• Get an Anniversary Free Night each year. Plus, redeem 3 nights, get 4th night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG hotel stay.
• NEW! Enjoy up to $100 in Food & Beverage Rewards annually at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
• This card offers over $700 in value your first year!
• Automatic Gold Elite Status as long as you remain an IHG One Rewards Premier cardmember. Plus, get 15 Elite Night Credits each year (new!).
• IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental®, Kimpton®, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza®, EVEN® Hotels, & Holiday Inn®
• Member FDIC

When it comes to IHG Rewards Points the best way to maximize your points is to redeem them with travel.

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[.dontreco] We don’t recommend: Redeeming for Cash Back [.dontreco] 

Using your points for cash back typically provides a lower value than redeeming for travel.

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[.sometimesreco] We sometimes recommend: Booking through the IHG Portal [.sometimesreco]

You can redeem your points for hotel stays directly through the IHG portal, but this usually gives you a value of 0.5 cents per point or less. While this is a decent option, it’s still not the best.

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[.alwaysreco] We always recommend: Using Points for Free Nights [.alwaysreco]

Redeeming points for free nights at IHG hotels provides the best value. This can give you more than 0.7 cents per point, especially if you take advantage of promotions and the fourth-night free benefit.

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Don't sleep on the grocery category. The card now earns 5x points at grocery stores, so putting your regular grocery spending on it is one of the easiest ways to rack up points toward your next free night.

While the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card does have certain airline and hotel transfer partners, those ratios do not provide the best value for your points...or really any value for that matter.

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1. The IHG Loyalist

If you frequently find yourself booking stays at IHG properties like InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, or Holiday Inn, the IHG One Rewards Premier Card is a must-have in your wallet. You'll get automatic Gold Elite status, plus 15 Elite Night Credits every year to help you reach higher status tiers faster. You'll also get up to $100 in Food & Beverage Rewards each year at IHG Hotels & Resorts and an Anniversary Free Night, which together can go a long way toward covering the annual fee. For loyal IHG customers, these benefits plus the potential to earn tons of bonus points make this card a no-brainer.

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2. The Frequent Traveler

For those jet-setting often, the IHG Premier offers super solid value. The card earns up to 24x total points per $1 at IHG Hotels & Resorts, plus 5x points on flights booked directly, car rental agencies, gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants. Those points add up fast, so you can enjoy free nights at IHG properties worldwide. Add in the Anniversary Free Night and the fourth-night-free benefit on award stays, and this card can save frequent travelers a lot of money on hotels.

Here’s a good rule of thumb: You probably shouldn’t own a credit card if you: (1) have a bad credit score, (2) are a non-U.S. resident (for this particular card), and (3) cannot control your spending. If your credit score is low, you'll need to improve it before applying for travel credit cards, as approval for the best ones, like the IHG Rewards Premier, is unlikely. Be honest with yourself: if a new credit card will tempt you to overspend, it's best to avoid it. Credit cards are crucial for earning miles and points, but they require responsible use.

A good to excellent credit score is recommended for the New IHG Rewards Premier Card.