IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card review: Hotel perks for no annual fee
| 17X | Earn up to 17 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts. |
| 3X | Earn 3 points per $1 spent on purchases on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants. |
| 2X | Earn 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases. |
Editor's Note
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card overview
The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is IHG's no-annual-fee card option. With this card, you could earn up to 17 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels and resorts. Plus, cardholders can also earn elevated reward rates at gas stations, on some of their monthly bills and at restaurants. Still, while the IHG Traveler Card offers some useful IHG-related perks, it may not be your best choice. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐½
*Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
IHG offers two personal cobranded Chase cards to help customers rack up points and maximize their stays.
One of these is the no-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card. It's aimed at travelers who want to earn IHG points on their purchases without incurring an annual fee. However, if you frequently stay at IHG properties, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is likely a better option.
We recommend applicants have a credit score of 670 or higher to increase their chances of approval.
Now, let's take a closer look at the IHG One Traveler Card so you can decide whether it is right for you.
Related: Earn extra points at your favorite restaurants with IHG One Rewards Dining
IHG One Rewards Traveler pros and cons
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IHG One Rewards Traveler Card welcome offer
New applicants for the IHG Traveler Card can earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases on the card in the first three months from account opening.
According to TPG's January 2025 valuations, IHG One Rewards points are worth 0.5 cents each, making this bonus worth $500.
The best-ever offer we've seen on this card was 120,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening (no longer available).
We recommend applying anytime the welcome offer is above 80,000 points, so if you've been thinking about applying for the card, now is a great time to do so.
You may be eligible for the IHG One Traveler Card (and its sign-up bonus) if you satisfy all of the following requirements:
- Don't currently have a personal (not business) IHG One Rewards card
- Haven't earned a sign-up bonus on a personal IHG card in the last 24 months
- Are under Chase's 5/24 rule
Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions
IHG One Rewards Traveler benefits
As with even the best no-annual-fee cards, the IHG One Traveler Card doesn't offer many luxury perks. Here's a quick overview of the card's main benefits and perks.
Fourth reward night benefit
Each time you redeem points for a stay of four or more nights, every fourth night will cost zero points. Once you're a cardholder, this discount will be automatically applied when you redeem IHG points for eligible stays.
Save 20% on point purchases
You'll get a 20% discount whenever you buy IHG points with your card. But you can't combine this discount with other promotions, such as when IHG points are on sale. And IHG sometimes offers a much better 100% bonus when you purchase points.
So, although I often buy IHG points when the 100% bonus drops the purchase price to 0.5 cents per point, I don't find the 20% discount appealing.
Automatic Silver status (with a path to Gold)
IHG One Traveler cardholders enjoy automatic Silver Elite status in the IHG One Rewards program. This tier includes a 20% bonus on hotel stays, priority check-in and points that don't expire.
In addition, you can buy your way to Gold Elite status when you spend $20,000 on your card each calendar year. This tier includes a 40% bonus on hotel stays and rollover elite nights for status the following year.
No foreign transaction fees
Many credit cards don't charge foreign transaction fees; however, there are few cards on that list without an annual fee. If you travel abroad frequently, it's worth having at least one credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.
Related: How to maximize longer hotel stays by using a free night benefit
Earning points on the IHG One Rewards Traveler
When you use your IHG One Traveler Card to make purchases, you'll earn:
- 5 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels and resorts (2.5% return, based on TPG's January 2025 valuations)
- 3 points per dollar spent at gas stations, monthly bills and restaurants (1.5% return)
- 2 points per dollar spent on everything else (1% return)
These returns aren't great, even compared to other no-annual-fee cards.
Still, there are several sub-$100 annual fee cards that offer solid perks on top of great earning rates, which equate to greater returns on spending, in various categories.
For example, the $95 annual fee Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns 2 points per dollar spent on travel purchases, while the $95 annual fee Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) earns 2 miles per dollar spent on almost all purchases.
The IHG One Traveler Card also isn't a good choice for everyday purchases. After all, it only provides a 1.5% return at gas stations and restaurants, plus a 1% return on other purchases. Several cash-back credit cards — like the no-annual-fee Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees) — offer a 2% return on all purchases (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay).
Related: The best credit cards for each bonus category
Redeeming points on the IHG One Rewards Traveler
There are many options for redeeming IHG One Rewards points. Not surprisingly, you'll get the best value from your points when you redeem for IHG hotel stays.
TPG's January 2025 valuations peg IHG points at just 0.5 cents each, which is paltry when you consider that alternatives like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card earn points worth over 2 cents apiece.
However, it's possible to maximize redemptions with the IHG One Rewards program and get value from your points. Here are a few ways you can do so.
IHG has dynamic award pricing — meaning that the cost of booking a reservation fluctuates with demand and seasonality — but there are some good deals to be found. However, one downside to dynamic pricing is that you should more carefully consider when to use your points versus cash for a stay.
At TPG, we try to use our points when we know we can get better than face value for any given redemption. With a card like the IHG Traveler, it makes the most sense to book stays of four nights or longer to utilize the fourth reward night benefit.
You can also book stays using a combination of Points + Cash. For a given room, you'll typically see a chart with discounts from the full nightly award rate in increments of 5,000 points.
On a Points + Cash booking, you're essentially buying the extra points needed to complete the redemption. So, if you cancel your room, your refund will be given solely in points. I rarely book Points + Cash rates since it's usually a better value to use just points. However, it's worth checking whether the math works out on each booking.
TPG contributing editor Matt Moffitt likes to use his IHG One Rewards points for four-night award stays. Since he has the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, he gets the fourth night free on award redemptions. He usually targets Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties to stretch his points but occasionally splashes out on a Kimpton or InterContinental property.
Related: How to earn and redeem points with IHG One Rewards partners
Transferring points on the IHG One Rewards Traveler
IHG One has more than 40 airline transfer partners, but we recommend avoiding this redemption option when possible as points transfer at a nearly 5:1 ratio, which is on the lower side.
The transfer process can be cumbersome, especially if you're calling the IHG One Rewards Service Center to help you sort out a transfer. IHG is generally slow to process transfers, with some reporting that it took up to six weeks for their points to transfer.
You can also transfer your points to other IHG One members starting at $5 per 1,000 points and free for Diamond and IHG Business Rewards Program members up to 500,000 points per calendar year.
Which cards compete with the IHG One Rewards Traveler?
If you don't mind paying an annual fee, consider these alternatives to the IHG One Traveler card.
- If you want more IHG perks: The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card has a $99 annual fee and provides automatic Platinum Elite status, a free night award each account anniversary, $50 of United TravelBank credit each year and reimbursement for your application fee to Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus every four years. It also has higher earning rates than the IHG One Rewards Traveler. For more information, read our full review of the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card.
- If you want more flexible earnings: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has a $95 annual fee and earns high-value Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which you can transfer to IHG — plus use them with other airline and hotel programs. Other key perks include a 10% anniversary points bonus and up to $50 in annual hotel credits. For more information, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.
- If you're a business owner and want IHG perks: The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card has benefits like the fourth night free and a free anniversary night perk, but will not count toward your 5/24 with Chase. For more information, read our full review of the IHG One Rewards Premier Business card.
For additional options, check out our full list of the best hotel credit cards.
Related: The best credit cards for IHG stays
Is the IHG One Rewards Traveler worth it?
If you stay at IHG properties a few times per year but want elevated perks when traveling, this card may be a nice addition to your wallet. Since it doesn't have an annual fee, this card is a no-brainer if you are below 5/24 and want entry-level IHG One status and the fourth night free when booking with points.
Related: 7 ways to earn more IHG One Rewards points for your next redemption
Bottom line
The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card isn't a bad option for the occasional IHG guest, as you'll get a few IHG-related perks for no annual fee. However, if you're looking for extra perks during your IHG stays, you'll be disappointed with this card's limited benefits.
Apply here: IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card