IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card review: Full d...

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card provides many useful perks for frequent IHG vacationers. With an annual payment of $99, nonetheless, chances are you’ll not get sufficient ongoing worth from this card if IHG One Rewards is not your major resort loyalty program. Card Score*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card provides a variety of perks for vacationers who ceaselessly stick with IHG. For instance, you may get automated Platinum Elite status so long as you are a cardholder. The cardboard additionally provides a singular fourth-night-free reward perk that permits cardholders to pay zero factors for each fourth night time when redeeming factors for award stays of 4 nights or longer.

With a strong return on IHG spending and loads of perks, IHG One Rewards loyalists will profit from this card. Even vacationers who solely stick with IHG just a few instances a yr might get ample worth from the IHG Premier Card.

One perk alone — the anniversary free night every year, legitimate for an evening costing as much as 40,000 factors — can simply present sufficient worth so that you can justify paying the IHG Premier’s annual payment every year. Premier cardmembers may prime off their award nights with factors, permitting you to make use of the certificates to remain at higher-priced inns just like the Six Sense Laamu within the Maldives.

Notice that the really useful credit score for this card is at the very least 670. Now, let us take a look at whether or not the IHG Premier Card is an effective selection for you.

New IHG One Premier Card cardholders can earn 140,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

TPG’s January 2025 valuations peg IHG factors at 0.5 cents every, making this bonus price $700.

Notice that you simply will not be eligible for this card (or its bonus) should you presently have any IHG private bank card or have earned a welcome bonus on one other IHG private bank card throughout the final 24 months.

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Nevertheless, this rule does not apply to holding the IHG One  Rewards Premier Business Credit Card or bonuses earned on that card.

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The IHG One Premier Card carries a comparatively modest $99 annual payment. Nevertheless, the cardboard’s precise worth hinges on whether or not you may use the advantages ceaselessly sufficient to justify that annual fee. This is an outline of the cardboard’s fundamental IHG-related perks:

Anniversary free night time: Cardholders obtain a reward night time certificates legitimate for a one-night resort keep at a property costing as much as 40,000 factors. This profit is annual, beginning on the primary account anniversary. Though IHG makes use of dynamic award pricing, discovering an interesting redemption choice on your certificates is not tough. For instance, I’ve redeemed anniversary free night time certificates for stays on the InterContinental Buenos Aires, InterContinental Madrid and Kimpton De Witt.

Notice that you need to use a limiteless variety of factors to prime off this certificates and use it for higher-priced properties. For instance, you’ll be able to guide a room priced at 55,000 factors utilizing the free night time plus 15,000 factors out of your IHG One Rewards account.

Complimentary IHG Platinum Elite standing: IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite members take pleasure in 60% bonus earnings on paid stays when booking directly with IHG One Rewards, room upgrades based mostly on availability at check-in, a welcome amenity and a number of other different perks. There’s additionally a pathway to Diamond Elite standing after spending $40,000 on the cardboard in a calendar yr.

Fourth-night-free reward: While you redeem factors for a keep of 4 nights or longer, you may pay zero points for every fourth night. If you will discover 4 nights of consecutive award house at a property you want, this may be a good way to stretch your factors even additional. After all, the worth of this perk will depend on how ceaselessly you redeem IHG points for stays of 4 nights or extra.

10,000 bonus factors after spending $20,000: You may earn 10,000 bonus factors and a $100 assertion credit score after spending $20,000 in a calendar yr. Primarily based on TPG’s January 2025 valuations, these bonus factors are price $50; mixed with the assertion credit score, this bonus will be price as much as $150. Nevertheless, think about whether or not you may realistically spend $20,000 in your card throughout your account anniversary yr — particularly should you can in any other case put these purchases on an everyday spending card with a greater incomes fee.

20% off when shopping for IHG factors: Save 20% in your buy of IHG factors if you pay along with your IHG Premier Card. Nevertheless, this low cost does not stack with different reductions when IHG places factors on sale. Notice that these factors are thought of non-qualifying and won’t depend towards elite qualification, so the worth will likely be minimal for many cardholders.

Moreover, IHG Premier cardholders take pleasure in the next normal perks when utilizing their card:

These advantages may very well be a critical issue when choosing a new credit card. Nevertheless, as mentioned within the subsequent part, you will not get a excessive return fee on most purchases with the IHG Premier Card.

Associated: Last-minute strategies for earning IHG One Rewards elite status

Hotel credit cards are typically weak on the incomes entrance, however this card’s incomes fee at IHG inns is fairly strong.

You may earn 10 factors per greenback spent at IHG inns and resorts. And, if you mix the ten factors per greenback spent by utilizing your card with the factors you may earn as an IHG Platinum Elite, you may earn 26 factors per greenback spent on most IHG stays.

As well as, cardmembers earn 5 factors per greenback spent on journey, eating (together with takeout and eligible supply) and gasoline purchases, plus 3 factors per greenback spent on all different purchases. This can be a first rate return for these bonus classes however is definitely overwhelmed by many other cards.

Associated: 7 ways to earn IHG One Rewards points

And though there is not any acknowledged most, the best I’ve seen is 120,000 factors per night time (excluding Six Senses, which ceaselessly prices extra).

However, even with IHG’s dynamic award pricing, it is nonetheless potential to maximize IHG One Rewards redemptions. And, with somewhat little bit of looking, you’ll be able to usually redeem IHG One Rewards points for a larger worth than 0.5 cents per level.

You can also combine factors and money on your award stays. In some instances, this will present good worth. While you guide this manner, IHG sells you the additional factors after which debits your account for the complete variety of factors.

It is also price mentioning the IHG Premier’s fourth-night-free reward perk once more. TPG bank cards editor Emily Thompson takes benefit of this perk as usually as potential to maximise her IHG One Rewards factors.

Lastly, some vacationers consider IHG’s coverage on blackout dates makes it one of many weaker resort applications for award night time availability. The phrases and situations of the IHG One Rewards program be aware the next:

There are not any blackout dates for Reward Nights, nonetheless, room stock is restricted and topic to prior sale.

So, whereas there are not any blackout dates per se, inns can restrict the variety of rooms they make accessible for award bookings.

One TPG reader really useful the IHG One Rewards Premier as a result of they take pleasure in staying with IHG inns, discovering worth in a cobranded card with a program they like:

“IHG Premier as a result of I prefer to kind [sic] of inns they provide (rooms with kitchens) and I keep in inns rather more than I fly.” — Donna P by way of a TPG publication survey

Notice: Reader-submitted responses haven’t been edited, reviewed or accepted by the issuers nor mirror TPG’s opinions of those playing cards.

Transferring factors on the IHG One Rewards Premier

IHG One has almost 40 airline switch companions, however we do not suggest utilizing your factors this manner. Factors switch at an almost 5:1 ratio, which is on the decrease facet. Plus, transfers from IHG have been recognized to take an prolonged time period.

It’s also possible to switch your factors to different IHG One Rewards members, beginning at $5 per 1,000 factors. Nevertheless, these transfers are free for Diamond and IHG Enterprise Rewards Program members as much as 500,000 factors per calendar yr.

Associated: Now you can transfer IHG points to others for free: Here’s how

For added choices, try our full listing of the best hotel credit cards.

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In spite of everything, the cardboard supplies perks like automated Platinum Elite standing, a fourth-night-free reward on award stays of four or more nights and a big bonus multiplier for IHG stays. Nonetheless, some may discover this is not the one for his or her journey and spending habits.

Apply right here: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card