Hilton Honors American Express Aspire

If Hilton is your hotel chain — like, genuinely your go-to, not just the one you occasionally book — the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire is probably the single best hotel credit card you can get. For $550 a year, you get automatic Diamond status (Hilton's second-highest tier, behind only the new Diamond Reserve), a free night reward certificate that can be worth more than the annual fee on its own, a $400 resort credit, and earning rates that are frankly absurd at Hilton properties.

Let's talk numbers: 14x base at Hilton hotels, which stacks with Diamond status to hit 34x total at most Hilton brands. That's roughly a 17-20% return at Hilton properties. The card also earns 7x on flights, car rentals, and U.S. restaurants, and 3x on everything else. The per-point value is lower than Amex Membership Rewards (roughly 0.5 to 0.6 cents each), but the high earn rates more than compensate.

One thing to know upfront: Priority Pass lounge access was removed from this card in 2024. That stings. But Diamond status still gets you into Hilton executive lounges, and the credit package is strong enough to justify the fee for dedicated Hilton travelers. Just don't buy this card expecting airport lounge access anymore.

• Automatic Diamond Status: Hilton's second-highest tier (only the new Diamond Reserve, which takes 80 nights or 40 stays plus $18,000 in Hilton spend, sits above it) — normally requires 50 nights, 25 stays, or $11,500 in eligible Hilton spend per year. You get suite upgrades (when available), executive lounge access, daily food and beverage credit, and a 100% bonus on base points. Basically, the VIP treatment without the grind.
• 14x at Hilton (34x with Diamond): On eligible purchases at Hilton hotels and resorts worldwide. This is where the card really shines.
• 7x on Flights, Car Rentals, U.S. Restaurants: Flights booked direct or through Amex Travel, car rentals direct, and dining out.
• 3x on Everything Else: A respectable base rate that keeps non-category spending productive.
• Free Night Reward: One per year (usable any day of the week), valid at most Hilton properties including Waldorf Astoria and Conrad. This alone can be worth $300-$800+ at a luxury property. Earn additional Free Night Rewards by spending $30,000 (one night) and $60,000 (a second night) on the card in a calendar year.
• $400 Hilton Resort Credit: Up to $200 semiannually for eligible resort purchases. Spa day, dinner, golf — it all counts at qualifying resorts.
• $200 Flight Credit: Up to $50 per quarter for flights purchased directly or through Amex Travel.
• $219 CLEAR+ Credit: Annual statement credit for a CLEAR+ membership.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.

• Annual Fee: $550
• Authorized User Fee: No additional fee. But heads up — authorized users don't get Diamond status or lounge access.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None
• APR: Variable APR on purchases (yes, this is a credit card, not a charge card — but carrying a balance on a $550 card is a choice you should not make).
• Note: Priority Pass lounge access was removed as of February 1, 2024. RIP.

Right now the Aspire is offering 200,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months — and you still get the card's annual Free Night Reward in year one. This limited-time offer runs through January 13, 2027, and it's the best welcome bonus in the card's history. If you've been on the fence, this is the time.

At 0.5 to 0.6 cents per point, the bonus alone is worth roughly $1,000 to $1,200 in hotel stays. Add the free night certificate — easily $300-$800+ at a Waldorf Astoria or Conrad — and you're looking at roughly $1,300 to $2,000 in first-year value before you even touch the resort and flight credits.

Pro tip: Amex's once-per-lifetime rule applies here, so you can't get the bonus if you have or have ever had the Aspire. Having held the Surpass or the Hilton Business card doesn't disqualify you, but read the offer terms carefully before applying.

• 14x points: Purchases at Hilton hotels and resorts (34x total with Diamond status bonus at most brands; 24x at Home2 Suites, Homewood Suites, Spark and Tru, which earn 5 base points per dollar)
• 7x points: Flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel
• 7x points: Car rentals booked directly with select companies
• 7x points: U.S. restaurants
• 3x points: All other eligible purchases

Those multipliers look wild, but let's keep it real: Hilton points are worth roughly 0.5 to 0.6 cents each. So 7x on dining works out to about 3.5 to 4.2% back — good, but not dramatically better than a 4x Membership Rewards card. Where this card becomes genuinely unbeatable is at Hilton properties: 34x with Diamond status translates to roughly 17-20% back. Put every Hilton charge on this card. Every single one.

Hilton Honors points live in the Hilton ecosystem:

• Hotel Stays (Best Value): Free nights range from 5,000 to 250,000 points depending on property and dates. As a Diamond member, you may score upgrades on award stays too.
• Points + Cash: Combine points and money for stays, though the value is usually worse than going all-points.
• Fifth Night Free: Book 5 consecutive nights on points and night #5 is free — an automatic 20% discount on longer stays.
• Amazon Shop With Points: Terrible value. Hard pass.
• Transfer to Airlines: 10,000:1,000 ratio. Awful unless there's a transfer bonus and you need a small top-up.
• Experiences and Events: Concerts, events, experiences. Value varies wildly.

The move: Redeem for premium Hilton properties — Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, LXR. A Waldorf night that costs $600+ and requires 95,000 points gives you 0.63+ cents per point. That's well above average and makes the earn rates even more compelling.

• Diamond Status: The best Hilton status a card can get you (only the new Diamond Reserve tier, earned purely through stays and spend, sits above it). Suite upgrades when available, executive lounge access (breakfast, evening apps, drinks), daily food and beverage credit at most U.S. properties (continental breakfast abroad), late checkout, and 100% bonus on base Hilton points. This is the reason most people get this card.
• Free Night Reward: Issued in year one and after each anniversary. Valid at almost all Hilton properties, including Waldorf Astoria and Conrad. Using this at a luxury property is the single best way to justify the annual fee.
• $400 Resort Credit: Up to $200 semiannually at participating Hilton resort properties. Dining, spa, golf, resort charges — but the property must carry a "resort" designation, so check before you book.
• $200 Flight Credit: Up to $50 per quarter for direct airline or Amex Travel flight purchases. Replaces the old $250 airline incidental fee credit.
• $219 CLEAR+ Credit: Annual statement credit for CLEAR+ membership.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees: Use it internationally without surcharges.

The elephant in the room: Priority Pass Select was removed February 1, 2024. You still get lounge access at Hilton properties through Diamond status, but airport lounge access is gone unless you carry another card for that.

The Aspire gets you Diamond, the best Hilton status any credit card can give you, plus the most generous resort credits. Yes, losing Priority Pass hurts — the Marriott Brilliant still has it. But the Aspire's uncapped free night certificate (hello, Waldorf Astoria) and Diamond status perks make it the clear winner for anyone who's genuinely loyal to Hilton. If you split stays across multiple chains, a flexible points card is probably smarter.

The Aspire is built for one person: the dedicated Hilton loyalist who stays at Hilton properties multiple times a year and wants Diamond status without the 50-night grind. If you book Hilton resorts regularly, the $400 resort credit and free night reward can cover the annual fee before you even think about points. The current 200,000-point welcome offer (through January 13, 2027) is the best in the card's history — if this card has been on your radar, stop waiting.

Not the right card for: hotel chain hoppers, people who stay at Hilton once or twice a year, or anyone who expects airport lounge access (that ship has sailed).