Which bank card do you have to use for IHG stays?

Three bank cards earn factors within the IHG One Rewards program. There are two private playing cards — the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card (see charges and charges) and the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card (see charges and charges) — and one enterprise card, the IHG One Rewards Premier Enterprise Credit score Card (see charges and charges).

Whereas these playing cards supply program-specific advantages, akin to elite standing, you would possibly pause earlier than mechanically pulling out a bank card that bears the emblem of the resort the place you are staying. Is that actually the very best card to pay with, or do you have to use one thing else to maximise your earnings?

Let’s check out some widespread bank cards you would possibly wish to use to pay in your subsequent keep at IHG inns and resorts.

Evaluating bank cards for an IHG keep

Other than utilizing an IHG cobranded bank card, you possibly can additionally pay utilizing an all-around journey rewards card that earns transferable factors on journey purchases, together with your subsequent resort keep. Listed here are some playing cards you would possibly pay with, and what you possibly can get when utilizing these playing cards:

* Per TPG’s June 2025 valuations and never the cardboard issuer.

The data for the American Specific Inexperienced Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

Which bank card do you have to use for IHG stays?

The perfect technique is to carry an IHG One Rewards cobranded bank card for elite standing advantages and card perks, however use a basic journey rewards card to truly pay in your keep.

Think about two issues when deciding which bank card to make use of in your subsequent keep at an IHG One Rewards-affiliated property: The advantages you may get and the worth of the factors you may earn.

TPG’s June 2025 valuations deem IHG factors as price half a cent every. Thus, whilst you can earn 10 factors per greenback when paying with the IHG One Premier card or IHG One Premier Enterprise card, these 10 factors are literally price simply 5 cents. That is much less worth than you’d get with 3 factors per greenback on the Amex Inexperienced Card since Amex factors are price 2 cents apiece — a complete of 6 cents in worth for every greenback spent.

Every day Publication

Reward your inbox with the TPG Every day publication

Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants

By signing up, you’ll obtain newsletters and promotional content material and comply with our Phrases of Use and acknowledge the information practices in our Privateness Coverage. It’s possible you’ll unsubscribe at any time.

Now, playing cards just like the Amex Inexperienced or Wells Fargo Autograph Journey (by themselves) unlock on-property advantages like room upgrades. Fortunately, your IHG elite perks aren’t tied to the bank card you pay with — even when the bank card is the only purpose you maintain standing.

Which means holding an IHG cobranded bank card is perhaps worthwhile merely to qualify for elite standing and obtain the related advantages. Then, you may pay with a unique bank card to earn extra helpful factors.

It is also price noting that with the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s 2025 overhaul, the cardboard now affords complimentary IHG Platinum standing (by way of Dec. 31, 2027) together with the prospect for high-spending people who put not less than $75,000 on the cardboard in a calendar 12 months to unlock IHG Diamond standing.

Plus, the cardboard affords elevated incomes charges on inns booked immediately with IHG (4 factors per greenback) and IHG inns booked by way of the Chase Journey portal (8 factors per greenback). That stated, it is price noting that utilizing a card just like the Sapphire Reserve to pay for an IHG keep by way of the Chase Journey is probably not the most suitable choice. That is as a result of these reservations are handled as third-party bookings and, thus, aren’t eligible to earn IHG factors.

Even so, the factors you earn on the cardboard (Final Rewards) may be transferred freely and instantly to IHG if it’s essential to high off your steadiness for an upcoming redemption. Nonetheless, there are numerous different (higher) methods to benefit from these factors. Moreover, the cardboard’s excessive $795 annual payment ought to be factored into the way you weigh the worth of those advantages.

You will additionally miss out on using any elite standing perks throughout your keep, so remember to issue that in when deciding easy methods to e-book (and pay).

Associated: Why you do not earn resort factors when reserving by way of an OTA

Backside line

With IHG’s bank cards and stays at IHG inns, deciding which bank card to make use of can contain tradeoffs. In the event you pay with IHG’s personal bank cards, the factors you earn aren’t that helpful, though you may get numerous them.

To get most worth, your finest guess is perhaps holding an IHG bank card for standing advantages however utilizing a unique bank card to pay on the entrance desk.

Associated: 6 causes to keep away from reserving by way of a web-based journey company