Hilton Honors
- Annual Fee
- $0
- points · Welcome Bonus
- 70,000
- Top Rate
- 7X
Terms checked against the issuer on October 10, 2026
At a Glance
- Annual Fee
- $0
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- $0
- Network
- —
- Rewards Currency
- Hilton Honors
- Point Valuation
- 0.4–0.4 cpp (mid: 0.4)
- Credit Required
- Excellent
Welcome Offer
70,000
points
Spend $2,000 in the first 6 months
Earning Rates
- 7X
Hotels
7X points for eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
- 5X
Dining
5X points on dining At U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- 5X
Gas Stations
5X points on gas At U.S. gas stations
- 5X
Grocery Stores
5X points on groceries At U.S. supermarkets
Benefits & Perks
Elite Status & Memberships
Fast track to top-tier perks
Hilton Honors Silver Status
Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you c...
Insurance & Protections
2 protectionsCar Rental Loss and Damage Insurance
Getting into your Rental Vehicle can be the start of a great vacation. When you use your Eligible Card to reserve and pay for the Entire Rental and...
Purchase Protection
Sometimes your favorite new purchase gets stolen or accidentally damaged. But when you use your Eligible Card for Covered Purchases, your Membershi...
Dining Out
5x at restaurants
Hilton Honors
≈$2 in value on a $100 dinner, at our valuation of 0.4¢ per point
No annual fee
Explore 5,512 New York restaurants with this cardStack a dining program
Rakuten Dining
5% back at 20,618 participating restaurants, on top of this card's 5x, once you join and link this card.
+$5
cash back, or ≈$5.50 as points
More on a $100 dinner
Program & Transfers
Hilton Honors
More ways to earn. More ways to stay.
Hilton Honors is one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programs, with over 9,000 properties across 25 brands in 138 countries. The program offers a straightforward earning structure of 10 points per dollar at most brands, with elite members earning up to 120% bonus points on top of base earnings. Members earn points on eligible stays and can redeem for free night awards starting at 5,000 points, with dynamic pricing based on room rates. The fifth night free benefit on standard award stays of 5+ nights offers exceptional value, effectively a 20% discount on longer redemptions. The program features five elite tiers (Member, Silver, Gold, Diamond, and Diamond Reserve) with benefits including room upgrades, executive lounge access, free breakfast (Gold and above), and milestone bonuses. Elite status can be earned through paid nights, stays, or qualifying spend, with credit card holders receiving automatic Gold or Diamond status.
Program Ratings
Sweet Spots — Best Redemptions
| Route / Property | Points | Cabin/Type | Value / Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi | 150,000 | — | — |
| Conrad Maldives Rangali Island | 120,000 | — | — |
| Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal | 120,000 | — | — |
| Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort | 110,000 | — | — |
| Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills | 120,000 | — | — |
| Conrad Algarve | 59,000 | — | — |
| Roku Kyoto, LXR | 70,000 | — | — |
| Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island | 100,000 | — | — |
| Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Paraiso, Mexico | 20,000 | — | — |
| Hilton Honors Experiences (Luxury Spa/Dining) | 10,000 | — | — |
| Canopy by Hilton (Select European Properties) | 50,000 | — | — |
Reviews & Analysis
Third-Party Rankings & Ratings
| Publication | Rating | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PointsNav | #78 of 119 |
Category Rankings (2 categories)
The Math: Is $0 Worth It?
First-year value includes $280 welcome bonus
Credit Utilization (60%)
Excludes earning value, lounge access, insurance, and elite status
Total Value Captured
$0
Annual Fee
-$0
Net Annual Value
+$0
Details & Terms
Application Rules
| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Amex 2/90 | You'll be declined if you apply for a third Amex card in 90 days |
| Amex 4 Credit | Amex will decline your application if you already have 5 credit cards (not charge) and apply for a sixth |
| Amex 1/7 | Amex allows only 1 bonus per specific card every 7 years (yours or that version of the card) |
| Amex Popup Jail | After you apply, Amex may show a pop-up saying you're ineligible for the welcome bonus |
Payment Terms
| Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 |
FAQs
How much are Hilton Honors points worth?
Hilton Honors points are valued at approximately 0.4-0.7 cents each, depending on redemption. Standard rooms average 0.5 cpp, while luxury properties and experiences can exceed 2 cpp. Dynamic pricing means value varies significantly by property and date.
Do Hilton Honors points expire?
Yes, Hilton Honors points expire after 24 months of account inactivity. Any qualifying activity (stays, points earning, or card usage) resets the 24-month clock. Holding an active Hilton Honors credit card keeps your account active.
Does the fifth night free apply to all stays?
The fifth night free benefit applies only to Silver elite members and above on standard room reward stays of 5+ consecutive nights booked entirely with points. Premium room awards, paid stays, and paid+points bookings do not qualify.
Can I earn elite status from a credit card?
Yes. The Hilton Honors Surpass and Business cards grant automatic Gold status (25 elite nights, 80% bonus points). The Hilton Honors Aspire card grants automatic Diamond status (50 elite nights, 100% bonus points). These cards also provide elite night credits toward higher tiers.
Can I transfer Hilton Honors points?
Hilton Honors points can be transferred to other member accounts through pooling (max 11 members) or to most American Express Membership Rewards cards at a 2:1 ratio (2 Hilton points = 1 Membership Rewards point). New members must wait 30 days before using pooling.
What are Hilton Honors brands?
Hilton operates 24 brands including luxury (Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, LXR), upper-midscale (Canopy, Signia, DoubleTree), midscale (Hilton, Curio), and economy (Hampton, Tru, Spark). All brands participate in Hilton Honors earning and elite benefits.
How does dynamic pricing work?
Hilton uses dynamic award pricing where nightly point costs adjust based on market demand and cash rates. Standard room awards currently cap at 150,000 points/night. Premium room awards on unavailable dates can exceed 1 million points and should generally be avoided.
Is booking direct required for points earning?
Yes. Booking through third-party travel agencies (Expedia, Booking.com, etc.) does not earn Hilton Honors points or elite night credits. You must book through Hilton.com, the Hilton Honors app, or call the direct reservations line.
Media & Resources
Card Design
Evidence Sources
| Source | Verified | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| RewardsCC API | — | RewardsCC API |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page: Welcome offer | |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page: Multiple card facts | |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page: Multiple card facts |
