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When I first started traveling, I lived out of hostels. It was cheap and my budget was tight. Plus, as an introvert, they were perfect for meeting fellow travelers and getting me out of my comfort zone.
I still love the hostel atmosphere, but these days, running a business on the road means I often need more space and privacy. And I like to stick to one brand because you can get free breakfast, upgrades, and rooms.
Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or just an occasional traveler, having at least one hotel credit card is a game-changer. With great rewards, free nights and extra perks, it’s one of the best ways to save on stays and elevate your hotel experience.
That’s why today I want to highlight one of the best hotel cards available from one of my favorite brands: Hilton Honors American Express Card. This entry level card is great for people who want a card with low fees with good perks.
What is the Hilton Honors American Express Card?
the Hilton Honors American Express Card It is a hotel rewards credit card. With this card, you will earn 5x points at US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations. You’ll also earn 3x points on all other purchases. It has a $0 annual fee (See prices and fees), making it great for beginners who don’t want to get a card with an annual fee right away.
Here’s what the card offers:
- Earn 100,000 bonus Hilton Honors Points after you spend $2,000 on purchases within the first 6 months. Offer ends 8/1/2025.
- 7x points on Hilton Hotels & Resorts
- 5x points on US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations
- 3x points on all other purchases
- Free Hilton Honors™ Silver status
- No foreign transaction fees
- Extended Warranty*: The card comes with an extended warranty that adds up to one year to the original manufacturer’s warranty of five years or less.
- Purchase Protection*: Purchase Protection covers items that are damaged, stolen or lost accidentally if you paid for them with your card. This benefit covers purchases for up to 90 days and covers up to $1,000 per item (up to $50,000 per calendar year).
- Car Rental Insurance**: When you use the card to book and pay for a rental car and decline the rental company’s insurance, you’ll be protected against damage and theft – up to $50,000. This benefit is secondary coverage to your auto insurance and does not include liability.
Complimentary Card Benefit: Hilton Honors Silver Status
Being a Hilton Honors member, Hilton’s loyalty program offers plenty of perks and benefits (based on elite status, of course). To encourage travelers to always book with Hilton, Hilton Honors offers free stays, room upgrades and other benefits that make repeat stays worthwhile. Joining the program is free, and Prime members enjoy waived resort fees on award stays as well as free Wi-Fi.
Without the card, you’ll earn higher status by spending a set number of nights each year at a Hilton hotel. However, with the Hilton Honors Amex Card, you’ll get Hilton Honors Silver status for free (you typically have to stay at least 10 nights at a Hilton property in a year to get this level of status).
Silver status includes:
- Get 20% extra points: Earn 20% more points on qualifying stays compared to Basic members
- Fifth night free on award stays: When you book four nights with points, you’ll get the fifth night free (stay up to 20 nights)
- Spa discounts: When you stay at a Hilton all-inclusive hotel, you’ll get a 15% discount on the spa
- Deported Elite Nights: Carry over any additional nights from the current year toward a higher elite status next year
- Two complimentary bottles of water per stay: Receive free bottled water upon check-in (where available)
Although Silver is Hilton’s entry-level elite tier, it offers good value, especially for small travellers. I particularly like the fifth night free feature, which can be used an unlimited number of times per year (although the limit is four free nights at one time, but who stays in a hotel for 20 nights in a row?).
Use your Hilton Honors Points
Unlike World of Hyatt, Hilton Honors does not publish an awards chart. This means that the number of points needed to reserve a room for one night is not specified. Instead, the room rate varies dynamically based on supply and demand. This means stays can range from 5,000 to 150,000 points per night (150,000 points for a Hilton resort in the Maldives) – and sometimes more!
However, you’ll find that most stays range between 30,000 and 60,000 points per night.
Unfortunately, the lack of a rewards chart also means it’s a bit difficult to know how to get the best value out of your points. You can always search manually by locations and properties that interest you, or use Hilton’s own properties Points explorer tool To help you find bookable stays with points. You can filter by the number of points you have, the destination, and the type of property you want to book (such as a resort or boutique hotel).
However, I recommend using tools like I want To help you find the best deals and make the most of your points. Awayz helps you compare the cash price to the points price to determine where you’re getting the most out of your points. I’ve found some pretty great deals using it!
Pros of the Hilton Honors Card
- No annual fees
- Free elite status
- Fifth night free on award stays
- Increased points earning rates at Hilton hotels as well as US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations
Cons of Hilton Honors Card
- Status privileges are very basic
- There are no additional points earned on general travel purchases
Who is this card for?
This card is best for Hilton brand fans who want free stays with a card that doesn’t have an annual fee. If you’re okay with entry-level elite status and decent win rates on your spending, this card could be a solid choice.
But, if you’re looking for more flexibility with your rewards or want better benefits from Hilton (like free food/beverage credit or hotel lounge access), I’d suggest getting a mid-tier or premium Hilton card or even a More versatile travel rewards card. It’s all about matching the card to the way you travel!
in general, Hilton Honors American Express Card It’s a great option for anyone looking to delve into the world of hotel loyalty programs. With no annual fee, perks like automatic Silver status, and strong earning potential on Hilton stays, it’s an easy way to start accumulating points without additional costs!
Stop paying full price for travel!
Download my free guide to points and miles and learn how to use points and miles to travel for free! This is how all professionals travel a lot! In this guide I will show you the following:
- How to choose a credit card
- How to earn up to 10x miles on your spending
- How to redeem your points
- And many other money saving tips!
Book your flight: logistical tips and tricks
Book your flight
Find a cheap flight using Sky Scanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the world so you always know no stone has been left unturned.
Book your stay
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com Because it constantly displays the cheapest prices for guest houses and hotels.
Don’t forget travel insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft and cancellation. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it because I’ve had to use it several times in the past. Our favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
Do you want to travel for free?
Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodations – all without any additional spending. Check out my guide to choosing the right card and your current favorite to get started and stay up to date with the best offers.
Need help finding activities for your trip?
Get your guide It is a huge online marketplace where you can find great walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.
Are you ready to book your flight?
Check out my resources page for the best companies to use when traveling. I list everything I use when I travel. They are the best in their class and you can’t go wrong with them on your trip.
*Eligibility levels and benefits vary by card. Terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are insured by AMEX Assurance Company.
**Eligibility level and benefits vary by card. Not all types of vehicles or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are insured by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is provided through American Express Travel Related Services, Inc.
