IHG Rewards Club Credit Card Review: 80,000 Bonus Points + 5,000 AU Bonus Points + $50 Statement Credit

Get your hands on the IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card and can earn 80,000 Bonus Points after spending a minimum of $1,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.

Additionally, you could earn 5,000 IHG points when you add an authorized user and make a purchase in the first 3 months of opening your account PLUS you can earn a $50 Statement Credit after your first purchase. This card is your go-to for low annual fee, low spending requirements, Hotel perks/benefits, and flat-out consistently attractive sign-up bonuses.

Editor’s Note: IHG hotel properties include Candlewood Suites, Crowne Plaza, EVEN Hotels, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Resorts, Hotel Indigo, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, and Staybridge Suites brand hotels.

IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card Summary:

• Apply Now
• Maximum Bonus: 80,000 Bonus Points + 5,000 AU Bonus Points + $50 Statement Credit
• Spending Requirement:  Spend $1,000 within 3 months and Add Authorized User who makes first purchase & complete your first purchase
• Annual Fee: $0 for first year, then $49
• Bonus Worth: Valuing the hotels at $50 a night including taxes, you’d be getting $800 value from 80,000 points. Including the 5,000 in AU Bonus, we estimate this promotion is worth about $850.
• Expiration Date: None
• Additional Advice: The value of points are lower than other cards, so I recommend only using this card for your IHG stays.

IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card Features:

• Get 80,000 Bonus Points after making your first purchase and spending $1,000 within 3 months
  • Earn 5,000 bonus points when you add your first authorized user and make your first purchase in the first three months from account opening.
  • Earn $50 Statement Credit after completing your first purchase
• Enjoy a free night of card membership at over 4,900 hotels worldwide
• Earn 5 points for each $1 spent at our hotels
• Earn 2 points per $1 spent on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants
• Bonus points redeemable at hotels such as Intercontinental® Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts and Holiday Inn®
• Enjoy a Free Night after each account anniversary year at over 5,000 hotels worldwide.
• Automatic platinum elite status, as long as you remain a cardmember
  • Automatic 10% point rebate on redemptions. Get 10% back when you redeem your points, up to 100,000 points each year.
• You will pay no foreign transaction fees when you use your card for purchases made outside the United States.
• $0 introductory annual fee the first year, then $49

IHG Rewards Pros:

• Impressive Point Accumulation and Sign-up Bonus
  • 80,000 Points – A chance to earn up to 80,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of the account opening. The reward nights range from 10,000 points to 50,000 points. Thus the 80,000 points can easily be redeemed for 8 nights at a lower tier hotel
  • 5,000 Points – Earn additional bonus points when you add your first authorized user and complete your first purchase within 3 months of account opening
  • $50 Statement Credit – Receive a statement credit after you complete your first purchase
  • 5 points – Earn 5 points for every $1 spent at a stay at IHG hotels. There are no blackout dates when redeeming for hotel stays
  • 2 points – Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants. The points can easily add up if this card is used for everyday purchases.
  • 1 point – Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases not listed above. The point earning potential on this credit card is limitless.
• Anniversary Free Night
• Platinum Elite Status
• No Foreign Transaction Fee

IHG Rewards Cons:

• Travel Redemption can be quite bothersome
• Point earning is terrible for daily spending

IHG Eligible Properties:

IHG hotel brand properties include:

• Candlewood Suites
• Crowne Plaza
• EVEN Hotels
• Holiday Inn
• Holiday Inn Club Vacations
• Holiday Inn Express
• Holiday Inn Resorts
• Hotel Indigo
• InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
• Staybridge Suites

Chase 5/24 Rule

Keep in mind that Chase will subject you to a stricter approval rule as of 2016. If you’re opening a card and you’re 5 cards deep from any bank in the past 24 months, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll get approved for most of Chase’s Cards.

Now, if you’ve recently, and as in recently, I mean within a given 90 days, received the card with a regular offer without the Statement credit, I recommend contacting Chase to see if they’ll allow a match-up. Usually, if you’re in a good relationship with Chase, they’ll let it slide.

Conclusion:

With an IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card, you could reward yourself with a pretty swell 80,000 Bonus Points just for accomplishing the minimum spend of $1,000 within a 3 months span. Earn an additional 5,000 bonus points when you add your first authorized user and make your first purchase in the first three months from account opening PLUS receive $50 statement credit after your first purchase. There is an annual fee of $49 which is thankfully waived for the first year and quite frankly, the annual anniversary free night alone compensates for the AF.

Considering that you can stay at budget-friendly chains like Holiday Inn, or discounted IHG PointBreaks hotels for 5,000 points per night; this could be very valuable; From Platinum Elite Status to 10% in annual rebate. Don’t forget to check out our complete list of Chase Credit Cards as well as our Credit Card Promotions !