IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card evaluate: Full particulars

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card (see charges and charges) is IHG’s no-annual-fee card choice. With this card, you can earn as much as 17 factors per greenback spent at IHG accommodations 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 might not be your most suitable option. Card Ranking*: ⭐⭐½

*Card Ranking relies 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 score Card. It is aimed toward vacationers who need to earn IHG factors on their purchases with out incurring an annual price. Nonetheless, for those who steadily keep at IHG properties, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card (see charges and charges) is probably going a greater choice.

We suggest candidates have a credit score rating of 670 or increased to extend their possibilities of approval. Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at the IHG One Traveler Card so you possibly can resolve if it is best for you.

Associated: Earn further factors at your favourite eating places with IHG One Rewards Eating

For a restricted time, new candidates for the IHG Traveler Card can earn 120,000 bonus factors after spending $2,000 on purchases on the cardboard within the first three months after opening an account. This provide ends July 23.

Based on TPG’s Could 2025 valuations, IHG One Rewards factors are price 0.5 cents every, making this bonus price $600.

This matches the best provide we have seen on this card, which was final supplied two years in the past.

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We suggest making use of anytime the welcome provide is above 80,000 factors, so for those who’ve been occupied with making use of for the cardboard, now is a superb time to take action.

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

• You do not presently have a private IHG One Rewards card (although the IHG Premier Enterprise card is OK)
• You have not earned a sign-up bonus on a private IHG card within the final 24 months
• You are beneath Chase’s 5/24 rule

Associated: The last word information to bank card software restrictions

As with the greatest no-annual-fee playing cards, the IHG One Traveler Card would not provide many luxurious perks. This is a fast overview of the cardboard’s foremost advantages and perks.

Fourth reward evening profit

Every time you redeem factors for a keep of 4 or extra nights, each fourth evening will value zero factors. As soon as you are a cardholder, this low cost will likely be mechanically utilized while you redeem IHG factors for eligible stays.

Save 20% on level purchases

You will get a 20% low cost everytime you purchase IHG factors together with your card. However you possibly can’t mix this low cost with different promotions, comparable to when IHG factors are on sale. And IHG generally presents a a lot better 100% bonus while 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 get pleasure from 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 purchase your method to Gold Elite standing by way of the top of the following calendar yr while 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 international transaction charges; nevertheless, there are only a few playing cards on that record that do not cost an annual price. In case you journey overseas steadily, it is price having not less than one bank card that does not cost international transaction charges.

Associated: How you can maximize longer lodge stays through the use of a free evening profit

• 5 factors per greenback spent at IHG accommodations and resorts, plus 10 factors for being an IHG One member and a couple of factors with the Silver elite standing (17 factors whole, which is 8.5% return, primarily based on TPG’s Could 2025 valuations)
• 3 factors per greenback spent at gasoline stations, utilities (web, cable, cellphone and choose streaming providers) and eating, together with eligible takeout (1.5% return)
• 2 factors per greenback spent on the whole lot 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 price playing cards that supply stable perks on high of nice incomes charges, which equate to higher returns on spending, in varied classes.

For instance, the $95 annual price Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and charges) earns 2 factors per greenback spent on journey purchases, whereas the $95 annual price Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score 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 offers 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 Money® Card (see charges and charges) — provide a 2% return on all purchases (1% while you purchase and 1% while you pay).

Associated: The most effective bank cards for every bonus class

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

TPG’s Could 2025 valuations peg IHG factors at simply 0.5 cents every, which is paltry when you think about that options just like the Chase Sapphire Most popular card earn factors price over 2 cents apiece.

Nonetheless, it is doable to maximize redemptions with the IHG One Rewards program and get worth out of your factors. Listed below 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 you need to extra rigorously contemplate when to make use of your factors versus money for a keep.

At TPG, we attempt to use our factors after 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 probably the most sense to e-book stays of 4 nights or longer to make the most of the fourth reward evening profit.

You too can e-book stays utilizing a mixture of Factors + Money. For a given room, you will sometimes see a chart with reductions from the complete 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, for those who cancel your room, your refund will likely be given solely in factors. I not often e-book Factors + Money charges because it’s often a greater worth to make use of simply factors. Nonetheless, it is price 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 Enterprise Credit score Card (see charges and charges), he will get the fourth evening free on award redemptions.

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

Associated: How you can earn IHG factors through stays, bank cards and extra

The switch course of will be cumbersome, particularly for those who’re calling the IHG One Rewards Service Heart that can assist you kind out a switch. IHG is mostly gradual to course of transfers, with some reporting that it took as much as six weeks for his or her factors to switch.

You too can 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 yr.

Associated: 7 methods to earn extra IHG One Rewards factors on your subsequent redemption

Which playing cards compete with the IHG One Rewards Traveler?

In case you do not thoughts paying an annual price, contemplate these options to the IHG One Traveler card.

For added choices, take a look at our full lists of one of the best lodge bank cards and one of the best playing cards for IHG stays.

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card is not a nasty choice for the occasional IHG visitor, as you will get just a few IHG-related perks for no annual price. Nonetheless, for those who’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 score Card