Hilton Honors Amex card review: Solid perks and no annual fee
Overview of the Hilton Honors American Express card
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is Hilton’s annual fee waiver (see exchange rates and fees) entry-level products. With bonus points on eligible Hilton purchases and free Hilton Honors Silver status, the card is a solid choice for new cardholders loyal to hotel chains or those looking to avoid annual fees. However, other travel cards offer more flexible points and greater perks. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating based on the opinions of the TPG editorial board and not influenced by the card issuer.
The Hilton Honors Program includes more than 7,000 hotels in more than 120 countries, offering many opportunities to earn and redeem points.
If you’re a beginner looking for a credit card with some Hilton perks, you might want to take a look Hilton Honors American Express Card. It has no annual fee and comes with generous category bonuses as well as travel and purchase protections, making it a great choice for travelers looking to get started with Hilton Honors.
While Two other Hilton consumer cards were recently refreshed As for their benefits and annual fee, the only change to this card is the new card design (shown below).
You’ll need a good one credit score usually 670 or higher for a better chance of approval.
Here’s everything you need to decide if the card is right for your wallet.
Pros and cons of Hilton Honors Amex
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Hilton Honors Amex welcome offer
New candidates of Amex Hilton Honors Card can earn 70,000 bonus points plus a free night bonus after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. This offer ends July 31.
TPG value Hilton charges 0.6 cents per person in points, which means the points portion of this offer is worth $420 – but you can get hundreds of dollars in additional value with a free night bonus. All with no annual fee (see exchange rates and fees) and only has a spending threshold of $2,000.
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The highest offer we have seen in the past is 130,000 bonus points, but you have to spend $6,000 within six months to get that offer. The current welcome offer requires a third of the spend but offers fewer points; however, this bonus comes with a free night bonus which, if used correctly, could make this offer the best we’ve ever seen.
Hilton Honors Amex Benefits
The Hilton honors Amex There are some notable perks and benefits beyond the welcome offer.
Here’s an overview of what this card offers:
- Elite status: The cardholder automatically receives it Hilton Honors Silver elite statusoffers member discounts, 20% points bonus on paid stays, no resort fees on award stays, and a Thursday night free on award stays. You can upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold status if you spend $20,000 on the card in a calendar year. It’s worth mentioning something else Hilton credit card automatically provides Gold status, meaning spending $20,000 to get that status is not a good value.
- Entertainment: Through the American Express Experiences program, you can get exclusive access to ticket presales and cardholder-only events, as well as Broadway shows, concert tours, sporting events, etc
- Store runner: Free two-day shipping on eligible items at our network of over 100 online stores after registering at shoprunner.com/americanexpress. Pre-registration is required.
- Warranty extension*: The card comes with an extended warranty that adds up to one year over the original manufacturer’s warranty of 5 years or less.
- Purchase Protection*: Purchase protection covers items that are accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost if you pay with your card. This benefit covers purchases for up to 90 days and covers up to $1,000 per item — up to $50,000 per calendar year.
- Car rental insurance**: When you use the card to reserve and pay for a car rental and opt out of the rental company’s insurance, you’re covered against damage and theft — up to $75,000. This benefit is Secondary insurance to your own auto insurance and does not include liability.
*Conditions and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit Americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Insurance Company.
**Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are available and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit Americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Insurance Company. Insurance provided through American Express Travel Related Services, Inc.
Earn points on Hilton Honors Amex
With Hilton honors Amexyou will earn 7 Hilton Honors Points per dollar on stays at Hilton hotels and resorts (including room payments and on-site spends at restaurants and spas), 5 points per dollar in the U.S. restaurant (includes takeout and delivery), 5 points per dollar in the US the gas station and we supermarketand 3 points per dollar on other purchases.
With Hilton’s TPG value at 0.6 cents per point, you’ll earn 1.8% return on everyday purchases and 4.2% return at Hilton hotels – although you’ll get 12 extra points per dollar on your everyday purchases. Hilton Honors Silver elite statusincrease your profit margin to 11.4%.
If you are looking for higher income opportunities on a broader scale travel shopping, including flights and car rentals, you won’t get that with this card.
Related: Which credit card should you use when staying at Hilton?
Redeem points on Hilton Honors Amex
You’ll get the best value for your Hilton points when you stay at hotels and resorts, even with chains lack of published award rankings. How many points you need for a hotel room fluctuates, so you won’t know the final price until you go to book. The Point Explorer tool can show you what other guests have paid for recently.
You can also transfer your Hilton Honors points to more than 40 global airline loyalty programs and Amtrak. However, unless you need it transfer honor points to top up an airline account for a specific reward, using them for this purpose is not a good idea. Transfer rates are often terrible, losing thousands of points.
Our advice? Follow hotel room redemptions to get the best value for your rewards.
You’ll do even better when you redeem points for stays of five nights or more. That’s because you get one Thursday night free when staying with points.
To learn more about redeeming Hilton points (and how to redeem them for great value), read this guide:
Related: 10 Hilton Hotels I can’t wait to redeem my Hilton Honors points
Which cards compete with Hilton Honors Amex?
The Amex Hilton Title The card has natural competitors with the “Hilton” name, but travel rewards credit cards in general may also perform better in your wallet. Here are the options you should consider.
- If you like Hilton but want more perks: The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card Earn 12 points per dollar higher at Hilton hotels, offer automatic Gold status, and you can earn free night rewards by spending $15,000 on purchases in a calendar year. You’ll also get up to $200 in statement credits on annual Hilton purchases (up to $50 per quarter), and the card has a low annual fee of $150 (see exchange rates and fees). For more information, please read our Full review of the Amex Hilton Surpass card.
- If you want flexible rewards with no annual fee: The Amex every day® Credit earn 2 American Express Membership Rewards points per dollar at US supermarkets (up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1 point per dollar) and 1 point per dollar on other purchases . You can use these points with Hilton and 20 other airline and hotel programs. You won’t get any benefits with Hilton, but you’ll have options with your points while still paying no annual fee. For more information, please read our Full review of the Amex EveryDay card.
- If you want a hotel card with no annual fee, regardless of brand: The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is an option if you want a hotel credit card with no annual fee and no ties to Hilton. You’ll earn 3 points per dollar at Marriott Bonvoy hotels and receive travel and shopping protections. For more information, read our Full review of the Marriott Bonvoy Bold card.
Information about the Amex EveryDay card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
For more options, see our list of best hotel credit cards And American Express.
Related: Best no-annual-fee credit cards
Is Hilton Honors Amex worth it?
You might think Amex Hilton Honors Card by default is worth it because it has no annual fee. However, it depends on what you are looking for. You’ll love this card if entry-level elite status and a fair earnings category are enough. If you’re looking for rewards flexibility or more Hilton perks, choose one with an annual fee.
Bottom line
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a good starter card for those who want to maximize the benefits of the Hilton loyalty program without paying an annual fee. It may not be the ideal card for everyone, although it may be the right card for you if that’s what you’re looking for.
Register here: Hilton Honors American Express Card
Related: How to choose the best credit card for you
For rates and fees on the Hilton Honors Amex Card, click This.
For rates and fees on the Hilton Honors Amex Pass, click This.
