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The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is an enticing option for travelers wanting a travel credit card without an annual fee. This card can make it easier to enjoy free award nights and elite travel perks at the loyalty program’s mid-tier and upscale brands. Sounds good so far, but is the Hilton Honors credit card worth it?
New The Hilton Honors American Express Card cardholders can earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points—Learn more: Hilton Honors American Express Card
Is the Hilton Honors Card Worth It?
This card can be worth it for the following reasons. Here is also why it can be one of the hotel credit cards that work for people.
No Annual Fee
A travel credit card without an annual fee provides the flexibility of having a long-term asset for building credit at no extra cost. You won’t feel pressured to pay an annual fee for a card that you use periodically but want to keep open to extend your credit history.
Additionally, none of the Hilton cards charge a foreign transaction fee. This makes them perfect for international travel and cross-border purchases.
So, to clarify, the Hilton Honors American Express Card has a $0 annual fee and a $0 foreign transaction fee (See Rates & Fees).
Just be sure to make periodic purchases to avoid potential credit limit drops or account closures due to account inactivity.
This card is also a good way to keep your Hilton Honors points from expiring. As long as your co-brand Hilton Honors credit card account remains in good standing, your points remain active and waive the standard 24-month expiration policy.
Earn Hilton Points
The best reason to have the Hilton Honors American Express Card can be to earn up to 7x Hilton Honors Points on purchases:
- 7x for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio
- 5x on dining at U.S. restaurants, including eligible takeout and delivery
- 5x at U.S. gas stations and U.S. supermarkets
- 3x on all remaining purchases
Free Hilton hotel nights start at 5,000 points, although most destinations require from 20,000 to 50,000 points per night. Luxury brands require more. Here’s what you can get with 150,000 points, for example.
In addition to earning purchase rewards, new cardholders can earn a one-time welcome bonus. These extra points make it easier to book award nights. Additionally, Hilton has had some of the best card offers of the year, which increased the value of these cards.
As OGKopite says, “I have this card. I use it as my restaurant card as self service kitchen at my work is counted as a restaurant. It is not a terrible card with no annual fee. It will be even better for you as you want to stay in Hilton properties. I mostly use Airbnb in my travels as they give me better deal.”
Automatic Hilton Honors Silver Status
Hilton Honors American Express Card cardholders enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Silver elite status. This is the first elite tier and normally takes 10 qualifying nights per year to achieve.
Featured Hilton Honors Silver benefits include:
- 20% bonus points on stays
- Free bottled water
- Fifth night free on reward stays
- Elite rollover nights
- All-inclusive spa discounts
Making at least $20,000 in card purchases per year automatically upgrades you to Gold loyalty status through the end of the next calendar year. Achieving Hilton Honors Gold status provides space-available room upgrades, daily food and beverage credits, milestone bonuses, and 80% bonus points on stays.
If you’re a regular Hilton guest, consider applying for one of the best credit cards for Hilton guests that has an annual fee. Cards with an annual fee provide Gold or higher loyalty status and can save you money if you use them frequently. The other guest perks are more robust and easy to use if you travel several times per year.
When to Avoid the Hilton Honors Credit Card
The Hilton Honors Card is worth it for some. However, other travel credit cards can be a better fit if they come with more. When you frequently stay at Hilton Honors hotels and resorts or want additional flexibility, check out some of the others in the card lineup.
No Hotel Anniversary Night
The no annual fee version doesn’t provide the opportunity to earn a free hotel night certificate after spending a minimum amount within a calendar year or after paying the card renewal fee.
These Hilton Honors credit cards with annual fees offer free night rewards:
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Free Night Reward after spending $15,000 in a calendar year. This card also provides complimentary Gold status and up to $200 in Hilton Credits per year. It has a $150 annual fee (See Rates & Fees).
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: One Free Night Reward upon approval and on each card anniversary. Other card benefits include up to $400 in Hilton Resort credits, complimentary Diamond status, $100 Hilton on-property credit, and air travel benefits. The Aspire Card annual fee is $550 (See Rates & Fees).
Lacks Hilton Credits and On-Property Benefits
Other cards may provide statement credits to reimburse hotel purchases and on-site experiences that help offset the annual fee. If you stay at participating Hilton hotels and spend money on eligible purchases, getting a card can help you save money in the long term.
If your spending or travel habits change, it’s possible to downgrade to a lower card tier. You may consider the Hilton Honors American Express Card, which doesn’t charge an annual fee. This credit card strategy lets you keep your credit history length but usually forfeits your new cardholder bonus.
Entry-Level Elite Status
Having Hilton Honors Silver elite loyalty status just by getting a co-brand credit card is beneficial to infrequent travelers, but this loyalty tier doesn’t offer perks that can be valuable to regular guests.
A prime example is the complimentary food and beverage or free continental breakfast (benefit depends on the property), which requires Gold status. It takes 40 qualifying nights to earn Gold status. Or, you can pay a $150 annual fee for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. With the Surpass, you get Gold status for free immediately upon card approval.
The better loyalty tier depends on your travel frequency and the types of Hilton properties you stay at. For instance, the free breakfast credits may not necessarily be applicable when staying at Hampton Inn or other hotel brands with complimentary food for all guests.
Summary
In conclusion, the Hilton Honors card is worth it when you stay at hotels and resorts a handful of times each year and don’t need luxury travel benefits. It’s also a good fit if you’re a small spender who won’t necessarily benefit from a higher-tier credit card. This card is good if you still want to boost your earning power and redeem Hilton points for hotel nights.
80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points—Learn more: Hilton Honors American Express Card
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For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, please click here.
And for rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, please click here.
