Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card evaluation: Mid-tier Hilton perks for informal vacationers

Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card Overview

Card sort: Lodge rewards, journey rewards

For loyal Hilton Honors members, the Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card is usually a nice selection if you happen to use it as one in every of your fundamental bank cards. The cardboard presents a formidable welcome bonus, sturdy rewards charges on on a regular basis spending classes and a few priceless perks which might be value greater than sufficient to offset the cardboard’s annual payment.

That $150 annual payment is increased than many bank cards, which generally max out at round $100. Nevertheless, frequent vacationers can simply get that worth again within the type of Hilton assertion credit—you’ll stand up to $200 every year in quarterly $50 increments. If you happen to spend $15,000 on the cardboard in a calendar yr, you’ll additionally earn a free evening reward, which you should use at any collaborating Hilton property. In distinction, most different lodge playing cards don’t require you to spend something to get a free evening certificates every year, however additionally they restrict you to utilizing the reward on mid-tier properties and decrease.

The cardboard additionally comes with Gold elite standing, Hilton’s second-highest membership tier. Notably, Gold elite standing with Hilton consists of an F&B credit score which differs from most lodge chains. However if you happen to spend $40,000 on the cardboard in a calendar yr, you may get a lift to Diamond standing and get the total VIP remedy each time you keep. 

Who’s Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card good for? 

The cardboard is usually a nice selection for Hilton loyalists who journey often sufficient to make the most of the cardboard’s quarterly $50 Hilton credit score. Even if you happen to don’t, spending sufficient to earn the free evening reward yearly may nonetheless make it value your whereas. 

Who shouldn’t get a Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card? 

Whereas the cardboard presents extra worth than its annual price ticket, the profit phrases are extra sophisticated than different journey bank cards. If you happen to’re on the lookout for a lodge bank card with extra simple perks, this one may not be the best one for you.

Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card: Find out how to earn rewards

The cardboard presents 12X Hilton Honors bonus factors for every greenback of eligible purchases charged in your card immediately with a lodge or resort inside the Hilton portfolio. That’s along with the as much as 18X factors you earn as a Hilton Honors Gold member, for a complete of as much as 30X factors per greenback. 

On on a regular basis spending, you’ll earn 6X factors for every greenback of purchases in your card at U.S. eating places, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gasoline stations, 4X factors for every greenback on U.S. on-line retail purchases, and 3X factors for all different eligible purchases in your card.

As a brand new cardholder, you’ll get 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus factors after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of card membership.  

Remember, although, that whereas the face worth of the cardboard’s rewards charges and welcome supply is excessive, it additionally requires numerous factors to e-book Hilton stays. In lots of main cities, you possibly can count on a single evening to value between 40,000 and 95,000 factors.

Find out how to redeem Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card rewards 

You received’t get as a lot flexibility with a lodge bank card as a basic journey rewards card, and the Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card is not any exception. Right here’s how one can redeem your Hilton Honors factors.

Stays at Hilton accommodations and resorts

Hilton is among the largest lodge chains on this planet, with greater than 7,000 properties throughout 19 manufacturers around the globe from which you’ll select. As with different lodge playing cards, award nights are typically one of the simplest ways to make use of your factors.

That mentioned, Hilton factors don’t have a hard and fast worth. Relying on the small print of your keep, an ordinary room may value anyplace between 5,000 and 95,000 factors per evening, and most popular rooms and particular lodging value extra. That mentioned, Hilton incentivizes longer journeys, providing you with a fifth evening free if you pay with factors.

If you happen to don’t have sufficient factors for a visit, you possibly can pool your rewards with as much as 10 members of the family and pals.

Different redemption choices

You’ll be able to redeem your factors in a wide range of different methods, however don’t count on to get a lot worth in return:

Hilton additionally permits you to switch factors to a protracted record of home and worldwide airline frequent flyer applications, however the conversion price isn’t nice. With Delta Air Strains, as an example, 10,000 Hilton Honors factors get you simply 1,000 Delta SkyMiles.

Lastly, you possibly can bid in opposition to different Hilton Honors members for a chance to attend particular occasions just like the Grammys or get pleasure from elite eating experiences.

Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card charges and costs

• Annual payment: $150
• Overseas transaction payment: None
• Buy APR: 20.99%–29.99% variable

To view charges and costs of the Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card, see this web page

Further advantages

• Gold elite standing: Gold elite members can get pleasure from some particular perks each time they keep at Hilton properties, together with space-available room upgrades, continental breakfast or a meals and beverage credit score, and extra.
• Nationwide Automobile Rental standing: With enrollment, you possibly can get pleasure from complimentary Nationwide Automobile Rental Emerald Membership Government standing, which presents priceless advantages, together with full-size automobiles at mid-size charges, assured upgrades on full-size by means of luxurious leases, and extra.
• Baggage insurance coverage: In case your baggage is misplaced, broken or stolen and you bought your whole fare with the cardboard, you possibly can stand up to $1,250 in protection for a carry-on bag and as much as $500 for a checked bag.
• Buy safety: Eligible objects bought with the cardboard are protected in opposition to unintentional harm and theft for as much as 90 days from the acquisition date. You’ll be able to stand up to $1,000 in protection per declare.

Bank cards much like Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card

The Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card is usually a nice selection for informal vacationers who’re loyal to Hilton, however if you happen to’re not offered on Hilton, otherwise you need extra flexibility along with your bank card rewards, listed below are some alternate options to contemplate.

World of Hyatt Credit score Card vs. Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card

On the floor, the World of Hyatt Credit score Card doesn’t look as nice because the Surpass Card. For brand spanking new cardholders, it presents as much as 65,000 bonus factors to new cardholders after spending $3,000 within the first three months, plus 2 factors per greenback on the primary $15,000 you spend throughout the first six months. You’ll additionally get 4X factors on Hyatt Lodge purchases (on prime of 5 base factors per greenback earned by common World of Hyatt members), 2X factors on eating places, immediately bought airfare, native transit, commuting and health club and health membership memberships, and 1X level on different purchases.

However in the case of redeeming these factors, Hyatt presents much more worth—its whole portfolio of greater than 1,300 accommodations and resorts is taken into account upscale or luxurious, and an ordinary evening at its most costly properties sometimes prices 40,000 factors. It additionally presents a annual free evening at class 1-4 lodge (value as much as 15,000 factors) with no spending requirement, although it’s restricted in worth, plus a further free evening at class 1-4 lodge every year you spend $15,000. Sadly, it solely presents Discoverist standing, which is Hyatt’s lowest elite tier. The cardboard’s annual payment is $95. 

Chase Sapphire Most popular^® Card vs. Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card

The Chase Final Rewards program is among the most versatile rewards applications, permitting you to redeem your rewards for journey, money again, present playing cards, and extra, all with out requiring you to sacrifice redemption worth—many offer you a minimum of 1 cent per level. With the Chase Sapphire Most popular^® Card, you’ll get 25% extra worth if you happen to use your rewards to e-book journey by means of Chase’s portal. Alternatively, you possibly can switch your rewards at a 1:1 ratio to a wide range of airline and lodge rewards applications. 

The cardboard presents 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening, plus 5x factors on journey bought by means of Chase Final Rewards® (excluding lodge purchases that qualify for the $50 Annual Final Rewards Lodge Credit score), 3x factors on eating, together with eligible supply providers, takeout, and eating out, on-line grocery purchases (excluding Goal, Walmart, and wholesale golf equipment), and choose streaming providers, and 1x factors on different purchases. The cardboard’s annual payment is $95.

Is the Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card best for you?

If you happen to’re loyal to the Hilton model and your journey and spending habits make it straightforward to maximise the Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card‘s advantages, it may be a good way to rack up free lodge stays.

Nevertheless, if you happen to’re not all for sticking with only one lodge model otherwise you need extra flexibility to make use of rewards for different journey bills (and even different redemption choices altogether), it could be a good suggestion to buy round and evaluate different choices earlier than deciding which card is best for you.

Regularly requested questions

Is Hilton Honors Surpass an excellent card?

The cardboard presents some stable worth for vacationers preferring Hilton accommodations. However like every other bank card, it’s solely an excellent match in case your journey habits and spending align with what the cardboard has to supply. 

What credit score rating do you want for Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card?

Usually talking, you’ll want good or wonderful credit score to get authorized for the cardboard. Based on FICO, an excellent credit score rating is 670 or increased, however American Categorical could have a special definition. The excellent news is which you can get authorized for the cardboard with out impacting your credit score rating with Amex’s “apply with confidence” function.

Do you get a free evening with Hilton Surpass?

You will get a free evening reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases in your card in a calendar yr.. Different lodge playing cards sometimes don’t have this spending requirement, however Hilton’s free evening reward can be utilized at nearly any of this system’s accommodations and resorts, so it may be value it.

Please word that card particulars are correct as of the publish date, however are topic to alter at any time on the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the cardboard issuer to confirm charges, charges, and advantages earlier than making use of.

Phrases apply to American Categorical advantages and presents. Enrollment could also be required for choose American Categorical advantages and presents. Go to americanexpress.com to be taught extra.

Eligibility and Profit degree varies by Card. Phrases, Circumstances, and Limitations Apply. Please go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for extra particulars. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Firm.