Which credit card should you use for IHG stays?

If you’re planning your next trip and considering a stay at an IHG hotel, it’s natural to think that the best way to pay might be with the IHG One Rewards co-branded card.

That’s not a bad idea, because when you hold an IHG credit card, you automatically receive high-income and program-specific benefits, such as elite status.

But here’s some expert advice: A co-branded card may not always be the best option for paying for your IHG stay. Yes, in some cases, another card in your wallet might help you maximize your earnings.

Let’s take a look at the list of cards to consider when booking with IHG. Some of the options listed may surprise you.

Compare IHG Accommodation Credit Cards

Of course, many times an IHG co-branded card may be the right choice for booking an IHG hotel.

However, you can get more value by paying with a versatile travel rewards card that earns transferable points, which are often more valuable in the long run.

Here are some cards you might want to use to pay, and what you can get when you use them:

*Value based on TPG’s October 2025 valuation.

**American Express Green Card information is collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Which credit card should you use for IHG stays?

For IHG loyalists, it’s still a good idea to hold onto its co-branded credit card to gain elite status and credit card benefits.

However, in many cases it’s better to take another card out of your wallet to pay for the actual stay.

When you make this decision, you need to weigh two factors:

• Benefits you’ll get from the card you use to pay
• The value of points you can earn by paying with this card

Consider these calculations:

• If you pay using IHG One Premier Hotel or InterContinental Hotels Group One Premium Business Classyou’ll earn 10 points for every $1 spent on your stay. IHG points are worth 0.5 cents each. So, those 10 points are worth 5 cents.
• If you pay with Amex Green, you’ll earn 3 points per $1 spent on your stay. Amex Membership Rewards points are worth 2 cents each. So, those 3 points are actually worth 6 cents.

When you break it down like this, it actually makes more sense to pay with Amex Green because the points are more valuable. We value Membership Rewards points more than IHG points because they are transferable to numerous hotel and airline partners.

Of course, it’s worth considering that non-co-branded cards by themselves won’t unlock perks like room upgrades. However, if you already have an IHG co-branded card, you don’t need to worry about this.

This is because these benefits are unlocked simply by owning the card. you don’t have Pay with your IHG card to enjoy these benefits.

So it makes sense to hold an IHG card just to get elite membership and get the benefits, and use another card and a more valuable currency to pay for it.

However, you don’t even have to have an IHG card to take advantage of these benefits. That’s because Sapphire ReserveThe recent overhaul added free IHG Platinum membership (until December 31, 2027) to its list of benefits. High-spending individuals can unlock IHG Diamond membership by depositing at least $75,000 on the card in a calendar year.

In addition, Sapphire Reserve offers higher earn rates for hotels booked directly through IHG (4 points per $1 spent) and IHG hotels booked through Chase Travel (8 points per $1 spent).

That said, it’s worth noting that using a card like the Sapphire Reserve to pay for an IHG stay through Chase Travel may not be the best option. These bookings are considered third-party bookings and therefore are not eligible to earn IHG Points.

Even so, if you need to top up your balance for an upcoming redemption, the Chase Ultimate Rewards points you earn by swiping Sapphire Reserve can be instantly transferred to IHG for free.

While there are many other ways to maximize those points, IHG loyalists can take advantage of this. Don’t forget to consider how this card’s $795 annual fee affects how you weigh the value of these benefits.

If you book through Chase Travel, you’ll also miss out on the opportunity to take advantage of any elite membership perks during your stay, so be sure to take this into consideration when deciding how to book (and pay).

Related: What you need to know about booking direct vs. third-party travel bookings

bottom line

For IHG loyalists, it’s still a good idea to have an IHG co-branded card to get benefits like elite status. However, your IHG co-branded card is not necessarily the best option for actually paying for your stay.

We don’t put much emphasis on IHG points. We generally recommend collecting more valuable transferable rewards. So another card in your wallet that earns bonus points on hotel stays might be your best option.

In general, consider keeping your IHG card for extra benefits and using a more valuable travel rewards card to actually pay for your IHG stays.

Related: From mountain peaks to seaside resorts: 7 IHG hotels for your next vacation