125,000 IHG credit card sign up offer!

The IHG Rewards Club Premier credit card is a card that I recommend everyone to have just for its benefits, which include an anniversary free night and 4th night free on reward stays.  IHG just announced an increased sign up offer for 125k points, which is the highest ever offer!  IHG points are typically valued at 0.5-0.7 cents each, so this sign up bonus is worth at least $625.


In addition to the awesome 125k sign-up bonus, which only requires $3,000 in spending for the first 3 months, IHG is offering the following spending bonuses for the first 12 months:

  • a whooping 40x total points for IHG stays and purchases for the first 12 months
  • 4x on ALL purchases for the first 12 months


After 12 months:

  • 25x for IHG stays and purchases
  • 2x at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants
  • 1x on all other purchases

Redeem IHG points for the InterContinental Dalian, China.  Free upgrade to a suite with Platinum status (YMMV).

If you value IHG points at the baseline 0.5 cents each, then you're looking with at least 20% cashback on IHG stays and purchases and 2% cashback on all purchases within the first 12 months, which is a phenomenal deal.  After 12 months, I wouldn't recommend using this card on anything except for IHG stays and purchases.  But even factoring in the $89 annual fee, this is definitely a card to hold onto for the following benefits:

  • annual free night on your card's anniversary date
  • automatic IHG Platinum elite status as long as you're a cardholder
  • 4th night free on reward stays
  • Global Entry or TSA Precheck credit once every 4 years
  • no foreign exchange transaction fees
Seeing how the free night can be used at hotels with redemption points of up to 40,000 points, I would say that the annual fee alone is worth the anniversary free night.  And as a World Elite MasterCard with no foreign exchange transaction fees, you will be getting the best exchange rates when traveling abroad, not to mention MasterCard's new cell phone protection benefit.

InterContinenal the Strings in Tokyo's fitness center

Bottom line

You are eligible for the sign up bonus if you do not have this Card and have not received a new Cardmember bonus for this Card in the past 24 months.  In addition, this card is under Chase's 5/24 rule, which means that you won't be approved if you have opened 5 or more credit cards across the board in the past 24 months.  If you're eligible, this is a great card to have not only for the huge 125k sign up offer and the initial 12-month spending bonuses, but also for its benefits like the anniversary free night, 4th night free, Platinum status, and more.  Your Platinum status can also be matched over the Caesars Rewards Diamond status, which includes phenomenal benefits like $100 annual free meal, free shows, and more at Caesars properties.



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