IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card review

Finder experts pick IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card as a 2020 best product for credit cards.

How to apply for IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card

1. Learn more about how to apply for IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card.
2. Complete the application form with information such as your full name, date of birth, Social Security number, contact information and total annual income.
3. Review your details and submit your application.

What credit score do I need?

Consider applying for this card with a good to excellent credit score of 670 and higher.

Pros and cons

Card benefits

• No annual fee.
  You won’t pay anything to own the card.
• No foreign transaction fees.
  You won’t pay transaction fees on purchases made abroad.
• 100,000-point signup bonus.
  Spend $2,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening to earn this bonus.
• Up to 15x total points at IHG hotels.
  You’ll also earn 2x points at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants, and 1x points on all other purchases.
• Gold Elite status each calendar year you spend $10,000 on purchases.
  This level comes with certain benefits not available to the basic Club Member tier.
• Purchase and travel protections. Many card providers cut these benefits, but Chase offers an impressive suite of protections with the IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card.
• Fourth reward night free.
  Take advantage of this feature when you use points to book a stay at an eligible IHG hotel.

Deeper dive: A strong signup bonus with a relatively low spend requirement

At the time of this writing, we peg each IHG point at a value of 0.7 cents each. That means 100,000 points are worth $700 — impressive for a no-annual-fee card and superior to what you’ll find with similar hotel cards.

Another plus is the relatively low spend requirement for the bonus: $2,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. For comparison, the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card offers 20,000 points — worth $200 in cash back — after you make $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

Deeper dive: Great rewards at IHG properties, mediocre rewards elsewhere

At our current valuation, 5x points at IHG hotels means you’re effectively earning a 3.5% reward rate. If you’re a loyal IHG customer looking for a no-annual-fee card, that’s a great deal. You’ll get this on top of 10x points on most IHG bookings just by being a member of the IHG Rewards Club.

In other categories, the card’s rewards are nothing to write home about: 2x points at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants translates to a 1.4% reward rate. That’s disappointing, considering specialized cards offer much higher rates and even flat-rate cashback cards offer better rewards. And the base 1x-point tier is anemic, offering just a 0.7% reward rate.

Using this card for rewards makes sense if you’re a frequent guest at IHG properties. Otherwise, you’ll get more out of another card.

Deeper dive: Gold Elite status is a nice touch — if you can meet the spend requirement

Normally, you must stay 10 qualifying nights or earn 10,000 elite qualifying points in a calendar year to reach Gold Elite status. Here are a few perks it offers that you won’t find with normal Club Member status:

• Extended checkout.
  IHG doesn’t mention how late this checkout time is, and says this benefit varies by region and availability.
• Priority check-in.
  Access a special line when you’re ready to check in.
• Welcome amenity.
  This varies by property, but it’s reportedly often points, a snack, a bottle of water or another type of gift. At Kimpton, it’s a Raid the Bar credit.
• Raid the Bar.
  Receive a $10 credit valid at the hotel’s restaurant bar or your in-room bar during an eligible stay.
• One free Amazon Kindle eBook per quarter.
  Club Member status allows one free book four times a year.
• 10% bonus earnings for base points.
  You earn base points for activities such as staying at IHG hotels and spending with partners. These points help you earn elite status.
• Points don’t expire.
  Typically, points expire after you have 12 months without earn or redeem activity.

Deeper dive: An attractive suite of purchase and travel benefits

Many card providers have been cutting purchase and travel benefits over the years because cardholders don’t seem to use these benefits much. The IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card is one product that still offers a strong set of protections, including:

• Purchase protection
• Extended warranty protection
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
• Travel accident insurance
• Travel and emergency assistance services
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Baggage delay reimbursement
• Auto rental collision damage waiver

The card’s auto rental collision damage waiver is kicks in before your personal insurance when you’re outside the United States. In the United States it fills in when your insurance won’t.

Deeper dive: Other benefits

When you use your points to book a stay more than four nights, every fourth night is complimentary. Unlike the Citi Prestige® Credit Card, which caps its similar benefit at two times per calendar year, the IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card lets you use this feature without limit. A big difference, however, is the IHG card’s perk applies only to award nights.

Your card also lets you book special experiences through IHG rewards Club Access. You can buy or bid on such packages as:

• A two-night stay at the InterContinental Lyon – Hotel Dieu
• Entry to the San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival
• An official fan experience at the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship
• VIP Suite access to Disney on Ice

What to watch out for

• Gold Elite status requires a $10,000 spend.
  No-annual-fee cards from other hotel chains often give you elite status without a spend requirement.
• Strong rewards only at IHG properties.
  If you don’t stay at IHG properties much, consider another travel credit card.
• Fourth-night-free benefit applies only to Reward Nights.
  You need enough points to redeem for a stay longer than four nights.

Customer reviews and card rating

Some consumers mention Chase’s 5/24 rule, which means the provider automatically denies your application if you’ve opened five cards within the last 24 months. Customers commonly say you’re better off filling one of those five slots with the IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card instead.

Other consumers warn that IHG’s PointBreaks program — through which you can book nights for as little as 5,000 points each — often include a disappointing array of properties.

JPMorgan Chase Credit Card is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), but it has an A+ rating from the agency. According to the BBB, this rating indicates that Chase offers customer support to its customers.
The bank’s customer rating averages at 1 out of 5 stars. Some customers cite unexpected account closures, unfulfilled signup bonuses and unhelpful customer support.

Authorized users and cosigners

There’s no fee to add authorized users to your IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card by signing in to your online Chase account, selecting your IHG card and enter the name of the person you wish to add. You’ll receive their card in the mail within five to seven business days.

Gold Elite benefits extend to the primary cardholder, not authorized users. The fourth-award-night-free benefit and all points earned go to the IHG Rewards Club account on file with your card.

Does Chase allow cosigners for the IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card?

At this time, Chase doesn’t allow cosigners for any of its credit cards, including the IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card.

How does IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card compare to other similar cards?

Compare how the IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card stacks up against other no-annual-fee hotel cards.

Rewards rate

These rewards rates don’t include earnings from being a member of a hotel’s loyalty program. We calculated effective rewards rates in October 2019 by accounting for point values upon redemption. According to our current valuations, IHG points are worth an average of 0.7 cents each, Hilton Honors points an average of 0.4 cents each and Marriott Bonvoy points an average of 0.9 cents each.

Signup bonus value

We calculated effective signup bonus values in October 2019 by accounting for point values upon redemption. According to our current valuations, IHG points are worth an average of 0.7 cents each, Hilton Honors points an average of 0.4 cents each and Marriott Bonvoy points an average of 0.9 cents each.

Elite status

Consider other cards if …

If you’re not a frequent guest at IHG properties, strongly consider a different card. You’ll find many options that offer better rewards for your spending, including:

• Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card.
  Earn 3x points on hotels, flights, gas, eligible dining and other categories. This card has no annual fee.
• Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
  Earn 2x miles on every purchase, regardless of category. You can boost the value of these miles by transferring them to Capital One’s airline partners. This card has a $95 annual fee.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express
  Earn 15x points on eligible flights and hotel stays. Starting January 1, 2021, your 15x points on flights are capped at $500,000 annually, reverting to 1x after that. Also, enjoy premium perks such as travel credits, airport lounge access and special benefits at luxury resorts. This is the card of choice for many high-class travelers. It has a $550 annual fee (see rates & fees).

Cards to pair with the IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card

This card is a fine choice if you want strong IHG rewards without paying an annual fee. However, it’s not the most natural fit even with two of the best cards that allow point transfers to IHG Rewards Club: the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

IHG points are worth an average of 0.7 cents each according to our current valuations. While the aforementioned Chase cards allow 1:1 point transfers, it typically doesn’t make sense to transfer your points only to have them decrease in value.

In fact, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, your points get a 50% boost. This means it’s usually advantageous to redeem your points this way instead of transferring them to IHG Rewards Club.

Which cards should I use with the IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card?

Use the IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card for IHG spending, and other cards for your other purchases. Strong products include the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card and Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card, as well as:

• PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card
  Earn 5x points on gas purchased at the pump.
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express.
  Earn 6% cash back at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
• Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card
  Earn 4% cash back on dining.

These cards offer stronger reward rates than the 2x points at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants you’ll earn with the IHG card.

Redeeming points

Use your IHG Rewards Club points for redemptions that include:

• Reward Nights
• Merchandise
• Gift cards
• IHG Rewards Club experiences
• Rewards Nights by spending a combination of cash and points
• Digital rewards such as music, movies, games and e-books
• Point transfers to other members
• Point transfers to your accounts in airline programs
• Charitable donations

How much are IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card points worth?

How to make the most out of your card

• Assemble your cards.
  Now that you have the card, use it for all of your IHG bookings. Consider using a different rewards card for all other purchases.
• Reach elite status.
  Spending $10,000 isn’t the only way to get Gold Elite status. You can also stay 10 qualifying nights at IHG properties or earn 10,000 elite qualifying points — both of which can easily cost less than your card’s spend requirement.
• Leverage purchase and travel protections.
  Though these benefits are usually an afterthought, they can save you a lot of money in certain circumstances. Read your card’s guide to benefits to understand how perks like trip cancellation insurance, purchase protection and extended warranties cover you.
• Use your points.
  To redeem points, visit the IHG Rewards Club website or call 800-421-5162. Normally, each Reward Night costs 10,000 to 70,000 points. Through PointBreaks, you’ll find select properties with nights as low as 5,000 points.

How to upgrade your card

If you want more from your card, consider upgrading it to the impressive IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card. It has an $89 annual fee starting the second year, but it offers a free night after each account anniversary, Platinum Elite status and a credit every four years for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee.

You could potentially earn up to 25x points at IHG properties, a rate that includes your rewards from the card, IHG Rewards Club membership and Platinum Elite status.

To upgrade, call the number on the back of your card and ask to be upgraded to the IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card.

Compare hotel credit cards

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Name	Product	Welcome offer	Rewards	Annual fee	Filter values
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card		130,000 points after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months	12x points on Hilton Portfolio spending, 6x at US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations, 3x on all other purchases	$95		With a big welcome offer worth up to $650, up to 12x points on spending, and free Gold status, this is an upgrade from the entry Hilton card. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Hilton Honors American Express Card		80,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months	7x points on Hilton Honors purchases, 5x at US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations, 3x on all other purchases	$0		With a massive welcome offer for a no-annual-fee card and up to 7x points at Hilton, this is a solid pick for Hilton fans and occasional travelers. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Chase Sapphire Reserve®		50,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months	10x points on Lyft rides, 3x points on dining and travel after earning your $300 travel credit and 1x points on all other purchases	$550		Get a generous $300 in annual travel credits, 3x points on travel and dining, and a 50% bonus on point redemptions with Chase's premier card.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card		60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, a value of up to $750 through Chase Ultimate Rewards	5x points on Lyft, 2x points on travel and dining and 1x points on all other purchases	$95		Earn a signup bonus worth $750 with this popular travel card. Combine with other Chase Ultimate Rewards cards for even greater value.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
The World of Hyatt Credit Card		25,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. 25,000 points after spending another $6,000 in the first 6 months	4x total points at Hyatt hotels as a World of Hyatt member, 2x on gyms, commuting, dining and airlines and 1x on all other purchases	$95		Earn 25,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. 25,000 points after spending another $6,000 in the first 6 months.	See offer View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card		100,000 points after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months	15x total points at IHG hotels, 2x points at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants and 1x points on all other purchases	$0		Earn 100,000 points after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.	See offer View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi		N/A	4% at gas stations on up to $7,000 annually (then 1%), 3% at restaurants and on travel, 2% at Costco and 1% on all other purchases	$0		Get 3% back on your travel and dining purchases with no foreign transaction fees and use the card for your Costco membership.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card		140,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months	25x points at IHG hotels, 2x on gas, groceries and dining and 1x on all other purchases	$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($89 thereafter)		140,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months.	See offer View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
CardMatch™ from creditcards.com		See terms	See terms	See terms		Use the CardMatch tool to find cards you're likely to qualify for with your credit score, without a hard pull on your credit.	See offer View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card		100,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months, plus earn 25,000 after the first anniversary of card membership (offer expires 1/13/2021)	6x points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3x at US restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2x for all other purchases	$450		Earn 100,000 bonus points when you spend $5,000 or more within your first 3 months, plus earn 25,000 after the first anniversary of card membership (offer expires 1/13/2021). Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Bottom line

The IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card offers attractive rewards on IHG spending. However, it’s stingy on status bumps, and you’ll find better rewards elsewhere in non-IHG categories. Its sibling card, the IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card, is a much better choice.

If you’re not sure this card is right for you, consider other hotel credit cards.

Frequently asked questions

• If I reach the spend requirement for Gold Elite status, how long will I have this status?

  When you reach the spend requirement, you’ll qualify for Gold Elite status through December 31 of the next year.

• Do my IHG rewards expire?

  Rewards expire if it’s been 12 consecutive months since you’ve earned or redeemed points through your IHG Rewards Club account.

• Can I use the fourth-night-free benefit if I pay for my booking with points and cash?

  No. The benefit doesn’t apply to points-and-cash bookings.