IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card review: Full details

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card gives many helpful perks for frequent IHG vacationers. With an annual payment of $99, nonetheless, it’s possible you’ll not get sufficient ongoing worth from this card if IHG One Rewards is not your major lodge loyalty program. Card Score*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

*Card Rating is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card gives loads of perks for vacationers who incessantly stick with IHG. For instance, you will get automated Platinum Elite status so long as you are a cardholder. The cardboard additionally gives a novel fourth-night-free reward perk that permits cardholders to pay zero factors for each fourth night time when redeeming factors for award stays of 4 nights or longer.

With a stable return on IHG spending and loads of perks, IHG One Rewards loyalists will profit from this card. Even vacationers who solely stick with IHG a number of instances a 12 months might get ample worth from the IHG Premier Card.

One perk alone — the anniversary free night annually, legitimate for an evening costing as much as 40,000 factors — can simply present sufficient worth so that you can justify paying the IHG Premier’s annual payment annually. Premier cardmembers also can high off their award nights with factors, permitting you to make use of the certificates to remain at higher-priced inns just like the Six Sense Laamu within the Maldives.

Word that the really helpful credit score for this card is no less than 670. Now, let us take a look at whether or not the IHG Premier Card is an efficient alternative for you.

New IHG One Premier Card cardholders can earn 140,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

TPG’s January 2025 valuations peg IHG factors at 0.5 cents every, making this bonus value $700.

Word that you simply will not be eligible for this card (or its bonus) for those who presently have any IHG private bank card or have earned a welcome bonus on one other IHG private bank card throughout the final 24 months.

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Nevertheless, this rule would not apply to holding the IHG One  Rewards Premier Business Credit Card or bonuses earned on that card.

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The IHG One Premier Card carries a comparatively modest $99 annual payment. Nevertheless, the cardboard’s precise worth hinges on whether or not you will use the advantages incessantly sufficient to justify that annual fee. This is an summary of the cardboard’s foremost IHG-related perks:

Anniversary free night time: Cardholders obtain a reward night time certificates legitimate for a one-night lodge keep at a property costing as much as 40,000 factors. This profit is annual, beginning on the primary account anniversary. Though IHG makes use of dynamic award pricing, discovering an interesting redemption possibility to your certificates is not tough. For instance, I’ve redeemed anniversary free night time certificates for stays on the InterContinental Buenos Aires, InterContinental Madrid and Kimpton De Witt.

Word that you should use a limiteless variety of factors to high off this certificates and use it for higher-priced properties. For instance, you may e-book a room priced at 55,000 factors utilizing the free night time plus 15,000 factors out of your IHG One Rewards account.

Complimentary IHG Platinum Elite standing: IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite members get pleasure from 60% bonus earnings on paid stays when booking directly with IHG One Rewards, room upgrades primarily based on availability at check-in, a welcome amenity and a number of other different perks. There may be additionally a pathway to Diamond Elite standing after spending $40,000 on the cardboard in a calendar 12 months.

Fourth-night-free reward: Whenever you redeem factors for a keep of 4 nights or longer, you will pay zero points for every fourth night. If you’ll find 4 nights of consecutive award house at a property you want, this may be an effective way to stretch your factors even additional. After all, the worth of this perk is dependent upon how incessantly you redeem IHG points for stays of 4 nights or extra.

10,000 bonus factors after spending $20,000: You will earn 10,000 bonus factors and a $100 assertion credit score after spending $20,000 in a calendar 12 months. Based mostly on TPG’s January 2025 valuations, these bonus factors are value $50; mixed with the assertion credit score, this bonus will be value as much as $150. Nevertheless, think about whether or not you will realistically spend $20,000 in your card throughout your account anniversary 12 months — particularly for those who can in any other case put these purchases on an everyday spending card with a greater incomes fee.

20% off when shopping for IHG factors: Save 20% in your buy of IHG factors once you pay together with your IHG Premier Card. Nevertheless, this low cost would not stack with different reductions when IHG places factors on sale. Word that these factors are thought of non-qualifying and won’t depend towards elite qualification, so the worth will probably be minimal for many cardholders.

Moreover, IHG Premier cardholders get pleasure from the next basic perks when utilizing their card:

These advantages could possibly be a critical issue when choosing a new credit card. Nevertheless, as mentioned within the subsequent part, you will not get a excessive return fee on most purchases with the IHG Premier Card.

Associated: Last-minute strategies for earning IHG One Rewards elite status

Hotel credit cards are usually weak on the incomes entrance, however this card’s incomes fee at IHG inns is fairly stable.

You will earn 10 factors per greenback spent at IHG inns and resorts. And, once you mix the ten factors per greenback spent by utilizing your card with the factors you will earn as an IHG Platinum Elite, you will earn 26 factors per greenback spent on most IHG stays.

As well as, cardmembers earn 5 factors per greenback spent on journey, eating (together with takeout and eligible supply) and fuel purchases, plus 3 factors per greenback spent on all different purchases. This can be a first rate return for these bonus classes however is definitely overwhelmed by many other cards.

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And though there is no acknowledged most, the very best I’ve seen is 120,000 factors per night time (excluding Six Senses, which incessantly prices extra).

However, even with IHG’s dynamic award pricing, it is nonetheless attainable to maximize IHG One Rewards redemptions. And, with a little bit little bit of looking out, you may usually redeem IHG One Rewards points for a higher worth than 0.5 cents per level.

You can also combine factors and money to your award stays. In some instances, this will present good worth. Whenever you e-book this manner, IHG sells you the additional factors after which debits your account for the total variety of factors.

It is also value mentioning the IHG Premier’s fourth-night-free reward perk once more. TPG bank cards editor Emily Thompson takes benefit of this perk as usually as attainable to maximise her IHG One Rewards factors.

Lastly, some vacationers consider IHG’s coverage on blackout dates makes it one of many weaker lodge packages for award night time availability. The phrases and situations of the IHG One Rewards program observe the next:

There are not any blackout dates for Reward Nights, nonetheless, room stock is proscribed and topic to prior sale.

So, whereas there are not any blackout dates per se, inns can restrict the variety of rooms they make obtainable for award bookings.

One TPG reader really helpful the IHG One Rewards Premier as a result of they get pleasure from staying with IHG inns, discovering worth in a cobranded card with a program they like:

„IHG Premier as a result of I prefer to sort [sic] of inns they provide (rooms with kitchens) and I keep in inns far more than I fly.“ — Donna P by way of a TPG e-newsletter survey

Word: Reader-submitted responses haven’t been edited, reviewed or authorized by the issuers nor replicate TPG’s opinions of those playing cards.

Transferring factors on the IHG One Rewards Premier

IHG One has almost 40 airline switch companions, however we do not suggest utilizing your factors this manner. Factors switch at an almost 5:1 ratio, which is on the decrease aspect. Plus, transfers from IHG have been identified to take an prolonged time frame.

It’s also possible to switch your factors to different IHG One Rewards members, beginning at $5 per 1,000 factors. Nevertheless, these transfers are free for Diamond and IHG Enterprise Rewards Program members as much as 500,000 factors per calendar 12 months.

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For added choices, take a look at our full checklist of the best hotel credit cards.

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In any case, the cardboard gives perks like automated Platinum Elite standing, a fourth-night-free reward on award stays of four or more nights and a big bonus multiplier for IHG stays. Nonetheless, some would possibly discover this is not the one for his or her journey and spending habits.

Apply right here: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card