IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card 2024 review: A no-annual-fee hotel card with a big welcome bonus 

With an elevated earning rate on purchases made at IHG properties, this hotel credit card offers a sizable welcome bonus and award redemption perks for no annual fee.

About the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card * The information for the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

A hotel credit card can make for a better stay whether you’re a frequent guest or not, but which credit card you have in your wallet makes a difference. The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card * The information for the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is a Chase-issued, no-annual-fee card that’s currently offering 100,000 points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

With the card’s earning rate of 10 points per $1 spent from IHG for being an IHG One Rewards member, 5 points per $1 spent at IHG Hotels and Resorts with the card, plus 2 points per $1 spent from IHG with Silver Elite Status (a benefit of this card), 3 points per $1 spent at gas stations, on utilities; internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming services and restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery and 2 points per $1 on all other purchases — IHG loyalists have the highest reward-earning potential. 

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Card comes with automatic Silver Elite status which is a step up from being an IHG Club member, although its main benefits of 20% more bonus points, priority check-in and points not expiring aren’t very noteworthy. With an annual spend of $20,000 or more, cardholders are eligible for Gold Elite status through the end of the following year, which comes with 40% more bonus points and rollover nights for the following year’s status, which is hardly worth putting that much spend on one card for. 

The best feature of the IHG One Rewards Traveler Card is the ability to get a fourth night free when redeeming points for a stay of four or more consecutive nights. While it’s not as appealing as a free award night that many hotel cards with an annual fee offer, it’s a valuable money-saver at no extra cost. 

IHG One Rewards Traveler Card basics

• Annual fee: $0.
• Welcome bonus: 100,000 points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
• Rewards: Earn 10 points per $1 spent from IHG for being an IHG One Rewards member, 5 points per $1 spent at IHG Hotels and Resorts with the card, plus 2 points per $1 spent from IHG with Silver Elite Status (a benefit of this card), 3 points per $1 spent at gas stations, on utilities; internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming services and restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery and 2 points per $1 on all other purchases.
• APR: 21.49% to 28.49% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies.
• Other perks and benefits: No foreign transaction fees, automatic Silver Elite status and fourth night free on reward night stays of four or more consecutive nights.
• Does the issuer offer a preapproval tool? No.

IHG One Rewards Traveler Card other details

IHG One Rewards Traveler Card rewards

With 18 hotel brands and over 6,000 hotels and resorts in its portfolio worldwide, IHG has a wide range of options where you can redeem the welcome bonus — and from InterContinental to Kimpton to Holiday Inn, there’s something for every type of traveler.

The card’s earning rate is most lucrative when using the card at IHG properties. Cardholders can earn 10 points per $1 spent from IHG for being an IHG One Rewards member, 5 points per $1 spent at IHG Hotels and Resorts with the card, plus 2 points per $1 spent from IHG with Silver Elite Status (a benefit of this card), 3 points per $1 spent at gas stations, on utilities; internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming services and restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery and 2 points per $1 on all other purchases. Some exceptions to note are Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites where members earn 5 points per dollar spent and Silver Elite members earn an additional 1 point per dollar and The Venetian Resort Las Vegas where members earn 2,000 points per qualifying stay.

Additionally, as a cardholder you will receive 10,000 bonus points each calendar year during which you spend at least $10,000 on purchases — but while bonus points are nice, the opportunity cost of putting high spend on one card is not worth the value of those points.

To get the best value for your IHG One Rewards Traveler welcome bonus points, redeem them for reward nights. You can even maximize your points redemption by combining it with the IHG One Rewards Traveler Card’s perk of a free fourth night when booking four or more consecutive award night stays.

Reward nights can be redeemed for as few as 5,000 points per night but the average points required per night will vary based on demand as IHG does not have a fixed award chart and instead has dynamic pricing. IHG also allows you to combine points with cash for award redemptions which can be helpful if you’re short on points. 

Cardholders save 20% on reward points purchases, but the discount cannot be combined with any other points purchase offer. IHG has bonus offers on points purchases rather frequently though, so this perk is not the most useful.

Other ways to use IHG points include converting points to over 40 partner airlines at a rate of 10,000 points to 2,000 miles or even redeeming them for events and experiences. For example, the IHG One Rewards Traveler Card offers exclusive packages like two tickets to a regular-season Major League Soccer game and a $100 MLS e-store gift card for 10,000 points. 

IHG points generally expire for Club Members after 12 months if there’s no account activity, but never expire for Elite Members. 

IHG One Rewards Traveler Card rewards potential

Using government data and other publicly available information, we estimate that a household in the U.S. that would be in the market for this card has an annual income of $84,352 and $25,087 in expenses they are likely to be able to charge to a credit card.

With these estimates and assuming that the annual household spend on hotels is spent exclusively at IHG hotels, the IHG One Rewards Traveler cardholder would earn:

• $868 in spending on IHG hotels x 5 = 4,340 points.
• $1,992 in spending on phone and internet x 3 = 5,976 points.
• $564 in spending on streaming services x 3 = 1,692 points.
• $3,526 in spending on dining x 3 = 10,578 points.
• $2,228 in spending on gas x 3 = 6,684 points.
• $16,709 in spending on all other purchases x 2 = 33,418 points.

For a grand total of 62,688 in rewards points annually from holding the card, plus the additional points you get for being an IHG One Rewards member and holding Silver Elite status.

IHG One Rewards Traveler Card APR 

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Card has a 21.49% to 28.49% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies.

IHG One Rewards Traveler Card pros

• Welcome bonus: 100,000 points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening is a generous welcome bonus for a no-annual-fee card.
• Award redemption perks: Free fourth night when a booking four or more consecutive award night stay.
• No foreign transaction fees: A rare feature for a card with no annual fee.

IHG One Rewards Traveler Card cons

• High spend for more perks: Cardholders must spend $10,000 on purchases in a calendar year to receive the 10,000 point bonus and spend $20,000 on purchases in a calendar year to reach Gold Elite status.
• Low points value: IHG reward nights are priced dynamically, so redemptions can be quite high compared to hotel programs with fixed award charts.

Other card benefits

Baggage delay insurance: Get reimbursed up to $100 a day for three days for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing for baggage delays over 6 hours. If you or an immediate family member check or carry on luggage that is damaged or lost by the carrier, you’re covered up to $3,000 per passenger with the card’s lost luggage reimbursement. 

Trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance: If your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather, and other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $5,000 per person and up to $10,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours, and hotels.

Purchase protection: New purchases are covered for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.

How the IHG One Rewards Traveler Card compares to other hotel cards

IHG One Rewards Traveler Card vs. IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card * The information for the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The IHG Traveler is a solid option for a no-annual-fee hotel card, but the IHG Premier should not be overlooked. The IHG One Rewards Premier Card offers a welcome bonus of five Free Nights (worth up to 60,000 points each) after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. 

The card comes with a $99 annual fee that is more than justified with all of its perks — chief among them is the free anniversary night every year, but also top-tier Platinum Elite status, an up to $100 statement credit reimbursement for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus every four years and up to $50 United® TravelBank Cash each year when you book United® or United Express® flights. One similarity with the IHG Traveler Card is the free fourth night when redeeming four or more consecutive reward night stays. 

Accruing points is easier with the IHG Premier with an earning rate of 10 points per $1 at IHG Hotels and Resorts, another 10 points per $1 as an IHG One Rewards member, 6 points per $1 from IHG with Platinum Elite Status (a benefit of this card), 5 points per $1 on travel, dining and gas stations and 3 points per $1 on all other purchases. 

As the IHG Traveler’s older sibling, the IHG One Rewards Premier Card has all the elevated characteristics of a more developed hotel credit card. 

IHG One Rewards Traveler Card vs. Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card * The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Card is also a no-annual-fee hotel credit card, but with the added benefit of an even larger global footprint of over 8,000 properties across 139 countries and territories. The card offers 60,000 points and 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Certain hotels have resort fees.

You can earn 3 points per $1 on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program, 2 points per $1 on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains) and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. With an automatic 15 Elite Night Credits annually, the card qualifies you for Silver Elite status. 

IHG One Rewards Traveler Card vs. Hilton Honors American Express Card 

Like the IHG One Rewards Traveler, the Hilton Honors American Express Card (terms apply, rates & fees) has no annual fee but a more robust portfolio of over 7,000 properties across 123 countries and territories. The card is currently offering a welcome bonus of 80,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.

The card earns 7 Hilton Honors points per $1 on eligible purchases charged directly with hotels or resorts in the Hilton Portfolio, 5 points per $1 on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations and 3 points $1 on all other eligible purchases. The Hilton Honors American Express comes with automatic Hilton Honors™ Silver status and offers a fifth night free on standard room rewards stays of five nights or more booked using points. 

IHG One Rewards Traveler Card vs. Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card 

Unlike the limits of a cobranded hotel credit card, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card gives you more flexibility in terms of award redemptions. The no-annual-fee card offers 20,000 miles after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening along with a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then a variable APR of 19.99% to 29.99%. A balance transfer fee applies.

​​The card earns 5 miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 1.25 miles per $1 on other purchases. Miles can be redeemed for travel through the travel portal or simply applied as a statement credit toward the cost of a travel purchase. You can also transfer your miles 1:1 to several airline and hotel transfer partners.

Should you get the IHG One Rewards Traveler Card?

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Card can be a good option for annual-fee-averse travelers who are looking to dip their toes into hotel credit cards and want to stay at IHG properties. But for everyone else, springing for a different card, even if it has an annual fee, can offer more perks that justify the cost.

IHG One Rewards Traveler Card summary

IHG ONE REWARDS TRAVELER CARD DETAILS
Annual fee	$0
Rewards	Earn 10 points per $1 spent from IHG for being an IHG One Rewards member, 5 points per $1 spent at IHG Hotels and Resorts with the card, plus 2 points per $1 spent from IHG with Silver Elite Status (a benefit of this card), 3 points per $1 spent at gas stations, on utilities; internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming services and restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery and 2 points per $1 on all other purchases
APR	21.49% to 28.49% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies
Foreign transaction fees	None
Major perks and benefits	Automatic Silver Elite status, fourth night free on four or more consecutive reward night stays

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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

^{For rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Card please visit this page.}