Updated
Feb 28, 2022 Some offers mentioned on this page may be outdated. To confirm offers and credit card details, check the issuer’s website.
Hilton Honors Card
What we like:
Huge rewards and easy-to-qualify welcome offer for Hilton fans
| Sign-Up Bonus | Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 within three months |
| Rewards Rate | 7x Hilton Honors points at Hilton properties 5x points at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations 3x points on all other purchases |
| Regular APR | 17.99% – 26.99% (variable) |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
Card Details
Pros
- Great if you regularly stay at Hilton properties
- No annual fee, so you don’t have to worry about maximizing your spending
- No foreign transaction fees, so you can take it with you on vacation
- Solid sign-up bonus
Cons
- Rewards aren’t too flexible, so it’s not great if you like to stay at other hotel chains
- Lower rewards than other Hilton cards with annual fees
- Other Hilton cards offer additional perks, like an annual free weekend night
- No 0% intro APR offer on balance transfers
Recommended Credit Score
Good to Excellent
The Hilton Honors Amex Card: Is It as Good as It Seems?
Hilton Honors is a well-known hotel rewards program, and American Express credit cards are widely regarded as high-end credit cards with desirable rewards programs.
The Hilton Honors American Express card offers you the protections and perks of an Amex card while allowing you to accelerate your ability to earn free nights at Hilton hotels.
Before you commit to the Hilton Honors American Express credit card, though, it’s important to understand what the card has (and doesn’t have) to offer, and to compare it with other options to see if something might better suit you. Here’s everything you need to know about this Hilton Honors credit card.
In this review:
Hilton Honors Card Benefits
While the Hilton Honors Amex Card comes with some standard perks, it also has some additional bonuses that make the card beneficial.
Welcome Bonus
You can earn 75,000 points after you charge $1,000 on your new card within three months of card membership. The value of these points will vary based on where you choose to redeem them, but it’s conceivable that your bonus alone could allow you free lodging for a weekend getaway.
Hilton Honors Bonus Points
You can earn bonus points quickly with this card. You get 7 Hilton Honors bonus points for each $1 spent within the Hilton Portfolio. You’ll get 5 points for each $1 spent at eligible U.S. gas stations, U.S. restaurants, and U.S. supermarkets—common, everyday expenses you’re sure to make. Finally, all other purchases net 3 bonus points per $1 spent.
You can start redeeming rewards for stays when you have at least 5,000 points. However, you’ll need to use a mix of points and cash at that level. Hilton Honors lets you use points in 1,000-point increments when you mix with cash. How many points it takes to stay at a property depends on the category and location. However, it’s common for reservations to start at 20,000 per night, covering a stay at a hotel that’s in the $100-per-night range.
Status Upgrades
You automatically get complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status with this credit card. Then, if you spend $20,000 in on the card in a calendar year, you’ll reach Gold status and maintain that status through the end of the next calendar year.
Other Perks
The Hilton Honors card from American Express also includes travel and shopping perks that can protect you when you go overseas. Not only is there no foreign transaction fee, but you can also get:
- Travel accident insurance
- Acess to the Global Assist Hotline
- Car rental damage waivers
- Extended warranties
- Retrurn protection
- Up to $1,000 in mobile phone protection
Downsides of the Hilton Honors Card
In general, Hilton Honors points have a fairly low valuation. Many other point systems end up with a valuation of right around 1 cent per point. However, when you redeem your Hilton Honors points, you’ll find they’re worth a little more than half a cent per point.
Additionally, the Hilton Honors points aren’t as flexible as the rewards offered by other rewards programs. You need to stay in within the Hilton portfolio to maximize your points’ value, so unless you’re devoted to Hilton properties and stay there consistently when you travel, this card might not be your best bet.
How it Compares to Similar Cards
Although the Hilton Honors card comes with solid rewards and a great sign-up bonus to kick-start your earning, this might not actually be the best card for everybody. There are other Hilton-branded cards that offer more generous ongoing perks, including annual bonuses. Some of these cards come with annual fees, but those are easily offset by other perks.
Hilton Honors Card vs the Hilton Honors Ascend Card
With the Ascend card, you’ll pay a $95 annual fee. However, you get a 130,000-point sign-up bonus and rewards rates of 12x, 6x, and 3x on eligible purchases instead of the Hilton Honors’ 7x, 5x, and 3x. Those extra bonus points can make a difference, especially if you use your card regularly. The Ascend Card also comes with complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, allowing you better room upgrades and even more bonus points.
When you spend $15,000 on your Ascend Card, you’ll get a complimentary weekend night. This is a difference from the Honors Card, which doesn’t offer these types of bonuses. Additionally, this card comes with Priority Pass access to airport lounges, so you can enjoy a luxurious layover 10 times a year.
If you’re a frequent traveler, you don’t already have lounge acess through a different airline credit card, and if you stay at Hilton resorts multiple times throughout the year, the Ascend card might be a better choice than the fee-free Honors card.
Bottom Line: Is the Hilton Honors Credit Card Right for You?
Is the Hilton Honors Card worth it? It definitely has its benefits. Because it doesn’t come with a fee, you can get a lot of value from it without worrying about spending enough. However, you’ll want to look at your spending and travel habits to determine if the card is right for you. If you frequently stay at Hilton hotels throughout the year, it may be better to get a higher-tier card, even if you end up paying an annual fee.