Regardless of where you’re traveling, hotel bookings always make for a large expense on any trip.

One of the often overlooked benefits of hotels’ co-branded credit cards are the free night certificates that many come with. In exchange for an often nominal annual fee, you're able to redeem these for a significantly subsidized (read: not truly free!) redemption if you're able strategize these well.

With many hotel programs extending the expiration dates on these free night certificates, many of us find ourselves with a number of certificates and looming expiration dates.

With its Giza pyramids, Sahara Desert and the Nile River, Egypt is known for many things and therefore is a popular travel destination. I must admit that this African country had been on my bucket list for an embarrassingly long amount of time, and I’m happy to share that I finally checked it off the list.

Egypt opened borders in July to travelers who can provide a negative PCR test for COVID-19. A visa is also required for U.S. citizens.

I must admit, I’ve been to many countries throughout the world, but I’ve only been to Florida once in my life. So between the latest COVID-related travel restrictions that include testing before you can fly back to the U.S., and my need to escape the cold grey Midwest winter, I’ve decided that now is a good time to explore South Florida’s Gulf Coast. I was attracted by the wide, white sand beaches, mild February temperatures and opportunity to book some  very attractive properties with points.

We all love credit cards that earn transferable currencies such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the American Express® Gold Card.

But what about the co-branded airline or hotel credit cards - do they come with valuable incentives to keep the card in your wallet? Do the benefits justify their annual fees?

Hotels’ co-branded credit cards often come with good perks, such as elite status, extra points earning opportunities and free night certificates. And sometimes you can spend your way to a free night.

American Express recently made some changes to their lineup of Hilton cards. These changes aren’t massive, but they are an improvement over the previous offers available. 

Not all Hilton cards got an update - the high annual fee Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was left untouched, while the other mid-tier cards had some compelling changes to them.

Let’s take a look at what changes were made, and decide if these cards are worth being on your radar.

Overview of Card Offers

You’ll notice a common theme among all of these cards: an elevated bonus.

Since the start of the pandemic, American Express has been quite proactive in adding non-travel benefits to its impressive lineup of credit cards. We’ve seen streaming services, shipping and dining credits, and more in 2020.

But for customers who still aren’t traveling much and aren’t taking advantage of all the travel-related benefits offered by the cards in their portfolio in 2021, Amex wants to make sure you still have a reason to use their products for your everyday spending.

With a new year comes new opportunities. There will always be the opportunity to earn new points, but today we want to share some new (and some soon to be gone) updates to the Marriott Bonvoy program.

Most of these changes relate to your ability to earn status. Marriott status can be worthwhile if you find yourself staying in Marriott properties often.

If you’re like me, Marriott elite status doesn’t start to be worth it until you’ve earned Platinum Elite. That’s when you’ll get free breakfast and are eligible for suite upgrades.

Hilton Honors used to offer a plethora of co-branded credit cards in partnership with both American Express and Citi. Eventually, the options dwindled when American Express became the one and only Hilton card issuer.

Still, American Express offers a card for every type of traveler from a casual to a habitual Hilton guest. Let’s take a look at the cards’ similarities, differences and which card might be right for you.

American Express Hilton Honors Credit Cards’ Perks and Benefits

A hotel card wouldn’t be a hotel card without offering a number of perks and benefits.

It's been a while since we've heard from Mike Hammari, the man who is walking across the United States using travel rewards to minimize accommodation costs and therefore nights slept outdoors. He's vlogging his experience on YouTube and blogging about it here on MileValue.

A Quick Catch Up

These recounts of his journey are being written in retrospect. Mike took a break in the middle of his walk to return to work, travel some (not on foot), and is now back on the steaming, late summer road of central Texas. Last I heard, his shoes had recently melted.