These hotels are a steal with Hilton points

  • Meghan Hunter

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    There are plenty of Hilton hotels around the world and some can make for luxurious, high-value award stays. You can earn Hilton points to book these properties through a variety of methods, but among the easiest ways to earn are through Hilton credit cards.

    Here are the current welcome bonuses of each Amex Hilton card:

    The information for the Hilton Aspire card and Hilton Surpass has been collected independently by Million Mile Secrets. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

    All of these are excellent offers. For example, the bonus on the Hilton Aspire card is more than enough for a free night (or multiple nights, depending on where you’re staying) at fantastic Hilton hotels around the world. Plus, it’s easy to earn even more Hilton points because Hilton is an Amex Membership Rewards transfer partner with a 1:2 transfer ratio.

    But some Hilton awards are better deals than others, so here are our top five Hilton hotels to book with points.

    You could use the Hilton points you earn with any of the increased offers to stay for free in Tokyo during cherry blossom season. (Photo courtesy of YP_Studio/Shutterstock)

    Top Hilton hotels to book with points

    Hilton has 10 award levels ranging in price from 5,000 to 95,000 Hilton points per night, but Hilton prices award nights dynamically. The number of points you’ll need varies based on price, demand and time of year. So it’s smart to look at the number of points you need instead of worrying about award levels.

    With that in mind, it’s not always a good deal to redeem your Hilton points if the cash price is cheap. But sometimes, when the cash price is high and the points price is low, you can get a steal of a deal.

    Here are five hotels where you can save big with Hilton points.

    See Related: Don’t forget about the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts perk.

    1.  Conrad Tokyo

    Tokyo is one of the world’s most vibrant cities and during holidays or peak times, hotel prices can run extremely high. I found a room at the Conrad Tokyo in late March 2021 at the height of cherry blossom season for ~$844. But you could use 95,000 Hilton points for the same room.

    The value of Hilton points can vary by a lot, but in this case, you’d get nearly 1 cent of value from each point. That’s a great deal.

    Team members have used Hilton points to stay in Tokyo and we think it’s an amazing way to keep cash in your pocket.

    2.  DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Queenstown

    How about five days on the South Island of New Zealand during spring? Doesn’t that sound nice? Check out the Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa.

    I found five award nights in November 2020, for 240,000 Hilton points with their fifth-night-free perk. If you have elite status with Hilton, you get every fifth night of your award booking for no additional points. Essentially, you’re getting a 20% discount right off the top.

    This hotel would cost ~$1,433 if you paid cash for a five-night stay. But you could use that to explore the gorgeous natural wonders of New Zealand instead.

    The stunning view over the Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa. (Photo courtesy of Shir’s Travel Photography/Shutterstock)

    3.  Hilton Dubrovnik

    Dubrovnik has seen a surge in tourism in the past few years, and during peak summer months, a night at the Hilton Dubrovnik can easily cost $600+. But you can book the same room with 70,000 Hilton points.

    Cash rates at many hotels are cheap during the off-peak season. But if you want to visit in summer, using points is a great way to cut down on your out-of-pocket costs when prices surge with demand.

    4.  DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Agra

    Do you dream of visiting the world-famous Taj Mahal in India? If so, your best bet is to stay at a hotel in nearby Agra. It’s possible to find five open award nights at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Agra for 40,000 Hilton points using Hilton’s fifth night free perk. That’s a fantastic use of Hilton points.

    You can see the Taj Mahal without breaking the bank. (Photo courtesy of Roop_Dey/Shutterstock)

    Otherwise, you’d pay ~$460. So your points are worth over 1 cent each in this case, which is an excellent deal. And you get free breakfast. That’s another easy way to save money.

    5.  Hilton Barcelona

    Barcelona is a dream travel destination for lots of folks. The weather is temperate much of the year and there’s so much to do in the Catalonian capital.

    Nights at the Hilton Barcelona easily cost $400+ a night at the peak of tourist season this summer. But we found available rooms for only 50,000 Hilton points.

    You’ll stay on Avenida Diagonal, the main street that runs through most of the city. From there, it’s an easy trek to the beach, shopping, museums and tons of restaurants.

    How to Earn Hilton Points

    It’s a great time to earn Hilton points because all of the Amex Hilton cards are offering valuable welcome bonuses right now:

    As you can see, it’s easy to earn at least 100,000 Hilton points or more with all four cards. And don’t forget, Hilton is also an Amex Membership Rewards transfer partner with a 1:2 transfer ratio. So that’s an easy way to top off your account if you’re close to having enough points for an award stay. Just make sure you’re getting the best American Express card for the job.

    And finally, if you have Hilton elite status (which is offered as a benefit with every Hilton credit card), you can stretch your points even further with Hilton’s fifth night-free perk.

    Bottom Line

    Hilton has a dynamically priced award chart, so good deals are harder to find. But there are still plenty of gems.

    You can save over $450 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Agra when you visit India to see the Taj Mahal and pay only 40,000 Hilton points for your stay. Or use 95,000 Hilton points for a night at the Conrad Tokyo during the height of cherry blossom season that would otherwise cost nearly $1,000.

    Hilton is a big hotel chain with thousands of hotels all over the world. So I’m curious — is there a good deal you’ve found with Hilton points?

    For the latest tips and tricks on traveling big without spending a fortune, please subscribe to the Million Mile Secrets daily email newsletter.

    Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)
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