Hilton Honors American Express Card Review
Hilton Honors American Express Card Review
Hey there, travel enthusiasts! Terms apply to those nifty American Express benefits and offers. And yep, for some of those awesome perks, you might need to enroll. Head over to americanexpress.com if you wanna know more.
When I first hit the road, hostels were my jam. They were super cheap, which was perfect since my budget was tighter than a drum. And as an introvert, they were like a dream come true for meeting other backpackers and pushing me out of my comfort zone.
I still dig the hostel vibe, but these days, running a business on the go means I often need a bit more space and privacy. And let's be real, sticking to one hotel brand has its perks – free breakfast, room upgrades, and all that good stuff.
Whether you're a seasoned backpacker or just travel once in a while, having at least one hotel credit card can totally change the game. With big fat bonuses, free nights, and extra goodies, it's one of the best ways to save on places to stay and make your hotel experience way more awesome.
That's why today I'm stoked to shine a light on one of the best hotel cards out there, from one of my fave hotel brands: the Hilton Honors American Express Card. This entry - level card is great for those of you who want a low - fee card with some pretty cool perks.
Table of Contents
- What is the Hilton Honors American Express Card?
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a hotel rewards credit card. With this bad boy, you'll rack up 5x points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. And for all other purchases, it's 3x points. The best part? It has a $0 annual fee (Check out Rates and Fees). So it's perfect for newbies who aren't ready to shell out for an annual fee right off the bat.
Here’s what the card offers:
Score 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Card after you spend $2,000 on purchases within your first 6 months of having the card.
7x points on Hilton hotels and resorts. Cha - ching!
5x points on U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
3x points on all other purchases.
Enjoy free Hilton Honors™ Silver Status with your card. Silver Status gives you a 20% Bonus on Base Points for every stay. And when you book a standard room with 100% Points, you get the fifth night free.
No foreign transaction fees. Yay for saving money!
Extended warranty*: The card comes with an extended warranty that adds up to one year to an original manufacturer’s warranty of five years or less.
Purchase protection*: If you pay for something with your card and it gets accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, purchase protection has your back. This benefit covers purchases for up to 90 days and 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 say no to the rental company’s insurance, you're covered against damage and theft – up to $50,000. But remember, this is secondary to your own auto insurance and doesn't include liability.
Complimentary Card Benefit: Hilton Honors Silver Status
Being part of Hilton Honors, Hilton's loyalty program, is like being in a club with all sorts of perks (depending on your elite status, of course). Hilton Honors wants you to always book with Hilton, so they offer free stays, room upgrades, and other cool benefits that make staying at their places over and over worth it. And the best part? It's free to join! Basic members even get waived resort fees on award stays and free Wi - Fi.
Normally, you'd have to spend a certain number of nights each year at a Hilton property to get a higher status. But with the Hilton Honors Amex card, you get free Hilton Honors Silver status (usually, you'd have to stay at least 10 nights at a Hilton in a year to earn this).
Silver status includes:
Earn 20% more points: You get 20% more points on eligible stays compared to regular members.
Fifth night free on award stays: Book four nights with points, and the fifth night is on the house (up to a 20 - night stay).
Spa discounts: When you're at an all - inclusive Hilton, you get 15% off the spa. Relaxation, here you come!
Elite rollover nights: Any extra nights you stay this year can count towards getting a higher elite status next year.
Two free bottles of water per stay: Get free water at check - in (where available). Thirst quenched!
Silver might be Hilton's entry - level elite status, but it still gives you good value, especially if you don't travel that often. I'm a big fan of the fifth night free perk. You can use it as many times as you want in a year (although it's capped at four free nights at once, but who stays at a hotel for 20 nights straight anyway?).
- Using Your Hilton Honors Points
Unlike World of Hyatt, Hilton Honors doesn't have a set award chart. That means the number of points you need to book a room for the night can change. It's based on supply and demand, so stays can cost anywhere from 5,000 - 150,000 points per night (150k is for that fancy Hilton resort in the Maldives). Sometimes even more!
Most stays are usually around 30,000 - 60,000 points per night, though.
The downside of not having an award chart is that it's a bit trickier to figure out how to get the most bang for your points. You can search manually by location and the properties you like, or use Hilton's own Points Explorer tool to find stays you can book with points. You can filter by how many points you have, your destination, and what kind of property you want (like a resort or a boutique hotel).
But I recommend using tools like Awayz. It helps you compare the cash price to the points price, so you know where you're getting the best deal. I've found some really great bargains with it!
Pros of the Hilton Honors Card
No annual fee. Saving money right off the bat!
Free elite status. Feels like you're part of the cool club.
Fifth night free on award stays. More money in your pocket.
Higher points earning rates at Hilton properties, as well as at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. Points, points, points!
Cons of the Hilton Honors Card
The status perks are a bit basic. But hey, it's a start!
No bonus points on general travel purchases. Bummer.
Who is this Card For?
This card is perfect for Hilton fans who want to earn free stays without paying an annual fee. If you're okay with entry - level elite status and decent earning rates on your spending, this could be a great choice.
But if you want more flexibility with your rewards or better Hilton perks (like free food or beverage credit, or access to hotel lounges), I'd suggest going for a mid - tier or premium Hilton card, or even a more versatile travel rewards card. It's all about finding the card that matches how you travel!
Overall, the Hilton Honors American Express Card is a great option if you're just starting to explore hotel loyalty programs. With no annual fee, perks like automatic Silver status, and good earning potential on Hilton stays, it's an easy way to start collecting points without any extra costs!
Stop paying full price for travel!
Download my free guide to points and miles and learn how to use them for free travel! That's how all the pros do it! In this guide, I'll show you:
How to pick the right credit card.
How to earn up to 10x miles on your spending.
How to redeem your points.
And a whole bunch of other money - saving tips!
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
- Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight using Skyscanner. It's my go - to search engine because it looks at websites and airlines all over the world. So you know you're not missing any deals.
- Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you're looking for something other than a hostel, use Booking.com. It always seems to find the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.
- Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is like your safety net. It protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I never travel without it because I've used it a bunch of times in the past. Here are my favorite companies that offer great service and value:
SafetyWing (best for budget travelers).
World Nomads (best for mid - range travelers).
InsureMyTrip (for those 70 and over).
Medjet (for extra evacuation coverage).
Want to Travel for Free?
Travel credit cards let you earn points that you can use for free flights and accommodation – without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and find the latest great deals.
- Need a Rental Car?
Discover Cars is a budget - friendly international car rental website. No matter where you're going, they can find you the best and cheapest rental for your trip!
- Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find all sorts of cool stuff like walking tours, fun excursions, skip - the - line tickets, private guides, and more.
- Ready to Book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use myself. They're top - notch, and you can't go wrong using them on your trip.
*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
