I’ve been a huge fan of Hilton’s cobranded credit cards for years. Over the last decade, I’ve used them for countless trips, from overwater bungalow vacations in far-flung locales to quick city stays where convenience was paramount.
While the cards come packed with perks, to me, the earning rates are what set them apart. The ability to earn bonus Hilton Honors points on stays booked directly with Hilton is unmatched, and it’s this feature that has me constantly recommending these cards to friends and family, whether they’re avid travelers or occasional Hilton guests.
But like with any credit cards you may be considering, it’s important to choose the Hilton card that best fits your travel style. Check out the breakdown below to see which may make the most sense for you.
The casual traveler — Hilton Honors American Express Card
For infrequent travelers, the Hilton Honors American Express Card is the best place to start. With plenty of benefits and no annual fee (see rates and fees), it’s easy for anyone to reap value from the card, even if you only take one or two trips per year.
For starters, new cardmembers can currently earn 100,000 bonus points and a $100 statement credit after spending $2,000 in purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership. Terms apply. Considering that 100,000 points is enough for a free night at many luxury properties — such as Mexico’s Conrad Punta de Mita, where nightly rates can top $500 — that’s a stellar return on a card that costs nothing to carry.
But beyond the welcome offer, the card has some key features that make it a good long-term pick for those who spend most of their time close to home. It earns bonus points in popular domestic categories, netting five points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, on groceries at U.S. supermarkets and at U.S. gas stations. Plus, it earns three points per dollar on all other eligible purchases, helping cardmembers rack up rewards on their everyday expenses. Terms apply.
It also earns seven points per dollar on purchases made directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio, meaning that even if you only stay a handful of times per year, using the card to pay will maximize your spend. Terms apply.
The road tripper — Hilton Honors American Express Card
If you often take longer car trips, the Hilton Honors American Express Card is a natural fit for your wallet. Bonus points at U.S. gas stations will have you getting closer to your next vacation every time you fuel up. Meanwhile, the bonus at U.S. restaurants covers everything from drive-thrus and roadside stops to upscale eateries where you can unwind at the end of a long day on the road. And the bonus at U.S. supermarkets is another win for drivers; I often stop at supermarkets near the highway during road trips to charge my EV, load up on drinks and snacks or take my dog for a short walk. Terms apply.
And while you can certainly use your welcome offer on one night at a high-end property, you can also stretch it for multiple nights along a road trip route, particularly if you’re staying in smaller cities. For example, 100,000 points could be enough for up to four 25,000-point nights at properties like the Spark by Hilton Roanoke Airport in Roanoke, Virginia — a city I’ve personally enjoyed exploring while road tripping from Washington, D.C. to Asheville, North Carolina.
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You can stretch that stash even further if you put the Hilton Honors Silver status that comes with the card to work. Silver members are eligible for the fifth night free on standard room stays booked with 100% points, a perk road trippers can maximize by picking one hotel as a home base and taking day trips. Using this strategy, you can get to six or even seven free nights at a 16,000-points-per-night property like Spark by Hilton Colorado Springs.
The urban explorer — Hilton Honors Surpass Card
Those who love exploring cities will find a great match in the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. The card comes with a quarterly statement credit of up to $50 for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on the Surpass Card (up to $200 per calendar year) that you can use at any Hilton hotel. That feature sets it apart from the rest of the card portfolio as a better fit for city stayers. Terms apply.
Cardholders also receive complimentary Hilton Gold status, which offers benefits such as space-available room upgrades at select properties. Upgraded rooms often mean larger rooms, and that extra space can really make a difference in destinations where rooms are notoriously small (hello, New York City). Terms apply.
Another feature of Gold status I love is the daily food & beverage credit at select U.S. brands that guests receive. It’s extremely flexible, so you can use it for breakfast before a long day of exploring, grab-and-go options to take with you while you sightsee or at a trendy hotel rooftop bar overlooking the city skyline. Terms apply.
The budget-conscious — Hilton Honors Surpass Card
While it may seem like Hilton’s no-annual-fee card is the best bet for those on a budget, the Surpass card can actually help you come out ahead. Right now, through July 29, new cardmembers can get a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 each year after (see rates and fees).
Plus, earn 130,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership — meaning you can get a lot of value for the first cardmember year before even paying the annual fee. Terms apply.
On top of that, the card’s statement credits can help cover on-property expenses, putting a dent in your bill at checkout. And high earning rates across a wide range of categories — including six points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, on groceries at U.S. supermarkets and at U.S. gas stations and four points per dollar on U.S. online retail purchases — help you accrue points faster for award stays. Terms apply.
The Surpass also offers opportunities to spend your way to incredible perks, such as an upgrade to Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year after spending $40,000 on eligible purchases on the card in a calendar year. Plus, this card comes with my favorite perk in the world of points and miles: a free night reward that can be earned after spending $15,000 in purchases on the card in a calendar year, redeemable at nearly any Hilton property worldwide, with no blackout dates or resort fees. In other words, for just one annual fee, you can access a slew of premium benefits and savings opportunities. Terms apply.
The business traveler — The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
No matter what kind of business you have, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has perks that will suit your needs. Its value proposition is simple: It earns 12 points per dollar on purchases made directly with Hilton hotels and resorts and five points per dollar on all other eligible purchases for the first $100,000 each calendar year, then three points per dollar thereafter. That flexibility allows you to rack up rewards at a fast clip without worrying about which of your purchases fall into bonus categories. Terms apply.
The card’s statement credits are just as flexible. Cardmembers get up to $60 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on the card, a perk you can use on any kind of business stay. Terms apply.
And new cardmembers can earn even more: The card is currently offering 130,000 bonus points, which you can earn after spending $8,000 in purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership. Plus, get a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year (then $195, see rates and fees). Terms apply.
The card also comes with Gold status and offers a pathway to earning Diamond status through the end of the following calendar year after spending $40,000 in eligible purchases on the card in a calendar year, which unlocks extra perks like a 100% bonus on Base Points you earn on every stay, premium Wi-Fi and space-available room upgrades at select properties, executive lounge access at select properties that can come in handy during jam-packed business trips. For many business travelers, the value of this card easily outweighs the annual fee. Terms apply.
The luxury vacationer — Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
If your travel style is a little luxe, this one’s for you. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card comes with Diamond status, making you eligible for VIP treatment, including space-available upgrades and executive lounge access at select properties and premium Wi-Fi. Terms apply.
It also features a pair of statement credits that can help you take a trip up a notch in the luxury department. Cardmembers receive up to $200 in statement credits semiannually for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts on the Hilton Honors Aspire Card, as well as an up to $100 on-property credit for qualifying charges at Waldorf Astoria® and Conrad® Hotels & Resorts properties when you book a two-night minimum stay with the card through HiltonHonorsAspireCard.com and select the Aspire Card Benefit rate option on the booking page, or by calling Hilton at 855-292-5757 with the proper booking reference. Those credits can cover on-property splurges, from spa treatments to upscale dinners. Terms apply.
But my ultimate favorite aspect of this card, and arguably the most important for luxury enthusiasts, is the Free Night Reward you receive in your first year of card membership and each year on your account anniversary. It’s redeemable for nearly any standard room in Hilton’s entire portfolio, subject to availability, including those at the top Hilton hotels around the world — no matter how much they cost in cash or points. I’ve used mine for ultra-high-end stays in the Maldives, Bora Bora and Hawaii, just to name a few. If you use this free night wisely, you can get enough value to easily justify the card’s $550 annual fee (see rates and fees). Terms apply.
Right now, you can also earn 175,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership, which is enough to score a night at a top-tier property. Terms apply.
The jet-setter — Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
The Aspire is the perfect companion for avid travelers. With the card, you can earn 14 points per dollar on purchases made directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio, ensuring you get an excellent return on your hotel spending to reach free nights quickly. Terms apply.
It also offers statement credits that can cut down travel expenses and hassle. You can use its $50 quarterly airline statement credit on airfare booked directly with airlines or via AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ when using your Hilton Honors Aspire Card (or on taxes and fees if you’re booking an award flight), and it offers up to $209 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay for a Clear+ membership with the Card (enrollment required; subject to auto-renewal) that can help you speed through the airport on travel days. Terms apply.
Bottom line
By booking stays directly through Hilton, you can not only earn points, but also ensure you get the best rate (thanks to the company’s Price Match Guarantee). But if you’re not also using a Hilton card on those stays, you’re leaving points— and perks— on the table.
Luckily, Hilton Honors has gotten more rewarding, and there’s a Hilton card for every travel style — whether you frequent hotels just a couple of times per year or are constantly on the go. And with the elevated offers we’re currently seeing on these cards, now is a great time to pick one up.
Learn more about the full suite of Hilton Honors cards here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, click here.
Stacie Harris is a local resident and reporter of the Maple Grove area. Stacie reports on medicine and science for the Maple Grove Report.
