We may receive a commission when you use our links. Monkey Miles is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com and CardRatings. This relationship may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Monkey Miles is also a Senior Advisor to Bilt Rewards. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
I’ve personally held two IHG credit cards for years now. Why? They are fantastic “supporting cast” credit cards that yield valuable benefits at IHG properties, specifically if you are utilizing IHG One Rewards to stay. Learn about how I think of my wallet like the cast of Friends here.
Cards in this article
- IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
- Chase IHG Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
The biggest reason I keep IHG credit cards ( I have the IHG One Rewards Premier and the now retired IHG One Rewards Select ) are because the cards offer a free night every year and reduce the price of IHG stays with points. All of the currently offered IHG credit cards give you a 4th night free when using IHG One Rewards to book. This is wildly valuable if you’re staying at high end properties and changes the game if you’re teaming that with buying points.
Here’s an example of using the 4th night to stay at the Kimpton La Peer in LA
Often IHG will put their One Rewards on sale…the best deals are about $0.005 cents with the ability to buy 500k points. While this can make using points cheaper than cash without the cards, when you factor in the 4th night free benefit, it can create amazing arbitrage situations where using points is markedly cheaper than paying cash. In the example above, the Kimpton wanted over $400 a night; however, I stayed 8 nights for 300k points… or $1500 if I bought them outright using a 4th night free twice on a single stay.
Let’s take a look at the various cards, and how they may fit into your wallet as “Supporting Cast” Cards
Table of Contents
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
This is the entry level card from IHG and Chase with no annual fee, but you’d still be rocking that 4th night free when you’re using points. Honestly, any IHG status below Platinum or Diamond isn’t really worth chasing, so the comped Silver with a spend your way to Gold, isn’t of much value. IHG One Rewards has milestone rewards that are actually more valuable than status itself – with suite upgrades coming in at just 20 nights. You keep this card for the 4th night free on point bookings.
Keep in mind that if you got a welcome bonus on an IHG personal card in the past 24 months, or you’re holding an IHG Personal card, you’re ineligible for another welcome bonus. So if you choose this, you can’t then qualify for the Premier.
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
No annual fee, no fx fees, IHG Silver Status, & Get a 4th night free when you book 4 consecutive nights with points.
*If you carry a IHG personal card you are ineligible or if you received a bonus in the past 24 months + 5/24 rules apply.
Welcome Offer
80,000 Points after $2k in purchases within 3 months of account opening
Annual Fee
$0
Points Earned
IHG One Rewards
- No annual fee,
- no fx fees,
- IHG Silver Status
- Spend your way to Gold
- Get a 4th night free when you book 4 consecutive nights with points.
- Earn up to 17 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- 3x on dining, gas stations, utilities, cable, internet, phone, cell, and select streaming
- services
- 2x everywhere else
Main Cast:
Cards that earn flexible points and should be used on the bulk of your purchases.
Supporting Cast:
Cards that earn fixed points in the currency of the airline/hotel and can not be transferred at attractive rates. These cards yield benefits that make it worth keeping, but not necessarily worth putting a lot of your everyday spend on.
We keep an up to date spreadsheet that lists what the highest offers: You can find that spreadsheet here.
If you don’t want to pay an annual fee, but still get a 4th night free when using points on 4 consecutive nights…this is a great option.
Personally, I think the IHG One Rewards Premier is a much better card for $99 and comes with a free night good up to 40k points. If you didn’t feel like you got the value out it, you could always downgrade to this card after 12 months to enjoy no annual fee.
One thing to note… you can hold this card in tandem with the IHG Rewards Business card
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card – in my wallet/my choice
This is the card I have had for a few years now since its debut. The 4th night free benefit has saved me a ton of points, but I have been able to easily recoup the annual via the anniversary night which is good at properties up to 40k IHG One Rewards; however, you wish to use it at a more expensive property ( which I often do ) you can add points to it. Personally, I think this is the best way to go about using the certificate since you’re guaranteed to max out the value.
It also comes with a United travel bank credit which is deposited ( automatically ) into your United account in $25 increments: once in January, and another in July. That can be used against United flights…super easy to use.
Keep in mind that if you got a welcome bonus on an IHG personal card in the past 24 months, or you’re holding an IHG Personal card, you’re ineligible for another welcome bonus. So if you choose this, you can’t then qualify for the Traveler.
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
For the $99 annual fee, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card yields IHG One Rewards Platinum Status, a 4th night free when booking with points, an annual anniversary 40k night, and a $50 United Travel bank credit. Been in my wallet since it was released.
*Note if you have a Chase IHG One Rewards personal card or you’ve received a welcome bonus in the past 24 months you’re ineligible to add this to your wallet
Welcome Offer
140,000 IHG One Rewards after $3k within 3 months of account opening
Annual Fee
$99
Points Earned
IHG One Rewards
- Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Plus
- Good on properties up to 40k per night
- You can add points to this certificate
- Enjoy a fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG® hotel stay.
- Earn Structure
- Up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on
- travel,
- gas stations,
- restaurants.
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier cardmember
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
- Member FDIC
- No Foreign Transaction
- $99 annual fee
175k after $3k spend in 3 months is the best we’ve seen.
We keep an up to date spreadsheet that lists what the highest offers: You can find that spreadsheet here.
Main Cast:
Cards that earn flexible points and should be used on the bulk of your purchases.
Supporting Cast:
Cards that earn fixed points in the currency of the airline/hotel and can not be transferred at attractive rates. These cards yield benefits that make it worth keeping, but not necessarily worth putting a lot of your everyday spend on.
4 reasons I keep this card in my wallet
- A free anniversary award night every year you keep the card, worth up to 40k IHG One Rewards ( you can add unlimited points to this award night as well ) This easily offsets the annual fee for me.
- 4th night free when redeeming points
- Cardholder award night sales where you get notice to book in advance or exclusively for cardholders
- The United credit offset roughly half the annual fee
Chase IHG Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
This is basically a business version of the Premier. All of the stuff I said up above is a benefit of this card and the annual night easily recoups that annual fee, you get the 4th night, and the United Travel Bank credit. I plan to add this card to my wallet at some point, but just haven’t done so yet ( but then again I already have 2 IHG credit cards ).
IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
For $99 a year, this small business card yields IHG One rewards Platinum Status, a free night award certificate every year, 4th night free on award stays of 4 consecutive nights, and a $50 United Travel Bank.
Limited Time offer!
Earn up to 175,000 Bonus Points. See below in Card Benefits
Annual Fee
$99
Points Earned
IHG One Rewards
- Limited Time offer: Earn up to 175,000 Bonus Points.
- Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Plus, earn 35,000 Bonus Points after spending a total of $7,000 in the first 6 months from account opening.
- Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- These are currently valid at properties 40k points and below
- You can now add points to these nights should you want to stay at a pricier property
- Spend $60k on the card + 1 purchase and get another anniversary night
- 4th night free when redeeming points on a 4 consecutive night point redemption
- 10x at IHG Hotels & Resorts worldwide ( this is on top of the bonus you get as a IHG Rewards member )
- 5x
- travel
- gas stations
- dining/restaurants
- social media and search engine advertising
- office supply stores
- 3x everywhere else
- 5x
- Spend your way to Diamond with $40k in annual purchases
- Get a 10k bonus points and $100 statement credit when you spend $20k + one additional purchase in a year
- $50 United Travel Bank credit
- 20% off purchased points
- Can’t be stacked with points sales tho
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® Fee or NEXUS Statement Credit –
- The primary cardholder receives a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Fee Credit of up to $100 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to the Card
- Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier Business cardmember
- No Foreign Transaction
- $99 annual fee
- Member FDIC
140k after $3k spend in 3 months is the best we’ve seen
We keep an up to date spreadsheet that lists what the highest offers: You can find that spreadsheet here.
Main Cast:
Cards that earn flexible points and should be used on the bulk of your purchases.
Supporting Cast:
Cards that earn fixed points in the currency of the airline/hotel and can not be transferred at attractive rates. These cards yield benefits that make it worth keeping, but not necessarily worth putting a lot of your everyday spend on.
It’s so easy to see how the annual fee is recouped. I don’t have this card quite yet, but it’s on my list to pick up in the near future.
- A free anniversary award night every year you keep the card, worth up to 40k IHG One Rewards ( you can add unlimited points to this award night as well ) This easily offsets the annual fee for me.
- 4th night free when redeeming points on stays of 4 consecutive nights
- Cardholder award night sales where you get notice to book in advance or exclusively for cardholders
- The United credit offset roughly half the annual fee
Are IHG credit cards affected by the Chase 5/24 rule
Yes, yes they are. If your credit report shows 5 or more personal cards added to your report in the past 24 months, you won’t be eligible for any of the three. However, it’s worth noting that the business version doesn’t add to your number, but both personal cards do.
You can read more on the 5/24 rule here.
IHG Hotel Reviews
I have stayed at a ton of IHG properties around the world. Here are some to check out!
- Kimpton London – The Fitzroy
- Kimpton Glasgow The Blythswood
- Kimpton Atlanta ( Buckhead ) The Sylvan
- Kimpton West Hollywood – La Peer
- Kimpton Palomar Westwood
- Kimpton Wilshire Miracle Mile
- Kimpton Miami – Hotel Surfcomber
- Kimpton Savannah – The Brice
- Kimpton Nashville – The Aertson
- Hotel Indigo, Countrypolitan Nashville
- Intercontinental Austin
- Intercontinental New York Barclay
- Intercontinental New York Time Square
- Intercontinental London Park Lane
- Intercontinental Shanghai
- Interontinental Hong Kong
- Intercontinental Cannes
- Intercontinental Singapore
- Intercontinental Aqaba Jordan
- Intercontinental Chicago
- Intercontinental Sydney
- Intercontinental Paris Le Grand
- Intercontinental Miami
- Intercontinental David Tel Aviv
- Intercontinental Buenos Aires
- Intercontinental Cleveland
- Intercontinental Boston
- Intercontinental Johannesburg Airport
- Intercontinental Johannesburg Sandton Towers
- Six Senses Maldives Laamu
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Welcome Offer
75k Ultimate Rewards after $4k spend in 3 months
*you may find an elevated offer walking into a branch – see below
Annual Fee
$95
Points Earned
Transferrable Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 75k Ultimate Rewards after $4k spend in 3 months
- Worth $937.50 in Chase Travel℠ and way more if you maximize transfer partners
- Some people have seen Chase branches offering the following:
- 75k Ultimate Rewards After $4k spend in 3 months + 10k Ultimate Rewards after $6k in 6 months
- 5x on all travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x on dining, including eligible delivery services for takeout & dining out
- 3x on select streaming services
- 3x on online grocery purchases
- (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
- $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit via Chase Travel℠
- The begins immediately for new cardmembers and after your account anniversary for existing cardmembers
- 2x on all other travel
- 10% Anniversary Bonus
- Every year you keep the card, your total spend will yield a 10% points bonus. If you spend $10k in a year, you’ll get 1k bonus points
- Chase Sapphire Preferred continues to redeem at 1.25c in the Chase Travel℠ and the slew of other benefits remain in tact including Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver ( primary ), purchase protections, etc.
- Points are transferrable to 14 Ultimate Rewards partners
- Redeem in Chase Travel℠ for 1.25 cents per point
- No foreign transaction fees
- Suite of Travel and Purchase Coverage
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver is my favorite
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024
- $95 Annual Fee
We keep an up to date spreadsheet that lists the best ever offers: You can find that spreadsheet here.
Historically 80k is a very, very good offer and hit in both 2022 and 2023. In 2021, we saw the offer hit an all time high of 100k. Who knows if that will ever come back.
Main Cast:
Cards that earn flexible points and should be used on the bulk of your purchases.
Supporting Cast:
Cards that earn fixed points in the currency of the airline/hotel and can not be transferred at attractive rates. These cards yield benefits that make it worth keeping, but not necessarily worth putting a lot of your everyday spend on.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is exceptional starter card and offers transferrable Ultimate Rewards, and pairs well with other Chase cards.
If you carry this card alongside Chase’s cashback cards like the Chase Freedom Flex℠and Chase Freedom Unlimited® or the business versions: Ink Business Cash® , Ink Business Unlimited® you can combine the points into Preferred account and transfer into hotel and airline partners
Annual fee is quite low at $95 a year + you get a 10% anniversary bonus on points + $50 hotel credit in Chase travel.
The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.