IHG Credit Cards Review: Maximize Your Hotel Stays
Earn IHG Rewards Club points with two credit card options.The two IHG Rewards Club credit cards — IHG Rewards Club Premier card and IHG Rewards Club Traveler card — allow you to earn IHG Rewards Club points that can be redeemed for reward nights, shopping, access to exclusive events and vacation experiences, cash, flights, car rentals, digital entertainment, airline miles, charity donations and more. Reward nights can be redeemed at IHG hotels worldwide, which include InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton hotels and Holiday Inn properties.
Keep reading this IHG Rewards credit card review to determine which one is the best hotel credit card for you.
| IHG Rewards Club Credit Cards at a Glance | ||
| Card | IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card | IHG Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card |
| APR | 17.74% to 24.74% | 17.74% to 24.74% |
| Intro APR | N/A | N/A |
| Annual Fee | $89 | $29 |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | None | None |
| Rewards |
|
|
| Sign-Up Bonus | 100,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from account opening | 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months from account opening |
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons | High annual fee and no intro APR | Fewer points on IHG stays and fewer perks than the Premier Credit Card |
| Best for | Earning free hotel stays quickly and regularly | Earning free hotel stays without having to pay a high annual fee |
| Information accurate as of Sept. 26, 2018. | ||
Read: I Got Over 100 Free Hotel Nights Using My Credit Card
IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card
Although the IHG Premier credit card has a higher annual fee than the IHG Rewards Club Traveler card, the perks could be worth it. You’ll get twice as many points for every dollar spent on IHG hotel stays, plus a free hotel stay every year and up to $100 every four years as reimbursement for the Global Entry or TSA Precheck application fee. You can also earn 40,000 more bonus points as part of the sign-up offer.
Another perk of the IHG Rewards Club Premier card is automatic Platinum Elite status, which entitles you to dedicated customer service phone assistance, no blackout dates for reward nights and complimentary room upgrades. You’ll also gain access to exclusive events and have added protections on travel and purchases, including lost luggage protection and extended warranty protection.
Learn More: 50 Things Your Hotel Will Give You for Free
IHG Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card
The IHG Traveler credit card has a low annual fee of only $29. You’ll earn IHG Rewards Club points with every purchase, including five points for every $1 spent on IHG hotel stays. When you spend $10,000 in a calendar year, you’ll be upgraded to Gold Elite status, which entitles you to no blackout dates for reward nights, extended checkout and complimentary internet. The card also includes travel, purchase and fraud protection.
Click through to learn about the best travel credit cards.
More on Reward Credit Cards
- How to Travel the World for Practically Free
- 7 Best Ways to Use Credit Card Rewards Points
- Best Rewards Credit Cards
This content is not provided by the companies mentioned. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the InterContinental Hotels Group.
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