IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card assessment: Full particulars

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

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

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card affords quite a lot of perks for vacationers who continuously stick with IHG. For instance, you will get automated Platinum Elite standing so long as you are a cardholder. The cardboard additionally affords a novel 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 a number of instances a 12 months might get ample worth from the IHG Premier Card.

One perk alone — the anniversary free night time 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 price every year. Premier cardmembers can even high off their award nights with factors, permitting you to make use of the certificates to remain at higher-priced accommodations just like the Six Sense Laamu within the Maldives.

Observe that the really useful credit score rating for this card is at the least 670. Now, let’s take a look at whether or not the IHG Premier Card is an efficient 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 value $700.

Observe that you just will not be eligible for this card (or its bonus) when you at the moment have any IHG private bank card or have earned a welcome bonus on one other IHG private bank card inside the final 24 months.

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Nonetheless, this rule would not apply to holding the IHG One  Rewards Premier Enterprise Credit score Card or bonuses earned on that card.

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The IHG One Premier Card carries a comparatively modest $99 annual price. Nonetheless, the cardboard’s precise worth hinges on whether or not you will use the advantages continuously sufficient to justify that annual price. This is an summary of the cardboard’s principal 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 possibility in your certificates is not troublesome. For instance, I’ve redeemed anniversary free night time certificates for stays on the InterContinental Buenos Aires, InterContinental Madrid and Kimpton De Witt.

Observe that you should utilize a limiteless variety of factors to high off this certificates and use it for higher-priced properties. For instance, you may e-book 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 reserving straight with IHG One Rewards, room upgrades primarily based on availability at check-in, a welcome amenity and a number of other different perks. There may be additionally a pathway to Diamond Elite standing after spending $40,000 on the cardboard in a calendar 12 months.

Fourth-night-free reward: Once you redeem factors for a keep of 4 nights or longer, you will pay zero factors for each fourth night time. If you’ll find 4 nights of consecutive award house at a property you want, this may be a good way to stretch your factors even additional. In fact, the worth of this perk will depend on how continuously you redeem IHG factors for stays of 4 nights or extra.

10,000 bonus factors after spending $20,000: You will earn 10,000 bonus factors and a $100 assertion credit score after spending $20,000 in a calendar 12 months. Primarily based on TPG’s January 2025 valuations, these bonus factors are value $50; mixed with the assertion credit score, this bonus may be value as much as $150. Nonetheless, take into account whether or not you will realistically spend $20,000 in your card throughout your account anniversary 12 months — particularly when you can in any other case put these purchases on an on a regular basis spending card with a greater incomes price.

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

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

These advantages could possibly be a severe issue when selecting a brand new bank card. Nonetheless, as mentioned within the subsequent part, you will not get a excessive return price on most purchases with the IHG Premier Card.

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Resort bank cards are typically weak on the incomes entrance, however this card’s incomes price at IHG accommodations is fairly strong.

You will earn 10 factors per greenback spent at IHG accommodations and resorts. And, while you mix the ten factors per greenback spent by utilizing your card with the factors you will earn as an IHG Platinum Elite, you will 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. It is a first rate return for these bonus classes however is definitely crushed by many different playing cards.

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

However, even with IHG’s dynamic award pricing, it is nonetheless attainable to maximize IHG One Rewards redemptions. And, with a little bit little bit of looking, you may usually redeem IHG One Rewards factors for a better worth than 0.5 cents per level.

You can also combine factors and money in your award stays. In some instances, this will likely present good worth. Once you e-book this fashion, IHG sells you the additional factors after which debits your account for the complete variety of factors.

It is also value 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 attainable to maximise her IHG One Rewards factors.

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

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

So, whereas there are not any blackout dates per se, accommodations 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 accommodations, discovering worth in a cobranded card with a program they like:

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

Observe: Reader-submitted responses haven’t been edited, reviewed or accredited by the issuers nor replicate 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 fashion. Factors switch at a virtually 5:1 ratio, which is on the decrease facet. Plus, transfers from IHG have been recognized to take an prolonged time frame.

You may as well switch your factors to different IHG One Rewards members, beginning at $5 per 1,000 factors. Nonetheless, these transfers are free for Diamond and IHG Enterprise Rewards Program members as much as 500,000 factors per calendar 12 months.

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For extra choices, try our full checklist of the finest resort bank cards.

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In any case, the cardboard offers perks like automated Platinum Elite standing, a fourth-night-free reward on award stays of 4 or extra 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 score Card