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Best Hotel Credit Cards for IHG Loyalists in 2024
Updated: October 30, 2024
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While Chase provides credit cards for IHG loyalists, its offerings are limited to personal users and not businesses. These cards offer higher-than-usual reward rates when you spend at IHG Hotels and Resorts and on a few bonus categories.
It is common for top IHG Rewards Club credit cards to provide bonus points through spend- and time-based welcome offers. IHG-specific perks vary from one card to the next. For example, while the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card comes with a free anniversary night each year, the IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card does not.
Using any of the existing IHG Rewards Club credit cards outside of the U.S. is ideal as they come with no foreign transaction fees. Other factors you need to consider when selecting a suitable card include annual fees, APRs and added benefits.
OUR REVIEW AT A GLANCE
Every month, experts at MoneyGeek review all new and existing cards from this category. They arrive at an updated list of the top credit cards for IHG loyalists after comparing all available alternatives across parameters such as points per dollar rates, welcome offers, annual fees, APRs, foreign transaction fees and added benefits.
If you’re looking at earning reward points for staying at hotels as a business owner, you might benefit by checking what the best hotel credit cards for businesses have to offer.
10%Welcome Offer and Hotel Rewards Rate
-7%Annual Fee
-5%APR and Foreign Transaction Fees
MoneyGeek’s Take: Top 2 IHG Rewards Club Credit Cards
Quick Summary
- IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card: A fantastic card for earning rewards when you stay at IHG hotels and resorts.
- IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card: Great card for earning points fast for IHG loyalists.
You stand to earn high reward rates at IHG Hotels and Resorts as well as on bonus categories no matter which of the top IHG Rewards Club cards you select. However, the reward rates on offer are not the same. Selecting the right card requires that you also pay attention to other important aspects such as welcome offers, annual fees, IHG-specific perks and APRs.
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
A fantastic card for earning rewards when you stay at IHG hotels and resorts.
- 3–26 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
- 21.49% – 28.49% VariableAPR
- $99Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
We like the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card because it offers multiple benefits for IHG Rewards Club members. For starters, it has a welcome bonus of 140,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, you also earn 10,000 bonus points if you spend $20,000 on purchases and make at least one additional purchase every account anniversary year.
You earn up to 26X reward points when you spend at IHG properties. Spending on travel, dining, and at gas stations comes with 5X points. All other eligible purchases earn 3X points. When redeeming your points, you get to choose from reward nights, online shopping, magazine subscriptions, airline miles, and more.
Once you get your IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, you get IHG Rewards Club Platinum Elite status automatically. This qualifies you for a reward night after each account anniversary. When you use your points to pay for three or more nights, you get an additional reward night.
Not having to pay foreign transaction fees can lead to savings when you use this card outside of the U.S. Other benefits come in the form of Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance and purchase protection.
The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card comes with a $99 annual fee.Pros
- Significant number of bonus points for the taking
- Complementary IHG Rewards program’s Platinum Elite status
- Use your points for reward nights or redeem them for other awards
- Reward nights
- Pay no foreign transaction fees
- Fee credit toward Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
Cons
- Annual fee of $99
- Balance transfer and cash advance fees
- Penalty APR may apply if you make a late or returned payment
- The earn rate is not the same across all IHG properties
- Anniversary reward nights are valid only at IHG Hotels with a current point redemption level of 40,000 points or less
Introductory Offers
- Earn 140,000 IHG One Rewards Bonus Points after spending $3,000 in the first three months.
Rewards
- Earn up to 26 points per dollar spent at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
- Earn 5 points per dollar on travel, gas stations, and restaurants.
- Earn 3 points per dollar on all other purchases.
Perks & Benefits
- Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
- Get a fourth reward night free when redeeming points for a consecutive four-night IHG hotel stay.
- Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier cardmember.
- Receive a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit up to $100, increasing to $120 starting October 1, 2024.
- IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
Great card for earning points fast for IHG loyalists
- 2-17 Points per $1Rewards Rate
- 21.49% – 28.49% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
We recommend the no-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card to people who frequently stay at properties that are part of the InterContinental Hotels Group and wish to earn reward points faster. You earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Earn 3X points per $1 spent on purchases on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 2X points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
If you spend $10,000 or more on purchases in a calendar year, you get Gold Elite Status that remains valid until the end of the following year. If you redeem your points for stays of four or more nights, you get a free reward night. This card is perfect to use outside of the U.S. as it comes with no foreign transaction fees.
Additional benefits include purchase protection and travel insurance coverage.Pros
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Points expiration period extension
- High reward rate
- Numerous hotel redemption options
Cons
- Gold Elite status requires high spending
- High APR depending on your credit
- No luxury benefits or perks
- Must pay to transfer points
Introductory Offers
- Earn 100,000 IHG One Rewards Points after spending $2,000 in the first three months.
Rewards
- Earn up to 17 points per dollar spent at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
- Earn 3 points per dollar on monthly bills, gas stations, and restaurants.
- Earn 2 points per dollar on all other purchases.
APRS, Fees, and Penalties
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Perks & Benefits
- Redeem three nights and get the fourth night free at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
Summary of the Best Hotel Cards for IHG Loyalists
Go through the corresponding IHG Rewards Club credit cards comparison table to determine how these cards fare against each other based on parameters such as annual fees, reward rates and the credit needed to apply.
>>MORE: BEST CREDIT CARDS FOR MARRIOTT LOYALISTS
- Credit CardBest ForAvg. Reward RateAnnual FeeCredit Needed
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
A fantastic card for earning rewards when you stay at IHG hotels and resorts.3–26 Points per $1*$99 - IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
Great card for earning points fast for IHG loyalists2-17 Points per $1$0
MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP
While the IHG Premier Card charges an annual fee, it comes with automatic Platinum Elite status and includes an annual free night certificate worth up to 40,000 points. These two benefits easily justify the card's annual fee if you plan on staying at an IHG hotel this year. -- Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com
How to Compare Hotel Credit Cards & Intro Offers
While you don’t get many options to choose from, the IHG credit cards currently on offer come with varied features and benefits. As a result, selecting one requires paying attention to different aspects.
- 1
Rewards Rate
The IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card lets you earn up to 15x points at IHG Hotels and Resorts; 2x points at restaurants, grocery stores and gas stations; and 1x points on all other purchases. If you get the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card, you earn up to 25x points at IHG Hotels and Resorts. Reward rates on the other bonus categories are the same as the IHG Rewards Club Traveler Card.
- 2
Welcome offers
You might stand to earn bonus points if you meet some basic spend-based requirements as a new cardholder. For example, spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months might qualify you to earn 80,000 bonus points.
- 3
Annual fees
The IHG Rewards Club Traveler Card makes for a good no-annual-fee alternative. The IHG Rewards Club Premier Card charges an $89 annual fee.
- 4
IHG Elite status
These vary depending on the card you get. If you spend $10,000 or more on purchases by using your IHG Rewards Club Traveler Card, you get Gold Elite status that remains valid until the end of the following year. The IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card offers complimentary Platinum Elite status just for being a cardholder, which includes perks like 50% bonus points on paid stays, elite rollover nights and complimentary room upgrades.
- 5
Fourth night free on award stays
Both the Traveler and the Premier Card offer the fourth night free when booking a stay of four or more nights with your points. This benefit is a savvy way to get even more value from your rewards.
- 6
APRs
If you plan to roll balances over from one billing cycle to the next, you might be better off looking at what low-interest credit cards have to offer. This is because the interest you end up paying might overshadow the value of the rewards you earn.
- 7
Foreign transaction fees
The credit cards for IHG loyalists currently on offer come with no foreign transaction fees. However, this aspect requires your attention if you plan to get any other credit card that offers high reward rates on spending at hotels.
- 8
Additional benefits
Other card-specific benefits include purchase protection, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit.
Further Reading
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About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.