01Recent stay
InterContinental Bangkok Sukhumvit
Bangkok, Thailand
02The pool
InterContinental Resort Bali
Bali, Indonesia
03Arrival
InterContinental Melbourne
Melbourne, Australia
Maximizing your stays, uncovering neighborhood gems, and traveling smarter.
Make them work for you
Maximizing your stays, uncovering neighborhood gems, and traveling smarter.
Make them work for you
Maximizing your stays, uncovering neighborhood gems, and traveling smarter.
Make them work for you
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Latest From The Channel
My first video is all about the IHG One Rewards Ambassador programme. It costs $225 or 45,000 points, and it comes with a free weekend night at any InterContinental, a fast track to Platinum, and a few things worth knowing before you join. I’ve held Diamond Elite Ambassador status since 2022 and over 500 nights with IHG, so this is based on what actually happened rather than what the brochure says.
IHG Diamond Elite Ambassador
Since 2022
About me
An independent hotel traveller, writing from the room.
I’ve been an IHG Diamond Elite Ambassador since 2022 and have spent more than 500 nights in hotels. Nothing on this site is sponsored. I share what I’ve learned about earning and redeeming points, what elite status is really worth, and what’s worth finding once you step outside the lobby.
500+
Hotel nights
2022
IHG Diamond Elite Ambassador since
100%
Independent, not sponsored
A note on credit cards
Travelling Without a Credit Card
How I handle hotel deposits without owning one.
Let me get something out of the way first. I am not a financial advisor, and I am not the person to tell you which card to sign up for. I have not owned a credit card in over twenty years. My life, including all of this travel, runs on debit and multi-currency travel cards.
That creates one specific problem at hotel check-in. Over the years I have worked out a way around it.
The cash deposit method
Four steps, every check-in.
1
Pay for the room upfront
Secure the booking and settle the base rate before you arrive.
2
Leave a cash deposit at check-in
Hand over cash for incidentals instead of your debit card.
3
Charge everything to the room
Meals, drinks, spa treatments, all of it goes to your room number.
4
Swap it back at checkout
Settle the final bill on your card and take your cash deposit back in full.
Your money stays where you can use it, and because the final bill still goes on your card, you keep earning your points.
Points, perks and sign-up bonuses are heavily location specific. A card that offers legendary benefits to someone in the US or UK is often completely useless to a traveller based somewhere else. That alone makes it hard to recommend one card to everybody.
I am also not blind to their power. Managed responsibly, credit cards can be a real asset. Hotel branded cards in particular are known for unlocking big point injections, status boosts and automatic upgrades. They just take discipline, and a sharp eye on spending and interest.
Here is the part that catches most people out. When you check in and hand over a credit card for incidentals, the hotel places a temporary freeze on your credit line. No actual money moves. Hand over a debit or travel card and the hotel pulls real cash out of your available balance. It can take weeks after checkout for that money to find its way back. If you are moving between several hotels on a long trip, those holds can dry up your travel funds completely.
The cash deposit method sidesteps all of that. Your digital money stays liquid and ready for the next hotel, and settling the final bill on your card still triggers your point accumulation.
If you are an IHG loyalist, it also means you can still use the Food and Beverage credit milestones you have earned. If you hold Ambassador status at an InterContinental property, your complimentary room credits work exactly as they should.
One honest caveat
Not every hotel will take a cash deposit, and some will insist on a card on file. It is always worth asking at check-in rather than assuming.
You do not need a premium piece of plastic to play the loyalty game properly. A little cash strategy, a good debit card and an understanding of how the system works is all it takes. Too easy.
The Kuala Lumpur skyline
Series
When in KL
Stepping outside the lobby.
If you travel to Kuala Lumpur as much as I do (about four months of the year), you know the city has thousands of incredible places to eat.
While it’s tempting to just enjoy your hotel’s loyalty perks, stepping outside can lead to some unforgettable local favourites. Right in the KLCC area, just steps from the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, I always find myself drawn back to two spots. Here is where you should spend your loyalty-break dining.
Spot 1
WIP on the Park
Marc Residence
One of the absolute “hip” places in town, with a vibrant atmosphere and consistently fantastic, happy staff.
The vibe
Trendy, energetic, and always hosting a great themed promo, like Oktoberfest or Chinese New Year.
Must-try dishes
The mixed satay is a personal favourite, but you can’t go wrong with the duck confit, tropical pizza or the slow-cooked lamb shank. Honestly, the whole menu.
Loyalty tip
Travelling with a big group of friends or colleagues? There’s a private function room upstairs, perfect for events. Just go and enjoy.
Spot 2
Healy Mac’s Irish Bar
Jalan P. Ramlee
For a more laid-back vibe that’s perfect for sports nuts. Make sure you go to this location near the Twin Towers, not Bukit Bintang. It says “Irish Bar” on the sign, and while I can’t vouch for the Irish geography as I’ve never been to Ireland, the legendary hospitality is definitely there.
The vibe
Relaxed, welcoming, with brilliantly cheeky staff who keep the energy fun.
The food
Massive portions. The roast is a huge, satisfying feed, and the pizzas are so big I usually get them delivered because they’re too much to tackle alone.
For the sports fans
Multiple screens showing sport from around the world. For my fellow Aussies, you can always count on catching the AFL, NRL, State of Origin or F1 here.
Grab a cold beer, or a Guinness or two, settle in, and experience KL like a seasoned regular.
When in KL · Book ahead
Between the hotel stays, see the city.
Three I always point friends to. Booking them ahead on Klook means no ticket queues and no sold-out days.
01 · KL Convention Centre
Aquaria KLCC
One of the top aquariums in Asia, right next to the Twin Towers. Walk the 90 metre underwater tunnel with tiger sharks, rays and sea snakes gliding over your head.
02 · KLCC
Petronas Twin Towers
The view you came to KL for, from the inside this time. A high speed lift takes you to the level 86 observation deck, then you cross the Skybridge between the towers.
03 · Day trip from KL
Genting Highlands
Swap the city heat for cool mountain air for the day. Ride the Awana SkyWay cable car, with hotel transfers both ways so there is no driving.
Partner
Affiliate links. Prices show in your own currency on Klook.
Make your points work from check-in to lunch
Welcome at voco Kuching
I checked into voco Kuching and was upgraded to a 1-Bedroom Suite with top-tier facilities. The welcome spread was waiting on the table: chocolates, dried fruit, fresh fruit and biscuits, plus a welcome card. They really know how to make you feel looked after. I highly recommend it.
Lunch at AVA Brasserie, Bangkok
A peaceful, upscale lunch at AVA Brasserie, inside the InterContinental Bangkok Sukhumvit.
The set lunch is three courses with a few choices for each, and a non-alcoholic drink is included. I went with the mushroom and truffle soup, then the duck confit, with crispy skin, tender meat and a really good sauce. A crème brûlée finished it off.
It’s 790 baht for all of it, which is great value for the quality. I paid for it with a 600 baht hotel credit that comes with my Diamond Elite Ambassador status, so my out-of-pocket cost was minimal.
IHG One Rewards is free to join, and it’s where perks like this start.
In My Next Videos...
Filming now
We’re unpacking a massive point-redemption suite upgrade in Southeast Asia, followed by a street-food crawl right outside one of Tokyo’s most exclusive luxury properties. Stay tuned!
Award calendar
What You Should Be Booking Now
Lock in point redemptions before standard availability disappears.
Updated October 2026
Book early
Australian Tennis Open
Availability drops fast. Secure Melbourne CBD point redemptions immediately.
When
11–31 January 2027, Melbourne
Book
As early as award calendars allow
High demand
Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix
High-demand race weekends. Lock in rooms early to bypass soaring cash rates.
When
Thursday 1 – Sunday 4 April 2027, Melbourne
Book
As early as award calendars allow
Destination spotlight
Destination Spotlight & Travel Trends
Tracking high/low demand windows across global hubs to help you stretch your point balances further.
Seasonal patterns repeat year to year · Reviewed September 2026
Featured trip · Japan
Japan Rail Pass
Covers most JR trains, including most bullet trains. 7, 14 or 21 days.
Japan at a glance
High
Insider window
Low
Standard
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
High season
Peak crowds mean low award room availability.
In Japan: cherry blossom, Golden Week and autumn colour.
Low season
Drastic point discounts, though weather can be unpredictable.
In Japan: the early-summer rainy season and mid-winter away from ski areas.
Best value
Insider window
The sweet spot where great weather meets low point requirements.
In Japan: the weeks after Golden Week, and early autumn before the leaves turn.
Marketplace
Hotel Loyalty Points Marketplace
A short list of services I use myself. It stays short on purpose.
Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this section are affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you.
New
NordVPN
What I use on hotel and airport Wi-Fi, so my logins and bookings stay private.
New
Saily eSIM
Travel data that works the moment you land, from the team behind NordVPN.
New
Klook
Attraction tickets, tours and rail passes, booked ahead so you skip the queues.
Feature your business here
For Australian residents
Aussie Only Specials
Deals only open to Australian residents, and the reasons I use them myself.
Why amaysim is my travel phone plan
“I spend about 10 months a year overseas, so affordable roaming used to be a real headache. amaysim sorted that for me.”
They're known in Australia for good value everyday plans, but the reason I've stayed is their international roaming. If you're an Australian resident and want one less thing to sort out before a trip, they're hard to beat. Just check your destination is covered before you go.
Not in Australia? amaysim is for Australian residents only. For everyone else, Saily is a good alternative for travel data.
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