Annual Fee: $150
Earn 165,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/25.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Earn 165,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/25.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
For American Express products listed in this page, 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.
The Hilton Honors Surpass card is a compelling option for travelers seeking enhanced rewards and benefits within the Hilton system. With a focus on Hilton properties, this card provides an elevated experience by offering an array of Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible purchases, making it especially appealing for frequent Hilton guests.
Cardholders enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, unlocking perks such as room upgrades, free breakfast, and late checkouts. Despite a moderate annual fee, the value derived from the enhanced perks, status benefits, and annual rewards easily offsets the cost for those who frequently stay at Hilton properties. Overall, the Surpass card caters to travelers seeking premium Hilton experiences, making it a powerful tool for unlocking unparalleled hotel stays and rewards within the Hilton network.
Plus, you might be eligible to get an elevated welcome offer on the Surpass card by going through CardMatch, a simple and secure tool. Check it out here!
[.redeem] 12x [.redeem] per $1 on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels and resorts
[.redeem] 6x [.redeem] per $1 at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery), supermarkets, and gas stations
[.redeem] 4x [.redeem] per $1 on U.S. online retail purchases
[.redeem] 3x [.redeem] per $1 on all other eligible purchases
For American Express products listed in this page, 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.
🏆 Best for IHG Loyalists
Annual Fee: $99
Annual Fee: $250
Earn 165,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/25.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Our goal is to help you explore the world affordably and experience life changing travel by maximizing miles and points. Our team of travel and credit card experts is here to help you make decisions about which cards belong in your wallet. Based on your travel goals, we offer unbiased advice to help you make the best choices. Keep in mind that our suggestions require responsible credit card use.
Here at Daily Drop, we score cards based on six different categories: annual fee, welcome offer, point redemption value, rewards rates, benefits, and travel protections. You’ll notice that APR is not considered because we never recommend carrying a credit card balance if your goal is to maximize miles and points for travel. While these scores are opinion-based, our team has earned and redeemed millions of miles and points and has traveled to almost every country in the world. After all, we wouldn’t be Daily Drop if we weren’t practicing what we preach.
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a game-changer for those who love Hilton properties. It's been a reliable companion for me, offering solid rewards and benefits that easily justify its small annual fee. If you're looking for a hotel card with excellent perks and rewards, this one should be at the top of your list. Plus, its current welcome offer is enough for multiple free nights at many Hilton hotels. With the Hilton Honors Surpass, you'll enjoy Gold status, which offers room upgrades, free breakfast, and bonus points on stays. The bottom line is — if you’re a frequent hotel stayer, this card will elevate your travel experiences and offer rewards that make every trip worth it.
[.pro]Automatic Gold status with Hilton Honors[.pro]
[.pro]$200 annual statement credits for Hilton purchases (up to $50 in statement credits each quarter)[.pro]
[.pro]Free Weekend Night Reward after spending $15,000 on purchases in a calendar year[.pro]
[.con]Limited redemption options tied to Hilton properties[.con]
[.redeem] 12x [.redeem] per $1 on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels and resorts
[.redeem] 6x [.redeem] per $1 at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery), supermarkets, and gas stations
[.redeem] 4x [.redeem] per $1 on U.S. online retail purchases
[.redeem] 3x [.redeem] per $1 on all other eligible purchases
When it comes to Hilton Honors Bonus Points, the best way to maximize your miles is to redeem them with travel.
[.dontreco] We don’t recommend: Redeeming points for Amazon purchases [.dontreco]
While it's possible to use your points for purchases on Amazon, the value per point is quite low. You’ll get much more value by using your points for hotel stays.
[.sometimesreco] We sometimes recommend: Booking through the Hilton Honors website [.sometimesreco]
Booking directly through the Hilton Honors website can offer decent value, especially during sales or promotions. However, you might not always get the highest value per point.
[.alwaysreco] We always recommend: Using points for stays at high-end properties [.alwaysreco]
The best value often comes from redeeming points for stays at high-end Hilton properties, such as Waldorf Astoria and Conrad hotels. These redemptions can provide significant savings, especially during peak travel times.
While the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card does have certain airline and hotel transfer partners, those ratios do not provide the best value for your points...or really any value for that matter.
Brendan visited four countries and stayed at four Hiltons for FREE. Check out his deep dive into the Hilton Honors program in this video 👇
Why? The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card pairs really well with the Amex Platinum Card for travelers who frequent Hilton hotels. The Platinum Card offers premium travel perks like airport lounge access, travel credits, and automatic elite status with hotel chains, including Hilton. By combining it with the Surpass Card, you can significantly boost your Hilton Honors points on hotel stays, thanks to the Surpass Card’s bonus points. Plus, the complimentary Gold status from the Surpass Card only adds to your Hilton experience, with room upgrades and other benefits. Together, these cards offer a strong mix of luxury travel perks and rewards, making your stays and travel more rewarding.
Why? The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card pairs perfectly with the American Express Gold Card for anyone who loves earning rewards on dining and travel. The Amex Gold Card is a foodie’s dream, offering standout rewards on dining out and groceries, while the Surpass Card is all about racking up Hilton Honors points, especially when staying at Hilton hotels. When you use the Gold Card for everyday dining and groceries, you can earn Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to Hilton Honors. Then, with the Surpass Card, you boost those points even more with bonuses on Hilton stays and other perks like complimentary Gold status. Together, these cards make it easy to earn rewards on your everyday spending and turn them into super-duper-awesome Hilton stays.
If you find yourself consistently booking stays at Hilton properties such as Hilton, DoubleTree, or Waldorf Astoria, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is perfect for you. With automatic Gold status, you’ll get perks like complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, and late check-out, enhancing your hotel stays. Um, yes please! The card’s generous earning rates allow you to accumulate points quickly, leading to free nights faster than many other hotel cards. Plus, the annual free night after spending $15,000 makes this card a valuable addition to any Hilton loyalist’s wallet.
For those who travel often, the Hilton Honors Surpass offers excellent benefits. The card provides strong earning rates at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations, making it a great choice for everyday spending. Plus, the $100 Hilton on-property credit at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties adds a little extra something-something. If you’re a frequent flyer who enjoys staying at Hilton hotels, this card could be a solid addition to your wallet.
This is one of those cards to hold if you’re only rolling up to the airport a few times each year. Why, you ask? You’re working with a pretty small annual fee and pretty huge earnings rates. With the welcome offer alone, you’ll be eligible for at least a few free nights. Plus, you can rack up points pretty quickly on dining and retail purchases. If you prefer to stay at hotels when you travel (particularly Hilton hotels), then this is a great card for those who travel more sporadically.
Here’s a good rule of thumb: You probably shouldn’t own a credit card if you: (1) have a bad credit score, (2) are a non-U.S. resident (for this particular card), and (3) cannot control your spending. If your credit score is below 670, you'll need to improve it before applying for travel credit cards, as approval for the best ones, like the Surpass Card, is unlikely. Be honest with yourself: if a new credit card will tempt you to overspend, it's best to avoid it. Credit cards are crucial for earning miles and points, but they require responsible use.
A decent credit score of 670-850 is recommended for the Hilton Honors Surpass. But again, if you’re in a solid place with your credit and feel you are ready for a new card, don’t let the fear of being rejected keep you from applying. We’ve known several people to be rejected on their first application, use the reconsideration line, and be granted the Hilton Honors Surpass. The worst they can say is “no,” and more often than not, we’ve found these people want to help!