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[Update 6/6] Because AMEX will become the exclusive issuer of Hilton co-branded credit cards starting in January 2018, this Citi-issued card is about to be discontinued. If you have not applied for a Citi Hilton card in the past 24 months, you can still get the sign-up bonus by applying now. This may also be your last chance to apply, because Citi has already removed the application link from its official website. This card may eventually be converted to another Citi credit card, but since the sign-up bonus is deposited into your Hilton account, there’s no need to worry.

Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve Credit Card Overview:

Application Link

Key Features

  • Welcome bonus: two weekend night certificates at any property tier (after spending $2,500 in 4 months)
  • Earn Hilton points: 10x at Hilton hotels, 5x on car rentals and airfare, 3x on everything else
  • Redeeming points: Can be used at Hilton properties
  • No FTF foreign transaction fee
  • $95 annual fee (not waived the first year)

Highlights

  • Very valuable welcome bonus: The two weekend night certificates from the sign-up bonus (valid for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights) can be used at some of Hilton’s luxury properties, where you may get around $300 in value per night. However, some hotels do not participate (list of excluded properties). The HH points offered by other Hilton co-branded cards may not be enough for 2 nights at a luxury hotel.
  • Weekend night certificate for high spending: If you spend $10,000 between one annual fee posting date and the next, you get an extra weekend night certificate. That means with $10,000 in spending, you would earn at least 30,000 HH points plus one weekend night at a luxury hotel (potentially worth $300). This is one of the most valuable high-spending bonuses available.
  • Hilton Gold status: This card comes with complimentary Hilton Gold status, which includes free breakfast; spending $40,000 on this card earns Diamond status (Hilton elite status benefits)

Citi card benefits

  • Price Rewind: If an item you bought drops in price, Citi may refund the difference
  • Free FICO credit score: Provided by Equifax, with historical tracking shown in chart form. See: Comparison of free credit scores
  • Private Pass: They once offered free movie tickets, though I personally missed it
  • Generous retention offers: If you threaten to cancel the card, you may receive some promotions. See: Introduction to retention offers
  • Many product change options: After holding the card for one year, you can convert it to almost any Citi credit card. This can help you avoid the annual fee or switch to a card that fits you better but has no sign-up bonus. See: Credit card tips — product changes

Cons

  • HH points are worth relatively little, so on average this card’s 5x earning rate is roughly comparable to 2% cash back
  • The free night certificates are only valid on weekends, which limits travel flexibility; they also expire one year after being issued

Introduction to Hilton Membership and Points

Hilton currently has about 5,000 hotels and resorts worldwide across 13 hotel and resort brands.

  • Membership: Gold and Diamond members receive free breakfast and may also get room upgrades
  • Points: Hilton points are worth about 0.5 cents/point (a $100 hotel stay typically costs about 20,000 Hilton points); award nights range from 5,000 to 95,000 points per night depending on the hotel price and category. There is also a benefit where redeeming points for 4 consecutive nights gives you the 5th night free; family point pooling was expected to launch soon (family members can combine points for redemption)
  • How to use the program: Award stays can also qualify for certain stay promotions, so points can be earned back quickly; promotions are frequent, making points easy to earn; Hilton points can be especially valuable in Asia; status match can be used to get Hilton elite status quickly
  • More details: Complete Guide to Hilton Hotels 1, Complete Guide to Hilton Hotels 2

My Review:

The other three Hilton co-branded cards — AMEX Hilton, AMEX Hilton Surpass, and Citi Hilton — offer HH points as their sign-up bonus, while only this Hilton Reserve card offers weekend night certificates. The advantage of HH points is flexibility: they do not expire and are not restricted to weekend use. The downside is that HH points are not worth much, so they may not be enough for two nights at a luxury property. The advantage of weekend night certificates is that they can be used at virtually any hotel worldwide, and the more upscale the property, the better the value. The downside is that they can only be used on weekends and expire after one year.

So if you already have travel plans within the next year and want to redeem for the best Hilton property at your destination, then the Hilton Reserve card is the better choice. If you have not finalized your travel plans yet, or if you prefer redeeming for mid-range or lower-end hotels, then a card with an HH points sign-up bonus may suit you better. As for ongoing rewards, this card is similar to the AMEX Hilton Surpass, which has an annual fee that is $20 lower. If you spend more on car rentals and airfare, this card is better; if you spend more on dining, gas, and groceries, then the 7x earning on the annual-fee AMEX Hilton Surpass or the 5x earning on the no-annual-fee AMEX Hilton may be better options.

In other respects, the biggest highlights of this card are Hilton Gold status (free breakfast) and the high-spending bonus (weekend night certificate). If we value a hotel night at $300, then the effective return looks like this:

  • 1.5% (3x HH) + 3% (spend $10,000 to get one hotel night worth about $300) = 4.5%

If you can spend $10,000 and also have Hilton-related travel plans, this card can be worth keeping long term. After all, Hilton Gold’s free breakfast benefit can effectively offset the annual fee.

Application

  • Application difficulty: Citi can be a bit hard for beginners, so it’s recommended that you have at least one year of credit history before applying
  • Application status: Check online (Application ID required); phone: 1-888-201-4523
  • Things to note: Citi has the 8/65 rule and the 24-month sign-up bonus rule. See Citi bank rules and characteristics for details; if you do not receive an instant decision after applying, you can try Reconsideration

Application Link:

  • Citi Hilton Reserve credit card (2 weekend night certificates after spending $2,500 in 4 months; one $100 Hilton statement credit after one Hilton purchase within 6 months)