Best IHG credit cards

With more than 6,000 destinations around the globe, International Hotel Group (IHG) hotels are a popular choice for all types of travelers. Whether you’re booking on a budget or seeking a luxury experience, you can earn rewards for every stay with an IHG credit card.

Compare the three IHG cards below based on their annual fee, rewards rates and perks.

Top IHG cards

Best for occasional IHG guests

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5

4.1

Learn More in our Bankrate review

• Bankrate’s view

  For starters, you’ll earn up to 17X points on IHG stays with the IHG One Rewards Traveler card. That’s because it offers 5X points for using the card, up to 10X points for being an IHG One Rewards member and up to 2X points for having Silver Elite status — another card perk. You’ll also get 3X points on common expenses like monthly bills, gas and dining and 2X on everything else. For no annual fee, the card is a handy one for infrequent IHG travelers.

• Pros & cons

  

  Pros

  • Redeem points for a night’s stay at an IHG hotel.
  • Get your fourth night free when redeeming for three nights.

  

  Cons

  • The card’s points aren’t worth nearly as much when redeemed for anything other than a hotel stay.
  • You could find comparable rewards rates and more redemption flexibility with a general travel card.

Best for IHG loyalists

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5

4.6

Learn More in our Bankrate review

• Bankrate’s view

  If you’re willing to pay a $99 annual fee, you can tap into even more rewards on IHG stays — 10X points with the IHG One Rewards Premier card, up to 10X points for being a rewards member and up to 6X points for having automatic Platinum Elite Status. Plus, get a generous 5X points on travel, gas and dining. The anniversary free night, valued up to $280, helps justify the annual fee.

• Pros & cons

  

  Pros

  • Reap an exceptionally high rewards rate on IHG stays, as well as a statement credit and bonus points after spending a certain amount each year.
  • The fourth night free (after three nights redeemed), anniversary free night and expedited airport security add value to this annual fee card.

  

  Cons

  • Points aren’t worth as much outside of hotel redemptions.
  • If you don’t stay at IHG hotels often, you may not get enough value from the card.

Best for business travelers

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

• Bankrate’s view

  This business card offers the same high rewards rate as the Premier card above, as well as 5X points on certain business expenses. This is a solid option for business owners and their employees who often travel for work and like to stay at IHG hotels.

• Pros & cons

  

  Pros

  • The first year of rewards, free nights and a welcome bonus can easily justify the annual fee and set you up for several hotel stay redemptions.
  • Enjoy Platinum Elite Status, a statement credit for expedited airport security and other benefits.

  

  Cons

  • Other business travel cards offer more flexible redemptions on flights and rental cars.
  • If you don’t travel for work, a general business card would be a better fit.

Comparing the best IHG cards

IHG cards typically require a good-to-excellent credit score. If you have bad or fair credit, consider our top picks for hotel cards for bad credit.

How to choose a hotel credit card

If you prefer to stay at IHG brands and are eyeing the cards above, here’s how to choose one. To compare other cards with more flexible rewards or different hotel brands, check out our picks for the best hotel credit cards.

• Consider how often you stay at IHG hotels. If you only stay once or twice a year, you might be better off with the no annual fee IHG One Rewards Traveler card or a general travel card. But if you stay multiple times a year, the high rewards rates and free nights of the Premier cards offer more value.
• Decide how much elite status you want. The no annual fee IHG card automatically grants you Silver Elite status, while the $99 cards get you Platinum Elite status. The former offers 20 percent bonus points and late checkout, while the latter tacks on 60 percent bonus points, complimentary room upgrades, early check-in and more. Learn more about the IHG loyalty program.
• Weigh the card’s value against the annual fee. You get some basic benefits with the Traveler card, like a fourth night free. But if you pay the $99 annual fee for a Premier card, you get a better welcome bonus and rewards rates, statement credit for expedited airport security, annual perks and more. Whether you can justify the fee depends on how much you’ll use those extra benefits.

Best ways to redeem IHG points

Bankrate values IHG points at .7 cents based on the median values for budget, mid-tier and luxury hotel bookings. You’ll get the most bang for your buck by redeeming IHG points for hotel stays. And if you’re going on a trip for more than one night, it’s best to book four nights in a row, so the last award night is free.

You can also transfer your points to partner airlines — including American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue and United Airlines — or redeem them for event tickets, catalog purchases, gift cards and more. But your points lose value when you redeem them for anything other than a hotel booking.

The credit cards also let you save 20 percent on point purchases if you need to buy more to cover a stay.

Finally, don’t miss the IHG One Rewards Dine & Earn program. Enrollment is free, and you can add to your points stash by dining at participating restaurants.

What’s next?

The bottom line

Choosing the right IHG credit card can help you earn free stays on your next vacation or business trip. Plus, tap into Elite status and other perks that come with being a cardholder.

But if you’re not loyal to IHG and want to keep your redemption options open, a general travel rewards card might work better for you — and you can still cover IHG stays with the rewards you earn.

Frequently asked questions

• How much are IHG rewards worth?

  IHG points don’t have a standard value, but depend on your redemption choice. If you’re redeeming for a hotel stay, the rewards value can vary by time of year, location and destination. You’ll see the points value when you go to book a stay. That said, Bankrate estimates IHG rewards are worth .7 cents each.

  IHG points are worth less when redeemed with airlines, for purchases or as cash. Learn more about how much IHG points are worth.

• Do IHG points expire?

  IHG points don’t expire for elite members, and IHG cardholders automatically receive Silver or Platinum Elite status. But if your account is not in good standing or closed, you could lose your points and status.

  IHG points expire for non-elite members if there’s no account activity for 12 months.

• How many IHG points do you need for a free night?

  IHG cardholders automatically get a fourth night free when redeeming points for three nights, and Premier cardholders also get an anniversary free night up to a 40,000-point redemption.

  When it comes to using your rewards to book a hotel room, Bankrate estimates you’ll need between 5,000 and 120,000 points for a free night at IHG. It all depends on the type of destination, season, day of the week and other variables.

*Information about the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The issuer did not provide the content, nor is it responsible for its accuracy.