Hilton HHonors® Platinum Credit Card from American Express

Our Rating: Intro APR: 2.9% Intro Period: 6 Months Annual Fee: $0 Setup Fee: $0 APR: 14.99% Terms and Conditions

Key Features Earn Up to 50,000 HHonors® Bonus Points When You Get the Card No Annual Fee Receive 5 HHonors Bonus Points for Each Dollar Spent at Hilton Family Hotels Including Doubletree®, Embassy Suites Hotels®, Hampton Inn® and More and For Eligible Purchases at Supermarkets, Drugstores, Gas Stations, and More Get 3 HHonors Bonus Points for Each Eligible Dollar You Spend Everywhere Else No Blackout Dates Express Approval. Get a Decision in Less Than 60 Seconds APPLY NOW

The Hilton HHonors Platinum Credit Card from American Express is aimed at those who travel frequently and could take advantage of discounts on stays at Hilton Family Hotels.

The major reward program offered by this card has to do with points earned through purchases, which can be redeemed at hotels within the Hilton Family of hotels. For every dollar spent, the cardholder earns three points towards future hotel stays. For every dollar spent on stays at Hilton Family Hotels, the cardholder earns 5 points. Cardholders can also earn 5 points on qualified purchases from drugstores, gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets and the like. Cardholders receive 10,000 bonus points when they make their first purchase, 2,500 points for their first 4 stays at a Hilton Family hotel, and 500 points for each stay after that. Additionally, qualifying hotel stays can earn the cardholder not only points, but frequent flyer miles.

Points are redeemable only after they have accrued past the 7,500-mark. Depending on the category of the hotel, a free night can range anywhere from 10,000 points for an opportunity category hotel, to 40,000 points for a category 6 hotel.

The Hilton HHonors Card has the usual range of benefits offered to American Express cardholders. Purchase protection, fraud protection, extended warranties and the like are standard. There are also travel benefits like travel accident insurance, car rental insurance, a global assist hotline, guaranteed reservations, and various discounts.

The purchase APR on the Hilton HHonors card is on the high side. There is a low introductory APR for the first six months, but after that, the rate jumps up. There is no annual fee for the card.

The Hilton HHonors card is a good card for people who frequent Hilton Family Hotels. The fast-accruing points can begin to save cardholders money quicker than many other hotel-oriented rewards cards. It is not a good card for someone who will carry a balance month-to-month. The high interest rate will begin to eat into the savings gained through points.

Review Date: 9/4/2006