Hilton Honors American Express Card Review

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Hilton Honors American Express Card Review

The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a solid option for Hilton hotel devotees who want to receive benefits on a card with no annual fee. It also offers excellent rewards on non-Hilton purchases.

The Hilton Honors American Express Card earns point rewards on hotel and restaurant purchases as well as on gas and groceries. With this credit card, you can earn a welcome bonus of 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months on eligible purchases.

This credit card is an exciting option for people looking for Hilton perks. The card features an automatic Silver Status and comes with a bonus on points earned from qualifying Hilton stays and meals at select hotels.

Besides, the card earns you rewards for purchases in U.S restaurants, gas stations, and supermarkets. It is a solid option if you are looking for a no-annual-fee card.

The Hilton Honors American Express Card Pros and Cons

Rewards System in a Nutshell

While this is an American Express Card, you will earn points under the Hilton Honors program. With the Hilton Honors program, you earn two types of points:

• Base points can be earned when you stay at Hilton hotels and resorts. Base Points count towards higher tier status.
• Bonus points can be earned at Hilton hotels or by using Hilton Honors Credit Card. Bonus points, however, do not count towards higher tier status.

After spending $1,000 with the Hilton Honors American Express Card in the first 3 months, you earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points.

This card earn points on purchases as following:

• Purchases at Hilton hotels or resorts earn 7 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per dollar.
• Purchases at U.S gas stations, restaurants, and supermarkets earn 5 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per dollar.
• All other eligible purchases earn 3 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per dollar spent.

It’s easy to rake up a lot of points with this credit card. Whether you earn 3, 5, or 7 points per $1 spent, the points accumulate quickly. The points don’t expire, and there’s no limit on earning them.

Hilton Honors Bonus Points can be redeemed for the following:

• Hotel stays
• Rental cars
• Amazon.com shopping
• Lyft rides
• Hilton resort activities such as spa treatments, golf reservations, and dinner events
• Charity donations
• Miles at airline partners

When shopping at Amazon, 500 Hilton Honors points equal to $1. Hotel stays cost in points vary but usually provide a better cash value. You can also use a combination of points and money to book a hotel stay.

There is no fixed rate when it comes to redeeming options. It depends on the property, and it’s always a good idea to shop around for better options.

Silver Status Rewards

The Hilton Honors American Express Card gets you Silver Status automatically. You earn 20% more Base Points for stays, fifth night free, and elite rollover nights with Silver Status.

Gold Status Rewards

A $20,000 spending within a year earns an upgrade to Gold Status. You can also reach Gold Status by earning 75,000 Base Points, 20 stays, or 40 nights within a calendar year. During 2021 due to COVID-19, requirements for Gold Status got lowered: 37,500 Base Points, 10 stays or 20 nights. This is an excellent way for avid travelers to qualify.

With Gold Status, you benefit from all Silver status perks, plus other benefits such as:

• Complimentary continental breakfast at Hilton hotels outside the U.S or food credit at U.S. Hilton hotels
• Space-available room upgrades
• 80% Base Points earning bonus on stays
• 10,000 bonus points for every additional 10 nights after you’ve stayed 20 nights in a calendar year

Who Can Benefit From Getting the Hilton Honors American Express Card?

The Hilton Honors American Express Card is an ideal no-annual fee option for occasional customers loyal to Hilton. This hotel credit card provides great rewards for purchases made with the hotel brand. The card has a low spending threshold for the welcome bonuses, and since it has no annual fee, it’s a good option for people who aren’t hardcore reward chasers.

This card is a solid option to earn Hilton Honors points towards upcoming hotel stays and other travel benefits. However, it is suited for infrequent travelers who don’t stay exclusively with the brand. If you are a frequent traveler, you may have to look for other cards up the rank, such as the Hilton Honors Surpass and Aspire, that have an annual fee but can earn lots of points.

Are There Any Other Benefits?

The Hilton Honors American Express Card features a few notable benefits. These include:

• Purchase Protection

The purchase protection program provides cover for lost, stolen, or damaged items paid with the card within the first 90 days after the date of purchase. It covers up to $1,000 per item and up to $50,000 per year.

• Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance

This card provides secondary coverage for rental car damage or theft. You can decline the rental car damage insurance when you pay for a car rental with this card. However, as this insurance is secondary, it does not cover liability.

• Global Assist Hotline

The global assist hotline can help with lost passport replacement, translation, missing language, and emergency legal and medical referral.

• Terms Apply

The Bottom Line

The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a great option for occasional travelers who prefer Hilton hotels but can’t justify paying an annual fee. The card has a great welcome bonus and does not charge foreign transaction fees or an annual fee.

The complimentary Silver Status gives you the perfect opportunity to hit for Gold Status. Regardless of your Status level, it’s easy to redeem points for hotel stays.

If you are an avid traveler and stay a lot in Hilton hotels, you can think of the Hilton Honors Aspire or the Hilton Honors Surpass credit cards. These cards have an annual fee but come with lots of perks.