• Free Weekend Night Reward after spending $15,000 in a calendar year
• Gold Status with Hilton hotels
• Receive a $100 credit when booking two nights or more at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties
• No Foreign Transaction Fees

When it comes to Hilton Honors Bonus Points, the best way to maximize your miles is to redeem them with travel.

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[.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.

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[.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.

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[.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 👇

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1. The Hilton Enthusiast

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.

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2. The Frequent Flyer

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.

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3. The Twice-a-Year Traveler

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!