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[Expired] Should You Get the IHG Traveler or Premier Card in 2025?

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Stella Shon
Updated: 
Edited by: Nick Ellis
& Jestan Mendame
[Expired] Should You Get the IHG Traveler or Premier Card in 2025?
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Some of our favorite hotel credit cards have just rolled out major new welcome bonus offers, but which one should you choose?

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card now comes with 5 free nights (worth up to 60,000 points each) after you spend $5,000 within the first 3 months — a deal we haven’t seen since last summer. Meanwhile, the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is offering 120,000 bonus points after $2,000 in spending during the same timeframe.

While a key differentiator between the cards is their annual fees — $99 for the IHG Premier card and $0 for the IHG Traveler card — there’s a lot more to consider. Here’s what you need to know to help you decide.

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IHG Premier Card Overview

As its name suggests, the IHG Premier card is the top-tier option currently available in Chase’s IHG lineup. Its latest welcome bonus offers new cardholders the chance to earn 5 free nights after spending $5,000 within the first 3 months of opening the account.

Each free night is valued at up to 60,000 points and must be redeemed for a single night at an eligible IHG hotel or resort. Keep in mind, though, that you can’t add extra points to these awards to book pricier stays.

Even so, this generous welcome bonus offer can be worth up to 300,000 points in total, though the exact value will vary depending on the properties where you redeem your free nights. Beyond the welcome bonus offer, here are the travel benefits cardholders can enjoy:

  • Complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status, as long as you hold the card
  • Earn up to 26 points per dollar spent when you stay at IHG Hotels and Resorts (16x points from being a Platinum elite member and 10x points with the IHG Premier card)
  • Earn 5 points per dollar spent on travel, gas stations, restaurants, and 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
  • Earn an anniversary free night certificate at each cardmember renewal period, worth up to 40,000 points each
  • Score a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit of up to $120 every 4 years
  • Travel and purchase protections
  • No foreign transaction fees
Hot Tip:

Unlike the free nights earned through IHG’s welcome bonus offer, the anniversary free night certificates you receive each year with the IHG Premier card upon paying your $99 annual fee can be topped up. You’re allowed to add up to 40,000 points to the certificate, making it possible to book stays at properties that cost up to 80,000 points per night.

IHG Traveler Card Overview

The IHG Traveler card has a $0 annual fee, making it a fantastic option for budget-minded travelers who still want meaningful perks. Right now, you can earn 120,000 points after you spend $2,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months with this welcome offer.

You’ll effectively earn 40,000 more points from the standard welcome bonus offer that’s offered throughout the year, making it a great time to pick up the card. Other perks include:

  • Complimentary IHG Silver Elite status, as long as you hold the card
  • Earn up to 17 points per dollar at IHG hotels and resorts (10x points from being an IHG One Rewards member, 2x points from being a Silver Elite member, and 5x points from the IHG Traveler card)
  • Earn 3 points per dollar on dining, utilities, select streaming services, and gas stations, and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases
  • Earn 10,000 bonus points after you spend $10,000 each calendar year
  • Travel and purchase protections
  • No foreign transaction fees
Bottom Line:

Both the IHG Premier and IHG Traveler cards offer a fourth-night free benefit on award stays. That means if a hotel costs 20,000 points per night, you can book 4 consecutive nights for just 60,000 points instead of the full 80,000.

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Apply for the IHG Premier Card If…

IHG’s brands range from economical to luxury. If you tend to stay at hotels falling on the latter half of the spectrum (standard to premium), the IHG Premier card is a no-brainer.

Besides the fact that this welcome bonus offer allows you to score 5 free nights at properties charging up to 60,000 points per night, the IHG Premier card is far more rewarding. With IHG Platinum elite status, you can enjoy space-available room upgrades and a welcome amenity upon arrival.

Intercontinental Wellington Welcome Amenity
A welcome gift at the InterContinental Wellington in New Zealand. Image Credit: James Larounis

The anniversary free night award can help justify paying the ongoing annual fee, since it can often be redeemed at a value far higher than the cost of the yearly charge. Upgraded Points values IHG One Rewards points at 0.5 cents apiece, so you’re looking at roughly $200 in redemption value with this certificate on the low end.

Apply for the IHG Traveler Card If…

The IHG Traveler card offers a generous sum of points after meeting the minimum spending requirement. For some, this flexibility can be more appealing than the IHG Premier card’s 5 free night certificates welcome offer, since you’re not limited to properties that cost 60,000 points or less per night.

ANA Crowne Plaza Nagoya room
Book award nights at Crowne Plaza hotels. Image Credit: Ehsan Haque

Many of the key benefits found on the IHG Premier card are also included with the IHG Traveler card, making it a solid pick for budget-conscious travelers. You’ll still enjoy perks like getting your fourth night free on consecutive award stays, no foreign transaction fees when traveling internationally, and solid points-earning potential on eligible travel and everyday purchases.

If you’re looking to avoid annual fees while still racking up a large number of points, the IHG Traveler card could be your best bet. The elevated 120,000-point welcome bonus offer is worth around $600 in IHG hotel and resort stays.

What To Know Before Applying for Either Chase IHG Card

Since both IHG products are Chase credit cards, it’s important to understand the bank’s application rules before you apply.

First, if you’ve opened more than 5 credit cards in the past 24 months (regardless of the issuer), your application for either IHG card will likely be denied. This unofficial guideline, known as the Chase 5/24 rule, is designed to discourage excessive credit card applications.

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Additionally, you won’t be eligible for the current welcome bonus if you’ve received a new cardmember bonus for either the IHG Traveler card or the IHG Premier card within the last 24 months. This is important to keep in mind in case you’ve already held either IHG card previously.

Final Thoughts

The Chase IHG credit cards currently have some of their strongest welcome offers of 2025, making it a great time to lock in free hotel nights for future travel. However, beyond the upfront welcome bonus offer, it’s important to weigh the ongoing benefits and annual fees to determine whether the IHG Premier card or the IHG Traveler card best fits your travel and spending habits.

Featured Image Credit: Upgraded Points LLC
Stella Shon's image

About Stella Shon

With a degree in media and journalism, Stella has been in the points and miles game for more than 6 years. She most recently worked as a Corporate Communications Analyst for JetBlue. Find her work in The New York Times, USA Today, and more.

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