Why Hilton Honors has best reward credit card for spending

If you are about to buy a big ticket purchase for your home, perhaps some white goods, a new sofa or a television, then you may be deliberating on how best to pay for it.

One option could be to buy it on what has been described as Britain’s most ‘ludicrously generous’ reward credit card by an award-winning expert, who has picked it out as being the best reward deal available. 

As long as you play by the rules, you could enjoy a stay at almost any Hilton-branded hotel worldwide.

The Hilton Honors Platinum Visa (offered by Barclaycard) has no annual fee and to bag its sign-up bonus, you need to spend £750 in the first three months, which then gets you a voucher for a free weekend night at a hotel in the Hilton portfolio.

If you are a couple and were about to make some big purchases, maybe for a new home, and both opened one, this could turn into a free weekend stay if you use the free nights back-to-back, for either a Friday and Saturday, or Saturday and Sunday.

You can also use the card for normal everyday spending – for example, a bi-weekly food shop of £125 for three months would trigger the bonus. 

But the key is to pay it off as you go along – fail to do this and the credit card company wins.

Rob Burgess, editor of popular frequent flyer and card perks website Head for Points, told This is Money: ‘The card is free and, once you’ve spent just £750, you get a voucher for a free weekend night value at any hotel in the Hilton portfolio.

‘This includes the Waldorf-Astoria and Conrad luxury chains – even the Conrad Maldives resort. There is rarely a problem redeeming. 

‘This Hilton offer – which has run for years – is so ludicrously generous you would expect people to be all over it, but they’re not.’

With a £750 spend in the first three months, you will get a voucher for a one night stay at almost any Hilton branded property

The golden rule to follow is this: you must pay off the card within a month, or get stung with 18.9 per cent APR.

This means it is only ideal for those who were going to make a high ticket purchase or make it part of a regular spend anyway and have the means of paying it off straight away.

On a £750 spend, paying back the card immediately and getting the voucher could mean a free stay at a hotel which can cost hundreds – and if two open it and spend £1,500, this would double the reward to a two-night stay.

It takes six to eight weeks to get the free night reward certificate while cardholders also get HHonors Silver Elite status.

This is a perk that means fast-track check-in, the potential for early and late check-outs and complimentary access to Hilton-owned and operated health clubs or fitness centres.

Burgess adds: ‘If you go into John Lewis they will try to get you excited by the prospect of a £10 voucher if you sign up for their credit card.

‘However, you can actually get free travel by signing up for most valuable reward credit cards.

‘While little known, this card has the most generous sign-up bonus of any free UK credit card. 

‘Being able to get a free weekend night at any of the 5,000 hotels globally run by Hilton just for spending £750 is incredible value.

‘For example, The Conrad London or all-suite Conrad New York typically sell for £250-plus per night.’

The alternative best reward cards

As well as the Hilton card above, Burgess – whose website recently won three Business Travel Journalism Awards, beating many print big boys – has picked out five other reward credit cards that are worth considering, but only if you play by the rules.

Here they are – ranked in order, according to him, of how good the sign-up bonuses are:

1) The American Express Nectar Card, available until 1 November, gets you 30,000 Nectar points, worth £150.

It is free but you need to spend £2,000 within 90 days. 

He says: ‘This limited time offer on the Nectar website is an excellent deal for anyone looking for a big bonus on a free credit card. 

‘The ongoing earning rate is also attractive, earning two Nectar points per £1 spent.

‘You may want to reconsider after the first year, however, as there is an annual fee of £25 for year two onwards.’ 

2) The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold gives 20,000 membership rewards points – worth £200 if turned into 20,000 Avios or other airline miles, assuming 1p per airline mile achieved.

It comes with no fee for the first year but you may want to cancel before year two, where there is a fee of £140. It also requires a £2,000 spend in three months to grab the bonus.

3) The HSBC Premier World Elite MasterCard gives 40,000 Avios or other airline miles – £400 assuming 1p per Avios achieved – for spending £12,000 in your first year.

This comes with a non-refundable £195 fee and has strict eligibility criteria.

Burgess adds: ‘If you are a HSBC Premier customer and a frequent flyer, this a hidden gem.

‘Other perks include unlimited airport lounge access and full travel insurance. There is a £195 annual fee but, for the first year, the airmiles make this a good deal. You should reconsider after the first year, however.’

British Airways: Its American Express Premium Plus gives 25,000 Avios bonus points – with a £3,000 spend in three months

4) The British Airways American Express Premium Plus gives 25,000 Avios points – £250 assuming 1p per Avios achieved.

This comes with a £195 fee but a £150 refund if cancelled after four months so net cost of £45. 

Burgess says: ‘This means you get 25,000 Avios – which I’d value at £250 or more – for just £45.’

A spend of £3,000 in three months is required to unlock the bonus. 

5) American Express Platinum comes with 30,000 membership rewards points – worth £300 as gets you 30,000 airline miles, assuming 1p per airline mile achieved.

This comes with a £450 fee but £300 refund if cancelled after four months, so net cost of £150.

Most importantly, according to Burgess, you will retain your Starwood Preferred Guest Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Melia Rewards Gold, Shangri-La Jade and Hilton Honors Gold cards for a year, even if you cancel, which adds substantial extra value.

You need to spend £3,000 in the first 90 days. 

Burgess adds: ‘Many may think that these cards are only aimed at business travellers, but they are open to anyone – and anyone can pick up the generous bonuses.’

However, it is important to pay off the above cards promptly as they come with a raft of high interest – and the providers will hoping you will fall into the trap, hence why the rewards can be so generous.

Read our previous story about how Avios works and how Burgess has flown business class to Abu Dhabi, Boston, Calgary, Cape Town, Las Vegas, Moscow, New York and Singapore with his family in the last six years.