IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card overview: Full particulars

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card (see charges and charges) is IHG’s no-annual-fee card possibility. With this card, you can earn as much as 17 factors per greenback spent at IHG resorts and resorts. Plus, cardholders may earn elevated reward charges at fuel stations, on a few of their month-to-month payments and at eating places. Nonetheless, whereas the IHG Traveler Card gives some helpful IHG-related perks, it might not be your best option. Card Score*: ⭐⭐½

*Card Score is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.

IHG gives two private cobranded Chase playing cards to assist prospects rack up factors and maximize their stays.

One in all these is the no-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card. It is aimed toward vacationers who wish to earn IHG factors on their purchases with out incurring an annual payment. Nonetheless, for those who ceaselessly keep at IHG properties, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card (see charges and charges) is probably going a greater possibility.

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

Associated: Earn additional 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 supply ends July 23.

In response to TPG’s Could 2025 valuations, IHG One Rewards factors are value 0.5 cents every, making this bonus value $600.

This matches the very best supply we have seen on this card, which was final provided two years in the past.

Every day Publication

Reward your inbox with the TPG Every day publication

Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists

By signing up, you’ll obtain newsletters and promotional content material and conform to our Phrases of Use and acknowledge the information practices in our Privateness Coverage. It’s possible you’ll unsubscribe at any time.

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

It’s possible you’ll be eligible for the IHG One Traveler Card (and its welcome bonus) for those who 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 last word information to bank card software restrictions

As with the finest no-annual-fee playing cards, the IHG One Traveler Card would not supply many luxurious perks. Here is a fast overview of the cardboard’s predominant 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 routinely utilized if 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 may’t mix this low cost with different promotions, resembling when IHG factors are on sale. And IHG generally gives a significantly better 100% bonus if you buy factors.

So, though I usually 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.

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 lodge stays and factors that do not expire.

As well as, you should buy your option to Gold Elite standing by way of the top of the subsequent calendar 12 months if 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 mid-tier bank cards do not cost international transaction charges; nevertheless, there are only a few playing cards on that checklist that do not cost an annual payment. Should you journey overseas ceaselessly, it is value having no less than one bank card that does not cost international transaction charges.

Associated: Easy methods to maximize longer lodge stays through the use of a free evening profit

• 5 factors per greenback spent at IHG resorts and resorts, plus 10 factors for being an IHG One member and a pair of factors with the Silver elite standing (17 factors complete, which is 8.5% return, primarily based on TPG’s Could 2025 valuations)
• 3 factors per greenback spent at fuel stations, utilities (web, cable, cellphone and choose streaming companies) and eating, together with eligible takeout (1.5% return)
• 2 factors per greenback spent on all the pieces 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 payment playing cards that supply strong perks on high of nice incomes charges, which equate to better returns on spending, in numerous classes.

For instance, the $95 annual payment Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card (see charges and charges) earns 2 factors per greenback spent on journey purchases, whereas the $95 annual payment 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 gives a 1.5% return at fuel 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) — supply a 2% return on all purchases (1% if you purchase and 1% if you pay).

Associated: The perfect bank cards for every bonus class

There are lots of choices for redeeming IHG One Rewards factors. Not surprisingly, you may get the perfect worth out of your factors if 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 well-liked card earn factors value 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 a couple of 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 is best to extra rigorously take into account when to make use of your factors versus money 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 probably the most sense to guide stays of 4 nights or longer to make the most of the fourth reward evening profit.

You can too guide stays utilizing a mix of Factors + Money. For a given room, you may usually see a chart with reductions from the total nightly award charge 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, for those who cancel your room, your refund will likely be given solely in factors. I hardly ever guide Factors + Money charges because it’s often 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 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 Categorical properties to stretch his factors, however sometimes splashes out on a Kimpton or InterContinental property.

Associated: Easy methods to earn IHG factors by way of stays, bank cards and extra

The switch course of will be cumbersome, particularly for those who’re calling the IHG One Rewards Service Middle that can assist you kind 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.

You can too 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.

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

Which playing cards compete with the IHG One Rewards Traveler?

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

For extra choices, try our full lists of the perfect lodge bank cards and the perfect playing cards for IHG stays.

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card is not a foul possibility for the occasional IHG visitor, as you may get a couple of IHG-related perks for no annual payment. Nonetheless, for those who’re searching for additional perks throughout your IHG stays, you may be disenchanted with this card’s restricted advantages.

Apply right here: IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card