Hilton Honors American Express: Your Entry to Hilton

Hilton Honors American Express: Your Entry to Hilton

In the dynamic world of travel rewards credit cards, Hilton American Express credit cards are an excellent starting point for travel hacking. My journey into the realm of free travel rewards began with the Hilton Honors American Express card, and gradually, I explored the other Hilton credit cards. The simplicity of the Hilton rewards program makes it an ideal starting point for anyone eager to learn the art of travel hacking. For more information on the Hilton reward program, check out our post. By using American Express cobranded Hilton cards, I have had many free vacations at mid and high-end Hilton Hotels. Hilton points earned can be used at any hotel in the Hilton portfolio. There is a large range from mid to high-end Hilton properties, in most popular vacation spots. Chances are there is a Hilton property in most of your dream vacation spots. There are many Hilton brands that fall under the Hilton portfolio, each with different amenities and ratings. A benefit of Hilton travelers using points is you receive the fifth night free if your stay is booked 100% with points. 

American Express Travel Reward Hilton Cards 

American Express (AMEX) offers a trio of Hilton-branded credit cards. In this blog post, we'll delve into the features and benefits of the three AMEX Hilton credit cards – the Hilton Honors American Express Card, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. This card comes with complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status. 

As mentioned in my previous post, it's advisable to start with the lowest-tier credit card in a co-branded group. Starting with the lowest tier card in a co-branded group allows you to get the welcome offer that is available to new cardholders on higher-level cards as you work your way up. In this case, that would be the Hilton Honors American Express card.

The Hilton Honors Card is an excellent starting point for those looking to dip their toes into the world of free travel and one of the best credit cards for travel hacking beginners.

With no annual fee, this card still packs a punch in terms of benefits. Cardholders can earn an 80,000 sign-up bonus and 5 x Hilton Honors bonus points per dollar of eligible purchases spent at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. For those who prefer a straightforward rewards structure without an annual fee, the Hilton Honors Amex card is a compelling choice. Between the sign up bonus and bonus points categories, you can get free nights pretty quickly. 

Hilton Surpass Card

After you reach the sign-up bonus for the Hilton Amex card, your next card should be the Amex Hilton Surpass card. The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card offers enhanced rewards and additional perks for a moderate annual fee. Cardholders 5 points per dollar spent at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations.  With complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, room upgrades, and Priority Pass membership, this card strikes a balance between affordability and luxury. For more information on the Hilton Tiers see our post about the Hilton Reward Program. The sign-up bonus is larger at 130,000 and the ability to earn a free night award adds extra allure. See our post about Hilton free night awards here.  The Hilton Surpass remains my go-to card for groceries, supermarkets, and restaurants when I am not working toward a sign-up bonus on a different card. The Surpass also offers $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio. 

Hilton Honors Aspire Card

At the zenith of the AMEX Hilton credit card lineup is the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. This card comes with a higher annual fee but offers a plethora of benefits that can outweigh the cost for frequent Hilton guests including a free night reward. See our post about the value of the Aspire card and high-fee cards here. Cardholders enjoy top-tier Diamond status. This elite status unlocks the most exclusive perks, including executive lounge access and annual resort credit. The card also provides an annual free weekend night reward and a Priority Pass membership. The card offers a substantial welcome bonus of 150,000 points. Note that this card does not have a bonus category for groceries, restaurants, and gas. 

Get up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts on your Hilton Aspire Card. That is $400 in annual statement credits. 

Remember our strategies:

1.     Start with the lowest level credit card in a group first. If you don’t, you are missing out on significant amounts of sign-up bonuses. See our post about why to start with the lowest tier card first here. 

2.     Do NOT add an authorized user to your account. Instead, if you have a person 2, alternate new Amex Hilton cards with them. Check out our post on utilizing your spouse or partner for even more points here. 

3.     Evaluate whether Hilton Aspire is a good fit for you. Check out our post about some of the hidden benefits of high-fee credit cards here.

4.     Make sure you are taking advantage of reward categories. For example, if you can still meet your sign-up bonus minimum spend without your groceries and restaurant expenses, then keep those charges on your Surpass card to earn the most points for those cards.

When travel hacking and using travel credit cards, it is crucial to be comfortable with your actions. If high-fee cards aren't your preference, that's perfectly fine. You can still enjoy fantastic vacations with no or lower-cost cards. It's essential not to go into debt or spend beyond your means when travel hacking. The goal is to have low-cost hotel stays, which defeats the purpose if you're overspending or facing high interest rates on credit cards. The goal is to earn Hilton Honors points for your everyday purchases strategically to have a free or low-cost dream vacation. Overspending will also impact your credit score, which may limit credit card companies from issuing new travel rewards cards to you.