10 Great IHG Hotels for Families

It’s undeniable that family vacations may look a little different this year, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t figure out a way to embark on a COVID-friendly family adventure. If you and your family are suffering from a bit of shelter-in-place fever, here are a few IHG properties that we think you should check out for a quick family getaway.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Cherokee/Casino

Cherokee is a small town in Eastern Cherokee Nation that lies on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. This area is a family favorite because several forms of entertainment are readily available.

The Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Cherokee/Casino is located just across the street from the famed Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, but it is also near the eastern entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From this property, you’ll enjoy the unique blend of kitschy casino towns, storied indigenous land, and the vast rolling hills of Appalachia. Rates start around 17,500 points per night.

Holiday Inn Express Horse Cave

For this property, the main attraction is in its name. The Holiday Inn Express Horse Cave is located near the eastern entrance to Mammoth Cave National Park, which holds the largest cave system in the world — and counting. If this global pandemic has made you want to escape to the underground for a while, Mammoth Cave is definitely your best bet.

For those who like to stay above ground, Mammoth Cave also features hiking trails and rafting on the winding Green River. This property is an excellent home base for an unforgettable caving or rafting adventure with the family. Rates start around 12,500 points per night.

InterContinental Washington DC-The Wharf

Located on the eastern shore of the Washington Channel, the InterContinental Washington DC-The Wharf is a great option for exploring some of DC’s urban green spaces. Across the channel lies East Potomac Park, and northwest of that lies West Potomac Park as well as a suite of presidential and historical monuments.

The nautical feel of this property is most welcoming, especially in contrast to DC’s more bustling neighborhoods. While the pool and spa at this property are closed due to COVID-19, there is no shortage of waterfront bars and restaurants for you and the family to enjoy during your stay. Rates start around 35,000 points per night.

Crowne Plaza: Philadelphia-Cherry Hill

Technically in New Jersey, the Crowne Plaza: Philadelphia-Cherry Hill is close enough to Philadelphia to enjoy the city, but it isn’t directly in the downtown area. This is convenient because it gives you options; head east to the New Jersey state parks, forests, and beaches, or head west across the Delaware River into Philly.

If you’re looking for a way to explore historical Philadelphia while staying in a quieter residential suburb, this property is an ideal choice. Rates start around 20,000 points per night.

Staybridge Suites Rapid City – Rushmore

If your family has opted for an alternative education this semester, why not home base from a city that lies smack-dab in the middle of several different educational sites?

While you may recognize Rapid City as the urban gateway to attractions like Old MacDonald’s Farm and Bear Country, the Staybridge Suites Rapid City – Rushmore serves as a convenient base between the hairpin forest roads of the Black Hills and the wild Badlands of the eastern prairie.

Visit nearby National Park System units such as Minuteman Missile National Historic Site and Badlands National Park, and make sure to drive the scenic US-44 highway rather than I-90 to get between Rapid City and the Badlands. Rates start around 15,000 points per night.

Kimpton Hotel Van Zandt, Austin

One of the things that makes Austin so special, besides its lifelong campaign to Keep Austin Weird, is its close proximity to beautiful Texas natural areas. While Austin itself is a buzzing metropolis, the Texan capital provides a welcome escape into an impressive variety of green spaces from metro parks along the Colorado river to unspoiled swimming holes west of town.

Redeem your points with the Kimpton Hotel Van Zandt and use all the money you save to reinvest in Austin’s many small businesses. With a wealth of unique cafes, antique shops, thrift stores, and music collections, there are very few opportunities to be bored in Austin. Rates start around 60,000 points per night.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Colorado Springs Central

For a different kind of mountain getaway from the typical Denver, Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge or Estes Park trip, head to Colorado Springs. Flanked by the famous fourteener Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs is a great place to visit for both educational and outdoor adventures.

The National Museum of World War II Aviation is located adjacent to Colorado Springs Airport, making it a great option for either entry or exit. Book in with the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Colorado Springs Central to take advantage of a convenient, central CO Springs location. While in town, don’t forget to visit the stunning Garden of the Gods, aptly named for its mesmerizing red sandstone formations that are open for hiking, scrambling, and climbing. Rates start around 17,500 points per night.

Kimpton RiverPlace Hotel, Portland OR

In many ways the Pacific Northwest response to Austin but simultaneously a town all its own, Portland is a vivid and vivacious destination for a colorful family getaway.

Located on the bank of the Willamette River, the Kimpton RiverPlace Hotel places guests directly adjacent to Tom McCall Waterfront Park and just blocks from Portland’s downtown district. Visit Powell’s City of Books, the largest independent bookstore in the world, and hit up the Saturday farmer’s market at Portland State University.

While there may be fewer shows running at the theatres these days, you can still pop into independent galleries, cafes, and restaurants during your stay. Rates start around 35,000 points per night.

Holiday Inn Columbus Downtown – Capitol Square

While Columbus may not have made it to your bucket list before, there are plenty of things about the Ohio capital that are surprisingly charming and chic.

Redeem your points at the Holiday Inn Columbus Downtown – Capitol Square to discover that charm for yourself. For example, across the street from the Ohio Statehouse stands the storied Ohio Theatre. With ornate Spanish-Baroque architecture and design influences from Africa, the Ohio is a much-beloved staple of the Ohio performing arts scene. Bring the family for a movie screening, including old-fashioned pipe organ interludes to transport you back in time. Rates start around 12,500 points per night.

COVID Safety on Great IHG Hotels for Family

As the travel industry continues to adapt to the pandemic protocol, hotels around the US are open and ready for travelers who need them. IHG properties are no exception with updated COVID-19 travel policies and the IHG Way of Clean promise, aiming to ensure a stay that is as stress-free as possible for all guests and employees. You may notice a few property-dependent modifications such as closed fitness centers and grab-and-go breakfasts, but IHG’s commitment to customer care remains unchanged.

IHG has teamed up with Cleveland Clinic, Ecolab, and Diversey in order to provide the best possible commitment to efficient cleanliness, so a stay with IHG is ideal if you are in need of a weekend getaway but you aren’t looking to camp or rent a home share.

Dynamic Pricing

It’s important to note that, following Marriott’s lead, IHG has introduced its own dynamic pricing model and done away with the awards chart. This means that awards redemptions won’t be consistent throughout the year, but the impact of COVID-19 on dynamic pricing trends remains to be seen. From a cursory search, though, it seems as if the redemption rates are decent if you are booking relatively last-minute, i.e. within a month of your stay. This won’t apply to every property and seems not to apply to luxury-category properties (i.e. Category 11) but finding a decent redemption should not be too difficult during a time when folks are not traveling as much.

Bottom Line on Great IHG Hotels for Family

IHG hotels tend to be great options for families. They offer a number of extended stay-style brands that offer more room for everyone to stretch out. Additionally, with how easy IHG points are to earn and how little redemptions can cost, it could even make sense to spend a little extra for a second room when traveling with a family.