[ 2023 ] Credit Card: Hilton, Marriott, others?

[Reisenbeis]

I just purchased my first HGVC deed and I want to get a rewards credit card for hotel stays. I already use the southwest card a ton and have a companion pass so I’m set for airlines. Should I get the Amex Hilton aspire and double down on Hilton or would it be better to get the Marriott Bonvoy card to diversify and give me different options or another card that I haven’t considered? I don’t travel for work so I won’t have a ton of hotel purchases for bonus points. My spending will consist mainly of everyday purchases both for personal and business.
What do you all have in your wallet? Let me know your experiences.
Thanks

 

[HuskerATL]

We use the Aspire. When you pay your annual MFs, you will get the 14x HH points and the $250 resort credit for most of the properties. All of ours work but I have heard of a few that don't. I think it is based on how it is listed on the bill. Also, you get a free night each year at a Hilton and Diamond status so you can tag team your HGV fees with HH stays. That is basically all we use for our Aspire card but you do also get priority club for lounges. We use the Hilton Platinum Amex for all other travel expenses...

 

[brp]

We use Hyatt as our primary hotel and card. Their top status is the best of the bunch. Card spend and night stays count for status. So this is our primary.

We also have Hilton and Marriott high-cost cards for perks, and they're OK. But Hyatt is definitely superior, albeit with a more limited footprint.

Internationally, Hilton is pretty good. Just not domestic.

Cheers.

 

[drucifer]

My mix is similar to Husker ATL...as follows:

Amex Business Platinum: All business except American Airlines or Hilton Hotels - gets Centurian airport club access plus reimbursement for Clear/TSA Pre/Global Entry
Barclay's Aviator Mastercard: All Personal and business airline travel on American Airlines—other airlines on Amex Business Platinum.
Amex Hilton Aspire: All personal and business Hilton Hotel and HGVC, occasional personal use - gets Diamond at Hilton and Priority Pass airport club access
Costco Citi Visa: Costco only
Target, Amazon, Home Depot, Lowe's, etc. - at those locations to get 5% or 10% off/back.

 

[ljmiii]

My general rule of thumb is to use hotel cards for paying MFs and hotel stays, airline cards for perks and airline spend, a Chase Sapphire Reserve (or Preferred) for other travel and restaurants, and some other card that gives you at least 2% cash back for everything else.

I currently have the Hilton Surpass because MFs + hotel + Gas and Groceries have always gotten me the Free night and by 'topping off' at the end of each year I get Diamond. That said, even though Aspire doesn't do Gas and Groceries I'm thinking of getting one because (at least for now) United Travelbank counts as airline spend and I wouldn't have to 'top off' to hit Diamond.

 

[GT75]

You can look at this thread which has a lot of information

Hilton AmEx cards

I do not really need another CC but, I like to maximize the value of my dollars spent on hotel's and timeshares. As such I am contemplating taking out one of AmEx's Hilton branded cards. I'm assuming that paying our MF's will qualify as a Hilton purchase on the card, just like paying our...

tugbbs.com

 

[easyrider]

Hilton Amex for a while longer. Marriott Bonvoy Amex took it's place. We use an AMEX for car rental insurance and hotel only and we don't need both. The perk was hotel stays and Marriott gives a a free night every year on the card anniversary and Hilton doesn't.

Bill

 

[brp]

We use an AMEX for car rental insurance and hotel only and we don't need both.

Consider the Chase Sapphire (Reserve or Preferred) for car rental insurance. While the insurance is Secondary with the Amex, it's Primary with the Sapphire.

Cheers.

 

[brp]

My general rule of thumb is to use hotel cards for paying MFs and hotel stays, airline cards for perks and airline spend, a Chase Sapphire Reserve (or Preferred) for other travel and restaurants, and some other card that gives you at least 2% cash back for everything else.

This as well.

Hyatt for Hyatt stays; Marriott and Hilton similarly.
AA card for AA purchases; AS for AS.

I'm currently using my Chase Hyatt card until I get $15K for a free night. Then back to the Sapphire Reserve (Hyatt is a transfer partner).

Same for mrs. brp, but her Go To is the Hyatt card as she maintains our Globalist status.

Cheers.

 

[claraj]

I'm currently using my Chase Hyatt card until I get $15K for a free night. Then back to the Sapphire Reserve (Hyatt is a transfer partner)

How do you track this? Do you add up your cc statements for the calendar year? Can you call and ask? I think I could be close.

 

[brp]

How do you track this? Do you add up your cc statements for the calendar year? Can you call and ask? I think I could be close.

Yes. You can do either, and I do both (I actually use Quicken, so I look at totals by transaction date). But calling will give the answer. You should be earning 2 nights for each $5K of spend. So, that will give you a coarse estimate. If you've earned 6 night credits, you've spent at least $15K.

Cheers.

 

[HuskerATL]

Yes. You can do either, and I do both (I actually use Quicken, so I look at totals by transaction date). But calling will give the answer. You should be earning 2 nights for each $5K of spend. So, that will give you a coarse estimate. If you've earned 6 night credits, you've spent at least $15K.

Cheers.

The Aspire card shows the spending toward the free night. Surprised that Chase doesn't do that also.

 

[frank808]

Consider the Chase Sapphire (Reserve or Preferred) for car rental insurance. While the insurance is Secondary with the Amex, it's Primary with the Sapphire.

Cheers.

Amex can be primary but you have to enroll into it I believe it is $18 for the entire rental period.

Most Chase cards have primary rental coverage.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

 

[frank808]

I have Aspire for Hilton MF payments and taxes in Hawaii to receive 14X points.

The Amex Brilliant and Chase Ritz Carlton cards for Marriott MF and taxes in Hawaii to get 6X points.

Costco Visa for gas, restaurants, Costco and Costco travel spend.

Chase United Club card for airfare purchases, United club access and car rentals.

Elan for 5% on utilities, internet and cell phone.

Penfed for 2X on everything else.

Also have cards like Freedom unlimited for those special 5% back in certain categories per quarter.

I don't mind figuring which card to use but wife hates it. Luckily the Hilton and Marriott are mostly used for MF payments. Now we have to use the Brilliants every month to get the $25 restaurant credit.

 

[ljmiii]

How do you track this? Do you add up your cc statements for the calendar year? Can you call and ask? I think I could be close.

I don't have the Chase Hyatt, but my other Chase cards allow me to select a date range (or just YTD) on the website to see the transactions totals. This is particularly useful when chasing a promotion for which you have to register (e.g. Marriott's recent 10K points for 7K spend promotion) and therefore need to track spending after a particular date.

 

[brp]

The Aspire card shows the spending toward the free night. Surprised that Chase doesn't do that also.

I don't have the Chase Hyatt, but my other Chase cards allow me to select a date range (or just YTD) on the website to see the transactions totals. This is particularly useful when chasing a promotion for which you have to register (e.g. Marriott's recent 10K points for 7K spend promotion) and therefore need to track spending after a particular date.

This card may show it as well. Since I can do it in Quicken much more easily, I've never checked, but it may well be there. I was calling about something else at one point and asked about it, so I know calling works. Website may as well.

Cheers.

 

[HuskerATL]

This card may show it as well. Since I can do it in Quicken much more easily, I've never checked, but it may well be there. I was calling about something else at one point and asked about it, so I know calling works. Website may as well.

Cheers.

So you get one free night as part of your annual fee with Aspire card but then you have to spend $60k for the other one and that is the one they track online. $60k is a lot to spend for a free night but if it is for expenses that you will make anyway, then fine...

 

[brp]

So you get one free night as part of your annual fee with Aspire card but then you have to spend $60k for the other one and that is the one they track online. $60k is a lot to spend for a free night but if it is for expenses that you will make anyway, then fine...

In my case, I was talking about Chase Hyatt. One free night for annual fee, and another at $15K. The fee is only $99, as opposed to $500ish. However, the Aspire free nights (annual and likely the $60K night) can be used anywhere while the Hyatt Free Nights are category-limited.

But I get two free Hyatt nights on my card. mrs. brp gets two free nights on hers. Then she gets a free night at 30 night stays and another, higher-category, at 60 nights, along with top-tier status. So we can get 6 free nights annually with pretty much no effort.

Cheers.

 

[HuskerATL]

In my case, I was talking about Chase Hyatt. One free night for annual fee, and another at $15K. The fee is only $99, as opposed to $500ish. However, the Aspire free nights (annual and likely the $60K night) can be used anywhere while the Hyatt Free Nights are category-limited.

But I get two free Hyatt nights on my card. mrs. brp gets two free nights on hers. Then she gets a free night at 30 night stays and another, higher-category, at 60 nights, along with top-tier status. So we can get 6 free nights annually with pretty much no effort.

Cheers.

That is about what I get with our IHG. You get one free night with the annual fee which is low...we keep it for the free night and Priority Club stays such as Intercon and Crowne Plaza overseas...some Holiday Inn Express..

 

[GMan82]

I use the delta reserve for my Airline benefits out of Atlanta, and while I have the Hilton surpass, I’ve stopped using it. There’s too much wheeling and dealing at high end Hilton hotels that I really don’t see at the Hyatt hotels. Take Conrads and Waldorf Astoria. Most I’ve been at limit upgrades to the next class of room, even for diamond elites. Even at the hotel del Coronado, they said they didn’t have to offer me an upgrade, but that for diamond members they offer discounted upgrades to much higher tier rooms. Contrast that with most hyatts, including high end Park Hyatt hotels: I can get a free suite upgrade as a globalist. Destination/Resort fees are permanently waived at this tier. Parking is free if on a free night. Breakfast is free: includes a hot entree, hot drink, and cold drink. No cost cutting with $15 per person food/Bev credit, which was LAUGHABLE at the Hotel del Coronado. At the Conrad midtown Manhattan, a yogurt alone costs $10. Again. Laughable. So, I use HGVC but am vehemently against the use of the Hilton hotel system these days and only utilize them for special reasons: hotels like del Coronado and if no Hyatt option is available.

I feel I get a lot more out of the Hyatt system with the Hyatt card and globalist status than Hilton ever offered. I still have 1.3m honors points and struggle to use them. My chase sapphire card is otherwise my main points card since skymiles are also nothing more than Skypesos.

 

[brp]

So, I use HGVC but am vehemently against the use of the Hilton hotel system these days and only utilize them for special reasons: hotels like del Coronado and if no Hyatt option is available.

I feel I get a lot more out of the Hyatt system with the Hyatt card and globalist status than Hilton ever offered. I still have 1.3m honors points and struggle to use them. My chase sapphire card is otherwise my main points card since skymiles are also nothing more than Skypesos.

Exactly. Hyatt still treats top-tier people well. of course, it has to be earned and can't be "bought" with a credit card like our Diamond status. But, once having it, they don't scrimp and cut like Hilton.

Cheers.

 

[dsmrp]

In my case, I was talking about Chase Hyatt. One free night for annual fee, and another at $15K. The fee is only $99, as opposed to $500ish. However, the Aspire free nights (annual and likely the $60K night) can be used anywhere while the Hyatt Free Nights are category-limited.

But I get two free Hyatt nights on my card. mrs. brp gets two free nights on hers. Then she gets a free night at 30 night stays and another, higher-category, at 60 nights, along with top-tier status. So we can get 6 free nights annually with pretty much no effort.

Cheers.

I just got the Chase Hyatt card in July. The bonus is so-so, and I will make my $3Kspend for it. What tipped me over on the Hyatt card was getting 4X for MFs, and only 8000-9000 pts for most domestic Hyatt Places/Houses, which we use for urban areas before/after a timeshare stay. We have Bonvoy CCs too.

 

[claraj]

I feel like I get more upgraded rooms as a Hyatt elite vs. a Marriott elite (have yet to be upgraded yet!)

 

[HuskerATL]

For Hilton and Diamond HH, I often get upgraded at international hotels and access to the executive lounge, if they have one. Domestically, rarely.

 

[GT75]

For Hilton and Diamond HH, I often get upgraded at international hotels and access to the executive lounge, if they have one. Domestically, rarely.

Same for me.