Wyndham Rewards just started a new status match and challenge offer. This offer lets you match your status from another hotel loyalty program to Gold, Platinum or Diamond in Wyndham Rewards for 90 days. Plus, you can keep your matched status through Dec. 31 of the next calendar year if you stay a specific number of qualifying nights within 90 days of an approved match.
You can also earn Wyndham Rewards elite status — including top-tier Diamond status — relatively easily through cobranded Wyndham Rewards credit cards.
So why should you care about the status match offer? Here’s what you need to know.
Related: The 12 best Wyndham hotels in the world
What’s special about Wyndham Rewards’ elite status?
Some hotel loyalty programs offer generous perks to elite members, while others offer minimal perks. Wyndham Rewards generally falls into the latter category, offering only modest perks even for members with top-tier Diamond status. But here’s an overview of the standout perks at each Wyndham Rewards elite status tier:
Blue (requires zero nights per calendar year): Free Wi-Fi during stays.
Gold (typically requires five nights per calendar year): 10% bonus points on stays, a preferred room within the same category upon request and late checkout upon request (subject to availability).
Platinum (typically requires 15 nights per calendar year): 15% bonus points on stays, Caesars Rewards status match and early check-in upon request (subject to availability).
Diamond (typically requires 40 nights per calendar year): 20% bonus points on stays, complimentary snack or beverage when checking into select hotels and suite upgrades upon request (subject to availability at check-in).
Despite the limited elite perks, it’s worth earning Wyndham Rewards elite status for some travelers. After all, you’ll enjoy perks and higher earning rates on stays at Wyndham properties. And although Caesars halted its status merry-go-round with Wyndham in 2022, Platinum members and higher can still match earned Wyndham Rewards status to Caesars Rewards.
Wyndham Rewards status obtained through a status match shouldn’t be eligible to match to Caesars Rewards, and it’s unclear whether status obtained through a status challenge will be eligible. But we know that Wyndham status earned through stays or a cobranded Wyndham Rewards credit card can be matched to Caesars Rewards.
Once you have Caesars Rewards Diamond status, you can enjoy waived resort fees at participating Caesars Rewards properties, a complimentary stay at Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas and free parking at Caesars Rewards properties in Las Vegas.
Related: Which credit card should you use for Wyndham stays?
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Wyndham Rewards status match and challenge
Wyndham Rewards occasionally lets members match their status from other hotel loyalty programs. Specifically, here are the statuses you can match to each Wyndham Rewards elite status tier:
Gold: Marriott Bonvoy member, World of Hyatt member, Hilton Honors member, IHG One Rewards member, Choice Privileges member, Best Western Rewards Blue, Radisson Rewards Club member and Omni Select Guest Gold.
Platinum: Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite; World of Hyatt Discoverist and Explorist; Hilton Honors Silver; IHG One Rewards Silver Elite and Gold Elite; Choice Privileges Gold and Platinum; Best Western Rewards Gold, Platinum and Diamond; Radisson Rewards Silver and Gold; and Omni Select Guest Silver Elite and Gold Elite.
Diamond: Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and higher, World of Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Honors Gold and higher, IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite and higher, Choice Privileges Diamond, Best Western Rewards Diamond Select, Radisson Rewards Platinum and Omni Select Guest Platinum Elite and higher.
To request a match, go to this page on Wyndham’s website, sign in to your account and complete the status match request form. You’ll need to submit proof of your hotel loyalty program status and then wait five to seven business days for validation of your match via email.
Once Wyndham validates your status match, you’ll have your matched status for 90 days. But if you complete specific stay requirements during the 90 days, you can keep your matched status through Dec. 31 of the following calendar year. You must stay one qualifying night to keep Gold, four qualifying nights to keep Platinum and 10 qualifying nights to keep Diamond.
Luckily, Wyndham Rewards counts most paid nights and award nights as qualifying. So, you can even redeem Wyndham points to get qualifying nights toward your status challenge.
Related: What are hotel and airline status matches, and how do you get one?
Earning Wyndham status through a credit card
Several cobranded Wyndham credit cards offer elite status as a perk for as long as you’re a cardholder:
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card: Primary cardholders automatically receive Wyndham Rewards Gold status within two to eight weeks of opening this no-annual-fee card (see rates and fees).
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card: Primary cardholders automatically receive Wyndham Rewards Platinum status within two to eight weeks of opening this $75-annual-fee card (see rates and fees).
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card: Primary cardholders automatically receive Wyndham Rewards Diamond status within two to eight weeks of opening this $95-annual-fee card.
The information for the Wyndham Earner Card, Wyndham Earner Plus, and Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you value having Wyndham Diamond status but don’t stay with Wyndham hotels 40 nights a year, the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card could be well worth its $95 annual fee. And if you use Wyndham Diamond status to match to Caesars Rewards, you may get significantly more value than the card’s annual fee each year from an Atlantis stay and waived resort fees at Caesars properties in Las Vegas.
Related: 7 things to know before booking a stay at Viva Wyndham Azteca
Bottom line
You can earn Wyndham Rewards elite status through stays. But a status match and challenge can be a good way to quickly earn elite status if you want to switch your loyalty. And Wyndham credit cards offer an easy, ongoing path to status — including top-tier Diamond status. If you value Caesars Diamond perks and a 20% bonus on earnings at Wyndham hotels, it may be worth getting and keeping the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card to maintain Wyndham Rewards Diamond status.
American Express is offering statement credit bonuses on the Hilton cards:
No annual fee card: Earn up to $300 in statement credits for purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio in your first 12 months of Card Membership
Surpass card: Earn up to $500 in statement credits for purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio in your first 12 months of Card Membership.
Our Verdict
I think most people will prefer the offers with a free night offers:
Because of that we won’t add this to our list of the best credit card bonuses.
Many airlines, hotels, theme parks and cruise lines pay year-round tribute to those who serve our country with various discounts and benefits. Sometimes these deals are available only to active-duty military personnel, and sometimes the perks extend to U.S. military veterans and their families as well.
Related: The best credit cards for active-duty military members: Get waived annual fees
No matter the form these travel benefits take, they all reflect the gratitude the travel industry feels toward those who have sacrificed so much to protect our country.
Here are the perks that military members can take advantage of on their travels.
Military hotel discounts
Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy and its many brands have discounted federal, state and local government rates available to government and military personnel. To access the discounted rates, choose the “Government & Military” option from the “Special Rates” drop-down menu when searching for a stay. You’ll get a list of all the Marriott Bonvoy properties in your chosen city that offer special rates and their eligibility requirements.
Hilton
Federal and U.S. military employees are eligible for military rates and discounts at participating Hilton properties. When searching for rooms online, check the box labeled “Government/Military Rates” to see the applicable rates. Plus, there’s a discount on leisure stays for active and retired military members and their families at participating hotels and resorts (though the rate is not valid for official government or military travel).
Best Western
Best Western properties across the U.S. offer discounted rates for veterans, military members and government personnel.
Plus, Best Western’s Service Rewards Program — the hotel chain’s award program tailored to members of the military and armed forces — unlocks even more member benefits, including an automatic upgrade to Gold status and bonus points on qualified stays.
Hyatt
Veterans, active-duty members and their immediate family members are eligible for a discount of 10%-15% off Hyatt’s standard rate at participating hotels. To get the discount, use the offer code MILVET while booking.
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Wyndham
Participating Wyndham properties offer discounts of up to 15% off their best available rate to active and retired military personnel, veterans and their families. Plus, qualifying military personnel and their spouses get automatic Gold-level status when they enroll in the Wyndham Rewards program and bonus Wyndham Rewards points for qualified stays.
B Hotels & Resorts
To honor military members, B Hotels & Resorts is offering an exclusive “B Saluted” discount of 15% off regular rates and two welcome drinks per stay to military members, veterans and their families. B Hotels & Resorts has locations in Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Marathon, Florida.
IHG
The hotel chain behind such brands as InterContinental, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Kimpton and others offers a “Military Leisure Rate” at participating locations across the U.S., Canada, and Central and South America. It applies to active-duty military personnel, veterans, retired military personnel and their families.
Choice Hotels
Choice Hotels — which includes brands such as Comfort, Sleep Inn and Quality Inn — extends a discounted rate for official and leisure travel to active-duty and retired military personnel, their dependents and members of several military associations. Plus, active-duty military members, veterans and military spouses are eligible to join the Choice Privileges rewards program at the Lifetime Gold Elite level and receive a bonus 2,500 Choice Privileges rewards points after your first qualifying stay.
Motel 6
Motel 6, along with its sister extended-stay brand Studio 6, offers active and retired military personnel and their families a discount of 10% off standard rates.
Red Roof
Active-duty military personnel and veterans — in addition to government employees — are eligible for a 10% discount on official travel at any U.S. Red Roof location. The hotel chain also has a 10% discount on leisure travel for all government employees and military members, veterans and retirees.
Military airline benefits
Southwest Airlines
There are special fares for military and government travelers, but you must call the airline to book them. Additionally, military members traveling on active duty (in or out of uniform) can board between the A and B groups and are exempt from the limit of two pieces of checked baggage.
American Airlines
American Airlines offers government or military fares in some markets, while veterans and their families can access reduced fares by enrolling in the VetRewards program.
Active-duty military personnel are also allowed Group 1 boarding privileges; they can bring up to five free checked bags when traveling on orders and up to three free checked bags for leisure travel (weight restrictions apply).
U.S. military personnel traveling in uniform on a same-day American flight can enter Admirals Club lounges with their immediate family — defined as a spouse, domestic partner and/or children under 18 — or up to two guests at most Admirals Club locations except for Airspace Lounge at San Diego International Airport (SAN) and JAL Sakura Lounge at Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL).
Delta Air Lines
Active-duty U.S. service members can call Delta Reservations at 800-221-1212 for discounted fares unavailable to the general public. Delta also offers priority boarding and free checked baggage to active-duty military members. How many bags you are allowed is based on the type of travel and fare type, and you must adhere to the specified size and weight restrictions for baggage.
United Airlines
United offers an additional checked baggage allowance and United Club access to active-duty military members traveling on official orders (immediate family may access the lounge, too). U.S. military veterans, active-duty military, National Guard and Reserve members and their families are also eligible for a 5% discount on United-operated flights through the Veterans Advantage program.
Alaska Airlines
In some markets, Alaska Airlines offers military fares to active-duty military personnel and their dependents when you call Alaska Airlines at 800-252-7522 to purchase your tickets. Active-duty U.S. military personnel can board early, check up to five bags for free, receive 15% off inflight food purchases and receive complimentary day passes to visit an Alaska Lounge when traveling in uniform. All other active-duty military personnel can purchase a discounted day pass for $30. Flight discounts are also available through Veterans Advantage.
JetBlue
Active-duty military personnel not traveling on orders get a 5% discount off the base fare by calling 800-JETBLUE. In a separate offer, JetBlue offers a 5% discount to U.S. active-duty military members, retired military members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members and their families who are enrolled in Veterans Advantage. Those who enroll in Veterans Advantage also get two free checked bags for leisure trips and up to five when traveling on duty.
Frontier Airlines
Frontier typically charges for carry-on bags and checked baggage. However, active-duty armed forces, National Guard and Reserve members receive a free carry-on bag, two free checked bags and one free personal item. Note: These baggage waivers apply only to active-duty military personnel. Families or traveling companions are not eligible.
Allegiant Air
U.S. active-duty and reserve military members, military veterans, members of the National Guard and their dependents get up to two pieces of checked baggage for free through the Allegiant Honors program. Also, the airline waives its typical fees for oversized checked baggage, a carry-on bag, getting a boarding pass printed at the airport and seat assignments. Qualifying service members can also board their flights early.
Spirit Airlines
Active-duty U.S. military members can check two bags for free and bring a carry-on item on board their flight for free, in addition to the already free personal item.
Military train travel discounts
Amtrak
Active-duty U.S. military personnel, their spouses and their dependents are eligible for a 10% discount on the lowest available fare in select fare classes. During your ticket search on Fare Finder, select “Military” for each eligible passenger. Amtrak also welcomes uniformed military personnel to the front of the ticket line.
Brightline
Active-duty military members traveling in uniform can ride Brightline for free with a reservation. Visit a guest services counter at any Brightline station to receive the discount. Additionally, active-duty military members not traveling in uniform and veterans can receive a 10% discount on fares. Both discounts are for the Smart fare class and cannot be used for Premium fares.
Military theme park ticket discounts
Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Orlando is currently offering a Military Freedom Pass promotional ticket to all active-duty and retired service members. Ticket prices start at $199.99 for unlimited admission between now and Dec. 24, though blackout dates apply. Each eligible service member can purchase up to six promotional tickets, and they must buy them through a participating authorized military ticket and travel office.
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood offers discounted tickets to active-duty and retired military personnel, 100% disabled veterans, Medal of Honor recipients, active Guard and Reserve members, and the spouses and dependents of the people in these categories. Ticket prices vary based on date, and tickets must be purchased at participating military ticket offices.
Walt Disney World
Active and retired U.S. military personnel are eligible for discounted hotel rates and specially priced theme park tickets at Walt Disney World. Blackout dates apply. Hotel stays can be booked by calling 407-939-7830. Tickets must be purchased at a participating U.S. military base ticket office.
Disneyland
Disneyland honors active and retired U.S. military personnel with discounted three- and four-day Park Hopper tickets. The Disney Military Promotional Park Hopper Ticket includes access to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure each day of your ticket, excluding blackout dates. Pricing starts at $245, and you must purchase tickets at a participating U.S. military base ticket office. Hotel discounts are also available by calling 844-776-0015.
Silver Dollar City
Silver Dollar City offers a 30% ticket discount to U.S. active or retired military, veterans and military reservists, along with their spouses and dependent children (ages 4-17) living in their household. In addition to discounted tickets, Silver Dollar City invites all military members and veterans to help raise the American Flag during the park’s daily opening ceremony. Service members are also given a red, white and blue ribbon to wear during their time in the park, allowing employees and guests to thank them for their service.
Busch Gardens and SeaWorld parks
Through the Waves of Honor program, all U.S. SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Aquatica and Sesame Place parks offer discounted tickets to active-duty military members and veterans.
Dollywood
Dollywood offers discounted tickets stand annual passes to U.S. active or retired military, veterans, military reservists, spouses and dependents. The savings amounts to about 30% off the regular ticket price.
Military cruise benefits
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line shows its appreciation for active and retired armed forces members with discounted cruise rates, onboard credits and reduced deposits. Additionally, every Carnival sailing has a Heroes Tribute Lounge and holds a military appreciation gathering for service members and their families.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Military Appreciation Program extends exclusive benefits to military members, veterans and their spouses. Members of the program receive a 10% discount on all cruise fares.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line offers special rates to all military members, active and retired, as well as their spouses. Discounted rates are only available on select sailings, and prices start at $185 per person, based on double occupancy.
Margaritaville at Sea
Margaritaville at Sea honors active and veteran military members with a free two-night cruise through the Heroes Sail Free program. The offer is valid only for ocean-view and interior cabins, and you must be sailing with at least one paying guest in the same cabin. Taxes and fees still apply.
Celebrity Cruises
Active and retired military members can save $25 on inside and ocean-view cabins and $100 on veranda cabins and above on select sailings. This discount applies to the first and second guest in the cabin.
Princess Cruises
Veterans and active, retired and disabled military personnel can receive up to $250 free onboard spending money on select Princess sailings. You can use this onboard credit for specialty dining, onboard boutiques, shore excursions, spa treatments and more.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean offers military rates to active and retired personnel, veterans and their spouses. The discounted rates also apply to friends and family members staying in the same cabin as the eligible service member. The best way to access the discounted rate is by booking through a travel agent or booking directly with Royal Caribbean over the phone.
MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises offers discounted fares to all active and retired U.S. military personnel, plus family members traveling with them. You can receive a discount of 5% on interior and ocean-view cabins, 10% on balcony and suite cabins and a “kids sail free” promotion on select sailings.
AmaWaterways
AmaWaterways offers active and retired service members a special military discount of $100 off a river cruise when you use the code MIL100 at the time of booking.
Bottom line
A host of benefits await travelers who serve or have served in the U.S. military.
Because these benefits, their requirements and the eligibility of family, spouses and dependents vary, carefully research each military discount offer to avoid any surprises. Many airlines, hotels and other businesses might ask for proof of eligibility, so don’t leave home without the military ID, veteran ID, dependent ID, orders and/or other documentation you’ll need to take advantage of the many travel offers.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card overview
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card provides solid earnings at Hilton properties and automatic Hilton Gold elite status, which offers complimentary breakfast, increased earnings and space-available upgrades when you stay at Hilton properties. The status perk alone may make it easy to justify the card’s $95 annual fee (see rates and fees). Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Hilton Honors Gold status is one of the best mid-tier hotel loyalty statuses you can obtain. As a Hilton Gold elite member, you’ll get complimentary breakfast, space-available room upgrades and improved earnings when staying at Hilton brands. Luckily, you can easily earn and maintain Hilton Gold status since it is an automatic perk of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card.
The Hilton Surpass card is an ideal choice for those who stay at Hilton properties often and want a cobranded credit card with a modest annual fee and valuable perks — but who aren’t willing to shell out for the top-tier Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
The information for the Hilton Aspire Amex Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
With its elevated welcome bonus, you might wonder whether the Surpass card is a good addition to your wallet. Here are the details and other cards to consider as you decide.
Hilton Surpass welcome offer
New applicants can earn 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points and a free night reward after spending $2,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months of cardmembership. Offer ends July 19.
Having another Hilton credit card doesn’t make you ineligible for the welcome bonus, but remember that Amex has a “once per lifetime” rule on card bonuses. Amex also has these terms for the welcome offer:
Welcome Offer not available to applicants who have or have had the Hilton Honors Surpass® Card or the Hilton Honors Amex Ascend Card. American Express may also consider the number of American Express Cards you have opened and closed as well as other factors in making a decision on your welcome offer eligibility.
Luckily, Amex will inform you before submitting your application if you’re not eligible for the bonus. If you get this message, you can proceed without the welcome offer or withdraw your application before Amex performs a hard pull on your credit report.
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Related: A complete guide to Amex’s one-bonus-per-lifetime restrictions
Earning points with the Hilton Surpass
The Hilton Surpass card is a great way to earn Hilton points. You’ll earn 12 points per dollar at Hilton hotels and resorts — a 7.2% return on spending, based on TPG’s valuations. This is better than you’d get with most of the best credit cards for booking hotels, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve (6%).
You’ll also earn 6 Hilton points per dollar spent at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery), U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, giving you a return of 3.6% on these purchases. Finally, you’ll get 3 points per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases — a return of 1.8%.
These returns on non-Hilton spending aren’t spectacular. But, if you’re looking to boost your Hilton points balance, the Surpass card provides a decent return even for purchases outside the Hilton Honors program.
Related: Booking direct: How much value does Hilton status provide?
Redeeming points with the Hilton Surpass
When it comes to the Hilton Honors program, your best bet is to redeem your Hilton points for free nights. Unfortunately, Hilton doesn’t publish an award chart, instead using dynamic pricing where the number of points needed for a redemption fluctuates based factors such as the cash cost of the hotel, holidays and peak travel periods.
One of my favorite options is to focus on properties that cost relatively few points but provide great value. For example, here are 20 of the best Hilton hotels in the U.S. bookable for 20,000 points or less per night. And here are some of the top Hilton properties overseas bookable for 10,000 points or less per night.
Hilton’s Points & Money option allows you to pay more cash (and fewer points) when making a reservation. This can be useful when you don’t have enough points for a full booking but don’t want to pay the full cost of the hotel room.
Hilton Honors also allows members to earn and redeem Hilton points with partners. However, most non-hotel redemption options provide relatively low value for your points, so avoiding these low-value options is best.
Finally, remember that Hilton allows you to pool your points with up to 10 other members. If you want to combine balances with a friend or family member to put an even more luxurious award stay within reach, you can.
Related: 5 ways Hilton Honors should improve its loyalty program
Hilton Surpass benefits
The Hilton Surpass card’s welcome offer is attractive. But the long-term value for semi-regular Hilton guests comes card’s ongoing perks and benefits.
Hilton Honors Gold status
The Hilton Surpass card gives cardholders complimentary Gold status in the Hilton Honors program. TPG values Hilton Gold status at $1,255 per year. Hilton Gold status includes the following perks:
If you’re a big spender and charge more than $40,000 on the card in a calendar year, you’ll earn top-tier Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year. Depending on how frequently you stay at Hilton properties — and how much you value the given perks of Diamond status — this can add quite a bit of value to the card. However, there’s a simpler path to Diamond status: it’s an automatic perk of the Hilton Aspire card, which has a $450 annual fee (see rates and fees).
It’s worth pointing out that other credit cards offer complimentary Hilton Gold status, though none has an annual fee lower than the Surpass card:
So if you already carry any of these cards, getting Hilton Gold status as a perk from the Hilton Surpass won’t provide any additional value.
Related: Points of View: Which credit card should you use for Hilton stays?
Priority Pass access
The Hilton Surpass comes with a Priority Pass Select membership offering 10 lounge visits per year after you enroll for this benefit. Bringing a guest into the lounge uses one of your 10 visits, but you can pay for additional Priority Pass lounge visits.
If you’re a semi-frequent traveler who goes through an airport with a Priority Pass lounge a handful of times a year, this is a great perk that won’t break the bank like similar benefits on premium travel rewards credit cards.
Related: Best credit cards for airport lounge access
Free night reward
You can earn a free night reward by spending $15,000 on purchases with the Hilton Surpass card in a calendar year. You can use this free night at almost any Hilton property worldwide on any night of the week. Even at a conservative valuation of $300, you’re still looking at an additional 2% return on that $15,000 in spending.
Related: How to get maximum value from Hilton free night certificates
Other benefits
The Hilton Surpass offers various other benefits. For example, you will pay no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees) when traveling outside the U.S.
You’ll also enjoy free two-day shipping with Shop Runner, Send & Split to divide bills with friends — such as a group dinner — Pay It Plan It to pay large purchases over time and secondary rental car insurance of up to $50,000 for theft or damage.*
* Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
Related: 6 reasons to get the Hilton Honors Amex Surpass card
Which cards compete with the Hilton Surpass?
For those looking to earn and redeem points with Hilton, natural competitors of the Surpass card will be other Hilton credit cards. It’s also worth considering cards whose points you can use at Hilton in addition to other redemption options.
If you don’t want an annual fee: The Amex Hilton Honors card also earns points you can redeem with Hilton for free hotel stays. As a card with no annual fee (see rates and fees), you’ll naturally earn at lower rates and enjoy fewer perks. With the Amex Hilton Honors card, you’ll earn 7 points per dollar at Hilton hotels and resorts, 5 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery), 5 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations and 3 points per dollar on other purchases. For more details, see our full review of the Amex Hilton Honors card.
If you want more perks: The Amex Hilton Aspire card is Hilton’s premium card, offering top-tier Diamond status as an automatic benefit. The card’s annual fee is $450 (see rates and fees), but TPG values Diamond status at more than $3,000 annually. You’ll receive a free night reward on each account anniversary, and you can earn another by spending $60,000 on purchases with your card during a calendar year. Additionally, you can receive statement credits each year for up to $250 in airline fees per year, up to $250 in Hilton resort credits and up to $100 in Hilton on-property credits. You’ll also receive a Priority Pass membership with unlimited lounge access for you and up to two guests. For more details, see our full review of the Amex Hilton Aspire card.
If you aren’t partial to Hilton: Try the Amex EveryDay Preferred card, with which you’ll earn 3 points per dollar on up to $6,000 of annual purchases at U.S. supermarkets (then 1 point per dollar), 2 points per dollar at U.S. gas stations and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. You’ll also earn a 50% points bonus each billing period if you have 30 or more transactions during that period. The Amex EveryDay Preferred card doesn’t earn Hilton points. Instead, it earns American Express’ own Membership Rewards points, which you can transfer to Hilton for hotel redemptions but also can use with more than a dozen other airline and hotel partners. For more details, see our full review of the Amex EveryDay Preferred card.
For additional options, check out our full list of the best travel cards.
Read more: Which credit card should you use for Hilton stays?
The information for the Amex EveryDay Preferred and Hilton Aspire cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Is the Hilton Surpass worth it?
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card is competitive in the crowded mid-tier category of cobranded hotel credit cards. With a lucrative welcome offer, solid earning rates, complimentary Gold elite status and an array of valuable perks, the Hilton Surpass is an excellent option for those who visit Hilton properties semi-frequently.
Bottom line
While the Surpass doesn’t offer the flexibility of a card like the Amex EveryDay Preferred card or the elite perks of the Amex Hilton Aspire card, it could still be just what you need to make your next stay with the Hilton Honors program even more rewarding. You’ll get the benefits of having Gold status as well as lounge passes to use. Just note that you do need to spend $15,000 in a calendar year to receive a free night award.
Official application link: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
For rates and fees of the Hilton Surpass Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Hilton Aspire Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Amex Business Card, click here For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Hilton Amex Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex EveryDay Preferred card, click here.
Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox, Stella Shon, Chris Dong, Robert Thorpe and Ryan Smith.
History swiftly repeats itself over and over when it comes to lawsuits over resort fees.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Hilton this week over resort fees and what he claims the company “misleadingly charge consumers higher rates than initially advertised” and that “the services purportedly funded by the fees are often complimentary or included in the room rate at other non-resort locations.”
The latest lawsuit arrived shortly after Paxton similarly sued Hyatt over its resort fee practices and settled with Marriott over similar charges. Marriott now includes resort fees in the initially quoted nightly room rate on its booking platform.
“Heightened inflation and worsening economic conditions have made it an even more pressing priority to protect Americans from predatory, illegal corporate practices,” Paxton said in a prepared statement.
“Many major hotel chains, including Hilton, have been deceiving their customers for far too long. I warned these companies they would face consequences for this behavior, and Texas has delivered aggressive action to protect consumers, promote price transparency in the hotel and travel industries, and ensure that companies violating our laws are held responsible for misleading the public.”
The Texas AG goes on to allege Hilton doesn’t adequately display the added fee on a nightly rate and effectively charges guests extra fees twice: first as the fee itself and then again with taxes on the fee. It also comes amid increasing political pressure for travel companies to be more transparent with extra charges.
Texas charge ‘em
The lawsuit uses the Hilton Anatole in Dallas as a leading example of how the company is deploying drip pricing with resort fees or similar charges going by different names.
The hotel displayed a $193 nightly rate earlier this month but then added a $27.26 “Daily Mandatory Charge” that includes Wi-Fi access, gym access, a spa discount, breakfast for children and two in-room bottles of water. Keep in mind: Those with Silver status or higher in the Hilton Honors program already get free water as part of their loyalty status.
The Hilton Anatole also charged a “Texas Recovery Fee” for an unspecified amount, according to Paxton’s lawsuit. The “Daily Mandatory Charge” alone added more than 14% to the nightly room rate, which ended up being $258.46 after the charge and taxes were added up.
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Had the 1,606-room hotel sold out every night for a year, the Texas AG lawsuit notes the ownership group would have made more than $16 million off the added fees.
The lawsuit also highlights the Woodlands Resort, a Curio Collection hotel outside Houston, and C. Baldwin, a Curio Collection hotel in Houston, as other examples of hotels in the state charging added fees under monikers like “Daily Resort Charge” and “Daily Mandatory Charge.”
The lawsuit also accuses the Hampton Inn & Suites San Antonio Riverwalk, the Hampton Inn & Suites Dallas Downtown and the Homewood Suites by Hilton Dallas Downtown of charging fees twice, first as a fee and then again as a tax — a practice that had the potential to make each hotel more than $100,000 apiece annually.
“While decisions about mandatory fees are made by ownership and management at a property level, these fees are always fully disclosed when booking through Hilton channels and we encourage all third-party distribution partners to disclose any fees when advertising our inventory,” a Hilton spokesperson said in a statement to TPG. “We have long been committed to ensuring that any fees charged by hotels in our system are fully disclosed and continue to review this issue closely to ensure there is consistency for consumers when viewing our rates across booking channels.”
Resort fees not going away
The much-maligned practice of charging resort fees almost certainly isn’t going away, but it’s highly likely they’ll get more transparent.
Marriott never admitted guilt in its settlement, and company leaders have always maintained the added fees were noted throughout the booking process. You’d see a blue box during the booking process noting the added fee on the Marriott reservations system. Hilton and Hyatt both make note of their added fees amid the booking process, but that’s not enough in the eyes of the Texas attorney general.
Further, the lawsuit goes on to note Hilton charged the fee and labeled it as going toward amenities that weren’t even accessible or open during the pandemic.
“Hilton relies on consumers either not noticing or becoming too fatigued in the search process to cancel the transaction,” the lawsuit states. “Despite eventually disclosing the fees, eventual disclosure does not cure the deception in the initial advertised price.”
While Marriott’s new practice of bundling resort fees into the initially quoted rate might seem like a likely industry practice, the company’s CEO earlier this month wasn’t ready to speak for his competitors.
“It is not as if those were hidden somehow. We’re simply further clarifying and enhancing that transparency,” he said on the company’s first-quarter earnings call. “I will leave it to the state [attorneys general] around the rest of the country for the rest of the industry. But I am pleased that we will lead the industry in terms of the transparency of our disclosure for our guests.”
Frontier Airlines has just launched a new status offer, allowing Frontier Miles members with a U.S. travel rewards credit card to purchase or enroll in an Elite 20K offer.
Unlike most previous offers, this doesn’t require existing status with another loyalty program. Instead, all you need is an eligible travel credit card.
Here’s what you need to know about this Frontier Airlines status offer.
Check your credit card eligibility
As mentioned, this status offer is only eligible for U.S. travel rewards credit cardholders. To check your eligibility, visit this webpage.
You’ll need to enter your Frontier Miles number and the first six digits of your travel rewards credit card. While Frontier hasn’t provided a list of the travel rewards credit cards that are eligible for this offer, according to our tests, you can use any of these cards:
The information for the AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard and Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Some cards we tested that were not eligible for the offer included the United℠ Explorer Card, Citi® Double Cash Card (see rates and fees) and the Discover it® Miles credit card.
The information for the Discover it Miles has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: I bought an all-you-can-fly pass — here’s what it was like to use it
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Elite 20K status offer
There are two options as part of this new offer. You can either purchase status outright or enroll in a status challenge.
If you want to purchase Elite 20K status through Dec. 31, it will cost you $499. To extend your Elite 20K status for another year, you’ll need to earn 20,000 qualifying miles or 25 flight segments — the standard qualification threshold for the program.
If you want to participate in the challenge, you can pay $199 (though the first 2,000 applicants pay a reduced rate of $80) and enjoy instant Elite 20k status, valid through Sept. 30.
You can extend your status through Dec. 31 by flying 5,000 miles, spending $5,000 on the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® or any combination of flying and spending.
You can apply for both status offers on Frontier’s website.
Related: What are hotel and airline status matches, and how do you get one?
The information for the Frontier World Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Frontier Elite 20K benefits
Frontier Elite 20K includes several benefits to save you money and make your travels more enjoyable. Here’s an overview of the perks that come with this elite tier:
One complimentary carry-on bag.
Complimentary standard seat assignment.
Family pooling of Frontier Miles.
Priority boarding.
Waived redemption fees.
Last seat availability.
Stretch seating at check in.
Is this Frontier status offer worth it?
This depends entirely on your upcoming plans to fly Frontier. The above perks can save you significant money, as Frontier status can (in many ways) turn a low-priced, no-frills Frontier ticket into a full-service one. When you travel on Frontier without status, virtually everything costs money, including carry-on bags and seat assignments.
Crunch the numbers to ensure the money you’ll save is worth the $499 you’d pay for seven months of status (or the $80 or $199 you’d pay for the status challenge).
Related: What is Frontier elite status worth in 2023?
Bottom line
Frontier’s new elite status offer allows its travelers to receive elite status even if they don’t hold status with another airline. You’ll need a travel rewards credit card to qualify for the offer, but our tests indicate that the majority of top travel cards should qualify.
Elite 20K status can save you money when you fly Frontier. For instance, an overhead carry-on bag (a complimentary benefit of Elite 20K status) generally costs between $30 and $55. Consider how much you might fly Frontier before the end of the year, and if it seems like a cost-effective option, be sure to enroll.
Let’s start at the beginning: What is an HOA and why do communities have them?
According to Investopedia, “a homeowners association (HOA) is an organization in a subdivision, planned community or condominium that makes and enforces rules for the properties within its jurisdiction. Those who purchase property within an HOA’s jurisdiction automatically become members and are required to pay dues, known as HOA fees. Some associations can be very restrictive about what members can do with their properties.”
An HOA is typically established to make and enforce rules regarding the properties within the jurisdiction. And while they play an essential role in maintaining a community’s guidelines, HOAs can, at times, feel overbearing because of the many guidelines and restrictions they put in place.
And since many people wonder what makes living in a neighborhood with an HOA such a pain, we thought we’d share some of the crazy HOA stories people have posted on Quora — and let you decide whether living in a community with an HOA is the best option for you.
Bad experiences with homeowners associations
#1 Ken’s wooden beams, cherry tree and propane tank
“You do give up certain freedoms regarding maintenance of your home and property, as well as having to adhere to certain standards of conduct. For the most part, these rules are for the good of all and serve to enhance the quality of life in the community and help to maintain property values.
However, it all depends on the individuals who run the HOA. Unfortunately, these organizations are often controlled by retired people with a lot of time on their hands who delight in enforcing mindless rules.
I had several negative experiences with these organizations. The first two were in the Pittsburgh area.”
The wooden beams
“My home’s driveway was lined by wooden beams embedded in the ground. I had only lived there for about a year, and these timbers were rotting. I received a letter from the HOA telling me that these timbers must be removed or replaced in two weeks or I would be fined. Two weeks seemed pretty unreasonable for a considerable amount of work. These timbers were really only visible to someone actually on my property, so they weren’t a community eyesore. They had to have been rotting for quite some time, yet the former owners were not asked to replace them. I did agree that the work needed to be done, but two weeks was an unreasonable time frame. I asked for and received an extension to six months.”
The cherry tree
“My next incident was when I was having some trees pruned. There was a cherry tree planted very close to the house. When the worker was about to prune it, he discovered that the tree was basically hollow and infested with carpenter ants. I had actually noticed the occasional ant in my house. The tree was dying. Rather than pruning, I had it removed. The HOA was upset because I had the tree removed without permission. They tried to fine me $100. Apparently, I should have sent my worker home and then requested permission to remove a dying tree from my property, one that was leading to carpenter ants entering and potentially damaging my home. I sent them a rather nasty letter telling them that I would not pay a fine when the need to remove the tree was obvious. I didn’t need permission to get it pruned, and I only had it taken down because it was diseased. Obviously, permission would have been granted to remove a tree in this condition. They backed off the fine.”
The tank
“I’ve since moved to Hilton Head, SC, where most homes are in gated communities with HOAs. I had an recent run-in with them. On the side of my home, there was a propane tank. It had been there at least ten years prior to my buying the house. It was concealed behind some hedges. Someone from the HOA saw this and I was sent a letter informing me that, according to the rules, the tank must be enclosed in a service yard or have some sort of structure around it. Having it behind hedges was not acceptable.
The former owner who installed this tank, who still lives in the community, was once the head of the HOA. No action was ever taken against him. I am the third person to purchase this house since the tank was originally installed. None of the prior owners were fined. The HOA allowed the house to be put up for sale three different times while it was out of compliance with the community rules. Then out of the blue, they decided to fine me for a tank that had been in place for at least nine years and three owners before I ever owned the house.
I tried to protest, as the tank is not at all visible from the road (one of their stated reasons for this rule in the first place), but I was basically told that regardless of its history (and their failure to enforce the rules before), it was my tank now and I had to move it. So I had to pay nearly $300 for the propane company (which actually owns the tank) to move the tank into a service yard.“
Source and link to full comment
#2 Katrina’s grass length and nephew’s bike
Her thoughts on why you should never move in a neighborhood governed by an HOA?
“Because they control everything!
The height of your lawn, the color of your siding, how many cars in your driveway, what plants are grown out front, if you can have a fence, how high the fence is, what color of the fence…. I can go on and on and on. You have limited control of your own property, and you pay dues…. Yea!!”
The cars in the driveway
“My sister and her husband moved to a community with a HOA, she moved 200 miles away from us. Naturally, myself and my parents helped her move.
We decided to spend the night there, my they had a long driveway. It was meant for cars and boats because the community was near the water. So we pulled our 4 cars into the driveway. The last car had about 12 feet extra before reaching the sidewalk.
We were unloading her belongings when the local community police department showed up, they wanted to speak to my sister.
Apparently she broke an ordnance because more than 3 cars were in her driveway, we didn’t get the stuff out the car first…. It was a fine, our first 15 minutes at the property.”
The nephew’s bike
“Another time (same place) my nephew left his bike on the front porch, the same people show up to fine my sister for the bike… Yes a 6 year old’s bike barely visible on a porch was fine worthy.”
The length of the grass
“Grass, in Maryland it is hot and humid and the grass grows so fast, neglect your yard for a week and the grass is knee high. My sister’s husband cut the grass, almost weekly. They would routinely (every week) go on to the property with a ruler and check the grass height.
They were just over a bit and they came on to their property and cut the grass for them, fined them and charged them for the cut.”
Source and link to full comment
#3 Ted and his A/C-less summer
“One spring, found my A/C quit working at my townhouse. The compressor was located off a mini deck built one floor up specially constructed to hold the compressor. Problem is, I had to have it replaced. Another problem, they didn’t make SEER 10 anymore and had to get SEER 13. SEER 13 units are bigger, heavier and wouldn’t fit on the mini deck. I had a structural engineer check it out, would cost me about $13k to have that deck made bigger (long story). Alternative was to move the compressor to the front of my unit.
HOA made me contact three neighbors and have them sign off on my architectural mod. Then they took all summer to approve the job.
Read that part again.
I found the problem in spring, immediately complied by getting the neighbors signatures, and I didn’t have A/C until the job was approved in August.“
The window unit
“Oh, and as a stop gap measure, I bought a window unit to get me by the summer months until they allowed me to install the new unit. It took the edge off, kept it from getting over 90°F inside.
Took about a week before I got a nasty gram telling me to remove the window unit (against the rules) or get a hefty fine. So, I put it in the window where it shared space by the broken a/c compressor (in other words, hard to see). Got a nasty gram within two days threatening a fine.“
The grey front stoop
“Another story – my next door neighbor bought his place with his front stoop painted grey. He didn’t paint it; the prior home owner did. He gets a nasty gram saying painted stoops are against the rules. It’s gray paint, I didn’t even notice it was painted until it was pointed out. Neighbor fought it at the next meeting. Had pictures of other painted stoops throughout the community (a few others did exist). He made sure he also captured unit numbers. It was noted during the meeting that one of the painted stoops happened to be the porch of the HOA president. They dropped the complaint against him.”
Source and link to full comment
Now, we’re not saying that all HOAs are bad. Nor are we encouraging anyone to move to a neighborhood governed by one. But since knowledge is key when making a life-changing decision like buying a home, we thought these stories will give you a better understanding of some of the challenges you might face when moving to a neighborhood with an HOA.
Have any stories you’d like to share? Maybe some stories of how your HOA is doing a great job for your neighborhood? Drop us a line at [email protected]
More helpful tips:
Can You Sell a House and Buy Another at the Same Time? We Explore Your Options How Much Do Modern Prefab Homes Cost? A Step-by-Step Guide to Buying a Property for Airbnb
American Express is offering 200,000 points after you spend $15,000+ on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Card Details
Annual fee of $695 is not waived the first year
Card earns at the following rates:
5x points per $1 spent on purchases made with airlines or hotels booked directly from AmericanExpress Travel website
1.5x points on qualifying purchases of $5,000 or more
1x points on all other purchases
$200 airline incidental credit per calendar year
Lounge access:
Centurion lounge access
International American Express lounge access
Delta SkyClub lounge access
Priority pass select membership
Airspace lounge access
Marriott gold status
Hilton gold status
Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓
No foreign transaction fees
View these other hidden benefits
SoulCycle benefits
Our Verdict
This also has no lifetime language as well, meaning you can get the card/bonus even if you’ve held the card before. We’ve seen massive targeted offers of 260,000 or 230,000, but for the regular folk 150,000 or 160,000 or 170,000 have been the best offers available. Very good deal if you’re eligible.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available.
In 2020 and 2021, many major hotel companies offered some of their most generous promotions. That’s how some TPG staffers achieved top-tier Hyatt Globalist with just 10 nights. But those days are far behind us.
Overall, hotel promotions aren’t quite as generous as they once were. But from helping you accrue additional points to earning elite status faster, they certainly should be on your radar.
However, keeping track of the latest hotel bonuses can be difficult — especially if you’re juggling points and elite status with multiple programs. With that in mind, we’ve created this guide to track current promotions across the major hotel chains.
Most of these promotions require you to book directly with the hotel chain. Bookmark this page for regularly updated offers, links and other information about your favorite hotel programs. We’ll also discuss which offers will get you the most bang for your buck.
This article focuses on limited-time promotions, excluding ongoing offers like AAA and AARP member discounts. Further, the list doesn’t include ongoing offers on cobranded hotel credit cards, but you can check out the following links for details on these cards:
Related: 6+ unexpected travel discounts that can save you money
Limited-time credit card hotel discounts
Amex Offers, Chase Offers and Citi Merchant Offers can offer significant hotel discounts. While we didn’t find any current Citi hotel offers, here are a few targeted offers that TPG staff found on their credit cards — check your cards and see if you have them too.
Amex Offers
American Express is currently offering several hotel promotions for select cardholders via its Amex Offers program, including:
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7,500 bonus points after spending $2,000 or more on your card (expires March 31). TPG values 7,500 Marriott points at $63.
Caesars Rewards Las Vegas: $40 back after you spend $200 or more (expires May 31).
Hilton properties in Mexico: $150 back after spending $750 or more (expires April 30).
Hilton’s in the US, Mexico, Caribbean, Colombia, Honduras and French Polynesia (select properties only): $200 back after you spend $1,000 or more (expires May 31).
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts Canada: $100 back after spending $500 or more (expires May 15).
IHG Hotels and Resorts: $40 back after you spend $200 or more (expires June 16).
Lotte Hotel: $100 back after you spend $500 or more (expires Aug. 1).
Lotte New York Palace: $150 back after you spend $750 or more (expires July 23).
Mandarin Oriental: $100 back after you spend $500 or more (expires March 31).
Marriott Bonvoy properties in the U.S., Caribbean, Mexico and Canada: 20% back, up to a total of $50 back (expires March 31).
Marriott Bonvoy properties in the U.S., Caribbean, Mexico and Canada: $60 back after spending $300 or more (expires March 31).
Marriott Homes & Villas: $200 back after spending $1,000 or more (expires May 31).
Riggs Washington, D.C.: $120 back after spending $600 or more (expires April 30).
Sonesta: $60 back after spending $300 or more at properties in the U.S. and U.S. territories (expires April 30).
Staypineapple: $50 back after you spend $250 or more (expires April 3).
The Line Hotels: $60 back after you spend $300 or more (expires April 30).
The Ned NoMad Hotel: $100 back after you spend $500 or more (expires Sept. 4).
Viceroy Hotels & Resorts US & Mexico: $200 back after you spend $1,000 or more (expires May 31).
Remember that Amex Offers are targeted. So, you should check your offers and enroll in any that interest you.
Related: Which is the best American Express credit card for you?
Chase Offers
Chase Offers are targeted. Several of our staffers have this Chase Offer:
Thompson Hotels: Earn 15% back when you spend $100 or more, up to $37.95 (Expires April 21).
Related: Check your Chase Offers to save money with Marriott, Lyft and Carnival
Accor Live Limitless
Accor Live Limitless has a couple of promotions that might help you earn extra points and qualify for status. These promotions require you to register.
Promotion
Details
Register-by date
Dates of stay
4x points at new hotels
Earn 4 times the points at new Accor Hotels.
Deadline passed.
Through May 5, 2023.
Earn bonus status nights with fast track
This targeted promotion isn’t open to members with a U.S. primary address.
Classic members will earn f5 status nights toward Silver.
Silver members will earn 7 status nights toward Gold.
Gold members will earn 10 status nights toward Platinum.
Deadline passed.
By May 2, 2023.
Related: The award travelers guide to Accor Live Limitless
Best Western Rewards
Best Western’s promotion allows you to earn up to 16,000 bonus points, which requires registration. Here are the details:
Promotion
Details
Register-by date
Dates of stay
Stay two nights and get 8,000 bonus points (up to two times).
Complete two separate or consecutive eligible nights to earn 8,000 bonus points following completion of the eligible nights.
Valid only on Best Western-branded U.S., Canada and Caribbean stays.
N/A.
Stay by May 7, 2023.
Related: Your ultimate guide to Best Western Rewards
Choice Privileges
Choice Privileges is back with a promotion advertising a gift card, but cashing out your points for the gift card isn’t required. You can read more about their ongoing deals here.
Promotion
Details
Register-by date
Dates of stay
Bonus points after two paid stays
Earn between 5,000 and 8,000 bonus points on the second paid stay. Choice advertises this promotion as being enough points for a $50 gift card, but you can keep the points instead.
N/A.
Stay by June 30, 2023.
Related: The best hotel credit cards
Hilton Honors
Hilton has been generous with its recent promotions. Note that the Double Up + Explore promotion requires you to register. For more details, visit this page.
Promotion
Details
Register-by date
Dates of stay
Double Up + Explore
Earn double points and 1,000 bonus points (worth $6 at TPG’s valuations) for each of Hilton’s 18 brands you stay at during the promotional period.
N/A.
Stay by April 30, 2023.
Free bonus points at Hilton’s newest properties.
Earn 1,000 Hilton Honors points per night at select properties.
Earn 5,000 Hilton Honors points per three-night stay or longer at select properties.
N/A.
Ongoing promotion.
Related: How to choose the best Hilton credit card for you
IHG One Rewards
You can earn bonus IHG One Rewards points with the loyalty program’s latest promotion, but you must register
Promotion
Details
Register-by date
Dates of stay
2,000 bonus points every 2 nights
Earn 2,000 points for every two nights of eligible paid stays.
N/A
Feb. 9 to April 14, 2023.
Related: 7 ways to earn more IHG One Rewards points for your next redemption
Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott is offering an appealing promotion for points and elite status seekers. Check your “promotion central” to see if you have any targeted promotions.
Promotion
Details
Register-by date
Dates of stay
Delight in the unexpected: Earn twice each night
Earn 1,000 bonus points (worth $8.40 based on TPG’s valuations) and one elite bonus night for each night you spend at a Marriott Bonvoy-branded property at a qualifying rate (award stays are excluded.).
April 9, 2023.
Feb. 7 to April 23, 2023.
Related: The award travelers guide to Marriott Bonvoy
Radisson Rewards Americas
Here’s one noteworthy promotion from Radisson Rewards Americas. Make sure to register.
Promotion
Details
Register-by date
Dates of stay
First time’s a charm
Earn 3,000 bonus points for your first booking in the app.
N/A.
Ongoing promotion.
Related: Here’s why Radisson Rewards is the best loyalty program for earning free nights
World of Hyatt
World of Hyatt recently launched its latest Bonus Journeys promotion. Here’s a high-level overview of Hyatt’s promotions.
Related: The most award-friendly hotel program: Everything you need to know about World of Hyatt
Wyndham Rewards
Wyndham Rewards has two generous promotions now — both require you to register. Here’s an overview.
Promotion
Details
Register-by date
Dates of stay
Stay 3 nights, earn 2 free
Book three qualifying nights at participating hotels in Europe, Africa, Eurasia or the Middle East and you’ll earn 15,000 Wyndham Rewards bonus points (enough for two nights at some Wyndham properties).
April 30, 2023 (also the book-by date).
By Sept. 30, 2023.
Earn 1,500 bonus points
Targeted promotion.
N/A.
Ongoing promotion.
In addition, there are limited-time offers through Wyndham’s member month promotions — including property credits and a broader free-night offer.
Additional reporting by Ehsan Haque, Ariana Arghandewal, Katie Genter, Ryan Smith, Caroline Tanner and Benji Stawski.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Summer is just around the corner — and it’s shaping up to be a bumper travel season with big crowds, flight delays, and high temperatures (and tempers!)
You’ve probably booked your flights and hotels by now (if not, you should do that right away). However, one part of your trip may be lacking: tips on how to make your trip more comfortable.
This could include anything from zipping through the airport to avoiding crowds, taking advantage of more comfortable seats on your flight and getting freebies or upgrades along the way.
Today, let’s look at the best credit cards for making your next trip more enjoyable.
Premium credit cards that improve your travel experience
Having a premium credit card can offer a lot of perks. You can breeze through airport security, skip the line at rental car facilities and wait comfortably at an airport lounge simply by having a premium credit card in your wallet.
Here’s how these cards can make your travel experience better:
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express provides access to numerous travel benefits to make your next trip more comfortable.
First, you can access numerous lounges while waiting for your flight at the airport. These include American Express Centurion lounges, Delta Sky Club lounges (when flying Delta that day), Priority Pass Select lounges, Escape Lounges — The Centurion Studio Partner, Airspace lounges, Plaza Premium lounges, Lufthansa lounges and other Global Lounge Collection partner lounges (search for locations here). Enrollment is required in advance for some benefits.
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To move quickly through security checkpoints, you can receive reimbursement from your Amex Platinum Card when paying for your membership fees to Global Entry, TSA PreCheck and Clear. These programs provide dedicated security lanes, which often mean shorter waiting times. Enrollment is required in advance for these benefits.
You also can make your flights more comfortable thanks to up to $200 in statement credits per year for airline incidentals. You must select a preferred airline in advance, and then you can be reimbursed for expenses like checked bags, preferred seats or even inflight Wi-Fi purchases. Enrollment is required.
Related: How to use the Amex Platinum $200 airline fee credit
Amex Platinum cardmembers also have access to Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection and can enjoy up to a $200 annual hotel credit in the form of a statement credit on prepaid Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with Amex Travel. Note that there is a two-night minimum stay for The Hotel Collection bookings. These programs provide access to high-quality hotels and benefits like room upgrades, free breakfast or late checkout.
Other hotel benefits come in the form of room upgrades and earning points at higher rates, thanks to elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors. Amex Platinum cardmembers can enroll for complimentary Gold status in both programs.
To elevate your rental car experience, enroll for elite status in rental car programs, including Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, Avis Preferred and National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive. This will provide benefits like car upgrades, a free second driver and the ability to skip the line when picking up your car — meaning you can head straight to your car and get on the road.
Related: Is the Amex Platinum worth the annual fee?
Plus, if you need a ride to an airport or hotel during your trip, you can take advantage of up to $200 in Uber Cash per year. You can use this for rides or Uber Eats orders in the U.S. by adding your Amex Platinum card as a payment method in your Uber account. Enrollment is required.
The Amex Platinum Card’s benefits come with an annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees).
Official application link: The Platinum Card® from American Express
The American Express® Green Card
The American Express Green Card offers 3 points per dollar on broader travel, restaurants and transit, as well as annual statement credits for Clear (up to$189) and LoungeBuddy ($100) that more than cover its $150 annual fee (see rates and fees), making it a compelling offer for any occasional traveler.
The card also offers extended warranty protection, purchase protection and return protection when you purchase eligible items with your card, as well as baggage insurance and secondary car rental loss and damage insurance, with the option to upgrade to primary coverage through Amex’s Premium Car Rental Protection.
Right now, Amex is offering new cardmembers 60,000 Membership Rewards points after they spend $3,000 on purchases in their first six months of card membership. Based on TPG’s valuation of Membership Rewards points at 2 cents each, the welcome offer points are worth at least $1,200.
You’ll also get 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases in your first six months to earn up to $200 back, making the total welcome offer worth up to $1,400.
In all, the card’s a great option for the modern traveler.
Official application link: The American Express® Green Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a slightly lower annual fee ($550) than the Amex Platinum and also comes with numerous perks to make your next trip more comfortable.
Like Platinum cardmembers, Sapphire Reserve cardholders also have access to over 1,300 Priority Pass lounges worldwide. They also have access to Chase Sapphire Lounges, coming to nine airports. These will include popular airports like New York-LaGuardia, San Diego, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Washington-Dulles. The first lounges are already open in Boston and Hong Kong.
The Sapphire Reserve card also reimburses your application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or quicker access between the U.S. and Canada through Nexus.
If you need help securing difficult reservations or booking activities during your trip, Sapphire Reserve cardholders have access to a concierge service to assist.
And those looking for boutique hotel experiences can access the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection. These bookings provide benefits like daily breakfast for two people, a $100 on-property credit and room upgrades (when available).
While the Sapphire Reserve card doesn’t provide credits strictly allocated to airline incidental credits, ride-hailing apps or even elite status, it does have something that can offset these expenses. Cardholders have up to $300 in annual travel credits that apply automatically to the first $300 they spend in broad travel categories each year — such as rides to the airport, airport parking, seat upgrades or even the beachside cabana that requires a paid reservation at a resort.
When renting a car, you’ll enjoy complimentary National Emerald Club Executive membership plus benefits with Avis and Silvercar.
Official application link: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
With an annual fee of just $395, the Venture X card may seem like a bargain compared to the Amex Platinum Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve. However, it still comes packed with benefits to make your next trip more comfortable.
Along with access to Priority Pass lounges, cardholders also have unlimited visits to Capital One lounges and Plaza Premium lounges. Lounge benefits also extend to your authorized users, who can also bring two guests of their own — meaning your whole family could access a lounge for free during your next trip.
Related: Big family? No problem! Get unlimited lounge guests with this credit card
Venture X cardholders can also enjoy reimbursement for their Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee to help move through security quickly.
For rental cars, Venture X cardholders (and Venture X authorized users) enjoy top-tier Hertz President’s Circle status.* After registering for this benefit, you can enjoy skip-the-line privileges, guaranteed upgrades, the widest range of selection and a free additional driver. Moreover, once you have rental car status with one company, you can use this to match your status to other rental car programs.
*Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program, and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.
Related: Is the Capital One Venture X worth the $395 annual fee?
For other comforts during your trip, you can take advantage of 10,000 bonus miles on every account anniversary and up to $300 in annual statement credits for travel booked through the Capital One Travel portal. Great uses of these credits would be booking a boutique hotel or even stacking benefits with your Hertz car rentals.
Official application link: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Airline cards that make your flight more comfortable
Breezing through security without the need to take off your shoes or wait in a long line is great. So is waiting comfortably in an airport lounge. However, your trip doesn’t end there.
Here’s how cobranded airline credit cards can make your next flight more comfortable:
A free checked bag is a key feature of nearly every airline credit card. This can save you money and improve your airport experience since you won’t carry as many things through security or onto the plane.
You can enjoy a free first checked bag on your flight across various credit cards and annual fees. This includes the United Explorer Card ($0 introductory annual fee, then $95), the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card ($95 annual fee), Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® ($450 annual fee) and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card ($550 annual fee; see rates and fees).
Many credit cards also extend the checked bag benefits to other people on your same reservation. However, the number of people this perk covers depends on the card and can vary widely. And while this benefit generally extends to any trip associated with your frequent flyer account number, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines credit cards are an exception. To get free checked bags, you must pay for the ticket with your United Airlines or Alaska Airlines credit card, respectively.
For more details, see the following:
Beyond offering free checked bags, you can enjoy other comfort-adding perks from airline credit cards. Examples include priority boarding and access to preferred seats or seat upgrades.
However, those holding credit cards with Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines or United Airlines will enjoy some level of preferred boarding when flying on those airlines. Generally, this means boarding before economy passengers but after business- and first-class passengers. By boarding early, you can access overhead storage bins before they’re full.
Airline credit cards can also offer the chance to upgrade to better seats. Aside from using airline or travel credits on the premium credit cards discussed above, United and Delta flyers can access preferred seats in other ways.
Those who hold the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex can request complimentary upgrades before their flight, potentially moving up to Comfort+ seats. These cardholders receive upgrades ahead of those with the same status and seating cabin who don’t hold the Reserve card. Those with the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card can also receive upgrade priority after meeting the Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD) waiver requirement of spending $25,000 on the card in a calendar year.
With United Airlines, those with elite status normally don’t receive upgrades on award flights — just on paid flights. However, those who hold a United Airlines credit card with an annual fee can receive complimentary upgrades according to their elite status level even when flying on award tickets. Thus, you could get a roomier seat if you have status with United Airlines — and you can even get that roomier seat on an award flight if you also hold a card like the United Quest Card.
Related: 4 reasons someone in your family needs a United credit card
Hotel cards that improve your stay
When you think about adding comfort to your hotel stays, your first thought probably includes upgraded rooms. However, free (or faster) Wi-Fi, breakfast and parking, and expedited check-in lines can also elevate your stay.
Having the right credit card in your wallet could offer you automatic entry-level status, netting you a few extra points and a free bottle of water. But it also might offer top-tier elite status that qualifies you for upgrades to suites and luxury treatment during your stay.
Hilton Honors credit cards
If you want top-tier Diamond status with Hilton — which includes perks like suite upgrades based on availability at check-in, lounge access at hotels that have these, bonus points, free breakfast and more — you can get this without the effort of counting your hotel nights every year.
Simply holding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card confers Diamond status automatically for as long as your account is open. The card’s annual fee is $450 (see rates and fees), but this may be less than what you would spend on the necessary hotel stays to qualify for Diamond status annually.
The information for the Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Another option for Hilton status is carrying the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, which confers automatic Hilton Gold (mid-tier) status. There’s an annual fee of $95 (see rates and fees). For this fee, your Gold status will confer benefits like bonus points on paid stays, room upgrades (but not suites) based on availability at check-in and either food and beverage credits or free breakfast, depending on the hotel.
Related: How to choose the best Hilton credit card for you
IHG One Rewards credit cards
If you’re looking for elite status with IHG One Rewards, you can receive complimentary Platinum Elite status (the third-highest of the four tiers) pretty easily. Cardholders of the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card receive Platinum Elite status automatically; the card has a $99 annual fee. Platinum Elite status offers benefits like bonus points on paid stays, upgraded rooms (including suites at some properties), welcome gifts of points or snacks and discounts on reward nights.
Related: IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card review
Marriott Bonvoy credit cards
For those aiming for elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, you can unlock Platinum Elite status simply by having the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. This status offers benefits like bonus points on paid stays, welcome gifts (which can range from points to a complimentary breakfast), lounge access at hotels that have these and upgrades to suites, based on availability at check-in. These benefits come with an annual fee of $650 (see rates and fees) on this card.
The next status tier below Platinum is Marriott Bonvoy’s Gold Elite status. You can get this status automatically with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful credit card. Both cards carry an annual fee of $250 (see rates and fees of the Bonvoy Bevy card). Gold status provides benefits like enhanced internet speeds in your hotel room, upgrades to preferred rooms when available at check-in, late checkout and a welcome gift of bonus points.
The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Which Marriott credit card is right for you?
World of Hyatt credit cards
It’s also possible to gain elite status with World of Hyatt by holding a credit card. However, you’ll only gain Discoverist status by holding the World of Hyatt Credit Card, which has an annual fee of $95. This status offers benefits like space-available upgrades to preferred rooms — such as a preferred location within the hotel or a nicer view — complimentary bottled water each day during your stay, premium internet access and late checkout.
Hyatt elites also can match their status to MGM Rewards and enjoy benefits from Hyatt’s partnership with American Airlines. This will include earning Hyatt points for spending money on AA flights.
Related: ‘One of the most valuable hotel cards’: A review of the World of Hyatt Credit Card
Wyndham Rewards credit cards
You can gain automatic status with Wyndham Rewards through credit cards, as well. The Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card offers automatic Platinum status (the third-highest of four tiers), providing benefits like rollover nights, free Wi-Fi, preferred rooms, late checkout, early check-in and a status match to Caesars Rewards. The card has a $75 annual fee.
The no-annual-fee Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card offers automatic Gold status, providing benefits like free Wi-Fi, preferred rooms and rollover nights.
The information for the Wyndham Earner and Wyndham Earner Plus cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Which Wyndham Rewards credit card is right for you?
Bottom line
Multiple credit cards can make your next trip more comfortable. From better seats on your flight to better rooms at your hotel and better experiences at airport security, what you hold in your wallet could elevate your next trip and remove stress points.
Premium credit cards can offer a range of perks and help you skip the lines at multiple points in your journey. Airline credit cards can offer perks like free checked bags, better seats and priority boarding. And hotel cards can get you free breakfast, room upgrades and late checkout.
Summer travel is hectic. These cards can remove some hassle from your trip, leaving your travel companions as one of the only potential stressors during your vacation.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Green Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Delta Reserve card, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Hilton Aspire card, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Hilton Surpass card, click here. For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex card, click here. For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Amex card, click here.
Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox, Summer Hull and Stella Shon.