When you’re planning your subsequent journey and have your eyes set on an IHG resort, it is pure so that you can assume the most suitable choice for paying could also be with an IHG One Rewards cobranded card.
That is not a foul concept, since you’ll mechanically obtain excessive incomes charges and program-specific perks, similar to elite standing, whenever you maintain an IHG bank card.
However this is some expert-level recommendation: A cobranded card might not at all times be the most suitable choice to pay for an IHG keep. That is proper — there are some cases wherein one other card in your pockets might assist you maximize your earnings.
Let’s check out this checklist of playing cards to think about when reserving with IHG. A number of the choices listed might shock you.
Evaluating bank cards for an IHG keep
Certain, there are many instances when an IHG cobranded card stands out as the proper alternative for reserving an IHG resort.
Nevertheless, you possibly can obtain extra worth from paying with an all-around journey rewards card that earns transferable factors, which are sometimes extra priceless in the long term.
Listed below are some playing cards you may need to pay with, and what you possibly can get when utilizing these playing cards:
*Worth relies on TPG’s October 2025 valuations.
**The knowledge 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.
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Which bank card must you use for IHG stays?
It is nonetheless good observe for IHG loyalists to carry its cobranded bank cards to obtain elite standing and card perks.
Nevertheless, there are various cases wherein it is higher to tug out one other card out of your pockets to pay for the precise keep itself.
Once you’re making this resolution, you may need to weigh two elements:
- The advantages you may obtain from the cardboard you employ to pay
- The worth of the factors you may earn from paying with that card
Contemplate these calculations:
- When you pay with the IHG One Premier or IHG One Premier Enterprise, you may earn 10 factors per greenback spent in your keep. IHG factors are value 0.5 cents apiece. So, these 10 factors are value 5 cents.
- When you pay with the Amex Inexperienced, you may earn 3 factors per greenback spent in your keep. Amex Membership Rewards factors are value 2 cents every. So, these 3 factors are literally valued at 6 cents.
Once you break it down like this, it really makes extra sense to pay with the Amex Inexperienced, since these factors are extra priceless. We worth Membership Rewards factors larger than IHG factors as a result of they are often transferred to a variety of resort and airline companions.
In fact, it is value contemplating that non-cobranded playing cards do not unlock advantages like room upgrades on their very own. Nevertheless, you do not have to fret about this in the event you already maintain an IHG cobranded card.
That is as a result of merely having the cardboard unlocks these perks. You do not have to pay together with your IHG card to obtain these advantages.
So, it is smart to carry an IHG card merely to qualify for elite standing and obtain advantages, and use a special card with a extra priceless foreign money to pay.
It’s possible you’ll not even have to carry an IHG card to unlock these advantages, nonetheless. That is as a result of the Sapphire Reserve‘s latest overhaul added complimentary IHG Platinum standing (by way of Dec. 31, 2027) to its checklist of advantages. Excessive-spending people who put at the very least $75,000 on the cardboard in a calendar yr unlock IHG Diamond standing.
Plus, the Sapphire Reserve gives elevated incomes charges on inns booked immediately with IHG (4 factors per greenback spent) and IHG inns booked by way of Chase Journey (8 factors per greenback spent).
That mentioned, it is value noting that utilizing a card just like the Sapphire Reserve to pay for an IHG keep by way of Chase Journey will not be the most suitable choice. These reservations are handled as third-party bookings, so they are not eligible to earn IHG factors.
Even so, the Chase Final Rewards factors you may earn by swiping the Sapphire Reserve could be transferred freely and instantly to IHG if it is advisable to high off your steadiness for an upcoming redemption.
Whereas there are various different methods to maximise these factors, IHG loyalists can make the most of this. Do not forget to think about how this card’s $795 annual payment elements into the way you weigh the worth of those advantages.
You will additionally miss out on utilizing any elite standing perks throughout your keep in the event you ebook by way of Chase Journey, so be sure you take into account that when deciding the best way to ebook (and pay).
Associated: What it is advisable to find out about direct versus third-party journey bookings
Backside line
It is nonetheless a good suggestion for IHG loyalists to carry an IHG cobranded card to obtain perks like elite standing. Nevertheless, it isn’t a on condition that your IHG cobranded card is the most suitable choice to really pay in your keep.
We do not worth IHG factors extremely. We usually suggest gathering transferable rewards which might be extra priceless. So, one other card in your pockets that earns bonus factors on resort stays might be your finest wager.
Basically, take into account holding your IHG card round for the added advantages and utilizing a extra priceless journey rewards card to really pay in your IHG keep.
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