IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card review: Full ...

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card (see rates and fees) is IHG’s no-annual-fee card choice. With this card, you could possibly earn as much as 17 factors per greenback spent at IHG motels and resorts. Plus, cardholders may earn elevated reward charges at fuel stations, on a few of their month-to-month payments and at eating places. Nonetheless, whereas the IHG Traveler Card presents some helpful IHG-related perks, it will not be your best option. Card Ranking*: ⭐⭐½

*Card Rating is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.

IHG presents two private cobranded Chase playing cards to assist clients rack up factors and maximize their stays.

Considered one of these is the no-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card. It is geared toward vacationers who need to earn IHG factors on their purchases with out incurring an annual fee. Nonetheless, should you regularly keep at IHG properties, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (see rates and fees) is probably going a greater choice.

We suggest candidates have a credit score of 670 or greater to extend their possibilities of approval. Let’s take a better have a look at the IHG One Traveler Card so you possibly can determine if it is best for you.

New candidates for the IHG Traveler Card earn two free nights (every night time valued as much as 50,000 factors) plus 40,000 bonus factors after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

That is the best offer we have now seen on the cardboard, and the inclusion of free nights as a part of the welcome supply has by no means been supplied earlier than for this no-annual-fee card. The free nights, together with the bonus factors, provide you with 140,000 bonus factors, value $700 primarily based on TPG’s September 2025 valuations.

We suggest making use of anytime the welcome supply is above 80,000 factors.

You could be eligible for the IHG One Traveler Card (and its welcome bonus) should you fulfill the entire following necessities:

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Associated: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions

As with 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 primary advantages and perks.

Fourth reward night time profit

Every time you redeem factors for a keep of 4 or extra nights, every fourth night will cost zero points. As soon as you are a cardholder, this low cost shall be routinely utilized if you redeem IHG factors for eligible stays.

Save 20% on level purchases

You will get a 20% low cost everytime you buy IHG points together with your card. However you possibly can’t mix this low cost with different promotions, resembling when IHG factors are on sale. And IHG generally presents a significantly better 100% bonus if you buy factors.

Lead author Katie Genter usually buys IHG factors when the 100% bonus drops the acquisition value to 0.5 cents per level, however she would not discover the 20% low cost interesting.

Computerized Silver standing (with a pathway to Gold)

IHG One Traveler cardholders take pleasure in computerized Silver Elite standing within the IHG One Rewards program. This tier features a 20% bonus on lodge stays and factors that do not expire.

As well as, you should buy your approach to Gold Elite standing via the tip of the following calendar yr if 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 the next yr.

No international transaction charges

Many mid-tier bank cards do not cost foreign transaction fees; nonetheless, there are only a few playing cards on that checklist that do not cost an annual payment. Should you journey overseas regularly, it is value having at the very least one bank card that does not cost international transaction charges.

Associated: Maximize your rewards by getting a fourth or fifth night free on award stays

While you use your IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card to make purchases, you will earn:

• 5 factors per greenback spent at IHG motels and resorts, plus 10 factors per greenback for being an IHG One member and a couple of factors per greenback because of Silver elite standing (17 factors whole, which is an 8.5% return, primarily based on TPG’s September 2025 valuations)
• 3 factors per greenback spent at dining (together with eligible takeout), gas stations and utilities (cable, web, telephone and choose streaming providers) (1.5% return)
• 2 factors per greenback spent on all the pieces 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 fee cards that supply stable perks on high of nice incomes charges, which equate to larger returns on spending, in varied classes.

For instance, the $95 annual payment Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) earns 2 factors per greenback spent on travel purchases, whereas the $95 annual payment Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earns 2 miles per greenback spent on virtually all purchases.

The IHG One Traveler Card additionally is not a sensible choice for on a regular basis purchases. In any case, it solely gives a 1.5% return at fuel 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 Cash® Card (see rates and fees) — offer a 2% return on all purchases (1% if you purchase and 1% if you pay).

Associated: The best credit cards for each bonus category

There are various choices for redeeming IHG One Rewards points. Not surprisingly, you will get the most effective worth out of your factors if you redeem for IHG lodge stays.

TPG’s September 2025 valuations peg IHG factors at simply 0.5 cents every, which is paltry when you think about that alternate options just like the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked card earn factors value over 2 cents apiece.

Nonetheless, it is potential to maximize redemptions with the IHG One Rewards program and get worth out of your factors. Listed here are just a few methods you are able to do so.

IHG has dynamic award pricing — which means that the price of reserving a reservation fluctuates with demand and seasonality — however there are some good offers to be discovered. Nonetheless, one draw back to dynamic pricing is that it’s best to extra rigorously contemplate when to make use of your points versus cash for a keep.

At TPG, we attempt to use our factors after we know we will get higher than face worth for any given redemption. With a card just like the IHG Traveler, it makes probably the most sense to e book stays of 4 nights or longer to make the most of the fourth reward night time profit.

You can too e book stays utilizing a mixture of Factors + Money. For a given room, you will usually see a chart with reductions from the total nightly award charge in increments of 5,000 factors.

On a Factors + Money reserving, you are primarily shopping for the additional factors wanted to finish the redemption. So, should you cancel your room, your refund shall be given solely in factors. Lead author Katie Genter, not often e book Factors + Money charges because it’s often a greater worth to make use of simply factors. Nonetheless, 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 Business Credit Card, he will get the fourth night time free on award redemptions.

He often targets Vacation Inn and Vacation Inn Categorical properties to stretch his factors, however often splashes out on a Kimpton or InterContinental property.

Associated: Chase credit cards: Best time to apply based on offer history

The switch course of might be cumbersome, particularly should you’re calling the IHG One Rewards Service Center that can assist you kind out a switch. IHG is usually sluggish to course of transfers, with some reporting that it took as much as six weeks for his or her factors to switch.

You can too transfer your points to other 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.

Associated: How to earn IHG points via stays, credit cards and more

For added choices, take a look at our full lists of the most effective hotel credit cards and the most effective playing cards for IHG stays.

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is not a foul choice for the occasional IHG visitor, as you will get just a few IHG-related perks for no annual payment. Nonetheless, should you’re on the lookout for further perks throughout your IHG stays, you will be upset with this card’s restricted advantages.

Apply right here: IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card