Hilton Aspire Card – My Full Review After a Year of VIP Hotel Travel

I’ve used a lot of travel credit cards, but none has transformed my hotel experience like the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
After a full year of using it for every Hilton stay (and even outside of travel), I can confidently say it’s the most powerful hotel card I’ve ever owned.

The value started on day one: I was instantly upgraded to Hilton Honors Diamond status — the highest elite tier.
That alone got me perks like free breakfast, late checkout, room upgrades (often to suites), and executive lounge access at many Hilton properties.

Every year I get a Free Weekend Night Reward, and I’ve used it at luxury properties like the Waldorf Astoria and Conrad, where nights cost $500+ easily. Just this perk alone covers almost the entire $550 annual fee.

Then there’s the up to $400 in annual credits: – $200 Hilton Resort Credit for on-property expenses like spa, dining, and activities – $200 Airline Incidental Credit for baggage fees, seat upgrades, and in-flight purchases I use both credits every year without issue.

The rewards rate is also one of the highest I’ve seen: – 14x Hilton Honors Points at Hilton properties – 7x on flights booked directly with airlines or via amextravel.com – 7x at restaurants – 3x on all other purchases These points add up incredibly fast. I’ve booked multiple reward nights in less than six months.

It also includes Priority Pass Select membership, giving me access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. That makes travel feel first-class — even when I’m flying economy.

Of course, there are no foreign transaction fees, so I’ve used the card all over Europe and South America without worrying about extra costs.

This card is for travelers who value comfort, perks, and guaranteed status — and who want real returns for their loyalty.
I’ve gotten back 2-3x the value of the annual fee in rewards, credits, and experience every year.