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With hotel loyalty programs continuing to raise the number of points needed for stays, any way to get an edge helps. Enter IHG's fourth night free perk, allowing you to get the fourth night free when you book an award stay of four or more nights using points. This is a great way to save thousands of IHG One Rewards points per year and make the cost of your stays more manageable.

Chase and IHG have recently refreshed its credit card lineup, even adding a new premium card. Some of the parameters around getting the fourth night free perk have changed, so let's take a look at exactly how the IHG fourth night free benefit works.

What is the IHG Fourth Night Free?

IHG offers a fourth night free to eligible IHG rewards cardholders when using points to book award stays of at least four nights. This means when you book a room for four or more nights, the fourth night will automatically be priced at zero points.

This perk is valid for every four nights — meaning it's also the eighth night free, the 12th night free, and so on. So feel free to extend that vacation and take advantage of the discount!

Best of all, you can use this perk repeatedly throughout the year. IHG still doesn't limit how many times eligible IHG members can use the fourth-night-free benefit.

This awesome benefit comes with only a couple of limitations:

  1. Your stay must be fully booked with points. You won't get an IHG fourth night free if you book a Points + Cash rate.
  2. The nights must be consecutive nights at the same hotel. It won't work on trips where you stay four nights in a row, but at different IHG hotels.
Exterior view of the InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace at night
InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace. Credit: IHG

Who is Eligible to Book an IHG Fourth Night Free?

Whereas other brands give similar perks to loyalty members, IHG requires travelers to have a co-branded credit card. Four IHG rewards credit cards offer this amazing perk (with one caveat below):

The first is the IHG One Rewards Card. This IHG card charges a $0 annual fee yet gives you automatic Silver Elite status and unlocks the fourth night free perk — for now. Beginning in 2027, cardholders will need to spend $5,000 or more to qualify for the fourth night free benefit. The benefit will then unlock for the remainder of the calendar year in which you qualify and the following calendar year. Eligible new cardholders can earn 125,000 bonus points.

The New IHG One Rewards Credit Card
IHG One Rewards Credit Card
Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
The New IHG One Rewards Credit Card
Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Annual Fee:$0
Show moreWhy We Like ItHighlightsEarning Rates
The IHG One Rewards Card features a solid welcome bonus of 125,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. This card comes with no foreign transaction fees, a fourth night free on award bookings, and no annual fee.
  • Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 125,000 Bonus Points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Earn up to 17X total points on stays at IHG Hotels & Resorts
  • Earn 3X points on dining, at grocery stores (new!) and gas stations. Earn 2X points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • Automatic Silver Elite status as long as you remain an IHG One Rewards cardmember. Plus, enjoy 5 Elite Night Credits annually (new!).
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees
  • IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental®, Kimpton®, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza®, EVEN® Hotels, & Holiday Inn®
  • Member FDIC
  • Earn up to 17X points spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
  • 3X points per $1 spent on dining, at grocery stores, and gas stations
  • 2X points per $1 spent on all other purchases

The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
  • Earn 5X points for being a IHG One Rewards Card member
  • Earn up to 2X points from IHG® with Silver Elite Status, a benefit of this Card
  • Earn up to 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG® Rewards Club Member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)

The second card is the IHG One Rewards Premier Card. In addition to the fourth night free, this card offers an IHG free night worth up to 50,000 points on your account anniversary; a TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS application fee credit every four years; and automatic IHG Gold Elite status. The free award night alone makes the $150 annual fee more than worth it, not to mention the other perks that the card offers.

Eligible new cardholders can currently earn 180,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

The New IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 180,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
The New IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 180,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Annual Fee:$150
Show moreWhy We Like ItHighlightsEarning Rates
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 24X points per $1 at IHG properties (including points multipliers from your elite status), 5X points on flights booked directly, car rental agencies, at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants, and 3X points on all other purchases. 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 30% 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.
  • Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 180,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Earn up to 24X total points on stays at IHG Hotels & Resorts
  • Earn 5X points on flights booked directly, car rental agencies, at gas stations, grocery stores (new!) and restaurants. Earn 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • Get an Anniversary Free Night each year. Plus, redeem 3 nights, get 4th night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG hotel stay.
  • NEW! Enjoy up to $100 in Food & Beverage Rewards annually at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
  • This card offers over $700 in value your first year!
  • Automatic Gold Elite Status as long as you remain an IHG One Rewards Premier cardmember. Plus, get 15 Elite Night Credits each year (new!).
  • IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental®, Kimpton®, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza®, EVEN® Hotels, & Holiday Inn®
  • Member FDIC
  • Earn up to 24X points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
  • 5X points per $1 spent on flights booked directly, car rental agencies, at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants
  • 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases

The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
  • Earn 10X points for being a IHG One Rewards Premier Card member
  • Earn up to 4X points from IHG® with Gold Elite Status, a benefit of having this card
  • Earn up to 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG® One Rewards member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)

The next card is the brand new IHG One Rewards Premier Select Card (Rates & Fees). You can currently earn 200,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

This card offers an IHG free night worth up to 60,000 points on your account anniversary; a TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS application fee credit every four years; and automatic IHG Platinum Elite status. The free night along with several travel credits can help offset the $350 annual fee. 

The Brand New IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card
IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card
Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 200,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.
The Brand New IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card
Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 200,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee:$350
Show moreWhy We Like ItHighlightsEarning Rates
The IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card is the latest addition to Chase's IHG lineup, built for travelers who stay with IHG often enough to put its credits to work. Cardholders earn up to 28X points per $1 at IHG properties (including points multipliers from your elite status), 6X points on dining and all other travel, including rideshare, and 3X points on all other purchases. Automatic Platinum Elite status comes with the card, along with 20 Elite Night Credits at the start of each calendar year, which is enough to earn your first Milestone Reward straight away. The headline credits are up to $300 a year in Food & Beverage Rewards at IHG hotels and a $200 airline statement credit once you spend $250 on flights booked directly with the airline, which together can more than offset the annual fee. You also get an Anniversary Free Night at hotels costing up to 60,000 points (you can add your own points for pricier stays) and a fourth Reward Night free on four-night award stays. Additional perks include a 30% discount on point purchases, no foreign transaction fees, up to $50 in United TravelBank Cash, and a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS credit every four years.
  • Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 200,000 Bonus Points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Enjoy up to $300 in Food & Beverage Rewards annually at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
  • This card offers over $1,000 in value your first year!
  • Get an Anniversary Free Night each year. Plus, redeem 3 nights, get 4th night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG hotel stay.
  • Earn up to 28X total points on stays at IHG Hotels & Resorts
  • Earn 6X points on dining and all other travel, including rideshare. Earn 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain an IHG One Rewards Premier Select cardmember. Plus, get 20 Elite Night Credits each year.
  • Earn 2 Elite Night Credits for every $5,000 you spend on your card.
  • IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental®, Kimpton®, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza®, EVEN® Hotels, & Holiday Inn®
  • Member FDIC
  • Earn up to 28 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
  • 6X points per $1 spent on dining and all other travel, including rideshare
  • 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases

The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
  • Earn 12X points for being an IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card member
  • Earn up to 6X points from IHG® with Platinum Elite Status, a benefit of having this card
  • Earn up to 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG® One Rewards member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)

    The final card offers similar perks to the IHG One Rewards Premier Card but is designed for small business owners. Apply for the IHG Business Card and meet the spending requirements to earn 190,000 bonus points. You'll also enjoy a free night each cardholder anniversary; TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS fee credit; and IHG Platinum Elite status.

    The New IHG One Rewards Business Credit Card
    IHG One Rewards Business Credit Card
    Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 190,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
    The New IHG One Rewards Business Credit Card
    Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 190,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
    Annual Fee:$200
    Show moreWhy We Like ItHighlightsEarning Rates
    The New IHG One Rewards Business Credit Card earns up to 26x points at IHG Hotels & Resorts, plus 5x on flights booked directly, car rental agencies, select advertising, gas stations, and restaurants, and 3x on all other purchases. Cardholders enjoy an anniversary free night, automatic Platinum Elite status, and a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit, making it perfect for frequent travelers who favor IHG properties.
    • Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 190,000 Bonus Points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
    • Earn up to 26X total points on stays at IHG Hotels and Resorts.
    • Earn 5X points on flights booked directly, car rental agencies, select advertising, at gas stations and restaurants. Earn 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
    • Get an Anniversary Free Night each year. Plus, redeem 3 nights, get 4th night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG hotel stay.
    • NEW! Enjoy up to $100 in Food & Beverage Rewards annually at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
    • NEW! A $100 Airline Statement Credit each year when you spend at least $250 on flights purchased directly with the airline.
    • This card offers over $750 in value your first year!
    • Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Business cardmember. Plus, enjoy 15 Elite Night Credits annually (new!).
    • IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental®, Kimpton®, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza®, EVEN® Hotels, & Holiday Inn®
    • Member FDIC
    • Earn up to 26X total points per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
    • 5X points per $1 spent on flights booked directly, car rental agencies, select advertising, gas stations, and restaurants
    • 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases

    The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
    • Earn 10X points for charging your stay to your IHG Business Card
    • Earn up to 6X bonus points for having IHG®Platinum Elite Status, a benefit of having this card
    • Earn up to 10X base points for being an IHG® One Rewards Member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)

    If you hold one of the four above IHG credit cards, you can take advantage of the fourth night free; just take note of the change on the IHG One Rewards Credit Card coming in 2027. The only IHG card that doesn't offer the IHG fourth night free perk is the no-longer-available IHG® Rewards Select Credit Card.

    Related: Which IHG One Rewards Credit Card Is Right for You?

    How to Top Off Your IHG Account to Book an Award Stay

    Before you can take advantage of an IHG fourth night free booking, you need enough IHG points to pay for a reward stay. If you need to top off your IHG rewards points, you have a few options.

    First, you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to IHG. The ability to use Chase's 14 hotel and airline transfer partners comes from holding an eligible card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees) or Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees). Chase Ultimate Rewards points generally transfer to IHG at a 1:1 ratio in 1,000-point increments (unless there's a Chase-to-IHG transfer bonus). That means 1,000 Ultimate Rewards points would equal 1,000 IHG points once transferred.

    Additionally, you can transfer points from Bilt Rewards. You earn these rewards through any of Bilt's credit cards, such as the Bilt Palladium Card, and they transfer to IHG at a 1:1 ratio. Note that Bilt Rewards requires a minimum transfer of 2,000 points for Blue members and 1,000 for all other members.

    From
    To
    Transfer Ratio
    Min.Transfer
    Average Time
    ➔
    IHG Hotels & Resorts (One Rewards)
    -
    5 hours
    ➔
    IHG Hotels & Resorts (One Rewards)
    1,000:1,000
    2,000
    Unknown
    Hainan Airlines (Fortune Wings Club)
    ➔
    ➔
    IHG Hotels & Resorts (One Rewards)
    2,500:500
    -
    Unknown
    IHG Hotels & Resorts (One Rewards)
    ➔
    ➔
    IHG Hotels & Resorts (One Rewards)
    -
    7 hours
    Livelo (Clube Livelo)
    Brazil
    ➔
    ➔
    IHG Hotels & Resorts (One Rewards)
    1,000:500
    20,000
    Unknown

    One final option is to buy IHG points and add them to the points you already have. The price of buying points goes down the more points you buy, and IHG often runs sales on buying points. This regularly drops the price as low as 0.5 cents per point. It's a good idea to watch for these sales if you're thinking about buying points to top off your balance before making a redemption.

    Now, let's go over what it looks like to actually book a stay with this fourth night free option.

    How to Book an IHG Fourth Night Free

    Start here and log in to your IHG account associated with your eligible credit card. Once logged in, search for your preferred location and dates. Make sure to select the rate preference “reward nights” to see what hotels are available for booking with points.

    screenshot of a serch on the IHG homepage highlighting searching by rewards nights
    Screenshot of IHG

    You can scroll through all the available options for your dates and see how much each hotel charges per night — displayed as the average nightly cost for the duration of your stay. Here are some options in Antwerp, Belgium.

    IHG award search for Antwerp, Belgium showing strikethrough fourth night free pricing
    Screenshot of IHG

    Once you find the hotel you want to reserve, click “select hotel” to see the room options. As you can see, it automatically discounts the points to reflect the fourth night being free (the top number that is crossed off). One note: You'll only be able to see the points per night cost breakdown if you have all of the points needed to book the room. Otherwise, it will tell you that you do not have enough points available.

    IHG fourth night free pricing reflected in the price of an IHG award booking
    Screenshot of IHG

    From here, go through the standard booking process by entering your personal information and proceeding to confirm your award booking. You'll notice that the fourth night is reflected as 0 points. It's that simple — no extra steps required!

    IHG award booking confirmation page showing fourth night free
    Screenshot of IHG

    Imagine using this perk at truly exceptional properties and saving a large chunk of points. For example, staying at the beautiful InterContinental Bora Bora Le Moana Resort can cost over 120,000 points per night. But by utilizing the IHG fourth-night free benefit, the average price per night drops to 92k. That's means the fourth night free saves you over 120k points!

    Screenshot of IHG fourth night free award pricing at InterContinental Bora Bora Le Moana Resort
    Screenshot of IHG

    In this case, booking four nights at the InterContinental Bora Bora Le Moana Resort for 367k points would save you approximately $3,235 — or about 0.88 cents per point — vs. a comparable cash rate. That rate is better than the 0.69¢ AwardWallet users typically get for their IHG points.

    Related: The Top 14 IHG Hotels Redemptions for Luxury Stays

    Bottom Line

    As you can see, the IHG fourth night free benefit is an amazing perk that is easy to get, easy to use, and can save you thousands of points each year. The hardest part is avoiding booking an IHG hotel for only three nights. After all, you're leaving a free night on the table if you do that!

    Since this perk can be used an unlimited number of times, it might be worth using the perk even if you only intend to stay for three nights. IHG counts award nights towards elite status, and adding that extra night allows you to earn an extra night toward IHG elite status and check out as late as you want since you'll have your room reserved until the next day.

    The New IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
    IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
    Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 180,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
    The New IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
    Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 180,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
    Annual Fee:$150
    Show moreWhy We Like ItHighlightsEarning Rates
    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 24X points per $1 at IHG properties (including points multipliers from your elite status), 5X points on flights booked directly, car rental agencies, at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants, and 3X points on all other purchases. 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 30% 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.
    • Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 180,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
    • Earn up to 24X total points on stays at IHG Hotels & Resorts
    • Earn 5X points on flights booked directly, car rental agencies, at gas stations, grocery stores (new!) and restaurants. Earn 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
    • Get an Anniversary Free Night each year. Plus, redeem 3 nights, get 4th night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG hotel stay.
    • NEW! Enjoy up to $100 in Food & Beverage Rewards annually at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
    • This card offers over $700 in value your first year!
    • Automatic Gold Elite Status as long as you remain an IHG One Rewards Premier cardmember. Plus, get 15 Elite Night Credits each year (new!).
    • IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental®, Kimpton®, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza®, EVEN® Hotels, & Holiday Inn®
    • Member FDIC
    • Earn up to 24X points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
    • 5X points per $1 spent on flights booked directly, car rental agencies, at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants
    • 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases

    The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
    • Earn 10X points for being a IHG One Rewards Premier Card member
    • Earn up to 4X points from IHG® with Gold Elite Status, a benefit of having this card
    • Earn up to 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG® One Rewards member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)

    For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: IHG One Rewards Credit Card (Rates & Fees), IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (Rates & Fees), IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card (Rates & Fees), IHG One Rewards Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), and Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees)

    Tip of The Day
    Did you know that you can view all accounts with balances that have changed in the last week or month? To filter your loyalty accounts by these options, select the Changed within 1 week or Changed within 1 month option in the Views menu.
    Composite screenshot showing how to filter your accounts by activity within the past week or month

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