IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card overview
The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card is IHG’s no-annual-fee card possibility. With this card, you may earn 5 factors per greenback at IHG accommodations and resorts in addition to 3 factors per greenback at gasoline stations, month-to-month payments and eating places with this card. Whereas the IHG Traveler Card gives some helpful IHG-related perks, it is probably not the only option for you. Card Score*: ⭐⭐1/2
*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 playing cards is the no-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card. The IHG One Traveler Card definitely has extra to supply to IHG loyalists than most no-annual-fee resort playing cards, but it surely is probably not your best option.
Specifically, if you are going to use one in every of your Chase 5/24 slots on an IHG One Rewards bank card, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card is a greater possibility for most individuals. Nonetheless, if you have already got the IHG Premier Card and need to earn one other sign-up bonus, otherwise you refuse to pay any annual charges, you would possibly need to snag the IHG Traveler Card.
So, let’s take a better have a look at the IHG One Traveler Card so you possibly can determine whether or not it’s best for you.
Who is that this card for?
The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card is for vacationers who need a option to earn IHG factors on their purchases with out incurring an annual price. Particularly, this card is finest in case you stick with IHG continuously and can use the cardboard’s fourth reward night time profit.
However, if you’d like computerized elite standing with IHG, you might be higher off with the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card. The IHG Premier Card comes with Platinum Elite standing and a slew of different perks. Plus, the IHG Premier Card’s anniversary night time can simply justify the cardboard’s $99 annual price.
Like most Chase bank cards, the IHG Traveler Card is restricted by Chase’s 5/24 rule. So, Chase will reject your software in case you’ve opened 5 or extra new playing cards throughout all issuers within the final two years. Plus, in case you get this card, it is going to take up one in every of your 5/24 slots. So, when you’ve got different Chase playing cards you need to add to your pockets, you might not need to apply for the IHG Traveler Card now.
Associated: Earn further factors at your favourite eating places with IHG Rewards Eating
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Signal-up bonus: Value $500
At the moment, the IHG Traveler Card gives a sign-up bonus of 100,000 bonus factors after spending $2,000 on purchases inside three months of account opening.
Whereas IHG factors are a few of the least beneficial factors in TPG’s month-to-month valuations (value simply 0.5 cents per level), these 100,000 bonus factors are value $500 — very strong for a card with no annual price.
It’s possible you’ll be eligible for the IHG One Traveler Card (and its sign-up bonus) in case you fulfill all the following necessities:
- Do not at the moment have a private (not enterprise) IHG Rewards card.
- Have not earned a sign-up bonus on a private IHG card within the final 24 months.
- Are beneath Chase’s 5/24 rule.
Associated: The final word information to bank card software restrictions
Fundamental advantages and perks
As is the case with even the finest no-annual-fee playing cards, the IHG One Traveler Card does not provide many luxurious perks. Here is a fast overview of the cardboard’s essential advantages and perks.
Fourth reward night time profit
Every time you redeem factors for a keep of 4 or extra nights, each fourth night time will value zero factors. As soon as you are a cardholder, this low cost can be mechanically utilized if you redeem IHG factors for eligible stays.
Associated: How you can maximize longer resort stays by utilizing a free night time profit
Save 20% on level purchases
You will get a 20% bonus everytime you purchase IHG factors together with your card. However you possibly can’t mix this low cost with different promotions, similar to when IHG factors are on sale. And, IHG typically gives a significantly better 100% bonus if you buy factors. So, though I typically 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.
Associated: When does it make sense to purchase factors and miles?
Computerized Silver standing (with a path to Gold)
IHG One Traveler cardholders will get pleasure from computerized Silver Elite standing within the refreshed IHG One Rewards program This tier features a 20% bonus on resort stays, precedence check-in and factors that do not expire.
As well as, you should purchase your option to Gold Elite standing if 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 within the following 12 months.
Associated: What’s IHG One Rewards elite standing value?
No overseas transaction charges
Many bank cards do not cost overseas transaction charges; nevertheless, there are few playing cards on that checklist with out an annual price. If you happen to journey overseas continuously, it is value having not less than one bank card that does not cost overseas transaction charges.
Associated: Here is why you continue to earn factors on purchases made in a overseas forex
How you can earn factors
While you use your IHG One Traveler Card to make purchases, you may earn:
- 5 factors per greenback at IHG accommodations and resorts (2.5% return, primarily based on TPG’s valuations).
- 3 factors per greenback at gasoline stations, month-to-month payments and eating places (1.5% return).
- 2 factors per greenback on all the pieces else (1% return).
These returns aren’t nice, even for a no-annual-fee card.
The two.5% return at IHG accommodations and resorts is not unhealthy. However, you are able to do significantly better with quite a few purchases utilizing a number of sub-$100 annual price playing cards. For instance, the $95 annual price Chase Sapphire Most popular Card earns 2 factors per greenback (for a 4% return) on journey purchases. And, the $95 annual price Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card earns 2 miles per greenback for a 3.7% return on nearly all purchases.
The IHG One Traveler Card additionally is not a sensible choice for many different purchases. In spite of everything, it solely gives a 1.5% return at gasoline stations, grocery shops and eating places, plus a 1% return on different purchases. A number of easy, cash-back bank cards provide a 2% return on all purchases. For instance, you possibly can earn 2% per greenback on all purchases — 1% if you purchase and 1% if you pay — with the no-annual-fee Citi Double Money® Card (see charges and charges).
Associated: 13 methods to refill on IHG Rewards factors
How you can redeem factors
There are various choices for redeeming IHG Rewards factors. Not surprisingly, you may get the most effective worth out of your factors if you redeem for IHG resort stays.
TPG values IHG factors at simply 0.5 cents every. Nonetheless, it is attainable to maximize redemptions with the IHG Rewards program and get rather more worth out of your factors. Listed here are just a few methods you are able to do so.
IHG has dynamic award pricing, however there are some good offers to be discovered. Nonetheless, one draw back to dynamic pricing is that you must extra rigorously think about when to make use of your factors versus money for a keep. I have a tendency to make use of factors after I can get higher than 0.5 cents per level of worth. And I nearly all the time use factors after I guide a keep of 4 nights or longer to make the most of the IHG One Traveler Card’s fourth reward night time profit. Conversely, I have a tendency to make use of money when IHG is providing a profitable resort promotion.
IHG Rewards factors can go a great distance in some areas. Listed here are a few of my favourite IHG properties within the U.S. bookable for 10,000 factors. And, in case you’re able to journey internationally, listed here are a few of the finest worldwide IHG properties bookable for 10,000 factors.
You can also use a mixture of Factors + Money to guide stays. For a given room, you may usually see a chart with reductions from the complete nightly award price 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, in case you cancel your room, your refund can 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 to see whether or not the maths works out on every reserving.
Associated: How you can earn and redeem factors with IHG Rewards companions
Competing playing cards
For IHG loyalists, you is probably not enticed by resort bank cards from different chains. Nonetheless, there are two different playing cards value contemplating as alternate options to the IHG One Traveler card.
Chase additionally points the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card, which has a $99 annual price and gives computerized Platinum Elite standing, a free night time award every account anniversary (value as much as 40,000 factors), $50 of United TravelBank credit score every year and reimbursement to your software price to World Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus (out there each 4 years). Cardholders additionally benefit from the fourth-night-free profit when redeeming factors for IHG resort stays. With the Premier card, you may earn 10 factors per greenback at IHG properties, 5 factors per greenback on journey, 5 factors per greenback on eating and gasoline and three factors per greenback on different purchases.
It is also value contemplating the Chase Sapphire Most popular Card. This card has a $95 annual price and earns Chase Final Rewards factors, which you’ll be able to switch to IHG 1:1 for redemptions — plus use them with different airline and resort applications. In truth, lots of these different choices present higher worth than utilizing your Chase factors with IHG. With the Sapphire Most popular, you may earn 5 factors per greenback on journey booked with the Chase journey portal, 5 factors per greenback on Lyft rides (by means of March 2025), 3 factors per greenback on streaming providers and on-line grocery purchases, 3 factors per greenback on eating, 2 factors per greenback on journey and 1 level per greenback on different purchases. Different key perks embody a 10% anniversary factors bonus and as much as $50 in annual resort spending credit.
Backside line
The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card is not a foul possibility. For no annual price, you may get a 2.5% return at IHG accommodations and resorts and some IHG-related perks. For vacationers who sometimes go to IHG properties however need entry to the fourth-night-free profit, it is a strong addition to your pockets. Nonetheless, in case you’re in search of further perks throughout your stays, this card lacks premium advantages.
After all, including a brand new card to your pockets could take up a beneficial Chase 5/24 slot. If you do not have plans so as to add greater than 5 playing cards to your pockets inside 24 months, you don’t have anything to fret about. However, in case you’re including playing cards to your pockets extra rapidly, you must have a plan for which playing cards you need.
Official software hyperlink: IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card
Extra reporting by Madison Blancaflor, Christina Ly and Ryan Smith.
