IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card assessment: Full particulars

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

*Card Ranking relies on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card gives numerous perks for vacationers who steadily stick with IHG. For instance, you will get automated Platinum Elite standing 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 evening 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 couple of instances a yr might get ample worth from the IHG Premier Card.

One perk alone — the anniversary free evening every year, 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 price every year. Premier cardmembers may high off their award nights with factors, permitting you to make use of the certificates to remain at higher-priced motels just like the Six Sense Laamu within the Maldives.

Word that the advisable credit score rating for this card is at the least 670. Now, let us 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 price $700.

Word that you just will not be eligible for this card (or its bonus) when you at the moment have any IHG private bank card or have earned a welcome bonus on one other IHG private bank card inside the final 24 months.

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

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

Anniversary free evening: Cardholders obtain a reward evening 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 possibility to your certificates is not troublesome. For instance, I’ve redeemed anniversary free evening 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’ll be able to e book a room priced at 55,000 factors utilizing the free evening 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 reserving instantly with IHG One Rewards, room upgrades primarily based 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: If you redeem factors for a keep of 4 nights or longer, you will pay zero factors for each fourth evening. If yow will discover 4 nights of consecutive award area 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 steadily you redeem IHG factors 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. Primarily based on TPG’s January 2025 valuations, these bonus factors are price $50; mixed with the assertion credit score, this bonus could be price as much as $150. Nevertheless, take into account whether or not you will 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 on a regular basis spending card with a greater incomes fee.

20% off when shopping for IHG factors: Save 20% in your buy of IHG factors whenever you pay along 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 take pleasure in the next basic perks when utilizing their card:

These advantages may very well be a severe issue when selecting a brand new bank 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: Final-minute methods for incomes IHG One Rewards elite standing

Lodge bank cards are typically weak on the incomes entrance, however this card’s incomes fee at IHG motels is fairly strong.

You may earn 10 factors per greenback spent at IHG motels and resorts. And, whenever you mix the ten factors per greenback spent through the use of 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 respectable return for these bonus classes however is definitely crushed by many different playing cards.

Associated: 7 methods to earn IHG One Rewards factors

And though there isn’t any said most, the very best I’ve seen is 120,000 factors per evening (excluding Six Senses, which steadily prices extra).

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

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

It is also price 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 resort applications for award evening availability. The phrases and circumstances of the IHG One Rewards program notice the next:

There aren’t any blackout dates for Reward Nights, nonetheless, room stock is restricted and topic to prior sale.

So, whereas there aren’t any blackout dates per se, motels can restrict the variety of rooms they make accessible for award bookings.

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

“IHG Premier as a result of I wish to kind [sic] of motels they provide (rooms with kitchens) and I keep in motels way more than I fly.” — Donna P through 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 practically 40 airline switch companions, however we do not suggest utilizing your factors this fashion. Factors switch at an almost 5:1 ratio, which is on the decrease facet. Plus, transfers from IHG have been recognized to take an prolonged time frame.

You can too 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 yr.

Associated: Now you’ll be able to switch IHG factors to others without spending a dime: Here is how

For extra choices, try our full listing of the greatest resort bank cards.

Associated: The very best bank card for IHG stays

In any case, the cardboard offers perks like automated Platinum Elite standing, a fourth-night-free reward on award stays of 4 or extra 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 score Card