Ranking EVERY American Express Hotel Credit Card: Which One is BEST?! | Best Hotel Credit Card 2024

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Timeline
0:00 Start Here
0:49 American Express Hilton Honors
2:00 Amex Hilton Surpass
5:30 Amex Hilton Business
5:48 Amex Platinum
8:55 Hilton Aspire
12:59 Amex Marriott Bonvoy Business
15:15 Marriott Bonvoy Bevy
16:39 Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
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[@AskSebby]

💳 Sebby's Card Picks: www.asksebby.com/credit-cards How to find an elevated Amex Plat Offer: www.asksebby.com/guides/amex-plat-cardmatch 📈 Get up to 16 Free Stocks on Moomoo (exp 11/20/23): www.asksebby.com/moomoo

[@volkronica]

we need a part two for chase!

[@AskSebby]

Soon! Didn’t want to make a 40 min video 😅

[@Noah211Gaming]

@@AskSebby Are you still considering this? I'm much more interested in the Chase cards

[@DrSarge37]

@@AskSebbyit has been 5 months now, where’s part 2?

[@De_Guatemala]

Waldorf Astoria Maui has Standard Night award space during Christmas holidays. We booked yesterday.

[@AskSebby]

Nice!!

[@wilwong83]

🥃 thanks! Insightful video was usual!

[@qontranami]

🥃Thanks for breaking this down and further demystifying hotel cards. I do have my eye on the Aspire, but now the lifetime Marriott status sounds appealing.

[@EthanPatrick_CreditCards]

Hilton has a pretty awesome lineup of cards overall. Would love to see IHG and Hyatt do something similar.

[@user-mm2in9fk5c]

Super helpful! 🥃🏨 Really looking forward to your Hilton business card review! Glad to hear changes are coming!

[@SpencerJohnsonOfficial]

🥃 Amex definitely has some powerful hotel cards, mainly looking at the Hilton cards, Marriott Biz, and Marriott Brilliant. I'll likely stick with Chase for my Marriott cards for the most part (particularly with Amex's 5 credit card limit), but I'm definitely interested in the Hilton cards. Great stuff as always man! 👊🏼

[@alfonsca]

Hotel 🏨 and whiskey 🥃. Perfect combo and great video!

[@alphonso843]

O.G Sebby back at it again. Bless us with a Business video next on ask sebby Business. 😂

[@TheAlex808]

I have a Platinum but currently looking for a hotel card and I feel compelled to go with the Aspire after watching this review.

[@LK_EBM]

Yes! I was waiting for this video! I really hope to get the Aspire card soon

[@AskSebby]

Good choice!

[@greentechgiraffe]

🏨🥃 Great summary video.. ill look for your Chase version next!!

[@shadowblade232]

If Marriott/Amex made the Brilliant free night uncapped, it would immediately be A+/S-tier. Right now at 85k+15k, it's in a weird range - barely good enough for the top-end during off-season but too good to waste on a lower to mid-tier property. The Hilton free nights are incredible value in comparison.

[@AskSebby]

Wish it was uncapped so I didn't have to hunt for ≤100k nights.

[@mattfrias2007]

Hilton Surpass is definitely worth an A-grade. Compared to the Aspire, there is not much difference between 12x and 14x HH points. The annual fee differences are a consideration.

[@ptstormrunnr]

Especially since Aspire got rid of Priority Pass

[@richardnettina3154]

This is a pretty good list, especially the Brilliant card being all over the place. I tell P2 that we get positive expected value out of all of our credit cards, except the Brilliant. That’s a present I give myself. Maybe in 8 years when we are lifetime platinum while only staying 10 nights a year, it will be worth it. But for now, free breakfasts and minor room upgrades are a small luxury.

[@FalconNipps]

I agree with everything so goated Tierlist as usual. Brilliant is just so hard to justify since rules are so varied for Marriotts and multipliers are bad. Having to top off the free night for luxury travelers and bad credits also hurt it. I would get rather get 3X Hilton Aspires. I think the old hilton surpass was A tier or higher for economical travelers since I would say it was the cheapest way for priority pass with family/friend groups of 4 or more.

[@LK_EBM]

Marriot Platinum status with "free breakfast" is also way too confusing.

[@ohmedk]

Just a correction.. Southwest flight credit does not expire

[@JohnDoe-vp1bo]

I have both the aspire and brilliant and end up staying at Marriotts a lot more and have gotten a ton of value from the platinum status, especially the free breakfast and don’t think you mentioned the 4pm late checkout. Life saver when I was working remotely from time to time as my place was getting renovated.

[@TheCedrik34]

Same, I’ve been staying at a lot more Marriotts lately

[@headlibrarian1996]

Do Bonvoy elite nights stack if you have an Amex biz and Chase personal card? Obviously they do if both cards are Amex, as noted in the video.

[@gregb5876]

I prefer the Hilton brands so Aspire is the obvious choice. My real decision is, can I handle 2 Aspire cards? 4 Aspire, if I'm including my player 2.

[@kevinfedigan8229]

Great Video. 🥃 A bit off topic .... Any favorite Whiskeys that I can pick up at Duty Free on my way to Thailand next month (Flying Blue from JFK on points)? Would love to pick up a gift for my FIL, and know that he's a whiskey drinker too. We also have a layover in Paris, not sure if we'll have access to Duty Free there too or not.

[@miguelgallardo4504]

Can you do a best airline cards list video? I’m starting my journey and I have cash back but I’m team travel and wondering what airline card I should get.

[@Kenleaty]

Hi, What calendar do you recommend?

[@CarlosHdz-rm6sg]

Catching up on some shows. Hilton loyalist so my wife and I both have Aspire cards and we love the product. As far as ranking, there’s the Aspire card and then there’s everything else. The new product change has allowed for both us to get (4) free night certificates with our spend total throughout the year so we can always plan a Christmas/holiday vacation. Awesome video as I tend to have to stay at Marriotts every so often for work but I don’t think it’s worth the squeeze. Amex Plat is in my wallet as I tend to travel internationally 4 to 5 times throughout the year.

[@TravelBossNas]

🥃 1. I love the Aspire! It’s helping me stay a total of 7 nights at the Conrad Osaka (5 nights) and 2 at the Conrad Tokyo at the end of March next year. And a couple nights in Manila in April. I would long be opposed to having 5 Aspire cards for each of us. 2. Mandy, we need a blooper video of everything Sebby has said that never made it to the videos! 3. And most importantly, you can have yolo trips with Kids. Since we had our daughter we have gone on numerous trips. Most notably Thailand 🇹🇭 and Vietnam 🇻🇳. And Japan 🇯🇵 and the Philippines 🇵🇭 (next year) and she’s only 2 1/2. We don’t travel as much as we’d like. And we’re lucky to have my parents watch our daughter while we travel.

[@jm4020]

I prefer Hilton hotels over other brands so the Aspire is my obvious answer. Definitely still in the S class tier.

[@ret4kind]

🥃 for me it's the Platinum for boutique. But I don't stay in either American brand to ever use anything you mentioned. Accor is my go to brand because of Sofitel and Fairmont. Novotel in other countries is best value for quality.

[@josuevega1558]

my surpass let me stay at the conrad LA for free with points and I loved it. was my first 5 star hotel ever (my trip was in November and I had just turned 21) really makes me wanna stack and get an aspire card or two with how much I enjoyed the 5 star hotel experience

[@zhangdoe655]

The surpass is definitely A to hold in China, I just got it for my first card, I still got 10 PP access till next year, and also China has lots of hiltons ranging from 50-70dollars, which is sick, I can just go get a free night out straight lol, not to say Chinese Hilton breakfasts are insane, not just cereals and cold milk.

[@AskSamPugh]

🥃 I actually like the bonvoy brilliant card the best. The value with the dining credit makes it worth it for me. I have the aspire as well and still debating on keeping this one with the recent changes as i already had the clear so that didn’t really help me. I plan on selling it to get more value 🤷🏾‍♂️.

[@jma7386]

I got my first Amex with Brilliant. Like you I am trying to go for Life time Plat with BV. Not good spender card, but I will keep it for at least 5 years

[@CesarJoel]

🥇IMO the Hilton Aspire is by far the best hotel credit card. Great overview!

[@jimmyjames6492]

💯

[@billwright2176]

Are the Surpass credits working for buying hilton gift cards? And if so is it a physical gift card you could then use with a Aspire?

[@scoutnabout288]

🥃 thanks for the overview. How does the Bonvoy Ritz Carlton card compare to the rest of the Bonvoy lineup? Curious what rank you would give it…

[@AskSebby]

Leaning towards an A. There's a case for S (annual fee relative to the FNC). But hard to use credit. Will think about it more before the Chase video :)

[@RAZZAQ.A]

🥃... I appreciate extended video content.

[@AskSebby]

Thanks! :)

[@mkwaku]

Hi Sebby, hiw about the IHG Premier card. Thx

[@levimachado]

He is talking about amex here i believe. Ihg is chase

[@royce1510]

Hilton Surpass is definitely A tier. I know some are upset at losing Priority Pass, but almost everything else is the same or better. Gold status can pay for the card in as little as 5 nights thanks to the F&B credit and you still get breakfast internationally. Also, just one stay a year and you’re back at the same annual fee as before. Still one of if not THE best mid tier hotel card on the market

[@JPfreedom]

So where do you get your Priority Pass since Amex has axed it?

[@royce1510]

@@JPfreedom PP coverage is pretty poor based on where I travel, so the Altitude Reserve is my pick. 8 for $75 effective annual fee. Altitude Connect also gives you 4 for $65 effective fee if you travel that infrequently

[@aznandyroo]

🥃 I've not really thought about the Amex hotel cards until I am in the "late game" but the Bonvoy Brilliant sounds the most appealing to me

[@stevensoncerisier5986]

What is FHR for the platinum card that you were talking about?

[@AskSebby]

Fine Hotels and Resorts Program

[@kcelloboy8]

🥃 The Bonvoy Brilliant seems most interesting to me- if I already have the Bonvoy Boundless card, would getting the Brilliant allow me to get 10 more free night credits, or am I limited to only one set of credits?

[@oranuchchatsrinopakun1829]

Can we get sign up bonus for two different businesses for Amex business Bonvoy?

[@GregoryPoliti]

Anyone know if I owned 2 Aspire cards and I booked a stay at a Hilton Resort, could I split the bill at the end of the stay between the two Aspire cards and collect the two separate $200 resort credits (1 per card) at the same time? I feel that would be more useful and easier to apply than finding value in the Aspire + Surpass combo.

[@AskSebby]

You can either checkout => check-in. I've had success paying with multiple cards at the end ("$200 on this one, $200 on this one... etc.") especially if you have a Player 2. Some (i.e., WA Park City) also let me do partial payments during the stay ("oh, I know we're mid-stay but would love to pay down our food bill by $200 if possible") Main reason for the latter was that our stay was through NYE. Ended up being a great way to use credits for both 2022 and 2023 on one trip ;) (to be fair, food was $$$ expensive so maybe still an L on our end but tasted great!)

[@Reevos]

Any plans to do a video on the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful?🥃

[@ExTRAErrestrial_Travels]

I want the no annual fee Hilton card because I want a way to earn more Hilton points but I’m fine with the gold status that my platinum provides. I did the same with the Marriott boundless but I don’t mind the $95 annual fee on that one because it at least has a free night.

[@SuperVeganShark]

@00:12 Mandy is harmless… ok buddy keep thinking that 😅😅😅

[@user-mk2xy6st4q]

Question: looks like Amex removed the 6x categories of dining, gas, shipping and telecom on the Hilton Business. And removed the ability for a free night based on spend. Anyone else notice these changes?

[@AskSebby]

Waiting for the official change announcement. Will make a video on the business channel when it happens.

[@asylumhandicrafts]

I'm still getting 6x back for shipping on hilton business

[@cwcaswell]

🥃 As a platinum holder, I'm shopping for a new daily driver (restaurants, misc expenses, etc.) doesn't it make sense to go with the basic honors card? Since I can't get the gold sign-on bonus, I might as well get 4-5% on restaurants and the bonus here, right? P.S. It'd be nice if you had some videos on stacking credit cards outside the traditional amex/ chase trifecta.

[@AskSebby]

I've talked about BofA and Citi in the past. They don't do well since people don't seem to care outside of Amex / Chase. BofA: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4ubpZR3i5llnqs Citi: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIuoeIR7abl9a5Y Capital One: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWXFamOmea57oZY

[@RipVondy]

Can you use United travel bank for the airline credit? For the aspire

[@AskSebby]

Old credit seemed fine. Not sure about new one. Would hold out for data points: www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-express-membership-rewards/2106210-airline-fee-250-200-reimbursement-reports-ua-only-2023-a-43.html?ispreloading=1

[@poppy87]

Wish the surpass card offered 4 points per dollar spent instead of 3 points like the aspire card. Woukd offer a better return than 2 percent cashback cards.

[@Lunistrella]

Would still love to see a Chase part 2!

[@aytacboduroglu4448]

Can the 50$ quarterly credit on the Hilton aspire work for getting lunch at a Hilton without staying there ?

[@titiung]

wont work unless you stay there and it codes as room charges. But people have had luck buying hilton gift card at front desk.

[@AndrewBrill1]

Even with titanium I am rarely automatically getting upgrades. Westin Hyderabad..had to ask. JW Marriott Singapore..no upgrade offered even when requested. ❤

[@AskSebby]

I'm surprised about the JW Singapore. They were pretty okay with upgrades last time we stayed (w/ Gold status; immediately post SPG merger). Nice lounge though :)

[@RipVondy]

Could you use United travel bank for the airline credit?

[@ModernMoneyHabits]

YES

[@snackingallday]

Which Hongkong hotels are you recommending

[@AskSebby]

Langham (TST) is our go-to right now given FHR perks. Conrad in Admiralty is convenient if cash rate is ~$300 or lower. Grand Hyatt is nice but a 5-7 minute walk to the MTR which can feel annoying.

[@kevincheng4375]

marriot bonvoy brilliant or hilton aspire ?

[@AskSebby]

Whichever hotel group you enjoy more.

[@DevonHolly16]

Aspire for the Win.🥃

[@IceIcelce]

One saving grace of the bevy/bountiful card is 1000 bonus points per paid stay but yes this card is awful. For consultants who do one night stays this might be an easy 50k points per year.

[@MikePritchett9090]

Is the 185 K bonus worth it? What is the downgrade path?

[@charliedurham4248]

0.8 ccp for Hilton? Bawhaha... Only if you stay in some super overpriced place to start with. For normal Hampton Inn type properties, you are now lucky to get 0.4 ccp

[@zyzzuschrist3410]

W Sebby

[@joanreilly6419]

Hotel

[@Prounounced]

I don't know if my opinion is rare here, but I think it would be nice if you separated the 'business cc' and 'personal cc' parts of your videos into two halves, vs having business cards back-to-back with personal cards. I know a lot of CC folks can take advantage of business cards, but if you're unable/unwilling to deal with it, most of that content is a skip which can be a hassle when it's interspersed in the video.

[@AskSebby]

Yeah, I've actually moved most of the business content over here: www.youtube.com/@AskSebbyBusiness I debated not including it as well but figured it would be easier to try to just cover it really fast (which might have been a mistake). Ordering was (more or less) working way up from cheapest to most expensive within the hotel group = why it felt interspersed.

[@Leoprieto74]

Leo’s Top Two: 🥈Place goes to Hilton Aspire 🥇Place goes to Marriott Brilliant

[@AskSebby]

Good choices!

[@user-wu5fr3io9s]

Sebby, you and Mandy travel all over the world, but I never see you guys travel to the Caribbean. I guess it's not exclusive enough for you, just wondering.

[@AskSebby]

On the list for future travels!

[@thanirz]

The existence of the aspire is why the marriot card feels like trash lol

[@aaron.phelps]

SW credits do not expire. Used to be 1 year.

[@charliedurham4248]

Southwest credits no longer expire

[@bkemp28]

Most of us traveling have Corporate AMEX cards. Already Diamond at hotels. No added value. With said Corporate AMEX would never eat Hotel eggs or be excited about the same meal at an airport lounge. Super excited about using your advice and the Platinum to bring Player two for a great personal vacation.

[@robertcparsons]

WOH?

[@fitnezzfreak]

🥃

[@VuNguyen-fv5jl]

Sebby, I don’t think the Southwest flight credits expire

[@lrubio1]

That's correct, this was a recent policy change, they no longer expire. You could literally book a cheap short one way, cancel after 24 hrs, and get the credit or stack it with other credits for a more expensive flight.

[@AskSebby]

Good catch!

[@naparqalria]

why is maldives the example always used?

[@AskSebby]

1. Most outsized value for points. 2. People claim it's impossible to find availability.

[@LK_EBM]

What's your "Maldives"?

[@Method2DaMadness]

Because it's ballin, that's why.

[@dylanzwick]

So a few months ago I started learning more about credit cards. Know what my main card was before then? The Bonvoy Bevy - maybe the worst card on the market.

[@TheAudioCzar]

11:36 Southwest flight credits no longer expire

[@AskSebby]

Yep! That's why I included the screenshot w/ helper text :) Good catch for audio listeners though!

[@chuiwaiyinryan2491]

🥃!!!

[@texassecession6422]

Hey Sebby, I am in military and currenty have 4 Hilton Aspires and 1 Marriott Brilliant. I am thinking about closing Brilliant and adding one more Aspire. I have Chase Marriott boundless opened this year and will convert to Ritz Carlton card next year. I tend to purchase Marriott gift cards upon Amex offers and use for hotel stays. So I don't really put charges on Brilliant card. And those offers are never on Marriott Brilliant card. I know I am going to lose the platinum status and will be difficult to achieve the stauts with only 15 elite nights from Ritz Carlton card. What is your thought on this? I didnt know Ritz Carlton hotel doesn't even give free breakfast with platinum status. (That is another reason I am considering closing Brilliant) Does St. Regis give a breakfast with platinum?

[@SENDO-X]

Im thinking of going the multiple aspire route being military. Would you consider it worth it to do that? Just got the surpass and dk if i should keep going with the set up for the future

[@jordandarrell9002]

Yes, St. Regis gives breakfast for being Platinum. Personally, I would keep the Brilliant for the status and also get the Ritz card. I personally have both, the breakfast comes in clutch and once you get used to it, it's hard to no longer stay at a hotel and not have that perk. 2 85K certs and 4 Aspire free nights sounds great to me

[@thetrainhopper8992]

S Tier just makes F a passing grade. Just saying.

[@aaront936]

Bora bora and Maldives is such a waste of money

[@AskSebby]

YMMV 🤷‍♂️

[@mrright1716]

15 k for one night? 🤣

[@mao-hsinshen9384]

Ben the Credit-SF did this (I think) more than once. That Free Night can worth say 85K HH-points that I used few times.

[@AskSebby]

$15k you were already spending anyways? i.e., pre-paying tax, HOA, property taxes, etc. Coming out ahead net of fees unless you don't have a use case for the FNC.

[@peterbrunsgaard2012]

New version of Aspire = Annoying. That pretty much sums it up.

[@iBrunoCosta]

First

[@AskSebby]

🥇

[@mr-cheatcode9262]

Third

[@AskSebby]

🥉

[@Ron-qe4ul]

Second

[@AskSebby]

🥈

[@Alvin_1914]

Squuuuuuuuuuad

[@AskSebby]

🙌

[@davidj5183]

what brand black tee do you wear?🏨

[@Andrew_ryan_]

🏨 which hotel brand do you prefer? And why?

[@jimbobimboslice]

For the Hilton Apsire flight credit, does that now mean that incidentals like baggage fees no longer get reimbursed? Or did it just add flight credit in addition to incidentals like baggage fees? Asking because my employer reimburses for baggage fees so I would purposely check in bags until hitting the $200 (effectively lowering the annual fee to $350). But now I’m confused

[@jimbobimboslice]

Nvm. Just checked and the $250 airline incidental fee is no longer going to be offered. So it is only for flight credits. That sucks for me because my employer reimburses me for everything EXCEPT flights-those are direct billed. 😢😢 If anyone knows of an easy way to obtain these credits, please let me know.

[@AskSebby]

Southwest is probably your best bet given how credits no longer expire. YMMV if they change how it codes: www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-express-membership-rewards/2064519-airline-fee-250-200-reimbursement-reports-wn-southwest-only-2022-23-a.html (this thread is for the $200/$250 credits but ~same idea)

[@authentiking]

Those Kavalans 🤌🏻🥃

[@AskSebby]

🥃

[@nickc90210]

🏨 How about Hyatt?

[@jimmyjames6492]

🏨🏨🏨

[@JacksonianT]

🏩 🥃

[@EthanPatrick_CreditCards]

Hilton has a pretty awesome lineup of cards overall. Would love to see IHG and Hyatt do something similar.

[@gregb5876]

Agreed. And I would love to see a better transfer rate from Chase to IHG... Something like 1:3...1:1 is just ridiculous.

[@EthanPatrick_CreditCards]

@@gregb5876agreed! That would make IHG a transfer partner I would actually consider using haha. I bet even a 1:2 transfer rate could be profitable for them.

[@richardnettina3154]

This is a pretty good list, especially the Brilliant card being all over the place. I tell P2 that we get positive expected value out of all of our credit cards, except the Brilliant. That’s a present I give myself. Maybe in 8 years when we are lifetime platinum while only staying 10 nights a year, it will be worth it. But for now, free breakfasts and minor room upgrades are a small luxury.

[@natecruz1]

🥃

[@stillbryanstill]

Third

[@Alvin_1914]

🏨

[@davidhouston7812]

🏨 🥃

[@blademasterzero5295]

🥃

[@GOPA90]

🥃