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IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

Credit Needed

Good/Excellent

Intro Offer

Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

Rewards Rate

17X points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts.

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Your trust is important to us. To earn it, we conduct a rigorous, unbiased analysis with a transparent methodology, and maintain strict editorial standards and independence.

Designed for frequent visitors of IHG hotels and resorts, the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card earns up to 17 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel & resort. It offers 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. New cardholders will earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening .

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card has no annual fee or foreign transaction fee. Cardholders receive a fourth night free at an IHG hotel or resort after redeeming rewards points for four or more nights. Other benefits include baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, travel accident insurance, extended warranty protection and purchase protection.

Best Features

Bonus points at IHG properties: Cardholders earn up to 17 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotels & resorts.

Welcome offer: A 80,000 -point welcome offer is available after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening .

No annual fee or foreign transaction fee: The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card charges neither an annual fee nor transaction fees when you make purchases abroad.

Card benefits: With the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, cardholders can access a large suite of travel and protection benefits. These include an auto rental collision damage waiver, travel and emergency assistance services, trip cancellation or interruption insurance, travel accident insurance, baggage delay insurance, extended warranty protection, and purchase protection.

Card fees: The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card doesn’t charge an annual fee or a foreign transaction fee, but it does include other fees. These are a balance transfer fee of $5 or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater; a cash advance fee of $10 or 5% of each transaction, whichever is greater; and a late payment or returned payment fee of up to $40.

Potentially high interest rate: Although the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card doesn’t charge a penalty annual percentage rate for late or returned payments, it doesn’t offer a 0% introductory APR on purchases or balance transfers. A standard APR of 21.49% to 28.49% variable applies on purchases and balance transfers, based on your creditworthiness.

• Rates and Fees
• Highlights from Issuer
• Issuer Name Chase
• Credit Needed Good/Excellent
• Annual Fee $0
• Regular APR 21.49% - 28.49% Variable
• Penalty APR Up to 29.99%
• Balance Transfer Fee Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
• Cash Advance Fee Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater.
• Foreign Transaction Fee $0

On Chase's Secure Website.

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card Benefits

The following consumer and travel protection benefits are available to IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card holders:

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

Maximizing Rewards

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is most valuable when used for purchases at IHG hotels and resorts, where you’ll earn 17 points total per $1 spent. You’ll receive 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. The easiest way to earn bonus points: Charge $2,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening to get the card’s 80,000 -point welcome offer.

Comparisons to Other Cards

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card vs. Hilton Honors American Express Card

Annual fee: Neither card charges an annual fee.

Rewards: The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card earns up to 17 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel or resort; 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. With the Hilton Honors American Express Card, cardholders earn seven points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Hilton hotels or resorts; five points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations; and three points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: With the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, you'll earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening . With the Hilton Honors American Express Card, you have the opportunity to earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership .

Benefits: IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card holders can take advantage of various benefits, including an auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, travel accident insurance, travel and emergency assistance services, and extended warranty protection. Along with Hilton Honors Silver status, Hilton Honors American Express Card benefits include car rental loss and damage insurance, access to the Global Assist Hotline, fraud protection and no foreign transaction fee. Terms apply.

Comparative assessments and other editorial opinions are those of U.S. News and have not been previously reviewed, approved or endorsed by any other entities, such as banks, credit card issuers or travel companies. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired.

• Is the IHG Rewards Traveler card the Best Credit Card for You?
• Benefits and Features
• Annual Fee and Other Costs
• How the Card Compares
• Frequently Asked Questions

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card Review 2024

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate credit cards to write unbiased product reviews .

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card earns bonus IHG points on paid stays, and provides a fourth night free benefit when you redeem your points for award stays. However, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is a stronger choice overall if you like staying at IHG hotels. The only reasons to get the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card are if you don't want to pay an annual fee or want to earn the welcome bonus points. 

Earn up to 17 total points per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG Hotel & Resorts. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on purchases on monthly bills, gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.

21.49% - 28.49% Variable

• Earn 80,000 bonus points

Good to Excellent

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No annual fee
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Great points earning for IHG stays
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No foreign transaction fees
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Not much in the way of perks beyond earning points
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Really only a good option for earning points on IHG stays

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is a decent option if you stay at IHG hotels occasionally and don't want to pay an annual fee. However, you'll get a much better deal with the annual-fee personal Chase IHG card, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card.

• 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

IHG One Rewards Traveler Card Overview

New cardholders can earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That's worth around $520 in hotel stays, based on Insider's valuation of IHG points at 0.65 cents each — though it's possible to get an even higher rate of return.

You'll also earn 5 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels (in addition to points you'd normally earn from a stay), 3 points per dollar on dining, gas stations, utilities, internet, cable, phone, and select streaming services, and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. There's no annual fee, and you won't pay foreign transaction fees for making purchases abroad. 

In addition to receiving automatic IHG Silver elite status, you'll also get a path to earn IHG Gold elite status when you spend $20,000 on purchases and make one additional purchase in a calendar year, and a 20% discount on IHG points purchased through Points.com. 

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card also comes with decent travel and purchase coverage, such as trip delay and cancellation insurance and purchase protection on items bought with the card. These benefits are nice to have on any card, especially from a no-annual-fee travel card .

But if you like staying at IHG hotels, you'll get more meaningful benefits with the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card. With it, you'll earn up to 26 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels (10x points from the card, 10x points for being an IHG member, and 6x points from the automatic Platinum elite status that comes with the card) and get a free award night worth up to 40,000 points every cardmember anniversary. The card also has a welcome offer of 140,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, which is much more than what the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card offers.  

Though there's an annual fee of $99 for the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, the anniversary free night award is easily worth more. Plus, having IHG Platinum elite status can get you room upgrades and late checkout when available, on top of bonus points for paid stays. For most IHG loyalists, it's a better option, even with the annual fee factored in. Here's our Chase IHG Premier credit card review for comparison.

IHG Traveler Card Rewards

Welcome bonus offer.

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is currently offering a welcome bonus of 80,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This isn't the highest bonus we've ever seen on this card, but based on Insider's valuation of IHG points at (0.65 cents each), it's worth around $520 in hotel stays.

How to earn points

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card earns 5 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels. In addition to up to 10 points per dollar you earn for being an IHG member and up to 2x points for having Silver elite status from the card, that's up to 17x points total for IHG stays. 

You'll also earn 3 points per dollar at gas stations , restaurants , utilities, internet, cable, phone, and select streaming services , and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. 

Keep in mind not all streaming services are eligible for bonus points. Qualifying subscriptions are:

• Apple Music
• YouTube Premium
• YouTube TV 

How to use IHG Points

It's easy to redeem IHG points for free hotel stays directly on IHG.com. You can search for a hotel by location, but keep in mind IHG doesn't have an official award chart and award nights are dynamically priced. Prices vary by hotel, and can even fluctuate day-to-day, based on demand.  

However, you'll generally pay 10,000 to 25,000 points per night at budget-friendly hotels like Holiday Inn and Candlewood Suites, all the way up to 70,000 points per night for high-end brands like InterContinental and Kimpton. A few luxury resorts in places like Macau and the Maldives can cost 75,000 to 120,000 points per night. 

You can stretch your points further with Points + Cash rates. Here too, redemption options vary, but you'll need to use a minimum of 5,000 points with this option. It typically isn't a great value but can be worth checking if you're low on points or have an expensive stay planned. 

You can redeem IHG points for merchandise, gift cards, magazine subscriptions, or digital rewards like games and e-books, but the value you'll receive is usually much less than you'd get for a free hotel night. IHG also allows you to transfer your points to airline miles, but again, the ratio is poor and only worthwhile if you have a very specific reward in mind. 

IHG allows you to transfer your points to another member at a rate of $5 per 1,000 points transferred, or donate them to one of its charity partners. 

IHG Traveler Card Benefits

Fourth reward night free.

When you have the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, any time you redeem IHG points for reward nights, you'll get the fourth night free on stays of three or more nights. This benefit can be used an unlimited amount of times. 

Automatic IHG Silver elite status

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card cardholders get automatic IHG Silver elite status , which is the chain's lowest status tier. Silver members get a handful of perks, including 20% bonus points on paid stays and late checkout when available. In addition, having and maintaining any level of IHG elite status means your points won't expire.

Opportunity to earn Gold elite status

You can earn IHG Gold elite status when you spend $20,000 on purchases and make one additional purchase with your IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card in a calendar year. Your Gold status will be valid until December 31 of the following year.

Gold is the next tier up from IHG Silver and includes perks like 40% bonus points on paid stays and late checkout when available.

For comparison, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card comes with automatic Platinum elite status with no additional spending required. 

10,000 bonus points each year if you meet a spending threshold

Each calendar year when you spend at least $10,000 and make one additional purchase with your IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, you'll receive 10,000 bonus points.

20% discount on points purchases

If you're close to an award stay and need to purchase additional IHG points, you'll get a 20% discount when you pay with your IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card. Note that you can purchase a maximum of 150,000 points per calendar year.    

Damage and theft purchase protection

New purchases made with your IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card are covered against damage and theft for 120 days, up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account. 

Extended warranty protection

You can extend a US manufacturer's warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less when you pay for the purchase with your IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card. 

Auto rental collision damage waiver insurance

When you pay for a rental car with your IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card and decline the rental company's collision insurance, you're covered for theft and collision damage. In the US, coverage is secondary to your personal insurance, but is primary insurance abroad. 

Baggage delay insurance

When you pay for your fare with the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, if your baggage is delayed over six hours, you can get reimbursed for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing up to $100 a day for three days. 

Lost luggage reimbursement

If you or an immediate family member check or carry on luggage that gets damaged or lost, you're covered up to $3,000 per passenger per trip when you pay with your IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card. 

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance

If your trip is canceled or cut short because of sickness, severe weather, or another covered situation, you can get reimbursed up to $5,000 per person and $10,000 per trip for pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses like fares, tours, and hotels. 

Travel accident insurance

When you pay for air, bus, train, or cruise transportation with your IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, you can get accidental death or dismemberment coverage up to $500,000.

Complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership

When you have the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, you can activate a complimentary one-year DoorDash DashPass membership . DashPass offers free delivery and discounted service fees on orders of $12 or more with DoorDash and Caviar delivery services, and usually costs $9.99 per month. You'll need to activate the benefit by December 31, 2024.

Fraud protection and alerts

Chase uses real-time fraud monitoring to protect your account. You can sign-up to receive a text, email, or call if there's any unusual activity. 

IHG Traveler Card Annual Fee and Other Costs

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees , so it's an ideal card to keep long-term and carry abroad. It's always a good idea to have at least one card with no foreign transaction fees. 

Like most other cards, the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card charges fees for cash advances, late payments, and returned payments. 

Compare the IHG Traveler Card

* Bonus points at IHG hotels are in addition to the points members would normally earn from a stay

*** The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card offer an annual free night award each year after your account anniversary for participating IHG properties that cost up to 40,000 points

IHG Traveler Card Frequently Asked Questions 

Most folks who are approved for the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card have a  credit score in the good  to  excellent range . This means a  FICO score of at least 670.

No, the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card does not come with a free night on your card anniversary . Only the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card offer this benefit for stays at IHG hotels.

For most travelers who stay with IHG, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is a better deal than the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, even though it charges a $99 annual fee. The anniversary free night you get with the card can more than offset the yearly cost, and additional benefits like automatic Platinum elite status and a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit make the card even more valuable.

But if you're completely opposed to paying an annual fee and don't stay with IHG often, the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card could be worth it. Just remember you'll get more flexibility by earning Chase Ultimate Rewards® points or Bilt Rewards Points (which transfer to IHG at a 1:1 ratio) from cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Bilt Mastercard®, so be sure to check out those options as well. Here's our guide to the best Chase cards .

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is subject to the  Chase 5/24 rule , which means if you've opened five or more credit cards from any bank (excluding some small-business cards), you won't be approved for the card. You're also not eligible if you already have any personal IHG card open, including the legacy IHG Rewards Club Select card (no longer available to new applicants), or earned the welcome bonus from one in the past 24 months.

However, you can have the small-business IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card and still qualify for a personal IHG card like the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card.

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is a World Mastercard, which means it comes with good travel insurance and purchase protection, along with other perks.

Methodology: How We Reviewed the IHG One Rewards Traveler Card

The credit card team at Insider evaluated the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card in comparison to other IHG credit cards, as well as no-annual-fee hotel credit cards from chains like Hilton, Marriott, Wyndham, and Choice.

We considered several factors in our review:

• Ease of use — Is the card's rewards program straightforward, or are there complex rules and award charts to navigate?
• Earning potential — Does the welcome bonus offer a good value and is it competitive with similar cards? Are there useful bonus categories that make the card valuable for both travel and everyday spending?
• Fees — Even no-annual-fee cards may sting you with other fees or charges that can diminish the value of your rewards, such as foreign transaction fees or a high APR. With annual-fee cards, we consider whether or not the perks justify the cost.
• Benefits — Does the card have perks that save you money and time, or make your travels more comfortable? 

Read about how we rate credit cards at Insider to learn more about our methodology.

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, please click here.

For rewards and benefits of the Bilt Mastercard, please click here.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

**Enrollment required.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip Delay Insurance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, and Cell Phone Protection Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Global Assist Hotline Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, and Baggage Insurance Plan Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

• Main content

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card review: IHG perks for no annual fee

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card overview

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is IHG's no-annual-fee card option. With this card, you'll earn 5 points per dollar at IHG hotels and resorts as well as 3 points per dollar at gas stations, monthly bills and restaurants with this card. While the IHG Traveler Card offers some useful IHG-related perks, it may not be the best choice for you. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐1/2

* Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

IHG offers two personal cobranded Chase cards to help customers rack up points and maximize their stays. One of these cards is the no-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card . The IHG One Traveler Card certainly has more to offer to IHG loyalists than most no-annual-fee hotel cards, but it may not be your best choice.

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is for travelers who want to earn IHG points on their purchases without incurring an annual fee . Specifically, this card is best if you stay with IHG frequently and will use the card's fourth reward night benefit .

In particular, if you're going to use one of your Chase 5/24 slots on an IHG One Rewards credit card, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is a better option for most people.

The recommended credit score for this card is above 670. Now, let's take a closer look at the IHG One Traveler Card so you can decide whether it is right for you.

Related: Earn extra points at your favorite restaurants with IHG One Rewards Dining

IHG One Rewards Traveler pros and cons

Ihg one rewards traveler card welcome offer.

Currently, the IHG Traveler Card offers a sign-up bonus of 80,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. TPG values IHG One Rewards points at 0.05 cents each, making this bonus worth $400.

This isn't quite the best offer we've seen on this card (120,000 bonus points), but it meets our criteria for an offer worth jumping on.

You may be eligible for the IHG One Traveler Card (and its sign-up bonus) if you satisfy all of the following requirements:

• Don't currently have a personal (not business) IHG One Rewards card
• Haven't earned a sign-up bonus on a personal IHG card in the last 24 months
• Are under Chase's 5/24 rule

Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions

IHG One Rewards Traveler benefits

As with even the best no-annual-fee cards , the IHG One Traveler Card doesn't offer many luxury perks. Here's a quick overview of the card's main benefits and perks.

Fourth reward night benefit

Each time you redeem points for a stay of four or more nights, every fourth night will cost zero points. Once you're a cardholder, this discount will be automatically applied when you redeem IHG points for eligible stays.

Save 20% on point purchases

You'll get a 20% bonus whenever you buy IHG points with your card. But you can't combine this discount with other promotions, such as when IHG points are on sale. And IHG sometimes offers a much better 100% bonus when you purchase points. So, although I often buy IHG points when the 100% bonus drops the purchase price to 0.5 cents per point, I don't find the 20% discount appealing.

Automatic Silver status (with a path to Gold)

IHG One Traveler cardholders will enjoy automatic Silver Elite status in the refreshed IHG One Rewards program . This tier includes a 20% bonus on hotel stays, priority check-in and points that don't expire.

In addition, you can buy your way to Gold Elite status when you spend $20,000 on your card each calendar year. This tier includes a 40% bonus on hotel stays and rollover elite nights for status the following year.

No foreign transaction fees

Many credit cards don't charge foreign transaction fees ; however, there are few cards on that list without an annual fee. If you travel abroad frequently, it's worth having at least one credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.

Related: How to maximize longer hotel stays by using a free night benefit

Earning points on the IHG One Rewards Traveler

When you use your IHG One Traveler Card to make purchases, you'll earn:

• 5 points per dollar at IHG hotels and resorts (2.5% return, based on TPG's valuations )
• 3 points per dollar at gas stations , monthly bills and restaurants (1.5% return)
• 2 points per dollar on everything else (1% return)

These returns aren't great, even compared to other no-annual-fee cards .

The 2.5% return at IHG hotels and resorts isn't bad. But you can do much better with numerous purchases using several sub-$100 annual fee cards . For example, the $95 annual fee Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 2 points per dollar (for over a 4% return) on travel purchases . And the $95 annual fee Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees ) earns 2 miles per dollar for a 3.7% return on almost all purchases.

The IHG One Traveler Card also isn't a good choice for most other purchases. After all, it only provides a 1.5% return at gas stations and restaurants, plus a 1% return on other purchases. Several simple, cash-back credit cards offer a 2% return on all purchases. For example, you can earn 2% per dollar on all purchases — 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay — with the no-annual-fee Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees ).

Related: The best credit cards for each bonus category

Redeeming points on the IHG One Rewards Traveler

There are many options for redeeming IHG One Rewards points . Not surprisingly, you'll get the best value from your points when you redeem for IHG hotel stays.

TPG values IHG points at just 0.5 cents each. However, it's possible to maximize redemptions with the IHG One Rewards program and get much more value from your points. Here are a few ways you can do so.

IHG has dynamic award pricing , but there are some good deals to be found. However, one downside to dynamic pricing is that you should more carefully consider when to use your points versus cash for a stay. I tend to use points when I can get better than 0.5 cents per point of value. And I almost always use points when I book a stay of four nights or longer to utilize the IHG One Traveler Card's fourth reward night benefit . Conversely, I tend to use cash when IHG is offering a lucrative hotel promotion .

IHG One Rewards points can go a long way in some regions. Here are some of my favorite IHG properties in the U.S. bookable for 10,000 points . And, if you're ready to travel internationally, here are some of the best international IHG properties bookable for 10,000 points .

You also can use a combination of Points + Cash to book stays. For a given room, you'll typically see a chart with discounts from the full nightly award rate in increments of 5,000 points.

On a Points + Cash booking, you're essentially buying the extra points needed to complete the redemption. So, if you cancel your room, your refund will be given solely in points. I rarely book Points + Cash rates since it's usually a better value to use just points. However, it's worth checking to see whether the math works out on each booking.

TPG senior credit cards editor Matt Moffitt likes to use his IHG One Rewards points for four-night award stays. Given he has the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card , he gets the fourth night free on award redemptions. He usually targets Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties to stretch his points but occasionally splashes out on a Kimpton or InterContinental property.

Related: How to earn and redeem points with IHG One Rewards partners

Transferring points on the IHG One Rewards Traveler

IHG One has more than 40 airline transfer partners, but we recommend avoiding this redemption option when possible. Points transfer at a nearly 5:1 ratio on the lower side. The transfer process is also cumbersome, as you cannot do it online and have to call the IHG One Rewards service center. IHG generally is slow to process points transfer; some have said it took up to six weeks for the points to transfer.

You can also transfer your points to other IHG One members starting at $5 per 1,000 points and free for Diamond and IHG Business Rewards Program members up to 500,000 points per calendar year.

Which cards compete with the IHG One Rewards Traveler?

For IHG loyalists, you may not be enticed by hotel credit cards from other chains. However, other cards are worth considering as alternatives to the IHG One Traveler card.

• If you want more IHG perks: The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card has a $99 annual fee and provides automatic Platinum Elite status, a free night award each account anniversary (worth up to 40,000 points), $50 of United TravelBank credit each year and reimbursement for your application fee to Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus (available every four years). It also has higher earning rates than the IHG One Rewards Traveler. For more information, read our full review of the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card .
• If you want more flexible earnings: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has a $95 annual fee and earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which you can transfer to IHG 1:1 for redemptions — plus use them with other airline and hotel programs. Other key perks include a 10% anniversary points bonus and up to $50 in annual hotel spending credits. For more information, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card .
• I f you're a business owner and want IHG perks: The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card has benefits like the fourth night free and a free anniversary night perk, but will not count toward your 5/24 with Chase. For more information, read our full review of the IHG One Rewards Premier Business card .

For additional options, check out our full list of the best hotel credit cards .

Related: The best credit cards for IHG stays

Is the IHG One Rewards Traveler worth it?

If you stay at IHG properties a few times per year but want elevated perks when traveling, this card may be a nice addition to your wallet. Considering this card has no annual fee, this card is a no-brainer if you are below 5/24 and want entry-level IHG One status and the fourth night free when booking with points.

Related: 7 ways to earn more IHG One Rewards points for your next redemption

Bottom line

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card isn't a bad option. You'll get a 2.5% return at IHG hotels and resorts and a few IHG-related perks for no annual fee. For travelers who infrequently visit IHG properties but want access to the fourth-night-free benefit, this is a solid addition to your wallet. However, if you're looking for extra perks during your stays, you'll be disappointed with this card's limited benefits.

Apply here: IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

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The 24 Best Benefits of the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

Christine Krzyszton

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1. A Generous Welcome Offer

2. earn big at ihg hotels and resorts, 3. earn on purchases you make every day, 4. earn on every purchase, 5. earn bonus ihg one rewards points each anniversary year, 6. save 20% on point purchases, 7. promotions, 8. annual reward hotel night, 9. use reward points to supplement your free night certificate, 10. fourth night free reward, 11. complimentary elite status, 12. spend your way to higher elite status, 13. $50 united travelbank credit, 14. global entry, nexus, or tsa precheck credit, 15. trip cancellation/interruption insurance, 16. travel accident insurance, 17. travel and emergency assistance services, 18. lost luggage reimbursement, 19. baggage delay insurance, 20. auto rental collision damage waiver, 21. no foreign transaction fees, 22. purchase protection, 23. extended warranty protection, redeem for reward hotel nights, use cash and points, move up to intercontinental ambassador, redeem for airline miles, digital rewards, redeem for shopping, redeem for access experiences, redeem for tsa precheck fee, donate to charity, final thoughts.

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The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is a popular card with many types of travelers. With nearly 6,000 properties worldwide and a strong domestic footprint in North America, the IHG Hotels & Resorts brand appeals to both world travelers and local road warriors alike.

The IHG One Rewards loyalty program is excellent with a simple path to elite status, engaging promotions for earning extra IHG One Rewards points, and plenty of ways to redeem those rewards points.

The combination of the IHG One Rewards loyalty program and the IHG Premier card is a match where the sum is greater than the 2 parts. The card supports the rewards program with exponential earnings at IHG properties, a reward hotel night at each card anniversary, and complimentary elite status. If you stay at IHG properties even a few times a year, you’ll seriously benefit by having the card.

Here’s a list of all the key benefits of the IHG Premier card so you can decide if this card is a good match for you.

Lots of Ways To Earn IHG One Rewards Points

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

The perfect card for IHG fans, offering a free night every year, automatic Platinum Elite status, and your fourth night free on award stays.

If you regularly visit IHG hotels throughout the year, then the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is probably a perfect card to have in your wallet.

The IHG Premier card offers a great bundle of perks and benefits, including automatic Platinum elite status, an annual free night certificate, and travel protections.

• Up to 26x points per $1 on IHG stays
• 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants
• 3x points per $1 on all other purchases
• Automatic Platinum Elite status, and the ability to spend your way to Diamond Elite status
• Free anniversary night certificate
• Fourth-night free on award stays
• 20% off when buying IHG Rewards points
• Up to $50 in United Airlines TravelBank Cash each year
• Global Entry , TSA PreCheck , or NEXUS fee credit (up to $100 every four years)
• Earn a $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on the card in a calendar year
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
• Purchase protection
• No foreign transaction fees
• $99 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable points
• Earn 140,000 Bonus Points
• Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Plus, enjoy a fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG ® hotel stay.
• Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
• Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier cardmember
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck ® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
• 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: 21.49% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

• Credit Card Reviews
• Hotel Credit Cards
• Best Sign Up Bonuses
• How to Find a 140k (over even 150k) Bonus Offer for the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card [2024]
• Benefits of the IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card
• Best Credit Cards for IHG One Rewards Loyalists
• Which IHG-branded Credit Card Is Best for You?
• Best Hotel Credit Cards for Free Nights

When you are approved for the IHG Premier card, you have the opportunity to earn a generous welcome offer after meeting minimum spending requirements within the first 3 months after card approval.

The welcome offer jump-starts your earnings, allowing you to start booking reward hotel nights anywhere in the world as soon as the bonus is deposited into your IHG One Rewards account.

Welcome offers vary, however, you’ll always find the bonus worth several free hotel nights. For example, a 140,000-point welcome offer could be redeemed for as many as 14 free hotel nights (or more during special promotions). It’s a fantastic way to boost your points immediately after you’re approved for the card.

Find the most current welcome offer in the table above.

Earn up to 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel and use your card to pay.

Use your IHG Premier card every day for purchases and earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and at restaurants.

Every purchase you make with your IHG Premier card will earn at least 3 points per dollar spent.

Spend $20,000 on your card within a year and receive 10,000 additional IHG One Rewards points.

You’ll earn lots of IHG One Rewards points on your IHG Premier card, but if you’re short of a redemption goal, you can purchase points and receive a 20% discount if you purchase the points using your card.

IHG One Rewards offers several promotions throughout the calendar year with opportunities to earn tens of thousands of points. When you sign up for the IHG One Rewards program , you’ll receive emails alerting you to the latest promotion.

One common requirement for earning bonus points during the promotions is to book and pay for your hotel room with your IHG Premier card, making it an easy way to score some extra IHG One Rewards points.

It’s worthwhile to register, as some of the promotions can be lucrative and simple to achieve.

Reward Hotel Nights and IHG One Rewards Elite Status

Each year on your card anniversary, you’ll receive a reward night certificate good for a room of your choice worth up to 40,000 points. The certificate can be used worldwide.

This benefit alone is worth the annual fee on the card.

Your annual free night certificate can be redeemed for a free hotel night that costs up to 40,000 points. If you find a room that requires more points, you can redeem points to make up the difference as an IHG Premier cardholder.

Book 4 or more consecutive award nights and you will not be charged points for the fourth night. There is no limit to how many times you can use this benefit, and you can even use it multiple times in a single stay.

For example, book 8 consecutive award nights and you will receive the fourth and eighth nights as reward nights without charge. It’s easy to book the reward nights online as the reward night is automatically calculated during the booking process.

IHG Premier cardholders receive automatic complimentary Platinum Elite status for as long as they hold the card. Platinum Elite status, which normally requires staying 40 hotel nights annually or 60,000 earned points, comes with benefits that include:

• Bonus earnings on IHG stays
• Complimentary room upgrades
• Late checkout
• Welcome amenity upon check-in

Spend $40,000 on your card in a calendar year and receive top Diamond Elite status with IHG One Rewards. Diamond Elite status normally requires staying 70 nights or earning 120,000 points in a calendar year.

Travel Benefits and Protections

You’ll find a nice list of travel benefits and protections that come complimentary with your IHG Premier card.

Link your IHG Premier card with your United MileagePlus account and receive $25 deposited into your United TravelBank account twice each calendar year in January and July.

Receive up to $100 when you pay your Global Entry ($100), NEXUS  ($50), or TSA PreCheck fees ($78) with your IHG Premier card. This benefit is valid for one statement credit every 4 years.

If a trip you paid for, in full or in part, with your IHG Premier card is interrupted or canceled , you could receive up to $5,000 per covered trip, per person. There is a maximum of $10,000 per trip and $20,000 per 12-month period for each coverage.

Charge even a portion of your trip to your IHG Premier card and receive a benefit if there is a severe injury or death on a common carrier or another type of travel accident during your travels. Depending on the injury or loss, the benefit provides up to $500,000 for the common carrier benefit and $100,000 for a 24-hour accident benefit.

At any time, make just 1 call to reach emergency or travel assistance. Receive help with emergency transportation, legal and medical referrals, trip assistance, translation services, and much more. There is no charge for the referral service, but cardholders are responsible for the actual services of the providers.

If your luggage is lost or stolen during your trip, you could receive up to $3,000 per person, per covered trip.

When your baggage is delayed, you may need to purchase necessities. Baggage delay insurance provides up to $100 per day for 5 days when your luggage is delayed 6 hours or more.

Simply decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your IHG Premier card. Coverage is provided for theft and collision damage for most cars in the U.S and abroad. Protection is valid for rental terms 31 days or less and is secondary to your own auto insurance in the U.S.

Take your card on vacation with you as you  won’t incur any foreign transaction fees , ever.

Shopping Protections

While many credit card issuers are eliminating some shopping protections, the IHG Premier card still offers these valuable protections.

Pay for your eligible item with your Premier card and receive 120 days of protection for theft and damage from the date of purchase. Coverage is limited to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.

For eligible products purchased with your card, U.S. manufacturer’s warranties of 3 years or less will be extended for an additional year.

24. Lots of Ways To Redeem the Reward Points Earned on Your Card

You can redeem your IHG One Rewards points for just about anything, but keep in mind that not all options result in a good value for your points. Here’s a look at the choices you’ll have at redemption time.

With nearly 6,000 IHG properties worldwide, it’s easy to redeem your reward points for hotel nights . Reward nights can cost as few as 10,000 IHG One Rewards points per night (or less during promotions) and are an excellent use of your points.

If you don’t have enough IHG One Rewards points to completely book your reward stay, you can use a combination of points and cash.

The InterContinental Ambassador program comes with a complimentary “buy one get one” weekend night certificate, complimentary room upgrades and hotel credits, late checkout, and bonus IHG One Rewards points each year when renewing your Ambassador status.

To purchase your InterContinental Ambassador membership, you can redeem 40,000 IHG One Rewards points or pay $200.

If you’re short on airline miles for a specific award redemption, you could transfer your IHG One Rewards points to any of the many airline transfer partners available.

Most transfer rates are 10,000 IHG One Rewards points to 2,000 airline miles, although there are a few exceptions. This translates to needing 100,000 IHG One Rewards points to equal 20,000 frequent flyer miles, so this is not the best option or value for your points.

It’s possible to receive 1 cent in value or better per point when redeeming IHG One Rewards points for e-magazine subscriptions. Subscriptions start at just 200 IHG One Rewards points.

There are dozens of choices when redeeming your points for gift cards, but you may receive less than 0.5 cents per point, so this isn’t the best use of your hard-earned points.

Spend your IHG One Rewards points on digital downloads such as movies, music, eBooks, games, and software. Prices start at just 367 IHG One Rewards points.

Using your IHG One Rewards points for shopping is not a good idea or good value . For example, you could spend 50,000 IHG One Rewards points for a personal translator device or use the 50,000 points for 2 nights at a posh InterContinental hotel and buy a personal translator for less than $100 on Amazon. However, the option is available when shopping on the IHG shopping portal.

Use your points for concerts, amusement park admission, and more with IHG One Rewards Access Experiences. You can also bid on unique VIP experiences such as backstage passes, better seats at concerts, weekend getaways, and other VIP events.

You could use 30,000 IHG One Rewards points for a certificate good for $78 towards TSA PreCheck. Since you get a statement credit for the TSA PreCheck fee when charged to your IHG Premier card, as detailed above, don’t spend your points on this benefit .

Donate as little as 2,500 IHG One Rewards points to charities such as the American Red Cross, CARE, Goodwill, Prince’s Trust, and the Youth Career Initiative.

Bottom Line: You can redeem IHG One Rewards points for just about anything, but that doesn’t mean you should. Aim to receive at least 0.5 cents per point in value, and consider 1 cent per point or better an excellent redemption. 

The IHG Premier card is a solid hotel rewards card for earning free hotel nights. Even if IHG is not your primary hotel brand of choice, the brand can serve as a convenient backup when you’re stranded or can’t find your preferred brand in a city you’re visiting.

The diversity of the properties offered in the IHG portfolio serves both the local traveler and the world adventurer. There’s always an affordable Holiday Inn Express around the corner when your family needs a place to stay during the holidays, as well as a posh InterContinental sitting in the center of a grand international city when you’re traveling for a much-needed vacation.

It’s easy to earn IHG One Rewards points and even easier to redeem them . Plus, getting a reward hotel night at each card anniversary seals the deal.

Remember that Chase has a 5/24 rule that can affect your approval chances for their cards. You’ll want to brush up on this rule before you consider applying for the IHG Premier card.

Frequently Asked Questions

If the ihg premier card worth it.

Yes, the IHG Premier card is worth it if you will use the reward anniversary hotel night each year. The value of this certificate more than offsets the annual fee.

Because IHG One Rewards points are easy to earn, points add up quickly and so will your ability to book reward nights.

The IHG footprint throughout the world is expansive, so you’ll always find a property convenient for your travels.

The card comes with Platinum Elite status with IHG One Rewards, the ability to earn 26 rewards points per dollar spent at IHG properties, and a fourth reward night free benefit.

The IHG Premier card is good value for a hotel rewards card with an annual fee under $100.

Can I transfer my IHG One Rewards points to airlines?

Yes, you can transfer your IHG One Rewards points to any one of the many airline transfer partners.

However, the transfer ratio isn’t a good value. In most cases, you will need to transfer 10,000 IHG One Rewards points to receive 2,000 airline miles.

The best value for your IHG One Rewards points is to book reward hotel nights with very few exceptions.

Do IHG One Rewards points expire?

IHG One Rewards points that are earned on your IHG Premier card are transferred to your IHG account at the end of each statement period.

Your points will not expire as long as you hold IHG elite status.

How many IHG One Rewards points do I need for a reward hotel night?

The number of IHG One Rewards points you need for a reward hotel night varies, but it’s possible to book reward nights starting at just 10,000 points. Occasionally, IHG One Rewards will run promotions where you can secure a free hotel night for even less.

If you don’t have enough points in your IHG One Rewards account, however, you can use a combination of cash and points to make your booking.

One additional benefit that can lower the cost per night is the fourth night no-charge reward night option. Book 4 consecutive rewards nights at the same property and receive 1 of those nights as a no-charge reward night.

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About Christine Krzyszton

Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.

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IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

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Earned each account anniversary year with a current point redemption cap of 40,000 points. You can also use existing points from your IHG One Rewards account to redeem your Anniversary Night at hotels above the 40,000 point redemption level. * Opens offer details overlay

Redeem 3 Nights, Get 4th Night Free

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Reimburses you for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing for baggage delays over 6 hours by passenger carrier up to $100 a day for 3 days. ** Same page link to disclaimer

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If you or an immediate family member check or carry on luggage that is damaged or lost by the carrier, you're covered up to $3,000 per passenger. ** Same page link to disclaimer

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140,000 Bonus Points After You Spend $3,000 On Purchases In The First 3 Months From Account Opening: This product is not available to either (i) current cardmembers of any personal IHG One Rewards Credit Card, or (ii) previous cardmembers of any personal IHG One Rewards Credit Card who received a new cardmember bonus for any personal IHG One Rewards Credit Card within the last 24 months. To qualify and receive your bonus, you must make Purchases totaling $3,000 or more during the first 3 months from account opening. (“Purchases” do not include balance transfers, cash advances, travelers checks, foreign currency, money orders, wire transfers or similar cash-like transactions, lottery tickets, casino gaming chips, race track wagers or similar betting transactions, any checks that access your account, interest, unauthorized or fraudulent charges, and fees of any kind, including an annual fee, if applicable.) After qualifying, please allow 6 to 8 weeks for bonus points to post to your IHG One Rewards account. To be eligible for this bonus offer, account must be open and not in default at the time of fulfillment. Chase may close your credit card account or suspend your right to use your credit card account, at any time for any reason, including account inactivity.

Earning Points: Rewards Program Agreement: For more information about the IHG One Rewards Premier card rewards program, view the latest Rewards Program Agreement (PDF) Opens in a new window . We will mail your Rewards Program Agreement once your card account is established. If you become a Chase Online customer, your Rewards Program Agreement will also be available after logging in to chase.com Opens in a new window . How you can earn points: You’ll earn points on purchases of products and services, minus returns or refunds, made with an IHG One Rewards credit card by you or an authorized user of the account. Buying products and services with your card, in most cases, will count as a purchase; however, the following types of transactions won’t count and won’t earn points: balance transfers, cash advances and other cash-like transactions, lottery tickets, casino gaming chips, race track wagers or similar betting transactions, any checks that access your account, interest, unauthorized or fraudulent charges, and fees of any kind, including an annual fee, if applicable. 10 points ("10X points"): You’ll earn 10 points for each $1 spent on qualifying purchases made at hotels participating in IHG One Rewards. Go to ihg.com/terms , as applicable, for a list of hotels participating in IHG One Rewards. You will only receive the accelerated earn of 10 points for each $1 spent from this credit card program. IHG One Rewards is responsible for ensuring all hotels participating in IHG One Rewards are correctly reported to Chase for earn on IHG One Rewards credit card purchases. Additional points received under the IHG One Rewards program for stays at hotels participating in IHG One Rewards will be earned in accordance with the IHG One Rewards Membership Terms and Conditions. 5 points ("5X points"): You’ll earn 5 points for each $1 spent on purchases in the following rewards categories: travel (excluding purchases made at hotels participating in IHG One Rewards that qualify for 10 points as described above); gas stations; and dining at restaurants including takeout and eligible delivery services. 3 points ("3X points"): You’ll earn 3 points for each $1 spent on all other purchases. Information about earning/transferring points to IHG One Rewards: Points earned during a billing cycle are automatically transferred to IHG One Rewards after the end of each billing cycle. Points expiration: The points transferred to your IHG One Rewards account will not expire as long as there is IHG One Rewards program activity for 12 consecutive months, depending on your status. IHG One Rewards Membership terms and conditions apply. For complete program details, visit ihg.com/terms . Losing points: You’ll immediately lose all points that haven’t been transferred to IHG One Rewards if your card account status changes, or your card account is closed for program misuse, fraudulent activities, failure to pay, bankruptcy, or other reasons described in the terms of the Rewards Program Agreement. Rewards Categories: Merchants who accept Visa/Mastercard credit cards are assigned a merchant code, which is determined by the merchant or its processor in accordance with Visa/Mastercard procedures based on the kinds of products and services they primarily sell. We group similar merchant codes into categories for purposes of making rewards offers to you. Please note: We make every effort to include all relevant merchant codes in our rewards categories. However, even though a merchant or some of the items that it sells may appear to fit within a rewards category, the merchant may not have a merchant code in that category. When this occurs, purchases with that merchant won’t qualify for rewards offers on purchases in that category. Purchases submitted by you, an authorized user, or the merchant through third-party payment accounts, mobile or wireless card readers, online or mobile digital wallets, or similar technology will not qualify in a rewards category if the technology is not set up to process the purchase in that rewards category. For more information about Chase rewards categories, see chase.com/RewardsCategoryFAQs Opens in a new window .

Earning Points from IHG: IHG One Rewards members earn on qualifying stays and eligible charges at IHG ® Hotels and Resorts in the following manner: Members earn 10 points per $1 spent and Platinum Elite members earn an additional 6 points per $1 spent (60% bonus), except at Candlewood Suites ® and Staybridge Suites ® where members earn 5 points per $1 spent and Platinum Elite members earn an additional 3 points per $1 spent (60% bonus), IHG ® Army Hotels where members earn 3 points per $1 spent and Platinum Elite members earn an additional 1.8 points per $1 spent (60% bonus), and IHG ® Residence properties where members earn 2.5 points per $1 spent and Platinum Elite members earn an additional 1.5 points per $1 spent (60% bonus). All point deposits will be totaled and rounded to the nearest whole number. IHG One Rewards members earn on qualifying stays at The Venetian ® Resort Las Vegas in the following manner: Members earn 2,000 points per qualifying stay. Stays must be booked on a direct IHG ® booking channel such as ihg.com in order to qualify. Points earned with your IHG One Rewards membership and Platinum Elite status will post directly to your IHG One Rewards account and will not appear on your Chase credit card statement. For complete program details, visit ihg.com/terms .

Platinum Elite Status: As an IHG One Rewards Premier credit cardmember, you qualify for automatic IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status for as long as you remain a Premier credit cardmember, and as long as your IHG One Rewards membership account remains in good standing. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks after account opening for the automatic Platinum Elite status to be applied to your IHG One Rewards account.

Anniversary Free Night: Anniversary Free Night will be available for redemption on your account anniversary date each year. “Account anniversary date” is the date that is twelve months after your account open date, and the same date each twelve months thereafter. Anniversary Free Night is valid at IHG ® Hotels and has a point redemption value of 40,000 points or less (covers one standard room night and tax only), with the ability to add on points from your IHG One Rewards account to redeem your Anniversary Free Night at hotels above the 40,000 point redemption level. Anniversary Free Night must be redeemed, and stay must be completed, within 12 months from date of issue. Visit ihg.com to view current redemption rates. You are responsible for all incidental charges such as parking fees, and payment of mandatory resort fees at properties where resort fees are charged. Rooms are limited, subject to prior sale and availability of allocated resources and may be unavailable during high demand periods. All reservations that will utilize the Anniversary Free Night can be booked online at ihg.com or by calling IHG One Rewards at 1-877-318-5890. Anniversary Free Night may not be transferred, extended beyond the expiration date, redeemed for cash, or re-credited for points. Individual hotel’s cancellation policy applies to the use of the Anniversary Free Night. Cancellation fees apply if cancellation is made outside of the hotel’s cancellation time period. Anniversary Free Night rules and regulations are subject to change. To receive Anniversary Free Night communications, members must maintain a valid email address in the IHG One Rewards member profile and opt in to receive IHG One Rewards e-communications. Chase is not responsible for offer fulfillment.

Redeem Three Nights, Get Fourth Reward Night Free: For each standard room Reward Night stay of 4 or more nights, every 4th night is free. Applies only to 4 or more consecutive nights within the same Reward Night point redemption room stay at the same property. With this benefit, eligible members will be charged the Reward Night point redemption rate for the first 3 nights, and 0 points for the 4th night of the stay, as applicable. If 4th Reward Night Free reservation is cancelled, or check-out occurs before the 4th night, the 4th Reward Night is forfeited and has no cash or point value. Members can utilize the 4th Reward Night Free benefit on an unlimited number of stays annually. You are responsible for all incidental charges such as parking fees, and payment of mandatory resort fees at properties where resort fees are charged. IHG One Rewards Reward Night terms and conditions apply. Offer does not apply to paid stays or Points & Cash bookings. Chase is not responsible for offer fulfillment.

$100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points each calendar year: You’ll receive a $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points each calendar year during which you spend at least $20,000 in purchases. “Calendar year” means January 1 through December 31 of that same year. Purchases are when you, or an authorized user, use an IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card to make purchases of products and services, minus returns or refunds. Buying products and services with your card, in most cases, will count as a purchase; however, the following types of transactions won’t count and won’t earn points: balance transfers, cash advances, travelers checks, foreign currency, money orders, wire transfers or similar cash-like transactions, lottery tickets, casino gaming chips, race track wagers or similar betting transactions, any checks that access your account, interest, unauthorized or fraudulent charges, and fees of any kind, including an annual fee, if applicable. After qualifying, please allow 6 to 8 weeks for bonus points and statement credit to post to your account. To be eligible for this bonus offer, account must be open and not in default at the time of fulfillment.

IHG One Rewards Premier Card named “Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Promotions” as voted by the readers of Global Traveler, www.globaltravelerusa.com . Source: Global Traveler , 2023.

Save 20% on Points Purchases: Save at least 20% on points purchases when you pay for those points with your IHG One Rewards Premier, Premier Business or Traveler Credit Cards. Point purchase amounts are subject to change by IHG One Rewards. These points are Non-Elite Qualifying points. Upon completion of the points purchase, you agree that the total dollar price of the points, minus the discount, will be immediately charged to your credit card. The cost for the points purchased is non-refundable. The 20% discount cannot be combined with any other points purchase offer. Point purchase transactions managed by Points.com .

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ® or NEXUS Application Fee Statement Credit

You will receive one statement credit (up to $100) every four years after the first program (either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ® or NEXUS) application fee is charged to your IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, by you or an authorized user. This benefit applies only to the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck ® or NEXUS programs, other Trusted Traveler programs are not eligible. The statement credit will appear on your credit card billing statement within 1-2 billing cycles. You are responsible for payment of all charges until the statement credit posts to the account. Chase has no control or liability regarding these programs including, but not limited to, applications, approval process or enrollment, or fees charged by CBP or TSA or DHS. For more information about the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck ® and NEXUS programs, including application details and full terms and conditions, go to https://ttp.cbp.dhs.gov/ . Websites and other information provided by government agencies are not within Chase’s control and may not be available in Spanish. To receive statement credits, your account must be open and not in default at the time of fulfillment. TSA PreCheck ® is a registered trademark and is used with the permission of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Complimentary DashPass: When the membership is activated for the first time with an IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card by 12/31/2024 you and your authorized user(s) will receive 12 months of complimentary DashPass for use on both the DoorDash and Caviar applications during the same membership period based on the first activation date. After the complimentary DashPass membership period ends, you and any authorized users will continue to be enrolled and charged the then current monthly DashPass rate for each membership activated. You can cancel anytime on DoorDash or Caviar. Membership period for all users on this credit card account will begin and end based on when the first user activates the membership on DoorDash or Caviar, regardless of when subsequent memberships are activated. The same log in credentials must be used on DoorDash and Caviar in order for the DashPass benefit to be used on both applications. To receive the membership benefits, the primary cardmember and authorized user(s) must first add their applicable Chase credit card as a default payment method on DoorDash or Caviar, and then click the activation button. Once enrolled in DashPass, you must use your IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card for payment at checkout for DashPass-eligible orders to receive DashPass benefits. Benefits of DashPass include no delivery fee on orders above the minimum subtotal (as stated in the DoorDash and Caviar apps and sites) from DashPass-eligible merchants (amounts subject to change). However, other fees (including service fee), taxes, and gratuity on orders may apply. Current value of the DashPass membership is as of 04/01/2022. DashPass orders are subject to delivery driver and geographic availability. Membership must be activated with a United States address. Payment through third-party payment accounts, or online or mobile digital wallets (like Apple Pay and Google Pay), or memberships purchased through third parties are excluded from this offer. If you product change to another Chase credit card during the promotional period, your benefits may change. You may experience a delay in updating your applicable benefits on DoorDash or Caviar; please note, once you product trade, the benefits from your previous credit card are no longer available for your use. You can only access the benefits available with your current credit card. Mobile applications, websites and other information provided by DoorDash or Caviar are not within Chase’s control and may or may not be available in Spanish. Chase is not responsible for the provision of, or the failure to provide, DoorDash or Caviar benefits and services. Your applicable Chase credit card account must be open and not in default to maintain membership benefits. See full DoorDash terms and conditions at: https://help.doordash.com/consumers/s/article/offer-terms-conditions?language=en_US . All deliveries subject to availability. Must have or create a valid DoorDash account. Qualifying orders containing alcohol will be charged a $0.01 Delivery Fee. No cash value. Non-transferable. See full terms and conditions at: help.doordash.com/consumers/s/article/offer-terms-conditions .

Cardmembers Eligible for Chase Pay Over Time: Eligible cardmembers are those with access to Chase Pay Over Time who use a participating Chase credit card for eligible purchases. Access to Chase Pay Over Time is not guaranteed, is based on a variety of factors such as creditworthiness, credit limit and account behavior, and may change from time to time. Participating Chase credit cards are consumer credit cards issued by Chase, small business cards are excluded at this time. For Chase Pay Over Time at checkout on Amazon.com, Amazon Visa and Prime Visa cards and Chase Mastercard credit cards are also excluded. Purchases Eligible for Chase Pay Over Time Set Up After Purchase: Purchases of at least $100 are eligible, excluding certain transactions such as (a) cash-like transactions, (b) any fees owed to us, including Annual Membership Fees, and (c) purchases made under a separate promotion or special finance program. Eligible purchases will be identified within your transaction history on chase.com or the Chase Mobile App. Purchases Eligible for Chase Pay Over Time at Checkout on Amazon.com: Orders totaling at least $50 of eligible items on Amazon.com are eligible. Amazon may designate any item as ineligible, such as Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods, Amazon Prime Now, 1-Click Purchases and Subscribe & Save. If your order includes a recurring subscription, then only the first month's subscription fee will be eligible. If available for your account, the option to choose "financing offers available" will appear at checkout. Amazon, the Amazon.com logo, the smile logo, and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com , Inc. or its affiliates.

Chase Mobile App: Chase Mobile ® app is available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply.

Points to Nights: Some properties are subject to resort fees. IHG hotel prices are not static and fluctuate day-to-day. As a result the number of IHG One Rewards points that must be redeemed for a Reward Night will also vary from day-to-day and will be different at different hotels.

Mastercard, the silver circles design and World Elite Mastercard are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.

The Contactless Symbol and Contactless Indicator are trademarks owned by and used with the permission of EMVCo, LLC.

IHG ONE REWARDS PROGRAM INFORMATION

Points accrued and awards issued are subject to the terms and conditions of the IHG One Rewards program. Click here for complete terms and conditions of the IHG One Rewards program, including all redemption values, or refer to ihg.com/terms . Terms and conditions of the IHG One Rewards program may be modified and services and benefits may be added or deleted at any time without notice to Cardmembers. Individuals whose request for a credit card are not approved will not be enrolled in the IHG One Rewards program through this offer, although existing IHG One Rewards memberships will not be affected. Additional authorized users will not be enrolled in the IHG One Rewards program as a result of this offer. IHG One Rewards points awarded through the use of the authorized user's card will only be credited to the Primary Cardmember's IHG One Rewards account.

IHG One Rewards Premier credit cards are issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Accounts subject to credit approval. Restrictions and limitations apply. Offer subject to change.

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MoneyGeek’s Take

Ihg one rewards traveler credit card review.

Travelers considering staying in any of the brands owned by IHG who want to avoid an annual fee can get a lot of value from the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card’s card. It has a welcome bonus offer of 80,000 bonus points after making $2,000 in purchases in the first three months of opening an account.

Updated: April 4, 2024

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MoneyGeek partners with leading industry experts and advertisers to help you get to your financial happy place. Our content is accurate when posted but offers may change over time. We may receive compensation for partner advertisements, but our editorial team independently reviews and ranks products. Learn more about our editorial policies .

About Doug Milnes, CFA

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.

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Explore all the benefits of Sapphire Reserve

Rewards to inspire your next adventure.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card makes every purchase rewarding. Make your journey memorable with travel perks, private dinners, and VIP access at sought-after events. Explore your complete Guide to Benefits or learn more about your benefits below.

01          Travel

Get closer to your happy place

Earn points as you seek out new destinations. Book a hotel, make the most of airfare, hail rides around town and more.

$300 Travel Credit

Get reimbursed for up to $300 in travel purchases you make with your Sapphire Reserve card 1 each year. Each year, your first $300 in travel purchases will not earn rewards points. 2

Book through The Edit SM

Experience distinct benefits at a curated collection of hotels and resorts when you book through The Edit by Chase Travel SM , an exclusive benefit for Sapphire Reserve cardmembers. 7

10x on hotels through Chase Travel

Earn 10x total points on hotels (excluding The Edit) and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. 1

5x points on flights through Chase Travel

Earn 5x total points on flights purchased travel through Chase Travel after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. 1

3x points on travel

Enjoy the trip even more with bonus points on travel purchases like airfare and hotels. 1

Unlimited points

There is no limit to the number of points you can earn. Points don’t expire as long as your account is open. 1

Enjoy more premium travel rewards

When you travel with Sapphire, plan on benefits ranging from generous statement credits to access to luxury properties worldwide.

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ®  or NEXUS fee credit

Receive a statement credit of up to $100 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your Sapphire Reserve card. 5

No blackout dates or restrictions

Book travel through Chase Travel and if a seat’s available, it’s yours.

No foreign transaction fees

Pay no foreign transaction fees when you use your card outside the United States. 6 For example, if you spend $5,000 internationally, you would avoid $150 in foreign transaction fees.

Elite hotel benefits at Relais & Châteaux

Enjoy great benefits like a VIP welcome and complimentary breakfast daily at select properties with Relais & Châteaux, a prestigious collection of luxury properties in over 60 countries. Call the Visa Infinite Concierge at 1-877-660-0905 for more details and to book your stay. 8

Special car rental privileges

Enroll in leading car rental rewards programs from National Car Rental, Avis and Silvercar. Log in to Chase Travel to access the special car rental privileges section of your travel benefits page to book with your card. Enjoy enhanced benefits, such as upgrades and car rental discounts, savings on luxury and premium rental car rates, plus promotions and other offers. 9

Ennismore hotel benefits

Your card gets you VIP access to benefits at Delano, Hyde, Mondrian, Morgans Originals and SLS hotels and resorts around the world. Cardmembers can stay a little longer with a complimentary 4th night, receive room upgrades and late check outs, along with priority access to cabana reservations, a $30 food and beverage credit and much more. 10

Free Lyft Pink

Get 2 complimentary years of Lyft Pink All Access when activated by Dec 31, 2024—a value of $199/year. 3 This includes member-exclusive pricing, free Priority Pickup upgrades, discounts on bikeshare and more. Membership auto-renews.

Don't forget as a Sapphire Reserve cardmember you'll still earn 10x total points on Lyft rides through March 2025. 4 That’s 7x points in addition to the 3x points you already earn on travel. That’s 7x points in addition to the 3x points you already earn on travel. Activate Lyft Pink All Access

02          Dining

Indulge in worldwide dining experiences

Whether visiting your local bistro or a restaurant on your bucket list, there are always special dining rewards with Sapphire Reserve.

Private dining series

Sit down for a memorable meal at some of the most sought-after restaurants in the country.

3x points on dining

Earn triple the points at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services with your Sapphire Reserve card. 1 From Sunday brunch to a birthday dinner, meals out mean more rewards.

DoorDash & Caviar benefits

Takeout tastes even better with a complimentary DashPass membership on both DoorDash and Caviar. You’ll pay no delivery fee and lower service fees on eligible orders for a minimum of one year. Activate by Dec. 31, 2024 12 . Plus, as a DashPass member get a $5 monthly DoorDash credit automatically applied at checkout 13 .

Instacart benefits from Sapphire

Skip the trip and have your groceries delivered to your doorstep with 1 year of complimentary Instacart+. 14 In addition, Instacart+ members earn up to $15 in statement credits each month through July 2024. 15 Membership auto-renews. Terms apply.

03           Ultimate Rewards ®

Get the most from your rewards

Enjoy the flexibility of booking airfare, hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel or transfer points to other travel programs.

More value with travel redemption

Your points are worth 50% more when you redeem them for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruise lines through Chase Travel—our easy-to-use portal that helps you maximize your travel spending. For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel. 16

Worldwide travel assistance

Whether you need help booking travel or modifying a reservation count on the full-service support of the Chase Travel team.

1:1 point transfer to leading frequent travel programs

Transfer points to participating frequent travel programs at a full 1:1 value—that means 1,000 points equals 1,000 partner miles/points.

No travel restrictions or blackout dates on airline tickets booked through Chase Travel.

1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases

In addition to earning 3 points per dollar on travel and dining at restaurants, you’ll earn 1 point for every dollar you spend on all your other purchases. 1

Flexibility

You can book airfare, hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel using your Sapphire Reserve card, your points or a combination of both—it's up to you.

More ways to get the most from your rewards

Redeem your points for statement credits, gift cards or choose from other flexible ways to make your points work for you.

Shop through Chase ®

Shop online with brands you already love. Earn 1x–15x bonus points at more than 450 popular retailers with Shop through Chase. 16

25% more value with Pay Yourself Back ®

Redeem points for statement credits toward your annual fee and eligible purchases for gas, wholesale clubs, and pet supplies & services by June 31, 2024.

Choose from a selection of over 150 gift cards from some of your favorite retailers and more.

Pay with points

Use your points to pay for all or part of your purchases with popular brands like Apple ® 19 and Amazon.com. 20

04          Lounges

Relax with airport lounge access

With access to Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club and Priority Pass lounges, each trip becomes an invitation to indulge before you get there.

Enjoy complimentary Priority Pass TM Select membership

Departing for your destination is more relaxing with access to 1,300+ Priority Pass airport lounges in 600+ cities around the world, plus every Sapphire Lounge by The Club, after a one- time enrollment in Priority Pass Select.

Visit Sapphire Lounge by The Club

Relax and refresh at a Sapphire Lounge and enjoy locally inspired menus, a curated selection of beverages, an atmosphere to remember and more. Sapphire Reserve cardmembers, ensure you're enrolled in your complimentary Priority Pass Select membership for lounge access.

The Reserve Suites by Chase

Reserve cardmembers, treat yourself to The Reserve Suites at Sapphire Lounge by The Club at LaGuardia Airport in Terminal B. Enjoy caviar service on arrival, specially curated wine lists by Parcelle, exclusive menus by Jeffrey's Grocery, private bathrooms with spa showers and more. Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers can book a suite for a fee up to 72 hours prior to flight departure. Find details on the Chase Mobile ® app in Benefits & Travel. The Reserve Suites are limited and subject to availability.

05          Protection

Travel with peace of mind 22

When you take to the air or hit the road, we make security a priority. Here are some of the protection services built into your Sapphire Reserve card benefits.

Trip Cancellation / Interruption Insurance

If your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours and hotels.

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

Decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. Coverage is primary and provides reimbursement up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage for rental cars in the U.S. and abroad.

Emergency Evacuation and Transportation

If you or a member of your immediate family are injured or become sick during a trip far from home that results in an emergency evacuation, you can be covered for medical services and transportation up to $100,000.

Trip Delay Reimbursement

If your common carrier travel is delayed more than 6 hours or requires an overnight stay, you and your family are covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per ticket.

Travel Accident Insurance

When you pay for your air, bus, train or cruise transportation with your card, you are eligible to receive accidental death or dismemberment coverage of up to $1,000,000.

Baggage Delay Insurance

Reimburses you for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing for baggage delays over 6 hours by passenger carrier up to $100 a day for 5 days.

Roadside Assistance

If you have a roadside emergency, you can call for a tow, jumpstart, tire change, locksmith or gas. You’re covered up to $50 per incident 4 times a year.

Sapphire Reserve Benefits Guide

These are just some of the protection services built into your Sapphire Reserve card benefits. Your Guide to Benefits has more of what you need to know about your travel and purchase protection benefits.

Account security and protection

Your Sapphire Reserve card is equipped with the enhanced account and purchase protection you deserve.

Zero Liability Protection 23

Zero Liability Protection means you won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information. If you see an unauthorized charge, simply call the number on the back of your card.

Fraud protection

We help safeguard your credit card purchases using sophisticated fraud monitoring. We monitor for fraud 24/7 and can text, email or call you if there are unusual purchases on your credit card.

Fraud alerts

We monitor for fraud 24/7 and can text, email or call you if there are unusual purchases on your credit card. 24 Please sign in to chase.com and review your personal details to ensure your mailing address, phone and/or email are up to date.

Return Protection

You can be reimbursed for eligible items that the store won’t take back within 90 days of purchase, up to $500 per item, $1,000 per year. 22

Extended Warranty Protection

Extends the time period of the manufacturer's U.S. warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of 3 years or less. 22

Chip-enabled for enhanced security and wider acceptance

A credit card with an embedded chip provides enhanced security and wider acceptance when you make purchases at chip-enabled card readers in the U.S. and abroad.

Purchase Protection

Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year. 22

06          Events

Exclusive access to events and experiences

Sapphire cardmembers enjoy priority ticketing and the best seats in the house for a wide range of events.

Reserved by Sapphire SM 

Explore one-of-a-kind experiences from private dinners hosted by award-winning chefs to VIP access at the most sought after events. See where your Sapphire Reserve card can take you.

Events and experiences lounges

Enjoy comfortable seating at Chase Sapphire events in prime locations, complimentary food and drinks, plus a range of amenities, such as a dining concierge, charging stations, Wi-Fi and more.

Early-access tickets

Beat the crowds. Get your tickets to concerts and sporting events before they sell out.

Priority seating

Get up close to the court or the stage. Sapphire Reserve cardmembers can experience events from the best seats in the house.

07          Wellness

Earn 10x total points on Peloton

Work out your way — from HIIT rides to walks and hikes to strength training, and more: Get 10x total points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 with a max earn of 50,000 points. Shop Peloton Bikes, Tread, Guide, or Row. Offer ends Mar. 31, 2025. 25

Shop Peloton

08          Services

Personalized assistance for Sapphire cardmembers

Turn to Sapphire for help coordinating travel, restaurant reservations, access to entertainment and more complimentary assistance and referrals.

24/7 access to customer service

Talk to a dedicated specialist whenever you need assistance. Simply call the number on the back of your card.

Visa Infinite Concierge Service 26

Contact Visa Infinite Concierge at 1-877-660-0905 for help with dinner reservations or Broadway, music and sporting event tickets.

Travel and emergency assistance

If you run into a problem away from home, call the Benefit Administrator for legal and medical referrals or other travel and emergency assistance. (You will be responsible for the cost of any goods or services obtained.)

Easily get more from your Sapphire experience

From mobile account access to contactless payment, cardmembers can enjoy many safe and convenient features.

Manage your account with ease

Create an account on chase.com and download the Chase Mobile ® app 27 to check account and points balances, pay bills and more.

Tap-to-pay contactless checkout

Simply tap to pay with your contactless Chase Sapphire card. Just look for the Contactless Symbol at checkout, then tap your contactless card on the checkout terminal. It's fast, easy and secure!

Add an authorized user

Maximize your reward earning potential by adding an authorized user to your account. 28

Go paperless

Get your statement online. Safely access up to 6 years of statements online. It's secure, convenient and reduces clutter.

Convenient ways to pay

Load your card into a digital wallet for a quick and secure way to pay with your mobile device and receive all the benefits and rewards of using your Sapphire Reserve card.

Earn points automatically

Grow your points balance by using your card as the primary payment method for:

• Online checkout Add your card to your favorite shopping apps and online merchants to conveniently build up your points balance.
• Monthly bills Use your card to make auto payments for monthly bills (e.g., cell phone and utility bills). 29

Redeem for travel

Use points toward your next getaway—they’re worth 50% more when you redeem them for travel through Chase Travel.

Pay Yourself Back ®

Your points have more value when you redeem them for statement credits after making eligible purchases on gas, wholesale clubs, and pet supplies & services by June 31, 2024.

Chase Dining SM

Order takeout at popular eateries around town or make reservations at restaurants, wineries and bars across the country.

There's so much for you

More Sapphire Offers

There’s so much more to make yours—top benefits, offers and experiences for Sapphire Reserve cardmembers.  

Reserved by Sapphire SM

Your Sapphire Reserve card opens new doors to more flavors, sights and sounds. Explore the extraordinary lineup of experiences—including culinary, sports, music and entertainment.  

Refer-A-Friend

Earn up to 75,000 bonus points per year by referring friends to either Chase Sapphire ® card.  

Already a Sapphire cardmember?

Sign in to view your account, access exclusive content and take advantage of your Sapphire benefits.

Not a Sapphire cardmember yet?

We’re glad you’re here. Learn more about getting a Sapphire card.

Es posible que esta comunicación contenga información acerca de usted o su cuenta. Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor, llame al número que aparece en el reverso de su tarjeta.

View the details of the Sapphire Reserve benefits offered on this page.

©2024 JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC

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Stress less with Travel, Purchase and Fraud Protection

Travel Protection

The travel benefits that come with your IHG One Rewards Credit Card give you peace of mind.

Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance

You can be reimbursed up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable passenger fares, if your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations.

Travel and Emergency Assistance Services

If you run into a problem away from home, call the Benefit Administrator for legal and medical referrals or other travel and emergency assistance (You will be responsible for the cost of any goods or services obtained).

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

Decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. Coverage is primary when renting for business purposes and provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the U.S. and abroad.

Purchase Protection

You can shop with confidence knowing your purchase has built-in protection.

Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.

Extended Warranty Protection

Extends the time period of the manufacturer’s U.S. warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less.

Fraud Protection

Your IHG One Rewards Credit Card includes protection from fraud.

We help safeguard your credit card purchases using sophisticated fraud monitoring. We monitor for fraud 24/7 and can text, email or call you if there are unusual purchases on your credit card.

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Chase Sapphire Reserve Review: A First-Class Premium Travel Card

What’s on This Page

The bottom line, pros and cons, detailed review, compare to other cards, benefits and perks, drawbacks and considerations, how to decide if it's right for you.

With a big sign-up bonus, elevated rewards on travel and dining, hundreds of dollars in annual credits and other perks, this card is a good choice for frequent travelers.

Rewards rate

Bonus offer

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Ongoing APR

APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable APR

Cash Advance APR: 29.99%, Variable

Penalty APR: Up to 29.99%

Balance transfer fee

Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Foreign transaction fee

• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
• Member FDIC

High rewards rate

Luxury perks

Premium travel protections

Transfer partners

Primary rental car coverage

High annual fee

Requires excellent credit

For avid travelers, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a good deal — even with its $550 annual fee.

Thanks to features such as an annual $300 travel credit, as well as bonus rewards that can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to several loyalty programs, it stands out as one of the best premium travel cards available.

However, to earn the card’s highest rewards rate, you’ll have to make travel purchases through the Chase portal, which can be limiting. And while the card offers excellent overall value for those who spend heavily on travel and dining, if you can't take advantage of its more niche benefits, a different travel card could be a better fit.

» MORE: Full benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Sapphire Reserve® : Basics

Card type: Travel .

Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Annual fee: $550 .

Ongoing rewards:

10 points per dollar spent on Chase Dining purchases.

10 points per dollar spent on hotel stays and car rentals purchased through Ultimate Rewards®.

5 points per dollar spent on air travel booked through Chase.

3 points per dollar spent on travel and dining not booked with Chase.

1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

Through March 2025: 10 points per $1 spent on Lyft (7 points per dollar spent on Lyft plus 3 points per dollar spent on travel).

Foreign transaction fees: None.

Other benefits:

Up to $300 a year in statement credit automatically applied to travel purchases.

Complimentary Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership.

Access to Chase's Sapphire Lounges in select airports.

Multiple hotel and airline transfer partners.

Primary rental car coverage of up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage.

TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS credit, worth up to $100.

“Reserved by Sapphire” restaurant-booking feature, which grants cardholders access to reservations at popular restaurants across the country.

Trip delay reimbursement.

Trip cancellation or interruption insurance.

Lyft Pink All Access free membership for two years (must activate by Dec. 31, 2024).

How much is a point worth?

Chase Ultimate Rewards® points earned on this card are worth 1.5 cents each when redeemed for travel booked through Chase. Cardholders can also get more value per point by transferring them to Chase's airline and hotel partners.

Otherwise, points are worth less when redeemed for cash back, gift cards and merchandise.

Big sign-up bonus

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® features the following generous sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

To find out whether you pre-qualify for this card, check out NerdWallet’s pre-qualification tool.

Bonus rewards

Holders of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® can earn the following:

10 points per dollar spent on hotel stays and car rentals booked through Chase.

5 points per dollar spent on air travel purchased booked through Chase.

Travel and dining-related purchases made through the Chase portal will get you the highest rewards rates, which are lucrative for those who spend heavily in those categories.

And even for travel and dining purchases not made through the issuer, cardholders will still earn bonus rewards.

Plus, if you redeem those points through Chase for travel, they are worth an elevated 1.5 cents, which gives the card an impressive 4.5% effective rewards rate in those popular categories. That's a boon for folks who spend plenty in these areas — in the U.S. and worldwide as well.

Additionally, through March 2025, you can earn a total of 10 points per $1 spent on Lyft (7 points per dollar on Lyft plus 3 points per dollar on travel). That’s one of the highest earn rates you’ll find for ridesharing purchases on any credit card.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best credit cards for transit spending

Travel statement credit of up to $300

While many premium cards offer airline fee credits for baggage fees and other select purchases, the travel credit of up to $300 on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® covers a much broader range of travel purchases , including taxi rides, campground fees and train fares.

Because this credit is applied automatically, taking advantage of it is effortless. Use this card to pay for a $20 Uber ride and — poof! — that travel credit is applied to your credit card statement right away.

Airport lounge access and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS reimbursement

With the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , your next layover could be spent in an exclusive lounge with a complimentary cocktail in hand. The card comes with Priority Pass Select membership, with access to over 1,000 airport lounges internationally and meal credits at select airport restaurants and bars. Plus, you'll get access to Chase's own Sapphire Lounges . As of February 2024, there are Sapphire lounge locations in Boston, New York (LaGuardia and JFK) and Hong Kong, plus a Sapphire Terrace location in Austin.

With the card's TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS reimbursement, you can also speed through security and get to those swanky lounges a little sooner. The card offers reimbursement for the application fee for TSA PreCheck ($78) or Global Entry ($100) or NEXUS ($50) once every four years.

» MORE: The guide to Chase Lounges

Effective Nov. 15, 2022, cardholders will receive complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership for two years and 50% off for their third year when they enroll. This is the highest tier membership available from Lyft and retails for $199.

With the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , you can move points to several other loyalty programs at a 1:1 ratio. Transferring points and redeeming them strategically can be incredibly lucrative. NerdWallet values the points earned on this card at more than 1.5 cents per point when transferred to some partners.

Here are Chase’s transfer partners:

Aer Lingus (1:1 ratio).

Air Canada (1:1 ratio).

Air France-KLM (1:1 ratio).

British Airways (1:1 ratio).

Emirates (1:1 ratio).

Iberia (1:1 ratio).

JetBlue (1:1 ratio).

Singapore (1:1 ratio).

Southwest (1:1 ratio).

United (1:1 ratio).

Virgin Atlantic (1:1 ratio).

Hyatt (1:1 ratio).

InterContinental Hotels Group (1:1 ratio).

Marriott (1:1 ratio).

Complementary cards

Like a handful of other Chase cards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns Ultimate Rewards® points. That means if you already have another card in the Ultimate Rewards® family, you can generally transfer points to your Chase Sapphire Reserve® , potentially allowing you to get more value on the points earned.

Say you already have the Chase Freedom Unlimited® , which earns a minimum of 1.5% cash back on purchases, but lacks 1:1 transfer partners and bonuses when redeeming for travel through Chase. When you log on to your Chase account, you have the option of moving the rewards earned on that card to your Chase Sapphire Reserve® , where you can then transfer them to partners or book travel for 1.5 cents per point. That could effectively boost your rewards rate on the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to 2.25% or more.

» MORE: How the Chase Sapphire Reserve® fits into the 'Chase trifecta'

Sapphire Reserve vs. Sapphire Preferred

If you're looking at the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , you might also have your eye on its lower-cost sibling, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . That card has an annual fee of $95 , but it lacks the same rich benefits.

Which card is the better deal for you depends on your spending. For frequent travelers, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers far more long-term value. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a better choice for those who don’t plan on using so many perks but still want a large sign-up bonus and elevated point values.

For a more thorough breakdown of the differences, read NerdWallet's full comparison of these two cards. Here's how they stack up at a glance:

Restricting rewards

Although the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers competitive earn rates for dining and travel spending, you’ll be able to get the highest rewards rate only if you make purchases through the Chase portal. This can significantly limit your options.

For example, restaurants available to you through the Chase Dining portal will depend on your location. This means that cardholders based in larger cities like New York, for instance, will have more options available to them than those based in smaller areas.

Similarly, to earn the card's 10x and 5x rate for travel-related spending, you’ll have to book through the Chase portal, which can prove limiting compared with buying flights or renting cars directly, for example.

Moreover, if you're not an avid spender in either of the card’s bonus categories, travel and dining, you won’t get much use out of the card. A cash-back credit card that offers more diverse and flexible rewards options would be a better fit.

Somewhat limited lounge choice

If your go-to airport doesn’t have a Chase Sapphire Lounge or Priority Pass lounge, you'll be missing out on a key benefit of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® . Capital One offers a similar alternative with the $395 -annual-fee Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card . Cardholders also have access to Priority Pass lounges, plus Plaza Premium Lounges and Capital One Lounges at Dulles International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Denver International Airport.

But if lounge access is a priority for you, a better option might be The Platinum Card® from American Express .

Though The Platinum Card® from American Express has a higher annual fee ( $695 ), this card comes with much broader airport lounge coverage, along with plenty of other top-tier benefits. In addition to giving cardholders Priority Pass Select coverage (once you enroll), the card also offers access to several other lounge networks, including AmEx's own Centurion lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (for folks flying with Delta on the same day). Keep in mind, however, that the Priority Pass Select coverage on this card no longer includes credits to select airport restaurants, unlike the Chase Sapphire Reserve® . The card also offers several other premium benefits and statement credits, including up to $200 in Uber Cash, which can be used toward free Uber rides in the U.S. (up to $15 each month, plus a bonus $20 in December). Plus, it comes with a big welcome offer. Terms Apply.

» MORE: Credit cards with airport lounge access

If the $550 fee on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is too rich for your blood — even with all of its big perks — look to the less-expensive Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card instead.

As mentioned earlier, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has an annual fee of $95 . It has the same 1:1 transfer partners as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and a similarly robust sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. Although it lacks the most attention-grabbing perks, such as the $300 travel credit, it's ideal for folks looking for a versatile travel card with a lower price. Check out NerdWallet's best credit card deals to see how these cards stack up.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best no-annual-fee travel credit cards

Spending $550 a year on a credit card is a big deal — and probably isn’t worth it in this case if you’re not a frequent traveler. But if you fly often and can take advantage of the card's many perks, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is worth every penny.

To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express , see this page .

No appetite for actively managing your credit card travel rewards? This card gives you a flat 2 miles per dollar spent on most purchases. Redeem miles to "erase" any travel purchase at a penny per mile. There's a great sign-up bonus, and the annual fee is $95 .

Looking For Something Else?

Methodology.

NerdWallet reviews credit cards with an eye toward both the quantitative and qualitative features of a card. Quantitative features are those that boil down to dollars and cents, such as fees, interest rates, rewards (including earning rates and redemption values) and the cash value of benefits and perks. Qualitative factors are those that affect how easy or difficult it is for a typical cardholder to get good value from the card. They include such things as the ease of application, simplicity of the rewards structure, the likelihood of using certain features, and whether a card is well-suited to everyday use or is best reserved for specific purchases. Our star ratings serve as a general gauge of how each card compares with others in its class, but star ratings are intended to be just one consideration when a consumer is choosing a credit card. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.

Frequently asked questions

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® 10 earns points per dollar spent on Chase Dining purchases through Ultimate Rewards®, 10 points per dollar spent on hotel stays and car rentals purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 5 points per dollar spent on air travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®; 3 points per dollar on dining and travel not booked through Chase and 1 point per dollar everywhere else. But rewards alone aren't enough to justify the hefty $550 annual fee. The card comes with an array of travel perks that can significantly reduce the cost of carrying it.

For its higher fee ( $550 , versus $95 for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card ), the Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns richer bonus rewards, provides more perks and protections (travel credits, airport lounge access and more) and gives you a higher point value when you redeem for travel (1.5 cents apiece versus 1.25 cents). Both cards offer the option of transferring points to about a dozen airline and hotel loyalty programs.

If you’ll use the travel perks — like the $300 annual travel credit and lounge access — and maximize the way you earn and redeem points, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® can be a good value . If you don’t travel much, you're better off with a different card.

You’ll need excellent credit to qualify for this card. That generally means a score of 720 or better, but credit scores alone do not guarantee approval. Your income and other factors will also be considered.

When you pay for your rental car with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , you’ll get primary collision damage and theft protection up to $75,000. The card also offers trip delay/cancellation insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and emergency medical evacuation.

You can transfer Ultimate Rewards® points earned on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® to 13 travel partners , including United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, Marriott, Hyatt and IHG.

Chase issues some of the better rewards credit cards on the market, including outstanding options in travel, cash-back and small-business cards. See the best Chase cards here .

About the author

Claire Tsosie

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Credit Cards

Why I chose the Chase Sapphire Preferred as my first ever rewards card

Sarah Li Cain

Robin Saks Frankel

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Grace Pilling

Published 6:03 a.m. UTC April 15, 2024

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DaLiu, Getty Images

I first started learning about the world of rewards credit cards from friends and bloggers and knew I wanted in. The challenge was that it took me a long time to build my credit , and I wanted to be sure I picked the right card. After some research, I landed on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card as my first rewards credit card. Yes, there are other cards with lower (or no) annual fees, but I have squeezed a ton of value from this credit card.

Here are the reasons why I landed on the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Welcome bonus.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Regular APR

Credit score.

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Editor’s Take

• Flexible points that can be transferred to 14 travel partners or redeemed through Chase Travel℠ at 1.25 cents each.
• $50 annual statement credit toward Chase Travel hotel bookings.
• Valuable travel protections.
• $95 annual fee.
• Category bonuses are limited and not competitive against other travel cards.
• Transfer partner list is limited compared to programs like Amex Membership ® Rewards and Citi ThankYou ® .

Card Details

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC

1. I wanted flexible redemption options

Learning about travel rewards and how to redeem points as a beginner all those years ago felt extremely intimidating. I wanted to earn rewards that offered plenty of redemption options and where I could learn at a pace that felt accessible to me. Initially, I ignored the airline and hotel transfer partners and decided I would focus on how I would use my Ultimate Rewards® points through the Chase Travel℠ portal. 

Taking this route eased my fears about how to book flights and hotels using rewards. I was also happy that I didn’t have to feel loyal to one airline or hotel chain like I would have with a cobranded rewards card. After booking a few trips through the Chase travel site, I took the time to learn about the issuer’s travel loyalty transfer partners (there are 14 in total). But I still liked choosing which method — booking through Chase Travel or transferring points — was better for me to squeeze the most out of my points. 

Some travel rewards redemptions offer more value than others. Here’s some of the best ways to use Chase points .

2. The annual fee is accessible, even for occasional travelers

When I opened the Sapphire Preferred card, my family wasn’t traveling much. We were still settling into our new home, my husband had started a new job and I was juggling taking care of my young child with my freelance career. I aimed to earn enough rewards from the card to nab heavily discounted hotels and the occasional flight when we visited family once or twice a year.

At $95, the annual fee felt affordable to us. A pricier card with lounge access wasn’t important, because we didn’t fly enough to feel that feature would be worth it. However, the Sapphire Preferred’s $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit was, since we stop and stay overnight on our cross-country drives during the summer. 

3. I was able to earn the welcome bonus easily

My family and I mostly used credit cards to pay for bills like utilities and groceries. Looking over our expenses, we could easily spend thousands of dollars over a span of several months. The minimum spend requirement to earn the welcome bonus — 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening — was well within our reach. Plus, I paid off my credit cards each month, meaning we didn’t pay any interest and our rewards earnings didn’t cost us extra. 

The minimum spend is higher than some rewards cards, though lower than luxury ones — my family and I were able to hit the minimum spend in a little over two months. Considering I earned $750 worth of travel if I booked through Chase Travel (which I was mostly doing in the beginning anyway), it was well worth it.

4. There are no foreign transaction fees

My mom and sister live in Canada where I grew up, so I make the annual trek with my family to visit them along with several other close friends. I knew that whatever credit card I signed up for, I wanted no foreign transaction fees when using it in another country. My last credit card did charge fees for transactions overseas, and though they may not seem like much on their own, they do add up.

This benefit alone didn’t convince me to sign up for the Sapphire Preferred but it was certainly a welcome benefit in addition to all the others. 

5. Why I keep the Sapphire Preferred even years later

The Chase Sapphire Preferred has stayed in my wallet for the last six years and I don’t plan on canceling it anytime soon. The initial signup bonus earned my family several hotel nights when we visited family and friends. In subsequent years we took advantage of the $50 annual hotel credit and other benefits, such as primary rental car insurance , to make the annual fee worth it. 

Over the years I’ve added two other Chase cards to the mix — the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card * The information for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. . I pool the points I earn from these two credit cards with my Sapphire Preferred because the Preferred offers a 25% points boost when booking travel through Chase. Since I have a family of three to book travel for, I want to use all the advantages I can get. 

Considering a rewards card? Here’s how to choose the right credit card for you.

*The information for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Sarah Li Cain is a finance and small business writer currently based in Jacksonville, Florida whose articles have been published with outlets such as Fortune, CNBC Select, the Financial Planning Association and Zillow.

Robin Saks Frankel is a credit cards lead editor at USA TODAY Blueprint. Previously, she was a credit cards and personal finance deputy editor for Forbes Advisor. She has also covered credit cards and related content for other national web publications including NerdWallet, Bankrate and HerMoney. She's been featured as a personal finance expert in outlets including CNBC, Business Insider, CBS Marketplace, NASDAQ's Trade Talks and has appeared on or contributed to The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio, ABC Radio, NPR, International Business Times and NBC, ABC and CBS TV affiliates nationwide. She holds an M.S. in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University. Follow her on Twitter at @robinsaks.

Grace Pilling is a deputy editor for credit cards at USA TODAY Blueprint. She believes credit cards are the ultimate choose-your-own-adventure tools of the financial world and gets excited about helping people discover the best credit card strategy for their unique goals. Prior to joining Blueprint, Grace worked on and led personal finance teams at Bankrate, CreditCards.com, MoneyUnder30 and MoneyGeek. She has a bachelor’s degree in English and writing and a diploma in editing and publishing.

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If credit cards were food, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card cards would definitely be peanut butter and jelly, respectively.

That’s because both cards start out perfectly solid on their own. Even if you never knew how to combine their powers, you’d be very happy using both on a daily basis. But once you discover how to make a PB & J sandwich, there’s no going back. You’ve discovered a treat that’s sweet, protein-rich and gives you an excellent excuse to eat Wonder Bread. 

It’s the same thing with the Sapphire and the Freedom Flex–combine them, and you’re in for a tasty treat that you wish you’d discovered sooner.

But what exactly is the “PB & J” of Chase rewards? Well, get your favorite white bread ready and let’s find out.

First, a little explanation of benefits…

Before I share the “recipe” to Chase’s PB & J, here’s a quick overview of both cards to provide some context.

Chase Freedom Flex℠

Intro bonus.

Rewards Rates

• 5% 5% cash back on activated bonus category purchases each quarter (up to $1,500 in purchases, then 1%)
• 5% 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• 3% 3% cash back on dining (including restaurants, takeout and eligible delivery services)
• 3% 3% cash back on drugstore purchases
• 1% 1% cash back on all other purchases
• 5% 5% cash back on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
• No annual fee
• Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
• Earns up to 5% cash back
• Foreign transaction fee
• Must active bonus categories every quarter
• 5% categories are capped
• Additional perks: Purchase protection, extended warranty protection, trip cancelation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, cell phone protection, complimentary Doordash and Instacart+ membership
• Foreign transaction fee: 3% of the amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Chase Freedom Flex – 5X rotating rewards

Here are the key highlights of Chase’s peanut butter, the Freedom Flex card. 

• 5% cash back on activated bonus category purchases each quarter (up to $1,500 in purchases, then 1%) , with the categories for Q2 2024 including Amazon.com, hotels and restaurants. 
• 0% intro balance transfer APR for 15 months (intro balance transfer fee: $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days) on both purchases and balance transfers. 
• $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases within your first three months . 
• $0 annual fee

For more detail, check out our full review of the Chase Freedom Flex .

Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card

• 5x 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ (excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit)
• 3x 3x points on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
• 2x 2x points on travel purchases not booked through Chase
• 1x 1x points on other purchases
• 5x 5x points on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025 (that's 3x points in addition to the 2x points you already earn on travel)
• Valuable welcome bonus
• Extensive list of transfer partners
• Extra value on travel redemptions
• No premium travel perks
• Has an annual fee
• Additional perks: $50 annual hotel credit, trip cancelation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, complimentary Doordash and Instacart+ membership along with quarterly Instacart+ credits
• Foreign transaction fee: None

Chase Sapphire Preferred – a grab bag of travel perks 

In a similar vein, here’s a quick breakdown of Chase’s homemade grape jam, the ever-popular Sapphire Preferred card: 

• 2x points on travel purchases , plus 3x points on dining, 3x points on select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ and 1x points on other purchases. 
• 25% travel redemption bonus when you redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards points through Chase Travel (e.g. redeem 10,000 points, get $125 in value). 
• 60,000-point welcome bonus after spending $4,000 within three months. 
• $50 annual statement credit good towards a hotel booked through Chase Travel. 
• $95 annual fee

To learn more, check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred . 

Circling back to our “recipe,” notice how Chase is quick to point out that your 60,000-point welcome bonus is worth $750 in travel redemption–all thanks to that handy 25% redemption bonus. And if you think about it, that means the points you earn with the card are worth 1.25X towards travel, too. 

So in reality, as long as you’re redeeming points through Chase Travel, your rewards chart really looks like this: 

• 5X > 6.25X on travel booked through Chase Travel
• 3X > 3.75X on dining/online groceries/streaming
• 2X > 2.5X on general travel
• 1X > 1.25X on everything else

Those are some mighty impressive earnings rates, lending even more value to the CSP as a travel companion. 

But here’s the crazy thing: that 25% bonus multiplier applies to every Chase Ultimate Rewards point you earn, regardless of which card you earn it with . 

Here’s how it all works. 

Here’s how your Chase Sapphire Preferred account lets you earn 6.25X with your Freedom Flex card

In our Chase Ultimate Rewards guide we outline all of the dozen-ish ways you can redeem your hard-earned Chase points. From trips to back massages to cash back, there’s hardly a bad option. 

But perhaps the most underrated option is the Combine points feature. 

Combine points allows you to move Chase Ultimate Rewards points from one Chase card to another–meaning you can earn points with one card–and spend them with another. Another that has, say a 25% points multiplier on points redeemed for travel…

As you can see, the option only applies to Chase rewards cards that generate Chase Ultimate Rewards points. So the Prime Visa and the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card cards, for example, won’t appear here–but your Freedom and Sapphire cards will. 

Unlike a bank transfer, combining Chase Ultimate Rewards points is free and instantaneous. Plus, you can always move the points back if you wish (although I’ve never found a reason to move points from a Sapphire card back to a Freedom card).

Then, as soon as you’ve combined all of your Chase Ultimate Rewards points into your Sapphire account, you can go spend them at Chase Travel where you’ll get an extra 25% in value: 

This trick also works with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card where you’ll get 50% extra value (provided you’re cool with the card’s $550 annual fee). 

Now, while I heartily recommend this trick to most travelers I meet–especially if they already have both cards–you should know that it still comes with three big caveats. 

PB & Js aren’t perfect, and neither is this trick

Though delicious, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches aren’t perfect. They’re high in fat, sugar and carbohydrates, and unlike the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, they don’t travel especially well. 

In a similar vein, here are the caveats to the “PB & J of Chase cards”: 

• The Chase Sapphire Preferred card charges a $95 annual fee and requires a 670+ FICO score to apply. 
• With the Chase Freedom Flex, you can only earn 5% cash back on activated bonus category purchases each quarter (up to $1,500 in purchases, then 1%) (generating 7,500 Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth $93.75). 
• Hotel rooms booked using points typically don’t generate any additional rewards or allow you to utilize your status benefits. 

But if you’re OK with these caveats, I hope you enjoy this simple recipe for tastier travel rewards.  And for more tips to help you get off the ground–quite literally–check out our Beginner’s guide to travel rewards .

Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.

EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE : The advice, opinions, or rankings contained in this article are solely those of the Fortune Recommends ™ editorial team. This content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of our affiliate partners or other third parties.

7 Best Hotel Credit Cards of 2024

Money.com has partnered with CardRatings.com for our coverage of credit card products. Money and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Our site does not include all card companies or all available card offers.

Whether on vacation or business, hotels can make or break your travel experience — and your budget as well.

Hotel credit cards can help alleviate some of that cost, or simply make your stay a lot more comfortable and enjoyable thanks to the many benefits they offer.

Here, we picked some of the best hotel credit cards from a variety of hotel chains that can reward frequent travelers and occasional vacationers alike.

Our Top Picks for Best Hotel Credit Cards of 2024

• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card — Best for Luxury Travel
• Hilton Honors American Express Card — Best No Annual Fee
• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card —Best Overall Value
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card — Best for International Travel
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card — Best for Business
• Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card — Best for Small Businesses
• Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card — Best for Budget Travel

Other Hotel Credit Cards We Considered

Best hotel credit cards reviews.

The companies in our top picks are listed in alphabetical order.

• High 14x points reward rate at Hilton properties
• $200 in flight credits (up to $50 each quarter) on qualifying airfare purchases
• Annual free night
• No TSA PreCheck or Global Entry statement credit

Terms apply. Please click here for applicable rates and fees.

Why we chose it: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card delivers on all fronts, from high point earnings to valuable statement credits, all for a very competitive annual fee in the luxury category.

The Hilton portfolio is one of the largest and most recognized in the world. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers very high rewards for many different categories. This includes 14x points on Hilton purchases, the highest among the cards we researched. It also offers a high 7x points on select travel and U.S. restaurants.

Points aren’t the only way to save, though, as the card offers a variety of statement credits. Cardholders can get up to $400 in statement credits for their expenses at participating Hilton resorts, a $200 flight credit for qualifying flight purchases (divided into $50 each quarter) and a $100 property statement credit when booking a minimum two-night stay at Waldorf Astoria Hotel & Resorts or Conrad Hotel & Resorts. (Terms apply.)

There’s also a large amount of insurance coverage, including trip cancellation and delay insurance, baggage insurance plan and car rental loss and damage insurance*.

All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Money.com

• 7x Hilton Honors Bonus points at the Hilton
• 5x points at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. restaurants and U.S. gas stations
• Car rental loss and damage insurance*
• No annual free night
• No trip cancellation/delay insurance

Why we chose it: The Hilton Honors™ Card by American Express’ high rewards on hotel spending as well as everyday categories make it one of the best options for consumers looking for a no-annual-fee hotel card. (Terms apply.)

The no-annual-fee card_name offers 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible purchases made with your card at Hilton portfolio hotels and resorts. It also offers 5x on everyday categories like U.S. supermarkets, U.S. restaurants and U.S. gas stations, which makes earning free nights and other perks a lot easier than many of its competitors.

Cardmembers get automatic Hilton Honors™ Silver Status with the card, which earns you 12x additional points per dollar. After spending $20,000 in a calendar year, the card also offers a bump up to Hilton Honors™ Gold Status, which earns 18x points per dollar, totaling 25x Hilton Honors bonus points per dollar when using the card at Hilton hotels.

The card also offers purchase protection, extended warranty and car rental loss and damage insurance*. Unfortunately, it doesn’t provide flight or baggage insurance.

• Anniversary free night
• Low $99 annual fee
• TSA PreCheck(R), Global Entry or NEXUS statement credit every four years
• 5x points on travel, dining and gas
• No rental insurance

Why we chose it: The card_name offers some of the best rewards in its class, including an annual free night, a TSA PreCheck® statement credit every four years and 10x on IHG® purchases.

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card has some of the best rewards and perks available among cards with annual fees in the $100 range.

This includes 10x points for purchases made at IHG® properties, which include well-known hotels such as the Regent, Intercontinental® Hotels and the Holiday Inn®, as well as lower cost options like Hotel Indigo® and Candlewood Suites®. In addition, cardholders get 10x points for being a hotel member and 6x bonus points for being a Platinum member, a status that’s granted automatically upon card approval.

Beyond the 10x points on hotel purchases, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card offers 5x points on travel, dining and gas, providing big opportunities to accumulate points toward stays, room upgrades and more.

Like other cards on this list, it also offers a free night every year and a statement credit for TSA PreCheck®, Global Entry or NEXUS of up to $100 every four years, a unique benefit in this class.

The card also has a pretty broad suite of insurance coverage, including purchase protection, baggage delay insurance, lost baggage reimbursement and trip cancellation/delay insurance. It lacks any sort of rental insurance, however, which could be a bummer if vacations include a roadtrip.

• $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: up to $25 per month for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit every four or four and half years
• Marriott International has properties in the most countries out of any hotel chain
• Airport lounge access with Priority Pass Select (enrollment is required)
• Very expensive $650 annual fee

Why we chose it: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card has a wide array of insurance coverage*, along with high-value statement credits and perks that could make up for its high annual fee.

If you have a long list of countries you want to visit, then this Marriott hotel card might be of interest. Marriott International the most countries out of any other hotel chain, with nearly 8,000 properties in 131 countries.

This card also provides a $100 fee credit every four years for Global Entry when you pay for the application with the card_name , which makes returning to the U.S. much smoother. Cardholders also have the option of receiving a fee credit every four and a half years for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider). Keep in mind that, if approved for Global Entry, you’ll also be approved for TSA PreCheck® at no additional charge.

The card_name offers 6x points at Marriott properties and a $100 luxury property credit for qualifying charges at luxury hotels The Ritz Carlton or St. Regis. You can also earn 3x Marriott Bonvoy points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines, along with up to $300 in monthly $25 statement credits for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide.

There’s also a long list of insurance coverage for your travels, such as trip cancellation and delay insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance and baggage insurance plans*, among others.

After spending $60,000 in a calendar year on the card, cardholders get an Earned Choice Award (only one per year). This can be in the form of five suite nights awards, each of which can be redeemed for a room upgrade, a free night valued up to 85,000 points or $1000 when purchasing a Marriott Boutique Bed for your home.

As other cards on this list, the card_name offers an annual free night at participating Marriott Bonvoy® hotels.

• 4x points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. gas stations
• 4x points on wireless phone services from U.S. providers and on U.S. shipping services
• Free night award after each renewal month, plus additional free night after spending $60,000 in a calendar year
• $125 annual fee is higher than most competitors
• No flight cancellation/delay insurance

Why we chose it: The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card offers the chance of two free nights each year and rewards business owners with 4x points on U.S. wireless phone and U.S. shipping services. (Terms apply).

The card_name offers 6x points at Marriott properties, as well as automatic Gold Elite Status.

In addition to points, Gold Status offers 25% more points than the regular member rate. Cardholders also get 15 Elite Night Credits each anniversary year, which helps reach the next step in the Marriott Bonvoy membership program (Note that you need 50 Elite Night Credits to reach Platinum Elite Status).

The card also offers 4x points for everyday spending and business-related transactions, such as worldwide restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. phone and shipping services.

When it comes to additional hotel perks, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card offers the usual annual free night reward, and a second free night after spending $60,000 in a calendar year. There’s also the Amex Business Card Rate, which is a 7% discount on eligible reservations as a benefit of being a Marriott Bonvoy® Member and a Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card Member when booked directly with Marriott. (Terms apply).

Insurance wise, purchase protection, extended warranty, baggage insurance plan and car rental loss and damage insurance* are included. Note, however, that it does not offer trip cancellation insurance.

• Receive 7,500 point bonus each account anniversary
• 6x points on gas
• 4x points on dining and groceries
• Automatic platinum level
• No insurance coverage

Why we chose it: Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has one of the broadest range of budget options among hotel chains in the USA, and their Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card has enough rewards to take full advantage of it.

While most hotel chains have a very broad range of options, not all have budget hotels widely available nationwide. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts does. With multiple low-cost options such as Days Inn, Microtel Inn & Suites, Travelodge, Super 8 and more all over the country, cardholders will, more often than not, find a budget option for their travels.

The Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card will increase savings even further as it offers 6x points on Wyndham purchases, as well as on gas. In fact, gas expenses alone could earn over 7,500 points in a year, enough to redeem for a night at various Wyndham properties, which might make this card even more appealing for road trip enthusiasts. On top of that, it also offers 4x points on dining and grocery stores (excluding Walmart® and Target®), as well as 1x point on all other qualifying purchases.

There’s also a 7,500 point bonus each anniversary year, which might be enough for a free night since, as mentioned above, Wyndham has multiple properties with rooms that can go for as low as 7,500 points. If redeemed for a go free® nights cardholders get a 10% discount, leaving 750 points in your account to start saving for the next one. (Do note that rooms for 7,500 points are not available at all participating hotels, so make sure there are rooms at this price where you’re going or save up for a costlier stay.)

There’s also a Wyndham Rewards PLATINUM upgrade, which includes perks such as free Wi-Fi, early check-in (upon request), Avis® and Budget® complimentary rental upgrades, and more.

Unfortunately, the card does not offer insurance or protection beyond standard fraud liability protection, so make sure to have insurance when you get those free rental car upgrades.

All information about the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card has been collected independently by Money.com.

• Annual 15,000 point bonus
• 8x on qualifying gas purchases
• 5x on marketing and select utilities
• No statement credits
• No travel-related insurance

Why we chose it: The Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card provides high rewards on both hotel purchases and business-related expenses for a modest annual fee, on top of a generous annual bonus that could be redeemed for up to two free nights.

This Wyndham card gives you 8x points at Wyndham, in addition to 12x points as a Diamond level member (automatic upon card approval) — this translates to 20x points per dollar when making eligible purchases at qualifying Wyndham properties.

The card is also roadtrip-friendly as it earns 8x points on gas, which is double what cards in its class offer, and still more than even the most premium cards. Making it even more convenient for cross country trips, Wyndham has the most properties in the U.S. of any hotel chain, and includes budget hotels such as Days Inn and Howard Johnson.

As far as business rewards go, you can earn 5x points on marketing and advertising, including most digital platforms like Google Ads and Facebooks, and on utilities, such as phones and electrical service.

Although it doesn’t offer an annual free night, the card does offer 15,000 bonus points each anniversary year. That can be redeemed for up to two nights, depending on the room cost (Wyndham rooms start at 7,500 points). Cardholders also get a 10% discount when redeeming points for go free® nights, a program that offers nights at a fixed points value, which could be 7,500, 15,000 or 30,000 depending on the hotel.

Unfortunately, there are no insurance policies other than cell phone protection and the standard fraud liability protection, which is this card’s biggest drawback. If you plan on traveling by plane a lot, consider other of our picks for a more comprehensive insurance package.

All information about the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card has been collected independently by Money.com.

Best Western Rewards® Premium Mastercard®

• 40,000x points when you spend $5,000 every 12 billing cycles
• High 10x points in Best Western purchases
• Early check-in and late check-out (based on availability)

This card offers up to 20x points when booking at a Best Western, 10x through the card itself and 10x for being a Best Western Rewards® member (the card also gives automatic Platinum status). In addition to these high rewards, cardholders get 40,000 points after spending $5,000 with the card every 12 billing cycles, a very low spending requirement compared to others. However, the rewards aren’t high enough to make up for its $89 annual fee.

All information about the Best Western Rewards® Premium Mastercard® has been collected independently by Money.com.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

• One free night annually
• $95 annual fee is low compared to competitors
• 3x points on groceries, dining and gas up to $6,000 combined
• Spending cap on rewards

This Marriott card by Chase is a great option if you value the Marriott brand, which has the largest hotel network in the world. It offers 6x points at the Marriott, which can become 17x points thanks to member rewards and the automatic Silver Elite Status.

All information about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card has been collected independently by Money.com.

World of Hyatt Credit Card

• Large suite of insurance coverage
• Discoverist status automatic upgrade
• Low reward rate
• $95 annual fee is too much for what it offers

The World of Hyatt Credit Card by Chase shines due to its coverage, which includes baggage delay insurance, lost baggage reimbursement, trip cancellation/delay insurance, purchase protection and rental collision waiver. While this is a large plus, its rewards are lackluster, especially given the card’s $95 annual fee.

All information about the World of Hyatt Credit Card by Chase has been collected independently by Money.com.

Best Hotel Credit Cards Guide

How do hotel credit cards work, how to choose the best hotel credit card, how to maximize the value of your hotel credit card, how to redeem your hotel credit card rewards, latest news on hotel credit cards.

A hotel credit card is a co-branded card issued by a hotel line and a financial institution such as Chase Bank or American Express®. These cards usually provide high reward rates for booking stays, buying tickets for shows or merchandise at all the hotels under the brand’s umbrella. These rewards are in addition to the ones you’ll get as a loyalty member, as these cards will automatically grant you member status with the brand.

Overall, hotel credit cards work just like regular credit cards, meaning you’ll have a credit line for an established amount that you can use, and you have to make at least a minimum payment each billing cycle.

Reward structures are similar to regular credit cards too, you earn a certain amount of points, statement credits or other miscellaneous benefits depending on how much you spend and where.

Here are some of the difference on how rewards work:

• Hotel credit cards offer more points than average credit cards do when you make eligible purchases at participating hotels, including at restaurants within hotel premises, gift shops and more.
• Points are added to the ones you get as an elite status member of the hotel brand, a status that also comes automatically with card enrollment. This increases the points earned significantly.
• Unfortunately, points tend to be limited to the particular brand instead of the issuer’s. For example, points earned through the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, which is issued by Chase, can’t be used in the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal.
• Points have drastically more value when redeemed for hotel purchases such as hotel stays or room upgrades when compared to statement credits or gift cards, for example.

Hotel benefits

Some offer other such as a free night every year, free breakfast, special discounts, priority booking, early check-in and much more depending on the hotel and the type of card. These, of course, will depend largely on the type of annual fee the card charges.

There are roughly four tiers of annual fees when it comes to cards. These are, typically, no annual fee cards, budget or low cost ($50-$99), mid-range ($150-$300) and luxury or premium ($350+).

Pros and cons of hotel credit cards

Hotel credit cards are packed with perks, but whether a card is worth it for you will depend on many factors. Here are some pros and cons to consider:

• Rewards at the hotel are very high and are added to rewards earned as a member
• Many cards offer at least one free night annually
• Hotel-related perks such as early check-in, free breakfast and room discounts
• Usually offer travel benefits like rewards for buying tickets, travel-related insurance and more
• Many of the major hotel brands have large networks of hotels for different budgets and locations
• High reward rates are typically limited to purchases within the hotel brand, not everyday spending
• Flight-related perks aren't as abundant as with more general travel cards
• Points tend to be much less valuable when redeemed outside of the hotel

Hotel credit cards vs. travel credit cards

While travel credit cards could encompass hotel, airline and general travel-focused cards, travel cards — such as the ​​Chase Sapphire Reserve® or the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card — usually reward you for a variety of travel-related expenses, for example, airline tickets and rentals, such as the. Hotel credit cards, on the other hand, are specifically designed to give you higher rewards and specific perks when you make purchases within their hotel line.

Travel cards

• Usually offer much higher rewards for travel purchases, including airfare and rental cars
• Can offer high rewards in hotels regardless of brand
• More versatility and options when transferring reward points
• Offer a wider variety of insurance policies, such as rental insurance and baggage protection
• Tend to have more bonus categories than branded hotel cards

Hotel cards

• Points earned at hotels surpass those of travel cards, which, at the most, grant 10x points, while hotel cards offer up to 14x, on top of points acquired through membership, totaling well past 20x points per dollar
• Have hotel-specific perks such as free stays, free Wi-Fi and free breakfast
• Bumps up your member status at the hotel chain, which in turn increases the amount of perks
• Points can be worth a lot more during specific times of the year or in specific hotels within the brand, depending on time, location and any deals available

Not all hotels are made equal, and neither are their credit cards or membership rewards programs. When choosing a hotel credit card, it’s important to take into account not just the card itself, but the hotels it works with.

1. Compare credit card basics

As with any other credit card, you should compare features like the annual fee, APR, the issuer and a baseline of the rewards offered.

As mentioned above, there are different tiers, according to the annual fee. Once you’ve decided how much you’re willing to pay, you can start to compare rewards, benefits, insurance and the hotel network. Once you’re comparing within each category, you’ll more easily find standouts that deliver far more benefits than their direct competitors.

2. Think about how often you travel

If you travel once or twice a year to visit family, you might enjoy the occasional free night, but a co-branded hotel card won’t be the best option for you. Instead, you can take a look at our best travel credit cards . With these cards, there are more travel rewards and benefits like higher points for ticket purchases, flight cancellation insurance and the such, along with higher rewards on everyday purchases.

However, if you travel often for work or you vacation a few times a year, you’ll probably really take advantage of all the benefits that come with a hotel credit card.

As you accrue points, you’ll go up in member status, get more free nights, and enjoy amenities like free Wi-Fi, discounts and priority booking. This could make your trips more comfortable and a lot cheaper.

3. Analyze rewards and perks

Once you have a list of the cards you’re strongly considering, you can start comparing their rewards. Remember, however, that points systems can vary greatly due to issuer, hotel brand and the actual hotel you try to redeem them at.

With this in mind, look at the versatility each hotel brand has. If their network is large enough and their affiliates cover a wider spectrum of budgets and locations, you can at least get an idea of how many options you’ll have when redeeming.

Consider the everyday spending categories the card rewards you for as well. If your goal is to amass enough points to get free nights or large discounts, you may benefit from high reward rates in categories such as gas, dining and grocery shopping. While some cards could look a lot more tempting than others due to that reward rate at the hotels, others could actually deliver more value through regular spending throughout the year.

4. Consider which hotel brand appeals to you the most

One of the main issues with hotel credit cards is that they’re made for a specific hotel chain. While they can be used for any type of purchase (including rival hotels), the highest reward rates and perks are limited to that brand.

The good news is that hotel chains actually have a lot of different hotels under their name, and some can range from very low cost rooms to fine hotels and luxurious villas in any part of the world. All the big names have thousands of properties across the globe, but all are different, so compare the range of options in terms of prices, locations and variety of properties and amenities. Also, see if you recognize any that you particularly enjoy, or that you already use frequently due to your traveling circumstances.

It’s also a good idea to look at the different perks each brand offers for its elite members. Most hotel credit cards grant a certain level of membership, but the benefits that come with it depend on the hotel’s membership program. Look into the details, whether the program offers free nights, free Wi-Fi, room upgrades or more. The program itself could be a deciding factor in your credit card choice.

Use for everyday expenses

One of the best and easiest ways to accrue points is to use your credit card regularly, not just at the hotel. In some cases, cards earn a lot of points for everyday purchases like groceries, gas and utilities. Also, some cards give large bonuses or other perks when a certain spending threshold is reached.

Use your annual free night

This doesn’t necessarily add to your points, but if the card offers a free night per year (and most do), make sure to not let it go to waste. If you don’t get the chance to travel or vacation, using this perk at the end of the year to relax or take a quick trip somewhere ensures that you truly take advantage of your benefits.

Look for transfer possibilities

While using your card within the hotel’s loyalty program is likely the best option, there are some cases in which transferring to a partner can increase the value of your points. Read the fine print and look for transfer partners in the card’s network to see if there’s a chance to get more for your points whether through converting them into miles or to a credit card issuer’s points system such as Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Investigate which hotels waive resort fees

Resort fees can increase the standard room prices, sometimes significantly so. Some hotel brands waive these fees if you pay with points. Before choosing a card, look for specific hotels within the brand’s umbrella that do this.

Research prices and overall demand in different seasons

Hotel pricing changes constantly, and the same is true for the amount of points needed to get free nights or room upgrades. Stay on top of these changes to at least have an idea of when and where you can make the most out of your points.

How much is a hotel point worth?

Hotel points vary significantly depending on the card issuer and hotel brand, as well as how, when and where you redeem them.

While you can redeem points for a variety of things, such as gift cards, room upgrades or even retail deals through a hotel’s loyalty program, one of the most common and sought-after perks are free or discounted nights.

Here’s a table showing the approximate range of points needed for a free night in some of the most well-known hotel companies in the world.

Keep in mind, however, that the amount of points needed changes depending on the specific hotel chosen, the style of room, its location and when the points are redeemed as a room’s price can change drastically with the seasons.

Not all chains will have the lowest-cost rooms in the US (or any given country, for that matter) or at the time of booking. As mentioned above, it’s best to research each hotel chain and see what budgets they cover and where before making a final decision.

In most cases, points are automatically transferred from your credit card program to the hotel’s program after each billing cycle, although in some it might take up to 12 weeks for the transfer.

In order to redeem the points, you need to log into your hotel’s loyalty program and look for redemption options, such as hotel rooms, upgrades, gift cards or transfer points to partners such as airlines or even other hotel chains. You can also use your points to get higher membership status.

• The Biden administration is moving to ban and remove hidden fees in a wide array of industries. Read the details: Biden Moves to Ban ‘Junk Fees’ Charged by Banks, Hotels, Ticket Sellers and More
• Travel insurance is always a good choice, but it can add to the already high expense involved in traveling. Read our guide and learn How to Find Cheap Travel Insurance for Your Next Trip .
• Traveling with someone can raise the bill quite a bit. However, there’s an offer by Southwest Airlines credit cards that can help with that: This New Credit Card Offer Comes With a Very Rare (and Valuable) Travel Bonus
• If your spreadsheets aren’t quite cutting it and you’re having trouble budgeting and finding good deals on travel, This New Vacation Calculator Can Help You Choose (and Pay for) Your Next Trip

Best Hotel Credit Cards FAQs

What hotels have their own credit card, why is it important to have a hotel credit card, which card is best for hotel rewards, what rewards and perks can you expect with a hotel credit card, can you use a hotel credit card for everyday purchases, are there any fees associated with using a hotel credit card, how we chose the best hotel credit cards.

Finding the best hotel credit cards meant looking not just into the cards themselves, but into the different hotel chains that co-branded them, among other factors listed below:

Points and overall rewards

We compared the amount of points each card gave for eligible purchases at each hotel chain as well as points awarded for everyday spending categories such as dining or gas, which could make accumulating points much easier.

Hotel-specific perks

Points aren’t the only way to earn with hotel cards. We looked at the perks each card gives you within the hotel or in the process of booking, such as annual free nights, status upgrades, complimentary room upgrades and more. We also compared the perks that each separate hotel offers with the member status the card provides.

When traveling, insurance is a big deal. Hotel cards should have a good amount of coverage, such as trip cancellation and delay insurance, baggage insurance and rental insurance. There’s also other coverages for everyday spending such as extended warranty and purchase protection. We took these insurance policies into account when making our selections.

Welcome offers

Although welcome bonuses and intro offers in general change consistently, and we don’t include them in reviews, we looked at them to get an idea of what and how much each card regularly offers. Customers should be able to start enjoying their new card as soon as possible.

Summary of Money’s Best Hotel Credit Cards of 2024

To see rates and fees for the card_name , please visit this link . Terms apply.

To see rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Card , please visit this link. Terms apply.

To see rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, please visit this link . Terms apply.

* Insurance disclosures for American Express Cards on this page:

Trip Delay Insurance: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Global Assist Hotline: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, Baggage Insurance Plan: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

© Copyright 2024 Money Group, LLC . All Rights Reserved.

This article originally appeared on Money.com and may contain affiliate links for which Money receives compensation. Opinions expressed in this article are the author's alone, not those of a third-party entity, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed. Offers may be subject to change without notice. For more information, read Money’s full disclaimer .

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AIG Travel Guard insurance review: What you need to know

Whether you need an annual plan or a policy for a last-minute trip, travel guard can deliver..

Travel Guard is one of CNBC Select 's picks for best travel insurance , thanks to its wide range of customizable policies. But are any of them right for you? Below, we review the provider and its offers and how they compare to the competition to help you choose the right travel insurance for your next trip.

Travel Guard review

Other insurance offered, how it compares, bottom line, travel guard® travel insurance.

The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote

Policy highlights

Travel Guard offers a variety of plans to suit travel ranging from road trips to long cruises. For air travelers, Travel Guard can help assist with tracking baggage or covering lost or delayed baggage.

24/7 assistance available

• A variety of plans are available to help cover different types of trips
• Not all products are available for purchase online

Travel Guard® is a global travel insurance provider specializing in plans for leisure and business travelers. Its online travel insurance packages include five options, from basic and last-minute trip coverage to more comprehensive plans. This allows travelers to pick a plan that best matches their situation.

For example, budget-minded travelers might go for the Essential Plan which offers basic protections, such as trip cancellation, interruption and delay insurance, coverage for lost, damaged and delayed baggage, and medical, evacuation and death coverage.

On the other hand, the Deluxe Plan — the most comprehensive option — adds such extras as missed connection coverage, security evacuation, travel inconvenience benefits and more. It also boosts high limits for essential coverages.

Last-minute travelers can opt for the Pack N' Go Plan which only includes certain post-departure coverages. Or, if you travel often, the Annual Plan can cover your trips throughout the year.

Finally, Travel Guard offers "offline" travel insurance packages, meaning you'll have to call if you're looking for a specialty plan.

Coverage types

Depending on the plan, here are the types of protection Travel Guard can include in your package:

• Trip cancellations
• Trip interruption
• Baggage coverage
• Baggage delay
• Travel medical expenses
• Travel inconvenience benefits (reimbursement for such situations as runway delays, cruise diversion and other unforeseen situations)
• Medical evacuation
• Trip Saver (reimbursement for meals, hotels and transportation if you need to begin your trip sooner due to weather or airline changes)
• Trip exchange (reimbursement in case you have to cancel your trip and book a new one due to covered unforeseen circumstances)
• Security evacuation (due to a riot or civil disorder)
• Flight guard (coverage for accidental death or dismemberment that occurs when traveling by plane)
• Pre-existing medical conditions exclusion waiver

You can also customize your plan with add-ons, such as car rental insurance and "cancel for any reason" coverage .

Travel Guard landed on our list of the best travel insurance companies thanks to its variety of coverage. With plenty of options to choose from, both online and offline, it's easy to build a policy that meets your needs.

Travel Guard also features 24-hour concierge services that you can use to book a new flight in case of an emergency or delay.

The provider's website also offers informational resources — here, you can check travel news, read safety tips and find general travel advice. Additionally, the website lets you modify your plan, file a claim and check its status, or apply for a voucher or refund.

As of writing, Travel Guard doesn't offer any discounts. That's common for travel insurance — you're more likely to find deals when shopping for other types of insurance, such as home and auto insurance .

Travel Guard is a portfolio of travel insurance and travel-related services offered by AIG Travel, a member of American International Group (AIG). AIG also offers life insurance and a variety of business insurance products.

Travel Guard makes it easy to get a travel insurance policy customized to your needs. But before you purchase coverage, it's always a good idea to shop around.

For example, if you're going on a cruise, you might want to look at Nationwide Travel Insurance . The provider advertises cruise-specific insurance with three plan options available. This type of coverage is designed with issues unique to cruises in mind — from ship-based breakdowns to missed pre-pard excursions.

If you're planning a more active trip filled with rock climbing or sky diving, Berkshire Hathaway offers the AdrenalineCare® plan which features coverage for unforeseen costs that result from participating in extreme sports on your trip, as well as reimbursement for sporting equipment delay. Pre-existing conditions are covered under this plan (if you meet qualifying conditions).

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection has multiple plans to cover vacations from luxury travel to adventure travel. The brand's LuxuryCare offers the highest limits of travel insurance coverage offered by the company. Quotes and policies are available online.

As you can see, offerings vary by provider. It can be helpful to compare multiple companies and the plans they offer to find what works best for you. It's even better if you gather several quotes to ensure you're getting a good price for your policy.

Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.  Sign up here .

Travel Guard offers plenty of ways to customize your policy, making it a solid choice for travel insurance. You can also access additional options by giving Travel Guard a call. However, make sure to check out other travel insurance companies too — comparison shopping is essential when picking any type of financial product.

Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every insurance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of insurance products . While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of  credit cards ,  banking  and  money , and follow us on  TikTok ,  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

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