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Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve seen a slew of elevated welcome bonuses on hotel credit cards. Both Hilton and Marriott are offering limited-time bonuses. With Marriott’s co-branded cards, you can earn up to 185,000 points or 5 free nights at qualifying properties. The details of these offers can be found on their respective websites.
However, not everyone travels as frequently to be in a position to use points and free night certificates. Compared to its more expensive peers, American Express (Amex) thankfully also offers a no annual fee option with the Hilton Honors card.
HILTON HONORS CARD
I started dipping my toes into the world of miles and points in 2012. I had corporate travel each month, which meant that I had to stay at an Embassy Suites, given its proximity to my office. That’s when I first picked up a co-branded Hilton Honors card by American Express.
If you’re looking to get started and want some points to book your Hilton stay, then the Hilton Honors card is a great option. The card charges no annual fee and offers a welcome bonus of 100,000 Hilton Honors points after you spend $2,000 in the first 6 months. This is really easy to attain as you only need to spend $334 per month.
EARNING POINTS
With the Hilton Honors card, your points can add up fast. The card offers some really lucrative bonus categories:
– 7x points for every dollar you spend at Hotels in the Hilton portfolio
– 5x points for every dollar you spend on dining/takeout/delivery, grocery, and gas in the US
– 3x points for every dollar you spend on all other purchases
This card is a great option to use for expenses that you would incur during the month. The 5x points category is particularly appealing as it covers a broad range of categories such as dining out and grocery shopping. If you drive to work and eat out on the weekends, then you can really earn a ton of points simply on those expenses.
ELITE STATUS
In addition to bonus points, the Hilton Honors card grants you Silver Elite status. With this status, you’ll enjoy benefits such as no resort fees on award stays, digital check-in and check-out, free Wifi, 20% bonus points on stays, free bottled water, and 5th night free on reward stays. While it may not be as great as Gold or Diamond status, it’s a good option if you’re just getting started with the Hilton portfolio. You can also be upgraded to Gold status if you spend $20,000 on your card in a calendar year.
OTHER OPTIONS
If you’re looking for more options, there are other co-branded Hilton credit cards with different benefits and welcome bonuses. Some of these options include:
– Hilton Aspire Card – Complimentary Diamond Status, 175,000 Hilton Honors points + 1 free night certificate
– Hilton Surpass Card – Complimentary Gold Status, 155,000 Hilton Honors points
– Hilton Business Card – Complimentary Gold Status, 130,000 Hilton Honors points
THE PUNDIT’S MANTRA
Overall, the Hilton Honors card is a great option to get started with earning points in the Hilton portfolio. While the Hilton Aspire card may be a better choice for some, depending on your travel habits, the Hilton Honors card and the Hilton Surpass card are perfect for those looking to rack up Hilton points.
Which is your favorite co-branded Hilton credit card? Let us know in the comments section.