The 21 Best Benefits of the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

The IHG Hotels & Resorts chain is one of the largest in the world, with more than 6,300 properties across 19 hotel brands worldwide. The chain has many well-known brands, including Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza, but it also has some luxury brands, including Six Senses, Regent Hotels, and InterContinental Hotels and Resorts.

The IHG One Rewards loyalty program offers a relatively straightforward approach to earning elite status and points. It also makes it incredibly simple to redeem points in many different ways.

Additionally, the program has several co-branded rewards cards that make sense if you frequently stay at IHG hotels. The $0-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is one of the cards that can provide a ton of value.

Here’s a look at all of the most important perks and benefits of the IHG Traveler card.

Card Overview

HIGHEST POINTS OFFER OF 2025

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

Earn up to 17x when you stay at IHG hotels, 3x on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants, and 2x on all other purchases.

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IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

Earn up to 17x when you stay at IHG hotels, 3x on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants, and 2x on all other purchases.

Welcome Offer

Earn 120,000 Bonus Points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

120,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$600

Annual Fee

$0

APR

19.99% - 28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

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

Why We Like This Card

If you’re someone who is looking to enhance your IHG stays by earning more points and benefits, without paying an annual fee, then the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card might be the perfect fit for you.

In this guide, we will provide a detailed view of what the card can offer so you can decide if it makes sense to add to your wallet.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Up to 17x total points per $1 on IHG stays
• 3x points per $1 on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants
• 2x point per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• Not as rewarding as the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

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Card Highlights

• Our Highest Points Offer of 2025! Earn 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, Indigo^® Hotels & Holiday Inn^®
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

IHG Rewards Loyalty Program Review

Earning IHG One Rewards Points

1. Solid Welcome Offer

Upon approval of the IHG Traveler card, you’re eligible to receive the card’s welcome offer after meeting the minimum spending requirements.

The card’s welcome offer changes from time to time. Here is the card’s current public welcome bonus:

• Earn 120,000 points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

According to our valuations, IHG points are worth 0.5 cents apiece, making the welcome offer equivalent to $600.

Of course, how you redeem these points is what ultimately determines their value. Still, this is a fantastic elevated welcome offer for a card with a $0 annual fee.

2. Fantastic Earnings at IHG Hotels and Resorts

The IHG Traveler card earns up to 17 IHG One Rewards points per $1 spent at IHG Hotels & Resorts brands:

• 5x points as a cardholder
• Up to 10x points* as an IHG One Rewards member
• Up to 2x points* from Silver Elite status, a card benefit

* Members and elites earn fewer points at Candlewood Suites, Staybridge Suites, IHG Army Hotels, and IHG Residence properties.

3. Elevated Earnings on Everyday Purchases

The IHG Traveler card also earns 3 points per $1 spent on purchases on monthly bills, at gas stations, and at restaurants. 

4. Earnings on All Purchases

You also earn 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.

5. Earn Bonus IHG One Rewards Points Each Year

With the IHG Traveler card, you can earn 10,000 bonus IHG One Rewards points after spending $10,000 on the card in a calendar year. We value these points at $50.

6. 20% Discount on Point Purchases

Although you can earn IHG One Rewards points quickly with the IHG Traveler card, you may still need more points occasionally for a specific redemption. This is where it can make sense to purchase points.

Best of all, you can receive a 20% discount if you purchase IHG One Rewards points using your IHG Traveler card.

7. IHG Promotions To Earn More Points

IHG One Rewards has promotions throughout the year that can help you earn tens of thousands of points. Often, these promotions require you to use your IHG credit card to book and pay for a hotel room. You may also receive a targeted offer from Chase, rewarding you with a spending bonus once you reach a specified spending amount.

Hot Tip:

Although IHG One Rewards has points-earning promotions, many require you to register for them.

Redeeming IHG One Rewards Points

8. Redeem IHG One Rewards Points Earned on Your Card

Here’s a look at the many ways you can redeem IHG One Rewards points.

Redeem IHG One Rewards Points for Reward Hotel Nights

There are many ways to redeem IHG points. You can use your IHG One Rewards points for hotel stays at more than 6,300 IHG properties worldwide to get the most out of your points.

Use Cash and Points

IHG allows members to book hotels using a combination of cash and points. This can be useful if you want to use points but are short of a complete points redemption.

Redeem IHG One Rewards Points for Airline Miles

You can also transfer IHG One Rewards points to the program’s numerous airline partners. With a few exceptions, the transfer rate is 10,000 IHG One Rewards points to 2,000 airline miles.

Although this can be a helpful way to top off points or miles in an airline frequent flyer program, it is typically not recommended, as it provides a poor redemption value.

Redeem IHG One Rewards Points for Gift Cards

You can also use IHG One Rewards Points to purchase gift cards from numerous establishments. However, this typically provides less than 0.5 cents per point, making it a poor choice.

Bottom Line:

There are many ways to redeem IHG One Rewards points, but generally speaking, it’s best to redeem them for hotel stays.

IHG One Rewards Benefits and Elite Status

9. Fourth-Night-Free Reward

IHG One Rewards provides IHG Traveler cardholders with an incredible perk: If you book 4 or more consecutive nights using points, 1 of the nights will be free. This essentially provides 1 free night each on extended stays of at least 4 nights.

The points for the free night are automatically deducted when your book the award redemption. Best of all, there is no limit to how many times you can take advantage of this perk.

10. Complimentary Elite Status

IHG Traveler cardholders receive automatic complimentary IHG One Rewards Silver Elite status, which provides several benefits, including:

• 20% bonus earnings on IHG stays
• Late 2 p.m. checkout (when available)
• Free internet
• Member rates and promotions

11. Spend Your Way to Higher Elite Status

With the IHG Traveler card, you can spend your way to IHG Gold Elite status by spending $20,000 on the card in a calendar year. IHG Gold Elite status typically requires staying 20 qualifying nights or earning 40,000 elite-qualifying points in a calendar year.

IHG Traveler Card Travel Benefits

12. No Foreign Transaction Fees

The IHG Traveler card does not have any foreign transaction fees, meaning that you can use your card for purchases outside of the country without worrying about additional costs.

Travel Protections

13. Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance

If your trip is canceled or cut short by a covered reason (like sickness or severe weather), you can be reimbursed up to $5,000 per person and $10,000 for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses. You must charge your trip to your IHG Traveler card.

14. Travel Accident Insurance

If you pay for your transportation (air, bus, train, or cruise ship) using your IHG Traveler card, you are eligible to receive up to $500,000 in accidental death or dismemberment coverage.

15. Travel and Emergency Assistance Services

If you encounter a problem while traveling, you can call for emergency or travel assistance. The service provides legal and medical referrals and access to other travel and emergency assistance services. Cardholders are responsible for the cost of any goods or services rendered.

16. Lost Luggage Reimbursement

This service provides reimbursement up to $3,000 per covered traveler for the cost to repair or replace checked or carry-on baggage that is lost, damaged, or stolen during a trip.

17. Baggage Delay Insurance

This benefit reimburses cardholders up to $100 a day for up to 3 days for essential purchases (like toiletries and clothing) when your baggage is delayed over 6 hours.

18. Auto Rental Coverage

This coverage provides reimbursement for theft and collision damage for most rental vehicles. You must first decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire car rental cost to your card. Coverage is secondary to your own personal insurance in the U.S.

Shopping Protections

19. Purchase Protection

If you pay for an eligible new purchase with your IHG Traveler card, this benefit provides up to $500 per item for 120 days from the date of purchase against damage or theft.

20. Extended Warranty Protection

If you use your card to purchase an eligible item with a manufacturer’s warranty of 3 years or less, this benefit extends the warranty for an additional year.

21. Fraud Protection

The IHG Traveler card also protects against fraud using 24/7 monitoring.

Final Thoughts

The IHG Traveler card is a fantastic, $0-annual-fee hotel credit card. It provides a solid return on spending, some significant travel protections, and numerous benefits like automatic complimentary Silver Elite status.

If you want to earn IHG One Rewards points without paying an annual fee, the IHG Traveler card is your best bet. For a more elevated welcome offer, higher earning rates, and enhanced benefits (including Platinum Elite status and an annual free night certificate), consider the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card.