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We remember the first time a booking saved our family enough points to add an extra day — that quiet thrill of unlocking more time together. In this guide, we walk through the exact math and booking flow that makes that happen.
We explain how the IHG fourth reward night free works when you redeem points for four or more consecutive nights at the same hotel. You’ll see how the zero-point night appears as an average nightly rate and how adding nights can lower your effective points per night.
We’ll also set expectations regarding eligibility — specifically, which credit cards qualify for the perk and the limits on Points + Cash and split bookings. Expect clear, step-by-step examples and simple arithmetic so you can copy the numbers for your next travel plan.
Key Takeaways
- Booking four consecutive nights on points triggers an automatic fourth night at zero points when eligible.
- Selected IHG credit cards unlock the perk and allow unlimited use each year.
- Zero-point nights show as an averaged nightly rate in the award booking flow.
- Points transfers and sales can further drop the effective cost per night.
- Avoid Points + Cash and splitting nights across different hotels to keep the benefit.
Why the IHG fourth night free can slash award stay costs
A single zero-point night can cut a four-night award bill by a quarter—here’s how the math works.
How a “zero-point” fourth night reduces your average points per night
When the fourth night is priced at zero points, the total for four consecutive nights drops by roughly 25%. That lowers the points per night and makes long bookings much cheaper on average.
The booking engine shows a crossed-out average without the perk and a reduced average after the discount. The nightly average display helps us compare hotels and dates quickly.
Unlimited use, and every fourth night is free on longer stays
The perk repeats on the 8th, 12th, 16th, 20th, 24th, and so on, with no annual cap. This offer only applies to standard reward nights booked in full with points; Points + Cash does not qualify for the free benefit.
- Extend to eight or twelve nights, and the average points per night fall further.
- Consecutive nights at the same hotel are required; separate reservations don’t qualify.
- Planning in multiples of four is often the most cost-effective path to lower rates.
Who qualifies for the fourth night free benefit with IHG One Rewards credit cards?
Not every co-branded card unlocks the award perk; here’s who does and what each card delivers.
This card grants Platinum Elite status, an anniversary free night up to 40,000 points, and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit (up to $120 every four years). The annual fee is $99. We recommend weighing the annual fee against the value of the free night and elite upgrades.
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
The Traveler card has a $0 annual fee and includes Silver Elite status. It offers the same award access without the yearly charge, making it a solid entry point to the program.
IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
For small-business owners, this card offers benefits similar to those of Platinum Elite, including an anniversary award. It also earns strong bonus categories for business spend.
“Holding any eligible card grants access to the award benefit; you don’t need to pay the stay with that card.”
Important exclusions: The perk applies only to standard points-only award bookings of four or more consecutive nights at the same hotel. It does not apply to Points + Cash or paid rates.
How to book an IHG award stay and trigger the fourth night free
We start on the web by signing into the account linked to an eligible card, so the system can automatically apply the fourth night benefit.
Next, filter the search for Reward Nights and pick dates that span at least four consecutive nights. The results will show a crossed-out average points figure and a reduced average after the discount.
Step-by-step: view the per-night breakdown.
Click through to the hotel and tap the information icon next to “Reward Nights.” That reveals the points per night where the fourth night (and the 8th, 12th) appears as 0 points on qualifying award stays.
Confirm balance, avoid Points + Cash, and finalize
Ensure your account has enough points to display the nightly breakdown; without sufficient IHG points, the interface may hide the per-night view. The perk only applies when you redeem points and pay entirely with points.
- Verify standard rooms qualify and review rates and cancellation policies before checkout.
- Avoid Points + Cash or separate reservations at different hotels, which break the consecutive-night rule.
- Save a screenshot of the nightly breakdown as proof of dynamic pricing changes before arrival.
“Log in, confirm your points balance, and watch the per-night breakdown to ensure the benefit is applied.”
Holiday Stays: Stack IHG 4th Night Free for Real Savings
When cash rates spike, a well-timed points purchase or transfer can flip the math in your favor.
Buy during a 100% bonus sale. IHG often offers points with a 100% bonus, which brings the effective price down to roughly 0.5 cents per point. That can make award stays cheaper than paying cash once you stack the fourth-night perk on four-night bookings.
The real-world math helps. A four-night award at a mid-city property that costs 65,000 points can be obtained by buying points for approximately $330, compared to $564 in cash. At a resort priced at 18,000 points per night, topping up via a sale can reduce the total cost to roughly $360 for four nights, compared to $664 cash, saving $200–$300 in many cases.
- Top up with transferable currencies: Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt transfer at a 1:1 ratio. Use transfers only when the cents-per-point math favors other options.
- Pair with card perks: One Rewards Premier cards often include an anniversary free night (up to 40k) and Platinum elite status. Combining that free night with a points-paid chain can widen value and lower effective points per night.
- Track fees and lost on-property earnings: Award stays may not earn points or qualify for spend. Include taxes, resort fees, and opportunity costs in your calculations.
“Buy points only when the cost per point plus transfer rules produces a lower total than cash, and combine elite status perks to boost value.”
We recommend planning trips in four-night increments, and stretching to eight or twelve nights when multiple zero-point nights meaningfully reduce the points per night. Run the numbers before you buy or transfer—small differences in price per point change whether a purchase makes sense.
Smart tactics to maximize value on award stays
We look for hotels where cash prices soar but points rates stay steady—those are prime targets.
Target high-cash, moderate-points properties. Target hotels in city centers and resort areas where cash rates are higher. If points per night hold steady, the reward math tilts in your favor.
Stretch stays to trigger multiple zero-point nights
Book eight or twelve consecutive nights at the same property to earn multiple fourth-night credits. Each zero-point night lowers the average points per night and the total cost of a long stay.
- Run a simple calculator: compare cash total vs. points total (include any free night credits) and the cost to buy points during promos.
- Set a value floor (we use ~0.5–0.7 cents per point) to decide whether to redeem points or pay cash.
- Be flexible with dates and standard room types, and keep the reservation as a single continuous booking to preserve the benefits.
“Monitor pricing patterns and combine elite perks to raise comfort and value on long stays.”
Real-world examples and math you can copy
We walk through three concrete booking examples so you can copy the math step‑by‑step.
Luxury example — InterContinental Bora Bora. A single night can top 200,000 points. Booking four consecutive nights and triggering the free night lowers the average to roughly 150,000 points per night, saving well over 200k points across the block.
Midscale city test — Hotel Indigo Melbourne. Four nights at 65,000 points can be purchased during a promotion at approximately 0.5 cents per point, costing roughly $330 versus $564 in cash. That nets a clear cost advantage when points purchases beat cash rates.
Resort example — Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu. At 18,000 points per night, a four-night block bought at 0.5 cpp totals about $360, versus approximately $664 cash, a meaningful gap after taxes and resort fees.
- Stretching to eight nights doubles the zero-point nights and improves the points-per-night average.
- Compare points‑out‑of‑pocket vs. cash, including fees and lost earnings, and run the numbers before you buy or transfer.
- Combine elite perks and one rewards premier card benefits to add soft value beyond the hard points savings.
“Model these examples with your target hotel and dates to see whether buying or paying cash makes sense.”
Conclusion
We conclude with a simple rule: book four consecutive award nights at the same hotel, and the fourth night is free, which drops your total and lowers the average points per night.
Stretching to eight or twelve nights allows the perk to repeat, earning multiple zero-point nights on long trips. Eligible co‑branded credit cards unlock access automatically when we’re logged into the correct account.
strong, plan trips in four‑night blocks, check standard‑room award space, and compare the cost to buy points or transfer before topping up—factor in elite benefits, anniversary nights, and rates fees to decide what truly saves money.
There’s no annual cap on uses. Select target hotels, run the numbers, and earn a free night on your next reward stay.
