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Note: Some of the offers mentioned below are no longer available. Find current information on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, the Hilton Honors American Express Card, and the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card.
At first glance, it might seem like a paradox. While the pandemic continues to rage and dampen travel demand around the world, rewards credit cards are posting some of their best-ever introductory offers. Case in point: Three of the four Hilton Honors Amex cards have just unveiled elevated welcome offers, some of which include the ability to earn up to 180,000 bonus points. That might just be enough to turn the heads of folks who aren’t even planning to travel anytime soon.
Given Hilton’s enormous global footprint, more than 6,300 hotels in 118 countries, and 18 distinct brands that include luxury options like Waldorf-Astoria and Conrad, there are plenty of places to put your prospective points to use. American Express fields four Hilton Honors cobranded cards with annual fees ranging from $0 up to $450 per year, so there’s something for everyone. These three are currently extending all-time-high welcome offers.
1. Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Right in the middle of the range, this card is probably the best for most travelers.
Welcome offer
Earn up to 180,000 bonus Hilton Honors points. You earn 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you use your card to make $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first three months, plus another 50,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 total on purchases in the first six months (terms apply).
Earning
This card rakes in 12 points per dollar on eligible Hilton charges, including room rates and on-property purchases like restaurant tabs and spa treatments; 6 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations; and 3 per dollar on everything else.
Benefits
Cardholders receive automatic Hilton Honors Gold elite status, with benefits such as complimentary continental breakfast at most of Hilton’s higher-end brands, space-available upgrades, late checkout, and 10 Priority Pass airport lounge passes per year. Those who spend $15,000 per calendar year earn a free weekend night reward that’s redeemable at most Hilton Honors properties worldwide, and those who spend $40,000 in a calendar year get a boost up to top-tier Diamond elite status. This is also a good card to use internationally because it doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.
Annual fee: $95 (see rates and fees)
2. Hilton Honors American Express Card
If you’re looking for a card with no annual fee (see rates and fees) that still provides a points windfall, look no further.
Welcome offer
Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first three months. Plus, earn another 50,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 total on purchases in the first six months. Terms apply.
Earning
The card earns seven points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases; five points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations; and three points per dollar on other eligible purchases.
Benefits
Cardholders receive automatic first-rung Hilton Honors Silver status. Those who spend $20,000 in a year get a bump up to Gold.
Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees)
3. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Don’t forget about this small-business credit card, which is a strong earner in its own right.
Welcome offer
Earn up to 180,000 bonus Hilton Honors points. You earn 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you use your card to make $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first three months, plus another 50,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 total on purchases in the first six months (terms apply).
Earning
This card accrues 12 points per dollar on eligible Hilton charges and 6 per dollar at U.S. restaurants, on flights booked directly with airlines and through Amex Travel, on car rentals booked directly from select companies, on wireless services from U.S. service providers, and on U.S. purchases for shipping. It earns 3 points per dollar on everything else.
Benefits
This card’s other benefits are nearly identical to the Hilton Honors Surpass, with automatic Gold status and the ability to spend your way to Diamond with $40,000 in purchases in a calendar year. You also get that free weekend night reward at $15,000 in purchases, plus 10 Priority Pass lounge passes per year.
Annual fee: $95 (see rates and fees)
Why apply for a Hilton credit card now?
Put simply, these are some of the best offers ever extended by all three of these cards.
As for the bonus points, you can maximize 180,000 of them in any number of ways. That’s enough for three nights at certain times of year (Hilton’s award rates vary depending on room prices and the season) at luxurious outposts like the Waldorf-Astoria Park City and the Conrad in Washington, D.C.
At the other end of the spectrum, you could use those points for as more than 10 nights at more affordable spots like the Hampton Inn Lake Buena Vista/Orlando, or the Hilton Garden Inn Dubai Mall of the Emirates. Given the number of Hilton properties around the world, and the breadth of price points, you can easily find places where your points will come in handy when you start traveling again.
Plus, if you do earn a free weekend night reward, you can redeem it at nearly any Hilton Honors hotel around the world. That includes ultra-exclusive ones like the recently opened Waldorf-Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, or the Conrad Bora Bora Nui, where room rates can run nearly $1,000 per night.
In short, you get bonus points and valuable statement credits and automatic elite status. So if you’ve been thinking about getting a hotel credit card but waiting for the right offer, now might be the time to hit that apply button.
While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they are subject to change at any time, and may have changed or may no longer be available.
