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Founder and CEO of Upgraded Points, Alex is a leader in the industry and has earned and redeemed millions of points and miles. He frequently discusses the award travel industry with CNBC, Fox Business...
With a degree in media and journalism, Stella has been in the points and miles game for more than 6 years. She most recently worked as a Corporate Communications Analyst for JetBlue. Find her work in ...
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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, plus great earnings at Hilton, U.S. gas stations, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. restaurants!
U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
You can’t beat a comfy king-sized bed and room service. For many travelers, it’s the hotel that really makes or breaks an experience. If you’re one of those people, you’ve probably stayed at a Hilton hotel.
Whether your visits are for work or pleasure, the Hilton brand has you covered with more than 6,200 locations in 100 counties and territories.
Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors™ Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
Not great for those who want multiple redemption options
Offers the least benefits of all Hilton cards
Great Card If
You enjoy staying at Hilton hotels and want a card that will quickly rack up points
You will use your card to make all purchases so you can earn even more bonuses
You want a card with no annual fee that doesn’t skimp on benefits
You plan to earn Gold status quickly to take advantage of added benefits
Don’t Get If
You don’t usually stay at hotels, or you prefer to stay somewhere besides Hilton when you travel
Your primary goal is to transfer airline points
Hilton Honors Card — Is It Worth It?
If you travel a couple of times each year and always stay in Hilton hotels when you do, then the Hilton Honors card could be a perfect option for you.
It’s a great option for budget travelers since the card does not charge an annual fee, but it still allows you to rack up points to later redeem for free hotel nights. Plus, thanks to the complimentary Silver status, you’ll earn 20% extra points on all of your stays.
Hilton Honors Card Top Benefits
Hilton Honors Silver Elite Status
Hilton Honors Silver status cardholders receive a 20% bonus on points earned from each stay (not from purchases), and perks including a fifth night free on award stays, plus no resort fees on award stays.
Plus, you can also spend your way to Gold status after spending $20,000 within a calendar year. Gold offers all of the benefits of Silver status plus an 80% bonus on Hilton Honors base points, space-available room upgrades, and a daily food and beverage credit.
How To Earn and Redeem Your Hilton Honors Points
While it’s easy to just throw all of your purchases on your Hilton Honors card and call it a day, there are also many other great ways to earn Hilton Honors points through the hotel chain’s partnerships.
Earning all of those extra points will help you get ready to redeem your Hilton Honors points faster than you normally would. Don’t forget that, thanks to your complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, you’re going to get your fifth night free on all award stays!
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
An excellent high-earning Hilton credit card that comes with perks like Hilton Honors Gold status and up to $200 in Hilton credits every year.
An excellent high-earning Hilton credit card that comes with perks like Hilton Honors Gold status and up to $200 in Hilton credits every year.
Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
130,000 points
$650
$150
20.99%-29.99% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
If you’re someone who loves traveling and loves staying in Hilton hotels, adding a co-branded Hilton hotel card to your wallet is almost a no-brainer. From automatic Hilton elite status to up to $200 in Hilton credits every year, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card can be a great fit for Hilton loyalists looking to up their travel game.
Pros
12x points per $1 at Hilton hotels
6x points per $1 U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. restaurants
Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Get up to $200 back each year on eligible Hilton purchases after you use your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
Earn 6X Points for each dollar of purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases.
Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors ™ Gold Status with your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status through the end of the next calendar year.
Enjoy complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status. Enrollment in the complimentary Emerald Club® program is required. Terms apply.
No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
If you’re looking to get even more benefits out of your Hilton stays, then the Hilton Surpass card would be a much better option. Not only does it earn 12x points per $1 at Hilton hotels and 6x points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. restaurants, but it also offers complimentary Hilton Gold status.
With that Gold status, you’ll receive complimentary room upgrades (up to executive level), an 80% bonus on points earned from stays, and a daily food and beverage credit or free continental breakfast.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
60,000 points
$1,200
$95
21.49%-28.49% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cardson the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.
Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.
Pros
5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
2x points on all other travel worldwide
$50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Travel portal
6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
Excellent travel and car rental insurance
10% annual bonus points
No foreign transaction fees
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
Cons
$95 annual fee
No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
If you’re looking for a card that opens up your redemption options by earning transferable points, then there are few better options than the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.
It earns 5x points per $1 on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x points per $1 on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases, and 2x points per $1 on all other travel purchases.
Beyond that, your points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through the Chase travel portal, or you can transfer them to the Chase transfer partners at a 1:1 rate to many great travel transfer partners.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, click here. For rates and fees for The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of the Hilton Honors card?
The card gives you automatic Silver status. You can earn Gold status by spending more than $20,000 on the card in a calendar year.
How do I upgrade to the Hilton Honors card with Gold status?
Become a Gold Status member after spending $20,000 on the card in a calendar year. Another way to qualify is with 20 stays, 40 nights, or 75,000 Hilton Honors base points (not bonus points) within a calendar year. Or you can upgrade to the Hilton Surpass card, which comes with complimentary Gold status.
When do Hilton Honors points expire?
As long as your account remains active, your Hilton Honors points will not expire. To keep your account active, you need to stay at a Hilton hotel or earn or redeem points every 24 months.
Does the Hilton Honors card have a foreign transaction fee?
No, the card does not charge foreign transaction fees (rates & fees).
How do I upgrade the Hilton Honors card to the Hilton Surpass card?
Cardholders can apply to upgrade to the Hilton Surpass card by calling the Amex customer service line.
Founder and CEO of Upgraded Points, Alex is a leader in the industry and has earned and redeemed millions of points and miles. He frequently discusses the award travel industry with CNBC, Fox Business, The New York Times, and more.
This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.
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