Category: Credit Cards

Checking-In to the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card 

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is an exceptional business hotel rewards card from Hilton that is issued by American Express. Cardholders will earn 125,000 Hilton Honors bonus points when they and their authorized users make at least $3,000 in purchases within the first three months of membership. Beyond the exciting introductory offer, companies can earn as much as 12 points for every dollar spent on purchases – points which are redeemable for stays at the Hilton family of properties, Hilton experiences, or transferable to select airline frequent flyer programs. The card has an annual fee of $95, which, given the impressive earning potential, is a very reasonable rate. 

How it Works 

Earning Points: 

• Earn Points with Hilton Stays: Businesses earn 12x Hilton Honors points per dollar when they use their Hilton Honors American Express Business Card to book stays at participating Hilton hotels and resorts. 
• Earn Points for Business Expenses: Hilton Honors American Express Business Cardholders earn 6x points per dollar when using their card for certain business purchases. They earn 6x points for every dollar spent at U.S. restaurants, flights booked directly through amextravel.com, or car rentals booked directly from selected car rental agencies. 
• Earn on Everything Else:  Companies earn 3x points per dollar for all other purchases made with their card. 

Redeeming Points: 

• Hotel Stays: Hilton Honors points are redeemable for stays at participating properties within the Hilton portfolio worldwide. While the exact value of Hilton Honors points varies depending on the season and hotel quality, typically Honors points have a value of between $.05 to $.06 per point. 
• Cash Bookings: Honors points are also applicable towards part of the total cost of a Hilton stay. 
• Hilton Honors Experiences: Reward points earned through the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card are also applicable towards redemptions for Hilton Experiences.  
• Transfer Points to Airline Rewards Programs: Hilton Honors members have a great perk in the ability to transfer points to 30 distinct frequent flyer programs. While the transfer rate of Hilton points to airline programs isn’t great, for companies who frequently send their employees on business trips the option to use hotel rewards for booking flights is a great bonus. 

Today’s Bonus Offer 

New accounts earn an excellent 125,000 Hilton Honors bonus points when authorized cardholders use their card to make at least $3,000 in purchases within the first three months of opening an account. For many companies, $3,000 in three months is an achievable goal, making this impressive reward almost a certainty. 

Getting Under the Sheets with the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card 

• Annual Fee: The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card features a $95 annual fee. With the addition of up to 99 employee cards, the yearly cost for this card is almost instantly offset by the impressive rewards on offer. 

Hotel Perks: 

• Complimentary Gold Status: Hilton Honors American Express Business Cardholders receive complimentary Gold status with their card membership. Gold status entitles cardholding employees to complimentary breakfast, premium internet access, a fifth night free on bookings, complimentary upgrades (when available), and 80% bonuses on points earning at Hilton properties. 
• Free Night Award Every Anniversary: Businesses receive one free weekend night reward when they make at least $15,000 in purchases in a calendar year and renew their card. They’ll receive an additional free weekend night when they make $60,000 in purchases in a calendar year.  

Additional Perks: 

• Priority Pass Visits: Cardholders receive access to Priority Pass lounges ten times per year. Priority Pass operates over 1,000 lounges throughout the world. 
• Expense Management Tools: Cardholders receive access to a suite of impressive account management and spending tools, including AMEX’s Spend Manager software, QuickBooks integration, Vendor Pay from Bill.com, and additional employee cards. 

Cardholder Protections: 

• Fraud Protection: Companies have complete protection from any fraudulent or unauthorized purchases made on their account. 
• Global Assistance: Businesses also receive 24/7 access to AMEX’s Global Assistance hotline, providing emergency, legal, financial, and other coordination and advice when travel takes employees more than 100 miles from the office. 
• Premium Roadside Assistance: Cardholders receive premium roadside perks, such as towing for up to 10 miles, changing a flat tire, or jump-starting a battery up to four times per year. 
• Car Rental Insurance: American Express offers cardholders rental, loss, and damage insurance coverage when they use their AMEX card to book their entire car rental. 
• Baggage Insurance: Cardholders receive up to $10,000 per year in baggage insurance. 
• Travel Accident Insurance: AMEX provides coverage for injuries, dismemberment, or accidental death when traveling.  

 “Suite” Perks That Make the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card Worthwhile: 

• Initial Bonus Offer: 125,000 bonus points is a very impressive haul for only $3,000 worth of purchases within the first three months. 
• Complimentary Gold Status: The perk of automatic Hilton Honors Gold status is another great feature of the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card. Gold status entitles cardholders to complimentary breakfast, premium internet access, a fifth night free on bookings, complimentary upgrades, an extra 80% points-earning bonus at Hilton, and more. For companies that have employees traveling for business often, this perk can go a long way to make working on the road that much more enjoyable.  

 “Reservations” About the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card:  

• Lack of Complimentary Free Nights: There isn’t a whole lot not to like about the Hilton Honors Business Card, but the lack of free nights is a downside. Sure, complimentary nights can be earned by reaching a minimum spend of at least $15,000 per year, but with as much money as companies are likely to be spending on purchases with the card, a free night or two for employees would be beneficial. 

Time to Check-Out 

Overall, the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is a credit card companies should consider before sending their employees out on the road. The card earns a hefty amount of rewards for even the smallest spend, with 12x points for every dollar spent with Hilton being a huge perk. Even basic spends on non-categorized purchases earn triple points, which means this card is sure to provide some great rewards for companies not afraid to flash their plastic.  

For a small intro spend of just $3,000 – not a significant amount when considering regular company expenses – new Hilton Honors American Express Business Card accounts earn 125,000 Hilton Honors points. 125,000 points equate to around $750 in value – not a bad bonus for just a $3,000 spend! The addition of a low annual fee of $95 and the option of extra employee cards means that this card will likely pay for itself very quickly. If your company is looking for a business hotel rewards card that works for you, the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card might be exactly what you need. 

Checking-In to the Radisson Rewards™ Premier Visa Signature® Card 

The Radisson Rewards™ Premier Visa Signature® Card is a great hotel rewards card for those who frequent Radisson hotels. Radisson operates over 1,100 properties across the globe, and cardholders can earn ten points for every dollar spent on stays at these properties. They also receive up to 85,000 bonus points when they meet purchase requirements – good for up to nine free nights. They’ll also receive complimentary Radisson Rewards Gold status, which comes with a slew of great perks – all for just a $75 annual fee.

How it Works 

Earning Points: 

• Earn Points with Radisson Hotel Stays: Cardholders earn ten points for every dollar spent) on eligible net purchases with Radisson and Radisson-family hotels worldwide. The Radisson brand includes some impressive names, including Radisson Blu®, Radisson®, Radisson RED, Park Plaza®, Park Inn® by Radisson, and Country Inn & Suites.
• Earn with Everything Else: Cardholders earn an equally impressive five points for all other purchases made with their card.
• Annual Points Bonus: Cardholders earn an additional 40,000 bonus points each year when they renew their Radisson Rewards™ Premier Visa Signature® Card.

Redeeming Points: 

• Hotel Stays: Radisson Rewards points are best used towards redemptions for stays at Radisson properties, with reward nights starting at as low as 9,000 points. Radisson does not black out dates on standard rooms – an excellent perk for rewards members.
• Transfer Points to Airline Rewards Programs: The Radisson Rewards program allows members to transfer their rewards points to over 35 different airlines’ frequent flyer programs.
• TSA Precheck: Radisson Rewards points are redeemable towards the cost of TSA Precheck providing five years of hassle-free travel with TSA. TSA Precheck redemptions cost 65,000 points.
• Priority Pass: Points are redeemable towards Priority Pass membership. Priority Pass provides access to over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide.
• Charity: Points are transferrable to charities, such as the American Red Cross, SOS Children’s Villages, or First Climate, allowing members to use their points for good causes.
• Other Ways to Redeem: Points are also applicable for other rewards, such as gift cards, prepaid cards, hotel perks, and more.

Today’s Bonus Offer 

New cardholders can earn up to 85,000 Radisson Rewards points when making a set amount of purchases within their first 90 days of account membership. Cardholders earn 50,000 points after their first purchase with their card, and an additional 35,000 points when they spend at least $2,500 in purchases within the first 90 days. As Radisson Rewards points can be applied to stays beginning as low as 9,000 points, this initial bonus is worth up to nine free nights.

Getting Under the Sheets with the Radisson Rewards™ Premier Visa Signature® Card  

• Annual Fee: The Radisson Rewards™ Premier Visa Signature® features an annual fee of $75, which is very modest when compared to the impressive benefits it offers.

Hotel Perks: 

• Gold Status: Radisson Rewards™ Premier Visa Signature® Cardholders receive instant Radisson Rewards Gold status when they make their first purchase with their card. Gold status, one of the elite tiers of the Radisson Rewards program, entitles members to an impressive array of perks, including earning 25 points for every dollar spent on both eligible Radisson stays as well as eligible food or beverage charges to their rooms. Gold members also receive an in-room welcome gift during available stays, a 72-hour room guarantee when booking through the company’s Elite Member Services phone line, and a 15% discount on Radisson Hotel restaurants.

Additional Perks: 

• E-Certificates: Cardholders earn a Free Night E-Cert for every $10,000 they spend on their card in a calendar year (up to $30,000) and if they renew their card.

Cardholder Protections: 

• Travel and Emergency Assistance: Cardholders receive 24/7 access Visa’s travel and emergency services.
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Visa offers cardholders rental, loss, and damage insurance when they use their Radisson Rewards™ Visa Signature® to book their entire car rental.
• Warranty Manager: Cardholders receive warranty protection which adds year of warranty to purchased items.
• Travel Insurance: Cardholders receive up to $1,000,000 in travel accident insurance coverage.
• Fraud Protection: Cardholders also receive Visa’s comprehensive fraud and identity theft protection coverage, including Zero Fraud Liability Protection.
• Visa Signature Perks: Radisson Rewards™ Premier Visa Signature® Cardholders receive the impressive entertainment and shopping perks customers have come to expect from a Visa Signature card. These perks include 24/7 Concierge service for booking travel, buying gifts, or booking a restaurant, member-exclusive ticket offers, exciting events like complimentary wine tasting and culinary experiences.

“Suite” Perks That Make the Radisson Rewards™ Premier Visa Signature® Card Worthwhile: 

• Initial Bonus Offer: The possibility of up to 85,000 bonus point is a great haul – especially considering this card only has an annual fee of $75.  As this haul potentially equates to up to nine free nights at Radisson properties, it is a perk that makes this card almost unmissable.

“Reservations” About the Radisson Rewards™ Premier Visa Signature® Card:  

• None: The Radisson Rewards™ Premier Visa Signature® is an excellent hotel rewards card. It has a very modest annual fee, while still retaining many of the points-earning capabilities of other rewards cards that charge over double the $75 price.

Time to Check-Out 

The Radisson Rewards™ Premier Visa Signature® is a great hotel rewards card for those who want to earn many points but without the need to pay a hefty annual fee. For just $75 per year, cardholders earn ten points for every dollar spent on Radisson stays, as well as five points for every other dollar spent on purchases. With a wide array of redemption options – from stays at Radisson to Priority Pass lounge access to gift cards to TSA Precheck – this card offers impressive value at every turn.

If you are a frequent Radisson customer, or even if you are an occasional traveler that wants to be rewarded for your purchases with free nights, the Radisson Rewards™ Premier Visa Signature® is an excellent option to consider. It may not have the substantial earning potential of other rewards cards, but as its annual fee is up to $375 per year cheaper in some instances, this is a shortcoming that is easy to overlook.

Checking-In to the Sonesta World Mastercard® Card 

The Sonesta World Mastercard® is a hotel rewards credit card from Bank of America. Sonesta and its four brands operate over 80 properties in seven countries across the globe. The Sonesta World Mastercard® earns triple points with eligible Sonesta stays; double points on eligible airfare, car rentals, and gas station purchases; and one point per dollar spent on everything else. New account holders can also benefit from up 95,000 bonus points when they meet minimum spend requirements in their first year of membership. The card features an annual fee of $75, but this fee is waived for the first year. 

How it Works 

Earning Points: 

• Earn Points with Sonesta Stays: Cardholders earn triple points (3 points for every dollar spent) on eligible Sonesta purchases. 
• Earn Points When Traveling: Cardholders earn double points (2 points for every dollar spent) on eligible airfare purchases, car rental bookings, or dining purchases. 
• Earn with Everything Else:  Cardholders earn a single point per dollar for all other purchases made with their card. 

Redeeming Points: 

• Hotel Stays: Sonesta Travel Pass points are redeemable for stays at eligible Sonesta hotels, with free nights starting as low as 15,000 points. Available hotels where redemptions begin at 15,000 points include: 
  • Sonesta ES Suites Birmingham 
  • Sonesta ES Suites Montgomery 
  • Sonesta ES Jacksonville 
  • Sonesta Dosasdas Del Inca (Puno & Miraflores) 
  • Sonesta Hotel Guayaquil 
  • Sonesta Hotel Loja 
  • Sonesta Hotel Pereira 
  • Sonesta Hotel Barranquilla 
  • Sonesta Hotel Valledupar 
  • Sonesta Hotel Bogota 
  • Sonesta Hotel Bucaramanga 
  • Sonesta Hotel Ibague
• Points Restrictions:  Sonesta Travel Pass points never expire, and there are no blackout dates. 

Today’s Bonus Offer 

New cardholders earn up to 95,000 bonus points when they make eligible purchases. Cardholders earn 60,000 points when they make just $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days, as well as 5,000 additional points after adding another authorized user to the account within the first 90 days. Cardholders also receive 30,000 bonus points on their account anniversary when they make at least $7,500 in purchases each year. 

Getting Under the Sheets with the Sonesta World Mastercard®  

• Annual Fee: The Sonesta World Mastercard® features no annual fee for the first year, followed by an annual fee of $75 for each year after that. For those that frequently travel abroad, this fee is relatively modest, especially given no foreign transaction fees. 

Hotel Perks: 

• Complimentary Elite Status: Sonesta World Mastercard® cardmembers receive instant Sonesta Travel Pass Elite membership status, which is usually reserved for those who book at least 12 qualified night stays per year. Elite status entitles members to complimentary Wi-Fi, 5% off travel across the many worldwide locations, express check-in and check-out, member-only offers, priority self-parking, complimentary room upgrades, and more. Elite members also receive a 15% discount on dining and resort amenities. 

Cardholder Protections: 

• Fraud Protection: Cardholders have complete protection from any fraudulent or unauthorized purchases made on their account. 
• FICO Score: Cardholders receive complimentary access to their FICO Score every month. 
• Account Alerts: Cardholders can stay on top of their account with email and text account alerts reminding them when payments are due. 
• Digital Wallet Technology: Cardholders can use their Sonesta World Mastercard® to shop in-store or in-app using Apple Pay®, Google Pay™, or Samsung Pay. 

“Suite” Perks That Make the Sonesta World Mastercard® Worthwhile: 

• Initial Bonus Offer: Cardholders can earn up to 95,000 Sonesta Travel Pass points if they meet purchasing thresholds within the first year of membership. As Tier 1 Sonesta Travel Pass reward stays start as low as 15,000 points, 95,000 points equate to up to six complimentary nights at Sonesta properties. 
• Complimentary Elite Status: The perk of automatic Sonesta Travel Pass Elite status is another great feature of the Sonesta World Mastercard®. Elite status entitles members to an impressive array of benefits, including express check-in and check-out, member-only offers, priority self-parking, complimentary room upgrades, a 15% discount on purchases at Sonesta, and more. 

 “Reservations” About the Sonesta World Mastercard®:  

• None, really: While the Sonesta World Mastercard® lacks free annual stays, the addition of Elite status more than makes up for this shortcoming. Additionally, while the card doesn’t have the features of many other hotel cards, it also lacks their high annual fee. 

Time to Check-Out 

Sonesta Hotels are renowned for providing excellent service and amenities for their discerning clientele worldwide, and the Sonesta World Mastercard from Bank of America is no different. The card offers Sonesta Travel Pass Elite Member status (featuring complimentary room upgrades, free club lounge access or daily continental breakfast), 60,000 bonus points after an initial $1,000 spend over the first three months and no annual fee for the first year (with a $75 fee after that). The volume of bonus points on offer makes it a very good option when compared to other cards, which usually require a much larger initial spend in exchange for fewer points.   

Beyond the perk of the initial sign up bonus of instant Elite Member Status, cardholders can earn up to 30,000 points as an anniversary bonus, provided they spend at least $7,500 on purchases each year. Additionally, adding an authorized user within the first 90 days of opening an account brings an extra 5,000 reward points. These accumulated points may be used for stays at Sonesta hotels, with as little as 15,000 points required for a complimentary stay. 

While the Sonesta World Mastercard® isn’t the most impressive hotel rewards credit card, it is still a  very good credit card for the price – and for frequent Sonesta Hotel customers, the Elite status and points-earning potential are too good to pass up. 


Editorial Disclosure — The opinions expressed on HotelCards’ reviews, blogs, and all other content on or relating to the website are solely those of the content’s author. They are not reflective of any card issuer or financial institution and have not been reviewed or approved by these entities unless otherwise noted. Further, HotelCards lists credit card offers that are updated daily with information believed to be accurate to the best of our knowledge.

Checking-In to the Disney® Premier Visa® Card from Chase  

The Disney® Premier Visa® Card from Chase will delight anyone who loves to visit the happiest place on earth. This co-branded rewards card was made for Mouseketeers and can earn unlimited Disney Rewards Dollars simply by making everyday purchases. Disney Rewards Dollars are redeemable for products and offerings at most Disney locations; flexible redemption gives cardholders a FastPass to free hotel stays, theme park tickets, Disney merch, and more. A special introductory bonus reward for spending $500 within the first 90 days of opening a Disney Premier Visa card account will put savings of $200 back into your pocket, in the form of a statement credit. Much like Peter Pan, saving money never gets old. 

This card really shines when it comes to discounts and perks with Disney theme parks and resorts; it’s worth noting that Disney Rewards Dollars can be earned from any and all purchases – but can only be redeemed at participating Disney locations, towards Disney-related rewards, or towards a statement credit toward air travel. Fans of the House of Mouse who plan to use this card to fund their next Disney vacation will rejoice, as Disney Rewards Dollars can be redeemed towards Theme Park tickets, hotel stays, dinglehoppers and toys, and much more. 

 Disney has long been a vacation destination for families; there’s something about seeing the magic up close and in person, and sharing that experience with loved ones and friends, that remains timeless. Planning a vacation is easy with this Disney Visa card: It also includes a fantastic purchase APR promotion of 0% interest on select Disney vacation packages for 6 months from the date of purchase - making this card ideal for folks who will use their new card to purchase their dream Disney vacation. 

How it Works 

Earning Points: 

Disney Rewards Dollars are redeemed for pretty much everything Disney – and now Star Wars, too:

• Earn Points by Making Disney Purchases: Cardmembers earn 2% in Disney Rewards Dollars on card purchases made at most Disney locations with their Disney® Premier Visa® Card.
• Earn Points with Gas, Groceries and Restaurants: Cardholders will also earn 2% in Disney Rewards Dollars on card purchases at grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants.
• Earn With Everything Else: Earn 1% in Disney Rewards Dollars per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.

Redeeming Points: 

• Resort Stays: Take the family to a Disney resort – Walt Disney World and Disneyland resort stays can be purchased using rewards earned from using this card.  
• Disney Parks: Disney Rewards Dollars can be used to purchase Disney theme park tickets, as well as on-site shopping and dining. 
• Disney Movies: Redeem your Disney Rewards Dollars towards tickets to see the latest Disney and Star Wars movies at participating theaters. 
• Disney Store: Visit your local Disney Store location, or head to shopDisney.com, to redeem your reward dollars for dinglehoppers, thingamabobs, snarfblatts, and lots of other great Disney-themed toys and merchandise. 
• Disney Cruise Line: For those who want a real adventure, Disney Rewards Dollars can be used toward Disney Cruise Line packages, as well as onboard activities and souvenirs. 

Today’s Bonus Offer 

New cardholders can earn a statement credit of $200 when they spend at least $500 with their new Disney Visa card within the first three months of opening their account. 

Getting Under the Sheets with the Disney® Premier Visa® Card

• Annual Fee:There is small annual fee associated with Chase’s Disney Premier Visa Card.  While it’s higher than Chase’s other Disney co-branded offering, which does not have an annual fee, it’s worth noting that the perks that accompany the Premier Visa card – namely the opportunity to earn 2% in Disney Rewards Dollars from gas, grocery and restaurant purchases – can easily offset this cost.

Disney Perks: 

• Disney Vacation Financing:Cardholders who use their Disney® Visa card to purchase select Disney vacation packages at a Disney Vacation Club® Resort will enjoy a 0% promotional APR for the first six months following their purchase date, provided their account is not past due on the date the package is purchased.
• Disney Cruise Line Savings: Enjoy a 10% discount each time you book a Castaway Cay Getaway Package, as well as savings on select onboard purchases like activities and souvenirs. 
• Shopping and Dining: Cardholders save 10% off select merchandise purchases of $50 or more at select locations and 10% off select dining locations on most days at the Disneyland® and Walt Disney World® Resorts. 
• Character Experiences: Disney Visa cardmembers will have access to exclusive photo opportunities with Disney and Star Wars characters, held in private locations at the resort you’re attending. 
• Disney Store Perks: Save 10% on select purchases at the Disney store and online, plus get access to exclusive Disney Visa cardmember events held at your local Disney store. 

“Suite” Perks That Make the Disney® Premier Visa® Card Worthwhile: 

• Initial Bonus Offer: Spending $500 with your new Disney card within 3 months of opening your account is an easy threshold to meet, so qualifying for the introductory bonus of a $200 statement credit is as easy as wishing upon a star.
• Rewards Dollars Equal $1: Every Rewards Dollar earned can be redeemed for the equivalent of $1 when redeeming towards eligible Disney goods and services.
• Rewards can be Redeemed for Airfare: Disney Rewards Dollars can be applied as a statement credit toward airline travel; the airline tickets must be purchased using the Disney Premier Visa Card, and the Disney Rewards Dollars earned from the purchase can then be used to pay yourself back by redeeming them for a credit on your monthly statement; there are no block out dates. 

“Reservations” About the Disney® Premier Visa® Card:  

• Must Get Redemption Card and Transfer Rewards Dollars: According to Disney’s terms, in order to redeem their Disney Rewards Dollars earned from spending with their Visa card, cardholders must obtain a Redemption Card and transfer their rewards from their Visa account to that Redemption card. Additionally, there may be limitations set by the card issuer regarding the number of rewards that can be transferred or stored on a Redemption Card. Once you’ve transferred your rewards, you cannot transfer them back to your account. 
• Not Many Hotel Redemption Options: Many hotel loyalty programs offer a variety of redemption options; points and rewards typically can be redeemed for free nights and merchandise and gift cards can be redeemed from multiple retailers. On the other hand, the rewards earned with the Disney Premier Visa can only be redeemed with Disney and its subsidiaries. 
• Rewards Expire After 5 Years: If you do not redeem your rewards within five years of earning them, they will expire. This means that if you plan to save them for a big vacation, you’ll need to keep an eye on a calendar to ensure that the first rewards you earn towards your Disney vacation do not expire before you’ve earned enough for your trip. 
• Annual Fee: While an annual fee of $49 won’t break the bank, there are card offers that offer many similar perks with no annual fee. In fact, the Disney® Visa® Card – the sister card to the Disney® Premier Visa® Card – is comparable and does not have an annual fee. 
• No Transfers: Rewards Dollars cannot be transferred to or from any other hotel loyalty programs.

Time to Check-Out 

Disney’s Premier Visa® Card, issued by Chase Bank, may not catch the eye of any but the biggest fans of Disney since its rewards program is tied directly to Disney’s properties. Its annual price tag of $49 can be easily offset by cardholders who frequent the House of Mouse and who plan to use it to fund their dream Disney vacation with Disney Rewards Dollars. While this card earns 2% in Disney Rewards Dollars for every $1 spent at Disney and at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants, potential applicants will need to consider that, when compared with the Disney® Visa® Card, the Premier Visa card may not be worth its annual fee. The good news: When redeeming their rewards, cardholders can apply the Disney Rewards Dollars they’ve accrued towards tickets to attend one of Disney’s many theme parks, towards a resort stay with Disney, or even towards a dream Disney cruise vacation. Overall, unless you’re a big fan of Disney (and are planning to visit a Disney theme park soon), you may find better value in a different co-branded credit card. Check out one of the many cards we’ve reviewed here at HotelCards.com and see which card is the right fit for your needs. 

Editorial Disclosure — The opinions expressed on HotelCards’ reviews, blogs, and all other content on or relating to the website are solely those of the content’s author. They are not reflective of any card issuer or financial institution and have not been reviewed or approved by these entities unless otherwise noted. Further, HotelCards lists credit card offers that are updated daily with information believed to be accurate to the best of our knowledge. 

Checking-In to the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card 

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is the crown jewel of the Hilton Honors co-branded hotel credit cards. This monster of a card offers huge earning potential and impressive perks, though it also carries an equally hefty price tag. For an annual fee of $450, cardholders can earn up to 14x Hilton Honors points per dollar on purchases and complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status. New account holders also benefit from an introductory offer of 150,000 bonus points when they make $4,000 in purchases with their card within the first three months.  

How it Works 

Earning Points: 

• Hilton Stays: Cardholders can earn 14x Hilton Honors reward points per dollar when they use their Hilton Honors Aspire Card to book stays at participating Hilton properties.
• Travel: Cardholders earn 7x points when they sue their card to book travel directly with amextravel.com, when booking eligible car rentals, or when dining out at U.S. restaurants. 
• Every Other Purchase Cardholders earn 3x points per dollar for all other purchases made with their card. 

Redeeming Points: 

• Hotel Stays: One of the easiest ways to redeem points is for free nights at Hilton properties. 
• Cash Bookings:  Points are also applicable towards part of the total cost of a Hilton stay. 
• Exclusive Experiences: Hilton experiences include dining at exclusive restaurants, tickets to sporting events and concerts, and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities like camel rides in the Egyptian desert.  These experiences are a unique way to make the most of Hilton Honors points.
• Airline Rewards Programs: Points are transferable to 30 frequent flyer programs. While the transfer rate isn’t great, having the option to use your hotel rewards for booking flights is a nice perk.

Today’s Bonus Offer 

New cardholders earn a whopping 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus points when they use their card to make at least $4,000 in purchases within the first three months of opening an account. While $4,000 in spending in the first three months may seem lofty, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is aimed at those who plan to use their card – as reinforced by the beefy annual fee. For these potential cardholders, 150,000 points equate to roughly $900 in value, more than making up for the yearly fee. 

Getting Under the Sheets with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

• Annual Fee: The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire features a hefty $450 annual fee, though this massive price tag is easily offset by the impressive earning potential and introductory bonus offer of the card. 

Hotel Perks: 

• Hilton Honors Diamond Status: Aspire cardholders rare automatically entitled to Hilton Honors Diamond status with their card membership. Diamond status typically requires a minimum of 120,000 Honors points, 30 stays, or 60 nights at Hilton properties, making this an attractive perk. Diamond status entitles members to complimentary breakfast, lounge access, premium internet access, a fifth night free on bookings, complimentary upgrades (when available), and 100% bonuses on points earning at Hilton properties. 
• Free Weekend Night Award: Cardholders receive one free weekend night reward when they renew their card every year. 

Additional Perks: 

• Statement Credit: Cardholders earn a $250 Hilton Resort statement credit after each year of membership. Statement credits are applicable towards purchases at participating properties in the Hilton portfolio worldwide. 
• Lounge Access: Cardholders receive unlimited complimentary access to over 1,000 airport lounges for themselves and up to two guests when they enroll in the complimentary Priority Pass program. 
• Airline Incidentals: Cardholders also receive a $250 airline fee credit for incidental fees, including baggage, in-flight entertainment, refreshments, or flight change fees. 

Cardholder Protections: 

• Fraud Protection: Cardholders have complete protection from any fraudulent or unauthorized purchases made on their account. 
• Global Assistance: Cardholders receive 24/7 access to AMEX’s Global Assistance hotline, providing emergency, legal, financial, and other coordination and advice when travel takes cardholders more than 100 miles from home. 
• Premium Roadside Assistance: Aspire cardholders receive premium roadside perks, such as towing for up to 10 miles, changing a flat tire, or jump-starting a battery up to four times per year. 
• Insurance: Cardholders receive up to $3,000 per covered person per covered trip in baggage insurance,  car rental insurance, as well as coverage for injuries, dismemberment, or accidental death when traveling with travel accident insurance through AMEX.

“Suite” Perks That Make the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card Worthwhile: 

• Sign-Up Bonus: 150,000 bonus points is a mighty haul, with a cash value of around $900. For those who are willing to pay the $450 annual fee and plan to make regular use of their card, this is an achievable reward – and one that more than makes up for the yearly membership fee (at least during the first year).  
• Automatic Diamond Status: The perk of automatic Hilton Honors Diamond status is another great feature of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. Diamond status entitles members to an impressive array of benefits, including complimentary breakfast, lounge access, premium internet access, a fifth night free on bookings, complimentary upgrades, a 100% points-earning bonus at Hilton, and more. 
• Free Weekend Night Every Anniversary: Cardholders receive one complimentary weekend night at Hilton properties on every account anniversary. 

“Reservations” About the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card:  

• None, really: There isn’t a whole lot not to like about the Hilton Honors Aspire Card. Sure, the price tag may be a deterrent to many, but for those who can foot the bill, this card is an excellent option. 

Time to Check-Out 

Overall, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is a credit card to carefully consider for those looking for a hotel rewards card that doesn’t skimp on the rewards or perks. This card makes it incredibly easy to earn free-night stay from everyday purchases – not just travel-related ones – and the excellent structure of the Hilton Honors loyalty rewards program. Additionally, once on-site, the Hilton Honors Aspire Card continues to significantly enhance the hotel experience through the complimentary Diamond status, which by itself is a fantastic value. While the $450 annual fee may seem high, those who take advantage of the statement credits and the perks of Diamond status will immediately recover those costs.   

Editorial Disclosure — The opinions expressed on HotelCards’ reviews, blogs, and all other content on or relating to the website are solely those of the content’s author. They are not reflective of any card issuer or financial institution and have not been reviewed or approved by these entities unless otherwise noted. Further, HotelCards lists credit card offers that are updated daily with information believed to be accurate to the best of our knowledge.