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When I first started traveling, I stayed outside of hostels. They were cheap and my budget was tight. Also, as an introvert, they were perfect to meet other backpackers and take me out of my comfort zone.
I still love the vibe of hostels, but these days, running a business on the road means I often need more space and privacy. And I like to stick to one product because you can get free breakfast, upgrades, and rooms.
Whether you’re a seasoned backpacker or an occasional traveler, having at least one hotel credit card is a game changer. With great bonuses, free nights, and other added benefits, it’s one of the best ways to save on accommodation and enhance your hotel experience.
That’s why today I want to highlight one of the best hotel cards from one of my favorite hotels: the Hilton Honors American Express Card. This entry-level card is great for people looking for a low-cost card with great benefits.
What is the Hilton Honors American Express Card?
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a hotel rewards credit card. With this card, you’ll 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 Rates 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 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $2,000 in purchases in the first 6 months. Offer ends 1/8/2025.
- 7x points at Hilton hotels and resorts
- 5x points at US restaurants, US supermarkets, and US gas stations
- 3x points on all other purchases
- Hilton Honors™ silver status
- There are no foreign transaction fees
- Extended warranty*: The card comes with an extended warranty that adds one year to the original manufacturer’s warranty of five years or less.
- Purchase protection*: Purchase protection covers items that are accidentally damaged, stolen or lost when you pay 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**: If you use a card to book and pay for a car rental and decline the rental company’s insurance, you’re covered for damage and theft — up to $50,000. This benefit is secondary to your auto insurance and does not cover liability.
Loyalty Card Benefit: Hilton Honors Silver Status
Being a member of Hilton Honors, Hilton’s loyalty program, offers many advantages and benefits (based on special status of course). To encourage travelers to keep booking with Hilton, Hilton Honors offers free stays, room upgrades, and other benefits that make frequent stays worthwhile. It’s free to join the program, and basic members enjoy waived fees for visiting award-winning accommodations and free Wi-Fi.
Without the card, you would earn top status by spending a certain number of nights per year at a Hilton property. However, with the Hilton Honors Amex card, you’ll get complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status (usually you’ll need to stay at least 10 nights at a Hilton property within a year to earn this status level).
Silver status includes:
- Earn 20% more points: Earn 20% more points on eligible stays compared to basic members
- Free five-night stay in award: If you book four nights with points, you’ll get the fifth night free (up to a 20-night stay)
- Spa discounts: If you stay at an all-inclusive Hilton, you’ll get a 15% discount at the spa
- Elite rollover night: Continue with any additional nights from this current year to achieving a higher ranking next year
- Two free bottles of water per stay: Get free bottles of water upon check-in (where available)
Although Silver is Hilton’s entry level, it offers good value, especially for casual travelers. I really like the five nights free perk, which can be used unlimited times per year (although it is limited to four free nights at a time, but who stays at a hotel 20 nights in a row?).
Using Your Hilton Honors Points
Unlike World of Hyatt, Hilton Honors does not publish an award chart. That means that the number of points required to book a room for the night is not set. Instead, room rates vary according to supply and demand. That means accommodations can be between 5,000–150,000 points per night (150k is for a Hilton resort in the Maldives) — sometimes even more!
That said, you’ll find that most hover around 30,000–60,000 points per night.
Unfortunately, the lack of an award chart means it’s quite a challenge to figure out how to get the best value for your points. You can always search manually for places and properties you’re interested in, or use Hilton’s Points Checker tool to help you find stays that can be booked with points. You can filter by how many points you have, your destination, and what type of accommodation you want to book (such as a resort or boutique hotel).
However, I recommend using tools like Awayz to help you find the best deals and make the most of your points. Awayz helps you compare the value of money and the value of points to determine where you’re getting the most for your points. I have found great deals using it!
Hilton Honors card benefits
- There is no annual fee
- Elite status is free
- The fifth night is free on award stays
- Increased points earning rates at Hilton properties and US restaurants, US supermarkets, and US gas stations
Disadvantages of the Hilton Honors card
- The status benefits are very basic
- No bonus points are earned on standard travel purchases
Whose Card Is This?
This card is best for Hilton fans who want to earn free stays with a card with no annual fee. If you’re comfortable with entry-level pricing and decent cashback rates, this card can be a solid choice.
But, if you’re after more flexibility with your rewards or want to unlock better Hilton benefits (like free food/beverage credit or hotel lounge access), I’d suggest an intermediate or premium Hilton card or even flexible travel. rewards card. It’s all about matching the card with the way you travel!
Overall, the Hilton Honors American Express Card is a great option for anyone looking to dip their toes into the world of hotel loyalty programs. With no annual fee, benefits like automatic silver status, and strong earning potential with Hilton stays, it’s an easy way to start building points at no extra cost!
Stop paying full price for a trip!
Download my free points and miles guide and learn how to use points and miles to travel for free! How are all the experts going! In this guide, I will show you:
- How to Choose a Credit Card
- How to Earn Up to 10x Miles on your spending
- How to Redeem Your Points
- And Tons of Other Money Saving Tips!
Book Your Trip: Planning Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find the cheapest flight using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines worldwide so you always know that no stone is left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it always returns the cheapest prices on guesthouses and hotels.
Don’t forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft and cancellation. It is a comprehensive protection in case something goes wrong. I have never taken a trip without it as I have had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
Want to Travel Free?
Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be used for free flights and lodging — all without spending extra money. Check out my guide to choosing the right card and my current favorites to get you started and see the latest great deals.
Need help finding activities for your trip?
Get Your Guide is the largest online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun tours, skip tickets, private guides, and more.
Ready to Book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page to find the best companies to use when traveling. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your travels.
*Eligibility and earning levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are included, and location restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is provided through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
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