InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) renew its line of credit cards in March 2022. That includes improvements to two existing cards and the addition of a small business credit card. That brings us to three credit cards that earn points in IHG One Rewards Program.
And while these cards offer some degree of status, you can pause before automatically withdrawing a credit card with the logo of your hotel. Is it really the best card to pay with or should you use another card to maximize your earnings?
Here are some popular credit cards you can use to pay for your next stay at IHG . Hotels and ResortsCompare what these cards can offer you in terms of return on spending and the perks of your stay.
IHG vacation credit card comparison
In addition to using a IHG branded credit cardyou can also pay using travel bonus card earn Points are transferable on travel purchases, including your next hotel stay. Here are some cards you can pay for and what you can get with them:
*Bonus value is an estimated value in TPG and not the card issuer.
Information about the Amex green card has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Current welcome offers on IHG . credit cards
Which card should you use?
Consider two things when deciding which credit card to use for your next stay at an establishment affiliated with IHG One Rewards: the benefits you can get and the value of the points you can earn earn.
TPG . Value IHG is only at half a cent each. Therefore, although you can earn 10 points per dollar paying with IHG Premier Card or IHG Premier Business card, those 10 points are really only worth 5 cents. It’s worth less than you get with 3 points for every dollar on Amex Green Cardare from Amex Points worth 2 cents each – a total of 6 cents of value for every dollar spent.
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Now, cards like the Amex Green or Chase Sapphire Reserve don’t (by themselves) unlock on-site benefits like room upgrades. Luckily, your IHG elite perks aren’t tied to the credit card you pay with – even if the credit card is the only reason you’re keeping the status.
That means you can get an IHG-branded credit card simply to qualify for elite status and receive the associated benefits. You can then pay with another credit card to earn even more valuable points. And if you pay with Chase Sapphire Reservethe number of points you earn (Final reward) maybe free and instant transfer with IHG if you need to top up your balance for an upcoming redemption – although there are other (better) ways to Make the most of those points.
That said, it should be noted that using a card like the Sapphire Reserve to pay for an IHG vacation through the Chase Travel portal may not be the best option. That’s because these bookings are considered third-party bookings and therefore are not eligible to earn IHG points. You’ll also miss out on using any elite perks during your stay, so factor that in when deciding how to book (and pay).
Related: Why you don’t earn hotel points when you book through OTA
Key point
With IHG credit cards and stays at IHG hotels, deciding which credit card to use can be a balancing act. If you pay with IHG’s own credit card, the points you earn have no such value – you’ll get plenty of points, though. For maximum value, your best bet may be to keep an IHG credit card for status benefits but use a different credit card to pay at the front desk.
Editor’s note: “View Scores” is a series of reviews of decisions about which credit card to use. If you are facing a dilemma about which card is best for an upcoming payment, email us at [email protected].
Also in this series:
For Amex green card rates and fees, click here.
