MoneyGeek's Take

Best Hotel Credit Cards for IHG Loyalists in 2023

The top IHG Rewards Club credit cards typically come with spend-based welcome offers that let you earn bonus points. Whether or not you need to pay an annual fee depends on the card you select.

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This article is part of our larger series on Best Hotel Credit Cards

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Last Updated: 5/2/2023

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While Chase provides credit cards for IHG loyalists, its offerings are limited to personal users and not businesses. These cards offer higher-than-usual reward rates when you spend at IHG Hotels and Resorts and on a few bonus categories.

It is common for top IHG Rewards Club credit cards to provide bonus points through spend- and time-based welcome offers. IHG-specific perks vary from one card to the next. For example, while the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card comes with a free anniversary night each year, the IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card does not.

Using any of the existing IHG Rewards Club credit cards outside of the U.S. is ideal as they come with no foreign transaction fees. Other factors you need to consider when selecting a suitable card include annual fees, APRs and added benefits.

OUR REVIEW AT A GLANCE

Our Top 2 Picks
Summarized List of All Winners
Tips for Comparing Credit Cards

This article is part of our larger series on
Best Hotel Credit Cards

MoneyGeek’s Take: Top 2 IHG Rewards Club Credit Cards

Quick Summary

You stand to earn high reward rates at IHG Hotels and Resorts as well as on bonus categories no matter which of the top IHG Rewards Club cards you select. However, the reward rates on offer are not the same. Selecting the right card requires that you also pay attention to other important aspects such as welcome offers, annual fees, IHG-specific perks and APRs.

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
- 1–25 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
- 21.49% – 28.49% VariableAPR
- $99Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
We like the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card because it offers multiple benefits for IHG Rewards Club members. For starters, it has a good spend-based welcome bonus on offer. You earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months. Plus, you also earn 10,000 bonus points and a $100 statement credit if you spend $20,000 on purchases and make at least one additional purchase every account anniversary year.
You earn up to 26X reward points when you spend at IHG properties. Spending on travel, dining and at gas stations comes with 5X points. All other eligible purchases earn 3X points. When it comes to redeeming your points, you get to choose from reward nights, online shopping, magazine subscriptions, airline miles, and more.
Once you get your IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card, you get IHG Rewards Club Platinum Elite status automatically. This qualifies you for a reward night after each account anniversary. When you use your points to pay for three or more nights, you get an additional reward night.
Not having to pay foreign transaction fees can lead to savings when you use this card outside of the U.S. Other benefits come in the form of Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance and purchase protection.
The IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card comes with an $99 annual fee.
Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
- 1–2 Points per $1Rewards Rate
- 21.49% – 28.49% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
We recommend the no-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card to people who frequently stay at properties that are part of the InterContinental Hotels Group and wish to earn reward points faster. You earn up to 17X points per dollar at IHG Hotels and Resorts. Purchases at restaurants, gas stations and grocery stores come with 2X points, and you get 1X points on all other purchases.
If you spend $10,000 or more on purchases in a calendar year, you get Gold Elite Status that remains valid until the end of the following year. If you redeem your points for stays of four or more nights, you get a free reward night. This card is perfect to use outside of the U.S. as it comes with no foreign transaction fees.
Additional benefits include purchase protection and travel insurance coverage.
Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.

Summary of the Best Hotel Cards for IHG Loyalists

Go through the corresponding IHG Rewards Club credit cards comparison table to determine how these cards fare against each other based on parameters such as annual fees, reward rates and the credit needed to apply.

>>MORE: BEST CREDIT CARDS FOR MARRIOTT LOYALISTS IN 2022

Credit Card
Best For
Avg. Reward Rate
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
A fantastic card for earning rewards when you stay at IHG hotels and resorts.
1–25 Points per $1*
$99
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
Great card for earning points fast for IHG loyalists
1–2 Points per $1
$0

MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

While the IHG Premier Card charges an annual fee, it comes with automatic Platinum Elite status and includes an annual free night certificate worth up to 40,000 points. These two benefits easily justify the card's annual fee if you plan on staying at an IHG hotel this year. -- Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com

How to Compare Hotel Credit Cards & Intro Offers

While you don’t get many options to choose from, the IHG credit cards currently on offer come with varied features and benefits. As a result, selecting one requires paying attention to different aspects.

Rewards Rate

The IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card lets you earn up to 15x points at IHG Hotels and Resorts; 2x points at restaurants, grocery stores and gas stations; and 1x points on all other purchases. If you get the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card, you earn up to 25x points at IHG Hotels and Resorts. Reward rates on the other bonus categories are the same as the IHG Rewards Club Traveler Card.

Welcome offers

You might stand to earn bonus points if you meet some basic spend-based requirements as a new cardholder. For example, spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months might qualify you to earn 80,000 bonus points.

Annual fees

The IHG Rewards Club Traveler Card makes for a good no-annual-fee alternative. The IHG Rewards Club Premier Card charges an $89 annual fee.

IHG Elite status

These vary depending on the card you get. If you spend $10,000 or more on purchases by using your IHG Rewards Club Traveler Card, you get Gold Elite status that remains valid until the end of the following year. The IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card offers complimentary Platinum Elite status just for being a cardholder, which includes perks like 50% bonus points on paid stays, elite rollover nights and complimentary room upgrades.

Fourth night free on award stays

Both the Traveler and the Premier Card offer the fourth night free when booking a stay of four or more nights with your points. This benefit is a savvy way to get even more value from your rewards.

APRs

If you plan to roll balances over from one billing cycle to the next, you might be better off looking at what low-interest credit cards have to offer. This is because the interest you end up paying might overshadow the value of the rewards you earn.

Foreign transaction fees

The credit cards for IHG loyalists currently on offer come with no foreign transaction fees. However, this aspect requires your attention if you plan to get any other credit card that offers high reward rates on spending at hotels.

Additional benefits

Other card-specific benefits include purchase protection, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit.