A few weeks back, I wrote about how I booked my second Maldives trip in two years. I primarily leveraged the Hilton Aspire card to bank free night certificates and book premium properties in the Hilton portfolio. While the Hilton Aspire card is a fantastic card for people who stay frequently at Hilton, it may not be for everyone, given its $550 annual fee. If you’re looking to save on annual fees and simply dip your toes, then the Hilton Honors card is a great starter card.
Hilton Honors Card
I started dipping my toes into the world of miles and points in 2012. I had corporate travel each month, which meant that I had to stay at an Embassy Suites, given its proximity to my office. That’s when I first picked up a co-branded Hilton Honors card by American Express. If you’re looking to get started and want some points to book your Hilton stay, then the Hilton Honors card is a great option.
100,000 bonus points
View from our room at the all inclusive property Hilton Playa del Carmen in Mexico
The Hilton Honors card charges no annual fee. With this welcome bonus, you’ll earn 100,000 Hilton Honors points after you spend $2,000 in the first 6 months. This is really easy to attain as you only need to spend $334 per month.
Apply Now for the 100,000 points bonus
Earning Points
Spectacular views of Bangkok from the infinity pool atop Waldorf Astoria
With the Hilton Honors card, your points can add up fast. The card offers some really lucrative bonus categories.
- 7x points for every dollar you spend at Hotels in the Hilton portfolio
- 5x points for every dollar you spend on dining/takeout/delivery, grocery and gas in the US
- 3x points for every dollar you spend on all other purchases
Simply put, this is a great card to use for expenses that you would incur during the month. I really like the 5x points category as it’s pretty broad and covers most of the categories I spend on during the month. If you drive to work and eat out on the weekends, then you can really earn a ton of points simply on those expenses.
Let’s say you spend $3,000 in a month in the 5x category. You’ll earn 180,000 Hilton Honors points in a single year if you put all those expenses on your card.
Elite Status
Thanks to Diamond status from my Hilton Aspire card, we were upgraded to a Forest Villa with this soothing view at sunset
In addition to bonus points, the card grants you Silver Elite status. You’ll enjoy the following benefits:
- No resort fees on award stays
- Digital check-in and check-out
- Free Wifi
- 20% bonus points on stays
- Free bottled water
- 5th night free on reward stays
While it’s not as great as Gold or Diamond status, it’s a good option if you’re just getting started with the Hilton portfolio. However, you can be upgraded to Gold status if you spend $20,000 on your card in a calendar year.
Other Options
Spectacular view at breakfast at the Conrad Koh Samui, Thailand
If you’re looking to get Gold status for the breakfast benefit and other added benefits, then the Hilton Surpass Card may be a better option for you. If you’re a frequent traveler like me who primarily likes to stay at premium properties, then I’d highly recommend the Hilton Aspire card.
| Credit Card | Free Night Certificates | Welcome Bonus Offer | Apply Now |
| Hilton Aspire Card – Complimentary Diamond Status | Upon account opening and renewal, another after $30k spend, another after $60k spend in a calendar year | 180,000 Hilton Honors points + 1 free night certificate | Click Here |
| Hilton Surpass Card – Complimentary Gold Status | $15k spend in a calendar year | 170,000 Hilton Honors points | Click Here |
| Hilton Business Card – Complimentary Gold Status | $15k spend, another after $60k spend in a calendar year | 130,000 Hilton Honors points | Click Here |
The Pundit’s Mantra
Overall, the Hilton Honors card is a great option to get started with earning points in the Hilton portfolio. While I’d highly recommend the Hilton Aspire card, it may not be for everyone, depending on your frequency and style of travel.
If you simply want to rack up a ton of Hilton points, then the Hilton Honors card and the Hilton Surpass card make perfect sense.
Which is your favorite co-branded Hilton credit card? Tel us in the comments section.
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I closed this card back in 2019. Is it possible to get the card again with the bonus?
The terms and conditions state that you may not be eligible: “You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card or previous versions of this Card. You also may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer based on various factors, such as your history with credit card balance transfers, your history as an American Express Card Member, the number of credit cards that you have opened and closed and other factors. If you are not eligible for a welcome offer, we will notify you prior to processing your application so… Read more »
Thanks for the update.