Credit cards for hotels can be valuable. Typically the cards have reasonable annual fees, and offer outsized value, ranging from annual free nights to elite status. It's rare to see a hotel credit card that offers substantial perks despite not having an annual fee, though in this post I wanted to look at one such card.
I've reviewed the two American Express cards, the American Express Surpass and the American Express Aspire Card. I wanted to look at the no annual fee card from American Express.
Is it worth getting a card with an annual fee? You have several cards to choose from.
The entry-level personal credit card from American Express is the Hilton Honors Card. The points earning potential, the welcome bonus, and the perks are included in this card.
There is a limited time welcome offer on the HiltonHonors Card from American Express.
I value the points at 0.5 cents each, meaning that I have to pay $500 for 100,000 points. This bonus is worth $600 if you add in the up to $100 in statement credits.
Those who have had this card in the past are not able to take advantage of the welcome offer. You are eligible for the bonus if you have had any other Hilton card, including any of the personal cards with an annual fee.
Amex cards are easy to get approved for for people with excellent credit. Make sure you know Amex's general application restrictions.
You can add additional cardmembers with no annual fee on the HiltonHonors Card from American Express.
You can hold onto a no annual fee card for a long time. Holding onto credit cards for a long time helps your credit score. If you are going to hold onto cards for a long time, you should make them free of annual fees.
The bonus categories on the American Express card are not as robust as you might find on other cards. Depending on the category you're spending in, the card offers anywhere from 3-7x Honors points per dollar spent.
You can earn more status perks if you spend money on the card.
7x of the points on the Hilton Honors Card can be used at Hilton properties. This includes all of the Hilton brands. I value the points at 0.5 cents each, which is like a 3.5% return on hotel spending. It's good for a no annual fee card, but there are better credit cards for hotel spending.
5x points can be earned at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. It's the equivalent of 2.5% return on spending in those categories, which is great for a no annual fee card.
I value the 3x points on all other eligible purchases at a return of 1.5%. There are better cards for everyday spending.
The no annual fee card from the Hilton is great for foreign transactions. I would consider this to be the best Amex card for purchases abroad. Many Amex cards have foreign transaction fees, so that is a noteworthy perk of this card.
Some potentially valuable benefits can be found on the Hilton Honors Card from American Express. If you spend enough on the card, you can get elevated status. Let's look at the details of those benefits.
You can get complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status for having theHiltonHonors Card. The perks are limited, but it is nice that they give you a no annual fee card.
The benefits of Silver status include:
You can get mid-tier Gold status for spending on the card. If you spend $20,000 on the card in a year, you'll earn a gold status, which comes with perks.
Amex offers, which offers savings on purchases with all kinds of retailers, is one of my favorite features of Amex cards. If you get as many Amex cards as possible, you can get the offers on multiple cards.
This card has no annual fee, so Amex is basically paying you to have this card when you consider the savings opportunities.
For a no annual fee card, I think the Hilton Honors Card from American Express is pretty awesome. The card gives you access to Amex offers, which can save you a lot of money, and it also gives you a fifth night free on awards.
The bonus categories are good for a no annual fee card, like being able to earn 7x points on a hotel stay, and 5x points on supermarket, gas station, and restaurant purchases. One of the best no annual fee cards to use abroad is this one.
I think this is a great card for someone who doesn't want to pay an annual fee but still likes the hotel. It could be a good option if you want to lower one of the premium credit cards.
If I could recommend just one no annual fee card, I would recommend the Citi Double Cash Card. When you pay for a purchase with the card, you will get 1% cash back, in the form of ThankYou points. That card does not have a welcome bonus.
There is a no annual fee card from American Express. The card has a huge limited time welcome offer, offers 3-7x points per dollar spent with no foreign transaction fees, and gives you access to Amex offers. The current bonus is a great option for someone looking for a no annual fee card.
If you want to learn more about the card or apply, follow this link.
The rates and fees for American Express cards can be found in the following links. The American Express card is included.