Points and miles are an excellent way to save a substantial sum on travel. Utilizing them is also a great way to travel comfortably, with the possibility of complimentary upgrades to suites in hotels and resorts, and possible cabin upgrades on flights. We save thousands of dollars on travel each year thanks to points and miles redemptions. Here are some favorite stays involving great hotel points redemptions in Europe.
Voco The Hague, an IHG Hotel – Netherlands
While Amsterdam is considered the capital of the Netherlands, The Hague (Den Haag) is where the wheels of government turn. The Binnenhof (parliament), as well as the monarchy’s office is located in The Hague. Amsterdam is a beautiful city, but there are an abundance of beautiful towns in the Netherlands, including Den Haag. You can even catch the 1 tram to Schevenegen Beach for a day along the North Sea during pleasant weather.
Amsterdam is especially pricy on weekends and is overwhelmed with over-tourism. Den Haag can offer great value over weekend stays as it does not struggle from excessive tourism. It is also very close to other beautiful Dutch towns like Delft, which you can quickly reach by tram or train. The Netherlands has one of the best and most efficient public transportation systems in the world.
Voco The Hague, an IHG Hotel, offered an incredible recent stay. The 4-star hotel is located right across the street from the Binnenhof (parliament) as well as the Mauritshuis, where the famous Vermeer painting, the Girl with a Pearl Earring, is displayed. Elegant rooms at Voco The Hague feature beautiful touches like a Nespresso machine, fine porcelain tea cups made in Germany as well as crystal glasses.
While I did not receive a room upgrade here, my room featured an excellent city view in the heart of the city. I also appreciated the late 2pm check-out that came with my IHG silver elite status.
IHG Annual Redemption
The recent cost for a points stay over a September weekend at Voco The Hague was 39,000 IHG points per night. That falls within the annual complimentary redemption of 40,000 points per night with the IHG rewards Mastercard.
IHG rewards Mastercard
A benefit of the IHG rewards Mastercard is automatic silver elite status with IHG, making the annual fee of $99 worth keeping the card for the annual complimentary night alone. And if you have never received the card before, IHG offers a huge bonus point offer of up to 140,000 IHG points after the initial spend (which can be on everyday purchases like groceries, bills and other necessities).
Kimpton Clocktower – Manchester, England
After London, Manchester is one of the largest and most vibrant cities in England. Between plenty of world class museums, trendy restaurants, quaint cafes, historic pubs and hopping nightlife, there is plenty to keep you occupied. If that is not enough, there is plenty of football action between Manchester United and Manchester United.
Kimpton Clocktower is a palatial Victorian hotel with an elegant glass-domed lobby and yes, a towering clock tower. Lovely boutique rooms feature ample space with plush beds, a generous assortment of complimentary snacks and a large flat-screen TV. Avail of the hotel’s social hour to enjoy drinks, snacks and have a chat in a lovely and quaint ambiance.
I used my annual IHG redemption for a complimentary stay at Kimpton Clocktower. The luxurious hotel is a fantastic base for exploring one of the United Kingdom’s most vibrant cities. It is a short walk to many delicious restaurants, fun pubs, quaint cafes, excellent museums and area attractions.
Kimpton Clocktower is just a two minute walk to Manchester Oxford Road train station. That is very handy if you fly into Manchester or are traveling around England by train. In my case, I was traveling around the west midlands and had recently stayed in beautiful Chester, England.
The lovely Refuge Dining Room is a great place to enjoy dinner or drinks at the bar. The glam-meets-industrial destination restaurant is a draw for both travelers and locals from all walks of life.
Lindner Hotel Antwerp – JDV by Hyatt, Belgium
Antwerp, Belgium is the diamond capital of the world. It is also Belgium’s second largest city and one of the world’s largest ports. The Grote Markt (Town Square) is among the most beautiful in Europe. And being Belgium, Antwerp is one of the world’s most exquisite destinations for chocolate and beer enthusiasts.
Lindner Hotel is a 4-star, 12 story hotel, located in the historic diamond district. It is just a 5-minute walk from Antwerp Central (Antwerpen Centraal) Railway Station. That makes it particularly handy if you are traveling around Europe by train. Antwerp is an excellent stop between Brussels and Amsterdam if you’re traveling on a Eurostar or Thalys train.
The modern and stylish lobby immediately impresses visitors, along with their polite and hospitable staff. The property offers treats galore, with a complimentary candy bar in the lobby and local butter cookies and candy in rooms.
I was thrilled to to redeem just 5,000 Hyatt points per night for a four night stay. The second two nights was a separate booking and staff informed me that they could upgrade me to a suite for the latter two nights, as a Discoverist member with my Hyatt rewards visa card. This automatic status also entitles Discoverist members to a late 2pm check-out, which is often great.
All of the spacious rooms at Linder Hotel Antwerp include a Nespresso machine, kettle, flat screen TV and comfortable beds. The expansive suite features a separate living room with a dining table and ample seating, kitchenette, separate toilet and large bathing room with a dual vanity, including a separate tub, shower and changing area. Suites have two flat screen TV’s – one in the bedroom and one in the living room. At hundreds of dollars in value per 5,000 Hyatt points, this is among the best value hotel points redemptions I’ve experienced.
voco Oxford Spires, United Kingdom
Oxford University was founded in the 12th century, hundreds of years before the establishment of Harvard. Being home to one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious universities, there is a special atmosphere in Oxford, especially when you visit around graduation, like I did.
Beautiful architecture among the colleges makes it idyllic to stroll and explore some storied pubs. Pop into The Turf Tavern, where former US President Bill Clinton famously smoked marijuana, but “did not inhale,” while he was a Rhodes Scholar student at Oxford. The pub has a humorous display commemorating the event, which I enjoyed getting a photo with it. The Turf Tavern is often bustling, as it is a quintessentially historic British pub to enjoy a pint.
Voco Oxford Spires offers a wonderful stay just outside the historic center of Oxford. It feels as though you are staying in the English countryside, along the River Thames, but the hotel is a short walk from Oxford’s colleges. I redeemed an annual IHG redemption for this stay, and received a room upgrade with the IHG silver elite status that comes with having the IHG rewards card. The beautifully adorned, spacious room with luxurious plush bedding is a lovely way to explore beautiful Oxford in style.
Recap on Excellent Hotel Points Redemptions in Europe
Points and miles are an excellent way to both save money and travel more comfortably. These are some of my favorite hotel points redemptions in Europe, which can offer a great experience at a remarkable value. If you have comments or questions on points travel, leave a comment below. You can also email me at alex(at)wanderlustmarriage.com and I’ll get back to you. Read more of my best travel hacks here!
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