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5 Outstanding Hotels in the Caribbean & Mexico With IHG Card’s Free Night

  • Million Mile Secrets

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    When you have the Chase IHG Rewards Club Select card, you get a certificate for 1 free night to use at ANY IHG hotel each year of cardmembership, including top-tier hotels in the Caribbean and Mexico!

    Perfect to use for a tropical vacation or romantic getaway!

    With the Chase IHG Rewards Club Select Card, You Get a Free Night to Use at Any IHG Hotel, Like the InterContinental San Juan in Puerto Rico! Ocean Breeze and Warm Temperatures Included! 🙂

    You can get Big Travel for an annual fee of only $49 (waived for the 1st year).  I’ll show you 5 great hotels in the Caribbean and Mexico where you can enjoy your free night!

    Top Hotels to Book With the Chase IHG Card Annual Free Night

    About the Chase IHG Rewards Club Select Card

    Link:   Chase IHG Rewards Club Select

    When you sign-up for the Chase IHG Rewards Club Select card, you’ll earn 70,000 IHG Rewards points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the 1st 3 months of opening your account.  (EXPIRED.)

    You’ll also get:

    There’s a $49 annual fee on the card, but it’s waived for the 1st year.

    5 Outstanding IHG Hotels in the Caribbean & Mexico Where You Can Stay With Your IHG Free Night Certificate

    Link:   IHG Hotels

    I’ve written about how to get Big Travel with the Chase IHG Rewards Club Select card.

    You can use the free night from the Chase IHG Rewards Club Select card at any IHG hotel, including their top category hotels and resorts!

    It’s worth paying the $49 annual fee to enjoy a free night at hotels that usually cost hundreds of dollars each night.

    If award nights are available, you can use your IHG free night certificate to book it.  Log into your account and click the link for “Free Night Status.”  This link will appear on your account after you’d had the card for a year.  Simply click through and book your hotel as usual – for free!
    You’ll Get “Free Night Status” Link for a Free Night After You’ve Had the Card for 1 Year

    Here are my picks for where to use your free night certificate.  I haven’t personally stayed at all of these hotels, but they look like terrific deals!  If you have 1 to add to the list, tell me about it!

    The rates here are based on available rooms in April 2016.  And remember rates can go up or down, depending on the season!

    1.   Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay All-Inclusive

    Link:   Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay All-Inclusive

    If you’re heading to Jamaica, consider a stay at the Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay All-Inclusive.  Food and drinks are included at 5 on-site restaurants, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the resort!

    Enjoy the Private Beach, or Relax by the Pool. Grab a Snack Whenever You Want, Because It’s Included in the Price!

    Located on 13 acres with half a mile of private beach, there’s plenty to do for the whole family.  Each room can accommodate up to 4 people.

    Note:   Award nights include up to 2 adults and 2 children aged 12 years and under.  If you’re traveling with a 3rd or 4th adult instead, you’ll pay an additional $75 per person, per night.

    There are activities for kids as well as an adults-only pool with a swim-up bar.

    Enjoy a Family Vacation and Get a Nice Tan, Too!

    I found standard rooms available for ~$246 a night.  If you want to stretch your time in Jamaica, you can also book this hotel for 35,000 IHG points per night.

    2.   InterContinental Presidente Mexico City

    Link:   InterContinental Presidente Mexico City

    The InterContinental Presidente Mexico City is well-located in 1 of the largest and most vibrant cities in the world.

    Mexico City is a good choice for folks looking for warmer weather but aren’t interested in a touristy beach vacation.

    There’s plenty of history to explore, like the pyramids at Teotihuacan.  And the city is known for its art, food, and culture!

    See the Open-Air Murals Painted by Diego Rivera, and If You’re Feeling Adventurous, Venture to the 50-Mile Floating Gardens of Xochimilco. Save ~$237 a Night on Your Room!

    You’ll be walking distance from the Anthropology Museum as well as the Museum of Modern Art.

    Visit the Nearby Farmer’s Markets for Fresh Food During Your Visit

    Rooms are ~$237 a night or 30,000 IHG points.  With the 70,000 points sign-up bonus from the Chase IHG Rewards Club Select card and the free night certificate on your card anniversary, you can enjoy 3 nights in Mexico City worth over $700.

    3.   InterContinental Presidente Cozumel Resort Spa

    Link:   InterContinental Presidente Cozumel Resort Spa

    If you want to stay in style when you visit Mexico, consider the InterContinental Presidente Cozumel Resort Spa.

    Use Your Free Night for a Luxury Stay at the InterContinental Cozumel and Enjoy Some of the World’s Best Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

    Soak up the sun next to 1 of 2 pools, or chill out on half a mile of sandy beach!  Cozumel is home to the world’s 2nd largest coral reef, so it’s a terrific spot for scuba diving and snorkeling.

    This upscale hotel is a great 1 to use your free night certificate!  Rooms here are usually 40,000 IHG points or ~$330 a night.  So if you feel like staying another night, you can save points or money.

    Get a longer stay when you mix-and-match award stays and paid stays to get a 2-for-1 experience, and stay in Cozumel to live like a local.

    4.   Holiday Inn Resort – Aruba Beach Resort & Casino

    Link:   Holiday Inn Resort – Aruba Beach Resort & Casino

    The Holiday Inn Resort – Aruba Beach Resort & Casino is located in Palm Beach, and has an on-site shopping mall and casino.  It’s just 8 miles from the airport and close to downtown Oranjestad and local attractions.

    You’ll Be Right on the Beach at the Holiday Inn Resort Aruba Resort & Casino

    Rates here are usually 30,000 IHG points per night or ~$206, so you can get 2 nights total here with the Chase IHG Rewards Club Select card (2 nights X 30,000 points a night = 60,000 points with points left over).  Or wait until your account anniversary to earn another free night!

    Here’s what Emily and her friend did on their trip to Santo Domingo (and what they ate!).

    If you want to stay even longer (or closer to the beach), consider Airbnb.  Here’s how to find an Airbnb where you’ll feel comfortable.  Remember to negotiate a good price, especially if you’re staying for more than a couple of weeks!

    And if you’re flying from the East Coast, here’s how to save even more money on your paid flights to the Caribbean!

    5.   InterContinental Presidente Cancun Resort

    Link:   InterContinental Presidente Cancun Resort

    Head to Cancun and enjoy a private strip of white-sand beach in the Hotel Zone at the InterContinental Presidente Cancun Resort. 

    Enjoy Dancing, Shopping, the Beaches, and Of Course the Food in Cancun!

    Rooms here are usually 30,000 IHG points or ~$258 a night.

    Remember Southwest now flies to Cancun.  Folks with the Southwest Companion Pass can fly a friend or partner with them for only the cost of taxes and fees!

    My buddy recent flew non-stop from Austin and had a good experience.  He said while there was no on-board entertainment, the seat was comfortable, the service was pleasant, and he loved the free checked bags. 🙂

    Go Snorkeling at Isla Mujeres When You’re in Cancun!
    Folks on TripAdvisor report memorable experiences at this hotel.  If you like diving and snorkeling, take the easy ~30-minute ferry ride with beautiful views to Isla Mujeres for underwater fun!

    The Chase IHG Rewards Club Select card has a $49 annual fee, but you can book a room that’s worth hundreds more with the annual free night certificate.

    That makes this card 1 to keep forever!

    Find the Right Room for You

    Here are a few tools to help you decide which hotels will work for your trip:

    Bottom Line

    For a card with a $49 annual fee, you can get a free night each year at a hotel that’s worth much more, even hundreds of dollars a night, with the Chase IHG Rewards Club Select card!

    Stay at great IHG hotels in the Caribbean or Mexico like the InterContinental San Juan or Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay All-Inclusive.  These hotels normally sell for hundreds a night, so this is a great way get Big Travel with the Chase IHG Rewards Club Select card!

    Splurge on a luxury experience with your free night certificate, then mix-and-match award stays and paid stays to get a 2-for-1 experience if you want to stay longer.  And don’t forget Airbnb!

    This card is worth keeping forever because you pay a $49 annual fee in exchange for a beautiful hotel room in the best locations!  That’s a fantastic deal!

    Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)