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Review: Is the Hilton Honors American Express the best credit card for you?
American Express issues four co-branded Hilton credit cards, but only one — the
The
Insider considers Hilton points to be worth 0.5 cents each, on average. A 70,000-point bonus, therefore, is worth around $350 in Hilton hotel stays. And the Free Night Reward can be used at just about any Hilton hotel in the world (except these properties). This award can be worth significantly more than 70,000 points — depending on where you redeem it, you could potentially find value breaching $1,000.
You can also earn bonus points in everyday spending categories, whether you’re traveling or staying close to home. Along with 7 points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases,
Read more: The best Hilton credit cards of 2022
You’ll receive automatic Hilton Honors Silver status, which is the brand’s lowest elite tier. It doesn’t offer a ton of benefits, but it does unlock one lucrative perk. Any Hilton elite status member (including Silver) qualifies for the fifth night free on award stays of five nights or more, so if you redeem points for longer stays, this can add up to significant savings.
Standard award nights at Hilton hotels start at 5,000 points and usually top out at 95,000 points for the most luxurious resorts — so depending on where you redeem your rewards, the welcome bonus from the
If you stay at Hilton hotels even a couple of times a year, be sure to compare the benefits you’ll receive from the other Hilton cards. For example, the
Comparison: Hilton Honors American Express Card vs other Amex Hilton cards
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Annual fee |
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Rewards rate |
7 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels 5 points per dollar spent at eligible US restaurants, US supermarkets, and US gas stations 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases |
12 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels 6 points per dollar spent at eligible US restaurants, US supermarkets, and US gas stations 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases |
14 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels 7 points per eligible dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel, on car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies, and at eligible US restaurants 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases |
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Welcome bonus |
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Travel benefits |
Hilton Silver elite status Upgrade to Gold status after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year |
Hilton Gold elite status Upgrade to Diamond status after you spend $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year Free weekend night certificate after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership** with 10 free visits per year |
Hilton Diamond elite status Free weekend night certificate each year on your card anniversary Another free weekend night certificate after you spend a total of $60,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership Up to $250 in airline incidental fee credits per calendar year** Up to $250 in Hilton resort credits each cardmember year Up to $100 in on-property credits for minimum stays of two nights at participating Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties |
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Other card benefits |
Secondary car rental insurance Global Assist Hotline Purchase protection Extended warranty Access to discounts and bonus points through Amex Offers** No foreign transaction fees |
Secondary car rental insurance Baggage insurance plan Global Assist Hotline Purchase protection Extended warranty Access to discounts and bonus points through Amex Offers No foreign transaction fees |
Secondary car rental insurance Baggage insurance plan Premium Global Assist Hotline American Express Concierge Return protection Purchase protection Extended warranty Access to discounts and bonus points through Amex Offers No foreign transaction fees |
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Review |
Hilton Honors American Express Card vs other no-annual-fee hotel credit cards
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Annual fee |
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Rewards rate |
7 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels 5 points per dollar spent at eligible US restaurants, US supermarkets, and US gas stations 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases |
3x points at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels 2x points on other travel purchases 1 point per dollar on everything else |
5x points at IHG Hotels and Resorts 2x points at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants 1 point per dollar on everything else |
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Welcome bonus |
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Travel benefits |
Hilton Silver elite status Upgrade to Gold status after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year |
15 elite night credits each calendar year |
Fourth reward night free on award stays of four or more nights IHG Gold elite status when you spend $10,000 or more on purchases in a calendar year |
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Other card benefits |
Secondary car rental insurance Global Assist Hotline Purchase protection Extended warranty Access to discounts and bonus points through Amex Offers No foreign transaction fees |
Lost luggage reimbursement Baggage delay insurance Trip delay reimbursement Purchase protection Visa Signature concierge No foreign transaction fees |
Car rental insurance (secondary in the US, primary otherwise) Cell phone protection Trip cancellation/interruption insurance Travel accident insurance Lost luggage reimbursement Baggage delay insurance Travel and emergency assistance services Purchase protection Extended warranty 20% discount on IHG point purchases with your card No foreign transaction fees |
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Review |
How to earn points with the American Express Hilton Honors card
The
Cardholders earn:
- 7x points on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels
- 5 points per dollar spent at eligible US restaurants, US supermarkets, and US gas stations
- 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
The points you’ll earn at eligible Hilton hotels are in addition to what you’d normally earn for paid Hilton stays (10x points at most brands) and any elite status bonus points you qualify for.
For example, with Silver elite status (which comes automatically with the card), you’ll get a 20% bonus on base points for your stay, or a total of 12 points per dollar at most brands. Plus, when you use your
Read more: I haven’t paid for a hotel room in 10 years — here’s how I stay for free
How to use Hilton points
The Hilton Honors program includes over 6,300 hotels in 118 countries, so it’s easy to redeem your points just about anywhere you go. You can earn and use Hilton points at the following brands:
- Waldorf Astoria
- LXR
- Conrad
- Canopy
- Signia
- Hilton
- Curio Collection
- DoubleTree
- Tapestry Collection
- Embassy Suites
- Tempo
- Motto
- Hilton Garden Inn
- Hampton
- Tru
- Homewood Suites
- Home2 Suites
- Hilton Grand Vacations
You’ll usually get the best value from Hilton points by redeeming them for award nights, either for a completely free stay or by combining points and cash. Hilton doesn’t have a standard award chart; instead, the price of an award night at a particular hotel varies based on demand, cash price, and season.
Read more: How to earn, redeem, and maximize Hilton points
Standard award nights start at 5,000 Hilton points and go all the way up to 150,000 points per night (though the cap for the vast majority of five-star hotels is 95,000 points). Premium awards (for better rooms, suites, or high-demand dates) can cost much more. Keep in mind the lowest-priced Hilton hotels are usually budget-friendly brands (like Tru by Hilton or Hampton Inn) located off the beaten path; upscale hotels in big cities or luxury resorts will cost more points.
For example, you can book an overwater villa at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island for 95,000 points a night instead of paying over $1,300 with cash. Or, you can stretch your points at hotels like the Hampton Inn Niagara Falls, which starts at 19,000 points per night. Always be sure to compare the cash price to the award rate, because sometimes the paid rate is so low it’s better to save your points for a higher-value redemption.
The Silver elite status you automatically receive with the
Read more: 11 credit cards that get you hotel elite status just by having them in your wallet
Transfer Hilton points to airlines
Hilton Honors partners with over 30 airlines, and you can transfer points at varying ratios depending on the program. This typically won’t result in the best value, but if you won’t be using points for stays it’s an option for other types of travel.
Redeem Hilton points for experiences, events, merchandise, and more
Other options for redeeming Hilton points also won’t get you the highest value, but they could be helpful in certain circumstances:
- Hilton experiences — Use points for exclusive events, dining, and tours
- Use Hilton points for event credits — Starting at 25,000 points for a $50 credit
- Redeem Hilton points at Amazon — A poor value; you’ll get just 0.2 cents per point
- Donate Hilton points to charity — For every 10,000 points you donate, Hilton will send $25 to a charity of your choice
- Use Hilton points toward Lyft rides — Again, not the best value; you’ll typically get around 0.2 cents per point
- Pool or transfer Hilton points to a friend — Send up to 2 million points per year to friends or family with no fee, or pool your points with up to 11 people to save for a redemption
Hilton points normally expire if there’s no activity in your account for 24 months, but due to the pandemic, the chain has paused points expiration until December 31, 2022. Spending on a Hilton credit card like the
Benefits and features
The
Free night certificate
The welcome bonus on the
Read more: 7 luxurious ways to redeem Amex Hilton free weekend night certificates
Automatic Hilton Silver elite status
Cardholders receive Hilton Silver status as long as their card is open and in good standing. As Hilton’s lowest elite tier, Silver status isn’t exceptional, but it does come with a few handy perks:
- Fifth night free on award stays of five nights or more
- 20% points bonus on paid stays
- Free bottled water
- Elite rollover nights
However, if you spend $20,000 or more on eligible purchases in a calendar year with your
No foreign transaction fees
Many credit cards with no annual fee tack on 3% or more in foreign transaction fees, which can really sting if you’re on an international trip. However, you won’t have to worry about using your
Read more: The best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees
Foreign transaction fees can also apply if you make an online purchase from a company outside the US, so even if you’re not traveling, this perk could save you cash.
Car rental loss and damage insurance
When you pay for your car rental with the
Extended warranty
American Express cards are well known for offering excellent purchase protections, and the
When you use the card to pay for an eligible purchase, Amex will extend the manufacturer’s warranty up to one additional year on original manufacturer’s warranties of five years or less. You’re covered for up to $10,000 per eligible purchase and up to $50,000 per account, per calendar year.
Purchase protection
If you pay for an eligible item with your
Global Assist Hotline
This service can provide help with issues like lost passport replacement, translation services, missing luggage assistance, and emergency legal and medical referrals, but you’ll be responsible for any third-party costs incurred.
Amex Offers
Like other American Express cards, the
Fees and costs
The
As with most other cards, there are fees for late payments
Hilton Honors card — Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the Hilton Honors American Express card worth it?
If you don’t stay with Hilton very often, the
Read more: The best no-annual-fee credit cards
However, if you stay at Hilton hotels with any regularity, a card like the
Is the Hilton Amex free?
The
Does the Hilton Amex have foreign transaction fees?
The
Is the Hilton Amex a good card for beginners?
The
When does Hilton charge your card?
Hilton charges your card based on the rate you choose. If you book a prepaid rate (generally the cheapest), your card will be charged immediately. If you book a flexible rate, you often won’t be charged until your stay.
If you book with points, your card won’t be charged at all — unless there are taxes and fees associated with your stay. Points stays reap the benefits of flexible rates, as you can usually cancel them up to a few days before your stay for free. Just note that there are exceptions to this, and some hotels demand you cancel weeks in advance.
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