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Javier1704

Portolan

Another peg point: We'll be staying at the Hilton Virginia Beach which charges one night as a deposit (still cancellable without penalty). That amount was for just under $250. The reservation deposit posted 4/3 and the credit posted 4/5, so virtually immediate gratification.

I initially though this would be a fairly useless AMEX benefit since our normal vacations don't tend to be resort-based, however I then realized that the three listed properties in the VA-MD-PA area (all within a couple of hours driving) offer the opportunity for a free local trip to visit the area(s).

frudd38

bump to this question

Finkface

I stayed at the HGI on Kauai for a couple of nights last week while we were having some measy renos done on our place on Oahu. Despite charging a resort fee and being in Hawaii, this isn’t considered a resort for the purpose of the resort fee credit? Quite disappointing as the credit was one of the reasons I chose it. I did check the list beforehand so not entirely surprised and as I said, this wasn’t the sole reason I chose it, but I was still hoping I’d get the credit. To me charging a resort fee should = resort fee credit eligible.

B3nder

Agreed completely, and I do look at the mandatory resort fee as just part of the room rate along with the taxes. It's just that, in general, the "use points vs use cash" scale tends to have an extra tip towards "points" if the property has a resort fee -- because the resort fee and taxes are not used in the dynamic points cost algorithm the points should have a higher value at the resort fee properties and be the more favorable. So if I'd usually choose to pay points rather than cash due to the cash price inflated by resort fees (making the point value "better" at the property), I'm instead paying the relatively higher / less favorable "cash" rate if I use the Aspire credit there. Not sure if that makes more sense what I'm trying to express.

IMO, this makes it most "efficient" to use the Aspire resort credit at properties you'd already be going to that also have poor point values (meaning you'd normally pick to use cash over using points). As you pointed out, places where I'd normally pick to pay with cash rather than points could still be places with resort fees, it is just a little less likely.

Of course, as the qualifying list is limited.... Compromises must be made for people only traveling a moderate amount .
I'm probably going to have a challenge finding places to use the credits as-is, and will hope to find something that qualifies that's not a detour from where I already am planning to be at and it won't matter if it's not the best value to pay cash there. I got lucky the first year by using the credit at a non-qualifying property that they approved manually, I didn't pre-plan that and won't be doing that route again..

NWplatinum

JJeffrey

This Aspire benefit is, to use the official Amex terms, a "$250 Hilton Resort Statement Credit." It is not a Hilton resort fee credit, and whether or not a hotel charges a resort fee is irrelevant and has no bearing on whether the property is or isn't eligible for this credit. Only properties listed at the Hilton resorts link are eligible; there are tons of properties in the Hilton portfolio that may seem "resort-ish", but if they're not listed at the Hilton resorts link then you won't get the credit.

mathwizard314

I realized the other day that I haven't yet used the $250 resort fee credit on my Amex Aspire, and my annual fee is coming up in about a week. Last night, I bought an Advanced Purchase rate (with dinner included) at the Hilton Dead Sea Resort in Jordan (it's listed on the Hilton.com/resorts page). I noticed today that they haven't yet charged my card for the advanced purchase rate. Do you all know when advanced purchase rates are charged? I just want to make sure it is charged before my Aspire renewal date in a week. Could I call the hotel directly and ask them to send the charge through? Thanks so much for the help!

JJeffrey

Absolutely, call the hotel directly and ask them to process the charge immediately.

BrlDsguise

699 posts ago this credit seemed like a simple concept to grasp.

Adam1222

Unfortunately people don't like reading.

Blueskyheaven

Upgraded to this card recently and I got a letter saying " On or after May 13,2019, my AF will be charged , prorated AF, based on time remaining until your next Account anniversary date".

I don't know what that means. Anyone know will it be $450 or less or what amount?

Regarding the $250 resort credit, what's the best time, I mean date or month to book a room at hilton resort hotel paid with this card? I get only 1 credit?

Adam1222

Can't speak to the upgrade issue but about the $250 credit, I don't understand your question.
You get $250 to spend at Hilton resorts over the year. You do not have to do it all at once. There is no good date or month. There are over two hundred properties; some are more expensive in summers, some in winter, some on Tuesdays in months ending in R.

B3nder

Yes less than $450 unless your upgrade coincided exactly with your cardmember anniversary date. For example if you upgraded from an ascend card and July (3 months from now) was the anniversary date it would play out something like this:
you'd receive a credit of 3/12*95 = $23.75. You'd be charged a prorated AF of 3/12*450 = $112.5. Then every future July you would be charged the $450.

Where it gets complicated --
Airline credit: is calendar year based, so it doesn't matter when you upgraded, it is every year (2019, 2020, etc), on Jan 1 you get a new $250 airline credit allocation.
$250 resort credit: Is based on anniversary date of when you opened your original card, will reset each 12 months (You'll have $250 credit available immediately, and then you will have your next year's $250 available in July in this example).
weekend night: you'll first get one in a few weeks. Then, you'll get another a few weeks after your original account open date every year (July, starting with this July in example).

For the credits' timing you would have to read the terms on your upgrade offer, but I think that's what they were as of a few months ago, I don't see the references to the upgrade treatment in the new card terms.

Edit: Edited to correct incorrect $250 resort reset date.