IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card overview
The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is IHG’s no-annual-fee card choice. With this card, you may earn 5 factors per greenback at IHG motels and resorts in addition to 3 factors per greenback at gasoline stations, month-to-month payments and eating places with this card. Whereas the IHG Traveler Card gives some helpful IHG-related perks, it is probably not the only option for you. Card Ranking*: ⭐⭐1/2
*Card Ranking is predicated 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 clients rack up factors and maximize their stays. One in all these playing cards is the no-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card. The IHG One Traveler Card definitely has extra to supply to IHG loyalists than most no-annual-fee lodge playing cards, however it is probably not your best option.
Specifically, if you are going to use certainly one of your Chase 5/24 slots on an IHG One Rewards bank card, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is a greater choice for most individuals. Nevertheless, if you have already got the IHG Premier Card and wish to earn one other sign-up bonus, otherwise you refuse to pay any annual fees, you may wish to snag the IHG Traveler Card.
So, let’s take a more in-depth have a look at the IHG One Traveler Card so you possibly can resolve whether or not it’s best for you.
Who is that this card for?
The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card is for vacationers who desire a option to earn IHG points on their purchases with out incurring an annual fee. Particularly, this card is greatest if you happen to stay with IHG frequently and can use the cardboard’s fourth reward night benefit.
However, if you need computerized elite status with IHG, it’s possible you’ll be higher off with the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card. The IHG Premier Card comes with Platinum Elite standing and a slew of different perks. Plus, the IHG Premier Card’s anniversary night can simply justify the cardboard’s $99 annual payment.
Like most Chase credit cards, the IHG Traveler Card is restricted by Chase’s 5/24 rule. So, Chase will reject your utility if you happen to’ve opened 5 or extra new playing cards throughout all issuers within the final two years. Plus, if you happen to get this card, it should take up certainly one of your 5/24 slots. So, when you’ve got other Chase cards you wish to add to your pockets, it’s possible you’ll not wish to apply for the IHG Traveler Card now.
Associated: Earn extra points at your favorite restaurants with IHG Rewards Dining
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Signal-up bonus: Price $500
Presently, the IHG Traveler Card gives a sign-up bonus of 100,000 bonus factors after spending $2,000 on purchases inside three months of account opening.
Associated: The best time to apply for these popular Chase credit cards based on offer history
Whereas IHG factors are a few of the least useful factors in TPG’s monthly valuations (value simply 0.5 cents per level), these 100,000 bonus factors are value $500 — very stable for a card with no annual payment.
Chances are you’ll be eligible for the IHG One Traveler Card (and its sign-up bonus) if you happen to fulfill all the following necessities:
- Do not at the moment have a private (not enterprise) IHG Rewards card.
- Have not earned a sign-up bonus on a private IHG card within the final 24 months.
- Are under Chase’s 5/24 rule.
Associated: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions
Predominant advantages and perks
As is the case with even the best no-annual-fee cards, the IHG One Traveler Card would not supply many luxurious perks. Here is a fast overview of the cardboard’s foremost advantages and perks.
Fourth reward night time profit
Every time you redeem factors for a keep of 4 or extra nights, each fourth night time will price zero factors. As soon as you are a cardholder, this low cost will probably be routinely utilized whenever you redeem IHG factors for eligible stays.
Associated: How to maximize longer hotel stays by using a free night benefit
Save 20% on level purchases
You will get a 20% bonus everytime you buy IHG points together with your card. However you possibly can’t mix this low cost with different promotions, corresponding to when IHG factors are on sale. And, IHG typically gives a significantly better 100% bonus whenever you buy factors. So, though I typically buy IHG points when the 100% bonus drops the acquisition worth to 0.5 cents per level, I do not discover the 20% low cost interesting.
Associated: When does it make sense to buy points and miles?
Automated Silver standing (with a path to Gold)
IHG One Traveler cardholders will take pleasure in computerized Silver Elite standing within the refreshed IHG One Rewards program This tier features a 20% bonus on lodge stays, precedence check-in and factors that do not expire.
As well as, you should buy your option to Gold Elite standing whenever you spend $20,000 in your card every calendar yr. This tier features a 40% bonus on lodge stays and rollover elite nights for standing within the following yr.
Associated: What is IHG One Rewards elite status worth?
No international transaction charges
Many bank cards do not cost foreign transaction fees; nevertheless, there are few playing cards on that checklist with out an annual payment. Should you journey overseas ceaselessly, it is value having at the very least one bank card that does not cost international transaction charges.
Associated: Here’s why you still earn points on purchases made in a foreign currency
Tips on how to earn factors
Whenever you use your IHG One Traveler Card to make purchases, you may earn:
- 5 factors per greenback at IHG motels and resorts (2.5% return, primarily based on TPG’s valuations).
- 3 factors per greenback at gas stations, month-to-month payments and restaurants (1.5% return).
- 2 factors per greenback on every thing else (1% return).
These returns aren’t nice, even for a no-annual-fee card.
The two.5% return at IHG motels and resorts is not unhealthy. However, you are able to do significantly better with quite a few purchases utilizing a number of sub-$100 annual fee cards. For instance, the $95 annual payment Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 2 factors per greenback (for a 4% return) on travel purchases. And, the $95 annual payment Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earns 2 miles per greenback for a 3.7% return on virtually all purchases.
The IHG One Traveler Card additionally is not a good selection for many different purchases. In spite of everything, it solely supplies a 1.5% return at gasoline stations, grocery shops and eating places, plus a 1% return on different purchases. A number of easy, cash-back bank cards offer a 2% return on all purchases. For instance, you possibly can earn 2% per greenback on all purchases — 1% whenever you purchase and 1% whenever you pay — with the no-annual-fee Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees).
Associated: 13 ways to stock up on IHG Rewards points
Tips on how to redeem factors
There are lots of choices for redeeming IHG Rewards points. Not surprisingly, you may get the perfect worth out of your factors whenever you redeem for IHG lodge stays.
TPG values IHG points at simply 0.5 cents every. Nevertheless, it is doable to maximize redemptions with the IHG Rewards program and get far more worth out of your factors. Listed below are just a few methods you are able to do so.
IHG has dynamic award pricing, however there are some good offers to be discovered. Nevertheless, one draw back to dynamic pricing is that you must extra rigorously think about when to make use of your points versus cash for a keep. I have a tendency to make use of factors after I can get higher than 0.5 cents per level of worth. And I virtually at all times use factors after I ebook a keep of 4 nights or longer to make the most of the IHG One Traveler Card’s fourth reward night benefit. Conversely, I have a tendency to make use of money when IHG is providing a profitable hotel promotion.
IHG Rewards factors can go a good distance in some areas. Listed below are a few of my favourite IHG properties in the U.S. bookable for 10,000 points. And, if you happen to’re able to journey internationally, listed below are a few of the best international IHG properties bookable for 10,000 points.
You can also use a mixture of Factors + Money to ebook stays. For a given room, you may usually see a chart with reductions from the complete nightly award price 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, if you happen to cancel your room, your refund will probably be given solely in factors. I hardly ever ebook Factors + Money charges, because it’s normally a greater worth to make use of simply factors. Nevertheless, it is value checking to see whether or not the mathematics works out on every reserving.
Associated: How to earn and redeem points with IHG Rewards partners
Competing playing cards
For IHG loyalists, you is probably not enticed by lodge bank cards from different chains. Nevertheless, there are two different playing cards value contemplating as options to the IHG One Traveler card.
Chase additionally points the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, which has a $99 annual payment and supplies computerized Platinum Elite standing, a free night time award every account anniversary (value as much as 40,000 factors), $50 of United TravelBank credit score every year and reimbursement on your utility payment to Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus (obtainable each 4 years). Cardholders additionally benefit from the fourth-night-free profit when redeeming factors for IHG hotel stays. With the Premier card, you may earn 10 factors per greenback at IHG properties, 5 factors per greenback on journey, 5 factors per greenback on eating and gasoline and three factors per greenback on different purchases.
It is also value contemplating the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. This card has a $95 annual payment and earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which you’ll switch to IHG 1:1 for redemptions — plus use them with other airline and hotel programs. The truth is, lots of these other options provide better value than using your Chase points with IHG. With the Sapphire Most popular, you may earn 5 factors per greenback on journey booked with the Chase travel portal, 5 factors per greenback on Lyft rides (through March 2025), 3 factors per greenback on streaming companies and on-line grocery purchases, 3 factors per greenback on eating, 2 factors per greenback on journey and 1 level per greenback on different purchases. Different key perks embody a 10% anniversary points bonus and as much as $50 in annual hotel spending credits.
Backside line
The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card is not a nasty choice. For no annual payment, you may get a 2.5% return at IHG motels and resorts and some IHG-related perks. For vacationers who sometimes go to IHG properties however need entry to the fourth-night-free profit, this can be a stable addition to your pockets. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re searching for further perks throughout your stays, this card lacks premium advantages.
After all, including a brand new card to your pockets might take up a useful Chase 5/24 slot. If you do not have plans so as to add greater than 5 playing cards to your pockets inside 24 months, you don’t have anything to fret about. However, if you happen to’re including playing cards to your pockets extra rapidly, you must have a plan for which playing cards you need.
Official utility hyperlink: IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
Extra reporting by Madison Blancaflor, Christina Ly and Ryan Smith.
