Hilton is one of the largest hotel chains in the world and its Hilton Honors program presents strong value for both business and personal travelers. It offers every unsold standard room as an award and you get a fifth award night free when you redeem your points for four consecutive nights. Hilton also offers several co-branded credit cards through its partner, American Express. Let’s take a look at what’s available, and see what’s right for you.
Hilton Honors American Express Card
This is one of the rare hotel rewards cards that has no annual fee. It makes sense for those who prioritize a no-annual-fee card over earning as many points as possible. New applicants can earn 75,000 Hilton bonus points after spending just $1,000 in new purchases within three months of account opening. You earn 7x points per dollar on eligible purchases charged directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Honors portfolio of brands. You also earn 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar spent at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your card.
It also offers you entry-level Silver status, with Gold status after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year. There’s also no annual fee for this card. (See rates & fees)
Hilton Honors American Express Ascend Card
This is the card for those who want to earn a lot of points on their stays, and don’t mind paying a modest annual fee. You start off by earning 125,000 Honors bonus points after you spend just $2,000 in new purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. You also get 12X Hilton Honors bonus points per dollar spent directly with a participating hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio. Earn 6X Hilton Honors bonus points per dollar spent at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations, and 3X elsewhere.
This card gives you instant Honors Gold status and when you spend $40,000 in a calendar year, and you earn Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year. You can also earn a Weekend Night Reward after you spend $15,000 on purchases in a calendar year. There’s a $95 annual fee for this card, and no foreign transaction fees. (See rates & fees)
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Small business owners can earn plenty of points from this card, which also offers new applicants 125,000 Honors bonus points after you spend just $3,000 in new purchases within the first 3 months. Like the Ascend consumer cards, you get 12X Hilton Honors bonus points per dollar spent directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio. But you earn 6X Hilton Honors bonus points per dollar spent at U.S. gas stations on wireless telephone services purchases directly from U.S. service providers on U.S. purchases for shipping, and at U.S. restaurants, on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel and on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies.
This card gives you instant Honors Gold status and when you spend $40,000, in a calendar year, you earn Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year. You can also earn a Weekend Night Reward after you spend $15,000 on purchases in a calendar year, and a second when you spend $60,000 on purchases in a year. Another perk is 10 free Priority Pass visits to their member airport lounges. There’s a $95 annual fee for this card, and no foreign transaction fees. (See rates & fees)
