IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card overview
The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card is IHG’s no-annual-fee card choice. With this card, you may earn 5 factors per greenback at IHG resorts and resorts in addition to 3 factors per greenback at fuel stations, month-to-month payments and eating places with this card. Whereas the IHG Traveler Card provides some helpful IHG-related perks, it is probably not your best option for you. Card Ranking*: ⭐⭐1/2
*Card Ranking is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
IHG provides two private cobranded Chase playing cards to assist clients rack up factors and maximize their stays. Certainly one of 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, however it is probably not your most suitable option.
Particularly, if you are going to use one among your Chase 5/24 slots on an IHG One Rewards bank card, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card is a greater choice for most individuals. Nonetheless, if you have already got the IHG Premier Card and wish to earn one other sign-up bonus, otherwise you refuse to pay any annual charges, you may wish to snag the IHG Traveler Card.
So, let’s take a better have a look at the IHG One Traveler Card so you may 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 technique to earn IHG factors on their purchases with out incurring an annual price. Particularly, this card is greatest in case you stick with IHG regularly and can use the cardboard’s fourth reward night time profit.
However, if you need computerized elite standing with IHG, it’s possible you’ll 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 utility 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 would take up one among your 5/24 slots. So, you probably have different Chase playing cards you wish to add to your pockets, it’s possible you’ll not wish to apply for the IHG Traveler Card now.
Associated: Earn additional factors at your favourite eating places with IHG Rewards Eating
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Signal-up bonus: Value $500
Presently, the IHG Traveler Card provides a sign-up bonus of 100,000 bonus factors after spending $2,000 on purchases inside three months of account opening.
Associated: One of the best time to use for these common Chase bank cards primarily based on provide historical past
Whereas IHG factors are among the least precious factors in TPG’s month-to-month valuations (price simply 0.5 cents per level), these 100,000 bonus factors are price $500 — very stable 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 presently 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 underneath Chase’s 5/24 rule.
Associated: The last word information to bank card utility restrictions
Important advantages and perks
As is the case with even the greatest no-annual-fee playing cards, the IHG One Traveler Card does not provide many luxurious perks. This is a fast overview of the cardboard’s major 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 shall be mechanically utilized while you redeem IHG factors for eligible stays.
Associated: Easy methods to 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 along with your card. However you may’t mix this low cost with different promotions, similar to when IHG factors are on sale. And, IHG typically provides a significantly 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.
Associated: When does it make sense to purchase factors and miles?
Automated Silver standing (with a path to Gold)
IHG One Traveler cardholders will take pleasure in 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 buy your technique to Gold Elite standing while you spend $20,000 in your card every calendar yr. This tier features a 40% bonus on resort stays and rollover elite nights for standing within the following yr.
Associated: What’s IHG One Rewards elite standing price?
No international transaction charges
Many bank cards do not cost international transaction charges; nevertheless, there are few playing cards on that record with out an annual price. For those who journey overseas regularly, it is price having at the very least one bank card that does not cost international transaction charges.
Associated: This is why you continue to earn factors on purchases made in a international foreign money
Easy methods to earn factors
While you use your IHG One Traveler Card to make purchases, you may earn:
- 5 factors per greenback at IHG resorts and resorts (2.5% return, primarily based on TPG’s valuations).
- 3 factors per greenback at fuel stations, month-to-month payments and eating places (1.5% return).
- 2 factors per greenback on every part else (1% return).
These returns aren’t nice, even for a no-annual-fee card.
The two.5% return at IHG resorts and resorts is not dangerous. 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 virtually all purchases.
The IHG One Traveler Card additionally is not a sensible choice for many different purchases. In any case, it solely supplies a 1.5% return at fuel 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 may earn 2% per greenback on all purchases — 1% while you purchase and 1% while you pay — with the no-annual-fee Citi Double Money® Card (see charges and charges).
Associated: 13 methods to replenish on IHG Rewards factors
Easy methods to redeem factors
There are various choices for redeeming IHG Rewards factors. Not surprisingly, you may get the perfect worth out of your factors while you redeem for IHG resort stays.
TPG values IHG factors at simply 0.5 cents every. Nonetheless, it is potential to maximise redemptions with the IHG Rewards program and get far 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 it is best to extra rigorously contemplate 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 virtually all the time use factors after I e book 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 among the greatest worldwide IHG properties bookable for 10,000 factors.
You can also use a mix of Factors + Money to e book stays. 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 primarily shopping for the additional factors wanted to finish the redemption. So, in case you cancel your room, your refund shall 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 to see whether or not the maths works out on every reserving.
Associated: Easy methods to 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 price contemplating as options to the IHG One Traveler card.
It is also price contemplating the Chase Sapphire Most popular Card. This card has a $95 annual price and earns Chase Final Rewards factors, which you’ll switch to IHG 1:1 for redemptions — plus use them with different airline and resort applications. The truth is, a lot 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 (via March 2025), 3 factors per greenback on streaming companies 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 ten% 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 nasty choice. For no annual price, you may get a 2.5% return at IHG resorts and resorts and some IHG-related perks. For vacationers who occasionally go to IHG properties however need entry to the fourth-night-free profit, this can be a stable addition to your pockets. Nonetheless, in case you’re searching for additional perks throughout your stays, this card lacks premium advantages.
In fact, including a brand new card to your pockets might take up a precious 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, it is best to have a plan for which playing cards you need.
Official utility hyperlink: IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card
Further reporting by Madison Blancaflor, Christina Ly and Ryan Smith.
