4 causes I hold the Hilton Aspire card (although I hardly ever use it)

Whereas this isn’t the go-to card that I attain for in my pockets, the Hilton Honors American Specific Aspire Card simply pays for itself. 12 months after 12 months, I’ve been singing this card’s praises to fellow workers. Regardless of the $550 annual price (see charges and costs), I nonetheless discover worth within the card’s advantages, just like the annual free night time award, Diamond elite standing and assertion credit.

Though I keep at Hilton properties just a few occasions a 12 months, listed below are 4 explanation why I hold this cobranded bank card, regardless of the pricey annual price.

Annual free night time certificates

My favourite advantage of holding the Aspire card is the annual free night time certificates. This certificates means that you can ebook a typical award room at virtually any Hilton property worldwide. Subsequently, the worth of this perk can simply exceed $1,000 in the event you select to redeem your free night time award at one in every of Hilton’s prime luxurious properties.

For instance, I stayed on the uberluxurious Conrad Tokyo, the place the nightly room fee was greater than $1,100. Because of my Aspire card, I redeemed my annual free night time certificates at this property, permitting me to save lots of considerably on my out-of-pocket prices.

I’ve additionally beforehand used this award voucher on the Rome Cavalieri, a Waldorf Astoria Lodge; the Waldorf Astoria in Chicago; and different Hilton properties.

Associated: Is the Hilton Aspire Amex card definitely worth the annual price?

When you maintain the Hilton Aspire card, you will obtain one free night time certificates upon account opening, after which each cardmember anniversary 12 months. Plus, in the event you steadily spend in your Hilton cobranded card, you would earn a second free night time certificates after spending $30,000 and a 3rd night time in the event you spend $60,000 in a calendar 12 months.

Although I do not spend sufficient on my card to earn two extra award certificates, incomes only one remains to be a significant perk.

As much as $400 in annual Hilton resorts assertion credit

One of many more cost effective options of the Aspire card is the as much as $400 in annual Hilton resort assertion credit. You get two (as much as) $200 biannual assertion credit if you make eligible purchases with collaborating Hilton resort properties.

The one catch? There’s a restricted choice of Hilton resorts the place you should use the credit score. Nevertheless, in the event you plan accordingly, it can save you a pleasant chunk of change and switch your Hilton resort keep into an all-inclusive expertise.

This assertion credit score may be utilized to eating, actions, spa therapies and extra.

Prior to now few years, I’ve used my assertion credit at numerous places, together with the Hilton Tangier Al Houara in Morocco, Resorts World Las Vegas, Rome Cavalieri, Hilton Cancun Mar Caribe All-Inclusive Resort and Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Seashore Resort.

Redeeming this biannual assertion credit score has saved lots of whereas staying at Hilton properties.

Hilton Honors Diamond standing

Just by holding the Aspire card, you obtain Hilton Diamond standing. That comes with worthwhile perks like room upgrades (when accessible), entry to govt lounges at choose properties (just like the Conrad Seoul), a 100% bonus on base factors earned from stays, and a each day food-and-beverage credit score at U.S.-based accommodations (varies by model) or continental breakfast overseas.

Although I have not had lots of luck getting upgraded to suites throughout my Hilton stays, I’ve been assigned greater rooms on larger flooring with higher views.

Whereas Diamond will not be the official top-tier Hilton standing starting in 2026, it stays extremely worthwhile.

Associated: Hilton confirms new Diamond Reserve tier and Confirmable Improve Rewards

Airline price credit

With the Hilton Aspire card, you will obtain as much as $200 in annual airline price credit every calendar 12 months (as much as $50 every calendar quarter). Subsequently, every quarter, I be certain that I buy an airline ticket or use my Aspire card to pay for an improve or seat task. Why?

The Aspire card provides you as much as a $50 assertion credit score each quarter if you use it to pay for airfare or incidental airline charges bought immediately from an airline or via AmexTravel.com.

This 12 months, I obtained the quarterly assertion credit score by buying reasonably priced upgrades on American Airways.

If you wish to save much more cash, the credit score may be utilized to the taxes and costs incurred when reserving award redemptions.

Backside line

Although I do not use it for on a regular basis spending, I am an enormous fan of the Hilton Honors Aspire American Specific Card. Yearly, I maximize the assertion credit and free night time certificates to save lots of lots of (if not hundreds) of {dollars}. In 2025 alone, based mostly on my conservative calculations, I’ve already gotten $1,700 in worth out of my Aspire card credit.

Hilton Diamond standing can also be nothing to sneeze at, and the incomes charges on Hilton accommodations and airfare purchases are a noteworthy perk.

I do not spend loads on my Aspire card, however once I do, the factors add up shortly. This 12 months, regardless of placing little or no spending on the Aspire card, I’ve racked up 13,524 Hilton Honors factors. Most of these factors have come from airline and resort spending.

This doesn’t even consider the present welcome supply. New candidates for the Hilton Amex Aspire Card can earn 175,000 factors after spending $6,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. Provide ends Jan. 14, 2026.

Total, regardless of the annual price, I have been in a position to get double, if not triple, the return in worth from holding this card.

Apply right here: Hilton Honors American Specific Aspire Card

Associated studying

For charges and costs of the Hilton Aspire Card, click on right here.