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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.
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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.
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
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
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.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
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
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 Hilton Honors Bonus Points
A fantastic option for earning Hilton Honors points with a lucrative rewards program and nice welcome offer.
Nice welcome offer
Bonus points on Hilton Hotels purchases
U.S. restaurants rewards
U.S. supermarkets rewards
U.S. gas rewards
Limited travel protections
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.
• Extended warranty, purchase protection plan, baggage insurance plan, and car rental loss & 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.
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.
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.
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
Best for cash rewards on everyday spending
$200 cash rewards
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
2% cash rewards
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
Intro:
0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening
Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
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
Best for cash back on rotating categories
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.
4.00/5
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
Best for unlimited rewards on purchases
25,000 points
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases
1.5 points per dollar
Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
Intro:
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.
Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
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.
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
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.
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.
Yes, you can use the Hilton Honors American Express Card internationally, and it doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee.
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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, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
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.
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