IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card Review
Key Takeaways
The IHG One Rewards Premier Card is one of the strongest hotel cards in its price range. The annual free night certificate (worth up to 40,000 points) can easily offset the $99 annual fee if you stay at IHG properties even once per year. The card also includes a 140,000 (current special 150,000) point bonus, Platinum Elite status, 4th night free on award stays, and several useful travel perks. Even if IHG is not your primary hotel chain, the brand can be especially valuable for road trips, small towns, and international travel where other hotel programs may have fewer options.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
The IHG One Rewards Premier Card offers strong value both upfront and long term. The 140,000 (current special 150,000) point bonus comes with a relatively low spending requirement of $3,000 (currently $3,000) within the first 3 months, and the $99 annual fee is easy to justify with the annual free night certificate worth up to 40,000 points.
You can also add IHG points to the free night certificate to book more expensive properties. Another standout perk is the “4th night free” benefit on award stays. If you book four consecutive nights with points, the fourth night costs zero points. This benefit stacks as well, meaning an eight-night award stay would include two free nights.
Additional Perks
- Complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status
- $25 United TravelBank credit twice per year
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS credit
- Strong earning rates:
- 5x points on travel, dining, and gas stations
- Up to 26x points at IHG properties:
- 10x from the card
- 10x as an IHG Rewards member
- 6x from Platinum Elite status
When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply
Here are some exceptions where the card might not be good for you:
- You don’t ever stay at IHG properties so the free night per year would be wasted
What to Know About IHG One Rewards
IHG is our “utility” hotel points system. If you just need a night or two, and aren’t looking for glitz and glamor, IHG points go a long way.
- The IHG brand consists mostly of Holiday Inns, which are in nearly every small town or international city you might want to stay. We use it as the Hyatt’s “not there” filler.
- There are also several luxury hotels part of IHG’s umbrella, and while redemptions can be high, there is plenty of variety in IHG properties
- The generous sign-up bonuses (especially if you wait for a special offer) will cover 6-8 nights per card.
- IHG is part of the Chase partner rewards system, but IHG redemptions can be very high, so this isn't usually a great transfer option except for topping off.
How The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card Fits In The IHG One Rewards Ecosystem
IHG offers one other personal card:
- IHG One Rewards Traveler: No annual fee, a 80,000 point bonus after $2,000 in purchases within 3 months, 4th night free on award stays, Silver Elite status, and several bonus spending categories.
If you do not plan to keep an IHG card long term, the Traveler card may seem appealing because it has no annual fee. However, we generally recommend getting the Premier first because of the larger welcome bonus and annual free night certificate. You can always downgrade to the Traveler later if you decide the annual fee is no longer worth paying.
Be aware of the IHG Personal 1/24 Rule, which prevents you from earning a bonus on another personal IHG card for 24 months after receiving one. For example, if you earn the Traveler card bonus first, you will not be eligible for the Premier card bonus for the next 24 months.
If you are approaching Chase’s 5/24 limit, consider the IHG One Rewards Premier Business card instead. It does not count toward 5/24 and offers benefits that are very similar to the personal Premier card.
My Experience, No Filter
This was one of the first hotel-branded personal cards we got. The free anniversary night makes holding this card worth the $99 annual fee. We've never used the "4th night free" perk, only because we prefer extended stays at Hyatts while vacationing. But if you're whetted to IHG properties, the 4th free night could make this card a screaming deal for you.
Card Information
Differentiating Perks
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Historical Card Offers
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IHG One Rewards Premier Application Rules
You're not eligible for a new card bonus if you have received a bonus from either personal IHG card within the last 24 months
Chase applications will be declined if 5 new cards have been added to your personal credit report in the past 24 months.
You'll be declined if you apply for a third Chase card of any kind within 30 days
Chase will decline your application you apply for a 5th Chase card (personal or BUSINESS) in 6 months
Best for Series
Below is a snapshot of where this card performs best compared to the other cards in our database:
