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Best Hotel Credit Cards for Hilton Loyalists in 2024
Updated: September 30, 2024
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American Express provides co-branded Hilton Honors credit cards for personal and business customers alike. It also offers a no-annual-fee option for people who aren’t looking for much in the way of added perks.
The points you stand to earn per dollar spent varies based on the card you get. For example, while you may earn up to 7x points per dollar on category-based spending with the Hilton Honors American Express Card, this changes to up to 12x points with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
Using any Hilton Honors card outside of the U.S. is ideal as none of the existing ones charge foreign transaction fees. Travel- and Hilton-specific benefits vary from one card to the next. The APR that applies to your card also needs your attention when making a selection.
OUR REVIEW AT A GLANCE
MoneyGeek experts go through all existing and new cards from this segment every month. The in-depth comparison that follows to select the best Hilton Honors credit cards accounts for parameters such as welcome offers, reward rates, annual fees, APRs and added benefits.
If you are considering looking at what other hotel credit cards have to offer, you may benefit by checking our list of all the top hotel credit cards in the U.S.
10Welcome Offer and Hotel Rewards Rate
-7%Annual Fee
-5%APR and Foreign Transaction Fees
MoneyGeek’s Take: Top 3 Hilton Honors Credit Cards
Quick Summary
- Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: This business credit card is perfect for earning Hilton Honors points.
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: An excellent credit card for earning Hilton Honors points.
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: A great card for Hilton loyalists.
All the top Hilton Honors credit cards give you the ability to earn higher points when you spend across different bonus categories, although they come with different reward rates. Welcome offers also vary based on the card you select. Other factors that need your attention when choosing a card from this segment include hotel- and travel-related perks, annual fees and APRs.
- The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Great for earning Hilton Honors points
- 3–12 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $195Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is a powerful tool for businesses, particularly those with frequent travel or dining needs. Its standout benefits are the generous welcome offer and robust hotel perks, which include status upgrades and free nights. Its diverse earning categories make accumulating points easy and rewarding, and no foreign transaction fees make it a great companion for international travel. While the value of Hilton Honors points might be lower than some competitors, the card's high earning rates can offset this if they align with your typical business spending. Lastly, its annual fee is modest and can easily be justified considering the rich rewards and perks, delivering both practical value and a touch of luxury for your business.
Pros
- Attainable welcome offer
- Hotel perks, including status and free nights
- Variety of earning categories
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Hilton points have a lower value than competitors
- Modest annual fee
Introductory Offers
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $8,000 in the first six months. Offer valid until January 8, 2025.
Rewards
- Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible Hilton purchases.
- Earn 5X points on other purchases up to $100,000 each calendar year, and 3X points thereafter.
Perks & Benefits
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status, with an 80% bonus on base points earned during stays.
- Upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond Status if you spend $40,000 or more in a calendar year.
- Receive up to $60 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with Hilton properties.
- Enroll for complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status through your American Express online account.
APRS, Fees, and Penalties
- Annual fee of $195 See Rates and Fees
- APR: 20.24% - 29.24% Variable See Rates and Fees
- Terms Apply.
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
An excellent credit card for earning Hilton Honors points
- 3–12 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $150Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a fantastic option for travelers, especially those with a penchant for Hilton stays. Imagine walking into a Hilton property and enjoying complimentary upgrades, thanks to the Gold Status that comes with this card. Whether you're dining out stateside or shopping online, you're racking up points at an impressive rate. And for the globetrotters, there's no need to worry about those pesky foreign transaction fees. The card does have an annual fee, and while the perks cater primarily to Hilton enthusiasts, its broad rewards system can offer value to many.
Pros
- Generous welcome bonus
- Purchases from Hilton get bonus points
- Complimentary Hilton upgrades
- No foreign transaction fees See Rates & Fees
Cons
- With annual fee
- Benefits mostly Hilton-centric
Introductory Offers
- Earn 165,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you spend $3,000 within the first six months. Offer valid until January 8, 2025.
Rewards
- Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar spent directly with Hilton hotels and resorts.
- Earn 6X points at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations.
- Earn 4X points on U.S. online retail purchases.
- Earn 3X points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive a Free Night Reward after spending $15,000 in a calendar year.
Perks & Benefits
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status.
- Achieve Hilton Honors Diamond Status by spending $40,000 in a calendar year.
- Complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status. Enrollment required.
APRS, Fees, and Penalties
- No foreign transaction fees on international purchases. See Rates and Fees
- $150 annual fee. See Rates and Fees
- Terms Apply.
- Hilton Honors American Express Card
A rewarding travel card for people who are casual guests at Hilton hotels and resorts
- 3–7 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a traveler's dream come true. With no annual fee and a generous welcome bonus, it's a financial no-brainer for those frequenting Hilton properties or just seeking exceptional value. Whether dining out stateside or shopping abroad, you'll accumulate points seamlessly without those pesky foreign transaction fees. And here's the kicker — this card instantly boosts you to Hilton's Silver status! Want more perks? Just up your spending game, and Gold status awaits. This card truly embraces both the occasional and the dedicated traveler.
Pros
- No annual fee See Rates and Fees
- Generous welcome bonus
- High earning rates with Hilton
- No foreign transaction fees See Rates and Fees
- Automatic Hilton Silver status
Cons
- Potentially high APR
- High credit requirement
Introductory Offers
- Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $2,000 in the first six months. Offer ends January 8, 2025.
Rewards
- Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar spent directly with Hilton hotels and resorts.
- Earn 5X points on purchases at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations.
- Earn 3X points on all other eligible purchases.
Perks & Benefits
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status.
- Upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold status by spending $20,000 in a calendar year.
- No foreign transaction fees for international purchases.
APRS, Fees, and Penalties
- No annual fee. See Rates and Fees
Summary of the Best Hotel Cards for Hilton Loyalists
Take a quick look at this Hilton Honors cards comparison table to determine which of the top cards might work best for you based on factors such as who these cards are best suited for, annual fees, points per dollar rates and the creditworthiness needed to apply.
>> MORE: BEST CREDIT CARDS FOR MARRIOTT LOYALISTS
- Credit CardBest ForAvg. Reward RateAnnual FeeCredit Needed
- The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Great for earning Hilton Honors points3–12 Points per $1*$195 - Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
An excellent credit card for earning Hilton Honors points3–12 Points per $1*$150 - Hilton Honors American Express Card
A rewarding travel card for people who are casual guests at Hilton hotels and resorts3–7 Points per $1*$0 - Hilton Honors American Express CardA rewarding travel card for people who are casual guests at Hilton hotels and resorts3–7 Points per $1*$0
MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP
Even if you only travel a few times a year, the higher-end Hilton cards may be worth the extra fee. These cards provide automatic elite status, which may qualify you for free breakfast, lounge access, upgraded rooms and late check-out, which might otherwise cost hundreds of dollars per trip. -- Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com.
How to Compare Hotel Credit Cards & Intro Offers
While the top credit cards for Hilton loyalists come with some similarities, there are a few differences you should know about as well. Only then will you be able to select a card that works well for you.
- 1
Welcome offer
The number of welcome bonus points you may earn as a new cardholder depends on the card you get. For example, the Hilton Honors American Express Card offers 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $2,000 in the first 6 months. Other Hilton Honors cards come with similar offers, but the points received and/or spend-based requirements differ.
- 2
Rewards rate
The points-per-dollar rate and applicable bonus categories are not the same across all the top Hilton Honors cards. The Amex Hilton Honors Surpass Card offers 12x points on eligible purchases at hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio; 6x points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery, on groceries at U.S. supermarkets, and on gas purchases at U.S. gas stations; and 3x miles on all other categories. The Amex Hilton Honors Aspire Card offers 14x points on eligible purchases at hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio; 7x points on flights you book through AmexTravel or directly with airlines and on car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies; 7x points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery; and 3x points on all other purchases.
- 3
Annual fee
The Amex Hilton Honors Card makes for a good no-annual-fee option, especially if you’re not looking for much in the way of features and perks. On the other end of the spectrum is another card on our list of the best credit cards for Hilton Loyalists — the Amex Hilton Honors Aspire Card — which has a $450 annual fee.
- 4
Hilton-specific benefits
These largely depend on the annual fee you’re prepared to pay. For example, the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors card comes with complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status. The Hilton Honors Surpass Card, which has a $95 annual fee, gives you complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status and spend-based weekend night rewards. The Hilton Honors Aspire Card, on the other hand, offers complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status, Hilton Resort statement credit, Hilton on-property credit and spend-based weekend night rewards in exchange for a $450 annual fee.
- 5
APR
If you plan to carry balances over from one billing cycle to the next, you might be better off getting a low APR card instead of one that offers rewards.
- 6
Foreign transaction fee
None of the existing credit cards for Hilton loyalists charge foreign transaction fees, although this is not the case with all American Express cards.
- 7
Added features/perks
Other card-specific features and benefits might come in the form of return protection, complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, airline fee credit and travel insurance coverage. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card lets you get additional employee cards and gives you access to different expense management tools.
Further Reading
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About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.