Ihg Credit Card Options Compared and Analyzed

IHG credit cards offer a range of rewards and benefits for frequent travelers. The IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card, for example, earns 10 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels.

One of the most notable benefits of IHG credit cards is the anniversary free night award, which can be redeemed at any IHG property worldwide. This can be a significant perk for frequent travelers.

The IHG Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card, on the other hand, earns 5 points per dollar spent on gas and restaurants, in addition to 10 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels. This card also offers a lower annual fee compared to the Premier card.

IHG credit cards often come with a sign-up bonus, which can be a great way to earn points quickly. The IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card, for instance, offers a 140,000-point bonus after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months.

The IHG credit cards offer a range of benefits and rewards that can help you save money and earn points. One of the most valuable benefits is the fourth-night-reward benefit, which gives you a complimentary fourth night when you redeem points for stays of four or more nights.

This benefit can be especially useful for travelers who stay long enough to utilize it, and it has no cap on how many points you can save. According to TPG's January 2025 valuations, a single fourth-night-reward stay at a 20,000-point property saves you $100 worth of IHG points.

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card offers a range of benefits, including automatic IHG Platinum Elite status after spending $40,000 and making one additional purchase each calendar year. This status also comes with a 60% points bonus on IHG hotel stays.

You can earn up to 17 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels, plus 3x points on gas stations and dining, and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card also offers automatic Silver Elite status and a 4th night free when you redeem points for any stay of 4 or more nights.

Here are some of the key benefits of the IHG One Rewards cards:

Overall, the IHG credit cards offer a range of benefits and rewards that can help you save money and earn points. By understanding these benefits and using them effectively, you can get the most out of your IHG credit card and enjoy a more rewarding travel experience.

If you're an IHG One Rewards cardholder, you'll enjoy some level of automatic elite status, which can help you recoup the annual fee if you spend more than a few nights a year at IHG properties.

The IHG One Rewards Premier and IHG One Rewards Premier Business cardholders earn automatic IHG Platinum Elite status, which provides benefits like a 50% bonus points when paying for stays and complimentary room upgrades when available.

You can also get automatic IHG Platinum Elite status if you're a military servicemember with a Chase IHG card, as long as you're on active duty orders and pay no annual fees.

IHG Platinum Elites earn 50% bonus points when paying for stays, complimentary room upgrades when available, and get guaranteed room availability.

Here are some of the key perks you can enjoy with IHG One Rewards elite status:

IHG has a large footprint with over 5000 properties in their inventory, including many hotels on Army posts, allowing you to earn valuable IHG points even when staying on base.

IHG brands include Kimpton, Intercontinental, Regent, Voco, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza, Candlewood Suites, Holiday Inn, and Holiday Inn Express.

You can earn IHG points by staying at these hotels, and redeem them for various types of trips, including road trips to Holiday Inn Express, avid, or Staybridge Suites.

You can hold multiple IHG Rewards cards, but there are some rules to keep in mind. You can hold the business card and a personal card at the same time.

One thing to note is that you are only allowed to have one IHG personal card account open at a time. This means you can't have multiple personal cards with the same benefits.

If you're considering holding multiple IHG Rewards cards, it's worth considering the benefits of each card and how they align with your travel habits. For example, if you frequently stay at Holiday Inn hotels, holding a Holiday Inn-specific card might be a good idea.

Earning Rates are a crucial aspect of maximizing your points balance. You can earn up to 17X points per dollar spent on IHG Hotels & Resorts as a Traveler.

The earning rates vary depending on your credit card tier, with Premier and Premier Business cardholders earning more points on certain categories. For instance, Premier and Premier Business cardholders can earn up to 26X points per dollar spent on IHG Hotels & Resorts.

Here's a breakdown of the earning rates for different categories:

By understanding the earning rates, you can optimize your spending and maximize your points balance.

Annual fees for IHG credit cards can range from $49 to $89 per year, depending on the specific card.

If you're not using the card regularly, it might not be worth paying the annual fee. For example, if you only charge $2,000 per year, the annual fee would be 2.45% of your total spend.

IHG credit cards also have rules around earning and redeeming points, such as a 10x points bonus on IHG hotel stays and a 25% points bonus when redeeming for travel.

The Traveler card has no annual fee, which is a major plus for those who don't want to pay extra each year.

The other two cards, however, do come with a $99 annual fee, which might seem steep at first.

If you're considering applying for an IHG credit card, you should know about the application rules.

You can have multiple IHG credit cards, but be aware of Chase's 5/24 rule, which means you're unlikely to be approved if you've opened five or more personal credit card accounts across all banks in the last 24 months.

If you currently have a personal IHG One Rewards credit card or received a new cardholder bonus on any personal IHG credit card in the past 24 months, you aren't eligible. This also applies if you received a new cardmember bonus on the IHG Business card in the last 24 months.

Here's a quick rundown of the exclusions:

The IHG credit cards offer a range of benefits, including automatic elite status and free-night certificates. You can earn up to 170,000 points with the welcome offer, which can be redeemed for hotel stays.

The IHG Rewards Premier card offers an anniversary free night certificate each year, starting in year two, which can be redeemed for hotels above the 40,000-point redemption limit. This means you can book a hotel stay using the certificate and add an unlimited amount of IHG Rewards points to redeem it at a higher redemption limit.

The card also comes with a $50 United TravelBank cash credit each year, which can easily wipe out half of the annual fee. This is a great benefit for travelers who frequently use United Airlines.

Here's a comparison of the IHG credit cards:

The IHG credit cards are a great option for travelers who frequently stay at IHG properties. With the right card, you can earn points and redeem them for hotel stays, and enjoy benefits like automatic elite status and free-night certificates.

The IHG Rewards cards offer a range of benefits, but it's essential to understand the differences between them. The IHG Rewards Traveler credit card has an annual fee of $0, while the IHG Rewards Premier and IHG Rewards Premier Business cards both have an annual fee of $99.

The automatic status you receive with each card is also worth noting. The IHG Rewards Traveler card comes with Silver Elite status, whereas the IHG Rewards Premier and IHG Rewards Premier Business cards both grant Platinum Elite status. This difference can impact the rewards and benefits you receive.

The 4th Night Free benefit is available on all three cards, which can be a significant perk for frequent travelers. However, the Anniversary Free Night certificate is only available on the IHG Rewards Premier and IHG Rewards Premier Business cards, making them a better choice for those who value this benefit.

The Trusted Traveler Program Credit, United Airlines TravelBank Cash, and other travel-related benefits are also exclusive to the IHG Rewards Premier and IHG Rewards Premier Business cards. This makes them a better option for travelers who frequently use these services.

Here is a table comparing the key features of each card:

The IHG credit cards have some great similarities that make them appealing to hotel enthusiasts. All three cards offer lost and delayed baggage reimbursement, which can be a lifesaver if you're stuck without your luggage.

Trip cancellation/interruption coverage is also a standard benefit, providing peace of mind for travelers. This coverage can help reimburse you if you need to cancel or cut short your trip due to unforeseen circumstances.

One of the most exciting benefits is the 4th night free, which can significantly lower the total cost of a hotel stay. This benefit applies to stays booked fully with points, and it's essential to note that it doesn't average the cost per night, but rather applies to the 4th night specifically.

Extended warranty protection and purchase protection are also included, giving you added security when making purchases. The auto rental collision damage waiver is another valuable benefit, providing coverage in case of accidents or damage to rental vehicles.

Here are the standard benefits for all three IHG cards: