Best IHG Hotels for a Beach Getaway

Whether you’re heading south for the winter or already planning for next summer, IHG has you covered for a family-friendly beach getaway. You’ll be close enough to the shore but far enough away from some of the more crowded public beaches. Here are a few properties that we think you should consider for a prime coastal vacation.

Holiday Inn Resort Catalina Island

Get away from the mainland altogether and head out to Santa Catalina Island for a weekend trip to Pacific paradise!

Located near Avalon Bay, Holiday Inn Resort Catalina Island is well placed for those in your crew who prefer the beach, those who prefer the mountains and those who can chill either way.

It isn’t permitted to bring outside vehicles to Catalina, so getting around can be a bit tricky. Hire a golf cart to get around Avalon, and hail a taxi or a tour guide to take your group around to some of the more secluded, pristine bays on the north side of the island. Rates start around 28,000 points per night.

Staybridge Suites: Naples-Gulf Coast

This property is ideal for folks who are looking for access to Florida’s Gulf Coast, perhaps for an extended period. Staybridge Suites: Naples-Gulf Coast is located squarely in the middle of the Naples hotel and golf district, well within a convenient distance to everything you’ll need on your extended vacation.

Naples also lends direct access to Alligator Alley and Everglades National Park, as well as the mostly-underwater Biscayne National Park and US Hwy 1 which dead-ends in Key West.

Southern Florida is perfect for anyone looking for a tropical getaway in the Sunshine State, especially avid golfers and those enjoying retirement. Rates start at 20,000 points per night.

Holiday Inn Key Largo

Naples is a great location for visitors who want the option to explore more of mainland Florida, but if you’d rather stay directly in the Florida Keys, the Holiday Inn Key Largo is an excellent choice.

In Key Largo, you’re close enough to Miami to enjoy the benefits of the city without actually having to stay there, and you’re also just a couple hours’ drive from Key West.

Take advantage of the aforementioned Biscayne National Park or head west to one of the least accessible National Park System units in the US: Dry Tortugas National Park. Otherwise, stretch out on one of the many beaches with a frozen Key Lime Pie and enjoy the Florida sun. Rates start at 25,000 points per night.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites: Ludington

There are few better places to visit during summer and autumn than the Great Lakes State, and the Holiday Inn Express & Suites: Ludington puts visitors within a few miles of Lake Michigan’s eastern shore.

This pet-friendly property is ideal for family vacations to the lake, with plenty of public beaches nearby. Head north to Ludington State Park and explore the sand dunes between Hamlin Lake and Lake Michigan, or book a tee time at the Lincoln Hills Golf Club. Rates start at 17,500 points per night.

Holiday Inn Express Munising-Lakeview

Speaking of Michigan, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention at least one property in the upper peninsula of the Great Lakes State. Where Ludington offers access to Lake Michigan, Munising offers unparalleled access to Lake Superior and the surrounding natural areas.

Book in with the Holiday Inn Express Munising-Lakeview and take advantage of the untouched beaches and craggy outcrops of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. While the high season is during the summer, Munising is incredible during the autumn months as well; it just depends on whether or not you’d like to take a dip in the chilly freshwater lake! Rates start at 25,000 points per night.

Holiday Inn Express Monterey-Cannery Row

Comfortably tucked between Del Monte Beach and Asilomar State Beach, the Holiday Inn Express Monterey-Cannery Row offers excellent access to the coast at a great redemption rate.

This property places guests right in the heart of bustling Cannery Row, but if you’re looking to avoid any potentially crowded areas, book a tee time at one of the several surrounding golf clubs. Take a coastal drive or stroll the beach trails to Sunset Rock, then watch the sun go down over Spanish Bay before heading back to your comfortable room. Rates start at 30,000 points per night.

Holiday Inn VA Beach – Oceanside

Is there anything better than an East coast sunrise? Redeem your IHG points at the Holiday Inn VA Beach – Oceanside for direct access to Virginia Beach, and the opportunity to catch a sunrise or two — that is, if you’re a morning person. Otherwise, there are plenty of things to do in the area during regular daytime hours.

With the Princess Anne Country Club to the north and the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center to the south, you’ll easily be able to fill any time you’re not spending on the warm sand or splashing in the waves.

Every room at this property has an ocean view, so you can watch the horizon from the comfort of your own bed. Rates start at 30,000 points per night.

Holiday Inn Resort Wilmington E Wrightsville Beach

For travelers looking for a Carolina beach getaway that is close enough to a city but far from Outer Banks or Myrtle Beach, book in with the Holiday Inn Resort Wilmington E Wrightsville Beach. This family-friendly property includes indoor and outdoor play areas for your littlest travelers, as well as easy access to the airport and nearby attractions.

Spend some time relaxing on the expansive beach and, if you’re really bored, take a swim out to the fabled oceanic coffee shop The Workshop. Is it a real Atlantic coffee shop or just an old pirate’s tale (or Google Maps misplacement?). Swim out and see for yourself! Rates start at 17,500 points per night.

Holiday Inn Cape Cod – Hyannis

How does a quiet getaway to Cape Cod sound? With so many interesting places to visit, it’s convenient to stay right in the center of Cape Cod at the Holiday Inn Cape Cod – Hyannis. Enjoy the lovely beaches near Dennis Port or Sandy Neck, take a ferry to Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard, or drive up to Plymouth for a lesson in US colonial history.

With a wealth of state land and public beaches, Cape Cod offers a variety of viewpoints for travelers who like to hit several spots in one trip. Rates start at 27,500 points per night.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Newport

While most of us associate beach getaways with places that are especially warm, we shouldn’t forget that the Pacific Northwest is full of gorgeous Pacific coastline, too! Redeem your IHG points at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Newport to explore more of the Oregon coastline.

This property places guests in the heart of the South Beach neighborhood, just a quick drive from South Beach State Park. Enjoy a pleasant forested walk to the white sandy beaches and turquoise water of the Pacific, head further south to Holiday Beach or drive north to Agate Beach. Rates start at 20,000 points per night.

COVID Safety

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.

Final Thoughts

After a year like 2020, a beach trip sounds like a great idea. Luckily, with a stash of IHG points, it doesn’t need to break the bank. There are beach-front properties available in many beachy destinations around the U.S. available for a reasonable number of IHG points per night. Take that vacation that you deserve.