The IHG Rewards Club Select credit card is one of the best travel credit cards out there. It is a card I keep year after year despite ever using it for everyday purchases. I truly believe every single person should have this card in the wallet. You can learn about all hotel credit cards here.
Top 7 Reasons:
1. Right now you can earn 100,000 points for signing up!
IHG just upped their sign up bonus where it is publicly available to everyone for 80,000 points (after spending $1,000 on the card within the first 3 months). However, there is also a targeted offer for 100,000 points. While most people will not be eligible to apply through the 100,000 point link, you can apply through the 80,000 point link, and then send Chase a secure message asking to be matched for the 100,000 point offer. Every single report I’ve read showed that Chase was willing to match them, but they had to spend $2,000 on the card within the first 3 months. This is the highest offer we’ve ever seen for the IHG card! Learn more about getting matched to the 100,000 point IHG offer.
UPDATE: Based on reader comments, it looks like Chase is no longer matching the 100,000 point offer. But, 80,000 points is still a great offer for this card!
2. Free night every single year
First off, this card comes with a free night at ANY IHG hotel every single anniversary year. Both my husband and I applied for the card at the same day, so now on a yearly basis we have two nights to use at any high end InterContinental hotel (or any other hotel under the umbrella). There are absolutely no restrictions, just the free night award has to be available. Even if you aren’t able to use it at a $400 hotel in Europe yearly, for example, just being able to use it at an airport Holiday Inn should still put you ahead. Learn more about the free night annually with the IHG credit card.
3. It is only $49 a year!
The IHG credit card is only $49 a year! And waived the first year! This is by far the cheapest co-branded credit card you’ll find that gives you yearly benefits. While there are other cards out there that have no annual fee ever, the benefits you receive are sparse. Most other hotel co-branded cards come with at least an $85 annual fee.
4. Get 10% of your points back
Only IHG credit card members receive a 10% rebate when using their points at IHG hotels. That means, if you book a hotel that requires 25,000 points, after your stay you’ll receive 2,500 points back into your account. You can receive up to 100,000 points back per year.
5. You get Platinum status
The IHG credit card automatically gives you Platinum status. While this status isn’t anything to write home about (compared to other mid-level hotel statuses at other hotel chains), there are still a few good perks. One of my favorite perks of having Platinum status is that your IHG points will never expire. Only those with Platinum or Spire status receive this benefit. This means that you never have to worry about keeping your account active.
6. Save on gas!
As mentioned above, this card comes with automatic Platinum status. While we know that this status is sub-par, it will actually help you save on gas separate from a hotel stay. IHG has partnered with Shell Gas Station’s Fuel Rewards program where you can save money when filling up your tank at a Shell gas station. While all IHG members can save 5 cents per gallon, if you have Platinum status you’ll actually save 6 cents per gallon! You can sign up for a Fuel Rewards account and then link your IHG and Fuel Rewards account. Learn more about saving money on Shell gas with IHG.
7. The card is not subject to Chase’s “5/24” rule
Many of you are probably aware of Chase’s “5/24” rule. With this rule, if you’ve applied for 5 or more personal cards in the past 24 months (regardless of the bank), you will automatically be denied for another Chase card. There are a few cards that are exempt from that rule, and for whatever reason the IHG Rewards credit card is one of them! Learn more about Chase credit cards that you can apply for despite the “5/24” rule.
Key Link:
Learn about all the hotel credit card offers here.
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Is there a business version?
@Cleo – Unfortunately there is not.
Didn’t get matched to 100k offer, even after they sent me offer right before I got the card. I sent them screenshots and no go.
@Greg R – Really?! I am so sorry about that. All other reports have shown it worked. Did you reach out via secure message?
I tried the same thing via secure message and got denied. The 100k offer surfaced two days after I applied! Bah! But I’m pretty jazzed that I even got approved for the card since I am wayyyyy over 5/24.
(I’ve heard that 5/24 doesn’t apply to the IHG card, but Chase denied my application few months ago citing too many accounts opened – and there is no way I cleared 5/24 this time either lol)
My IHG card has been hacked three times this year. Keep an eye on your transactions!
Chase appears to have stopped matching on IHG as of a week ago or so.
I have the 100K offer; I wonder – realistically, how many rooms can I get with 100K in points?
@JRG – The highest end hotel requires 60,000 points for a free night. You can also grab PointBreak properties at 5,00 points a night. I’d average 30,000 points for a free night, so let’s say 3 free nights.