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IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
- Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
- APR20.99% - 27.99% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$99
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Sign Up Bonus
140,000IHG One Rewards Points
Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening Dollar Equivalent: $700 (140,000 IHG One Rewards Points * 0.005 base)
Aside from its astounding sign-up bonus, this card offers tons of value, especially for loyal IHG customers, like a free Reward Night on your account anniversary and Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier card member. Plus, it offers a Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA Pre✓® fee credit every four years, and IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at a variety of hotels.
A Loyalty Card for One of the Most Popular Hotel Chains in the World
New IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card cardholders can earn 140,000 IHG One Rewards bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first three months from account opening. On top of that, new cardholders can also earn up to $100 in IHG® statement credits on purchases at IHG hotels and resorts during the first 12 months from account opening.
IHG is one of the most popular hotel chains in the world, and rewards points with this card are redeemable for hotel stays at any IHG property including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Kimpton, EVEN Hotels, Indigo Hotels and Holiday Inn. The IHG Premier’s generous sign-up bonus can go a long way toward booking your next vacation.
Pros
- Generous rewards rate on IHG Hotels and Resorts purchases
- Automatic IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status which gets you perks like upgrades
- Free reward night every account anniversary, with the potential to be worth hundreds of dollars
Cons
- Has an annual fee
- Only makes sense if you plan to stay at IHG properties
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card Bonus
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card makes a splash with its biggest sign-up bonus ever for new cardmembers. You can earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first three months from account opening. On top of that, new cardholders can also earn up to $100 in statement credits on purchases at IHG properties during the first 12 months from account opening.
Reward night redemptions range from as little as 10,000 points to over 70,000 points per night. The IHG One Rewards Premier card's sign-up bonus alone could net you at least 4-6 nights at many IHG properties worldwide.
IHG One Rewards Premier Features
In addition to the generous sign-up bonus, the IHG One Rewards Premier card offers a range of benefits that IHG loyalists will find helpful.
Free Night Each Year
Aside from its valuable sign-up bonus, the IHG One Rewards Premier card offers tons of value, especially for loyal IHG customers. You get a free anniversary night certificate every year for use at eligible IHG hotels.
Free Reward Night for Four-Night Hotel Stays
When you redeem points for a consecutive four-night stay at any IHG hotel, enjoy your fourth night free at the same hotel during the same stay.
Complimentary Platinum Elite Status
The IHG card also comes with Platinum Elite Status, which gives you room upgrades, priority check-in, complimentary internet and much more. Plus you get a credit for up to $100 for Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA Pre✓® fees every four years.
Rewards Rate
IHG loyalists have the most to gain with this co-branded hotel credit card with the potential to earn up to 26x points per dollar spent at select IHG hotels and resorts. Here's how:
- 10x IHG points per dollar spent at IHG Hotels & Resorts using your IHG One Rewards Premier card
- Up to 10x IHG points just for being an IHG One Rewards member
- Up To 6x IHG points for being an IHG Platinum Elite member—a perk of the card
You can earn points with the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card outside of IHG purchases too. You can earn:
- 5x points per dollar spent on travel, dining or at gas stations
- 3x points per dollar spent on all other purchases
Benefits
Having the IHG One Rewards Premier card automatically upgrades you to Platinum Elite status as long as you keep your card open and your Rewards membership is in good standing.
Platinum Elite status earns cardholders several extra benefits, including:
- Free anniversary night: Cardholders receive a free reward night certificate after each account anniversary year. The free reward night is good for use at select IHG® hotels and resorts, and you can redeem one for as little as 10,000 points. Your free anniversary night expires 12 months from the date it was issued.
- Free night for four-night stays: When you redeem points to book a four-night consecutive stay with IHG, enjoy a free reward night.
Platinum Elite status also comes with enhanced resort services during stays at IHG properties. Some of the extra amenities you’ll receive include:
- Free room upgrades
- Guaranteed room availability
- Late check-out
- Priority check-in
- Welcome gift
- Customized stay preferences
Other Travel Benefits
Along with Platinum Elite status, being a IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card cardholder gives you access to other valuable travel perks that could come in handy. Depending on how often you travel, the most valuable perk could be the Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA Pre✓® credit fee attached to this card.
Cardholders are eligible for a $100 credit every four years as reimbursement for the Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA Pre✓® application fee. The credit card’s other travel perks include:
- Baggage delay insurance
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- Purchase protection
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Fees
We already touched on the $99 annual fee, but there are other fees you may run into when using your IHG credit card.
| Fee | Yes/No |
|---|---|
|
Annual Fee |
Yes |
|
Balance transfer fee |
Yes |
|
Foreign transaction fees |
No |
|
Late payment fees |
Yes |
|
Returned payment fees |
Yes |
Annual Fee
The Rewards Premier Credit Card has an $99 annual fee. Be sure you can take advantage of the many travel perks and maximize rewards earning each year to justify paying the annual fee.
Variable APR
With no introductory 0% APR offer, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card comes with a variable APR based on your creditworthiness. APRs fluctuate throughout the year as card issuers adjust rates to the market. The 20.99% - 27.99% (Variable) APR is comparable to other hotel co-branded credit cards.
Credit Score
Most credit card issuers don’t publicly disclose credit score requirements to qualify for specific cards. The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is designed for people with good to excellent credit scores.
It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with your current credit scores before applying for a new credit card. There are three major credit bureaus in the U.S., and you can check and monitor your credit scores for free. Using a free service like Experian Boost™ can help increase your credit score.
Redeeming Your IHG One Rewards Points
There’s a world of redemption options available through IHG One Rewards, but the best value is using points for stays at IHG hotels and resorts. There are over 6,000 IHG properties worldwide with reward nights available for as little as 10,000 points. You can accelerate your rewards by booking stays using points and cash too.
You can also use your rewards points for a wide range of redemptions. Point values vary based on the redemption. Other redemption options include:
- Online shopping
- Gift cards
- Entertainment digital downloads
- Transfer to one of IHG’s partner airlines
- Access to exclusive experiences and events
- Magazine subscriptions
- Transfer to another IHG One Rewards member
- Donate to an IHG partner charity
What Are IHG Points Worth?
While redemption value will vary depending on the property, our points and miles guide values IHG points at 0.5 cents per point.
IHG One Rewards Points Expiration
Because the IHG One Rewards Premier Card comes with Platinum Elite Status, your IHG points never expire and are always redeemable. Only members at Club status level can have points expire, but even then it’s avoidable by booking a stay or earning or redeeming points once every 12 months.
IHG Hotels and Resorts
The IHG brand is home to over 6,000 resorts worldwide. They have properties that fit most travel needs, whether you’re looking for economical accommodations for your family, a luxury retreat or long-term stays. Currently, 18 brands make up the IHG family:
- Atwell Suites
- Avid Hotels
- Candlewood Suites
- Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts
- Even Hotels
- Hualuxe Hotels & Resorts
- Holiday Inn
- Holiday Inn Club Vacations
- Holiday Inn Express
- Hotel Indigo
- Iberostar Beachfront Resorts
- Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts
- Kimpton Hotels & Resorts
- Regent Hotels & Resorts
- Six Senses Hotels, Resorts & Spas
- Staybridge Suites
- Vignette Collection
- Voco
With properties around the globe, IHG One Rewards Premier cardholders can use their IHG One Rewards points to stay almost anywhere in the world.
Here's a look at how many IHG points you'll need for reward night certificates at some popular IHG resorts.
Holiday Inn Club Vacations At Orange Lake Resort
Located minutes from Walt Disney World Theme Parks, Orange Lake Resort is a massive 1,450-acre property featuring one, two and three-bedroom villas. There’s plenty to do at the resort, with four golf courses, multiple restaurants, mini-golf, a kids’ center and a water park. A free night at Orange Lake Resort costs 40,000 points.
Holiday Inn St. Louis Downtown Convention Center
This Holiday Inn hotel is close to several popular St. Louis attractions including Gateway Arch and the Anheuser Busch Brewery. It’s located next to America's Convention Center & Dome. A free night at Holiday Inn St. Louis Downtown Convention Center costs 17,000 points.
The InterContinental® Presidente Cozumel Resort Spa
This luxury Caribbean resort and spa features a beachside infinity pool, an unbelievable spa, high-end resorts and its own scuba diving center. A free night at The InterContinental® Presidente Cozumel Resort Spa costs around 40,000 points.
Holiday Inn Resort Aruba-Beach Resort & Casino
Located in Palm Beach, This IHG resort and casino features beachside pools, unlimited recreation options, a rejuvenating spa, a casino and its own shopping mall. A free night at Holiday Inn Resort Aruba-Beach Resort & Casino costs around 50,000 points.
Compare Card Features Is One Better Than the Other?
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IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
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IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
Compare IHG Cards
The IHG Premier Card is not the only IHG co-branded credit card available from Chase. There is also the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card. The main difference between these cards is that the Traveler card has no annual fee. The sign-up bonus is smaller with the Traveler card, but it's still a considerable amount of points for a no-annual-fee card.
The Traveler card is also missing other valuable perks featured with the Premier card, including a free anniversary night, elevated hotel status and the Global Entry / NEXUS / TSA Pre✓® credit. You’ll earn less for IHG stays too, maxing out at 17x per dollar spent on resort stays.
If you’re a huge IHG fan, you could get both cards, but since they both earn in the same spending categories, it doesn’t make a ton of sense to go this route.
For a more in-depth comparison of the two IHG One Rewards credit cards, check out our comparison guide.
IHG One Rewards Premier vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred
There’s no doubting the value of the IHG Premier Card. But if you’re looking for flexible travel rewards, you may be better off with another popular Chase rewards card — the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
The card comes with a generous sign-up bonus offer and access to Chase Ultimate Rewards, one of the most versatile credit card rewards programs. Ultimate Rewards points provide great value, especially when used to book travel within the Ultimate Rewards portal. Redeemable points can also be transferred to a host of third-party airline and hotel travel partner programs, including IHG One Rewards.
Chase 5/24 Rule
It’s worth noting that the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is subject to Chase’s unwritten 5/24 rule. While this is an unofficial rule, it's one well known within the travel rewards community, and something to keep in mind anytime you apply for a new credit card.
Here’s how the Chase 5/24 rule eligibility works: If you’ve opened five or more new credit card accounts, with Chase or another card issuer, in the last 24 months, most likely you’ll be denied for any new Chase credit cards. Take stock of your current credit cards before applying for the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card.
Is the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card Right for You?
Rewards earning is accelerated for IHG purchases, with 26x points per dollar spent at IHG hotels. You’ll also earn 5x points for fuel, dining and travel purchases and 3x points for all other purchases.
The Rewards Premier Credit Card comes with Platinum Elite status, a free anniversary night every year and a free reward night for redeeming rewards to book a consecutive four-night IHG hotel stay.
It’s also great for international travel because there are no foreign transaction fees associated with this Chase credit card.
Ready to Apply for the IHG One Rewards Premier card? Start here.
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Kevin Payne
Kevin Payne is a personal finance, credit card, and travel writer. He is the family travel and budget expert behind FamilyMoneyAdventure.com. Kevin lives in Cleveland, Ohio, with his wife and four kids. His work has appeared on several websites, including FinanceBuzz, Credit Karma, Millennial Money, Club Thrifty, Student Loan Planner and Slickdeals.
