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Hilton Honors American Categorical Card overview
The Hilton Honors American Categorical Card is the model’s no-annual-fee (see charges and costs) entry-level product. That includes bonus factors on eligible Hilton purchases and complimentary Hilton Honors Silver standing, the cardboard is a stable possibility for brand spanking new cardmembers loyal to the lodge chain or these trying to keep away from annual charges. Nonetheless, different journey playing cards supply extra factors flexibility and greater perks. Card ranking*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card Score is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
The Hilton Honors program covers over 7,000 resorts in additional than 120 international locations, offering loads of probabilities to earn and redeem factors.
For those who’re a newbie on the lookout for a bank card with some Hilton perks, you might need to take a look at the Hilton Honors American Categorical Card. It has no annual price and comes with a good welcome supply, beneficiant class bonuses and journey and buy protections, making it a fantastic possibility for vacationers trying to get began with Hilton Honors.
Whereas the two different Hilton client playing cards just lately underwent refreshes to their advantages and annual charges, the one change to this card was a brand new card design (proven beneath). You’ll want a great credit score rating of usually 670 or larger to have a greater likelihood of being authorized.
Right here’s the whole lot it is advisable determine if the cardboard is true in your pockets.
Hilton Honors Amex professionals and cons
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Hilton Honors Amex welcome supply
New candidates of the Amex Hilton Honors card can earn 100,000 Hilton Honors factors after they spend $2,000 in purchases on the brand new card inside their first six months of card membership. Provide ends April 17.
TPG values Hilton factors at 0.6 cents apiece, which implies this supply is value $600, all for no annual price (see charges and costs) and only a $2,000 spending threshold.
The very best supply we’ve seen previously is 130,000 bonus factors, however you needed to spend $6,000 inside six months to obtain that supply. The present welcome supply requires a 3rd of the spending however gives fewer factors; nevertheless, any bonus of greater than 80,000 bonus factors is value contemplating.
Hilton Honors Amex advantages
The Hilton Honors Amex options just a few notable perks and advantages past the welcome supply.
Right here’s an summary of what this card has to supply:
- Elite standing: Cardmembers routinely obtain Hilton Honors Silver elite standing, which gives member reductions, a 20% factors bonus on paid stays, no resort charges on award stays, and a fifth evening free on award stays. For those who spend $20,000 on the cardboard in a calendar yr, you possibly can improve to Hilton Honors Gold standing. It’s value declaring that different Hilton bank cards supply Gold standing routinely, which means spending $20,000 to get there isn’t a great worth.
- Leisure: Get unique entry to ticket presales and cardmember-only occasions, together with Broadway exhibits, live performance excursions, sporting occasions and extra by way of the American Categorical Experiences program.
- ShopRunner: Free two-day transport on eligible objects at a community of greater than 100 on-line shops after signing up at shoprunner.com/americanexpress. Enrollment is required prematurely.
- Prolonged guarantee*: The cardboard comes with an prolonged guarantee that provides as much as one yr to an unique producer’s guarantee of 5 years or much less.
- Buy safety*: Buy safety covers objects unintentionally broken, stolen or misplaced in the event you paid for them together with your card. This profit covers purchases for as much as 90 days and covers as much as $1,000 per merchandise — as much as $50,000 per calendar yr.
- Automobile rental insurance coverage**: While you use the cardboard to order and pay for a automotive rental and decline the rental firm’s insurance coverage, you’re coated towards harm and theft — as much as $50,000. This profit is secondary protection to your individual auto insurance coverage and doesn’t embrace legal responsibility.
*Eligibility and profit ranges differ by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.
**Eligibility and profit stage varies by card. Not all car varieties or leases are coated, and geographic restrictions apply. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Protection is obtainable by way of American Categorical Journey Associated Companies Firm, Inc.
Incomes factors on the Hilton Honors Amex
With the Hilton Honors Amex, you’ll earn 7 Hilton Honors factors per greenback on stays at Hilton resorts and resorts (together with paying in your room and on-site spending at eating places and spas), 5 factors per greenback at U.S. eating places (together with takeout and supply), 5 factors per greenback at U.S. fuel stations and U.S. supermarkets, and three factors per greenback on different purchases.
Given TPG values Hilton factors at 0.6 cents apiece, you’ll earn a 1.8% return on each day purchases and a 4.2% return at Hilton resorts — although you’ll get an additional 12 factors per greenback out of your Hilton Honors Silver elite standing, bumping your return to 11.4%.
For those who’re on the lookout for larger incomes alternatives protecting a wider swath of journey purchases, together with flights and rental vehicles, you received’t get that with this card.
Associated: Which bank card must you use for Hilton stays?
Redeeming factors on the Hilton Honors Amex
You’ll get one of the best worth in your Hilton factors for lodge and resort stays, even with the chain’s lack of revealed award charts. What number of factors you want for a lodge room fluctuates, so that you received’t know the ultimate value till you go to make a reservation. The Factors Explorer instrument can present you what different visitors have paid just lately.
You can too switch your Hilton Honors factors to over 40 world airline loyalty applications and Amtrak. Nonetheless, until it is advisable switch Honors factors to high off an airline account for a particular award, utilizing them for this goal isn’t a good suggestion. The switch ratio is often horrible, shedding 1000’s of factors.
Our recommendation? Persist with lodge room redemptions to get one of the best worth in your rewards.
You’ll do even higher once you redeem factors for a keep of 5 nights or longer. That’s since you get a fifth evening free on stays utilizing factors.
To be taught extra about redeeming Hilton factors (and doing so at a fantastic worth), learn the next guides:
- redeem Hilton factors
- 7 methods to redeem factors with the Hilton Honors program
- 8 methods to maximise Hilton Honors redemptions
- redeem Hilton factors for upgraded rooms
Associated: 10 Hilton properties I can’t wait to redeem Hilton Honors factors for
Which playing cards compete with the Hilton Honors Amex?
The Amex Hilton Honors card has pure rivals with “Hilton” of their names, however a basic journey rewards bank card additionally could do higher in your pockets. Listed here are choices it is best to think about.
- For those who like Hilton however need extra perks: The Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card earns a better 12 factors per greenback at Hilton resorts, gives automated Gold standing, and you’ll earn a free evening reward by spending $15,000 on purchases in a calendar yr. You’ll additionally rise up to $200 in assertion credit towards Hilton purchases yearly (as much as $50 every quarter), and the cardboard has a low $150 annual price (see charges and costs). For extra info, please learn our full evaluation of the Amex Hilton Surpass card.
- In order for you versatile rewards with no annual price: The Amex EveryDay® Credit score Card earns 2 American Categorical Membership Rewards factors per greenback at U.S. supermarkets (as much as $6,000 of purchases per yr, then 1 level per greenback) and 1 level per greenback on different purchases. You should utilize these factors with Hilton and 20 different airline and lodge applications. You received’t get any advantages with Hilton however could have choices together with your factors whereas nonetheless not paying an annual price (see charges and costs). For extra info, please learn our full evaluation of the Amex EveryDay card.
- In order for you a lodge card with out an annual price, no matter model: The Marriott Bonvoy Daring® Credit score Card is an possibility in order for you a lodge bank card with out an annual price and aren’t tied to Hilton. You’ll earn 3 factors per greenback at Marriott Bonvoy properties, complimentary Silver Elite standing (and 15 elite evening credit that can assist you attain larger standing ranges with Marriott), and different journey and buying protections. For extra info, learn our full evaluation of the Marriott Bonvoy Daring card.
The knowledge for the Amex EveryDay card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
For extra choices, see our record of the finest lodge bank cards and American Categorical playing cards.
Associated: The most effective no-annual-fee bank cards
Is the Hilton Honors Amex value it?
You may assume the Amex Hilton Honors card is value it by default because it has no annual price. It will depend on what you’re on the lookout for, although. If entry-level elite standing, a precious welcome supply and truthful incomes classes are ample, you’ll like this card. For those who’re on the lookout for versatile rewards or extra Hilton perks, go for one with an annual price.
Backside line
The Hilton Honors American Categorical Card is an effective starter card for these trying to maximize the advantages of Hilton’s loyalty program with out paying an annual price — particularly with the elevated welcome bonus. It might not be the best card for everybody, although it might be the precise card for you if that’s what you search.
Apply right here: Hilton Honors American Categorical Card
For charges and costs of the Hilton Honors Amex Card, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Hilton Honors Amex Surpass Card, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Amex EveryDay Credit score Card, click on right here.