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Family Success Story: First ever points trip, visiting Panama City Beach!
Thanks to Jenn McCue from @pointingthewaytomemories for sharing her first ever miles and points redemption! Her family traveled to Panama City, Florida.
Our first ever redemption!
We started accumulating points in 2019 and then the pandemic hit in 2020. By September of 2020 we were itching to do SOMETHING. We didn’t know where to go but knew we wanted to go south since winter was coming in Northern Indiana!
We decided to drive to Panama City beach, Florida. Hotels were dirt cheap because, well, a pandemic. Oh and a hurricane happened the week prior. But we were dead set on going and not paying cash! We wanted to use points!
We found the Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach for about 35,000 points per night. We paid for three nights with points, got the 4th night free thanks to a credit card benefit, and added a fifth night by using a free night certificate we get from holding the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card.
Editors note: This hotel sleeps 5 in a standard room! Note that IHG hotels now use variable pricing. That means it changes according to supply and demand. I found nightly prices for this hotel from anywhere to 27,000 to 82,000 points per night throughout the year.
When we got there, we found out we would not have any taxes or resort fees and were given a high floor room. Every room faces the ocean and every room has a full size refrigerator! We headed to the Winn Dixie down the street and filled the fridge!
The hotel was a huge surprise. A huge pool, splash pad, warm water pool, ocean front beach access, dive in movies with popcorn and a lazy river was being constructed (which is now completed)!
Breakfast wasn’t included for us at this hotel and instead of paying $35 a person for the hotel breakfast, we walked across the street to the Waffle House. We even signed my husband up for another IHG card while we were at Waffle House one day to replenish the points we used!
It was a fabulous trip (even if the seas were gray from the previous week’s hurricane!) and it yielded us about .003 cents per point if you’re counting. But we weren’t counting. We still talk about that trip as being one of our favorites.
Credit Cards Jenn Used
Katie's Take
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Katie's Take
Why this card might (or might not) be right for you.
I love the annual free night certificate on this one and 4th night free when you book with points.
Highlights
The key benefits and earning rates at a glance.
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Highlights
The key benefits and earning rates at a glance.
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Anniversary Free Night (up to 40,000 Points) Each cardmember anniversary, after paying the $99 annual fee, you receive a free night certificate worth up to 40,000 IHG points. You can top off the certificate with extra points to redeem at hotels charging more than 40,000 points.
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4th Reward Night Free on Consecutive 4-Night IHG Stays Enjoy a fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG hotel stay.
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Automatic IHG Platinum Elite Status Automatic IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier cardmember. Includes welcome amenities at IHG hotels, space-available room upgrades, and the 26x total points earning rate at IHG properties.
Offer History
See past welcome bonuses to gauge whether the current offer is elevated.
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Offer History
See past welcome bonuses to gauge whether the current offer is elevated.
| Offer | Spend Req. | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 140,000 Bonus Points | $3,000 in 3 months | Standard offer |
| Up to 185,000 Bonus Points (150K + 35K)Elevated | $3,000 in 3 months, then $6,000 total in 6 months | Ended June 25, 2026 |
| 175,000 Bonus PointsElevated | $5,000 in 3 months | Limited-time elevated; ended March 18, 2026 |
| 165,000 Bonus PointsElevated | Standard spend req | Ended October 2025 |
| 5 Free Nights (up to 60K per night)Elevated | Standard spend req | Ended July 24, 2025 |
| 5 Free Nights (up to 60K per night)Elevated | Standard spend req | Ended September 2024 |
| 165,000 Bonus PointsElevated | Standard spend req | Ended April 3, 2024 |
| 175,000 Bonus PointsElevated | Standard spend req | Ended Spring 2023 |
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