Quick highlights
- Rewards rate: Up to 26X points at IHG properties (10 points as a cardholder in addition to 16 points per dollar earned as an IHG One Rewards Club member), 5X points on gas, restaurants and grocery, 3X points on other purchases
- Welcome offer: Earn five Free Nights after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Purchase intro APR: N/A
- Balance transfer intro APR: N/A
- Regular APR: 21.49 percent to 28.49 percent variable APR
Current sign-up bonus
New IHG Premier cardholders can earn five Free Nights after spending $4,000 in their first three months, which could be worth anywhere from 25,000 points to 300,000 points total depending on where and when you book. IHG values Free Nights at up to 30,000 points each, but the booking portal also notes that nights can be booked starting at 5,000 points each. Based on Bankrate's latest hotel point valuations, which give IHG points an average value of around 0.7 cents, this new bonus could be worth around $175 ($35 per 5,000-point night) to $2,100 ($420 per 30,000-point night) in IHG stays. This has the potential to be one of the most valuable offers available for a premium card of its caliber. Just be sure to pay attention to the points required for each Free Night you use since low-value stays could also flip this intro offer into one of the lowest values available.
Likewise, the current offer could far outclass the standard offer this card previously carried — 140,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first three months — and even a 165,000-point offer we've seen this card provide in the past for the same $3,000, three-month spend. That means the current sign-up bonus is well worth pouncing on if you can take advantage of the stellar potential.
Rewards
Earning rewards
Every purchase with your IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card earns you points toward your next hotel stay. For every $1 spent with your IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, you can earn up to 26 points on stays at IHG properties, 5 points on restaurants, gas or groceries and 3 points on everything else.
The up to 26X rewards rate technically breaks down as 10x points for paying with your IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, 10X points for being a member of the free IHG Rewards program, which is automatic upon card approval if you’re not already a member, and 6X points for having Platinum Elite Status, which also comes with the card.
Redeeming rewards
While redeeming points for stays at IHG hotels is by far the best use of your rewards, you have a few other (less valuable) options, including gift cards and merchandise. You can also transfer IHG points (typically at a poor rate) to a number of airline partners, including Delta and United.
Although there are no blackout dates for IHG One Rewards Club members, there may be limited availability for rooms that can be booked with points. A room’s point value depends on the property and type of room, with higher-end hotels requiring more points per night than a basic room at a Holiday Inn.
The Fourth Night Reward bonus allows you to have a complimentary fourth night when you redeem your points for a consecutive four-night stay. That’s like getting a 25 percent bonus when you use your points in this way. You can enjoy this reward an unlimited number of times per year.