The offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us. That may influence which products we write about, but it does not affect what we write about them. Here's an explanation of how we make money and our Advertiser Disclosure.

Hilton Honors American Express Card review: Lots of reward opportunities for Hilton loyalists

Dori Zinn
·Contributing writer
Updated 7 min read
In this article:

Loyal Hilton customers will love this American Express travel credit card with no annual fee and generous introductory bonus offers. While you should have at least good credit to qualify for this credit card, it might be worth applying for if you’re a frequent traveler and prefer to stay at Hilton-branded hotels and properties. While this card isn’t restricted to only Hilton use, you can maximize your rewards when you travel and stay with Hilton.

Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees)

Welcome offer: Earn 70,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after spending $2,000 within the first 6 months (offer ends 7/31/2024)

Rewards:

  • 7x points on eligible purchases at Hilton properties

  • 5x points at U.S.-based restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations

  • 3x points for all other eligible purchases

More details: You’re also eligible for complimentary Hilton Honors silver status, which offers a 20% bonus on all base points earned during your stay.

The Hilton Honors American Express card has a variable APR of 20.99% to 29.99% on purchases. There is a 29.99% APR on cash advances and a 29.99% penalty APR whenever it applies.

There’s no annual fee for the Hilton Honors American Express card.

The Hilton Honors Amex has a significant sign-up bonus. You can earn 70,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in the first six months after signing up. That’s an average of $333 a month, and you can use your card anywhere Amex is accepted.

Earning rewards with the Hilton Honors Amex card largely depends on where you shop and how often you travel.

  • 7x bonus points when you use your card on eligible purchases for Hilton properties

  • 5x bonus points when you use your card on eligible purchases at U.S.-based restaurants, grocery stores, and gas stations

  • 3x bonus points when you use your card anywhere else

Depending on what you redeem, not all Hilton Honors point redemptions equal the same amount. For instance, redeeming rewards as a statement credit may yield a different amount than redeeming for hotel rooms, experiences, or rental cars.

As you earn and cash in points, keep in mind that if you don’t make at least the minimum payment by the payment due date, you could forfeit your points earned during that billing period.

Read more:

This card is best for folks loyal to Hilton and most Hilton properties. If you like Hilton and know you can stay at a Hilton-owned hotel or resort during your travels and travel regularly, this card will work great for you.

Aside from the significant earnings when traveling, you can earn points during everyday shopping, and then use those points for your future travels.

Aside from the generous point-earning potential, there are other benefits to using the Hilton Honors American Express card.

  • No annual fee. Many travel-based credit cards charge an annual fee, but this card doesn’t.

  • Silver Status. You’ll automatically get Hilton Honors Silver Status. This gets you a 20% bonus on base points for every stay and you’ll get a fifth night free when you book a room with your points.

  • No foreign transaction fee. You won’t face the additional fee when traveling outside of the U.S.

  • Upgrade to Gold Status. If you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases the first year you have the Hilton Honors American Express card, you could earn Gold Status. This gives you an 80% bonus on base points you earn during your stays, upgraded rooms when available, and, in some cases, room and beverage daily credits during your stay.

  • Car rental insurance. Rent your car with your Hilton Honors American Express card, and your car will be covered for damage or theft.*

  • Member-only experiences. Using your American Express gives you access to experiences when you stay in select cities.

  • Free Wi-Fi. Get free Wi-Fi in Hilton lobbies and your room at participating Hilton properties.

  • Second guest stays free. You can get a second guest to stay in your room without a charge if there is otherwise a fee for double occupancy.

*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Related: Do you need a credit card to rent a car?

  • Some fees apply. You could face fees for a cash advance, late payment, returned payment, and a plan fee if you use one.

  • Must be loyal to Hilton. This card won't work if you like Hilton but often stay at other hotels and resorts. You’re locked into a Hilton loyalty program, so if you want to branch out and take advantage of stays at other places, you may want to skip this one.

  • Low point redemption. While you can redeem points a few different ways, redeeming points isn’t as valuable as other rewards programs. While you can use this Amex card wherever American Express is accepted, you don’t earn as much in general categories as you would with other cashback cards.

You can use your Hilton Honors card wherever American Express is accepted. You’ll earn more using your card on Hilton-specific purchases, including stays at specific hotels and resorts. Even though your earning power is higher when you spend at Hilton, you can use your card virtually anywhere else in the U.S.

You can make a payment on your Hilton Honors American Express card a few different ways.

  1. On your mobile app. While this is a Hilton-branded credit card, it’s still an American Express-issued card. You’ll need to download the American Express app to link your card and add your bank account to make payments.

  2. Online. Log into your account at americanexpress.com, where you can make a one-time payment or set up automated payments.

  3. On the phone. You can call American Express through the number on the back of your Hilton Honors card.

If you need to contact American Express about your Hilton Honors card, you should first call the number on the back of your card. American Express has 24-hour customer service, so you can call anytime to talk to someone about your account.

You can also log into your American Express account and look for the “chat” icon to chat with customer service.

Here are several other travel credit cards to consider alongside the Hilton Honors card.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Rates & fees, terms apply
  • Annual fee
    $150
  • Welcome offer
    Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months (offer ends 7/31/2024)
  • Card type(s)
    Travel, Hotel
  • Ongoing Purchases APR
    20.99%-29.99% Variable
  • Recommended credit score
    Good, Excellent
  • Rewards rate
    • 12x points on eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio
    • 6x points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. 4x points for each dollar on U.S. online retail purchases
    • 3x points on all other eligible purchases
  • Benefits
    • Earn a Free Night Reward after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year
    • Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and earn Hilton Honors Diamond Status through the end of the next calendar year
    • Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad

Why we like it: This is still a Hilton Honors American Express card but with a few more perks. You’ll earn 12x points on hotel and resort stays at participating Hilton properties. You’ll also earn 6x on U.S.-based restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations, plus 4x points on U.S. online retail purchases (see rates and fees).

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass card has a $150 annual fee, which is more than you’ll pay with the regular Hilton Honors card. But it’s a lot less than some other travel-specific credit cards. It also keeps you in the Hilton family, giving you automatic gold status, free stays, statement credits, and more.

Learn more

Related: When is a credit card annual fee worth it?

The VentureOne Rewards card from Capital One doesn’t have an annual fee, just like the Hilton Honors American Express card. But you have more opportunities to earn rewards through everyday shopping. You’ll earn 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase, plus 5 miles per dollar when you book hotels and rental cars through the Capital One Travel portal. There’s no cap, so you can earn unlimited miles.

There’s also a 0% introductory APR for the first 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers (19.99%–29.99% variable APR after that). New cardmembers can earn 20,000 bonus points if you spend $500 in the first three months of account opening.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

The Blue Cash Everyday Amex boasts 3% cash back at U.S.-based supermarkets, gas stations, and online retailers (on up to $6,000 per year per category), then 1% cash back after that, as well as 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. You’ll also receive a $7 monthly statement credit after using your card to spend $9.99 or more monthly on a Disney Bundle subscription. Cash back is received as reward dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout.

This card has a $0 annual fee, along with a 0% introductory APR on both purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from account opening (19.24%–29.99% variable APR after that).

Check out our full review of the Blue Cash Everyday Amex card

This article was edited by Rebecca McCracken

Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.