How to Get a $1,000 Hotel Room for $75

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The 100,000-point sign-up bonus on Hilton Honors™ Surpass® Card from American Express is the highest it’s ever been!

And the limited-time offer also includes a free weekend night certificate after the first anniversary date of card approval!  Combined with the 100,000 points, this sign-up bonus can get you $1,500+ worth of travel!

The weekend night certificate is a terrific perk because you can use it at just about any Hilton hotel, even their most expensive locations which cost $1,000+ per night!  Keep in mind, there’s a short list of excluded hotels.  This extra perk is ideal for folks planning a trip to celebrate a special occasion like an anniversary or honeymoon.

I’ll share some fantastic Hilton hotels where you can get amazing value using your free weekend night certificate!

Limited-Time AMEX Hilton Honors Surpass 100,000-Point Sign-Up Bonus

Link:   American Express Hilton Honors Surpass

Link:   My Review of the 100,000-Point AMEX Hilton Honors Surpass Offer

Until May 31, 2017, you can earn 100,000 Hilton points with the AMEX Hilton Honors Surpass after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of opening your account.

The limited-time offer also includes a free weekend night certificate after the first anniversary date of card approval!  The certificate is good at just about any Hilton hotel, with a few exceptions.

Note:   You’ll get an email from Hilton with the free night certificate within 6 to 8 weeks after your first cardmember anniversary.  Existing cardholders are NOT eligible for this perk.

With this card, you also get:

• Free Hilton Gold Elite status (free breakfast at certain hotels, upgrades when available)
• Free Hilton Diamond Elite status when you spend more than $40,000 in a calendar year (better upgrades)
• 12 points for every $1 you spend at Hilton hotels
• 6 points per $1 you spend at US restaurants, supermarkets & gas stations
• 3 points per $1 you spend on everything else

The card has a $75 annual fee, which is NOT waived the first year.  But the 100,000 Hilton point sign-up bonus easily offsets the fee in the first year.  And the free weekend night certificate makes paying the annual fee in the 2nd year worth it because you can save money booking an otherwise expensive hotel stay!

Of course, you also have the option to cancel the card without any hassle if you don’t want to pay the annual fee.

Note:   AMEX only allows folks to earn the sign-up bonus for each card once per lifetime.  So if you’ve applied for this card before, you’re NOT eligible to earn the current sign-up bonus.

Use the Free Weekend Certificate for a $1,000 Room Night

Link:   Hilton Hotels

You must redeem the free weekend night certificate for a stay within 12 months of being issued.  If you don’t use it, you lose it.

There are lots of terrific Hilton hotels where you can book a night with the certificate.  But keep in mind some hotels are excluded, like certain all-inclusive or Hilton Grand Vacations locations.

The certificate covers most taxes & fees for the room night.  The only exception is if the hotel charges a resort fee, which you’ll have to pay.

And you can combine the free night certificate with an award or paid stay to extend your vacation.

If you’re celebrating a special occasion, you can book an unforgettable stay at a luxurious and expensive Hilton hotel.

For example, you can stay at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui, which regularly costs $1,000+ per night.

This fabulous hotel was renovated in 2016 and folks on TripAdvisor says it’s an extraordinary place to stay.

I believe it, because Emily and I stayed here several years before it was renovated and rebranded.  At the time, we though the views were fantastic and the overwater villas were very neat!

The hotel has a spa with panoramic views of the lagoon.  And there’s a kids club and babysitting service for folks traveling with children.

Or Book a Free Night at These 7 Fantastic Hotels

The best hotel to redeem you free weekend night certificate depends on your travel plans.  But here are my 7 picks for great value because rooms night at these hotels can cost $700+ per night!

Remember, Hilton no longer publishes an award chart.  So I included the award night cost based on a sample travel date.

1.   London Hilton on Park Lane

Folks traveling to Europe can redeem the free weekend night certificate at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

The hotel is walking distance to Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park.  Emily and her mom stayed close to this hotel on their recent trip to London.

An award night at this hotel costs 80,000 Hilton points.  So you can combine points from the 100,000-point AMEX Hilton Honors Surpass sign-up bonus and the free weekend certificate to stay for 2 nights.

A paid night at the hotel costs $300 to $700+ depending on your travel dates.  So using the certificate gets you great savings, especially on a peak travel date.

2.   Hilton Bentley Miami South Beach

If you’re looking for a beach getaway, you can stay at the Hilton Bentley Miami South Beach.  Using a free weekend night certificate can save you $700+ during peak travel times.

Besides the savings, you’ll have a lovely stay right along the beach.  And you’re close to popular clubs like STORY Nightclub, which folks on TripAdvisor say is fun for dancing and celebrity sightings.

You can also rent jet skis or go on a boat ride at the nearby Miami Beach Marina.

A sample travel date in June 2017 requires 80,000 Hilton points for an award night.  So the certificate is a great way to save points.  Or you can combine with your points to book multiple nights.

3.   Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills

The Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills is scheduled to open in June 2017.  The hotel is an excellent location within walking distance of shops and restaurants on world famous Rodeo Drive.

Or you can head to nearby Hollywood to see popular tourist attractions.

Room nights at this hotel cost ~$580 to ~$750.  And the hotel doesn’t have prices yet for award nights.  But I suspect they will cost at least 80,000 Hilton points per night.

4.   The Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort

When Emily and I visited Maui, we really enjoyed our stay at The Grand Wailea.

The hotel is beautiful with lots of pools, restaurants, and an excellent spa.

While in Maui, consider making the early morning journey to Haleakala to witness a beautiful sunrise.

A paid night at the hotel costs $430 to $950.  Or you could use 95,000 Hilton points.  So you can get a lot of value at this hotel using the free weekend night certificate.

5.   Waldorf Astoria Park City

If you’re planning a ski trip, you can do well using the free weekend night certificate for a stay at the Waldorf Astoria Park City.

Folks on TripAdvisor rate this hotel highly because of the clean and spacious rooms.  And it’s so close to the mountain!

Team member Keith loves visiting Park City because it’s less than a 30 minute drive from Salt Lake City airport, which is a Southwest destination!  So he and his wife use their Companion Pass to fly there for just the cost of 1 ticket!

You’ll get the most savings using the free weekend night certificate at this hotel during winter months when rooms cost $850+ or 80,000 Hilton points.  But you can also visit in the summer and save $300.

6.   Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

The Maldives is a bucket list destination for many folks because of the picturesque white sand beaches and crystal clear blue water.

To save lots of a money on a stay, you can redeem your free night certificate at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island.  Emily and I stayed at the hotel when we visited the Maldives and loved it!

With the savings from the hotel stay, you can splurge on a meal at the Ithaa Undersea Restaurant!

Rooms at this hotel regularly cost $700+ or 95,000 Hilton points.  So using the free weekend night certificate for part of your stay in the Maldives can be a great way to extend your vacation and save money!

7.   Waldorf Astoria Chicago

The Waldorf Astoria Chicago ranks in the top 10 Chicago hotels on TripAdvisor.

If you’re celebrating a special occasion in the Windy City, you can use your free night certificate to stay in a wonderful location.  The hotel is walking distance to the popular shopping attractions on Michigan Avenue and amazing restaurants!

Or for rest and relaxation you can treat yourself at the hotel spa.

A paid night at this hotel costs ~$300 to ~$800 depending on your travel dates.  And an award night costs 95,000 Hilton points.  If you’re planning a weekend trip, you could use the certificate for a free night at this hotel and use points or pay cash for a stay at a nearby cheaper hotel.

Bottom Line

Until May 31, 2017, you can earn 100,000 Hilton points with the AMEX Hilton Honors Surpass after meeting minimum spending requirements.

The limited-time offer also includes a free weekend night certificate after the first anniversary date of card approval!

The card has a $75 annual fee, which is NOT waived the first year.  But the bonus points AND free night certificate makes the card worth keeping for at least 2 years.

The free weekend night certificate can get you a night at Hilton hotels like the Conrad Bora Bora Nui, which regularly costs $1,000+ per night.  So it’s a great perk for folks celebrating a special occasion.

Which Hilton hotel would you book with the free weekend night certificate?