When staying at Hilton hotels, using a Hilton credit card can make sense if you want to maximize rewards and benefits during your stay. You could also earn Hilton Honors points on everyday purchases to use toward future vacations.

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card offers complimentary Hilton Honors Gold elite status, up to $200 in annual Hilton credits ($50 max each quarter), and the opportunity to earn a Free Night Reward after spending $15,000 within a calendar year. Learn more about this valuable hotel credit card to determine if it's right for your wallet.

Hilton Honors Surpass Card overview

Learn more

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Rates & fees, terms apply

• Annual fee
  $150
• Welcome offer
  Earn 165,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months (offer ends Jan. 8, 2025)
• Card type(s)
  Travel, Hotel
• Ongoing Purchases APR
  20.24%-29.24% Variable
• Recommended credit score
  Good, Excellent

• Rewards rate
  • 12x points on eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio
  • 6x points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. 4x points for each dollar on U.S. online retail purchases
  • 3x points on all other eligible purchases

• Benefits
  • Earn a Free Night Reward after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year
  • Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and earn Hilton Honors Diamond Status through the end of the next calendar year
  • Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad

How to earn rewards

You can earn points in numerous ways with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card. Take advantage of these opportunities to maximize rewards on your spending.

• Welcome bonus. New cardmembers can access a generous sign-up bonus if they meet the minimum spending requirement within the first six months.

• Hilton purchases. Use your card to pay for purchases at Hilton resorts and hotels to receive 12x points. Eligible purchases may include reservations, food and dining charged to your room, upgrades, and activities.

• Bonus categories. The Hilton Surpass credit card includes several bonus categories that offer 6x points for everyday budget items, including restaurant dining, supermarket purchases, and gas spending within the U.S. Additionally, you can earn 4x points on U.S. online retail purchases.

• Everyday purchases. All other eligible purchases earn a whopping 3x points without any caps.

• Referring friends and family. If you have an eligible Hilton credit card, you can earn bonus points if a friend is approved for the same card using your referral link. The number of points varies based on which card you have, and there is typically a maximum number of points you can earn each year.

How to redeem rewards

Hilton Honors points have several redemption options available, but the highest point value generally comes from redeeming them for stays at Hilton properties.

• Hilton reservations. Hilton has a variable award chart where members can use any combination of points and cash to book rooms starting at 5,000 points. The number of points required depends on the property, type of room, and dates of travel.

• 5th night free. When you use points to book a hotel room, you'll receive the 5th night free during your stay. You can use this benefit multiple times during the same reservation for stays up to 20 nights.

• Experiences. Members can access exclusive experiences and VIP perks at concerts, dining events, sports, and more.

• Transfer to airlines. You can convert your Hilton Honors points to a partner rewards program such as United Airlines or Delta Air Lines.

Points can also be redeemed for Lyft rides, online shopping, rental cars, and more.

Additional benefits

• Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status. Cardholders get complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status for as long as their account is open. Gold status includes an 80% bonus on paid stays, complimentary upgrades when available, a daily food and beverage credit, and more.

• Upgrade to Diamond status based on spending. When you spend at least $40,000 within a calendar year using your Hilton Surpass Card, you'll be upgraded to Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the following year. This top-tier status includes a 100% bonus on paid stays, executive lounge access, elite status gifting, and more.

• Annual $200 Hilton credit. Each quarter, you'll receive up to $50 in statement credits for purchases made directly at any hotel within the Hilton portfolio of brands.

• Free Night Reward. Spend at least $15,000 per calendar year to earn a Free Night Reward that you can use on a future stay at a Hilton property.

• National Car Rental status. Receive complimentary Emerald Club Executive status through National Car Rental (with enrollment).

• No foreign transaction fees. Avoid foreign transaction fees when making purchases outside the U.S.

• Rental car protection. Secondary rental car insurance when using the card to pay for the entire rental period. Coverage does not include liability coverage for damage to other vehicles or injuries to people.

• Baggage insurance plan. Your bags are covered against loss, damage, or theft when purchasing a flight with your Hilton Surpass Card. Receive coverage up to $500 for checked bags and up to $1,250 for carry-on luggage (exclusions and limits apply).

• Purchase protection. Insure purchases against theft or damage for up to 90 days from the purchase date. Limited to $1,000 per claim and up to $50,000 per calendar year.

• Extended warranty coverage. Receive up to one additional year of warranty on eligible purchases with a manufacturer’s warranty of five years or less. Claims are limited to $10,000 per item and up to $50,000 per calendar year (exclusions and limits apply).

• ShopRunner membership. Get free two-day shipping when shopping at more than 100 online retailers. Enrollment required.

Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Who is the Hilton Honors Surpass Card best for?

The Hilton Surpass Card is best for travelers who enjoy staying at Hilton hotels and want to maximize rewards on their spending. Ideally, they'll spend at least $15,000 on the card each year to earn the annual Free Night Reward and maximize the card's bonus categories.

It’s relatively simple to offset this card’s annual fee if you max out the $50 Hilton credit each quarter. Using the Hilton Honors Gold elite status benefits can also justify paying the card's annual fee if you stay at Hilton properties often. For example, the complimentary daily food and drink credits are available for the Gold member and up to one guest. They range from $10 to $25 per person, so you could cover the annual fee in just three hotel nights when traveling with a companion at some hotels.

You'll get even more value if your spending qualifies for the annual Free Night Reward. These certificates can be used at almost any Hilton property, but the highest value tends to come from its luxury brands like Waldorf Astoria, LXR, and Conrad.

While you can earn Hilton Honors Diamond status by spending $40,000 on this card, with those spending habits, you might find the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card more worthwhile.

Read more: Best travel credit cards

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card pros

• Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, with an opportunity to earn Diamond status when you spend at least $40,000 within a calendar year

• $200 annual Hilton credits (up to $50 in statement credits each quarter)

• Earn a Free Night Reward when you spend at least $15,000 within a calendar year

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card cons

• High spending requirement to achieve Diamond status

• Bonus categories are limited to purchases at U.S. retailers and restaurants

• Annual Free Night Reward requires minimum spending, while other hotel cards do not

Where can you use the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card?

The Hilton Honors Surpass Card can be used anywhere American Express is accepted as payment, including 99% of all U.S. businesses that accept credit cards.

However, American Express is not as widely accepted when traveling internationally. For this reason, it makes sense to bring a Visa or Mastercard credit card as a backup in case your Amex card is not accepted. When you are able to use it, rest assured that the Hilton Surpass credit card does not charge foreign transaction fees.

How to make a Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card payment

• Online: American Express website

• Mobile: Amex mobile app (Apple, Google)

• Monthly auto-pay: Set up automatic payments from your linked bank accounts.

• By mail: American Express, PO Box 96001, Los Angeles, CA, 90096 - 8000

• Over the phone: Call the number on the back of your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card or (800) 472-9297

• Wire transfer: Initiate a wire transfer from your bank account with the following information. You must also include your name and American Express account number.

  • Bank Name: Chase Manhattan Bank

  • Account Name: American Express Card Member Wire Depository

  • Address: 1 Chase Plaza New York, NY 10081

  • ABA Number (Routing Number): 0210-0002-1

  • Account Number: 910-2-753036

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card customer service info

• Customer service is available by phone or chat 24/7.

• Phone number: (800) 528-4800

• Customer service chat: Website or via mobile app

Alternative cards to consider

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card is an excellent hotel credit card option for people who enjoy staying at Hilton hotels and resorts. However, it isn't the best option for everyone. Before you apply, review these travel credit cards to see if they're a better fit.

Learn more

Hilton Honors American Express Card

Rates & fees, terms apply

• Annual fee
  $0
• Welcome offer
  Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months (offer ends Jan. 8, 2025)
• Card type(s)
  Travel, Hotel
• Ongoing Purchases APR
  20.24%-29.24% Variable
• Recommended credit score
  Excellent/Good

• Rewards rate
  • 7x points on eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio
  • 5x points on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations
  • 3x points on all other eligible purchases

• Benefits
  • $0 annual fee
  • Spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold status through the end of the next calendar year
  • Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad

Why we like it: For travelers who enjoy Hilton, but aren't sure about paying an annual fee, the Hilton Honors American Express Card can make for a smart choice (see rates & fees). This card's earning power is similar to the Hilton Honors Surpass Card, especially on everyday spending. It comes with Hilton Honors Silver elite status instead of Gold, but you can upgrade to Gold status (through the end of the following year) by spending $20,000 within a calendar year. A big feature that's missing is the annual Free Night Reward, no matter how much you spend.

Read our full review of the Hilton Honors American Express Card

Learn more

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Rates & fees, terms apply

• Annual fee
  $695
• Welcome offer
  Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $8,000 in the first 6 months
• Card type(s)
  Travel
• Ongoing Purchases APR
  See Pay Over Time APR
• Recommended credit score
  Excellent/Good

• Rewards rate
  • 5x points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year)
  • 5x points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
  • 1x points on all other purchases

• Benefits
  • Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel (requires a minimum two-night stay)
  • Get up to $199 back per calendar year on your CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your card (CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues)
  • Enjoy up to $200 in Uber savings annually on rides in the U.S. —  that's $15 in Uber Cash for rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December (you must have the latest version of the Uber App downloaded and your eligible American Express Platinum Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account; Amex benefit may only be used in United States)

Why we like it: The American Express Platinum Card is a luxury travel card with a host of valuable benefits, including up to $200 in annual statement credits when you book eligible prepaid hotel stays through Amex Travel. It comes with numerous annual credits for travel and retail purchases, but some must be used monthly in order to get maximum benefit. The card also includes complimentary access to the Global Lounge Collection, which includes both Centurion Lounge and Priority Pass lounges. Additionally, cardholders get complimentary Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold status when they activate these benefits. If you prefer Hilton but don’t mind staying with other hotel brands — and you travel very frequently — the Platinum Card could be worth its steep fee (see rates & fees).

Read our full review of The Platinum Card from American Express

Learn more

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

• Annual fee
  $99
• Welcome offer
  Earn 140,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
• Card type(s)
  Travel
• Ongoing Purchases APR
  20.99% - 27.99% Variable
• Recommended credit score
  Excellent/Good

• Rewards rate
  • 26x points at IHG hotels and resorts
  • 5x points on travel, dining, and at gas stations
  • 3x points on all other purchases

• Benefits
  • Earn a free night on each account anniversary, plus get a fourth night free when you redeem your points for a consecutive four-night stay at IHG properties
  • Receive Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS statement credit of up to $120 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
  • Access perks including free upgrades, welcome amenities, and guaranteed room availability when you book at least 72 hours in advance

Why we like it: For travelers open to another hotel brand, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card offers valuable benefits at IHG hotels and resorts. The card includes an Anniversary Free Night that you can use for a redemption up to 40,000 points, and when you redeem points for a consecutive stay of four nights or longer, you'll get the fourth night free. It also comes with complimentary Platinum elite status and the ability to upgrade to Diamond elite status (through Dec. 31 of the following year) when you spend $40,000 within a calendar year.

This article was edited by Kendall Little

Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.