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Hilton Honors started 2025 off on a sour note when it hiked award rates at several luxury and mid-scale properties. When this happens, the news is a bitter pill to swallow for that program's loyalists, but it rarely happens twice in the same calendar year. Unfortunately, it appears Hilton recently raised award properties at several top-tier resorts around the world again, with no notice to members.
Let's dig into this troubling news and how it can be mitigated (somewhat) with the right credit card.
Standard Hilton Award Nights Now Cost up to 200k Points
Many award travelers likely have an aspirational property they dream about redeeming for in their preferred loyalty program. Unfortunately, for Hilton Honors members, realizing that dream may now require more points!
In May 2021, we saw the most expensive award night across the Hilton portfolio rise from 120,000 to 150,000 points per night for a standard award. This wasn't a rate you'd find at every property, but it did impact some of the brand's most notable properties, such as the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi.
And earlier this year, Hilton began pricing properties like Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, at a significantly higher rate. This specific property, for example, jumped from 120,000 to 140,000 points per standard award night.
With this most recent devaluation, we're now seeing properties cost as much as 200,000 Hilton Honors points for a standard room award, like the aforementioned Waldorf Astoria Maldives. You can see the damage for yourself below.
Other notable hotels and resorts that were impacted by the recent devaluation include:
- Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi — 200,000 points (previously 150,000)
- RiverView Ranch Retreat & Western Adventures — 200,000 points (previously 150,000)
- Calala Island — 200,000 points (previously 150,000)
- Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal — 190,000 points (previously 140,000)
- Canaves Oia Suites — 190,000 points (previously 140,000)
- South Bank, Turks and Caicos — 180,000 points (previously 130,000)
- Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island — 150,000 points (previously 130,000)
- Conrad Maldives Rangali Island — 140,000 points (previously 120,000)
- Hilton Maldives Amangiri Resort & Spa — 130,000 points (previously 110,000)
- Inn at Spanish Harbour, Antigua and Barbuda — 120,000 points (previously 105,000)
There was once a time when standard rooms at Hiltons didn't cost more than 95,000 points a night. That ship has obviously sailed, though I'd argue the quality of top-tier properties has also increased since then.
How to save on redemptions at these now-devalued properties
While tons of properties now require a lot more points, there's still a silver lining. There's still a way to save points on all of the properties listed.
Hilton free night certificates are a perk of several Hilton co-branded credit cards, offering the holder of these certificates the ability to redeem them for a completely free award night. And, Hilton waives resort fees on award stays, including nights booked with free night certificates. Cards that earn these free night certificates include:
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Earns a free night certificate each cardmember anniversary and in the first year. You'll also earn a second free night when you spend $30,000 on the card in a calendar year, and a third after spending a total of $60,000 in a calendar year.
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Earns a free night certificate after spending a total of $15,000 in a calendar year.
Related: Why I Spend $15,000 Each Year on My Hilton Surpass Card
- Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. That's up to $200 in statement credits annually.
- Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
- Earn 6X Points for each dollar of purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
- Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases.
- Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
- Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors ™ Gold Status with your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
- Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status through the end of the next calendar year.
- As a Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card Member, you can enroll to receive complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status through the link on your American Express online account. After you're enrolled, you can reserve a rental car by calling National Car Rental directly, using your travel service, or by booking online or through the National Car Rental mobile app. Terms apply.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $150 annual fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 12X bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio
- 6X bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your card at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations
- 4X bonus points on U.S online retail purchases
- 3X bonus points for all other eligible purchases on your card
Additionally, American Express may also offer a free night reward as part of an elevated offer on one of its Hilton credit cards. Thus, it's worth keeping an eye out for these offers to come around.
Related: Hotel Credit Cards With Free Nights: How to Earn and Maximize Value From Annual Certificates
Final Thoughts
It's never good news to hear of a devaluation, especially one with no notice to members. Hilton already raised prices at select hotels earlier in 2025, and now, we've seen yet another increase in standard award rates at top-tier properties.
With the ease with which Hilton credit card holders can earn Hilton points, it comes as no surprise that the program had to adjust pricing as more and more members redeem. I just hope a few more years go by before I have to write about another devaluation at Hilton Honors.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (Rates & Fees)
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