Three bank cards earn factors within the IHG One Rewards program. There are two private playing cards — the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card and the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card — and one enterprise card, IHG One Rewards Premier Enterprise Credit score Card.
Whereas these playing cards provide particular advantages, comparable to elite standing, you would possibly pause earlier than robotically pulling out a bank card that bears the emblem of the resort the place you are staying. Is that basically the perfect card to pay with, or do you have to use one thing else to maximise your earnings?
Let’s check out some well-liked bank cards you would possibly wish to use to pay to your subsequent keep at IHG resorts and resorts.
Evaluating bank cards for an IHG keep
* Per TPG’s February 2025 valuations and never the cardboard issuer.
The data for the American Specific Inexperienced Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Associated: Present welcome affords on IHG bank cards
Which bank card do you have to use for IHG stays?
The perfect technique is to carry an IHG One Rewards cobranded bank card for elite standing advantages and card perks however use a basic journey rewards card to really pay to your keep.
Take into account two issues when deciding which bank card to make use of to your subsequent keep at an IHG One Rewards-affiliated property: The advantages you may get and the worth of the factors you possibly can earn.
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TPG’s February 2025 valuations peg IHG factors at half a cent every. Thus, whilst you can earn 10 factors per greenback when paying with the IHG One Premier card or IHG One Premier Enterprise card, these 10 factors are literally value simply 5 cents. That is much less worth than you’d get with 3 factors per greenback on the Amex Inexperienced Card since Amex factors are value 2 cents apiece — a complete of 6 cents in worth for every greenback spent.
Now, playing cards just like the Amex Inexperienced or Chase Sapphire Reserve do not (by themselves) unlock on-property advantages like room upgrades. Fortunately, your IHG elite perks aren’t tied to the bank card you pay with — even when the bank card is the only real purpose you maintain standing.
Which means holding an IHG cobranded bank card is likely to be worthwhile merely to qualify for elite standing and obtain the related advantages. Then, you possibly can pay with a unique bank card to earn extra priceless factors.
And should you pay with the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the factors you earn (Final Rewards) might be transferred freely and instantly to IHG if you must high off your steadiness for an upcoming redemption — although there are numerous different (higher) methods to benefit from these factors.
That stated, it is value noting that utilizing a card just like the Sapphire Reserve to pay for an IHG keep via the Chase Journey is probably not the best choice. That is as a result of these reservations are handled as third-party bookings and, thus, aren’t eligible to earn IHG factors.
You will additionally miss out on using any elite standing perks throughout your keep, so you’ll want to issue that in when deciding the right way to e book (and pay).
Associated: Why you do not earn resort factors when reserving via an OTA
Backside line
With IHG’s bank cards and stays at IHG resorts, deciding which bank card to make use of can contain tradeoffs. Should you pay with IHG’s personal bank cards, the factors you earn aren’t that priceless — although you may get a number of them. To get most worth, your greatest wager is likely to be holding an IHG bank card for standing advantages however utilizing a unique bank card to pay on the entrance desk.
Associated: 6 causes to keep away from reserving via a web-based journey company
