IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card evaluate: Full particulars

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card (see rates and fees) is IHG’s no-annual-fee card possibility. With this card, you would earn as much as 17 factors per greenback spent at IHG inns and resorts. Plus, cardholders may 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 Score*: ⭐⭐½

*Card Rating 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 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 wish to earn IHG factors on their purchases with out incurring an annual fee. Nonetheless, if you happen to steadily keep at IHG properties, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (see rates and fees) is probably going a greater possibility.

We suggest candidates have a credit score of 670 or greater to extend their possibilities of approval. Let’s take a better have a look at the IHG One Traveler Card so you’ll be able to resolve if it is best for you.

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

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 supply ends July 23.

In line with TPG’s Might 2025 valuations, IHG One Rewards factors are value 0.5 cents every, making this bonus value $600.

This matches the best supply 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 supply is above 80,000 factors, so if you happen to’ve been excited about making use of for the cardboard, now is a good time to take action.

You could be eligible for the IHG One Traveler Card (and its welcome bonus) if you happen to fulfill the entire following necessities:

• You do not at present 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 ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions

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

Fourth reward evening 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 will likely be robotically utilized while you redeem IHG factors for eligible stays.

Save 20% on level purchases

You may get a 20% low cost everytime you buy IHG points together with your card. However you’ll be able to’t mix this low cost with different promotions, similar to when IHG factors are on sale. And IHG typically presents a significantly better 100% bonus while you buy factors.

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

Automated 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 resort stays and factors that do not expire.

As well as, you should buy your solution to Gold Elite standing by the top of the subsequent calendar 12 months while you spend $20,000 in your card every calendar 12 months. This tier features a 40% bonus on resort stays and rollover elite nights for standing the next 12 months.

No overseas transaction charges

Many mid-tier bank cards do not cost foreign transaction fees; nevertheless, there are only a few playing cards on that record that do not cost an annual price. When you journey overseas steadily, it is value having a minimum of one bank card that does not cost overseas transaction charges.

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

• 5 factors per greenback spent at IHG inns 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 Might 2025 valuations)
• 3 factors per greenback spent at gas stations, utilities (web, cable, telephone and choose streaming providers) and dining, together with eligible takeout (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 playing cards.

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

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

The IHG One Traveler Card additionally is not a good selection 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% while you purchase and 1% while you pay).

Associated: The best credit cards for each bonus category

There are numerous choices for redeeming IHG One Rewards points. Not surprisingly, you may get the perfect worth out of your factors while you redeem for IHG resort stays.

TPG’s Might 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 well-liked card earn factors value over 2 cents apiece.

Nonetheless, it is attainable to maximize redemptions with the IHG One Rewards program and get worth out of your factors. Listed here are just a few methods you are able to do so.

IHG has dynamic award pricing — that 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 it’s best to extra rigorously take into account when to make use of your points versus cash for a keep.

At TPG, we attempt to use our factors after we know we will 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 can too e-book stays utilizing a mixture of Factors + Money. For a given room, you may sometimes see a chart with reductions from the total nightly award fee in increments of 5,000 factors.

On a Factors + Money reserving, you are basically shopping for the additional factors wanted to finish the redemption. So, if you happen to cancel your room, your refund will likely be given solely in factors. I not often 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 maths 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 (see rates and fees), he will get the fourth evening 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 IHG points via stays, credit cards and more

The switch course of might be cumbersome, particularly if you happen to’re calling the IHG One Rewards Service Center that can assist you type out a switch. IHG is usually gradual to course of transfers, with some reporting that it took as much as six weeks for his or her factors to switch.

You can too transfer your points to other 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.

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

Which playing cards compete with the IHG One Rewards Traveler?

When you do not thoughts paying an annual price, take into account these options to the IHG One Traveler card.

For added choices, try our full lists of the perfect hotel credit cards and the perfect playing cards for IHG stays.

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is not a nasty possibility for the occasional IHG visitor, as you may get just a few IHG-related perks for no annual price. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re in search of additional perks throughout your IHG stays, you may be dissatisfied with this card’s restricted advantages.

Apply right here: IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card