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

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is IHG’s no-annual-fee card possibility. With this card, you possibly can earn as much as 17 factors per greenback spent at IHG resorts and resorts. Plus, cardholders may also earn elevated reward charges at gasoline 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 is probably not your most suitable option. Card Score*: ⭐⭐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 prospects rack up factors and maximize their stays.

One in every of these is the no-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card. It is geared toward vacationers who need to earn IHG points on their purchases with out incurring an annual fee. Nonetheless, when you often keep at IHG properties, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is probably going a greater possibility.

We suggest candidates have a credit score of 670 or increased to extend their probabilities of approval.

Now, let’s take a better have a look at the IHG One Traveler Card so you possibly can resolve whether or not it’s best for you.

Associated: Earn extra points at your favorite restaurants with IHG One Rewards Dining

New candidates for the IHG Traveler Card can earn 100,000 bonus factors after spending $2,000 on purchases on the cardboard within the first three months from account opening.

In line with TPG’s January 2025 valuations, IHG One Rewards factors are value 0.5 cents every, making this bonus value $500.

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The best-ever offer we have seen on this card was 120,000 bonus factors after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening (not accessible).

We suggest making use of anytime the welcome supply is above 80,000 factors, so when you’ve been occupied with making use of for the cardboard, now is a good time to take action.

You might be eligible for the IHG One Traveler Card (and its sign-up bonus) when you fulfill the entire following necessities:

• Do not at present have a private (not enterprise) IHG One Rewards card
• Have not earned a sign-up bonus on a private IHG card within the final 24 months
• Are underneath Chase’s 5/24 rule

Associated: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions

As with even the best no-annual-fee cards, the IHG One Traveler Card does not supply many luxurious perks. This is a fast overview of the cardboard’s predominant 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 can be robotically utilized whenever you redeem IHG factors for eligible stays.

Save 20% on level purchases

You will get a 20% low cost everytime you buy IHG points along 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 whenever you buy factors.

So, though I typically purchase IHG factors when the 100% bonus drops the acquisition value to 0.5 cents per level, I do not discover the 20% low cost interesting.

Computerized Silver standing (with a path 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, precedence check-in and factors that do not expire.

As well as, you should purchase your solution to Gold Elite standing whenever you spend $20,000 in your card every calendar 12 months. This tier features a 40% bonus on lodge stays and rollover elite nights for standing the next 12 months.

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 price. In the event you journey overseas often, it is value having not less than one bank card that does not cost international transaction charges.

Associated: How to maximize longer hotel stays by using a free night benefit

• 5 factors per greenback spent at IHG resorts and resorts (2.5% return, based mostly on TPG’s January 2025 valuations)
• 3 factors per greenback spent at gas stations, month-to-month payments and restaurants (1.5% return)
• 2 factors per greenback spent on every thing else (1% return)

These returns aren’t nice, even in comparison with different no-annual-fee cards.

Nonetheless, there are a number of sub-$100 annual fee cards that supply strong perks on high of nice incomes charges, which equate to higher returns on spending, in numerous classes.

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

The IHG One Traveler Card additionally is not a sensible choice for on a regular basis purchases. In spite of everything, it solely supplies a 1.5% return at gasoline 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% whenever you purchase and 1% whenever you pay).

Associated: The best credit cards for each bonus category

There are lots of choices for redeeming IHG One Rewards points. Not surprisingly, you will get the very best worth out of your factors whenever you redeem for IHG lodge stays.

TPG’s January 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 a number of 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 you must extra fastidiously think about when to make use of your points versus cash for a keep.

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

It’s also possible to e-book stays utilizing a mixture of Factors + Money. For a given room, you will 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 primarily shopping for the additional factors wanted to finish the redemption. So, when you cancel your room, your refund can be given solely in factors. I hardly ever e-book Factors + Money charges because it’s normally 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 normally targets Vacation Inn and Vacation Inn Categorical properties to stretch his factors however often splashes out on a Kimpton or InterContinental property.

Associated: How to earn and redeem points with IHG One Rewards partners

The switch course of could be cumbersome, particularly when you’re calling the IHG One Rewards Service Center that will help you type out a switch. IHG is mostly sluggish to course of transfers, with some reporting that it took as much as six weeks for his or her factors to switch.

It’s also possible to switch your factors to different 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 12 months.

Which playing cards compete with the IHG One Rewards Traveler?

In the event you do not thoughts paying an annual price, think about these alternate options to the IHG One Traveler card.

For added choices, take a look at our full list of the best hotel credit cards.

Associated: The best credit cards for IHG stays

Associated: 7 ways to earn more IHG One Rewards points for your next redemption

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is not a nasty possibility for the occasional IHG visitor, as you will get a number of IHG-related perks for no annual price. Nonetheless, when you’re on the lookout for additional perks throughout your IHG stays, you will be dissatisfied with this card’s restricted advantages.

Apply right here: IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card