Disclaimer
This article only reviews select Hilton Honors American Express credit cards. We may get compensation if you visit partner links on our site. We may not cover every available offer. Our relationship with advertisers may impact how an offer is presented on our website. However, our selection of products is made independently of our relationship to advertisers. 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. Rates and bonus offers checked as of September 19, 2024.
Hilton Honors American Express cards are some of the latest rewards credit cards to offer enticing bonuses for new cardholders.
Here's the deal. Get a Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, and you can earn 165,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first six months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025. That's worth up to $990. You also get up to $200 annually in credits for hotel expenses. That’s a total value of up to $1,190 in the first year, more than offsetting the $150 annual fee. Terms apply. See rates and fees.
If you are or will soon become a Hilton Honors member, an additional promotion is worth the moment it takes to register for it. For stays booked through December 31, 2024, get double the points for each stay at a Hilton Property by registering at the promotion website.
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Want a card with no annual fee? With the Hilton Honors American Express Card, you can earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first six months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025. See rates and fees for that card. Terms apply.
Hilton Honors Amex Surpass overview
Intro bonus: Earn 165,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in the first six months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025. According to Bankrate, 165,000 points are worth about $990 in stays at Hilton properties (when one point is valued at 0.6 cents).
Get up to $200 back each year on eligible Hilton purchases after you use your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
Car rental status: Enjoy complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status. Enrollment in the complimentary Emerald Club® program is required. Terms apply. Plus, American Express cards have some of the best rental car insurance in the credit card industry. Read about credit cards that cover rental car insurance.*
Free Night: Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
Rewards:
Earn 12 Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
Earn six Points for each dollar of purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations.
Earn four Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases.
Earn three Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
Complimentary Gold Status: You automatically get Gold Status with the card, qualifying you for spa discounts, free wi-fi and other perks. And if you spend $40,000 on the card in a calendar year, you’re bumped up to Hilton Honors™ Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year.
Points pooling: Combine your Hilton Honors Points with up to ten friends or family members for free, with no fees.
Auto discounts: Get up to $10,500 discounts on new Mercedes Benz and other vehicles through the American Express Auto Purchasing Program.
Redemption: Depending on the property, you may redeem points for a free hotel stay, which may require between 5,000 and 95,000 points. Points typically expire if you are inactive in the Hilton Honors program for 24 months, and earning points with the credit card counts as activity; expiration terms may vary by membership tier.
Interest rate: 20.24% to 29.24% variable APR for purchases. See rates and fees.
Annual fee: $150. See rates and fees. If you prefer to skip the annual fee, try the Hilton Honors American Express Card instead. That card offers 100,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in purchases in the first six months. Offer ends 1/8/2025. The interest rate for that card is 20.49% to 29.49% variable APR for purchases. Annual fee $0. See rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Card.
Foreign transaction fee: None. See rates and fees.
Terms apply.
Hot tip: Before booking a stay, it’s worth checking for extra deals at the Hilton website. For example, the current Multiply You Points promotion allows members to multiply the points they earn three times when they stay in select cities, and two times when they stay everywhere else.
FAQ
Is the Hilton Honors loyalty program free?
Yes, there is no fee to join the loyalty program.
Do Hilton Honors points expire?
Points will expire after 24 months of inactivity. One benefit of having a Hilton Honors credit card is that you can keep your loyalty account active with small purchases, even if you don’t travel during a two-year period.
How much is a Hilton Honors point worth?
According to Bankrate valuations, one point is worth 0.6 cents, or 1,000 points are worth $60. You can typically redeem a free hotel stay by redeeming 5,000 to 95,000 points, depending on the property and location.
Where can I stay?
Hilton Honors hotels are found worldwide, with 7,000 properties in 122 countries. The properties include 19 hotel brands: luxury options like the Waldorf Astoria, urban boutique hotels like Canopy, family-friendly options like Embassy Suites and budget hotels.
Is the Hilton Honors travel app any good?
The Hilton Honors app is free to download. The app won third best hotel app in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Manufacturer Website Evaluation Study.
Can I transfer points from other American Express cards to Hilton Honors?
Yes, American Express partners with three hotel loyalty programs, including Hilton Honors.
Rewards cards dos and dont's
As with any rewards credit card, be sure to weigh these benefits against fees — a $150 annual fee in this case — and make sure you understand how to use the card effectively. That said, $150 may be more than offset by those maxing out the benefits.
In addition, while reward credit cards are great if you use them wisely, always pay them off in full and on time each month to avoid interest, which can dwarf any rewards you earn. Don't change your spending habits to earn extra points. That's a slippery slope that can lead to overspending.
If this is your first foray into credit cards, or you just want a refresher, make sure you know how to choose a credit card. And ensure you are familiar with what counts as a good credit score.
*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.
As an independent publication dedicated to helping you make the most of your money, the article above is our view and is not the opinion of any entity mentioned such as a card issuer, hotel, airline, etc. Similarly, the content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of those entities.
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Disclaimer
As an independent publication dedicated to helping you make the most of your money, the article above is our view and is not the opinion of any entity mentioned such as a card issuer, hotel, airline, etc. Similarly, the content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of those entities.
