For a limited time until March 31, 2015 - you can earn 70,000 bonus points with IHG credit card. There used to be an 80,000 bonus points, unfortunately that link is no longer alive. The offer that has been around for a long time is the 60,000 bonus points plus the $50 statement credit after first purchase.

IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card

Earn 5 points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG hotels. Earn 2 points per $1 on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores & restaurants. Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases. Earn 70,000 bonus points (available through March 31, 2015) after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.  Depending on how you will spend that $1,000. If you spend it on IHG’s hotel stay, you would gain 5 x 1000 = 5000 points on top of the bonus.  If you spend on gas station, grocery stores and restaurants, you get 2 x 1000 = 2000 points on top of the bonus.  Other purchases will get you 1x1000 = 1000 points on top of the bonus.  Get 10% back on all points redemption up to 100,000 points each year.  Platinum Elite Status as long as you’re a cardmember. No foreign transaction fees when you use your card for purchases abroad. $0 Introductory annual fee for the first year, then $49. One annual free night each year for being a card member.

As frugal as I can be, when I do travel I tend to pick the most economic hotel accommodation regardless I pay with points or money. Waking up in the morning to the most luxurious bedroom as compared to a 3 star hotel does not give me much difference in satisfaction. Most of the time, I don't travel just to spend time in the hotel watching tv or enjoying the jacuzzi tub. The tub does help after a long day of walking and sightseeing. But I can totally trade that with a good night sleep of the 3 star hotels out there, that's why backpacker places where I have to share room with others do not work for me even though it saves me lots of money.

Talking of the 3 star hotels, some IHG's properties came to my mind. Then I started to wonder about their other properties. This would help me planning my next trip better after I know what to expect from other IHG brand hotels that I have not stayed at. Perhaps, I simply just want to pamper myself once in awhile by staying at their nicest hotel brand or those hotels are the only ones that are available in the area that I will be traveling to. So here it is, the list of IHG's properties with a synopsis.

InterContinental – This is their most luxurious 5-star International hotel brand.  Crowne Plaza – An upscale brand hotel located in urban centres, gateway cities and resort destinations. Hotel Indigo – A unique boutique hotel brand with personality. Holiday Inn –  3 star hotels, average quality. Holiday Inn Resorts – Compared to the regular Holiday Inns above, these resorts for the most part are nicer and above the average quality. Holiday Inn Express – As the name suggests, convenience, comfort, and good value.  Staybridge Suites – A hotel in which all the rooms have a kitchen. This is IHG’s nicest and most stylish extended stay type hotel.  Candlewood Suites – Another extended stay hotel but more budgeted. All rooms have a kitchen but not as nice as the above.  EVEN – This hotel is designed for healthy and active lifestyle travelers. Each room has weights in it.  Hauluxe – An upscale hotel brand focused on Chinese travelers.