Hotel cards are a major part of our travel hacking plan.  Not only can we stay for free, with elite status, but we can also often get breakfast for free!  Free travel, free lodging, free breakfast, and sometimes a room upgrade – that is a travel point and miles user’s dream!

Here’s the current information on the Hilton Credit Cards. Remember that offers change frequently so do not be surprised if you click a link and the offer differs. We try to keep them current.

 

Hilton Honors American Express Card

 

• $0 Annual Fee
• 7 points per dollar spent at Hilton properties
• 5 points per dollar spent at grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants
• 3 points per dollar spent everywhere else
• Complimentary Hilton Silver Status

 

 

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card

 

• $150 Annual Fee
• 12 points per dollar spent at Hilton properties
• 6 points per dollar spent at grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants
• 4 points per dollar spent on online retail purchases
• 3 points per dollar spent everywhere else
• Complimentary Hilton Gold Status
• $200 Hilton credit ($50 each quarter)
• 1 night reward at Hilton property after $15,000 spend in a calendar year
• Executive status with National Car Rentals

 

 

Hilton Honors Business Card

 

• $95 Annual Fee – changing to $195 on 6/30/24
• 12 points per dollar spent at Hilton properties
• 6 points per dollar spent at grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants
• 6 points per dollar on business spend
• 3 points per dollar spent everywhere else
• Complimentary Hilton Gold Status
• 10 free Priority Pass Lounge Passes – no longer a benefit after 6/30/24
• 1 weekend night reward at Hilton property after $15,000 spend in a calendar year – no longer a benefit after 6/30/24

 

 

Hilton Honors Aspire Card

 

• $550 Annual Fee
• 14 points per dollar spent at Hilton properties
• 7 points per dollar spent at grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants
• 3 points per dollar spent everywhere else
• Complimentary Hilton Diamond Status
• 1  night reward at Hilton property each year of card membership
• $200 airline fee credit ($50 per quarter) – airfare now counts!
• $400 resort credit ($200 twice per year) – begins 1/2024
• Free night award with $30K spend and with $60K spend
• $189 CLEAR reimbursement
• Executive status with National Car Rentals
• Cell phone protection ($50 deductible, maximum of $800 per claim)

 

 

 

Hilton stays start at 5,000 and can go up to 95,000 points. They don’t have a set award chart like Hyatt. The cost of points fluctuates depending on the location, demand, and season. You can check out the Hilton Points Explorer Tool, which shows you the minimum and the maximum number of points you could expect to spend at a particular hotel.

Let’s say I want to go to Bali.  I can stay at the Bali Hilton Garden Inn Airport for 5,000 points or the Conrad Bali for 41,000 -60,000 points.  It’s all up to you – spend your nights staying at economical hotels and get more stays, or go for luxury and use them at the nicer hotels.

 

So, what’s up with hotel status?  What will it get you with Hilton Hotels?

 

Silver Status:

• 5th night free on award stays
• 2 complimentary bottles of water

 

Gold status:

• 5th night free on award stays
• 80% point bonus on paid stays
• 2 complimentary bottles of water
• Room upgrades, when available
• Daily Food & Beverage Credit (U.S. hotels only) or Continental Breakfast (non-U.S. hotels)
• Welcome amenities or bonus points at check-in

 

Diamond status:

• 5th night free on award stays
• 100 % point bonus on paid stays
• 2 complimentary bottles of water
• Complimentary free premium internet
• Room upgrades, including suites
• Daily Food & Beverage Credit (U.S. hotels only) or Continental Breakfast (non-U.S. hotels)
• Executive lounge access (free breakfasts there and also often  hor d’ oeuvres in the evening and drinks)
• Welcome amenities or bonus points at check-in

 

Remember that you can only get American Express bonuses once per lifetime for each card.  Remember that you can refer your spouse to those same cards and have many Hilton points!!

 

Not everyone is willing to pay a high annual fee, but I have found that the perks often outweigh the fee.  In the case of the Aspire card, the annual fee is $450, but when you use the $250 Hilton resort credit and the $250 airline credit, you basically have paid for the card.  You still have the free weekend night, and with the free breakfasts and upgrades you will get, I think it is well worth the fee.  You can always downgrade to the no-fee card after a year if you don’t think it is worth it.

 

Bottom Line

Hilton has some great offers and is another good program to use for hotel rooms. They have hotels available all over the world, which may be a great option for you.