Review
Updated
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
If you want to earn hotel rewards and avoid pesky credit card fees, it's hard to beat the Hilton Honors American Express Card. This card comes with one of the most lucrative welcome offers in its category -- and a generous rewards rate to boot. Use it wisely, and you'll be earning hotel stays paid with points in no time. Read our full Hilton Honors American Express Card to see if it's right for you.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Best
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= Excellent
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= Good
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= Fair
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Credit Score
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
Regular APR
20.99%-29.99% Variable
Rewards Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations. Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
3X-7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 bonus points
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A fantastic option for earning Hilton Honors points with a lucrative rewards program and nice welcome offer.
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- Nice welcome offer
- Bonus points on Hilton Hotels purchases
- U.S. restaurants rewards
- U.S. supermarkets rewards
- U.S. gas rewards
- Limited travel protections
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- Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
- Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
- Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors™ Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- No Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
Purchase protection, baggage insurance, and car rental loss and damage insurance underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Full Amex Hilton Honors Card review
This credit card is a good fit for: Cardholders who stay at Hilton Hotels on occasion. Frequent guests may get more value from another Hilton Honors card with higher rewards and perks.
Top perks
Big welcome offer
New cardholders get the chance to earn 80,000 Hilton Honors bonus points if you spend $2,000 on purchases in your first 6 months. If you plan to travel anywhere with a Hilton hotel -- most places, really -- you'll be able to use these bonus points to cover a hotel stay. The welcome offer alone is enough to get you a night at some of the fanciest Hilton hotels or over a week at select budget hotels. Terms apply.
Read more: Best Sign-Up Bonus Credit Cards
Generous rewards rate
Earn 7X points per $1 at eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio and 5X points per $1 at purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations. That's about as good as it gets for a no annual fee credit card. Terms apply.
Complimentary Silver status
You'll get complimentary Silver status with Hilton Honors just for holding the Hilton Honors American Express Card. That gives you 20% more points on your Hilton stays on top of the points you already earn with the card. You'll also get your fifth night free on reward stays and complimentary water bottles at check-in. Terms apply.
Learn more: Best Hotel Credit Cards
No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
The cherry on top is that the Hilton Honors American Express Card comes with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees).
Related: Best American Express Credit Cards
Credit card comparison
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
| Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. N/A | 1% - 5% Cashback Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. |
Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular: 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR |
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Up to $300 cash back Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. | 1.5% - 5% cash back Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases |
Intro: 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months Regular: 20.49% - 29.24% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
|
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
60,000 bonus points Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. | 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. |
Intro: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A Regular: 21.49%-28.49% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
What could be improved
Light on travel perks
You'll get Silver status with the Hilton Honors American Express Card, but that's about it when it comes to travel-related perks. This is to be expected from a no annual fee credit card. However, it's worth noting that premium credit cards -- such as the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card -- get you valuable benefits like airport lounge access, hefty statement credits and annual free nights. Terms apply.
RELATED: The Ascent's Travel Credit Cards Hub
Find the best credit card for your needs
Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.
Suggested credit score
You'll want good credit -- a FICO® Score of at least 670 -- to have a decent chance at being approved for the Hilton Honors American Express Card. Ideally, your credit score should be above 700 for the best odds. That said, approval is never guaranteed. Amex will look at your entire credit profile -- not just your credit score -- as well as your income before making a decision on your credit card application.
The Amex Hilton Honors Card is right for you if:
This credit card is an excellent choice if you're a casual traveler who prefers to stay at Hilton hotels. It's also ideal if you want to redeem credit card rewards as hotel stays, as you'll get the most value for your points with that choice. This card isn't great, however, if you want to earn cash back, nor is it the most powerful Hilton credit card out there. Check out our full list of credit card reviews for more options.
Our credit card methodology
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
FAQs
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Credit limits for the Hilton Honors American Express Card vary and can range from $1,000 to over $20,000. When American Express approves your application, it sets a credit limit based on your income, credit profile, and other financial information.
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The Hilton Honors American Express Card usually isn't hard to get if you have a FICO® Score of at least 670. American Express considers many factors during the application process.
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Yes, you can use the Hilton Honors American Express Card internationally, and it doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee.
Our Credit Cards Experts
Elizabeth is a personal finance writer specializing in credit cards, debt repayment, and small business. Her work has appeared on The Motley Fool, MSN Money, Yahoo! Finance, and Business Insider. She’s an avid credit card points collector and perpetual traveler currently living in Costa Rica.
Steven is a personal finance writer covering topics from mortgages to credit cards to market news. He has written for The Motley Fool Canada, Ramsey Solutions, Nerdwallet, Clever Real Estate, and other major outlets. Steven launched his writing career at the age of four with his first book, "Revenge of the Bad Guys." He currently lives in Portland, Oregon.
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman has worked with The Motley Fool since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As The Ascent's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. American Express is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Elizabeth Aldrich has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends JPMorgan Chase and Target. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
For rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, click here
For rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Card, click here
The Motley Fool recommends Amex.