All content was accurate at the time of publication. Check issuer’s site for most up to date information.
katiestraveltricks.com has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. katiestraveltricks.com and CardRatings may receive a commission from our partners. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
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
Why this card might (or might not) be right for you.
Show
Hide
Katie's Take
Why this card might (or might not) be right for you.
I like 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.
Show
Hide
Highlights
The key benefits and earning rates at a glance.
-
Anniversary Free Night (up to 50,000 Points) Each cardmember anniversary, after paying the annual fee, you receive a free night certificate worth up to 50,000 IHG points. You can top off the certificate with extra points to redeem at hotels charging more than 50,000 points.
-
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.
-
Automatic IHG Gold Elite Status Automatic IHG One Rewards Gold Elite status as long as you remain a Premier cardmember.
-
Up to $100 in Annual IHG Food & Beverage Rewards One Food & Beverage Reward voucher of up to $25 each calendar quarter (January - March; April - June; July - September; October - December) to be redeemed for credit against eligible food and beverage on your room bill at participating IHG Hotels & Resorts
-
$100 Annual Statement Credit on flights booked with the airline through 12/31/27 A statement credit of $100 per calendar year when you make a purchase of at least $250 with your IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card on flight tickets booked directly with the airline through 12/31/27.
-
15 Automatic Elite Night Credits each year 15 Elite Night Credits (“ENC”) in your IHG One Rewards account within 6-8 weeks upon opening your IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase®. After that, the 15 ENCs will be deposited into your IHG One Rewards account by February 1 each calendar year.
Offer History
See past welcome bonuses to gauge whether the current offer is elevated.
Show
Hide
Offer History
See past welcome bonuses to gauge whether the current offer is elevated.
| Offer | Spend Req. | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 140,000 Bonus Points | $3,000 in 3 months | Standard offer |
| 175,000 Bonus PointsElevated | $5,000 in 3 months | Ended March 18, 2026 |
| 165,000 Bonus PointsElevated | — | Ended October 2025 |
| 5 Free Nights (up to 60K per night)Elevated | — | Ended July 24, 2025 |
| 5 Free Nights (up to 60K per night)Elevated | — | Ended September 2024 |
| 165,000 Bonus PointsElevated | — | Ended April 3, 2024 |
| 175,000 Bonus PointsElevated | — | Ended Spring 2023 |
Share Your Points Success Story
Do you have a points and miles success story? We would love to hear from you! Submit your story here.
Table of Contents
Related Posts
Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
