Amex hotel cards: How to choose the right one

• The perks

  • No annual fee (see rates & fees).

    Hilton Honors American Express Card can help you keep costs low while you accumulate rewards.

  • Welcome offer: 75,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points.

    To earn them, make $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of your account opening.

  • Rewards: Up to 7x points.

    When you make eligible purchases at participating properties in the Hilton Portfolio, you’ll earn 7x points. Earn 5x points on purchases at US restaurants, US supermarkets and gas purchases in the US, and 3x points on all other eligible purchases.

  • Complimentary Silver status in the Hilton Honors program.

    You’ll receive your fifth night free when you book a stay of five nights or more with all points.

Gold status in the Hilton Honors program sweetens the deal. It includes valuable perks like complimentary breakfast and room upgrades, and you won’t have to pay an arm and a leg to earn it.

• The perks

  • Welcome offer: 125,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points.

    To earn them, make $2,000 in purchases on the card within the first 3 months of card membership.

  • Rewards: Up to 12x points.

    Earn 12x Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you spend at a participating property in the Hilton Portfolio. Earn 6x points at US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations, and 3x points on all other eligible purchases.

  • Complimentary Gold status in the Hilton Honors program.

    This is the second-highest tier. It offers perks beyond Silver status, like room upgrades upon availability and complimentary breakfast.

  • 10 complimentary visits to Priority Pass lounges every year.

    The no-annual-fee Hilton Honors American Express Card doesn’t offer Priority Pass access.

The Hilton Honors™ Aspire Card is the top-tier option among American Express’s Hilton Honors™ cards.

• The perks

  • Welcome offer: 150,000 points.

    To earn them, make $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of card membership.

  • Rewards: Up to 14x points.

    Earn 14x points on eligible purchases within Hilton Portfolio hotels and resorts.

    Earn 7x points at US restaurants, on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel, and on car rentals booked directly through select car rental companies. And earn 3x points on all other eligible purchases.

  • Weekend Night Award.

    You’ll earn one Weekend Night Reward after you receive your card, and every year after renewal. This is a certificate valid for one weekend night standard accommodation at a property in the Hilton Portfolio.

  • $250 Hilton resort statement credit.

    Receive a $250 statement credit for eligible purchases at participating Hilton Resorts. If you take advantage of it, it’ll effectively help you cover more than half of the card’s annual fee.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card is simply a stellar product. Though it has a steep annual fee, it’s loaded with top-notch features.

The annual statement credit offsets a large portion of its yearly fee, and the card’s other flagship perks are worth a lot. One of its best features is the 3x-point tier, which will help you earn points faster on eligible flights and dining.

• The perks

  • Welcome offer: 75,000 bonus points.

    To earn them, make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of your account opening.

  • Rewards: Earn up to 6x points.

    On eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, you’ll earn 6x points. Earn 3x points at US restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines, and 2x points on other eligible purchases.

  • $300 in Marriott Bonvoy statement credit.

    You can use this for eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties. It’s a fantastic perk that offsets a significant portion of the card’s annual fee.

  • Annual Free Night Award.

    Each card year, you’ll receive a Free Night Award. It’s good for one night worth 50,000 points or less at a participating Marriott Bonvoy hotel.

  • Complimentary Gold Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program.

    This status tier comes with perks like 2 p.m. late checkout based on availability, an in-hotel welcome gift and enhanced room upgrades based on availability.

  • Travel perks.

    Enjoy benefits like a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, complimentary access to Priority Pass Select lounges, no foreign transaction fees and more.