For a card with no annual fee, the Traveler earns unusually well: 5x at IHG hotels, 3x on a combined bucket covering dining, gas, utilities, internet, cable, phone, and select streaming, and 2x on everything else. That makes it a defensible keep-forever card even in years you never book an IHG stay, and automatic Silver Elite plus the fourth reward night free cost nothing to hold. The 80,000 point bonus after just $2,000 in three months is fair, but it recently fell from 125,000, so anyone who is not in a rush may want to see whether Chase pushes it back up. What you give up against the $99 Premier is the anniversary free night, which is usually the benefit that justifies paying a fee on an IHG card. The 10,000 anniversary bonus points here require $10,000 of annual spending, so treat that as a stretch goal rather than a yearly given.
Earn rates & credits
| Category | Rate |
|---|---|
Hotels Up to 17x total points at IHG hotels | 5x |
Dining | 3x |
Gas | 3x |
Utilities Utilities, internet, and cable services (combined 3x bucket with phone and select streaming) | 3x |
Phone Services Phone services (combined 3x bucket with utilities/internet/cable and select streaming) | 3x |
Streaming Select streaming services (combined 3x bucket with utilities/internet/cable and phone) | 3x |
Everything Else | 2x |
| Benefit | Value |
|---|---|
Points Purchase Discount Save 20% when you purchase IHG One Rewards points with this credit card. | 20% |
Instacart Credit Receive a $10 Instacart credit monthly (up to $120 annually) plus a complimentary 3-month Instacart+ membership; benefits end 12/31/27. | $120 /yr |
| Total annual credits | $120 |
Card details
Regular APR | 19.24%–27.74% variable |
Foreign transaction fee | None |