InterContinental is one of the world’s best hotel brands with a global portfolio of hotels and resorts, but which are the cheapest InterContimnental hotels in the world, the ones that offer brilliant luxury but also brilliant value?
Pioneering Travel in over 180 locations around the world for more than 70 years. InterContinental hotels offer luxurious rooms & suites in iconic locations. Brands within the InterContinental hotel group beyond the InterContinental 5-star luxury brand are Kimpton, Regent, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Voco.
Book a room at an InterContinental or any other luxury hotel via our luxury travel concierge, and you’ll get free club lounge access at many InterContinental hotels.
1. InterContinental Cartagena
InterContinental Cartagena is located on the waterfront Bocagrande. The InterContinental Cartagena de Indias offers seaside sophistication and upscale amenities. It has one of the best club lounges in Cartagena too. The lowest prices here start at around $105 USD per night. So cheap for such a great hotel.
With a privileged location in waterfront Bocagrande, one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in the city, InterContinental Cartagena is a few blocks from the beautiful bay of Castillogrande, five minutes from the old city, and 15 minutes from Rafael Núñez International Airport.
The rooms here are stylish and modern, with hardwood floors and floor-to-ceiling windows. Book a Club Room, and you will have access to their InterContinental Club Lounge, which offers breakfast, snacks during the day, and evening drinks and canapes.
There have been very few reviews of the executive club lounge at this InterContinental, but you can see what we have experienced in terms of food and drink at the club lounge at InterContinental O2 in London and the club lounge at InterContinental Park Lane which will give you an idea of what to expect.
2. InterContinental Mendoza
InterContinental Mendoza is located in a region of the world known for its wine. This hotel is located next to Mendoza Plaza Shopping, the city’s largest shopping mall, but is somewhat removed from the city center. You have to drive or take a cab to downtown Mendoza.
Adventure seekers can easily visit the foothills of the Andes or explore the local wineries. Unique features include a casino, the largest meeting space in west Argentina, an indoor pool, and a luxury spa.
While this InterContinental mentions executive rooms, there is no mention of an executive club lounge on the hotel’s website, suggesting that there is no lounge at this InterContinental. The lowest prices here start at around $121 USD per night.
3. InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort, Vietnam
In December 2019, one of our agents decided to visit InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort in Vietnam. This is their review:
The resort, located on the up-and-coming resort island of Phu Quoc, is about 15 minutes from the international airport. The cheapest prices here start at around $175 USD per night, and trust me, this is probably the best value ultra-luxury InterContinental in the world!
The resort has 459 rooms, suites, and villas spread out across four building wings and the Sky Tower. I walked through the grand entrance, located under the sky tower, which opened up to a majestic view of the two infinity pools running through the middle of the resort. What a marvelous sight, with the ocean and sky in the background. I was already amazed when the reservation manager walked me towards the Club Lounge to check-in.
The Club Lounge is located on the left side of the resort and consists of a long space with various seating options. They even have a small private pool for club lounge guests! To do this place justice, I have separately reviewed the club lounge.
After checking in, I was escorted to my room, which was located on the left vertical side of the hotel. My room, a Resort Classic room with a pool view, was larger than usual hotel rooms at 49 sqm. The room was nicely decorated with a soft palette and incorporated various elements of Vietnamese designs.
The room came with a large walk-in closet to the right of the entrance. There was also a Nespresso coffee machine on a shelf near the entrance. In the middle of the room was the huge comfortable bed, while a small sofa and table complemented the room. The room then extended out with a balcony overlooking the pool. The bathroom was spacious and occupied maybe a third of the room. A gorgeous bathtub sat on the right end, while a separate rain shower cubicle and toilet cubicle sat on the left side. The room came equipped with toiletries from the luxury wellness brand HARNN, a nice upgrade from the standard Agraria in most other InterContinentals worldwide.
Speaking of HARNN, there was a HARNN Heritage Spa located on the left side of the resort. The path to the spa cut through a small forest, making the walk there a pleasant one. The spa had a large check-in area, which showcased various HARNN products, as well as providing space to relax and obtain a mani-pedi or hair treatment. On the left side of the spa were treatment rooms inside wooden huts. These treatment rooms were for massages, and they overlooked the peaceful Lotus lagoon.
There was never a shortage of activities in the resort. There were daily organized activities such as Yoga, Beach volleyball, guided runs, and exercises in the well-equipped gym. These activities were led by the resort staff and also served as a good socializing ground to meet other resort guests. Other than guided activities, the resort also contained a games room with a pool, foosball, PlayStations, chess, and a Kids Club. For those who would rather not do much, there was also a cinema in the resort, which was apparently the only cinema in Phu Quoc Island!
As for food options, the resort comes with five restaurants and bars. The main dining area was Sora & Umi, a Japanese / Vietnamese restaurant where breakfast was served. Ombra, an Italian restaurant and bar with great wood oven pizza, was located next to the pool, while Sea Shack, a fresh seafood casual dining option, was further down by the beach. There was also a small convenience store of a sort on the resort called Mercado, which sold coffee, fresh pastries as well as some groceries.
Among the dining options, the signature restaurant, Lava, was located on the right side of the resort. Lava was a fine dining restaurant serving seafood that you could freshly pick. They also had an impressive wine menu, with various affordable Bordeaux to fancier options such as Opus One! Lastly, on the top of the Sky Tower sits the cocktail bar INK360, which is the tallest bar on the island. The sunset views from there were superb!
I enjoyed my time there, and I recommend visiting the resort and Phu Quoc Island before it becomes too commercialized and before the prices go up!
4. InterContinental Malta
Situated in the exclusive beachside resort of St Julian’s, InterContinental Malta is just seven kilometers from Valletta, Malta’s capital city, and within walking distance of some of the islands finest shopping and entertainment locations. The cheapest room rates here start at around €141 EUR per night.
Unwind at the wonderful lagoon-styled outdoor pool, or enjoy a day at their private sandy beach. There is also an indoor pool, gym, and spa. With a variety of restaurants and bars (some seasonal), InterContinental Malta is one of your best luxury hotel choices in Malta.
The interior of this hotel is lovely, with lots of intricate, stylish lighting. If you request a room facing the hotel courtyard and outdoor pool rather than the main street, you will enjoy a very peaceful night’s sleep.
The club lounge here is great, with coffee, tea, juices, soft drinks, and snacks available throughout the day. The breakfast buffet is great with cold cuts, smoked salmon, olive and sundried tomato pastes, salad, pastries, bread, cereal, fresh fruit, plus Prosecco, juice, tea, and coffee. Hot dishes include scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, etc.
Evening drinks and canapes are served in the early evening. The drinks selection includes Prosecco, wines, spirits, beers, and soft drinks. Canapes are things like chicken skewers and fish cakes, enough for a drink accompaniment but not enough to fill you up.
Club Lounge access is free here if you book via our concierge, along with benefits including a room upgrade on arrival, early check-in/late check-out (all subject to availability), welcome amenities, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
5. InterContinental Madrid
InterContinental Madrid has the best executive club lounge in Madrid, but we still prefer the Four Seasons as the best luxury hotel in Madrid. The problem with InterContinental Madrid is that it is situated on the Paseo de la Castellana on the northern side of the Salamanca fashion district. This means it’s not an easy walk into the city center, and you would be wise to hop on the tube at the nearby Rubén Darío metro station. We think this location, away from the main pedestrianized center, is far from ideal for a leisure trip to Madrid. The cheapest room rates start around €195 EUR per night.
The hotel is a very nice 5 star, which was the palace of the Dukedom of Aliaga. Original red marble pillars, chandeliers, and white marble floors are classy and regal if slightly dated. The whole place feels slightly old-fashioned, although obviously luxurious.
The rooms are large and mix mustard and brown, and the bathrooms have black marble and are very nice, as you would expect. El Jardín is a wonderful restaurant with an al-fresco feel and French windows overlooking the central garden.
Like the rest of the hotel, this InterContinental club lounge is not very stylish, with classic, classy decor that lacks the modern touch. There are lots of orangy-colored woods and blue and mustard carpets, and it is open from 7:00 am – 11:00 pm.
The lounge includes a private breakfast in the lounge. This is usually very good at InterContinental hotels, with a very good buffet and a la carte hot dishes. You can read about the breakfast we experienced in the club lounge at InterContinental London. Beyond breakfast, there are snacks and drinks throughout the day, and in the evening, there is a large buffet with appetizers, snacks, and drinks.
6. InterContinental Ljubljana
Ljubljana is Slovenia’s capital and the largest city, and the InterContinental Ljubljana is housed in the tallest building in the city. The building is modern, and floor-to-ceiling windows offer expansive views across the city from every room. This has one of the best executive club lounges in Ljubljana and room rates are cheap, start at around €200 EUR per night.
The curving and picturesque Ljubljanica River is lined with outdoor cafes where you can while the day away sipping a coffee or a beer and watching the boats chug by and people wander past, making this city a brilliant destination for the summer. You can fly on Easyjet direct into Ljubljana, Slovenia (LJU) from London Stanstead or London Gatwick.
The InterContinental is located near Ljubljana Old Town, so it is ideally placed for exploring the city’s top sights. Start your day with a stroll to historic Prešeren Square. Stop to admire the sculpture of 19th-century poet France Prešeren, take in the baroque architecture, or listen to talented local buskers. The city’s medieval heart lies across the iconic Triple Bridge. Immerse yourself in 900 years of history with a visit to the fortified castle before shopping for artisan bread and cheeses at the Central Market.
In the evening, enjoy a stunning sunset cruise on the glittering Ljubljanica River before returning to the hotel for an apéritif at Bloom lounge bar. If you decide to go out, the concierge can book tickets to the Slovenian National Opera and Ballet Theatre, only a few minutes walk from this Ljubljana luxury hotel. If you’d rather stay in, head upstairs to B restaurant, where you can savor mouthwatering international cuisine and fine wine as you admire the twinkling lights of the city skyline.
At Luxury Travel Diary, we specifically choose Intercontinental branded hotels for their exceptional Club Lounges, which usually offer an excellent view. The Club InterContinental in Ljubljana offers complimentary breakfast, afternoon bites, and evening drinks and canapes each day.
You can see what we have experienced in terms of food and drink at the club lounge at InterContinental O2 in London and the club lounge at InterContinental Park Lane which will give you an idea of what to expect.
Club Lounge access is free here if you book via our concierge, along with benefits including a room upgrade on arrival, early check-in/late check-out (all subject to availability), and complimentary Wi-Fi plus currently $100 USD equivalent food and beverage credit to be utilized during stay.
7. Intercontinental London The O2, England
While not the cheapest InterContinental in the world, this is one of the cheapest ultra-luxury hotels in London. Intercontinental London The O2, England, is located a few steps from the O2 Arena and around a 5-minute walk from North Greenwich Tube station, which is around 30 minutes to 1 hours ride from central London depending on where you are heading. This hotel is cheap for London, as long as you don’t stay there when there’s an event at the O2 or when the Excel is packed for a conference or exhibition. At these times, the pricing of rooms here is high, but if you can stay when there is nothing going on, like early January or on a weekend mid-summer, you will find that this hotel offers a bargain, and room rates are cheap, particularly when you consider the level of luxury you are getting. Prices start at around £200 GBP per night.
I first stayed at this hotel for the World Travel Market, which is held at the Excel Exhibition Centre. The journey between the hotel and the Exhibition Centre is superbly convenient. The Emirates Air Line cable car is a 5-minute walk from the hotel. Hop on this cable car, which takes you above and over the River Thames, offering spectacular views of the Thames Barrage and London Airport before you “land” on the other side of the river just along from Excel. It’s a brilliant way to travel, as long as you don’t mind heights! The Excel Exhibition Centre is just 5 minute walk from the cable car station.
Swathes of marble, glass, and steel make the communal areas of this hotel, like the foyer, feel modern but very grand. The hotel itself looks over the river and out to the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf, and all the main bars and restaurants embrace this fantastic view, so this really is a spectacular place to stay.
There is a 24-hour gym and a large pool as well as a spa at the Intercontinental London The O2. I always like the pool and love it. It is 1.2m depth throughout, with a Jacuzzi area at one end. The pool is surrounded by luxury loungers with plenty of natural light and is absolutely immaculate. It really is a joy and is connected to the ESPA spa area, so smells so good! It is worth noting that kids can only use the pool at certain times of the day, which has advantages and disadvantages depending on whether you stay at the hotel with kids or not. When we swam, the pool was very quiet and a lovely place to spend an hour or two.
There are a huge 453 rooms (yes, this is a big, luxury hotel), which start with Superior rooms at 29-32 sqm. We recommend Club Intercontinental rooms, which start at 42 sqm and come with Club Lounge access. I have reviewed the Club lounge at the Intercontinental London The O2 separately.
Rooms have 42-inch flat-screen TVs and bathrooms with black marble everywhere. They are really smart and modern, and if you get one with a river view, the views are stunning.
There are plenty of choices here, with two bars and three restaurants. If you get Club Lounge access, you hardly need to use them!
Again, It is worth highlighting that the rates here vary hugely at this hotel. If you can select a night when there is no conference at Excel and no event at the O2, you can pick up a stay at this luxury hotel for an absolute bargain.
8. Presidente InterContinental Cozumel Resort & Spa
The InterContinental Presidente Cozumel Resort & Spa hotel lies on a palm-fringed Caribbean island amid one of the world’s largest coral reef systems: the “Arrecifes de Cozumel” marine park. Guests can relax on the white sands, gaze out into the azure blue, swim in the beachside infinity pool, or unwind in the serene spa. The cheapest room rates start at around $229 USD per night.
If you are looking for a beautiful InterContinental Resort near America with a dreamy beach, the Presidente InterContinental Cozumel Resort & Spa is probably your best choice.
The hotel offers 218 well-appointed guest rooms and suites, all thoughtfully designed to blend modern elements with classic Mexican accents, as well as lush tropical gardens, a half-mile of private, white sandy beach, and stunning Caribbean Sea views.
Hotel facilities include a 24-hour business center and the acclaimed Scuba Du dive center, offering reef diving and snorkeling trips with expert instructors. The hotel spa combines Mayan and Oriental ancestral traditions with indigenous fruits and spices in an atmosphere of tranquility. The spa offers a variety of unique therapies and massages with revitalizing treatments that will benefit the body and soul.
In terms of dining, guests can savor gourmet Mexican, authentic Italian, or contemporary Mediterranean cuisine in one of the hotel’s four destinations for delicious cuisine and drinks.
9. InterContinental David Tel Aviv
InterContinental David Tel Aviv is a modern oasis in the heart of Tel Aviv in Israel, offering a wonderful mix of beach life, history and modern culture. The cheapest prices here start at around $288 USD per night.
This refined, high-rise hotel boasts elegant rooms, state-of-the-art conference facilities, a luxury spa with seven treatment rooms, saunas, and relaxation space, and Tel Aviv’s best shops and bars are right on the doorstep, while Old Jaffa Port lies just minutes away.
Dining at InterContinental David Tel Aviv means an invitation to discover and taste a range of culinary delights, from market-driven salads and sustainable creations in the Atrium Lobby Bar to Nomi, an Israeli-inspired kitchen by renowned Chef Yoram Nitzan offering seasonal menus that fuse the best ingredients from both land and sea. Mornings are delicious at the Jaffa Court, featuring breakfast favorites from around the globe, sensational coffee, and freshly squeezed juices. Later, enjoy a refreshing cocktail while watching the sunset at the Pool Bar.
Located on the twenty-fourth floor of the hotel with breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea, Club InterContinental is the ultimate private urban haven. Available exclusively to guests with permitted Club access, it offers check-in and check-out services, breakfast, afternoon tea, all-day refreshments, and evening drinks with canapés.
If you can, book one of the redesigned 32m² Club Rooms located on the hotel’s top floors, which deliver the utmost in modern urban design. These rooms offer state-of-the-art interiors and a stylish marble bathroom with a soaking tub and separate shower. Of course, if you book a stay in one of these rooms, you will get access to the exclusive Club InterContinental with private check-in and all-day refreshments.
If you can’t stretch to a Club Room, we also like the standard rooms. Pick one that enjoys a view of the sea. The hotel overlooks a mosque and the Mediterranean Sea, so watching the sunset from your room is a lovely experience.
10. InterContinental São Paulo
The InterContinental São Paulo is located in the Jardins area of the city which feels safe and is close to good restaurants, shops and the subway public transport system. The foyer is smart, with a rough stone wall behind the reception and an interior design that reminds me of InterContinenal O2 in London which we have also reviewed. The cheapest prices here start at around $250 USD per night.
The rooms are also similar to those at the London O2, modern and fairly generic but luxurious and large with a marble bathroom. There is a nice gym and a smart outdoor pool with seats around it, but the weather is not always suitable for using this facility.
The executive club lounge is smart with creamy and brown furnishings and can be found at the top of the building. Here, Club Room guests can enjoy breakfast, afternoon refreshments, and drinks and snacks during the evening happy hour. During this cocktail happy hour, expect plates of sandwiches, pizza, veggies, wine, beer, and sparkling wine but no Champagne.
You can see what we have experienced in terms of food and drink at the club lounge at InterContinental O2 in London and the club lounge at InterContinental Park Lane which will give you an idea of what to expect. This will undoubtedly be one of the best club lounges in the city, with a substantial hot and cold buffet, a la carte breakfast, evening canapes, and alcoholic drinks.
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