates\">Unbeatable Value for IHG Free Night Certificates<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>I didn\u2019t book a trip to Crete and a stay at the InterContinental just for the value, but I can\u2019t lie, that was definitely part of the equation.<\/p>\n<p>In 2024, the <a data-ccid=\"4048106\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/ihg-one-rewards\/ihg-premier-card\/\">IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card<\/a> (<a data-ccid=\"4048106\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1753725.10005138&type=3&u1=3323e5df335fdf6ab3ccde3e08af58d2&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>) rolled out a welcome offer that included five free night certificates (each worth up to 60,000 points) after meeting the minimum spending requirement.<\/p>\n<p>Even without factoring in the card\u2019s other perks, this was an easy sell. There's no shortage of <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/ihg-one-rewards\/ihg-free-night-certificate\/\" rel=\"noopener\">ways to squeeze outsized value from certificates like these<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>And that's exactly what I did. Crete has been on my bucket list for a while, so I searched for properties there with five consecutive nights available under the 60,000 point threshold for a stay in August 2025. That's when I first stumbled across the InterContinental.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_224459\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/600\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-224459 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-6.png\" alt=\"InterContinental Crete entrance sign.\" width=\"750\" height=\"600\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-6.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-6-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-6-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-6-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Tyler Glatt\/AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>On average, AwardWallet users redeem IHG points at <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/point-mile-values\/IHG\" rel=\"noopener\">about 0.68\u00a2 each<\/a>, which makes a 60,000 point certificate worth roughly $408 when redeemed for the max. Multiply that by five, and you would expect around $2,040 in value if used strategically.<\/p>\n<p>In this case, though, I unlocked closer to $2,400 &#8212; even though the only rooms available with certificates were standard King Classic rooms retailing for about $330 per night. And that brings me to the next thing I loved about this stay.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_224463\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/600\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-224463 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-10.png\" alt=\"Flags outside the InterContinental Crete.\" width=\"750\" height=\"600\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-10.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-10-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-10-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-10-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Tyler Glatt\/AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/ihg-one-rewards\/ihg-credit-cards\/\" rel=\"noopener\">IHG Credit Cards Compared: Which One Is Right for You?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Recognition_of_IHG_One_Rewards_Platinum_Elite_Benefits\">Recognition of IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite Benefits<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>One of the headline benefits of the <a data-ccid=\"4048106\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/IHGRewardsClubPremierCreditCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">IHG One Rewards Premier Card<\/a> is the complimentary <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/hotels\/ihg-one-rewards\/ihg-platinum-elite\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Platinum Elite status<\/a> you get just for holding the card, and the InterContinental Crete was quick to recognize it.<\/p>\n<p>Platinum Elite makes you eligible for space-available upgrades at check-in, which is how my standard King Classic room became a much larger Premium Sea View King room with a private plunge pool and a sofa bed.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_224456\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/600\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-224456 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-3.png\" alt=\"InterContinental Crete premium King room.\" width=\"750\" height=\"600\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-3.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-3-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-3-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-3-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Tyler Glatt\/AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>August is still peak tourist season in Greece, so the rack rate for this room wasn't cheap. According to the IHG website, it was selling for about $470 per night during the week of our stay. That's how I managed to unlock nearly $2,400 worth of value from a single mid-tier hotel card welcome bonus.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_224486\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/600\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-224486 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-13.png\" alt=\"Sunrise as seen from the plunge pool at the InterContinental Crete\" width=\"750\" height=\"600\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-13.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-13-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-13-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-13-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Tyler Glatt\/AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n<p>On top of that, the hotel offered a welcome amenity of either 500 points per night or a food and beverage voucher worth 15 euros. We chose the latter, which gave us easy savings at the hotel\u2019s fifth-floor restaurant, Knossos.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_224493\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/600\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-224493 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-20.png\" alt=\"InterContinental Crete 5th floor pool deck.\" width=\"750\" height=\"600\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-20.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-20-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-20-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-20-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Tyler Glatt\/AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>The voucher didn't cover the entire meal we ate there, but paying the remainder with Platinum Elite benefits meant the charge earned 16X <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/hotels\/ihg-one-rewards\/\" rel=\"noopener\">IHG One Rewards<\/a> points per dollar &#8212; plus another 10X points for putting the room charges on the IHG One Rewards Premier Card.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_224492\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/600\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-224492 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-19.png\" alt=\"InterContinental Crete 5th floor pool deck\/restaurant\" width=\"750\" height=\"600\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-19.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-19-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-19-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-19-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Tyler Glatt\/AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/hotels\/ihg-one-rewards\/ihg-elite-status\/\" rel=\"noopener\">IHG Elite Status Explained: Tiers, Benefits, and Fast-Track Shortcuts<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"The_InterContinental_Crete_Itself\">The InterContinental Crete Itself<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Value and elite recognition don\u2019t mean much if the property itself isn\u2019t inspiring, but that\u2019s precisely what I found the InterContinental Crete to be. Starting with the obvious, the hotel is nothing if not geometric.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_224462\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/600\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-224462 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-9.png\" alt=\"Exterior of the InterContinental Crete.\" width=\"750\" height=\"600\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-9.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-9-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-9-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-9-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Tyler Glatt\/AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>And its unique style carries into the lobby, where the reception desks are framed by a two-story rock wall and a surrounding water feature. I can\u2019t say I\u2019ve seen anything quite like it in a hotel lobby before, and it made for a memorable first impression.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_224461\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/600\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-224461 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-8.png\" alt=\"InterContinental Crete lobby.\" width=\"750\" height=\"600\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-8.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-8-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-8-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-8-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Tyler Glatt\/AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>The lobby itself is massive. All the couches and seating areas made it easy to grab a quiet spot to catch up on work. And more often than not, a friendly barista at the lobby bar was extremely eager to prepare a fresh cup of coffee.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_224495\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/600\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-224495 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-21.png\" alt=\"InterContinental Crete lobby.\" width=\"750\" height=\"600\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-21.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-21-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-21-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-21-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Tyler Glatt\/AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>When I wasn\u2019t working or relaxing in the room, the fifth floor was the place to be. It\u2019s home to the gym, the hotel\u2019s main restaurant, and the larger of two infinity pools. The deck can get crowded, but it was made bearable by the sweeping views of Crete and Mirabello Bay.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_224457\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/600\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-224457 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-4.png\" alt=\"InterContinental Crete infinity pool.\" width=\"750\" height=\"600\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-4.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-4-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-4-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-4-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Tyler Glatt\/AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>The rooftop on the ninth floor offers similar views, though arguably even better. That\u2019s where you\u2019ll find the second infinity pool. It\u2019s smaller and designated adults-only, but if you head up around 6 a.m., you\u2019ll probably have the place to yourself. It\u2019s an incredible spot to watch the sun rise over the Aegean.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_224489\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/600\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-224489 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-16.png\" alt=\"9th floor infinity pool at the InterContinental Crete \" width=\"750\" height=\"600\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-16.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-16-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-16-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-16-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Tyler Glatt\/AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>For both value and views, this property was tough to beat.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_224465\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/600\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-224465 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-12.png\" alt=\"InterContinental Crete hallways.\" width=\"750\" height=\"600\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-12.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-12-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-12-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-12-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Tyler Glatt\/AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h2><span id=\"Agios_Nikolaos_Greece\">Agios Nikolaos, Greece<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Crete is a large island, but the neighborhood around the InterContinental Crete is pretty cozy. If you\u2019re flying in, the easiest way to get there is to land in Heraklion and take a 50-minute transfer to Agios Nikolaos on the island\u2019s east coast.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_224454\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/600\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-224454 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-1.png\" alt=\"Agios Nikolaos from the top of the hill.\" width=\"750\" height=\"600\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-1.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-1-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-1-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-1-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Tyler Glatt\/AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>Agios Nikolaos is touristy without being overwhelming. It\u2019s walkable, and there\u2019s plenty to eat and explore without straying far from the hotel. And that\u2019s ideal if you\u2019ve spent a little too much time in the sun like I did and don\u2019t feel like venturing far for Greek food.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, exploring on foot led us to some excellent restaurants like Pelagos and To Mesogeiako, as well as Nontas for gyros. And we also found several caf\u00e9s serving smoothies, snacks, and all-day coffee, the former of which was helpful for beating the heat.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_224497\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/600\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-224497 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-22.png\" alt=\"Restaurant near the InterContinental Crete\" width=\"750\" height=\"600\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-22.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-22-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-22-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-22-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Tyler Glatt\/AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>If you\u2019ve never taken a swim in the Aegean, Agios Nikolaos is a beautiful place to do it. The coastline is dotted with small beaches lined with resort-style chairs. Our favorite was a black sand (but more like black pebble) beach directly in front of the hotel. We happily cycled between our plunge pool, the infinity pool, and the nearby beaches for the better part of five days.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_224491\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/600\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-224491 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-18.png\" alt=\"Mirabello Bay near the InterContinental Crete \" width=\"750\" height=\"600\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-18.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-18-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-18-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-18-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Tyler Glatt\/AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>It\u2019s also easy to explore beyond Agios Nikolaos. The nearby port offers plenty of boat tours, from half-day cruises to nearby islands to the Creta semi-submarine glass bottom boat that'll take you around Mirabello Bay.<\/p>\n<p>For a stay of this length, the neighborhood was ideal. For a longer trip, though, it would\u2019ve been nice to have a car to explore other parts of the island.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_224487\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/600\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-224487 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-14.png\" alt=\"Agios Nikolaos neighborhood, Greece\" width=\"750\" height=\"600\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-14.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-14-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-14-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/InterContinental-Crete-14-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Tyler Glatt\/AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/travel-rewards-strategy-for-families\/\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Create a Travel Rewards Credit Card Strategy for Families<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Bottom_Line\">Bottom Line<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The InterContinental Crete is a fantastic property for <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/ihg-one-rewards\/ihg-free-night-certificate\/\" rel=\"noopener\">redeeming IHG free night certificates<\/a>. Not only is the value hard to beat, but the property and location are as well. After five nights enjoying the hotel, its friendly staff, and the surrounding neighborhood, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to go back. The only challenge would be deciding between returning to this new favorite or exploring another part of Greece I haven\u2019t visited yet.<\/p>\n<div class=\"qs-card\" data-id=\"4048106\">\n            <div class=\"qs-data\">\n                <div class=\"qs-view\">\n                    <div class=\"qs-cardname\">IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-image\"><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/95\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/cardart-ihgonerewardspremiercreditcard.png\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card' data-ccid=\"4048106\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/IHGRewardsClubPremierCreditCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-rates\"><span class=\"qs-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"4048106\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1753725.10005138&type=3&u1=3323e5df335fdf6ab3ccde3e08af58d2&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Limited-Time Offer<\/strong>\r\nEarn up to 185,000 bonus points \u2013 150,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from account opening, plus 35,000 bonus points after spending a total of $6,000 in the first 6 months from account opening<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"qs-info\">\n                    <strong class=\"qs-cardname\">IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card<\/strong>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Limited-Time Offer<\/strong>\r\nEarn up to 185,000 bonus points \u2013 150,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from account opening, plus 35,000 bonus points after spending a total of $6,000 in the first 6 months from account opening<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee:<\/strong><b>$99<\/b><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-tabs\"><a class=\"qs-more\" href=\"#more\">Show more<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"wwl\">Why We Like It<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"hl\">Highlights<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"er\">Earning Rates<\/a><div class=\"qs-tab-wwl\">The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is packed with benefits for IHG fans, and we rate it one of the best co-brand hotel cards you can have in your wallet. Cardholders earn up to 26X points per $1 at IHG properties (including points multipliers from your elite status), 5X points on travel, dining, and at gas stations, and 3X points on all other purchases. An attractive feature is the automatic upgrade to Platinum Elite status, enhancing your hotel stay experience. The card also offers a valuable Anniversary Free Night each year, and a fourth Reward Night free when redeeming points for a stay of four or more nights. Additional perks include a 20% discount on point purchases, no foreign transaction fees, comprehensive travel and purchase protections, and a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS credit every four years.<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-hl\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" standalone=\"yes\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ??>\n<html><body><ul><li>Limited Time Offer! Earn up to 185,000 bonus points. Earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn 35,000 bonus points after spending a total of $6,000 in the first 6 months from account opening.<\/li><li>Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG&#xAE; Hotels & Resorts. Plus, enjoy a fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG hotel stay.<\/li><li>Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts<\/li><li>Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases<\/li><li>Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier cardmember<\/li><li>Global Entry, TSA PreCheck&#xAE; or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $120 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card<\/li><li>IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental&#xAE;, Crowne Plaza&#xAE;, Kimpton&#xAE;, EVEN&#xAE; Hotels, Hotel Indigo&#xAE; & Holiday Inn&#xAE;<\/li><li>Member FDIC<\/li><\/ul><\/body><\/html>\n<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-er\"><ul>\r\n<li>Earn up to 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel<\/li>\r\n<li>5X points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, gas stations, and restaurants<\/li>\r\n<li>3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<br>\r\nThe earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Earn 10X points for being a IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card member<\/li>\r\n<li>Earn up to 6X points from IHG<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> with Platinum Elite Status, a benefit of having this card<\/li>\r\n<li>Earn up to 10X points from IHG<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> for being an IHG<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> One Rewards member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> loyalty program)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <a class=\"qs-share\" href=\"\/find-a-card\/IHGPremier\/\" title=\"copy\"><svg width=\"12\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/awardwallet\/public\/builds\/icon\/icon-sprite.svg?v2026-5-268a3790e3#share-square\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/use><\/svg><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The only thing I love more than a free hotel night is a free hotel night in Greece. I recently spent five nights in Agios Nikolaos for almost nothing by redeeming IHG free night certificates for an extended stay at the InterContinental Crete. And it was awesome. Here are four highlights that made this stay one to remember.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":80,"featured_media":224457,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":null,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"default","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[12054],"tags":[12520,12700,12628,12629],"coauthors":[36432],"class_list":["post-224450","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tips","tag-card-benefits","tag-ihg-one-rewards","tag-travel-experience","tag-using-points"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224450","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/80"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=224450"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224450\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":244751,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224450\/revisions\/244751"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/224457"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=224450"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=224450"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=224450"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=224450"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}