IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card review: Full d...

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card provides many helpful perks for frequent IHG vacationers. With an annual payment of $99, nonetheless, you might not get sufficient ongoing worth from this card if IHG One Rewards is not your major resort loyalty program. Card Ranking*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

*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 provides quite a lot of perks for vacationers who continuously stick with IHG. For instance, you may get computerized Platinum Elite status so long as you are a cardholder. The cardboard additionally provides a singular fourth-night-free reward perk that enables cardholders to pay zero factors for each fourth night time when redeeming factors for award stays of 4 nights or longer.

With a strong 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 yr could 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 may also prime off their award nights with factors, permitting you to make use of the certificates to remain at higher-priced lodges just like the Six Sense Laamu within the Maldives.

Be aware that the beneficial credit score for this card is no less than 670. Now, let’s take a look at whether or not the IHG Premier Card is an effective selection 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.

Be aware that you just will not be eligible for this card (or its bonus) when you 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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Nonetheless, this rule does 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. Nonetheless, the cardboard’s precise worth hinges on whether or not you may use the advantages continuously sufficient to justify that annual fee. This is an summary of the cardboard’s primary IHG-related perks:

Anniversary free night time: Cardholders obtain a reward night time certificates legitimate for a one-night resort 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 choice in 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.

Be aware that you need to use a vast variety of factors to prime off this certificates and use it for higher-priced properties. For instance, you may guide 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 take pleasure in 60% bonus earnings on paid stays when booking directly with IHG One Rewards, room upgrades based mostly on availability at check-in, a welcome amenity and a number of other different perks. There’s additionally a pathway to Diamond Elite standing after spending $40,000 on the cardboard in a calendar yr.

Fourth-night-free reward: Once you redeem factors for a keep of 4 nights or longer, you may 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 a good way to stretch your factors even additional. In fact, the worth of this perk depends upon how continuously you redeem IHG points for stays of 4 nights or extra.

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

20% off when shopping for IHG factors: Save 20% in your buy of IHG factors whenever you pay along with your IHG Premier Card. Nonetheless, this low cost does not stack with different reductions when IHG places factors on sale. Be aware that these factors are thought-about non-qualifying and won’t rely towards elite qualification, so the worth might be minimal for many cardholders.

Moreover, IHG Premier cardholders take pleasure in the next normal perks when utilizing their card:

These advantages could possibly be a severe issue when choosing a new credit card. Nonetheless, as mentioned within the subsequent part, you will not get a excessive return charge 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 charge at IHG lodges is fairly strong.

You may earn 10 factors per greenback spent at IHG lodges and resorts. And, whenever you mix the ten factors per greenback spent through the use of your card with the factors you may earn as an IHG Platinum Elite, you may 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 gasoline purchases, plus 3 factors per greenback spent on all different purchases. This can be a respectable return for these bonus classes however is definitely overwhelmed by many other cards.

Associated: 7 ways to earn IHG One Rewards points

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

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

You can also combine factors and money in your award stays. In some instances, this may occasionally present good worth. Once you guide 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 potential to maximise her IHG One Rewards factors.

Lastly, some vacationers consider IHG’s coverage on blackout dates makes it one of many weaker resort applications for award night time availability. The phrases and circumstances of the IHG One Rewards program be aware the next:

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

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

One TPG reader beneficial the IHG One Rewards Premier as a result of they take pleasure in staying with IHG lodges, discovering worth in a cobranded card with a program they like:

“IHG Premier as a result of I prefer to sort [sic] of lodges they provide (rooms with kitchens) and I keep in lodges rather more than I fly.” — Donna P by way of a TPG publication survey

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

Transferring factors on the IHG One Rewards Premier

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

You too can switch your factors to different IHG One Rewards members, beginning at $5 per 1,000 factors. Nonetheless, these transfers are free for Diamond and IHG Enterprise Rewards Program members as much as 500,000 factors per calendar yr.

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

Associated: The best credit card for IHG stays

In any case, the cardboard gives perks like computerized 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 may discover this is not the one for his or her journey and spending habits.

Apply right here: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card