Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology.
Founder and CEO of Upgraded Points, Alex is a leader in the industry and has earned and redeemed millions of points and miles. He frequently discusses the award travel industry with CNBC, Fox Business...
Kellie’s professional experience has led her to a deep passion for compliance, data reporting, and process improvement. Kellie’s learned the ins and outs of the points and miles world and leads UP’s c...
We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.
IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card
U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The card allows you to earn points in lots of common categories, while also giving you at least 1 free night per year and Platinum Elite status!
U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
Our seasoned and experienced team brings years of expertise in the credit card and travel sectors. Committed to integrity, we offer data-driven guides to help you find the card(s) that best fit your requirements. See details on our intensive editorial policies and card rating methodologies.
Content by Leading Industry Experts
Routine Updates and Fact-Checks
First-Hand Credit Card Experience
Shared Across 200+ Top Outlets
Methodical “U.P. Rating
The U.P. Rating System
The ratings for these cards have been determined
by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards
as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect
our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
” System
1094+ Expert Credit Card Guides
Great Card If
You stay at IHG hotels frequently
You don’t want to pay transaction fees when traveling internationally
You will take advantage of the free hotel night each year
Don’t Get If
You want a travel card with tons of perks
You don’t want to pay an annual fee (after the first year)
You want to earn a lot of (valuable) points for everyday spending
Sign-Up Bonus, Add a User, and Points
Sign up for the IHG Select card and get sign up bonus points after spending the required amount in the allotted time (see above card summary table for details).
Stay at IHG hotels and earn 5 points for every $1 you spend. Plus, earn 2 points per every $1 you spend at grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants.
All other purchases get you 1 point per $1 spent. The card will cost you $49 per year, but this fee is waived for the first year.
Bottom Line: The IHG Select cardearns 5x points at IHG hotels, 2x points at grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants, and 1x points everywhere else!
IHG Select Card Benefits: Points Rebates and Elite Status
There is no shortage of benefits with the IHG Select card.
First, you automatically start out with Platinum Elite status, and you keep this status for as long as you remain a cardmember.
Platinum Elite members receive a 50% bonus on all qualifying stays, complimentary room upgrades, and more.
Move up to the next tier (Spire Elite) to get a 100% bonus on stays. You’ll need 75 nights or 75,000 points during the calendar year to qualify.
Plus, as a card member, you get a 10% rebate on point redemptions. When considering this, your annual earnings rates are effectively increased by 10%.
For instance: spend 20,000 points on a room, get 2,000 back. Spend 30,000 points, get 3,000 back…all the way up to a maximum of 100,000 points back each year.
And that’s not all: you’ll pay no annual fee for your first year as a cardmember. After that, the fee is only $49/year.
Bottom Line: Platinum Elite status, redemption rebates, and no annual fee the first year are all part of the package for getting the IHG Select card!
IHG One Rewards Membership: Earning Loyalty Points
If you enroll in the IHG One Rewards during a stay at any IHG hotel worldwide, you earn 1,000 points for that stay.
In the future, you earn 5 or 10 base points per $1 depending on the property. See the following table for a list of properties and their point rate.
SCROLL FOR MORE
Hotel
Base Points per $1
Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts
10
Hotel Indigo
10
Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts
10
Holiday Inn Express
10
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
10
Staybridge Suites
5
Candlewood Suites
5
You also earn 2,000, 1,300, or 600 points per qualifying stay at ANA partner hotels.
Free Night Stay Every Year, With 1 Caveat
You get a free night every year just for signing up for the card, and it includes luxury hotels anywhere in the world.
That’s right: each year, you will receive a Chase Anniversary Free Night certificate, valid at any IHG property worldwide pending availability. This benefit alone is worth the annual fee of $49 that you’ll incur after the first year.
Redeeming the certificate is easy. Just follow the link to ihg.com printed on the front. Note that your first free night is not earned until after the first full year, unfortunately.
Bottom Line: The IHG Select cardoffers a free night every year on your anniversary, but you won’t get your first free certificate until your first full year is complete.
Best Way To Redeem IHG Reward Points
There are many ways to redeem points with the IHG Select card. The trick is to get the best rewards for the fewest points.
Points & Cash Redemptions
If you don’t have enough points for your desired reward, you have 2 options:
Use your existing points and purchase 5,000 more points for $40 to total the required points
Use your existing points and purchase 10,000 points for $70 to reach the required points
The following table shows the cost per point when you buy points this way:
SCROLL FOR MORE
Existing Points
Points Purchased
Points Price
Price/Point
45,000
5,000
40
.008
40,000
10,000
70
.007
*One-Night Stay: 50,000 Points
Points to Miles Redemptions
Whenever possible, we try to examine the transfer of points to airline travel partners, as they tend to be the most valuable.
You can redeem increments of 10,000 points for miles with one of the IHG partner airlines. While there are no blackout dates, the redemption value is about 30% less than that of hotel stays. You can redeem points for airline miles but cannot convert miles back to points, as with most hotel loyalty programs. Also note this will prevent you from taking advantage of the 10% IHG Rebate.
Find the full list of Redeem for Miles-IHG One Rewards Partner Airlines here. Note that some rewards can take 4-6 weeks to go through.
Other Redemption Options: Gift Cards, Merchandise, and More
IHG allows you to redeem points for various gift cards such as Lands’ End, Gap, Bath & Body Works and much more. Be careful, because the value can be up to 30% less than that of hotel stays!
For example, a $200 Best Buy gift card requires 77,000 points, while a $50 Walmart gift card requires 20,000 points. Your point value will only be $0.0025-$0.0026 redeeming this way, and we want to aim for $0.01 at the bare minimum.
You can also redeem points for Catalog Awards (jewelry, electronics and more), Digital Awards (eBooks, games, software, and more), purchase points as a gift, and transfer your points to another member’s account.
Finally, if you ’re feeling generous, you can donate points to the IHG Shelter in a Storm disaster relief program, which is a great way to help a good cause while getting rid of extra points.
Best Way To Maximize IHG Reward Points
There are plenty of different ways to utilize your IHG Select card in order to earn points and get closer to your next free night.
Tip #1: Earn your sign up bonus by spending the required amount in the allotted time as detailed in the card summary table.
Tip #2: Always pay for stays at any of the 4,900 IHG hotels with your card to earn 5 points for every $1 you spend. Plus, as a Platinum Elite member, you get a 50% bonus on IHG stays.
Tip #3: Work to accrue 75 nights or 75,000 points to reach Spire Elite status, and get a 100% bonus on IHG stays.
Tip #4: Make all of your regular purchases with the card to earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at supermarkets, gas stations, and restaurants, and 1 point per $1 for everything else.
Tip #6: Keep an eye out for IHG Rewards promotions throughout the year. You can use these deals to earn bonus points for stays as well as bonus points on top of your normal earnings rates!
IHG has many travel partners worldwide, including the following companies, all of which help you earn points.
IHG Global Brands: Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Resort, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, InterContinental, KIMPTON*. EVEN, and HUALUXE
*KIMPTON is not yet a member of IHG One Rewards
IHG One Rewards Partners:IHG One Rewards Cruises, Ground Link, Hertz, Uber
Alternatives to the IHG Select Card
The biggest complaint people have about the IHG Select card is that it’s difficult to earn points. While it’s true that you earn 5x the points for IHG hotel stays, it’s not as easy to earn valuable points for other purchases.
For instance, members earn 2x the points for every $1 spent at grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, plus great earnings at Hilton, U.S. gas stations, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. restaurants!
Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, plus great earnings at Hilton, U.S. gas stations, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. restaurants!
Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025.
100,000 points
$500
$0
20.24%-29.24% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Why We Like This Card
You can’t beat a comfy king-sized bed and room service. For many travelers, it’s the hotel that really makes or breaks an experience. If you’re one of those people, you’ve probably stayed at a Hilton hotel.
Whether your visits are for work or pleasure, the Hilton brand has you covered with more than 6,200 locations in 100 counties and territories.
Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025.
Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors™ Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
No Annual Fee.
Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
While the IHG 2x earning rate compares in number to say the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the points are much less valuable. Therefore, to get the same rewards you need many more points.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
60,000 bonus points
$1,200
$95
20.74% - 27.74% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Why We Like This Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cardson the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.
Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.
Pros & Cons
Pros
5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
Cons
$95 annual fee
No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
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, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
As an example, you can transfer each point earned on a Chase Sapphire Preferred card to a travel partner at a 1:1 rate. That means 2 points is 2 miles. For IHG, you can only transfer to travel partners at a 5:1 ratio or less in equivalent value.
That means you’d need to earn 10 points per $1 to earn an equivalent amount for travel partners. When considering your points earned directly through IHG, this may be worth it.
In general, using points for IHG stays is much more valuable than transferring to travel partners.
Bottom Line: You may find more value with other hotel or travel rewards cards, as some find it tough to earn a lot of points with the IHG Select card.
The information regarding the IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, click here.
![Chase Freedom® Credit Card — Full Review [2024]](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Chase-Freedom-Card.png?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=700)
![The World of Hyatt Credit Card – Full Review [2024]](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/World-of-Hyatt-Credit-Card.png?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=700)
![Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — Full Review [2024]](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Capital-One-Venture-Card.png?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=700)