The Different Types of American Express Hilton Credit Cards

If you find yourself staying at the same hotel chain over and over again, you may want to consider adding a dedicated hotel travel credit card to your wallet. Hotel credit cards offer a range of benefits and rewards tailored to frequent hotel guests, such as complimentary nights and other exclusive perks.

For those who enjoy staying at Hilton hotels and resorts in particular, you can get more out of your travels with a Hilton Honors American Express^® Card. In this article, we’ll look through each of the three Hilton Honors Cards offered by American Express and see how to choose the right one for your needs.

Let’s break down each of the Hilton Honors American Express Cards and take a look at their reward structures, features, and benefits. To get started, each of the three Cards comes with the following features:

• No Foreign Transactions Fees: No matter where you’re traveling, all of the Hilton Honors Amex Cards have no additional foreign transaction fees, so you can enjoy international travel without having to worry about fees on purchases made abroad.^1,3,5
• Access to American Express Experiences: Hilton Honors Card Members can stay in the know with exclusive access to ticket presales and Card Member-only events in a city near them. Explore the latest Broadway shows, concert tours, sporting events, and more.
• Send & Split^®: If you’ve ever traveled with friends, you know that shared expenses can get tricky to keep track of. Send & Split enhances the way you send money and split purchases with other Venmo or PayPal users, all in the American Express App – making that next group trip hassle-free. Enrollment required. Terms apply.  

If you’re an occasional traveler that tends to stay at Hilton hotels and resorts, the Hilton Honors American Express Card may be a good option to consider. Since there’s no annual fee¹, Card Members can start earning Hilton Honors Bonus Points with no yearly commitment. With earning multipliers across everyday purchases – you can get rewarded just by living your everyday life. And as a bonus, you can enjoy Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver Status.

Annual Fee: $0¹

How You Earn:

• 7X Points on eligible purchases made directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
• 5X Points on dining at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery), U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
• 3X Points on all other eligible purchases.

Featured Benefit:

• Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver Status: Enjoy even more perks as a Hilton Honors Silver member, like a 20% bonus on all Base Points, getting you to free nights faster.²

And lastly, for the frequent travelers and Hilton-enthusiasts, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card can help you unlock extraordinary travel. The Card comes with the highest earning structure, a generous amount of statement credits, plus Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond Status and more.

Annual Fee: $550⁵

How You Earn:

• 14X Points on eligible purchases made directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
• 7X Points on flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies.
• 7X Points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery.
• 3X Points on all other eligible purchases.

Featured Benefits:

• Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond Status: Enjoy even more perks as a Hilton Honors Diamond member, 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, and more.
• $400 Hilton Resort Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts on your Card. That's up to $400 back annually. No minimum purchase required.
• Free Night Reward: Enjoy an Annual Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors in your first year of Card Membership and every year upon Card renewal. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Reward from Hilton after making $30,000 in purchases and another after making $60,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
• $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 or though amextravel.com using your Card.
• $189 CLEAR Plus^® Credit: CLEAR Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Use the dedicated CLEAR Lane to confirm your identity without taking out your passport or ID – this can mean shorter lines, less waiting. Receive up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Card.
• $100 Hilton On-Property Credit: Receive up to a $100 credit for qualifying charges at participating Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts properties when you book a 2 night minimum stay with your Card at hiltonhonorsaspirecard.com.⁶

Wondering which Card is right for your needs? Here are some factors to keep in mind when considering your options:

1. How you prefer to travel 
   One of the most important factors is how you prefer to travel, as well as how frequently you travel. Choosing a credit card that aligns with your lifestyle preferences can help you to get the most out of your stays.
   
   If you only travel and stay at Hilton hotels occasionally, it might make the most sense to go for the base Hilton Honors Card so you can earn points without paying an annual fee. However, if you’re a frequent flier and a loyal guest at Hilton hotels, the Hilton Honors Surpass or Aspire Card may be better options to consider.


2. Earning potential 
   While all three of the Hilton Honors American Express Cards offer Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible purchases, each Card offers different multipliers on different categories that can impact how quickly you earn points. 
   
   For example, the base Hilton Honors Card is a great option for those that want to earn points through everyday purchases, while the Hilton Honors Aspire Card can help you earn points on select travel purchases. 
   
   Additionally, each Card comes with different statement credits and benefits, so it’s important to look at each option carefully and assess which one is best for your lifestyle and traveling habits.


3. Paying annual fees 
   Annual fees are another consideration, as the Hilton Honors American Express Cards range from $0 to a $550^1,3,5 annual fee, depending on the Card. Some Card Members find that the included benefits and rewards more than offset the annual fee, while others may prefer a no-fee option. Ultimately, it’s dependent on your own needs and preferences and how you envision yourself using the Card.