- Mr Plane Guy
- 5 hours ago
- 5 min read
IHG Revolut Debit Card: Is the New IHG Rewards Debit Card Worth It?
By Mr Plane Guy, Plane Honest Travel & Loyalty Insights
Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. If you apply through some links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Important: I'm not a financial adviser. This article is based on publicly available information and my own experience with travel loyalty programmes. Always consider your own financial circumstances before applying for any financial product.
A New Way to Earn IHG Rewards Has Finally Arrived
For years, UK travellers wanting to earn IHG One Rewards points from everyday spending had limited options after the previous IHG credit cards disappeared from the market.
That's now changed.
IHG has partnered with Revolut to launch two new UK Visa debit cards, giving travellers another way to earn hotel rewards without relying on a traditional credit card.
Available as both a free Essential card and a paid Elite card, the new products combine Revolut's travel-friendly banking features with IHG One Rewards benefits, including hotel status, elite night credits and the opportunity to unlock valuable milestone rewards through spending.
What Is IHG One Rewards?
If you've never stayed with IHG before, it's one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes, covering thousands of hotels in over 100 countries.
Some of its best-known brands include:
Luxury | Premium | Midscale |
InterContinental | Crowne Plaza | Holiday Inn |
Regent | voco | Holiday Inn Express |
Six Senses | Hotel Indigo | Garner |
Kimpton | EVEN Hotels | avid hotels |
Vignette Collection | Staybridge Suites |
Whether you're booking a luxury city break or simply need an airport hotel before an early flight, chances are you've stayed in an IHG property without realising it.
Every eligible stay earns points which can later be redeemed for reward nights, room upgrades and other travel benefits.
My Experience Staying at an IHG Hotel
I've stayed at several IHG hotels over the years, including the Crowne Plaza Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
If you're flying from Liverpool, it's one of the most convenient airport hotels in the city, combining a historic Art Deco terminal building with modern rooms and the ability to earn IHG One Rewards points during your stay.
It's a good example of how joining IHG One Rewards can reward you even on shorter UK breaks.
How Does the New IHG Revolut Debit Card Work?
Unlike the old IHG credit card, these new cards are issued by Revolut.
That means you'll need:
A Revolut account
The IHG Essential or Elite debit card
To use your Revolut balance for spending
Unlike a credit card, you're spending your own money rather than borrowing.
Everyday spending can help you earn IHG One Rewards benefits while still enjoying many of Revolut's travel-friendly features.
Essential vs Elite, What's the Difference?
IHG has launched two versions.
IHG Essential Debit Card
Suitable if you want to:
Start collecting IHG points
Receive a welcome bonus (subject to current promotions)
Begin building status without paying an annual fee
Ideal for occasional travellers.
IHG Elite Debit Card
The Elite version offers significantly more value for regular travellers.
Depending on your spending, benefits can include:
Instant IHG One Rewards status
Elite Night Credits
Larger welcome bonus
Opportunity to earn Diamond Elite status
Confirmable Suite Upgrades
Free Night Reward voucher
If you already stay with IHG regularly, this is where the card becomes much more interesting.
Why Elite Status Matters
Hotel status isn't just about collecting points.
Depending on your tier, benefits can include:
Complimentary room upgrades (subject to availability)
Late check-out
Bonus points on every stay
Welcome amenities
Better customer support
Milestone rewards
If you're someone who enjoys getting more from every hotel stay, elite status can make a noticeable difference.
Hilton Honors Debit Card vs IHG Revolut Debit Card
This is probably the comparison many UK travellers will be making.
I've been using the Hilton Honors Debit Card, and it's one of my favourite travel products because it links directly to your existing UK bank account through Currensea.
The new IHG card takes a different approach by working through Revolut.
Here's how they compare.
Hilton Honors Debit Card | IHG Revolut Debit Card |
Links directly to your UK bank account | Requires a Revolut account |
Earn Hilton Honors points | Earn IHG One Rewards points |
Elite nights through spending | Elite nights through spending |
Instant Hilton status | Instant IHG status |
Designed for Hilton stays | Designed for IHG stays |
Neither card is necessarily "better".
It really depends where you stay.
If you regularly choose Hilton properties, the Hilton debit card still makes a lot of sense.
If you prefer Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo or InterContinental hotels, the new IHG card could prove more rewarding.
Is the IHG Revolut Debit Card Worth It?
For frequent IHG guests, I think the answer is potentially yes.
The Elite card, in particular, offers benefits that have rarely been available on UK hotel payment cards, including elite night credits and the possibility of earning top-tier status through spending.
That said, it won't be for everyone.
If you don't already use Revolut or don't want to manage another current account, it adds an extra step that some travellers may find inconvenient.
Pros
✔ Earn hotel rewards from everyday spending
✔ Visa debit card rather than a credit card
✔ Opportunity to earn elite status
✔ Elite night credits
✔ Useful for regular IHG guests
✔ Travel-friendly Revolut features
Things to Consider
You'll need a Revolut account.
Annual fees may apply depending on the version you choose.
Hotel loyalty cards offer the most value if you regularly stay within that hotel group.
Reward values vary depending on how you redeem your points.
Final Boarding Call
The launch of the IHG Revolut Debit Card is one of the most interesting developments for UK hotel loyalty in recent years.
Rather than simply earning points through hotel stays, travellers now have another way to build towards free nights, elite status and valuable travel perks through everyday spending.
For those already loyal to IHG One Rewards, the Elite card has the potential to deliver excellent long-term value.
If you're still deciding between hotel loyalty programmes, it's also worth comparing it with the Hilton Honors Debit Card, particularly if you split your stays between both hotel groups.
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Hello, I’m Paul a professional jet-setter and all-around plane travel pro. After 15 years working in and around planes, I became a flight delay expert at a London airport and mastered plane travel hacks, a PLANE flight expert with BIG travel plans but small carry-on.
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