Hilton Honors Surpass vs Bank of America Travel Rewards: Which Is Better In 2025?

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a quick look at what makes the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card a solid choice.

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• This card is a great entry point into travel rewards since it has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
• You earn a simple, flat rate of 1.5 points per dollar on every purchase, with no confusing categories to track.
• With no annual fee to offset, you start gaining net value from your rewards from the very first swipe (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• You can book travel however you want—with no blackout dates—and redeem points as a statement credit against a wide range of travel and dining purchases.
• It’s a great starter card for travel reward beginners, and there’s even a student version available for those with thinner credit histories.
• Includes essential protections like rental car insurance and fraud liability for peace of mind on your trips.

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Cons

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• The flat rewards rate is modest and lacks bonus categories, meaning you might earn more on travel and dining with other cards.
• It lacks premium travel perks like airport lounge access, and points can't be transferred to airline or hotel partners for potentially higher value.
• To unlock the card’s highest earning potential, you need to hold significant balances with Bank of America, making its best features inaccessible for many.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards vs Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®

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Categories

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When deciding which is better, Hilton Honors Surpass or Bank of America Travel Rewards, it's crucial to understand what kind of traveler each card is built for. These cards serve very different needs, from hotel-loyalists to those seeking simplicity.

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• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is ideal for frequent or moderate travelers who regularly stay at Hilton properties and want to maximize hotel points and elite status perks.
• Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card is best suited for occasional travelers, beginners, and budget-conscious users looking for a simple, flexible card with no annual fee.

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Redemption

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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Points are redeemed through the Hilton Honors loyalty program, primarily for award nights at Hilton's vast portfolio of hotels and resorts. Cardholders can also use points for unique experiences or transfer them to partner airline programs.

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Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card: Rewards are redeemed as a statement credit against nearly any travel or dining purchase, offering ultimate flexibility. This means you can book travel however you like—without worrying about blackout dates—and then erase the purchase from your statement using points.

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Travel Perks

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• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: This card is deeply integrated into the Hilton travel ecosystem. Cardholders receive complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, which unlocks on-property benefits, and a number of complimentary airport lounge visits each year (terms apply). For international travel, the card does not charge foreign transaction fees.
• Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card: This card offers a flexible, brand-agnostic travel ecosystem. It does not include airport lounge access or automatic elite hotel status. Its primary travel perk is having no foreign transaction fees. Cardholders can book travel through any vendor or the Bank of America Travel Center and redeem points as a statement credit. Bank of America Preferred Rewards members can earn more points on every purchase.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make sure you're choosing the right card for your spending habits, a tool like Kudos can help you compare top-rated credit cards side-by-side.

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• Test drive credit cards using your real spending data to see potential earnings before you apply.
• Receive personalized card recommendations based on your actual transaction history.
• Get a detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards.
• Access exclusive offers and Kudos Boost rewards when shopping at your favorite stores.

Who Should Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®?

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The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is an excellent choice for frequent Hilton guests who want to maximize their loyalty with automatic Gold status and accelerated points earning (terms apply). It also suits moderate travelers and everyday spenders who can take advantage of the 6x points on U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. Ultimately, this card is for value-conscious travelers seeking premium hotel perks without the hefty annual fee of a top-tier card, as detailed in a comprehensive review.

Who Should Choose the Bank of America® Travel Rewards?

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The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is an excellent choice for beginners and casual travelers who want a straightforward rewards program without an annual fee. It's particularly valuable for existing Bank of America customers, as those enrolled in the Preferred Rewards program can earn a bonus of 25% to 75% on all points. Additionally, with a student version available and a simple flat-rate earning structure, this travel card is ideal for those building credit or anyone who prefers a single card for all their everyday spending.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® vs. Bank of America® Travel Rewards comparison has you concluding that neither card is the right choice, don't worry. There are several other excellent travel cards that might be a better fit for your spending habits and travel goals.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score – Most travel rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Review bonus eligibility rules – Many issuers restrict welcome offers if you have or have had the card in the past.
• Have a spending plan – Ensure you can meet the minimum spending requirement for the welcome offer through your normal purchases.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application with a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement.
• Target issuers with flexible rules, as some, like American Express, may limit welcome offers for prior cardholders.
• Leverage existing banking relationships since some cards offer enhanced rewards for current customers.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Do the Hilton Honors Surpass and Bank of America Travel Rewards cards have annual fees?

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The Hilton Honors Surpass® Card typically comes with an annual fee, whereas the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card often does not. It is always best to review the current terms and conditions for the most accurate fee information.

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How do I redeem rewards with these cards?

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With the Hilton Honors Surpass® Card, you redeem Hilton Honors Bonus Points for hotel stays and other perks within the Hilton portfolio. The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card allows you to redeem points as a statement credit to cover a wide range of travel and dining purchases.

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Are there foreign transaction fees on either card?

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Both the Hilton Honors Surpass® Card and the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card typically do not charge foreign transaction fees. This makes either card a solid choice for making purchases while traveling internationally.

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Which card is better for brand loyalists vs. flexible travelers?

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The Hilton Honors Surpass® Card is designed for travelers loyal to the Hilton brand who want to earn elite status and property-specific benefits. Conversely, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is better suited for flexible travelers who book with various airlines and hotels.

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