Even though I only stay at Hilton Honors hotels a few times a year, I’m a fan of Hilton Honors Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. Even if you’re a frequent Hilton guest, the card offers far more value than its $550 annual fee (see rates and fees).
I enjoy the complimentary Hilton Diamond status I receive as a cardmember and redeem the annual free night certificates I receive upon renewal at luxury hotels every year. But one perk I had to plan my trip carefully to take advantage of was Hilton Aspire resort points.
So, here’s what you should know about Hilton Aspire Resort Points, including how to determine which hotels qualify.
Hilton Aspiration Resort Points Basics
if you have Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Cardyou can earn up to $200 in statement credits twice a year when you make qualifying purchases directly at participating Hilton resorts. Specifically, you’ll receive one credit of up to $200 between January and June and another between July and December, for a total of $400 per year.
Considering the Hilton Aspire has an annual fee of $550, fully utilizing those statement points at participating Hilton resorts each year can effectively cover a significant portion of your card’s annual fee. Therefore, you’ll need to plan the best way to use your Hilton Aspire Resort Points during each qualifying period.
Related: Is the Hilton Aspire Amex Card Worth the Annual Fee?
How to use Hilton Aspire Resort Points
To use Hilton Aspire Resort Points, you or an authorized user on your account should stay at an eligible Hilton resort and pay for eligible charges using your Hilton Aspire card.
Prepayments and non-refundable purchase prices do not count towards Hilton Aspire Resort Points. However, room rates and other room charges should qualify when you pay with your credit card at a hotel. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
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In the past, some consumers have successfully used Hilton Desire Resort points to purchase spa or restaurant items at participating hotels without even staying there.
However, the terms and conditions for Hilton Aspire Resort Points state that “incidental charges at participating Hilton resorts (including charges at on-property restaurants, spas and other venues) must be charged to your room and paid with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card to be eligible to receive statement points through this offer.”
The terms also state, “If your purchase is not determined to be made directly at a Hilton Resort (for example, if the purchase is made at a restaurant or convenience store within a Hilton Resort), your purchase will not be eligible.”
Some travelers have also been lucky enough to receive Hilton Aspire Resort Points, which can be used toward prepayments and gift cards purchased directly at qualifying resorts. For example, TPG’s Carly Helfand purchased gift cards in the first half of the year at a resort she stayed at in the second half of the year, while Matt Moffitt called the hotel near the end of 2024 to put down a deposit for a 2025 stay.
Related: Having trouble using your Hilton gift card? Try this trick that worked for me
Hilton Aspire Resort Points terms and conditions state, “You may not receive statement credits if we receive inaccurate information or otherwise fail to identify whether your purchase is eligible, or if the transaction is made through an electronic wallet or a third party (such as an app store), or if the merchant uses a mobile or wireless card reader to process the transaction.”
Therefore, be sure to bring your physical Hilton Aspiration Card with you when checking out of an eligible resort to ensure the charge is applied to your Hilton Aspiration Resort Points.
Like many statement points, points are based on the transaction date, which may be different than the date of your purchase. I highly recommend you don’t wait until the last few days of June or December to make a qualifying purchase at a Hilton resort. Otherwise, you may incur charges after your current credit limit expires.
Statement credits may take up to twelve weeks to post to your account after purchase. If Amex has not issued a statement credit after 12 weeks, please contact a customer service representative at the number on the back of your card.
Related: 7 Reasons to Get the Hilton American Express Aspire Card
Hilton Desire Resort Credit List
Hilton Aspire’s terms direct you to a list on Hilton’s website sorted by brand or region. I recommend using the sort by region feature as this allows you to see currently eligible hotels that you can include on your upcoming trip.
However, please do not use the search bar at the top of this page as doing so will also display hotels that are not eligible for Hilton Aspire Resort Points.
Related: 11 Best Hilton All-Inclusive Resorts
How I use Hilton Aspire Resort points
My husband and I each have one Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Cardwhich means we have two sets of Hilton Aspire resort points available each year from January to June and from July to December.
So we find two Hilton resorts each year – one from January to June and one from July to December – and split the bill between our cards at checkout.
In 2024, we used points from January to June at the Hilton Alexandria Marina Egypt. Our five-night stay was only $433, so we paid for all but $33 with points. Meanwhile, we used our July-December points to pay for incidentals at the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, where we used two free night vouchers and 150,000 Hilton points to book a room.
In 2025, we used points from January to June at the Cartagena Hilton. Our three-night stay was $536, so we paid for all but $136 with Hilton Aspire Resort points. We then used our points from July to December at the DoubleTree by Hilton Fallsview Resort & Spa in Niagara Falls. Our three-night stay plus parking was $457, so we paid for all but $57 with points.
I haven’t decided yet where we will use Hilton Aspire resort points in 2026. However, I would love to return to the Dead Sea resort in Jordan, Fiji or Surfers Paradise in Australia. Some properties in Thailand also looked very appealing, especially since I haven’t been to Hua Hin or Pattaya yet.
Related: The 21 Best Hilton Hotels in the World
Multiple points can be used on one Hilton stay
TPG contributor Matt Moffitt writes that you can stay at a Hilton hotel in Portugal for just $35 a night by stacking two American Express cards.
In his case, he stacked his Hilton Resort Points with up to $300 in bill points earned every six months (for a total of up to $600 annually) by booking through American Express Travel® prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection (minimum two-night stay required) as the following offer: American Express Platinum Card®
However, you can also use other points on a single stay.
For example, American Express Business Platinum Card® When I use my American Express Business Platinum Card to make purchases directly at hotels in the Hilton portfolio, I can earn up to $200 in statement points each calendar year (up to $50 per quarter; Hilton Business plan enrollment required).
Likewise, it’s worth checking to see if any Chase offers or American Express offers apply to your stay. Then, before you get to the check-in counter, consider how you want to distribute your payment to best take advantage of all your points and offers. I have never had an issue asking the front desk to spread the cost of a stay over several cards.
RELATED: How to Maximize Statement Points on a Hilton Co-branded Credit Card
bottom line
this Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is one of the best value hotel credit cards on the market. Maximize directly with the card’s free Hilton Diamond membership and 14 points per dollar earned on eligible purchases directly at a Hilton-owned hotel or resort.
Maximizing Hilton Aspirations Resort Points and annual free night certificates requires more planning. However, even if you don’t fully maximize these benefits, you may find that the card offers enough value to justify its annual fee.
if you haven’t Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Cardknow that it currently has a welcome offer where new card members can earn 175,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership.
To learn more, read our full review of the Hilton Aspire.
Apply here: Hilton Asbai Hotel
For Hilton Honors Aspire Card rates and fees, click here.
