IHG All-Inclusive Resorts with Points

by John Terry | Last Updated:  May 30, 2020

Everyday Points & Miles is showcasing every all-inclusive of the major American chains – Hilton, Hyatt, IHG and Marriott.

The third part of the series features IHG all-inclusive resorts redeemable by points and miles. We will cover not only the different properties but also the ways to earn IHG points.

IHG has a total of four all-inclusive properties around the world. They are located in Mexico and Jamaica.

IHG All-Inclusive Resorts

• Montego Bay, Jamaica: Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay
• San Jose del Cabo, Mexico: Holiday Inn Resort Los Cabos
• Zihuatanejo, Mexico: Holiday Inn Resort Ixtapa
• Cancun, Mexico: Holiday Inn Cancun Arenas (Cancun, Mexico)

The Properties

Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay

Montego Bay, Jamaica | Starting at 50,000 points | Accessible via Sangster International Airport

This IHG all-inclusive hotel is adjacent to a number of other resorts just east of Montego Bay. The rate includes two adults and two children 12 and under for free making it a great option for families. Those children 13 and over will cost $80/night per child.

The resort, which has more than 500 rooms, is spread out across several different buildings. There are five on-site restaurants for guests to enjoy both meals and snacks. There is one restaurant, Kenko Japanese Restaurant, that is not free. It’s $20 per person, although kids 12 and under eat for free.

There are multiple pools on the property and large beach and a “private island” accessible only by the wading through the water.

Holiday Inn Resort Los Cabos 

San Jose del Cabo, Mexico | Starting at 40,000 points | Accessible via Los Cabos International Airport

Located in the Hotel Zone outside of San Jose del Cabo, the Holiday Inn Resort Los Cabos has something for everyone. There’s are three separate pool areas – one for adults and one set aside for kids.

The water along the Sea of Cortes is not great for swimming due to the strong current. With that said, if you want to go to the beach to get into the water, Cabo isn’t a great option.

The other downside to this resort is that there are just two restaurants for the entire property. Although the rate includes room service, two restaurants, and room service for nearly 400 rooms is a lot.

The rate includes two adults and two children 12 and under for free making it a great option for families. Those children 13 and over will incur an extra per person charge.

Holiday Inn Resort Ixtapa

Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Mexico | Starting at 50,000 points | Accessible via Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport

This IHG all-inclusive hotel isn’t super easy to get to from the United States as there are a limited number of arrivals that don’t transit through Mexico City. The Holiday Inn is just 10 minutes from downtown Zihuatanejo.

This resort has pools that are pretty much on the beach, so beach access is plentiful as well. As for as dining goes, there are four restaurants to go along with room service. But, solely based on TripAdvisor reviews, I wouldn’t plan to have high expectations for the food.

The major downside is this: on award stays, bed type and smoking preference cannot be guaranteed and will be allocated upon arrival. That is pretty much a deal breaker for me. I would never go to a hotel where I might have to stay in a smoking room.

Award nights are all-inclusive for 2 people. Unlike other IHG all-inclusive resorts, only kids 0 to 5 years old free. Kids that are 6 to 12 years old cost more depending on the season.

Holiday Inn Cancun Arenas

Cancun, Mexico | Starting at 40,000 points | Accessible via Cancun International Airport

The Holiday Inn Cancun Arenas is located at the beginning of the Hotel Zone and has both all-inclusive and regular room rates. It looks like points can only be redeemed for the all-inclusive rate. The property has two fairly small pools to go along with a smaller beach area. There are just three restaurants for hotel guests to use.

The rate includes two adults and two children 12 and under for free making it a great option for families. Those children 13 and over will cost extra per night. With that said, bed preference on award stays isn’t guaranteed as it’s allocated upon arrival based on availability.

Award stays are charged $25.35 pesos per night for an environmental sanitation fee.

IHG Resort Fees

Resort fees have been in the news as not being a friendly extra fee to customers. Thankfully, there are no resort fees charged to customers at these IHG all-inclusive resorts.

How to earn IHG points

Outside of staying at IHG properties, there are two primary ways to get IHG points: transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards and opening up an IHG credit card.

One of the reasons we love transferable credit cards is because of the flexibility. Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer into IHG at 1:1 ratio, and it’s easy to rack up Chase Ultimate Rewards through everyday spending thanks to things like the Chase Trifecta. So, if you find yourself short on IHG points, a stay at one of these all-inclusives could be easier if you have a card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Another way to earn IHG points is through their credit card.

The IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card has a current welcome bonus of 80,000 points after spending $2,000 in the first three months. Cardholders can then earn an additional 10,000 points after spending $20,000 in a calendar year (which isn’t worth it unless you’re spending at IHG).

This card also comes with an annual free night that is redeemed at hotels that go for 40,000 points or less among other benefits.

Finally, to top off your account you can earn miles through the IHG Rewards Club Dine & Earn program.

Other All-Inclusive Brands

• Hilton All-Inclusive Resorts
• Hyatt All-Inclusive Resorts
• Marriott All-Inclusive Resorts

Final Thoughts

IHG doesn’t have a ton of all-inclusive properties, and based on several reviews, staying away from a couple of them might be a good idea. With that, several of their resorts do offer good value for families with kids under the age of 13.

The property in Jamaica and Cabo seems to be the two go-to properties for the IHG all-inclusive resorts. With that said, these properties are much more pricy than redeeming Hyatt points for the Hyatt all-inclusive resorts.