Chase
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
Key Features
| Annual Fee | $0.00 |
| Sign-up Bonus | Earn up to 90,000 Bonus Points. |
| Rewards Rate | Up to 17X total points. |
| Regular APR | 19.24Min. of (6.75+12.49) and 29.99%–27.74Min. of (6.75+20.99) and 29.99% variable APR. |
| Network | Mastercard |
About this card
The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card earns an overall rating of 3.3, placing it in the 'Good' category. This card presents a compelling value proposition, particularly for a specific audience: IHG loyalists and casual travelers who prioritize avoiding annual fees and consistently pay their balances in full. Its strengths are truly exceptional for a no-annual-fee card, including a near-perfect 4.9 for fees (no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees) and an excellent 4.3 for rewards. The generous sign-up bonus, high earning rates on IHG stays (up to 17X total points), 3X points on key everyday spending categories (dining, utilities, streaming, gas), and the highly valuable 'Redeem 3 nights, get 4th night free' perk make it a standout in its niche. The card also benefits from being issued by Chase, a highly reputable financial institution, and includes a suite of useful travel and purchase protection benefits, further enhancing its value proposition for its target user. However, the card's most significant drawback, and a major factor limiting its overall score, is its extremely high regular APR, rated at a poor 1.3. With a variable APR ranging from 19.24% to 29.99% and no introductory APR period, carrying a balance on this card would quickly and severely erode any value gained from its rewards and fee-free structure. This critical flaw makes the card ill-suited for anyone who anticipates carrying debt. While its rewards are strong within the IHG ecosystem, they lack the flexibility of general travel rewards currencies, and the automatic Silver Elite status is a minor perk compared to higher tiers. In summary, it's an excellent choice for a budget-conscious IHG enthusiast who always pays in full, but the prohibitive APR prevents it from achieving a higher overall rating for the broader consumer base. Its strengths make it 'Good' for its specific niche, but the severe APR weakness prevents it from being 'Excellent' overall.
Pros & Cons
What's great
- No annual fee
- Generous sign-up bonus
- High rewards rate on hotel stays and common spending categories
- No foreign transaction fees
- Automatic elite status
- Valuable travel and purchase protections
- Hotel redemption benefits
Things to consider
- High regular APR
- No intro APR period
- Rewards primarily focused on a specific hotel brand
What this card offers
Sign-up bonuses
- Earn 80,000 Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Plus, earn 10,000 bonus points after you add an authorized user to your account in the first 3 months from account opening.
Rewards
- Up to 17X total points at IHG Hotels and Resorts
- Earn 3X total points on dining, utilities, select streaming services, and at gas stations.
- Earn 2X points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Other features
- Automatic Silver Elite Status as long as you remain an IHG One Rewards Traveler Cardmember.
- Earn 10,000 bonus points after you spend $10,000 each calendar year.
- Redeem 3 nights, get 4th night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG hotel stay, you can receive a fourth Reward Night free redeemable at that same hotel during that same stay.
- Gold Elite Status Each calendar year you make purchases totaling $20,000 or more, you, as the primary cardmember, will qualify for Gold Elite Status through December 31st of the following year.
- Save 20% on Rewards Points Purchases Save 20% when you purchase points with your IHG One Rewards Traveler credit card.
- Early Access to IHG Reward Night Sales As an IHG One Rewards Cardmember, you are eligible for early access to Reward Night sales each year.
- Baggage Delay Insurance Reimburses you up to $100 a day for up to 3 days for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing when baggage is delayed over 6 hours.
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement 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 covered trip.
- Purchase Protection Covers your eligible new purchases for 120 days from the date of purchase against damage or theft up to $500 per item.
- Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance If your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather or other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $5,000 per covered traveler and $10,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours, and hotels.
- No foreign transaction fees You will pay no foreign transaction fees when you use your card for purchases made outside the United States.
- DoorDash Get one-year complimentary DashPass, membership for both DoorDash and Caviar, that provides unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders. Activate by Dec 31, 2027.
- Plus, DashPass members get up to $10 off quarterly on non-restaurant DoorDash orders through Dec 31, 2027.
- Instacart Receive a monthly $10 Instacart credit, up to $120 annually, plus a complimentary 3-month Instacart+ membership. Service fees and terms apply. Membership auto-renews at $99/yr. Active Instacart+ membership is required to receive your $10 monthly credit. Benefits end 12/31/27.
- Chase Pay Over Time lets eligible Chase customers break up credit card purchases into budget friendly payments. No interest - just a fixed monthly fee with plan durations that range from 3-24 months.
Additional Notes
This product is available to you if you do not have a current IHG One Rewards Credit Card and have not received a new Cardmember bonus within the last 24 months. This does not apply to Business Card Credit Card products.