IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card overview
*Card Ranking relies on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
IHG gives two private cobranded Chase playing cards to assist prospects rack up factors and maximize their stays.
One in all these is the no-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card. It is geared toward vacationers who need to earn IHG factors on their purchases with out incurring an annual charge. Nevertheless, when you steadily keep at IHG properties, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card is probably going a greater choice.
We advocate candidates have a credit score rating of 670 or increased to extend their probabilities of approval.
Now, let’s take a more in-depth take a look at the IHG One Traveler Card so you may resolve whether or not it’s best for you.
Associated: Earn further factors at your favourite eating places with IHG One Rewards Eating
IHG One Rewards Traveler execs and cons
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IHG One Rewards Traveler Card welcome provide
New candidates for the IHG Traveler Card can earn 100,000 bonus factors after spending $2,000 on purchases on the cardboard within the first three months from account opening.
Based on TPG’s January 2025 valuations, IHG One Rewards factors are value 0.5 cents every, making this bonus value $500.
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The most effective-ever provide we have seen on this card was 120,000 bonus factors after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening (now not out there).
We advocate making use of anytime the welcome provide is above 80,000 factors, so when you’ve been enthusiastic about making use of for the cardboard, now is a good time to take action.
It’s possible you’ll be eligible for the IHG One Traveler Card (and its sign-up bonus) when you fulfill the entire following necessities:
- Do not at present have a private (not enterprise) IHG One Rewards card
- Have not earned a sign-up bonus on a private IHG card within the final 24 months
- Are underneath Chase’s 5/24 rule
Associated: The last word information to bank card software restrictions
IHG One Rewards Traveler advantages
Fourth reward evening profit
Every time you redeem factors for a keep of 4 or extra nights, each fourth evening will price zero factors. As soon as you are a cardholder, this low cost will probably be routinely utilized once you redeem IHG factors for eligible stays.
Save 20% on level purchases
You will get a 20% low cost everytime you purchase IHG factors along with your card. However you may’t mix this low cost with different promotions, reminiscent of when IHG factors are on sale. And IHG generally gives a significantly better 100% bonus once you buy factors.
So, though I usually purchase IHG factors when the 100% bonus drops the acquisition value to 0.5 cents per level, I do not discover the 20% low cost interesting.
Computerized Silver standing (with a path to Gold)
IHG One Traveler cardholders get pleasure from computerized Silver Elite standing within the IHG One Rewards program. This tier features a 20% bonus on resort stays, precedence check-in and factors that do not expire.
As well as, you should purchase your solution to Gold Elite standing once you spend $20,000 in your card every calendar yr. This tier features a 40% bonus on resort stays and rollover elite nights for standing the next yr.
No overseas transaction charges
Many bank cards do not cost overseas transaction charges; nevertheless, there are few playing cards on that checklist with out an annual charge. In case you journey overseas steadily, it is value having at the least one bank card that does not cost overseas transaction charges.
Associated: maximize longer resort stays by utilizing a free evening profit
Incomes factors on the IHG One Rewards Traveler
While you use your IHG One Traveler Card to make purchases, you may earn:
- 5 factors per greenback spent at IHG resorts and resorts (2.5% return, based mostly on TPG’s January 2025 valuations)
- 3 factors per greenback spent at gasoline stations, month-to-month payments and eating places (1.5% return)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on every little thing else (1% return)
These returns aren’t nice, even in comparison with different no-annual-fee playing cards.
Nonetheless, there are a number of sub-$100 annual charge playing cards that provide stable perks on prime of nice incomes charges, which equate to larger returns on spending, in varied classes.
For instance, the $95 annual charge Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card earns 2 factors per greenback spent on journey purchases, whereas the $95 annual charge Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card (see charges and costs) earns 2 miles per greenback spent on virtually all purchases.
The IHG One Traveler Card additionally is not a good selection for on a regular basis purchases. In any case, it solely gives a 1.5% return at gasoline stations and eating places, plus a 1% return on different purchases. A number of cash-back bank cards — just like the no-annual-fee Citi Double Money® Card (see charges and costs) — provide a 2% return on all purchases (1% once you purchase and 1% once you pay).
Associated: The most effective bank cards for every bonus class
Redeeming factors on the IHG One Rewards Traveler
There are a lot of choices for redeeming IHG One Rewards factors. Not surprisingly, you may get one of the best worth out of your factors once you redeem for IHG resort stays.
TPG’s January 2025 valuations peg IHG factors at simply 0.5 cents every, which is paltry when you think about that options just like the Chase Sapphire Most popular card earn factors value over 2 cents apiece.
Nevertheless, it is doable to maximise redemptions with the IHG One Rewards program and get worth out of your factors. Listed below are a number of methods you are able to do so.
IHG has dynamic award pricing — that means that the price of reserving a reservation fluctuates with demand and seasonality — however there are some good offers to be discovered. Nevertheless, one draw back to dynamic pricing is that you need to extra fastidiously think about when to make use of your factors versus money for a keep.
At TPG, we attempt to use our factors once we know we are able to get higher than face worth for any given redemption. With a card just like the IHG Traveler, it makes essentially the most sense to e book stays of 4 nights or longer to make the most of the fourth reward evening profit.
You may also e book stays utilizing a mixture of Factors + Money. For a given room, you may usually see a chart with reductions from the complete nightly award charge in increments of 5,000 factors.
On a Factors + Money reserving, you are basically shopping for the additional factors wanted to finish the redemption. So, when you cancel your room, your refund will probably be given solely in factors. I not often e book Factors + Money charges because it’s normally a greater worth to make use of simply factors. Nevertheless, it is value checking whether or not the mathematics works out on every reserving.
TPG contributing editor Matt Moffitt likes to make use of his IHG One Rewards factors for four-night award stays. Since he has the IHG One Rewards Premier Enterprise Credit score Card, he will get the fourth evening free on award redemptions. He normally targets Vacation Inn and Vacation Inn Categorical properties to stretch his factors however often splashes out on a Kimpton or InterContinental property.
Associated: earn and redeem factors with IHG One Rewards companions
Transferring factors on the IHG One Rewards Traveler
IHG One has greater than 40 airline switch companions, however we advocate avoiding this redemption choice when doable as factors switch at an almost 5:1 ratio, which is on the decrease facet.
The switch course of might be cumbersome, particularly when you’re calling the IHG One Rewards Service Middle that will help you kind out a switch. IHG is mostly sluggish to course of transfers, with some reporting that it took as much as six weeks for his or her factors to switch.
You may also switch your factors to different IHG One members beginning at $5 per 1,000 factors and free for Diamond and IHG Enterprise Rewards Program members as much as 500,000 factors per calendar yr.
Which playing cards compete with the IHG One Rewards Traveler?
In case you do not thoughts paying an annual charge, think about these options to the IHG One Traveler card.
For added choices, try our full checklist of one of the best resort bank cards.
Associated: The most effective bank cards for IHG stays
Is the IHG One Rewards Traveler value it?
In case you keep at IHG properties a number of instances per yr however need elevated perks when touring, this card could also be a pleasant addition to your pockets. Because it does not have an annual charge, this card is a no brainer in case you are beneath 5/24 and need entry-level IHG One standing and the fourth evening free when reserving with factors.
Associated: 7 methods to earn extra IHG One Rewards factors in your subsequent redemption
Backside line
Apply right here: IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card
