Which credit card should you use for IHG stays?
Editor's Note
Quick summary
Three credit cards earn points in the IHG One Rewards program. There are two personal cards — the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (see rates and fees) and the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card (see rates and fees) — and one business card, the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (see rates and fees).
While these cards offer program-specific benefits, such as elite status, you might pause before automatically pulling out a credit card that bears the logo of the hotel where you're staying. Is that really the best card to pay with, or should you use something else to maximize your earnings?
Let's take a look at some popular credit cards you might want to use to pay for your next stay at IHG hotels and resorts.
Comparing credit cards for an IHG stay
Aside from using an IHG cobranded credit card, you could also pay using an all-around travel rewards card that earns transferable points on travel purchases, including your next hotel stay. Here are some cards you might pay with, and what you could get when using these cards:
| Card name | Earning rate at IHG properties | Value of the rewards earned* | IHG-related benefits from the card | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card | 10 points per dollar spent | 5 cents |
| $99 |
| IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card | 5 points per dollar spent | 2.5 cents |
| $0 |
| IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card | 10 points per dollar spent | 5 cents |
| $99 |
| American Express® Green Card | 3 points per dollar spent | 6 cents | None | $150 |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) | 4 points per dollar spent (or 8 points per dollar if booked via Chase Travel℠) | 8.2 cents (or 16.4 cents if booked through the portal) |
| $795 |
| Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees) | 3 points per dollar spent (or 10 points per dollar if booked via Citi Travel) | 5.4 cents (or 18 cents if booked through the portal) | None | $95 |
| Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card (see rates and fees) | 5 points per dollar spent | 8 cents | None | $95 |
* Per TPG's June 2025 valuations and not the card issuer.
The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Which credit card should you use for IHG stays?
The best strategy is to hold an IHG One Rewards cobranded credit card for elite status benefits and card perks, but use a general travel rewards card to actually pay for your stay.
Consider two things when deciding which credit card to use for your next stay at an IHG One Rewards-affiliated property: The benefits you can get and the value of the points you can earn.
TPG's June 2025 valuations deem IHG points as worth half a cent each. Thus, while you can earn 10 points per dollar when paying with the IHG One Premier card or IHG One Premier Business card, those 10 points are actually worth just 5 cents. That's less value than you'd get with 3 points per dollar on the Amex Green Card since Amex points are worth 2 cents apiece — a total of 6 cents in value for each dollar spent.
Now, cards like the Amex Green or Wells Fargo Autograph Journey (by themselves) unlock on-property 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 sole reason you hold status.
That means holding an IHG cobranded credit card might be worthwhile simply to qualify for elite status and receive the associated benefits. Then, you can pay with a different credit card to earn more valuable points.
It's also worth noting that with the Chase Sapphire Reserve's 2025 overhaul, the card now offers complimentary IHG Platinum status (through Dec. 31, 2027) along with the chance for high-spending individuals who put at least $75,000 on the card in a calendar year to unlock IHG Diamond status.
Plus, the card offers elevated earning rates on hotels booked directly with IHG (4 points per dollar) and IHG hotels booked through the Chase Travel portal (8 points per dollar). That said, it's worth noting that using a card like the Sapphire Reserve to pay for an IHG stay through the Chase Travel may not be the best option. That's because these reservations are treated as third-party bookings and, thus, aren't eligible to earn IHG points.
Even so, the points you earn on the card (Ultimate Rewards) can be transferred freely and immediately to IHG if you need to top off your balance for an upcoming redemption. However, there are many other (better) ways to make the most of those points. Additionally, the card's high $795 annual fee should be factored into how you weigh the value of these benefits.
You'll also miss out on utilizing any elite status perks during your stay, so be sure to factor that in when deciding how to book (and pay).
Related: Why you don't earn hotel points when booking through an OTA
Bottom line
With IHG's credit cards and stays at IHG hotels, deciding which credit card to use can involve tradeoffs. If you pay with IHG's own credit cards, the points you earn aren't that valuable, even though you'll get a lot of them.
To get maximum value, your best bet might be holding an IHG credit card for status benefits but using a different credit card to pay at the front desk.
Related: 6 reasons to avoid booking through an online travel agency