Expert Advice

How I Supercharge My Vacation Membership With The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Make the Hilton ecosystem work for you

Todd H
Two beach chairs and an umbrella on a beach on a sunny day

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card can be a helpful travel companion — one that doesn’t require its own airplane seat.

Of course, credit cards may appear to be a nightmarish companion to some, conjuring labyrinthian phone trees, double-digit interest rates and unexpected fees. However, that doesn’t have to be your experience. Like fire, credit cards can burn down a shed or cook a delightful meal. You just have to know how to use them.

A Hilton Grand Vacations Member and his wife 

How Do Hilton Honors Aspire Card Perks Work With Hilton Grand Vacations Membership?

The Hilton Honors Aspire Card does have an annual fee, but those who travel enough can still benefit. And let’s face it, if you’re a Hilton Grand Vacations member, you love to travel. Not only does the credit card give you complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status, but you also get tons of other benefits that work with Hilton Grand Vacations membership.

Earn Plenty Of Points

Each dollar you spend with your Hilton Honors Aspire Card earns you one Hilton Honors Point, which counts towards a Hilton hotel stay anywhere on planet Earth. So you can stay at any Hilton Grand Vacations property and have even more flexibility to save Points and use them anywhere within the Hilton portfolio.

Depending on the eligibility of the purchase, you can earn even more Points.

  • General purchases? 3x Bonus Points.
  • Flights or car rentals booked directly or through Amex Travel? 7x Bonus Points.
  • Hilton hotel and resort bookings? 14x Bonus Points.
A couple cuddles in the pool at sunset 

Rack Up Free Night Rewards

What if you have a maintenance fee to take care of? Use your Hilton Honors Aspire Card. Not only did you take care of your payment (provided you pay the credit card bill, of course), but you’ve also maximized your Hilton Honor Points and gotten one step closer to scoring a free night.

I also know that I’ll get a free night reward each year because I make my loan payments with my Amex. That perk alone is worth the annual fee as the wife and I watch the sunset from our Waldorf Astoria room.

Enjoy Even More Perks

I use the Hilton Honors Aspire Card for my monthly loan payment, and keeping that fiscal synergy within the Hilton ecosystem has only improved my travel experience.

A couple in Central Park in New York 

When I need to stay at a hotel overnight for a business trip unexpectedly, my Hilton Honors Points swoop in to save the day and book me a stay within the Hilton portfolio. When I’m faced with a breakfast buffet tab that wants to wake me up in the morning, a Hilton Resort Credit takes the edge off. When I need to transfer big files to clients on the road, my Hilton Honors Diamond status gets me top-tier Wi-Fi at my hotel. 

If you’re not a Hilton Grand Vacations Member yet, one final tip is to use your Amex when joining (or even upgrading). You earn a lot of Bonus Points if you meet a certain spending threshold within three months. An easy way to do that is to use your card to take care of the tab when you pick up a deed or upgrade your membership. Multitask by joining a flexible vacation membership and get massive Bonus Points on your brand-new Amex.

If you’re responsible with your spending, stay in the Hilton ecosystem and pay attention to the perks, you can maximize the Hilton Honors Aspire Card’s benefits, especially as a Hilton Grand Vacations Member. Points and rewards are on the table for you to use — so make the most of them.

Read “8 Hilton Grand Vacations Members Dish On The Perks Of Hilton Honors Membership.”

HGV Newsletter Sign Up
Hilton Grand Vacations Member, Explorer profile picture.

Todd H

Todd, a voice actor and director, has been a Member since 2018. He travels with his wife and in-laws. His home resorts include Maui Bay Villas, a Hilton Grand Vacation Club; Las Palmeras, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club; and West 57th Street, a Hilton Club. Todd also takes time to volunteer at shelters and sanctuaries while on vacation.

Popular Articles