While uniformity persists in IHG’s Category 1 and 2 hotels, Category 3 is where things get interesting. You’ll find more hotels in major metropolitan cities and tourist destinations, with several award winners in the midst. These hotels are unique in terms of location, decor, or amenities.
What I found surprising were the number of family-friendly hotels on the list. Many of these hotels offer tremendous value at just 20,000 points per night, and guests get extras like complimentary breakfast and wifi. Here are the best category 3 IHG hotels:
North America
Holiday Inn Asheville – Biltmore East (Ashville, NC)
Source: Hotel Website
Distinctions:
- Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence 2013
- IHG Quality Excellence Award Winner
Accommodations: A standard award gets you into an upgraded King Executive room, with daily complimentary buffet breakfast, wifi, and morning newspaper delivered to the room. The room has stunning views of the surrounding mountains, and if you’d rather stay indoors than explore the beautiful scenery, you have access to 75 HD channels.
Location: The hotel is surrounded by a lush landscape, and perfect if you’re looking to explore the great outdoors. The hotel just half a mile from Blue Ride Parkway and three miles from the Western North Carolina Nature Center. Head out to one of two nearby shopping malls, the North California Arboretum, Historic Downtown Asheville, or the iconic Biltmore Estate – all of these attractions are within 10 miles of the hotel.
Honorable Mention:
- Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Sharon-Hermitage
- Holiday Inn Express Mill Valley San Francisco Area
- Hotel Indigo San Antonio At The Alamo
- Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Scottsdale – Old Town
- Holiday Inn Whistler Village Center
Europe
Holiday Inn Berlin – Centre Alexanderplatz (Berlin, Germany)
Source: Hotel website
Distinctions: N/A
Accommodations: The Holiday Inn Berlin Centre AlexanderPlatz is probably one of the most unique Holiday Inn properties in the IHG portfolio. Standard rooms, located on floors 1-5 of the building, have large windows offering views of Alexanderplatz or the courtyard. The decor looks straight out of a glitzy Vegas hotel, rather than your run-of-the-mill Holiday Inn property.
Location: As you can tell, the Holiday Inn has an excellent location in East Berlin, within walking distance of Alexanderplatz. Within a mile from the hotel, you’ll find Museum Island and Gendarmenmarkt, site of the Berlin and French Cathedrals. Famous sights like Checkpoint Charlie and the Brandenburg Gate are less than a mile away. The hotel’s location makes it a perfect place to explore the city from.
Honorable Mention:
- Holiday Inn Warsaw Jozefow (Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice: #5 Top 10 Hotels for Families in Poland)
- Holiday Inn Andorra Le Vella (Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice: #7 Top 10 Hotels for Families in Andorra)
- Crowne Plaza Hotel Prague
Asia
Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Bali (Bali, Indonesia)
Source: Hotel website
Distinctions: Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice 2014: #4 Top 25 Hotels for Families in Indonesian
Accommodations: Guests booking a standard award get a Superior room with a large 300 sqft balcony. There is also an empty refrigerator, perfect if you want to stock up on snacks from a local market.
Location: The Holiday Inn Resort Baruna is a family-friendly resort located in the Tuban village, just 10 minutes from Denpasar Airport. The resort provides direct beach access and is just a half mile away from Waterbom Park, Kuta Square, and the local art market. If you’re looking to explore the area’s culture and history, Garuda Wisnu Kencana is just 6 miles away, while the Taman Ayun Toyal Temple (a World Heritage site) is just under 18 miles.
Honorable Mention:
- Holiday Inn Downtown Beijing
- Holiday Inn Bangkok
- Holiday Inn Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort (Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice: #18 Hotel in Thailand for Families)
- Holiday Inn Changbraishan
Middle East
Holiday Inn Express Dubai Jumeirah (Dubai, UAE)
Source: Hotel website
Distinctions: Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence 2013
Accommodations: At the standard level, you can either book a room with two single beds or one single bed and a sofa bed. Rooms are modern and feature warm tones and modern decor. Guests get complimentary daily buffet breakfast, in-room tea and coffee provisions, and wifi.
Location: The hotel is located in Jumeirah, overlooking the Port Rashid Docks. The airport is just a 20-minute drive, with the World Trade Center just under two miles away. The hotel provides a complimentary shuttle to nearby Jumeirah Beach.
Honorable Mention:
Pacific
Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu (Port Villa, Vanatu)
Source: Hotel Website
Distinctions: Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence 2013
Accommodations: Guests can book a Garden or Resort View room, which have recently been refurbished. These rooms are spacious and include AC, ceiling fans, flat screen tv’s, and seating area. If you’re traveling with a family, look into upgrading to a Family Villa. These are incredible, unique accommodations akin to what you’d find at Disneyland, rather than a Holiday Inn in the Pacific.
Location: The Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu is tucked away on a serene lagoon, with breathtaking views of the water and lush green landscape. The resort has two massive pools, and if you want to leave the premises, Ekasup Village is just 5 miles away. A unique tourist attraction, the Underwater Post Office, is just 10 miles away and allows visitors to dive down and mail a postcard home.
Honorable Mention:
What are your thoughts on the best redemptions for Category 3? Are there any properties you think deserve to be added to the list?
Another nice round here. Thanks again for the research, looking forward to category 4!
Good! Writing it as we speak.
Great posts – I am just finding you and catching up. Would you know of good IHG hotels/resorts in Cancun? Thanks!
I think your best bet would be the Intercontinental Presidente.