The Hilton Honors American Express Card is an entry-level card featuring 7 points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases and complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, plus 5 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. restaurants.
American Express also offers three other Hilton Cards:
- Mid-Tier: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (review).
- Luxury Travel: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card (review).
- Small Businesses: Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (review).
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- 7X Points at Hilton Hotels and Resorts
- 5X Points at U.S. Restaurants, U.S. Supermarkets, and U.S. Gas Stations
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver Status
- No Annual Fee (Rates and Fees)
Welcome Bonus
The Hilton Honors Amex currently offers the following welcome bonus:
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Earning Points
The Hilton Honors Amex earns Hilton Honors points at the following rate:
- 7 points per dollar on stays at Hilton hotels and resorts (including your room and on-site spending at restaurants, spas, etc.);
- 5 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery);
- 5 points per dollar at U.S. gas stations;
- 5 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets;
- 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Hilton Honors Card Benefits
The Hilton Honors Amex offers the following benefits:
Hilton Honors Silver Elite Status
Cardmembers earn Hilton Silver elite status, which has limited perks of a 15% points bonus on Hilton stays, two complimentary bottles of water per stay, and a fifth night free on award stays.
Path to Hilton Gold Status
If you spend $20,000 in a calendar year, you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Gold elite status.
Access to Amex Offers
This card has access to Amex Offers, which are deals that are linked to your card, allowing you to save money or earn extra points on shopping, dining, and travel.
For example, there could be an offer such as spending $200+ at Marriott Hotels and Resorts and receiving $50 cash back as a statement credit.
You can find all of your Amex Offers by signing into your American Express account. You will need to “Add to Card” each offer to be eligible for the special offer.
Complimentary ShopRunner Membership
This card offers a complimentary membership to ShopRunner, giving you free two-day shipping and free returns at 100+ online retailers.
Eligible stores include Bloomingdales, Under Armour, American Eagle, Saks Off 5th, Cole Hann, Fanatics, Vera Bradley, Jockey, Kate Spade, NFL Shop, NBA Store, MLB Shop, and Coach.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
This card has no foreign transaction fees on purchases outside the U.S., which is helpful if you travel internationally to help you avoid paying a 3% fee on those international purchases.
Travel and Purchase Protections
The Hilton Honors Amex offers the following travel and purchase protections:
Secondary Rental Car Insurance*
Secondary rental car insurance covers any damage to a rental car not covered by your primary insurance when you pay for the rental using this card.
Other credit cards offer primary rental car insurance, which pays before your insurance and saves you the hassle of filing multiple insurance claims.
You still need to maintain liability car insurance to cover damage to another person or property.
Extended Warranty*
Credit card extended warranty protection adds up to an additional year of coverage for eligible purchases on manufacturer’s warranties up to 5 years.
For example, if you bought a TV with a manufacturer’s warranty of three years, this card would extend the warranty for free to the fourth year.
Purchase Protection*
Purchase protection could save you a lot of money if you bought an eligible item that is damaged or stolen within 90-days.
For example, if you accidentally dropped your new phone or laptop and broke the screen, you could file a claim to get it replaced if the item was purchased within the last 90 days.
*(Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/
Advantages and Disadvantages
Here’s a quick overview of this card’s advantages and disadvantages:
Pros:
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Extra points at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. restaurants.
Cons:
- The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (review) offers more points on spending.
- No free night award like the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card (review).
Alternatives to the Hilton Honors Amex
Now that you know about this credit card’s various benefits and pros and cons, it’s time to see its alternatives.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- 130,000 Hilton Points Plus a Free Night Award After $2,000 in Eligible Purchases in the First 3 Months
- 12X Points at Hilton Hotels and Resorts
- 6X Points at U.S. Restaurants, U.S. Supermarkets, and U.S. Gas Stations
- Hilton Honors Gold Status
- 10 Complimentary Priority Pass Lounge Visits
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- $95 Annual Fee (rates & fees)
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card boasts great earning potential at Hilton properties and comes with complimentary Gold elite status, which features perks like space-available upgrades, better earnings, and free hot breakfast on Hilton stays.
For an affordable $95 fee, this rewards card earns:
- 12 points per dollar at Hilton Hotels and resorts;
- 6 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations; and
- 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
You also receive a free weekend night reward after spending $15,000 per year and 10 complimentary lounge visits to Priority Pass lounges.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
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- 5x Points on Travel Booked Via Chase
- 3x Points on Dining and Eligible Delivery Services
- 2x Points on All Other Travel Purchases
- 10% Anniversary Points Boost
- Trip Delay and Trip Cancellation Insurance
- Primary Rental Car Insurance
- $95 Annual Fee
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the best rewards cards for travelers who want solid earning rates for travel and dining expenses.
For only $95 per year, this card earns 5x Chase Ultimate Rewards points on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, 3x points on dining, online groceries, and streaming services, and 2x on all other travel purchases.
Cardholders will also get a 10% anniversary points bonus, a 12-month DoorDash DashPass subscription when activated by December 31, 2024, and a $50 anniversary hotel statement credit.
Plus, it provides extensive travel protections, including trip delay, primary rental car, baggage, and purchase protection plans.
IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card
- Earn 140,000 IHG Bonus Points After $3,000 in Purchases in the First 3 Months
- 10x Points at IHG Hotels and Resorts
- 5x Points on Travel, Dining, and Gas
- 3x Points on All Other Purchases
- IHG Platinum Elite Status
- Anniversary Free Night
- 4th Night Free on Awards
- Baggage and Trip Interruption/Cancellation Insurance
- Purchase Protection for 120 Days
- $99 Annual Fee
The IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card is the easiest shortcut to obtaining IHG Platinum elite status, which is a higher tier that offers a 60% points bonus, complimentary suite upgrades, milestone rewards, and late check-out.
The $99 annual fee is easy to recoup for IHG loyalists, as the card comes with a free anniversary hotel night at hotels costing 40,000 points or at least $125 per night plus a fourth night free that you can use to maximize the 140,000 welcome bonus points earned after spending $3,000.
The IHG Premier offers solid returns on spending, earning 10x points at IHG properties plus 10x points for your IHG Rewards membership and 6x points for having the Platinum Elite status for a total of 26x points on hotel stays, and 5x points on travel, gas, and dining.
This card has a wide array of protections, including trip cancellation, travel accident, baggage delay, purchase, and secondary rental car insurance.
Is the Hilton Honors Card Worth It?
If you are looking for an entry-level Hilton credit card that earns pretty good rewards, the Hilton Honors Amex is a good option.
However, if you stay at Hilton Hotels more than 3 times per year or want airport lounge access, check out the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (review).
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- 7X Points at Hilton Hotels and Resorts
- 5X Points at U.S. Restaurants, U.S. Supermarkets, and U.S. Gas Stations
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver Status
- No Annual Fee (Rates and Fees)
