8 Amazing Stays To Book With the Hilton Aspire Card’s $400 Resort Credit

My favorite hotel card has long been the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. It offers valuable perks and benefits that more than cover its hefty $550 annual fee (rates & fees), including numerous statement credits.

One of these is the up to $400 Hilton resort credit, which is easy to use and provides tremendous value.

Hilton Aspire Card Overview

The Hilton Aspire card is Hilton’s most premium co-branded card for Hilton Honors loyalists. Beyond the annual resort credits, the benefits that directly offset the annual fee include complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status, 1 free night award each cardmember anniversary, up to a $219 annual fee credit for a CLEAR+ membership, and up to $200 annual credit on eligible flight purchases made directly with an airline or through AmexTravel.com (up to $50 in statement credits each quarter).

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.

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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.

Welcome Offer

Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.

150,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $750

Annual Fee

$550

APR

19.49%-28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

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 card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

Paying hundreds of dollars for an annual fee on a co-branded hotel card might seem ridiculous, but you should know that the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is much more than your run-of-the-mill hotel credit card.

The Hilton Aspire card is not only a phenomenal card for Hilton Honors loyalists, but even those who visit Hilton hotels just a few times a year can still get excellent value out of all the benefits that are packed into this card.

So let’s have a look at what makes the card so valuable to travelers.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 14x points per $1 on Hilton purchases
• 7x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel, car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants
• 3x points per $1 on all other eligible purchases

Cons

• High annual fee of $550 (rates & fees)

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Card Highlights

• Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Enjoy an Annual Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors in your first year of Card Membership and every year upon Card renewal.
• Earn 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your Card at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton Portfolio.
• Card Members can earn 7X Points on purchases of flights booked directly with airlines or flights booked through American Express Travel, car rentals purchased directly from select car rental companies, and purchases at U.S. Restaurants.
• Card Members can earn 3X Points on all other eligible purchases.
• $400 Hilton Resort Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts on your Hilton Honors Aspire Card. That's up to $400 back annually.
• $200 Flight Credit: Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter, for a total of up to $200 back each year, on flight purchases made directly with an airline, through AmexTravel.com, or through the Amex Travel App™ using your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
• CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster at 55+ airports nationwide. Receive up to $219 per calendar year in statement credits when you pay for your membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Hilton Honors Aspire Card.
• Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
• $100 Property Credit: Receive up to a $100 credit for qualifying charges at Waldorf Astoria^® Hotels & Resorts and Conrad^® Hotels & Resorts properties when you book a 2 night minimum stay with your Card at HiltonHonorsAspireCard.com and select the Aspire Card Benefit rate option on the booking page, or call Hilton Honors at 855-292-5757 with the proper booking reference.
• Hilton Honors Aspire Card Members can enjoy complimentary National Car Rental^® Emerald Club Executive^® status, including perks like Executive Area Access (for full-size reservations and above) in the USA and Canada. Card Members must enroll in the National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status through their American Express online account using their Card. Terms apply.
• Whenever you travel more than 100 miles from home, Premium Global Assist^® Hotline is available for 24/7 emergency assistance and coordination services, including medical, legal, and financial referrals. Emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost only if approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline. Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
• $550 annual fee.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.49%-28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

The Hilton Aspire card also has a generous welcome offer:

• Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 in purchases within your first 6 months of Card Membership.

We value Hilton Honors points at 0.5 cents per point, making this welcome bonus offer worth up to $750. However, how you choose to redeem the points ultimately determines how much value you get. 

Hot Tip:

Check out our in-depth guide on the best ways to redeem Hilton Honors points for maximum value.

Hilton Aspire Card Resort Credit

Cardholders can earn up to $400 in annual statement credits for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton resorts. The benefit is available as up to $200 in statement credits during each six-month period: January through June and July through December.

Although the resort credit is primarily designed to cover incidental expenses — such as dining, spa treatments, and other on-property charges — it can provide even greater value. In addition to eligible incidental purchases, the credit can also be applied toward room rates, provided the reservation is not a prepaid rate.

Therefore, using the resort credit is straightforward. Pay with your Hilton Aspire card at an eligible participating Hilton resort, and you get a statement credit for qualifying charges, up to the available limit.

The Hilton Aspire card’s resort credit only applies to hotels participating in the Hilton Resorts program. The full list of participating hotels is on Hilton’s website — but below, we’ll go over our favorite 8 properties.

1. Hilton Cabana Miami Beach Resort

The Hilton Cabana Miami Beach Resort is a beachfront property on the North Beach stretch of Miami Beach. South Beach’s restaurants, nightlife, and Lincoln Road are a short drive away from the property.

The resort offers direct beach access (including a stretch of private beach), 2 ocean-view outdoor pools, poolside cabanas, and several on-site restaurants and bars. Guests also have access to perks such as complimentary bike and paddleboard rentals.

Many rooms feature balconies with partial or full ocean views. You can book a night at the Hilton Cabana Miami Beach Resort for as little as $170, so the Hilton Aspire card’s resort credit can entirely cover 1 night at the property.

2. Hilton Grand Vacations Club Ocean Enclave Myrtle Beach

The Hilton Grand Vacations Club Ocean Enclave Myrtle Beach is right on the oceanfront in the heart of Myrtle Beach, just steps from the beach and within walking distance of the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, SkyWheel, restaurants, shops, and nightlife.

The resort boasts spacious studios and suites (including a few 3-bedroom suites) that are equipped with full kitchens or kitchenettes, separate living and dining areas, and private balconies, many of which offer ocean views.

The property features numerous amenities, including multiple swimming pools, a kids’ activity center, and several on-site food and beverage options, including an oceanfront restaurant.

Cash rates at the Hilton Grand Vacations Club Ocean Enclave Myrtle Beach are around $170 per night, making it an affordable choice with or without the resort credit.

3. Hilton Grand Vacations Club MarBrisa Carlsbad

The Hilton Grand Vacations Club MarBrisa Carlsbad is a hillside resort overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Carlsbad, California. The 43-acre property is next to The Crossings at Carlsbad golf course and a short walk from LEGOLAND California.

The expansive resort offers a variety of room options, including 3-bedroom suites. It also boasts several amenities, including 3 outdoor swimming pools, 5 hot tubs, and a fully equipped fitness center.

Cash rates at the Hilton Grand Vacations Club MarBrisa Carlsbad start at $140 per night. You can book a 1-night stay at the property with the credit and still have plenty left for on-site purchases.

4. Conrad Bali

The Conrad Bali is a luxury beachfront resort on the coast of Nusa Dua in Bali, Indonesia. The resort offers luxurious, modern guest rooms and a range of amenities, including an Executive Lounge, a full-service spa, 3 swimming pools, a fully equipped fitness center, several tennis courts, a kids’ club, a wedding chapel, and several meeting and event spaces.

Guests can also participate in activities including sunrise yoga and Pilates, botanical tours, beach soccer, beach volleyball, and various water sports.

Cash rates for the 5-star Conrad Bali hover around $200 per night — making it the prime choice for the resort credit.

5. DoubleTree by Hilton Phuket Banthai Resort

The DoubleTree by Hilton Phuket Banthai Resort is located just across the street from iconic Patong Beach in Phuket, Thailand. The resort is a short walk from Bangla Road, Jungceylon Shopping Center, and plenty of restaurants, bars, and nightlife.

The property offers several amenities, including 3 outdoor pools with swim-up bars and a 24/7 fitness center. Cash rates for the DoubleTree by Hilton Phuket Banthai Resort can be as low as $100 per night, so it’s possible to book multiple nights with the resort credit.

6. DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Penang

The DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Penang is located on the northern coast of Penang, Malaysia, in Batu Feringghi. The property is next to Miami Beach and near many attractions, including the Tanjung Bunga Floating Mosque, Moonlight Bay Beach, and Tanjung Bungah Beach.

Many rooms offer balconies with views of the Strait of Malacca. The hotel offers guests numerous amenities, including a game space, a kids club, a lounge, and an outdoor splash pool.

Cash rates for the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Penang can be as low as $65 per night, which means that you could use the Hilton Aspire card’s semiannual resort credit to cover 3 nights at the property.

7. Hilton Dubai Jumeirah

The Hilton Dubai Jumeirah is a beachfront resort property in Dubai’s Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) district. The hotel offers direct access to a private beach along the Arabian Gulf and easy access to restaurants, shopping, and nightlife on The Walk.

The hotel features a range of rooms and suites with sea or city views, along with amenities such as a full-service spa, an outdoor pool overlooking the Arabian Gulf, and a fitness center.

Cash rates for the Hilton Dubai Jumeirah hover just around $95 per night.

8. Hilton Alexandria Corniche

The Hilton Alexandria Corniche is located along Alexandria’s scenic Corniche, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The property is near many of the city’s beaches and attractions, like the Montaza Palace and the Royal Jewelry Museum.

The property offers guests numerous amenities, including a rooftop swimming pool, a sundeck, a spa, an Executive Lounge, and a free shuttle to the hotel’s private beach.

Cash rates for the Hilton Alexandria Corniche hover around $100 per night, so it’s a great property to put your resort credit to use.

Final Thoughts

The Hilton Aspire card offers excellent value to cardholders. One of the card’s best perks is up to $400 in annual statement credits for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton resorts. As you can see, there are many Hilton resort hotels worldwide where the Hilton resort credit can be applied toward room rates, as long as the reservation is not prepaid.