Why I Prefer Hotel Rewards Suddenly Matters

I Prefer Hotel Rewards isn’t a new hotel loyalty program, but until recently, it flew almost completely under the radar.

For a long time, Citi ThankYou® Points were the only transferable currency that could be moved to I Prefer Hotel Rewards (starting in 2024). The problem? Citi points were harder for many people to earn at scale, which made this program easy to overlook.

That’s all changed. With recent updates to Citi’s lineup, especially the launch of the Citi Strata Elite, and Capital One adding I Prefer Rewards as a transfer partner in late 2025, earning points that transfer to this program is now much easier. These changes shine a spotlight on a hotel loyalty program that suddenly offers serious value, especially when you know where to look.

If you’re interested in applying for this card, you can find it on my Premium Credit Cards page.

Current Transfer Partners

• Citi ThankYou Points → I Prefer Hotel Rewards: 1:4
• Capital One Venture Miles → I Prefer Hotel Rewards: 1:2

That 1:4 Citi transfer ratio is a big deal. Getting four hotel points for every one Citi point unlocks some legitimate sweet spots, and in some cases, luxury stays at a fraction of what you’d expect to pay.

Who These Redemptions Are Best For

I’ll be upfront; some of these ultra-luxury I Prefer Hotel Rewards properties won’t work for families of five or more, since these award bookings are often limited to standard rooms that sleep just two people. Larger families typically require two rooms internationally. Because of that, not every redemption below will be a fit for bigger families. When a property does allow three or more guests in a single room, I’ve tagged it below as family-friendly so you know exactly where to look.

A Little About I Prefer Hotel Rewards

I Prefer Hotel Rewards is the loyalty program of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, a global collection of independent, luxury, and boutique hotels.

Instead of big chain brands, this program focuses on unique, upscale properties, often in prime locations that deliver a more personalized experience.

Here’s what sets it apart:

• Hundreds of properties worldwide across major cities and resort destinations
• A mix of luxury hotels, boutique stays, and distinctive independent resorts
• Properties that often feel more “special” than cookie-cutter chain hotels
• Great fit for travelers who value experience, design, and location over brand uniformity

If you enjoy staying at unique properties in destinations that are often hard to find through Marriott, Hyatt, or Hilton award programs, you’re going to love these.

How to Search for Award Nights with I Prefer Hotel Rewards

The I Prefer Hotel Rewards website can be a little tricky to navigate at first, so this part is important.

Start by creating a free I Prefer Hotel Rewards account and logging in before you search. Once logged in, enter your destination and dates.

You’ll see options to search using:

• Cash
• Points
• Points + Cash

Key Tips for Searching

1) Do NOT select points or points + cash when you start your search.
I’ve found that choosing those options actually limits the hotels shown and doesn’t always display everything that’s available for points.

Instead, search using cash. This gives you the full list of available hotels.

Once you select your dates and click into a specific hotel, scroll to the final booking page. That’s where you’ll see whether a points option is available.

• If you can select the points rate check box→ award nights are available
• If you don’t see a points option → there are no award nights for those dates

Some views also allow you to search by calendar, which can help if your dates are flexible.

2) One thing I noticed while searching is that results can vary a lot depending on how you search. For the same destination, I sometimes saw only 7 hotels show up, and other times 60+ hotels, like when searching broader regions such as Africa.

Because of this, I recommend trying multiple search methods:

• Search by map view
• Browse all destinations
• Then narrow down to your preferred area

This will help ensure that you don’t miss any hotels that could be a great redemption for your trip.

Understanding the Points Cost

When you see a redemption price like 150,000 I Prefer points per night, remember:

• With Citi’s 1:4 transfer ratio, that’s only 37,500 Citi ThankYou Points

When you break it down, 38,000 Citi points per night is very comparable to World of Hyatt Category 7 and 8 category awards for luxury properties. That’s where the real value shows up, making I Prefer Hotel Rewards a strong option for booking award travel at more hotel properties worldwide.

You can redeem stays starting at just 15,000 points per night. While I Prefer Hotel Rewards doesn’t publish a traditional award chart or use fixed hotel categories, award pricing generally ranges from 15,000 to 150,000 points per night, depending on the property and location.

Destinations with Sweet Spots:

I did the digging, so you don’t have to. While I didn’t check every single property, these are some of the best redemptions I’ve found in this program.

Switzerland

The Alpina Gstaad (Gstaad)

A five-star luxury property featuring a Six Senses spa and a dreamy Kids’ World with an outdoor playground and treehouse club. Cash rates regularly run $2,000–$3,000 per night.

I’ll be honest, when I saw this resort was available on points while searching on my phone, I immediately grabbed my laptop to book it. That’s how excited I was.

Unfortunately, at this property, children under four are only allowed in a standard room. To accommodate three guests, you’re required to book a junior suite, which costs roughly $1,000 more per night.

Since this would have been my first time using I Prefer Hotel Rewards, I wasn’t comfortable transferring points without knowing whether I could make it work. Normally, I’d try my usual strategy of booking a standard room and requesting an upgrade for extra space, but without prior experience with this program, I didn’t want to risk transferring points that could get stuck here.

That said, this is an incredible redemption opportunity. If one of you ends up booking this property, I’d love to hear how it is. Please send me your feedback!

ASPEN alpin lifestyle Hotel (Grindelwald)

A four-star property in the iconic destination of Grindelwald. There are currently very few point options in this area, if any, which is why most travelers end up booking an Airbnb. This makes this hotel a fantastic points option for the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland.

At 100,000 points per night, that’s just 25,000 Citi Thank You points.

Italy

Castelfalfi (Tuscany)

Luxury in the heart of Tuscany with cash rates around $1,700 and award rates at 150,000 points/night.

Keep in mind, 150,000 I Prefer Hotel Rewards points convert to just 37,500 Citi ThankYou Points or 75,000 Capital One Venture Miles.

Grand Hotel San Pietro (Sicily)

A stunning luxury escape on the east coast of Sicily, with dramatic views of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea. Set above the coastline in Taormina, it’s the perfect base for soaking up Sicily’s history, food, and breathtaking scenery, while still feeling like a true retreat.

Keep in mind, 150,000 I Prefer Hotel Rewards points convert to just 37,500 Citi ThankYou Points or 75,000 Capital One Venture Miles.

Ireland

Dromoland Castle (Newmarket on Fergus) Family-Friendly

Stay in a castle in the hills of Ireland with standard rooms that sleep four!

Stay here for just 150,000 I Prefer Hotel Rewards points per night, which works out to just 37,500 Citi ThankYou Points.

Spain

Don Carlos Marbella (Marbella) Family-Friendly

A five-star beachfront resort on Spain’s Costa del Sol, offering standard rooms that sleep three, making it a luxury option that could work for families needing two rooms!

Stay here for just 75,000 I Prefer Hotel Rewards points, which is just 18,750 Citi ThankYou Points, and with cash rates around $550, this is a great use of points.

Fontsanta Hotel Thermal Spa & Wellness (Mallorca)

An exclusive adults-only five-star retreat in southeast Mallorca, set within a natural park near Es Trenc Beach and home to the only natural thermal hot springs in the Balearic Islands.

For just 25,000 Citi Thank You points a night, you can stay at this beautiful property worth over $600/night.

Greece

Lesante Classic (Zakynthos) Family-Friendly

Zakynthos is a five-star hotel in iconic Zakynthos, Greece, offering standard rooms that sleep three, making it a rare luxury option that works well for larger families needing two rooms.

Only 12,500 Citi ThankYou Points for a $430 stay in iconic Zakynthos; that’s an amazing value.

Andronis Arcadia (Santorini)

Amazing hotel in the heart of Oia, Santorini, with a sea view and a private infinity pool in a sunset suite!

Just 37,500 Citi ThankYou Points unlock this amazing suite in the bucket-list destination of Oia, Santorini.

Croatia

Hotel Ambassador Split (Split)

Standard rooms sleep two.

Stay here for just 12,500 Citi Thank You points or 25,000 Venture Miles.

Austria

Imlauer Hotel Schloss Pichlarn (Aigen im Ennstal) possibly Family-Friendly

Half board is included, featuring a five-course dinner and buffet breakfast set inside an 11th-century castle tucked away in the Austrian mountains, located less than an hour from Hallstatt.

For just 12,500 Citi Thank You points, this hotel includes buffet breakfast and a 5-course dinner! Appears that you can add a 3rd child to the room for a fee, but the information on the hotel website is conflicting. I’d email to verify!

Hawaii

Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach (Oahu) Family-Friendly

Standard room sleeps 4 on Waikiki Beach in Oahu!

Stay here for just 75,000 I Prefer Hotel Rewards points per night, which converts to only 18,750 Citi ThankYou Points.

Halepuna Waikiki By HaleKulani (Oahu) Family-Friendly

Standard room sleeps 4 and is just steps from Waikiki Beach in Oahu.

Stay here for just 75,000 I Prefer Hotel Rewards points per night, which converts to only 18,750 Citi ThankYou Points.

California

Cavallo Point (Sausalito)

This location overlooking the iconic Golden Gate Bridge is absolutely epic, definitely a bucket-list stay in San Francisco.

Stay here for just 100,000 I Prefer Hotel Rewards points per night, which converts to only 25,000 Citi ThankYou Points.

Florida

The Henderson Beach Resort & Spa (Destin) Family-Friendly

Stay in beautiful Destin right on the beach at this family-friendly resort with a lazy river.

Stay here for just 75,000 I Prefer Hotel Rewards points per night, which converts to only 18,750 Citi ThankYou Points.

This is one of those quietly powerful hotel programs that can unlock incredible value if you know where to look. Before you book your next trip, it’s absolutely worth checking your destination to see if there are any sweet spots you can take advantage of, especially now that earning points for this program is easier than ever.

If you’re ready to get started earning Citi Thank You points, head over to my Premium Cards page to see the best card options for earning these points quickly and maximizing these new redemptions. This is the kind of opportunity that rewards a little extra planning and can unlock some bucket list resorts!

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