12 Best Ways To Earn Lots of Hilton Honors Points [2023]

Question 1

Answer

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.

To enjoy a host of great benefits, you may want to apply for the Hilton Honors American Express Card.

Question 2

Answer

Pros

7x points per $1 on Hilton stays
5x points per $1 at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations
3x points per $1 on all other purchases
Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status
No annual fee (rates & fees)
No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)

Cons

Not great for those who want multiple redemption options
Offers the least benefits of all Hilton cards

Question 3

Answer

Earn 100,000 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 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.
No Annual Fee.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Hilton Honors Loyalty Program

Question 4

Question 5

Answer

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.

Question 6

Answer

Pros

12x points per $1 at Hilton hotels
6x points per $1 U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. restaurants
4x points per $1 at U.S. online retail purchases
3x points per $1 on all other purchases
Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status
No foreign transaction fees

Cons

Annual fee of $150.

Question 7

Answer

Limited Time Offer: Earn 170,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/17/2024.
Earn a Weekend Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
Earn 6X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
Earn 4X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on U.S. online retail purchases.
Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your 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.
$150 annual fee.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.99% - 29.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Hilton Honors

Question 8

Question 9

Answer

The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

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.

Question 10

Answer

Pros

14x points per $1 on Hilton purchases
7x points per $1 on select travel and at U.S. restaurants
3x points per $1 on all other purchases
Complimentary Hilton Diamond status
Up to $400 in annual statement credits on purchases with participating Hilton Resorts (up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually)
Up to $200 back annually on eligible flight purchases (up to $50 in statement credits each quarter)
1 Free Weekend Night Award each cardmember anniversary
$100 credit at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties

Cons

High annual fee of $550

Question 11

Answer

Earn 180,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Aspire card from American Express after you use your new card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership. Plus, enjoy a free Weekend Night Reward within your first year and every year after renewal.
Earn 14x Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your card at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
Earn 7x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for eligible purchases: on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants.
Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your card.
Enjoy up to $400 in Hilton Resort Credits (up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually) on your card each anniversary year when you stay at participating resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
Enjoy complimentary Diamond status.
$550 annual fee.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.74% - 29.74% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Question 12

Question 13

Answer

For frequent business travelers who regularly stay in Hilton hotels, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is a great option.

Not only will the card help you earn more points on all of your Hilton stays, but you’ll also receive automatic elite status, complimentary Priority Pass visits, travel protections, and the opportunity to earn free night certificates.

Here’s a detailed look at all the benefits this card offers so that you can determine if it’s a good fit for you.

Question 14

Answer

Pros

12x points per $1 on Hilton purchases
6x points per $1 at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchases directly from U.S. service providers, and on U.S. purchases for shipping
6x points per $1 at U.S. restaurants, on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel, and on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies
3x points per $1 on all other purchases
Automatic Hilton Honors Gold status, and the ability to spend your way to Diamond status
10 complimentary Priority Pass visits
Free Weekend Night Reward after $15,000 in spend in a calendar year, and a second after you spend $60,000
No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

$95 annual fee (rates and fees)

Question 15

Answer

Welcome Offer: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business Card within the first three months of Card Membership.
Earn Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card: 12X directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio, 6X at U.S. gas stations, on U.S. purchases for shipping, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants, 3X on all other eligible purchases.
Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold Status with your Hilton Honors Business Card.
Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
Earn another Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend an additional $45,000 in purchases on your Card in the same calendar year.
Terms apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.99% - 29.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Hilton Honors loyalty program

Question 16

Question 17

Answer

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Question 18

Answer

Pros

The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
5x points per $1 spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year)
5x points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit)
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
Access to Amex International Airline Program
No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

$695 annual fee (rates and fees)
Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Question 19

Answer

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card^®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card^®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
$300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card^®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
$189 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card^®. Learn more.
$100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card^®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile.
$695 annual fee.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Question 20

Question 21

Answer

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Question 22

Answer

Pros

4x points per $1 at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
4x points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
3x points per $1 on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash: get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
Access to American Express transfer partners

Cons

$250 annual fee (see rates and fees)
No lounge access

Question 23

Answer

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
$120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $250.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Question 24

Question 25

What are the Hilton Honors status tiers? Do they earn bonus points?

Answer

Hilton Honors has 3 tiers, and each earns a different status bonus: Silver (20% bonus — 12x per $1), Gold (80% bonus — 18x per $1), and Diamond (100% bonus — 20x per $1).

Question 26

Can I earn Hilton Honors points by shopping?

Answer

Hilton discontinued the Shop-to-Earn Mall on September 1, 2018. We’ll update if a replacement is launched.

Question 27

Can I earn miles instead of Hilton Honors points?

Answer

You only directly earn Hilton Honors points for stays. However, there are a number of airline partners with which you can exchange your Hilton points for miles.

Question 28

How many Hilton Honors points are earned per night or stay?

Answer

Members earn 10 points per $1 for stays at most hotels in the Hilton portfolio. Stays at Home2 Suites by Hilton and Tru by Hilton earn 5 points per $1.

Additional points can be earned when using a Hilton credit card (7x to 14x points), as well as the Elite Status Bonus (20% to 100%).

Question 29

What is the Hilton Honors customer service number?

Answer

You can reach Hilton Honors customer service at 800-445-8667.

Question 30

Can I transfer points to Hilton Honors from other loyalty programs?

Answer

Yes. Hilton Honors points can be transferred from American Express Membership Rewards, Amtrak Guest Rewards, and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

Question 31

Is there a Hilton Honors credit card that earns points?

Answer

Use the Hilton Honors card, Hilton Surpass card, Hilton Aspire card, or Hilton Business Amex card to earn Hilton Honors points.

You can also transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards-earning cards.

Question 32

When do Hilton Honors points expire?

Answer

If there is no activity on your account, points will expire in 24 months. You can earn or redeem points or stay at a Hilton portfolio hotel to keep your account active.

Question 33

How many Hilton points do I need for a free night?

Answer

Hilton no longer publishes an award chart. The number of points needed for a free night can vary based on the quality of the hotel, location, season, and other factors. Generally, point costs per night range between 5,000 and 95,000.

Question 34

What are Hilton points worth?

Answer

At Upgraded Points, we value Hilton points at 0.5 cents per point. Keep in mind that point valuations are subjective, so you may receive more or less value than this number. To learn more about our valuations, check out our dedicated points valuations page.

Card Name	Points Earned
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card	14x points on Hilton purchases
	7x points at U.S. restaurants and on flights (book with airline or amextravel.com) and rental cars
	3x points on all other eligible purchases on your Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card	12x points on Hilton purchases
	6x points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations
	3x points on all other eligible purchases on your Card
Hilton Honors American Express Card	7x points on Hilton purchases
	5x points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations
	3x points on all other eligible purchases on your Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card	12x points at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
	6x points on select business and travel purchases
	3x points on all other eligible purchases

Elite Tier	Number of Stays	Number of Nights	Honors Base Points	Status Bonus
Silver	4 stays	10 nights	25,000	20% — 12x per $1
Gold	20 stays	40 nights	75,000	80% — 18x per $1
Diamond	30 stays	60 nights	120,000	100% — 20x per $1

Advertiser Disclosure

12 Best Ways To Earn Lots of Hilton Honors Points [2023]

Earning Points With Hilton Honors Credit Cards

Start by Joining Hilton Honors

1. Hilton Honors Credit Card Welcome Offer

Pros

Cons

Financial Snapshot

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Pros

Cons

Financial Snapshot

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Pros

Cons

Financial Snapshot

Card Categories

Pros

Cons

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Card Categories

Rewards Center

2. Category Bonus Points

3. Hilton Hotel Stays

4. Hilton Honors Elite Status Bonuses

5. Hilton Honors Promotions

Earning Points With Other Credit Cards

6. American Express Credit Cards

Recommended Amex Cards (Personal)

Pros

Cons

Financial Snapshot

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Pros

Cons

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Card Categories

Rewards Center

Hilton Honors Travel Partners

7. Lyft

8. Car Rental Partners

Convert to Hilton Honors Points

9. Transfer Amtrak Rewards Points or Virgin Points to Hilton

Dining for Points

10. Hilton Honors Dining

Earn Points With Special Offers

11. Join Guest Opinion Rewards

Other Methods

12. Buy Hilton Honors Points

Final Thoughts

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Hilton Honors status tiers? Do they earn bonus points?

Can I earn Hilton Honors points by shopping?

Can I earn miles instead of Hilton Honors points?

How many Hilton Honors points are earned per night or stay?

What is the Hilton Honors customer service number?

Can I transfer points to Hilton Honors from other loyalty programs?

Is there a Hilton Honors credit card that earns points?

When do Hilton Honors points expire?

How many Hilton points do I need for a free night?

What are Hilton points worth?

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