IHG One Rewards Traveler vs Bank of America Travel Rewards: Which Is Better In 2025?

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at what makes the Bank of America® Travel Rewards card a solid choice.

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• It's a cost-effective option for travelers, as it comes with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
• The card offers a straightforward rewards structure, earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every dollar spent on all purchases.
• With its flat 1.5x earning rate, a $500 flight and a $500 laptop both earn the same 750 points (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Its rewards program is refreshingly simple, letting you earn points on everything you buy without tracking complicated bonus categories.
• Redemption is flexible, allowing you to apply points as a statement credit toward a broad range of travel and dining purchases.
• The card is a budget-friendly choice for travelers, designed to help you save money on both holding the card and using it abroad.

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Cons

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• The rewards program is fairly basic, offering a modest flat earning rate and no option to transfer points to airline or hotel partners.
• It lacks premium travel benefits commonly found on other travel cards, such as airport lounge access or comprehensive travel insurance.
• Unlocking the card’s highest earning potential requires being a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, which is inaccessible to many cardholders.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards vs IHG One Rewards Traveler

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, the IHG One Rewards Traveler or the Bank of America® Travel Rewards card, depends entirely on your travel style and spending habits. Each card caters to a different type of traveler, offering unique benefits.

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• IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card: This card is built for frequent travelers who are loyal to the IHG family of hotels. It offers specific perks and status benefits that enhance stays within the IHG network.
• Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card: An excellent choice for occasional travelers or those new to travel rewards, this card provides straightforward, flexible points on all purchases that can be redeemed for a wide variety of travel expenses.

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Redemption

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IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card: Points earned with this card are redeemed within the IHG ecosystem, primarily for reward nights at their extensive portfolio of hotels and resorts.

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Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card: This card offers highly flexible redemption, allowing you to use your points as a statement credit to cover a wide array of travel purchases, such as flights, hotels, and car rentals, without being tied to a specific brand.

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Travel Perks

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• The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a strong choice for international travel as it does not charge foreign transaction fees. The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, however, does have a foreign transaction fee.
• With the IHG card, you operate within the IHG hotel ecosystem, redeeming points for stays booked directly with the brand. The Bank of America® card offers complete flexibility, allowing you to book travel with any airline or hotel and then apply your points as a statement credit against the purchase.
• A key perk of the IHG card is the automatic Silver Elite status it provides, which can unlock on-property benefits, along with a fourth reward night free on award stays. The Bank of America® card does not offer any hotel elite status or brand-specific perks.
• Neither card offers complimentary airport lounge access, a feature more commonly found on premium travel cards.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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For those looking to make a data-driven decision, tools like Kudos offer a way to compare thousands of credit cards based on your personal spending habits.

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• Test Drive Cards: Simulate how much you would earn with a new card using your actual transaction history, providing personalized annual rewards projections without a hard credit pull.
• $100 Kudos Kickstart+: Unlock a $100 reward by adding select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.
• Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer for a card you got through Kudos within three months, they will match it.
• Detailed Approval Odds: Receive a comprehensive analysis of your approval chances based on your credit report.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your regular card rewards when shopping at participating stores.

Who Should Choose the IHG One Rewards Traveler?

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The ideal cardholder for the IHG One Rewards Traveler is an occasional IHG guest who wants to earn rewards without committing to an annual fee. It's also well-suited for budget-conscious travelers looking for basic protections and valuable perks like the fourth reward night free on longer stays. Ultimately, this card serves as an excellent entry point for anyone new to hotel rewards programs, offering a simple way to start earning points on travel.

Who Should Choose the Bank of America® Travel Rewards?

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The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is an excellent choice for beginners and casual travelers who prefer a straightforward, single-card approach to earning rewards on all their purchases. It's particularly beneficial for existing Bank of America customers, as those enrolled in the Preferred Rewards program can earn a rewards bonus of 25% to 75%. With a dedicated student version and no annual or foreign transaction fees, it also appeals to students building credit and budget-conscious travelers, as detailed in this BofA Travel Rewards Review.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our deep dive into the IHG One Rewards Traveler vs Bank of America Travel Rewards comparison didn't seal the deal for you, don't fret. There are several other excellent travel cards that might be a better match for your spending habits and travel goals.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score: Ensure your credit is in good standing, as most rewards cards require it for approval.
• Plan your spending: Make sure you can naturally meet the minimum spending requirement for the welcome offer.
• Understand the card’s value: Research the card’s benefits and redemption options to confirm it aligns with your goals.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application to coincide with large, planned purchases to more easily meet the spending requirement for a welcome offer.
• Leverage existing banking relationships; some issuers, like Bank of America, offer enhanced rewards for current customers.
• Select a card that fits your lifestyle, such as an entry-level card for occasional travel or a simple flat-rate card for everyday spending.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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How do I decide between a hotel-specific card and a general travel rewards card?

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Your choice should depend on your travel habits. If you frequently stay with a specific hotel chain, a co-branded card offers tailored perks, but if you prefer flexibility in where you stay, a general travel card is often a better fit.

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What are the main benefits of holding a co-branded hotel credit card?

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Co-branded hotel cards typically provide brand-specific benefits such as automatic elite status, anniversary free nights, and higher earning rates for stays within that hotel's portfolio.

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Are general travel rewards points more flexible than hotel points?

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Yes, points from general travel cards can usually be redeemed for a wider variety of travel expenses, including flights, rental cars, and stays at different hotels, offering greater flexibility than brand-specific points.

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