Which credit card should you use for IHG stays?

In case you’re planning your subsequent journey and have your eyes set on an IHG hotel, it is pure so that you can assume the best choice for paying could also be with an IHG One Rewards cobranded card.

That is not a nasty concept, since you’ll mechanically obtain excessive incomes charges and program-specific perks, reminiscent of elite status, whenever you maintain an IHG credit card.

However this is some expert-level recommendation: A cobranded card could not all the time be the best choice to pay for an IHG keep. That is proper — there are some situations during which one other card in your pockets could aid you maximize your earnings.

Let’s check out this record of playing cards to contemplate when reserving with IHG. A number of the choices listed could shock you.

Nonetheless, you may obtain extra worth from paying with an all-around travel rewards card that earns transferable points, which are sometimes extra worthwhile in the long term.

Listed below are some playing cards you may need to pay with, and what you may get when utilizing these playing cards:

*Worth relies on TPG’s October 2025 valuations.

**The knowledge for the American Categorical Inexperienced Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

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Which bank card must you use for IHG stays?

It is nonetheless good observe for IHG loyalists to carry its cobranded bank cards to obtain elite standing and card perks.

Nonetheless, there are lots of situations during which it is higher to drag out one other card out of your pockets to pay for the precise keep itself.

Whenever you’re making this choice, you may need to weigh two elements:

• The advantages you may obtain from the cardboard you employ to pay
• The worth of the factors you may earn from paying with that card

Take into account these calculations:

• In case you pay with the IHG One Premier or IHG One Premier Business, you may earn 10 factors per greenback spent in your keep. IHG factors are value 0.5 cents apiece. So, these 10 factors are value 5 cents.
• In case you pay with the Amex Inexperienced, you may earn 3 factors per greenback spent in your keep. Amex Membership Rewards points are value 2 cents every. So, these 3 factors are literally valued at 6 cents.

Whenever you break it down like this, it really makes extra sense to pay with the Amex Inexperienced, since these factors are extra worthwhile. We worth Membership Rewards factors increased than IHG factors as a result of they are often transferred to a variety of hotel and airline partners.

After all, it is value contemplating that non-cobranded playing cards do not unlock advantages like room upgrades on their very own. Nonetheless, you do not have to fret about this when you already maintain an IHG cobranded card.

That is as a result of merely having the cardboard unlocks these perks. You do not have to pay together with your IHG card to obtain these advantages.

So, it is smart to carry an IHG card merely to qualify for elite standing and obtain advantages, and use a distinct card with a extra worthwhile forex to pay.

You might not even have to carry an IHG card to unlock these advantages, nevertheless. That is as a result of the Sapphire Reserve‘s current overhaul added complimentary IHG Platinum standing (by way of Dec. 31, 2027) to its record of advantages. Excessive-spending people who put a minimum of $75,000 on the cardboard in a calendar 12 months unlock IHG Diamond standing.

Plus, the Sapphire Reserve gives elevated incomes charges on accommodations booked immediately with IHG (4 factors per greenback spent) and IHG accommodations booked by way of Chase Journey (8 factors per greenback spent).

That mentioned, it is value noting that utilizing a card just like the Sapphire Reserve to pay for an IHG keep by way of Chase Journey is probably not the best choice. These reservations are handled as third-party bookings, so they don’t seem to be eligible to earn IHG factors.

Even so, the Chase Ultimate Rewards factors you may earn by swiping the Sapphire Reserve will be transferred freely and immediately to IHG if it is advisable prime off your steadiness for an upcoming redemption.

Whereas there are lots of different methods to maximize those points, IHG loyalists can benefit from this. Do not forget to contemplate how this card’s $795 annual payment elements into the way you weigh the worth of those advantages.

You may additionally miss out on utilizing any elite standing perks throughout your keep when you ebook by way of Chase Journey, so be sure you contemplate that when deciding learn how to ebook (and pay).

Associated: What you need to know about direct versus third-party travel bookings

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