Hilton Honors has multiple cobranded credit cards, and we often hear people asking which one is best for their situation. After comparing the available Hilton credit cards, you may be ready to pull out one of these cards to pay for your next stay at a Hilton hotel.
Let’s take a look at some of the popular cards you can use to pay for your next stay at a hotel in the Hilton Honors program and what these cards can offer you in terms of returns on spending and benefits during your stay.
Credit card comparison for Hilton hotel stays
Apart from using Hilton cobranded credit cards, you can also consider using Sara A travel rewards card that earns transferable points on travel purchases, such as hotel stays. Let’s look at some common options and what you can get when using these cards.
| Card Name | Earning rate at Hilton Hotel | Value of Awards Received* | Hilton related benefits from the card | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton American Express honors the Aspire Card | 14 points per dollar | 8.4 cents |
|
$550 (see rates and fees) |
| Hilton honors the American Express Surpass® Card | 12 points per dollar | 7.2 cents |
|
$150 (see rates and fees) |
| The Hilton honors the American Express Business Card | 12 points per dollar | 7.2 cents |
|
$195 (see rates and fees) |
| Hilton honors the American Express Card | 7 points per dollar | 4.2 cents |
|
$0 (see rates and fees). |
| American Express® Green Card | 3 points per dollar | 6 cents | no one | $150 (see rates and fees) |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | 3 points per dollar (or 10 points per dollar if booked through Chase Travel℠) | 6.1 cents (or 20 cents) | no one | $550 |
| Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (See Rates and Fees) | 3 points per dollar (or 10 points per dollar if booked through CitiTravel.com) | 5.4 cents | no one | $95 (see rates and fees) |
* Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not by the card issuer.
Information for the Hilton Aspire and American Express Green Cards is independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
RELATED: Which Credit Card Earns the Most Points for Hilton Stays?
Which card should you use?
When choosing a credit card for your next stay at a Hilton property, consider two factors: the benefits you’ll enjoy during your stay and the points you’ll earn on the card when paying for your stay.
The first part is relatively easy. Your elite status benefits will apply regardless of whether you use a specific card for your stay. For example, you don’t really need to pay for your pleasure with the Amex Hilton Aspire Card Benefit of Diamond status during your next Hilton stay.
(An exception is when booking a paid stay at a Hilton hotel using Chase Travel℠ through CitiTravel.com or Sapphire Reserve through Citi Strata Premier. These will generally count as third-party bookings, so when you earn every 10 points spent on purchases dollar, you’ll give up any benefits of Hilton elite status.)
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When it comes to earning points for spending at Hilton Honors participating hotels, using your Hilton credit card is a really good option. These offer better returns than using a Marriott credit card at Marriott hotels, and with statement credits on some Hilton cobranded cards, the cost of your stay can be reduced.
However, the value that should be here is somewhat subjective: do you prefer to get the maximum value according to our monthly points evaluation? Are you okay with that, even if it means getting points stuck in one program and can only be used with Hilton (or transferred to airlines so you lose a lot of value)?
Or do you prefer to earn transferable points because you know how to leverage them for first- and business-class flight awards, getting outsized value for your points? In this case, using a card that earns American Express Membership Rewards points may be your best bet because you have access to a full range of transfer partners and even if you’re a few points shy of your next, you have the option to transfer to Hilton Honors. . Redemption
RELATED: From Newbie to Expert: 6 Ways to Up Your Mileage Redemption Game
Bottom line
Deciding which credit card to use on any given purchase can sometimes require tradeoffs. Maybe you earn more points but sacrifice some benefits. Or maybe you want to earn fewer points but still get valuable insurance benefits by using a particular card.
Luckily, choosing which credit card to use when staying at a Hilton hotel is pretty easy. With the high earning rates on Hilton credit cards, you should be able to earn high value in rewards while still enjoying their benefits — without the tradeoffs necessary to make this decision at some other hotel chains.
Related Links:
For Amex Hilton Aspire Card rates and fees, click here
For Amex Hilton Surpass Card rates and fees, click here.
For Amex Hilton Card rates and fees, click here.
For Amex Hilton Business Card rates and fees, click here.
For Amex Green Card rates and fees, click here.