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IHG® One Rewards Premier Card

ANNUAL FEE: $99
REWARDS RATES: 1x-26x points
INTRO OFFER: 140,000 points
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE: 690-850
(Good – Excellent)
Pros
- Anniversary perk
- High rewards rate
- Automatic elite status
- Luxury perks
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
At a Glance
IHG One Rewards Premier Card | |
Annual Fee | – $99 |
Sign up bonus | – Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s up to 4 Nights at 4,800+ out of all IHG Hotels & Resorts’ properties globally |
Ongoing rewards | – 1x-26x Points |
Foreign transaction fee | – None |
APR | – 21.49% – 28.49% based on your creditworthiness and other factors. These APRs will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate |
Value of points redeemed | |
Balance transfer fee | – Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. |
Additional benefits |
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: The Best Card for IHG Hotel Stays
Introduction to the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, issued by Chase, is one of the best hotel credit cards available for travelers who frequently stay at IHG properties, including InterContinental, Kimpton, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, and more.
With a generous welcome bonus, automatic Platinum Elite status, a free anniversary night, and up to 26X total points per dollar at IHG hotels, this card is packed with value.
Despite its $99 annual fee, the IHG One Rewards Premier Card offers benefits that can easily outweigh the cost, making it a must-have for IHG loyalists.
Key Benefits of the IHG One Rewards Premier Card

✔ Welcome Offer: Earn 140,000 IHG One Rewards Points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
✔ Up to 26X points per $1 on IHG stays
✔ 5X points on travel, dining, and gas stations
✔ 3X points on all other purchases
✔ Automatic IHG Platinum Elite Status
✔ Anniversary Free Night (valued up to 40,000 points)
✔ Fourth Night Free on Award Stays
✔ Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Fee Credit
✔ No foreign transaction fees
IHG One Rewards Premier Card: Rewards & Earning Structure
Welcome Bonus
- Earn 140,000 IHG One Rewards Points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months.
- Since IHG points are valued at ~0.5 cents each, this bonus is worth approximately $700 in hotel stays.
- Award nights start at as little as 10,000 points, meaning this bonus could cover multiple free nights.
Ongoing Earning Rates
- Up to 26X points per $1 on IHG stays
- 10X from the card
- 10X from Platinum Elite status
- 6X from being an IHG member
- 5X points on travel, dining, and gas stations
- 3X points on all other purchases
With these high earning rates, the IHG One Rewards Premier Card is one of the fastest ways to accumulate IHG points.
Maximizing the IHG One Rewards Premier Card Benefits
1. Anniversary Free Night (Worth up to 40,000 Points)
- Every year, you get a Free Night Award worth up to 40,000 points.
- If the hotel costs more than 40,000 points, you can top off the award with additional points.
- Some great anniversary night redemption options:
✔ Holiday Inn Express Waikiki (Hawaii) – 35,000 points
✔ InterContinental Bangkok – 40,000 points
✔ Kimpton Monaco Salt Lake City – 38,000 points
This one benefit alone can easily offset the $99 annual fee.
2. Fourth Night Free on Award Stays
- Book a 4-night stay using points, and you only pay for 3 nights.
- This can increase the value of your points by 33%, making it one of the best hotel perks among travel credit cards.
3. Automatic IHG Platinum Elite Status
- As an IHG Platinum Elite member, you get:
✔ Room upgrades (when available)
✔ Extended checkout
✔ Welcome bonus points at check-in
✔ Priority check-in
This elite status enhances your stay at IHG properties worldwide.
4. Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit
- Get up to $100 statement credit every 4 years when you use the card to pay for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
- This perk helps you skip long security lines at airports.
5. No Foreign Transaction Fees
- Use this card worldwide without worrying about extra fees on foreign transactions.
IHG One Rewards Premier vs. Other Hotel Credit Cards
Feature | IHG One Rewards Premier | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® | Hilton Honors Surpass® |
---|---|---|---|
Annual Fee | $99 | $95 | $150 |
Welcome Bonus | 140,000 IHG Points | 3 Free Nights (up to 150K points) | 170,000 Hilton Points |
Best Earning Rate | 26X at IHG Hotels | 6X at Marriott Hotels | 12X at Hilton Hotels |
Elite Status | Platinum Elite | Silver (Gold with spend) | Gold (Diamond with spend) |
Free Night Award | Yes, up to 40K points | Yes | Yes (with $15K spend) |
Best For | IHG travelers | Marriott fans | Hilton loyalists |
The IHG One Rewards Premier Card is best for frequent IHG guests who want elite perks, a free night, and bonus points on travel spending.
Who Should Get the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card?
✔ Frequent IHG travelers looking for an easy way to earn free hotel nights
✔ People who want automatic elite status and hotel perks
✔ Travelers who value a free anniversary night at IHG hotels
✔ Anyone who wants a fourth night free on reward stays
If you stay at IHG hotels at least once or twice per year, this card is a no-brainer.
Bottom Line: Is the IHG One Rewards Premier Card Worth It?
The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is one of the best hotel credit cards for travelers who frequently stay at IHG properties.
✔ The $99 annual fee is easily offset by the anniversary free night and elite status benefits.
✔ The up to 26X points per $1 on IHG stays and 5X on travel, dining, and gas make this one of the best hotel cards for earning points.
✔ The Fourth Night Free on award stays significantly boosts the value of your IHG points.
However, if you rarely stay at IHG hotels, a general travel card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® might be a better fit.
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