Hilton® Credit Cards of December 2024

Hilton® is one of the largest international companies operating in the hotel industry. It has over 7,000 properties in 122 countries. The company offers additional perks for its customers, and credit cards are one of them.

What is a Hilton® Credit Card?

Hilton® credit cards are co-branded credit cards that can earn you points so you can enjoy different benefits related to the Hilton® services. The Hilton Honors membership program is a loyalty program honoring its members with new possibilities, extending to 7,000 properties in 122 countries and territories. Hilton Honors card can be used to purchase services from any of the Hilton portfolio hotels. The Hilton portfolio hotels comprise 18 brands:

1. Hilton Hotels and resorts has 596 hotels and resorts in 93 territories.
2. Waldorf Astoria, with its 31 hotels and resorts in 15 territories.
3. LXR Hotel and Resorts has nine hotels in seven countries.
4. Conrad is present in 22 territories with its 43 hotels and resorts.
5. Canopy by Hilton has 37 hotels in ten territories.
6. Signia by Hilton has two hotels in one country.
7. Curio Collection by Hilton, with 124 hotels and resorts, is present in 30 territories.
8. Doubletree by Hilton has 642 hotels and resorts in 52 territories.
9. Tapestry Collection by Hilton, with its 84 hotels, is present in 12 territories.
10. Embassy Suites by Hilton is present in 5 countries with 262 hotels.
11. Tempo by Hilton is just launched.
12. Motto by Hilton has three hotels in one country.
13. Hilton Garden Inn has 951 hotels in 55 territories.
14. Hampton by Hilton has 2,816 properties in 34 territories.
15. TRU by Hilton has 222 hotels in three countries.
16. Homewood Suites by Hilton, with 534 hotels, is present in four countries.
17. Home2 Suites by Hilton has 551 hotels in three countries.
18. Hilton Grand Vacations has 68 properties in six countries.

Pros and cons of Hilton® Credit Cards

Pros

• There are a lot of additional features available on each of the Hilton Honors American Express credit cards, giving you the opportunity to spend points and get free nights at Hilton hotels.
• The diversity of the cards makes it easier for both frequent and less-frequent travelers to choose a card for themselves.
• The cards give you automatic status. You can get a Hilton Honors Silver status, a complimentary Hilton Gold status, or a Platinum status with the Hilton Honors credit cards.

Cons

• Almost every card has an annual fee, and it's not small. The exception is the Hilton Honors American Express card, which has a $0 annual fee.
• Not all of the cards have travel credits. Pay attention to the available perks if you want to have such an option.

Conclusion

If you are a frequent traveler enjoying your stays at Hilton family hotels frequently, you can spend your Hilton Honors points at the hotels. The annual fees are worth getting the cards. Though, if you want to try a no annual fee card to start using the Hilton Honors loyalty program and stay at a Hilton hotel from time to time, then you can make good use of the Hilton Honors® American Express card.

The best Hilton® Credit Cards

All the Hilton cards share the same Hilton Honors rewards program, and there is one credit card issuer, Amex bank. However, the cards allow you to get different perks. The best cards Hilton® can offer are co-branded cards issued by American Express. They give you a certain tier of Hilton Honors elite status, bonuses on eligible Hilton purchases, and free night perks. The Hilton® credit cards you can get nowadays are described in detail below.

1. Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. The card earns 3x Hilton Honors bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases, 6x Hilton Honors bonus points for eligible purchases at restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and supermarkets, and 12x Hilton Honor bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases in hotels and resorts of Hilton. There is a $0 introduction annual fee, lasting for one calendar year, and a $95 annual fee after the calendar year of using the card membership. You can get 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $2,000 in the first three months of card membership.

   Hilton Honors American Express Surpass allows you to enjoy a Weekend Night Reward with Hilton Honors once you spend $15,000 in a calendar year. The Diamond status is available as you spend $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year.

2. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card®. With the card membership, you can earn 3x Hilton Honors bonus points on all eligible purchases, 5x Hilton Honors bonus points for one spent dollar of eligible purchases at restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and supermarkets, and 7x Hilton Honors bonus points for eligible purchases charged directly at Hilton hotels and resorts. You can earn 100,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $1,000 in the first three months of card membership. Additionally, you get up to $100 in Statement Credits on purchases at any of the family hotels within the first 12 months of card membership. There are no foreign transaction fees and a $0 annual fee, so you can use the card with no additional fees on the purchases you make outside the U.S.

   The card gives a complimentary Hilton Silver status, and the Hilton Honors Gold status will be given to you after you spend $20,000 within the calendar year. This card gives you such advantages as a Hilton Honors Diamond status, a free weekend night reward, and statement credits of up to $250. The annual fee you will need to contribute is $450.

3. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card gives you a boost of 12x Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend money at hotels and resorts of Hilton, 6x bonus points on business and travel spending, and 3x bonus points on other eligible purchases. The annual fee here is $95. You can earn 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases made within three months of the account opening.

   The Hilton Honors business card gives you a Hilton Honors Gold status, and there is a Weekend Night Reward after you spend $15,000 within a calendar year.

4. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. You get 14x Hilton Honors points on eligible Hilton purchases at Hilton portfolio hotels, 7x points on purchases made at restaurants, flight books, and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies. The other eligible purchases give you 3x points for each dollar you spend. After you spend $4,000 in the first three months of card membership, you get 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus points.

How to choose a Hilton® Credit Card?

In order to choose the best Hilton Honors credit card, you first need to go through all the best Hilton credit cards options and determine if they have the perks you need.

• Hilton Honors American Express® card can be used as a secondary card, not the one you use daily. There is a $0 annual fee, so you will get the worth of the perks it offers no matter how often you use this credit card.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is the best Hilton credit card if you want to save on annual fee but get more perks.
• Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is the only option for small business owners. Get this card if you make business trips and want to get business-related perks.
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card® is for frequent travelers who want to get the best services worth their annual fee.

So, to choose the best Hilton credit card, look at the annual fee. The higher the annual fee, the more perks you will get. Hilton elite status, free weekend night rewards, Hilton Honors points, and car rentals, all come with a higher-tier card. If you travel frequently and spend much on your trips, you definitely can get the Hilton Honors Aspire card. On the contrary, if you travel less or only start to use Hilton services, opt for the Hilton Honors American Express card. The second consideration is to prioritize the card which has the Hilton points credited on the overlapping expenses. If you spend most of your money in U.S gas stations, consider the card that gives you points for that.

Applying for a Hilton® Credit Card

The credit score you will need for Hilton credit cards doesn't differ depending on what credit card you apply for. Hilton Honors American Express cards require you to have a 670-850 FICO score. As all the cards are basically Amex travel credit cards, it's good to know that American Express allows you to use the welcome offer only once. So, if you had a Hilton card and got a welcome bonus with it, you won't be able to earn it once more.

You can apply for the card online. On the official Hilton website, click the "Offers" button at the top of the main page. It will direct you to the current offers and deals. Go to the "Hilton Honors Card" and then select "More Details" to see the types of cards available nowadays. Once you have chosen the card, select it and click the "Apply Now" button.