All information about the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card has been collected independently by CardCritics™
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card Review: Hotel Points and Perks Without the Annual Fee
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Written by
Ariana Arghandewal
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Edited by
Emily Gadd, CCC™
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Reviewed by
Jasmin Baron, CCC™
The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card flies under the radar compared to other top hotel credit cards. It doesn’t have the flashiest perks or lavish welcome bonus, but it does fill an important role: It offers IHG One Rewards members the opportunity to earn rewards, status and practical benefits (think: travel protections and waived foreign transaction fees) without the pressure to justify an annual fee.
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Purchase APR
19.24% – 27.74% Variable APR
Welcome Offer
Earn 90,000 Bonus Points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening and up to 30,000 more points by earning 3 additional points in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that earn 2x and 3x on up to $10,000 spent
Rewards
2x – 3x Earn up to 17 points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on purchases on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Recommended Credit Score
Good – Excellent
670 – 850*
Annual Fee
$0
CardCritics™ Opinion
The IHG Traveler Card is one of the best no-annual-fee travel credit cards, offering valuable benefits and generous rewards beyond the initial welcome bonus. The card is best suited for casual IHG travelers who want a no-annual-fee card that still offers solid earnings, automatic elite status and recurring perks. While it lacks the high-end status and benefits of premium cards, it offers a straightforward way to earn IHG points on everyday spending. For travelers who don’t want another annual-fee card in their wallet, this is an excellent option.
Our Critical Analysis:
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
- Fourth night free perk on award stays
- IHG One Silver elite status, with the option to spend your way to Gold
- Generous earn rates, including an annual spend-based bonus
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
PROS
- No annual free night award
- IHG One Silver Elite status lacks meaningful perks
- Approval is subject to the Chase 5/24 rule
CONS
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card Benefits
Fourth Night Free Reward
One of the most valuable benefits of this card is the fourth reward night free benefit on award bookings. Cardholders who book award stays consisting of four or more consecutive nights get the fourth night free. This perk is effectively a 25% discount, allowing cardholders to stretch their points further.
IHG Elite Status
IHG Traveler cardholders get automatic Silver elite status within the IHG One Rewards program. Silver elite members earn 20% bonus points on paid stays and their points don’t expire. Cardholders can upgrade to IHG Gold status after spending $20,000 in a calendar year. Gold elite members earn 40% bonus points, Hertz Five Star status and rollover nights.
Earning IHG Silver status normally takes 10 nights, while earning Gold requires 20 nights or 40,000 points. The ability to bypass these requirements and earn more rewards and perks faster is a major benefit of this card.
Generous Rewards
When choosing a credit card, reward earnings are one of the most important features to consider. The IHG Traveler Card earns:
- 5x points on IHG hotel spending
- 3x points on dining, utilities, select streaming services and gas stations
- 2x points on all other purchases
These are common spending categories for most people, allowing cardholders to quickly earn rewards for future award stays.
10,000 Annual Bonus Points
To further reward daily spending, the card offers 10,000 points after $10,000 in spending each calendar year. Combined with the card’s 2x to 5x earn rate, this can be a great way to earn points beyond the welcome bonus.
Travel and Purchase Protections
The IHG Traveler Card offers surprisingly generous travel insurance and purchase protections that are rare for a no-annual-fee rewards card. These include:
- Baggage delay insurance
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
- Secondary car rental insurance
- Travel accident insurance (up to $500,000 per trip)
- Travel and emergency assistance
- Purchase protection
- Extended warranty coverage
20% off Point Purchases
Cardholders save 20% when purchasing IHG points on their IHG Traveler Card. This may not seem significant, but it’s pretty generous considering IHG already sells points at 0.5 cents each. If you’re ever short on points for an award redemption, this is a great way to top off your balance if you don’t have any transferable points available.
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card Drawbacks
While the IHG Traveler offers solid value for a no-annual-fee hotel credit card, it does have some drawbacks worth considering:
Limited Redemption Options
IHG One Rewards points don’t offer much value outside IHG hotel stays. Unlike flexible rewards currencies like Chase Ultimate Rewards®, IHG One Rewards points can’t be transferred to other hotel loyalty programs, and transfers to airlines are at a poor ratio. If you stay frequently with other hotel chains or want to save money on flights, IHG One Rewards points (and the IHG Traveler Card) might not be the best option for you.
No Annual Free Night Award
Annual free night awards are a pretty common benefit for hotel credit cards, but the IHG Traveler doesn’t offer one. Granted, the card also doesn’t have an annual fee, but some people will find that a dealbreaker.
Chase 5/24
The Chase 5/24 rule limits approvals for Chase credit cards, including the IHG Traveler Card. Under this rule, applicants who have opened five or more cards in the past 24 months with any bank won’t be approved for most Chase cards. This rule can disqualify some potential applicants who’ve had five or more new cards in the past two years.
Who Is the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card Best For?
The IHG Traveler Credit Card is best for travelers who stay at IHG hotels occasionally and don’t want to pay an annual fee. It offers enough brand-specific benefits to make it worth keeping, regardless of whether you’re a big spender or not. It can serve as a great companion card for those who already have a primary travel credit card but want to earn bonus points and get elite status perks with IHG.
Is It the Right Card for You?
The IHG Traveler Card might be right for you if you:
- Stay at IHG hotels a few times per year
- Prefer a no-annual-fee credit card that still offers valuable IHG perks
- Want automatic elite status, with the ability to spend your way to a higher tier
- Want to earn elevated rewards on dining, utilities, streaming, gas and IHG spending
Alternatives to the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
If the IHG Traveler Card doesn’t fully meet your needs, consider the following alternatives:
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: This premium IHG card is a great alternative for those seeking more perks. In exchange for a $99 annual fee, it offers elevated benefits, including an annual free night award (worth up to 40,000 points), elevated Platinum status and higher earnings on spending. The card’s welcome bonus is much higher, and cardholders receive valuable recurring perks like $100 plus 10,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 in a calendar year, $50 in annual United TravelBank Cash and a TSA PreCheck/Global Entry application fee credit every four years.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: The Sapphire Preferred Card is a great alternative for those who want a more flexible rewards card. You can transfer the Chase Ultimate Rewards points it earns to IHG as well as Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt and 10 airline loyalty programs. The card’s $95 annual fee is lower than that of premium IHG cards and includes a $50 annual Chase Travel℠ hotel booking credit.
Card Details From Chase
- Limited Time Offer! Earn up to 120,000 Bonus Points
- No Annual Fee
- Earn up to 17 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on purchases on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- Redeem 3 Nights, Get the 4th Night Free
- IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Kimpton®, EVEN® Hotels, Hotel Indigo® & Holiday Inn®
- Member FDIC
How Does the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card Stack Up Against Competitors?
Compared to competitor cards, the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card Card stands out for its generous perks and solid earning rates, especially since it has no annual fee. However, premium travel cards offer more substantial perks for frequent travelers willing to pay for an annual fee.
| IHG Traveler Card | IHG Premier Card | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | |
| Welcome Bonus | Earn 90,000 Bonus Points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening and up to 30,000 more points by earning 3 additional points in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that earn 2x and 3x on up to $10,000 spent | Earn 175,000 Bonus Points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening | Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. |
| Annual Fee | $0 | $99 | $95 |
| APR | 19.24% - 27.74% Variable | 19.24% - 27.74% Variable | 19.24% - 27.49% Variable |
| Rewards Rate | Earn up to 17 points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on purchases on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases. | Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases. | Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases. |
| Standout Feature | Fourth night free on award stays | Anniversary free night worth up to 40,000 points | Up to $50 in annual statement credits toward hotels booked through Chase Travel℠ |
The information related to IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card was collected by CardCritics™ and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for this product.
Frequently Asked Questions About the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
Is the IHG Traveler Credit Card worth it?
The IHG Traveler Credit Card is worth it for IHG loyalists who want a no-annual-fee card. While the benefits are slightly pared down compared to premium cards, they still offer tremendous value.
What is the best credit card for IHG rewards?
The best credit card for earning IHG Rewards depends on your personal travel and spending habits. The IHG Premier Credit Card is typically best for frequent IHG guests, while the IHG Traveler Card is ideal for occasional travelers.
What credit score is needed for an IHG Rewards credit card?
To qualify for an IHG Rewards credit card, you will need a good to excellent credit score, which is defined as 670 or higher on FICO’s scale.
Is IHG One Rewards worth it?
IHG One Rewards is worth it for travelers who regularly stay at IHG hotels and want to earn rewards and perks. Since the program is free to join, it’s worth signing up. IHG is one of the largest hotel chains in the world and includes popular brands like Holiday Inn, Intercontinental, Kimpton and others.
Does the IHG Traveler Card have an annual fee?
The IHG Traveler Card has no annual fee.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
*CardCritics™ references a FICO® 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when evaluating your application.
