IHG A Reward Traveler Credit Card Overview
IHG A Reward Traveler Credit Card (see Rates and Fees) is IHG’s No Daily Fee Card option. With this card you can earn up to 17 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels and resorts. In addition, cardholders can also increase their reward rates at gas stations, certain monthly bills and restaurants. Nevertheless, while the IHG Traveler card offers some useful IHG related privileges, this may not be the best option for you. Card rating*: ⭐⭐½
*Card ratings are based on the opinions of TPG editors and are not affected by the card issuer.
IHG offers two personal shared chase cards to help clients improve points and maximize their accommodation.
One of them is a not-small IHG and a reward traveler credit card. It is aimed at travelers who want to purchase IHG points without incurring annual fees. However, if you stay in IHG Properties frequently, an IHG reward credit card (see rates and fees) may be a better option.
We recommend that applicants have a credit score of 670 or higher to increase their chances of recognition. Let’s take a closer look at an IHG travel card so you can determine if it’s right for you.
Related: Earn the advantages of your favorite restaurants
ihg a reward traveler’s pros and cons
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ihg A reward travel card welcome discount
For a limited time, new applicants for IHG Traveler cards can earn 120,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on the card in the first three months after opening an account. This offer ends on July 23.
According to TPG’s May 2025 valuation, one bonus point for IHG is worth 0.5 cents, bringing the bonus to $600.
This matches the highest offer we saw on this card, which was last offered two years ago.
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We recommend applying anytime, anywhere, welcome discounts above over 80,000 points, so if you have been considering applying for a card, then now is a good time to do so.
If you meet all the following requirements:
- You currently don’t have a personal IHG reward card (although the IHG Premier business card is OK)
- You have not received a registration bonus for your personal IHG card in the past 24 months
- You are Chase’s 5/24 rule
Related: Final Guide to Credit Card Application Restrictions
IHG A Benefit for Reward Travelers
Like the best youth-free fee cards, IHG One Traveler Card doesn’t have many luxury items. Here is a quick overview of the card’s main benefits and allowances.
The fourth reward night benefit
Each fourth night costs zero points each time you redeem four or more stays. Once you are a cardholder, this discount will be automatically applied when you redeem IHG points for a qualified stay.
Save 20% on purchase points
Whenever you purchase IHG points using your card, you get a 20% discount. However, you cannot combine this discount with other promotions, such as IHG points at sale. And, when you buy points, IHG sometimes offers a better 100% bonus.
So while I often buy IHG points when the 100% bonus drops the purchase price to 0.5 cents per point, I find the 20% discount attractive.
Automatic silver state (with gold path)
IHG A Traveler Cardholder enjoys automatic silver medal elite status in an IHG rewards program. This floor includes 20% bonus and unexpired points on hotel accommodation.
Additionally, you can buy the way to get the Golden Elite status at the end of the next calendar year, when you spend $20,000 on the card per calendar year. This level includes a 40% bonus for the following year’s hotel accommodation and status of the rolling elite night.
No foreign transaction fees
Many mid-level credit cards do not charge foreign transaction fees; however, there are few cards on this list that do not charge annual fees. If you travel abroad frequently, you are worth at least one credit card that does not charge foreign transaction fees.
Related: How to use free night benefits to maximize longer hotel accommodation
Win points on IHG
When you purchase with IHG a travel card, you will earn:
- 5 points spent at IHG hotels and resorts, plus 10 and 2 points from an IHG member, earned Silver Elite status (total 17 points, total revenue of 8.5%, based on TPG’s May 2025 valuation)
- At gas stations, utilities (Internet, cable, telephone and featured streaming services) and catering (including qualified takeaways) (return 1.5%)
- Spend 2 cents per dollar (1% return)
These returns are not good even compared to other unpopular cards.
Still, several annual fee cards under $100 offer reliable allowances at a favorable rate of income, which equates to a higher return on spending in various categories.
For example, the $95 annual fee Chase SapphirePreferred® card (see Fees & Fees) spends every 2 minutes on travel purchases, while the $95 annual fee one ticket bonus one stock bonus credit card earns 2 miles on nearly all purchases.
IHG is not a good choice for daily purchases. After all, it only offers 1.5% returns at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% returns on other purchases. Several cash back credit cards (such as Citi double cash cards with no annual fees (see Fees and Fees)) provide a return rate of 2% for all purchases (1% at purchase and 1% at payment).
Related: Best Credit Cards for Each Bonus Category
IHG’s Redemption Point A Reward Traveler
There are many options to redeem IHG for a reward point. Not surprisingly, when you redeem your IHG hotel accommodation, you will get the best value.
TPG’s May 2025 valuation of PEG IHG points is just 0.5 cents, which is trivial when you think alternatives to alternatives like Chase Sapphire Preferred Card can get a replacement worth more than 2 cents.
However, it is possible to maximize redemption and gain value from your point of view through an IHG rewards program. There are several ways you can do this.
IHG has dynamic reward pricing – which means the cost of booking bookings fluctuates with demand and seasonality – but some good deals can be found. However, one downside of dynamic pricing is that you should think more carefully about when to use perspective rather than cash to stay.
In TPG, we try to use our perspective when we know that we can be better than the face value in any given redemption. With IHG Traveler’s card, bookings for four nights or more can be made to take advantage of the fourth bonus night benefits.
You can also book your accommodation using a point + cash combination. For a given room, you usually see a chart and get a discount from the full night reward rate in increments of 5,000 points.
In a Points + Cash Booking, you are actually buying the extra points you need to complete the redemption. Therefore, if you cancel the room, the refund will be provided only with points. I rarely book points + cash rates because using points is usually better value. However, it is worth checking if math is available on every reservation.
TPG contributor Matt Moffitt likes to use his IHG one bonus point for four nights. He received a fourth night reward redemption as he owned an IHG rewarded quality business credit card (see Fees & Fees).
He usually extends points for Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties, but occasionally splashes on Kimpton or InterContinental properties.
Related: How to get IHG points through accommodation, credit cards, etc.
Transfer points to a reward traveler on IHG
IHG ONE has more than 35 airline transfer partners, but we recommend avoiding this redemption option when possible as a fractional transfer of nearly 5:1 ratio, which is on the lower side.
The transfer process can be a hassle, especially when you call IHG a rewards service center to help you organize your transfer. IHGs are usually slow to process, with some reports saying their scores take up to six weeks.
You can also transfer points to a member of another IHG starting at $5 per 1,000 points, free for Diamond and IHG Business Rewards program members, up to 500,000 points per calendar year.
Related: 7 Ways to Earn More IHG for Your Next Redemption
Which card competes with IHG One Reward Traveler?
If you don’t mind paying an annual fee, consider these alternatives to using IHG one travel card.
For other options, check out our full list of our best hotel credit cards and the best cards for IHG accommodation.
Is IHG a reward traveler worth it?
If you live in IHG Properties several times a year but want to increase your privileges while traveling, this card may be a good addition to your wallet. Since it doesn’t have an annual fee, this card is effortless if you’re under 5/24 and want an entry-level IHG a status and a fourth night booking.
Bottom line
For occasional IHG guests, IHG-award traveler credit card is not a bad option, as you will receive some IHG-related stipends without an annual fee. However, if you are looking for additional allowances during your IHG stay, the limited benefits of this card will be disappointed.
Apply here: IHG Reward Traveler Credit Card
