Hilton Honors American Express Card Review

Once I first began touring, I lived out of hostels. They have been low cost and my finances was tight. Plus, as an introvert, they have been excellent for assembly fellow backpackers and getting me out of my consolation zone.

I nonetheless love the vibe of hostels, however lately, working a enterprise on the street means I typically want extra space and privateness. And I like sticking to 1 model as a result of you may get free breakfast, upgrades, and rooms.

Whether or not you’re a seasoned backpacker or simply an occasional traveler, having not less than one resort bank card is a game-changer. With huge bonuses, free nights, and additional perks, it’s the most effective methods to avoid wasting on lodging and stage up your resort expertise.

That’s why at the moment I wish to spotlight the most effective resort playing cards on the market from one in every of my favourite resort manufacturers: the Hilton Honors American Express Card. This entry stage card is nice for individuals who need a low charge card with good perks.

What’s the Hilton Honors American Categorical Card?

The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a resort rewards bank card. With this card, you’ll earn 5x factors at U.S. eating places, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gasoline stations. You’ll additionally get 3x factors on all different purchases. It has $0 annual charge (See Rates and Fees), making it nice for learners who don’t wish to get a card with an annual charge immediately.

Right here’s what the cardboard gives:

• Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Factors after you spend $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months. Supply ends 1/8/2025.
• 7x factors on Hilton lodges and resorts
• 5x factors on U.S. eating places, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gasoline stations
• 3x factors on all different purchases
• Complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver standing
• No overseas transaction charges
• Prolonged guarantee*: The cardboard comes with an prolonged guarantee that provides as much as one 12 months to an authentic producer’s guarantee of 5 years or much less.
• Buy safety*: Buy safety covers objects unintentionally broken, stolen or misplaced should you paid for them along with your card. This profit covers purchases for as much as 90 days and covers as much as $1,000 per merchandise (as much as $50,000 per calendar 12 months).
• Automotive rental insurance coverage**: Whenever you use the cardboard to order and pay for a automobile rental and decline the rental firm’s insurance coverage, you’re lined in opposition to harm and theft — as much as $50,000. This profit is secondary protection to your personal auto insurance coverage and doesn’t embrace legal responsibility.

Complimentary Card Profit: Hilton Honors Silver Standing

Being a member of Hilton Honors, Hilton’s loyalty program, gives a variety of perks and advantages (primarily based on elite standing in fact). To encourage vacationers to at all times e-book with Hilton, Hilton Honors gives free stays, room upgrades, and different advantages that make frequent stays worthwhile. It’s free to hitch this system, and primary members take pleasure in waived resort charges on award stays in addition to free Wi-Fi.

With out the cardboard, you’d earn greater standing by way of spending a selected variety of nights annually at a Hilton property. With the Hilton Honors Amex card although, you’ll get complimentary Hilton Honors Silver standing (usually you’d have to remain not less than 10 nights at a Hilton property inside a 12 months to earn this stage of standing).

Silver standing consists of:

• Earn 20% extra factors: Earn 20% extra factors on eligible stays in comparison with base members
• Fifth night time free on award stays: Whenever you e-book 4 nights on factors, you’ll get the fifth night time free (as much as a 20-night keep)
• Spa reductions: When staying at an all-inclusive Hilton property, you’ll get 15% off the spa
• Elite rollover nights: Carry over any extra nights from the present 12 months towards incomes greater elite standing subsequent 12 months
• Two complimentary bottles of water per keep: Get free bottles of water at check-in (the place accessible)

Whereas Silver is Hilton’s entry-level elite standing, it offers good worth, particularly for rare vacationers. I particularly just like the fifth night time free perk, which can be utilized a vast variety of occasions yearly (although it’s capped at 4 free nights directly, however who’s staying at a resort for 20 nights in a row?).

Utilizing Your Hilton Honors Factors

In contrast to World of Hyatt, Hilton Honors doesn’t publish an award chart. That implies that the variety of factors it takes to e-book a room for the night time isn’t set. As an alternative, the room fee varies dynamically primarily based on provide and demand. That implies that stays might be between 5,000–150,000 factors per night time (150k is for the Hilton resort within the Maldives) — generally much more!

That mentioned, you’ll discover that the majority stays hover round 30,000–60,000 factors per night time.

Sadly, the shortage of an award chart additionally means it’s a bit more difficult to determine easy methods to get the perfect worth out of your factors. You’ll be able to at all times manually search by places and properties you’re fascinated with, or use Hilton’s personal Points Explorer tool that can assist you discover stays bookable with factors. You’ll be able to filter by what number of factors you might have, vacation spot, and what sort of property you’re trying to e-book (similar to a resort or boutique resort).

Nonetheless, I like to recommend utilizing instruments like Awayz that can assist you discover the perfect offers and take advantage of out of your factors. Awayz helps you examine the money value to factors value to find out the place you’re getting essentially the most out of your factors. I’ve discovered some fairly nice offers utilizing it!
 

Professionals of the Hilton Honors Card

• No annual charge
• Complimentary elite standing
• Fifth night time free on award stays
• Elevated factors incomes charges at Hilton properties in addition to U.S. eating places, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gasoline stations

Cons of the Hilton Honors Card

• Standing perks are fairly primary
• No bonus factors earned on normal journey purchases

Who is that this Card For?

This card is greatest for followers of the Hilton model who wish to earn free stays utilizing a card that doesn’t carry an annual charge. In the event you’re advantageous with entry-level elite standing and respectable incomes charges in your spending, this card might be a stable selection.

However, should you’re after extra flexibility along with your rewards or wish to unlock higher Hilton perks (like free meals/beverage credit score or resort lounge entry), I’d counsel a mid-tier or premium Hilton card or perhaps a extra versatile travel rewards card. It’s all about matching the cardboard to the way you journey!

Cease paying full value for journey!

Obtain my free information to factors and miles and learn to use factors and miles without spending a dime journey! It is how all the professionals journey a lot! On this information, I am going to present you:

• How you can Choose a Credit score Card
• How you can Earn As much as 10x Miles on Your Spending
• How you can Redeem Your Factors
• And a Ton of Different Cash Saving Suggestions!

*Eligibility and profit ranges fluctuate by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.

**Eligibility and profit stage varies by card. Not all car sorts or leases are lined, and geographic restrictions apply. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Protection is obtainable by American Categorical Journey Associated Companies Firm, Inc.