The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is considered to be one of the best hotel credit cards currently available, despite its $550 annual fee. The perks that come with this card easily outweigh the cost, making it a valuable addition to any wallet.
One of the greatest perks of the Aspire card is the complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status for the primary cardholder. Unlike other Hilton credit cards, you don’t have to reach a minimum spend to earn this status. Diamond status comes with a 100% bonus on points, access to executive-floor lounges, free breakfast, room upgrades, and more. This status is typically earned after 30 stays or 60 nights, or by earning 120,000 base points in a calendar year.
Another valuable benefit of the Aspire card is the opportunity to earn up to three reward nights each year. Upon opening your account, you’ll receive one night at almost any Hilton property worldwide. Additionally, you’ll receive a free night each year on your cardmember anniversary. If you spend $30,000 and $60,000 on the card in a calendar year, you’ll earn a second and third night, respectively. This benefit has no exclusions, so even infrequent travelers can take advantage of this perk and save hundreds of dollars a year.
The Aspire card also offers a $200 airline-fee credit each year. This credit can be used to offset travel costs, such as baggage fees or in-flight purchases. The credit is split into $50 increments each calendar quarter and can be used for eligible purchases made directly with an airline or through amextravel.com.
In addition, cardholders receive a $400 Hilton resort statement credit each cardmember year. This credit can be used towards eligible Hilton resorts and is split into two $200 credits, one for each half of the year. This credit can be used for room rates, taxes, and incidental charges, effectively providing cardholders with an extra night or two at eligible resorts.
The Aspire card also offers a $100 Hilton on-property credit for each two-night paid stay at participating Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts or Conrad Hotels & Resorts properties. This credit can be used for incidentals during your stay, providing extra value for longer stays at these properties.
In terms of earning rates, the Aspire card is highly rewarding. Cardholders earn 14 points per dollar spent on paid stays within the Hilton portfolio. With the complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status, cardholders actually earn a total of 34 points per dollar on most Hilton stays. This is a significant return on spending and sets the card apart from other cobranded hotel cards. Cardholders also earn 7 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants. All other spending earns 3 points per dollar.
Overall, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers a range of valuable perks that easily offset its annual fee. With top-tier elite status, up to three reward nights each year, airline-fee credits, resort credits, on-property credits, and impressive earning rates, this card is a standout in the hotel credit card market. Whether you frequently stay at Hilton hotels or not, the benefits of this card make it a worthwhile investment.
To learn more about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, you can read our full review of the card.