IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card Review: An Excellent Choice for IHG Hotel Loyalists

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card Benefits

Annual Free Night

Each year you renew the IHG Premier Card, you’ll receive a free night worth up to 40,000 points. You can book this free night at any participating IHG hotel during your cardmember year. If the hotel you want to book costs more than 40,000 points, you can combine the free night certificate with your IHG points to cover the total.

My favorite IHG brand is Kimpton, and its properties are usually over the 40,000 cap. So, this benefit makes it easy for me to combine points and the free night certificate to book stays at properties I really want to stay at, rather than one that happens to be under the limit.

Automatic Platinum Elite Status

As a cardholder, you receive automatic Platinum Elite status, which normally requires 40 qualified nights or earning 60,000 points in a year. With the IHG Premier, you receive this status automatically as a cardholder. Platinum Elite status benefits include a 60% bonus on points earned on stays, reward night discounts, 72 hours guaranteed room availability, a welcome amenity at check-in, early check-in/late checkout (when available) and complimentary upgrades (when available).

For big spenders, you can achieve Diamond Elite status when you spend at least $40,000 on your IHG credit card in a calendar year. This eliminates the need to earn 120,000 points or have 70 qualified nights to receive this status. Diamond Elite status increases your bonus rate to 100%, adds Hertz Gold President’s Circle status and provides free breakfast as an option during your stays.

Fourth Night Free on Award Redemptions

One of my favorite ways to extend the value of my points is to book longer trips and take advantage of the fourth night free benefit. Unlike some benefits, this one can be used an unlimited number of times. When booking award reservations with points, you’ll be charged for the first three nights, and the fourth night is zero points. However, you may still be charged for incidental costs, such as parking and resort fees, on those free nights.

Earn up to 26x Points on Paid Stays

You’ll earn the most points on IHG stays when you use the IHG Premier over any other credit card. On an IHG stay, this card earns:

• 10x points on IHG charges
• Plus up to 10x base points for being an IHG One Rewards member
• Up to 6x bonus points with complimentary Platinum Elite status that’s included with the card

Charges at Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites earn just 5x base points, IHG Army earns 3x points and IHG Residence earns 2.5x points per dollar spent compared to 10x for all other IHG properties.

Compare this earning power to 2x points on travel booked directly with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or 4x points on travel booked directly with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card has a similar annual fee to the IHG Premier, but it only earns up to 17x points on Marriott stays.

Credits and Bonuses

IHG Premier cardholders can take advantage of several opportunities to earn statement credits and bonuses for eligible spending, including:

• Up to $120 statement credit every four years toward the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS
• A $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 each calendar year
• Up to $50 United TravelBank Cash each calendar year after registering your card with your United MileagePlus account
• One year of complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership when you enroll by Dec. 31, 2027, and DashPass members get up to $10 off quarterly on non-restaurant DoorDash orders through the same date

Valuable Travel and Purchase Protections

The card comes with a solid range of travel insurance and purchase protections that can cover you if things go wrong. These include:

• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Baggage delay insurance
• Secondary car rental insurance
• Travel accident insurance
• Travel and emergency assistance services
• Purchase protection
• Extended warranty coverage

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card Drawbacks

Limited Bonus Categories

Aside from earning up to 26x points on IHG stays, the only other bonus categories on the IHG Premier are travel (other than IHG stays), gas and dining. These three bonus categories earn an unlimited 5x points on every dollar you spend. However, it is missing other high-spend categories, like groceries, utilities, telephone and cable, which are common in household budgets. Although I think this is the best hotel credit card for IHG purchases, I use other cards for everyday spending to maximize my rewards.

High Spending Required for Extra Perks

You need to be a big spender to unlock this card’s best perks. Upgrading from Platinum Elite status to Diamond Elite requires spending $40,000 in a calendar year. Additionally, you need to spend $20,000 in a calendar year to earn the $100 annual statement credit and 10,000 bonus points. Many households don’t spend that much on credit cards. If you do, the card’s limited bonus categories may underperform compared to cards with a higher flat-earnings structure.

High APR for Some Cardholders

When you get approved for the IHG Premier Card, you’ll receive a variable annual percentage rate (APR) based on your creditworthiness and other factors. Currently, the card charges a 19.24% – 27.74% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. If you carry a balance, this high APR will make it harder to pay off your debt. People who carry a balance should consider a card with a low fixed interest rate or a promotional 0% intro APR on purchases or balance transfers.

Who Is the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card Best For?

The IHG Premier Card is a good fit for travelers who stay at IHG hotels and resorts frequently. You’ll receive automatic Platinum Elite status, an annual free night and get the fourth night free when redeeming points. If a big portion of your monthly purchases go toward travel, gas and dining, you’ll also earn bonus points. Big spenders could earn Diamond Elite status, a $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points when they meet certain thresholds.

Is It the Right Card for You?

The IHG Premier has a lot to offer. Here’s how to know if it’s a good choice for you:

• You frequently stay at IHG hotels and resorts
• You’re willing to pay a reasonable annual fee
• Elite status and other perks are important when you travel
• You book longer award stays of four nights or more with points
• You don’t carry a balance or need an intro APR offer

Alternatives to the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

While the IHG Premier offers solid cardholder benefits, it isn’t the best choice in every situation. Before applying, consider these alternatives.

• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: For a similar $95 annual fee, the Sapphire Preferred Card earns flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards® points that can be used to book travel, get cash back or transfer to Chase’s airline and hotel partners, including IHG One Rewards. While it doesn’t include elite status, it offers stronger travel protections that frequent travelers covet, such as primary rental car insurance.
• IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card: If you want to earn IHG points without paying an annual fee, the IHG Traveler is a solid choice. It earns up to 17x points at IHG hotels, includes automatic Silver Elite status and offers the fourth night free on award stays.