Three bank cards earn factors within the IHG One Rewards program. There are two private playing cards — the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card and the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card — and one enterprise card, IHG One Rewards Premier Enterprise Credit score Card.
Whereas these playing cards supply particular advantages, equivalent to elite standing, you may pause earlier than mechanically pulling out a bank card that bears the brand of the lodge the place you are staying. Is that actually the very best card to pay with, or do you have to use one thing else to maximise your earnings?
Let’s check out some widespread bank cards you may wish to use to pay in your subsequent keep at IHG resorts and resorts.
Evaluating bank cards for an IHG keep
Except for utilizing an IHG cobranded bank card, you may additionally pay utilizing an all-around journey rewards card that earns transferable factors on journey purchases, together with your subsequent lodge keep. Listed here are some playing cards you may pay with and what you may get when utilizing these playing cards:
* Per TPG’s February 2025 valuations and never the cardboard issuer.
The data for the American Categorical Inexperienced Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Associated: Present welcome presents on IHG bank cards
Which bank card do you have to use for IHG stays?
The perfect technique is to carry an IHG One Rewards cobranded bank card for elite standing advantages and card perks however use a normal journey rewards card to really pay in your keep.
Contemplate two issues when deciding which bank card to make use of in your subsequent keep at an IHG One Rewards-affiliated property: The advantages you may get and the worth of the factors you’ll be able to earn.
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TPG’s February 2025 valuations peg IHG factors at half a cent every. Thus, whilst you can earn 10 factors per greenback when paying with the IHG One Premier card or IHG One Premier Enterprise card, these 10 factors are literally price simply 5 cents. That is much less worth than you’d get with 3 factors per greenback on the Amex Inexperienced Card since Amex factors are price 2 cents apiece — a complete of 6 cents in worth for every greenback spent.
Now, playing cards just like the Amex Inexperienced or Chase Sapphire Reserve do not (by themselves) unlock on-property advantages like room upgrades. Fortunately, your IHG elite perks aren’t tied to the bank card you pay with — even when the bank card is the only motive you maintain standing.
Which means holding an IHG cobranded bank card is likely to be worthwhile merely to qualify for elite standing and obtain the related advantages. Then, you’ll be able to pay with a unique bank card to earn extra priceless factors.
And when you pay with the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the factors you earn (Final Rewards) might be transferred freely and instantly to IHG if it’s good to prime off your stability for an upcoming redemption — although there are various different (higher) methods to profit from these factors.
That stated, it is price noting that utilizing a card just like the Sapphire Reserve to pay for an IHG keep via the Chase Journey is probably not the most suitable choice. That is as a result of these reservations are handled as third-party bookings and, thus, aren’t eligible to earn IHG factors.
You will additionally miss out on using any elite standing perks throughout your keep, so remember to issue that in when deciding e book (and pay).
Associated: Why you do not earn lodge factors when reserving via an OTA
Backside line
With IHG’s bank cards and stays at IHG resorts, deciding which bank card to make use of can contain tradeoffs. In the event you pay with IHG’s personal bank cards, the factors you earn aren’t that priceless — despite the fact that you may get a number of them. To get most worth, your greatest guess is likely to be holding an IHG bank card for standing advantages however utilizing a unique bank card to pay on the entrance desk.
Associated: 6 causes to keep away from reserving via a web based journey company
