The quarterly PointBreak list is out and valid for bookings between 31 July and 31 October for a mere 5000 IHG points.  As usual, domestic USA hotels dominate but for eco-tourists, there are some good options in South America.

ENTIRE LIST

LINK TO BOOKING PAGE

Due to the limited availability, each member may only book two PointBreaks® Reward Nights reservations per hotel during the special offer time period. Offer and participating hotels are subject to change at any time, valid for booking through Oct 31, 2017. All other Reward Night terms and conditions apply. To view participating properties, simply click one of the regions below.

Please note that Reward Nights booked through PointBreaks® may not be sold or used for commercial gains. Doing so is a program violation and may result in the freezing of your account, the forfeiture of all point transfers, rewards, vouchers, or merchandise issued pursuant to point redemptions and any accrued points or miles in your account, as well as cancellation of the account and your future participation in the Program.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS

HOLIDAY INN GUAYAQUIL AIRPORT – We stayed here in 2016 so I have a detailed review.  Good option for convenience to the airport and a good staging point for birding in Cerro Blanco Reserve.

HOLIDAY INN MANAUS – You may be passing through Manaus on the way to an Amazon adventure or making day trips to Adolpho Ducke Reserve to the north.

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS BELEM ANANINDEUA – Another staging point for the Amazon River in Brazil, also check out the Parrot Island to see 1000’s of Orange-winged Amazon Parrots!

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS PUERTO MONTT – Gateway to Patagonia and Chiloe Island which are good birding areas.

For the eco-tourist, there are a few good options in Central America but otherwise not a terrible inspiring list.  Loyalty Traveler has the whole list and Points with a Crew has a map of the properties.  The ones that jump out at me are as follows:

Intercontinental Maracaibo – I know Venezuela is not in a good position now for tourism but this hotel is in an area close to good birding and I am dying to go there.  But make sure they have toilet paper!

Crowne Plaza San Jose Corobici – Good for an early flight out but PLEASE don’t spend your whole time in Costa Rica in the city just because there’s a good deal.  Costa Rica has so much more to offer!

Intercontinental Santo Domingo – Lots of good birding in the Dominican Republic and this looks like a really nice hotel.  Just need to get up early and drive out to the birding hotspots.

Holiday Inn Panama Canal – Well positioned north of the city on the road towards Soberania National Park, an easy morning drive.

This quarter’s Pointbreaks list (bookable for 5000 IHG Rewards Points) is less than inspiring for birders/eco-tourists but considering that it encompasses the holiday season it may have something of interest.

Loyalty Lobby has the complete list for your perusal.  Out of all the properties, I can only personally recommend the Crowne Plaza Kathmandu-Soaltee where we stayed a couple nights back in 2011 after returning from birding the Chitwan National Park (on my list of historical trips to blog about).

It’s not walking distance to the shopping district of Thamel but taxis & auto-rickshaws are very cheap – at least they were in 2011!

I’ve gotten used to seeing uninspiring lists of hotels on IHG’s quarterly Pointbreaks (hotels offered for 5000 points a night) but I was still looking forward to this list as it’s the one that applies to my upcoming trip to Ecuador, Colombia & the Caribbean for birding.  I was hoping to see some poinbreaks in Ecuador, Colombia & Trinidad.  Once again, I was disappointed that there was nothing in Bogota especially.  Even worse, the Crowne Plaza Tequendama which has historically offered pointbreaks at this time of year is leaving the OHG chain!

Here’s the whole list if you want to have a look.

A few may be of interest to eco-travelers in Central & South America.  Belem is good for going to Parrot Island to see 1000’s of Orange-winged Amazons on an early morning cruise.  Panama has the wonderful Soberania National Park within an easy drive of the Holiday Inn.

Argentina

• Holiday Inn Cordoba

Brazil

• Holiday Inn Express Belém Ananindeua
• Holiday Inn Express Sumare Ave. – Sao Paulo

Columbia

• Holiday Inn Bucaramanga Cacique

Panama

• Holiday Inn Panama Canal

Try not to spend too much time in Jo-burg, get off to Magoebaskloof or Kruger as quickly as possible but if you do need a night between flights:

South Africa

• Holiday Inn Johannesburg – Rosebank
• Holiday Inn Express Sandton – Woodmead

And here’s a rare Pointbreak in Australia!  Townsville is a good jumping off point for Magnetic Island which has good birding.

Australia

• Holiday Inn Townsville

This list is valid for bookings and stays from January 25, 2016 through April 30th 2016 (subject to availability).