Rapid Travel Chai

IHG’s quarterly PointsBreaks of 5,000 points per night no longer give advance notice of their release dates. They appeared today, mostly to a thud, shown by even the typical headline Intercontinental ones are still on the list tonight. See the list and book here. Each IHG account can book up to 2 reservations per hotel for stays to October 31, 2016. Don’t be a dick – once inventory is gone it does not come back even with cancellations, so try to book what you reasonable think you will use.

Intercontinentals are the headline properties and those in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Mendoza, Argentina are on the list. I am not big on Intercontintals. The hotels are as often dullsville as not, feeling like they were built in the 1980s to reflect the 1910s. If you have only IHG status, not Intercontinental Ambassador or Royal Ambassador, you will rarely get special treatment. Value for me often is in Crowne Plazas or Holiday Inns in counties where those brands are higher quality than the US standard.

As usual, PointsBreaks have many properties that will suffice if you plan to be in the neighborhood. The ones I might consider as a springboard for a trip are:

• Japan: ANA Crowne Plaza Kushiro and Holiday Inn Resort Miyazaki. You can’t go wrong in Japan. Both of these are coastal cities, one far north in Hokkaido, one far south in Kyushu, so that suggests great seafood in little-touristed regions.
• South Korea: Holiday Inn Incheon Songdo. This might be a lifeless corporate park or it might be a new urban area with easy access to the airport and the Korean War sites of Incheon. Maybe worth a punt.
• India: all three are in towns worth a visit, Amritsar being by favorites city in India for its Sikh Golden Temple, independence history, and daily Pakistan border closing festivities. It is easy to get great hotels in India at cheap prices which tempers my recommendation.
• Australia: Holiday Inn Express Sydney Macquarie Park may not be the central spot for a first visit, but proximity to the university and park should be fun. With IHG members getting free internet worldwide and Holiday Inn Express offering free breakfast, both something few Australian hotels offer, this is a bargain to hang out in a fantastic city.
• Panama: Crowne Plaza Panama, I enjoy Panama City, this may not be ideal tourist location, though looks high end area that should be safe.
• Canada: Crowne Plaza Moncton Downtown looks to be in a good location near the river and by the rail station. New Brunswick has few US flights and is often overlooked.
• Canada: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Halifax – Bedford. Lobster dinners here we come!

Readers, what are your picks?