Pardon me if this post sounds incredibly naïve.
But I was under the impression that for the IHG Set Your Sights promo that I would have to go to a different state to complete it.
Now it seems I have a choice.
This morning, I got an email:
They know
What the hee-haw?
I’d assumed that my recent acquisition of the IHG Rewards Select credit card would not count toward this promo because I used a targeted email from IHG and not the link that was on the promo page – which I assumed was coded with a tracker that would link back to the promo. Well, you know what they say about assumptions…
Resigned to completing the other 3 out of 4 requirements, I quickly saw that I’d have to trek to Connecticut to play this round.
But now I have the choice.
CT vs NY
Ha, I will in no way debate the pros and cons of those two places, don’t worry.
But now I could simply check into the Holiday Inn Express here in Brooklyn – with a daily rate of ~$85 a night – and save myself a whole heap of cash… but lose out on 12,000 IHG points.
Tempting
~$405 total
The only hitch right now is that my upgrade to Platinum hasn’t been applied yet, and I don’t even have the card in hand. If those two things were in place, I think I’d just go ahead and pull the trigger on this… and the rates when those two things coincide with each other might be very different than $85/night.
The other thing is that I will miss out on 12,000 IHG points by staying local. But then again, I just got 2,000 points for opening the card (that I wasn’t expecting) and my bonus was 10,000 points higher than the offer in the promo… so there’s my extra 12,000 points right there.
Now it’s just a matter of how crazy for points I want/can afford (with money and time) to get, how the rates change, and when my upgrade will be applied.
I was also kinda sorta curious about experiencing the EVEN brand but I think I can wait until they launch their NYC flagship location. If I had to. 😉
Bottom line
IHG is watching! And now I can choose whether to go to Connecticut and get 12,000 extra points or stay in NYC, get less points, and save money.
I’ll wait until 1). I have the card in hand so I can meet minimum spend and earn 5 points per dollar and 2). my Platinum status upgrade is applied. I want that 50% bonus!
I’m having fun with this promo and getting more familiar with a new (to me) program. And, in a bigger picture kind of way, it seems like mattress running is becoming the new mileage running (going after segments as opposed to miles flown if that makes any sense). Until hotels go revenue based too, of course.
Has anyone else been mattress running with the new IHG Set Your Sights promo? Worth it or nah?
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It takes probably 4-6 weeks to get the platinum card.
Also 50k points for the set your sights promo is worth ~$350 depending on your valuation. Hardly worth mattress running for.
Their ibto the nights promo where you could pick between 2 free nights or 50k miles was a way better offer
Understood. Still weighing pros and cons and will revisit when all is synced up and not so theoretical. On the fence. If it’s really easy and cheap, I’ll do it. If not, I may hold out.
Thanks for weighing in!
I’ve had this card for the last year. I earn a chunk of points through the IHG dining program–similar to the airline dining programs. Here in NYC it’s easy to get the first 10-12 dines out of the way and get to the higher rate which is 5 point/$. Find a local bar that has lunch and hit it up once a week and you’ll be there quickly. I found a $10 lunch in midtown and had it down quickly. I made about 5k extra points last year this way. Not much but New Yorkers are gonna eat out anyway.