Editorial take: Bank of America Travel Rewards
The no-fee version of Premium Rewards. Only shines with BoA's Preferred Rewards boost, otherwise the Capital One VentureOne or Wells Fargo Autograph beat it.
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Side-by-side
Bank of America Travel Rewards vs Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Bank of America Travel Rewards comes from Bank of America at $0/yr; the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire from American Express at $550/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($625 more in estimated value) than the Bank of America Travel Rewards's. Get the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire first; revisit the Bank of America Travel Rewards after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Bank of America Travel Rewards | Hilton Honors American Express Aspire |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $550 |
| Sign-up bonus | 25,000 points | 175,000 points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $250 | $875 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $1,000 in 3 mo | $6,000 in 6 mo |
| Issuer | Bank of America | American Express |
| Card category | travel | hotel |
| Best earning category (All_purchases) | 1.5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Bank of America Travel Rewards
$0/yr · 25,000 points
Read the full review
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
$550/yr · 175,000 points
Editorial take: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
Pretty much a no-brainer if you stay at Hilton hotels. The $550 annual fee pays for itself with just the free night reward alone, which can be used at any standard room property, even $1,000+ per night hotels.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Bank of America Travel Rewards or Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
- The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire has the bigger bonus, 175,000 points, worth roughly $875, versus 25,000 points (~$250) on the Bank of America Travel Rewards.
- Is the Bank of America Travel Rewards's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
- The Bank of America Travel Rewards has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire's $550 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire's benefits to clear $550 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Bank of America Travel Rewards.
- Can I have both the Bank of America Travel Rewards and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Bank of America and American Express) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the Bank of America Travel Rewards or the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Bank of America Travel Rewards: $1,000 spend in 3 months. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire: $6,000 in 6 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.