Hawaii is on many travelers’ bucket lists — and for good reason. Gorgeous beaches, tropical weather, and unforgettable views make it a dream destination. But that dream comes with a steep price tag.
On a recent family vacation to Oahu, I spent over $5,000 for a weeklong trip for three people — and that was with significant savings. Thanks to a well-timed credit card sign-up bonus from the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, I knocked more than $1,500 off our hotel bill and used those savings for amazing island experiences instead.
Here’s how I made it happen — and how you can use points and perks to do the same.
💳 How the IHG Premier Card Helped Us Save Big
🎯 Timing the Application Strategically
To maximize rewards, I applied for the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card when it was offering a limited-time welcome bonus: 5 free nights after spending $4,000 in the first three months. I knew this could cover most of our hotel stay in Hawaii.
While that offer has since expired, the current limited-time offer (as of Sept. 4–Oct. 22, 2025) is still impressive:
Earn 165,000 IHG One Rewards points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months.
That’s enough for up to three or more free nights, depending on the hotel and dates you choose. In fact, the hotel we stayed at — Holiday Inn Express Waikiki — had rooms available for 43,000 points per night, meaning the sign-up bonus could still cover a long weekend stay.
🏖️ Breaking Down the Savings
Here’s how it worked for us:
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Hotel: Holiday Inn Express Waikiki, Honolulu, HI
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Length of Stay: 7 nights
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Paid Nights: Only 2
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Total Out-of-Pocket Cost: $378
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What It Would Have Cost Without Points: $1,918
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Total Savings: $1,540
Thanks to the IHG card’s 5-night bonus, we only paid for two nights in cash. That left a big chunk of our budget available for island excursions and special experiences.
💡 Creditvana Tip: Some rooms at this hotel go for just 33,000 points per night — making the 165,000-point bonus potentially stretch to 5 nights, depending on your travel dates.
🏝️ More Experiences, Fewer Regrets
With the money we saved on lodging, we splurged on:
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🌺 A traditional Hawaiian luau (3 tickets = $537)
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🏞️ A scenic tour through Kualoa Ranch, offering breathtaking island views
Neither of these was cheap, but knowing we’d saved so much on the hotel made it easier to say yes to unforgettable moments — and that’s what travel is all about.
🛏️ More Than Just a Sign-Up Bonus
While the 5 free nights were the biggest win, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card also includes several other benefits that added value to our trip:
🏨 Platinum Elite Status (included with the card)
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Late checkout — a huge perk when our flight home didn’t leave until the evening
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Room upgrades when available
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Bonus points on paid stays
🧳 Additional perks:
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Fourth night free when redeeming points for 4+ nights
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Free anniversary night every year after your account anniversary
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$100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit every 4 years
These extras can really add up, especially if you travel more than once a year.
✈️ Planning Our Next Trip — With a New Card Strategy
Once we started planning our next big trip to Italy, we doubled down on the credit card strategy. My husband and I each applied for a travel rewards card, doubling the sign-up bonuses and expanding our options.
We’re using the same approach: earn rewards now, book free nights later, and save our cash for experiences — and probably a lot of gelato.
💡 Key Takeaways for Creditvana Readers
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Strategic credit card use can save thousands on travel
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Apply for travel cards when the sign-up bonus is highest
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Make sure the card’s benefits align with your travel goals
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Use your savings for experiences that make your trip memorable
🧳 Want to Travel Smarter?
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