The refund changes form

IHG Points & Cash uses points you already hold and buys the shortfall for a Reward Night. Cancel within the hotel’s conditions and all points return, including those purchased; the money spent buying them is not refunded. This rule was checked against official sources on 31 October 2026. This is a guide to the mechanism, without a reconfirmed offer or specific reward room.

Example: 20,000 points plus USD 100

An entirely hypothetical example, not an IHG quote or a rate for the pictured resort: imagine a 40,000-point night covered by 20,000 existing points and USD 100 buying another 20,000. Cancel within the applicable conditions and you would receive 40,000 points, rather than 20,000 points plus USD 100 back in your account. The USD 100 would have bought 20,000 points: 0.5 US cents each. That is not an estimate of their future value and does not make a points balance equivalent to money.

Compare the outcome if you do not travel

Set out three options: all points, Points & Cash, and a cash rate with comparable conditions. For each, note points consumed, money actually payable, possible extras and what remains after cancellation. If the trip is uncertain, ask whether you would buy those points without this booking. In the example, receiving 40,000 points back would still leave USD 100 already spent: do not describe that as guaranteed savings.

Your selected rate sets the deadline

Read the date, local time and penalty in the selected rate; do not assume universally free cancellation until the previous day. IHG separates the points refund from the hotel’s penalty: beyond the deadline points can return while the hotel charges its cancellation fee. Before paying, also check currency and final amount: the terms provide for the points purchase to be charged in US dollars, adjusting any other displayed currency accordingly.

When it may make sense

Points & Cash can bridge a shortfall if you accept buying the points even if the trip falls through. Save the quote and conditions before confirming; a percentage or advertised minimum does not establish availability. The cover is an archive photograph of the actual InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort pool. It implies neither a personally tested stay nor pool access with a particular reward room.

Cash or points?
Sources & verification · Photography

Our automated desk prepared this article using the sources listed below. The analysis is not based on a visit. Our editorial method explains how we work.

Verified
October 31, 2026

Photography

  • Infinity pool among palms and a green hillside at InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort — Jcsantos85 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · 2025

Images adapted for format and compression. Full credits and licences are available through the links.