Which credit card should I use for IHG stays?

If you are planning your next trip and have your eyes set on a IHG hotelsIt is natural for you to assume that the best option to pay may be with a IHG One Rewards co-branded card.

This is not a bad idea, as you will automatically receive high earning rates and program-specific benefits, such as elite statuswhen you hold a ihg credit card.

But here’s some expert-level advice: A co-branded card may not always be the best option for paying for a stay at IHG. That’s right, there are some cases where another card in your wallet can help you maximize your earnings.

Let’s take a look at this list of cards to consider when booking with IHG. Some of the options listed may surprise you.

Comparison of credit cards for an IHG stay

Sure, there are many times when an IHG co-branded card may be the right choice for booking an IHG hotel.

However, you could receive more value by paying with an all-inclusive. travel rewards card that wins transferable pointswhich are usually more valuable in the long term.

Here are some cards you might want to pay with and what you could get for using them:

*Value is based on TPG October 2025. ratings.

**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 I use for IHG stays?

It is still good practice for IHG loyalists to keep their co-branded credit cards to receive elite status and card benefits.

However, there are many cases when it is better to take another card out of your wallet to pay for the stay itself.

When making this decision, you’ll want to weigh two factors:

• The benefits you will receive with the card you pay with
• The value of the points you will earn when paying with that card

Consider these calculations:

• If you pay with IHG One Premier either IHG One Premier BusinessYou will earn 10 points for every dollar spent on your stay. IHG points are worth 0.5 cents each. So those 10 points are worth 5 cents.
• If you pay with Amex Green, you’ll earn 3 points for every dollar spent on your stay. Amex Membership Rewards Points They are worth 2 cents each. So those 3 points are actually valued at 6 cents.

When you break it down like that, it actually makes more sense to pay with Amex Green since those points are more valuable. We value Membership Rewards points more than IHG points because they can be transferred to a wide range of hotel and airline partners.

Of course, it’s worth considering that non-co-branded cards don’t unlock perks like room upgrades on their own. However, you don’t have to worry about this if you already have an IHG co-branded card.

This is because simply having the card unlocks these benefits. you don’t have Pay with your IHG card to receive these benefits.

Therefore, it makes sense to have an IHG card simply to qualify for elite status and receive benefits, and use a different card with a more valuable currency to pay.

However, you may not even need to have an IHG card to unlock these benefits. That’s because he Sapphire Reserveit’s recent revision added complimentary IHG Platinum status (until December 31, 2027) to its list of benefits. High spenders who put at least $75,000 on the card in a calendar year unlock IHG Diamond status.

Additionally, Sapphire Reserve offers high earning rates on hotels booked directly with IHG (4 points per dollar spent) and IHG hotels booked through Chase Travel (8 points per dollar spent).

That said, it’s worth noting that using a card like the Sapphire Reserve to pay for a stay at IHG through Chase Travel may not be the best option. These bookings are treated as third party bookings and are therefore not eligible to earn IHG points.

Even so, the Pursue ultimate rewards The points you will earn by swiping the Sapphire Reserve can be transferred freely and immediately to IHG if you need to top up your balance for an upcoming redemption.

Although there are many other ways to maximize those pointsIHG loyalists can take advantage of this. Don’t forget to consider how this card’s $795 annual fee influences your assessment of the value of these benefits.

You’ll also miss out on using elite status benefits during your stay if you book through Chase Travel, so be sure to consider that when deciding how to book (and pay).

Related: What you need to know about direct vs. third-party travel bookings

Related: From mountain peaks to seaside getaways: 7 IHG hotels for your next holiday