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Hilton, founded in 1919 by Conrad Hilton, is one of the most recognizable names in hospitality, with more than 9,000 properties across more than 140 countries and 25 brands. It’s no surprise that Hilton Honors is one of the largest hotel loyalty programs.
That scale comes with plenty of upside. Hilton Honors points are easy to earn and simple to redeem for free nights. And the elite program offers solid value at every tier. Diamond status includes perks like lounge access and the ability to gift status, while Gold stands out for its food and beverage credits, and it's one of the easiest statuses to earn.
In this guide, we’ll cover how to earn Hilton Honors points, the best ways to redeem them, how elite status works, and what to know about points pooling.
How To Join Hilton Honors
Hilton Honors is completely free to join, so there's no downside. But before you register for a Hilton account, check to see if there's a new member bonus. Otherwise, register online through the Hilton website or mobile app.
On the registration form, you'll need to provide your name, phone number, email, address, and create a password.
You'll receive a Hilton Honors membership number immediately after joining. You can then view your account status, upcoming reservations, and book travel using cash or points while logged in.
If you've already made a Hilton reservation and would like to connect it to your new Hilton Honors account, you can:
- Ask the front desk to add the number at check in
- Chat with a live agent on the website
- Call customer service at 1-800-4HONORS
Add your Hilton Honors account to AwardWallet
Now is also the perfect time to add Hilton Honors to your AwardWallet account. Once you do, AwardWallet will track your Hilton reservations, points balance and expiration, elite status, and any credits or promos associated with your account.
If your Hilton points or elite status expires soon, we'll send you a series of reminders by email. You also can use AwardWallet to log in to your Hilton account with one click — no credentials required.
AwardWallet Plus members also see their Hilton Honors earning and redemption history, plus their progress toward the next tier of elite status.
Track Hilton Honors accounts for family and friends
In addition, you can track accounts for friends and family with AwardWallet. To add a second account or a different loyalty program, log in to AwardWallet through a web browser or the AwardWallet app (iOS, Android). Then, you can click the “Add Award Program to Track” button and type in the name of the program.
Hilton Honors Brands
Hilton has a massive global presence. Its unique brands include limited-service properties like Hampton by Hilton and Spark by Hilton to the distinctive luxury of the Waldorf Astoria.
Hilton Hotels & Resorts is the flagship brand, with 600-plus properties worldwide. At the luxury end, Conrad Hotels & Resorts — named for Conrad Hilton — spans roughly 50 locations.
Other Hilton brands include Curio Collection (196 boutique properties worldwide), Hilton Garden Inn, and Homewood Suites, an extended-stay brand. Newer additions include LXR, Tempo by Hilton, and Motto by Hilton, alongside partnerships with Small Luxury Hotels of the World and AutoCamp for glamping, plus the launch of LivSmart Studios for longer stays.
| HOTEL CATEGORY | BRAND |
|---|---|
| Luxury | Waldorf Astoria Conrad LXR NoMad by Hilton Signia by Hilton |
| Boutique/Independent Collections | Curio Collection Tapestry Collection Canopy by Hilton Graduate by Hilton Outset by Hilton |
| Standard Upscale Full-Service | Hilton Hotels & Resorts DoubleTree by Hilton Embassy Suites |
| Lifestyle with Limited or Focused Service | Tempo by Hilton Motto by Hilton Tru by Hilton |
| Focused-Service or Limited-Service | Hilton Garden Inn Hampton by Hilton Spark by Hilton |
| Extended Stay | Homewood Suites Home2 Suites LivSmart Studios |
| Timeshare | Hilton Grand Vacations |
| Partnerships | Autocamp Small Luxury Hotels |
Best Ways To Earn Hilton Honors Points
Among the many things we love about Hilton Honors, the ease of earning its points is hard to beat. Honors members receive higher-than-average earning rates on hotel stays, coupled with frequent bonus promotions. Cardholders also earn excellent multipliers when using co-branded credit cards. Plus, you can leverage lots of travel and dining partner programs.
There is no shortage of ways to earn Hilton points!
Earn points on Hilton stays
The most straightforward way to earn Hilton Honors points is from hotel stays. Just make sure that your Honors number is attached to the reservation. Members earn 10 base points per dollar spent on hotel stays and most incidental charges, such as parking, food, and beverages. However, at Tru, Spark, Homewood Suites, and Home2 Suites, you'll only earn 5 points per dollar spent. At LivSmart Studios, you'll earn just 3 points per dollar spent.
If you hold Hilton elite status — which comes complimentary with all Hilton co-branded credit cards — you'll enjoy the following bonuses:
- Silver: 20% bonus (total of 12 points per dollar spent)
- Gold: 80% bonus (total of 18 points per dollar spent)
- Diamond: 100% bonus (total of 20 points per dollar spent)
- Diamond Reserve: 120% bonus (total of 22 points per dollar spent)
Select properties offer additional points at check-in if selected as a Hilton “My Way” benefit — a perk exclusive to Gold, Diamond, and Diamond Reserve members. Promotions can provide even more points from hotel stays.
Coupled with a Hilton credit card, I've earned up as many as 54 points per dollar on my hotel stays in the past. Check out the current Hilton promotions to see what's available for your upcoming trips.
Earning Hilton points: An example
Here's an example of points earned from one of my previous stays at the Hilton El Conquistador in Tucson, Arizona. The nightly rate was $213 before taxes. I also spent $53.13 on lunch and some grab-and-go items. The final bill, including taxes, came to $330.43, which I put on my Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. Here's how many points I earned:
- 10 base points per dollar as a Hilton Honors member, spending $266.13 (room plus food) — 2,660 points
- 10 bonus points per dollar as a Diamond elite member (100% bonus) — 2,660 points
- Qualifying stay under the Multiply Your Points promotion — 2,660 points
- 14X points per dollar by using my Hilton Aspire — 4,626 points
- Diamond MyWay Bonus: 1,000 points
The stay earned 13,606 points — worth about $79 based on AwardWallet user redemption data of 0.61¢. That’s 41 points per dollar spent, or nearly a 24% return on a one-night stay.
Hilton Honors credit cards
Multiple cards earn Hilton Honors points. Check out our full guide to choosing the best Hilton Honors card, but here's a quick recap of the cards and the bonuses offered:
(Terms apply)
- Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Card after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- No Annual Fee.
- Earn 7X 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 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card: at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, at U.S. gas stations.
- Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
- Points don't expire while your Hilton Honors American Express Card is active and in good standing.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- Whenever you travel more than 100 miles from home, Global Assist® Hotline is available for 24/7 emergency assistance and coordination services, including medical and legal referrals, emergency cash wires, and missing luggage assistance. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Other terms and conditions apply.
- 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.
- Earn 7X Points per dollar on eligible purchases charged directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Honors portfolio of brands
- Earn 5X Points per dollar on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations
- Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
The no-annual-fee Hilton Amex is perfect if you only stay with Hilton occasionally and don't want to pay an annual fee (Rates & Fees). You'll earn some extra points and will have access to Hilton's fifth night free benefit. Beyond that, the card's value is fairly limited. Read our Hilton Amex review for more details.
(Terms Apply)
- Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold status with your Card. Plus, spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year.
- 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 a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- 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.
- 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.
- Whenever you travel more than 100 miles from home, Global Assist® Hotline is available for 24/7 emergency assistance and coordination services, including medical and legal referrals, emergency cash wires, and missing luggage assistance. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Other terms and conditions apply.
- Points don't expire while your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is active and in good standing.
- $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.
- 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
The Hilton Surpass is an excellent midtier card with a great mix of benefits for the $150 annual fee (Rates & Fees). Cardmembers receive complimentary Hilton Gold status; see our Hilton Surpass review for more information, as well as our post breaking down how to maximize the Surpass Card. If you have even a handful of Hilton stays per year, this card will likely be worth it.
(Terms apply)
- Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Enjoy an Annual Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors in your first year of Card Membership and every year upon Card renewal.
- Card Members can earn 14X Points on purchases made directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
- Card Members can earn 7X Points on purchases of Flights booked directly with airlines or flights booked through American Express Travel, Car rentals purchased directly from select car rental companies, and purchases at U.S. Restaurants.
- Card Members can earn 3X Points on all other eligible purchases.
- $400 Hilton Resort Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts on your Hilton Honors Aspire Card. That's up to $400 back annually.
- $200 Flight Credit: Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter, for a total of up to $200 back each year, on flight purchases made directly with airlines or via AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ using your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: You can receive up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you sign up and pay for a CLEAR+ Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your eligible Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
- Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you can earn an additional Free Night Reward from Hilton after you spend an additional $30,000 (for a total of $60,000) in purchases on your Card in the same calendar year.
- $100 Property Credit: Receive up to a $100 credit for qualifying charges at Waldorf Astoria® Hotels & Resorts and Conrad® Hotels & Resorts properties when you book a 2 night minimum stay with your Card at HiltonHonorsAspireCard.com and select the Aspire Card Benefit rate option on the booking page, or call Hilton Honors at 855-292-5757 with the proper booking reference.
- Hilton Honors Aspire Card Members can enjoy complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status, including perks like Executive Area Access (for full-size reservations and above) in the USA and Canada. Card Members must enroll in the National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status through their American Express online account using their Card. Terms apply.
- Whenever you travel more than 100 miles from home, Global Assist® Hotline is available for 24/7 emergency assistance and coordination services, including medical and legal referrals, emergency cash wires, and missing luggage assistance. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Other terms and conditions apply.
- Points don't expire while your Hilton Honors American Express Card is active and in good standing.
- $550 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.
- 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
- 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly through select rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants
- 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card
Hilton Aspire cardmembers receive exceptional value if they stay with Hilton on a regular basis. It used to be the only card to offer top-tier elite status as a benefit, but with the recent introduction of Diamond Reserve status, that is no longer the case. However it still offers excellent perks, such as an annual Hilton free night reward that can be used at almost any Hilton property worldwide and a semiannual $200 resort credit. Check out our Hilton Aspire review for all the details. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
(Terms apply)
- Welcome Offer: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business Card within the first six months of Card Membership.
- Get up to $60 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on your Hilton Honors American Express Business Card.
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold Status with your Hilton Honors Business Card. With Hilton Honors™ Gold Status, you can enjoy benefits at hotels and resorts within the Hilton Portfolio. As a Gold member, earn an 80% Bonus on all Base Points you earn on every stay.
- Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible purchases made directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
- Earn 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases made using the Hilton Honors Business Card on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, 3X Points thereafter.
- You may receive an upgrade to Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status through the end of the next calendar year if the total eligible purchases that you spend on your Card Account during a calendar year reach $40,000 or more.
- Terms apply.
- 12X Hilton Honors points on eligible purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
- 5X Hilton Honors points on the first $100,000 spent per calendar year on other eligible purchases; 3X thereafter
The Hilton Business Card rounds out the lineup for small business owners who want to accumulate points from company spending. It offers Hilton Gold elite status and quarterly Hilton credits among other perks. See our Hilton Business Card review for more information.
Transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Hilton Honors
You can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Hilton Honors at a 1:2 ratio. Points transfer in increments of 1,000 Membership Rewards points. Cards like the American Express® Gold Card earn Membership Rewards points and offer great earning rates on supermarket purchases.
While the transfer ratio can look appealing, moving Membership Rewards points to Hilton usually isn’t a great value. In fact, you can get better value using your Membership Rewards points in other ways. However, the occasional transfer bonus of up to 50% can make this a better value when offered.
Transfer Bilt Rewards points to Hilton Honors
Bilt Rewards transfer to Hilton Honors at a 1:1 ratio — compared to 1:2 with American Express Membership Rewards — making them a poor value in most cases. Consider this option only if you need to top off your account for an award booking.
Host meetings and events with Hilton
If you're a meeting or event planner — or just putting together a one-time event at a Hilton property — make sure you don't miss out on earning points for this spending (especially if it's not you footing the bill).
Planners earn 1 Hilton point per dollar spent on meetings and events, up to $100,000 per event. You'll need to add Event Planner Points to your contract with Hilton. However, not all properties participate.
Hilton for Business
A new addition in 2024 is the Hilton for Business program. You'll receive perks like discounted rates, a first-stay bonus of 7,500 points, and 5,000 points for every 10 nights stayed on the business rate in a calendar year. Currently, you can even use Hilton for Business to fast track to Diamond status.
Hilton Honors promotions
Hilton Honors promotions can be an excellent way to earn real value from the Hilton Honors program. In fact, that's how I've earned up to 54 points per dollar on my eligible spend at Hilton properties, possible when the right promotion goes live.
Buying Hilton points
Hilton sells points at a standard rate of $10 per 1,000 points — 1¢ per point. Given that the AwardWallet users tend to redeem Hilton points at 0.61¢ apiece, this is a poor deal. You're buying points at nearly double what they're worth most for most stays.
Hilton occasionally offers promotions to buy points with a bonus. While purchases are typically capped at 80,000 points per year, that limit is often increased during promos. With a 100% bonus, points cost $5 per 1,000 (0.5¢ each), which can be a solid deal in the right scenario.
Buying points can make sense to top off your account for an award — especially when using the fifth night free benefit — or when you find a redemption that far exceeds average value. For example, I have a stay at the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa booked at about 1.3 cents per point with the fifth night free perk.
Based on AwardWallet tracking, Hilton points take roughly 14 hours to hit your account after purchase.
Pooling Hilton points
Members can pool Hilton Honors points with up to 10 other people into a single account — a unique option among hotel loyalty programs. Note, this is different than many of the transfer options that other hotel programs offer. One member has to initiate the “pool,” and other members can choose to contribute points to it. This is essentially a transfer of points to one member's account, as no separate pooled account is created, but multiple people can participate.
Members can transfer up to 500,000 points per year through points pooling, while any one member can receive up to 2 million points annually. Pooling is free, and you can join multiple pools at once.
Anecdotally, some AwardWallet editors have had numerous technical issues trying to pool and transfer points. It worked flawlessly the first time I initiated a points pool, but I have not tried to transfer points in quite some time.
Related: Which Rewards Programs Allow You To Combine Points and Miles for Free?
Dining program
Dining programs can be a great way to rack up extra points and miles. If you join Hilton Honors Dining and opt into marketing emails, you'll earn 5 Hilton points per dollar spent dining out at participating restaurants. You can search by ZIP code at Hilton Honors Dining. Make sure you check to see if a participating restaurant is offering rewards on a given day. And check whether Hilton is on our list of hotel dining rewards programs with a new member bonus before you sign up.
Hilton travel partners
Hilton points can also be earned through a variety of partners, including:
- Alamo
- Enterprise
- National
- Lyft
- Airline and train program transfers (Virgin Atlantic, Amtrak)
- Vacation packages and cruises
Best Ways To Redeem Hilton Honors Points
Hilton free nights start at just 5,000 points, which sounds amazing on paper. However, the truth is that most redemptions require far more points. Like many hotel chains, Hilton prices award nights dynamically. When the cash rate is higher, award rates are typically higher. When they drop, the award prices also tend to drop. That being said, properties still tend to have a cap on the award rate, at least for standard rooms.
The general range for standard room awards is between 5,000 and 120,000 points per night. However, an increasing number of properties are costing more than 120,000 Hilton points — like the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi and Conrad Tokyo, as two examples. Some of these luxury properties can cost anywhere from 150,000 to 250,000 points per night for a standard room.
You can find the price range for all Hilton properties through its Points Explorer tool, filterable by brand, points price, and location.
Note that the min and max values listed are based on recent bookings made. You'll occasionally find lower award rates when searching for your specific dates.
For example, the Canopy by Hilton Zagreb City Center showed a minimum of 29,000 points for 2026–2027 in the tool, but I found award nights for 25,000 and 28,000 points in February 2027. The Points Explorer calendar is a great way to spot the cheapest award nights at a property.
Hilton award pricing
The referenced list provides the standard room pricing for Hilton properties around the globe. However, Hilton allows Honors members to book other room types with points, which is a great perk for those with a healthy points balance. Typically, if a room is available at a cash rate, you can book it with points, including premium room rewards. This includes anything from rooms with a better view to suites.
Premium room rewards can vary widely and typically follow the cash rate. That means they can be either a better or worse deal than standard room awards.
Take the Hotel del Coronado near San Diego: the two prices on the left reflect standard room awards, while the two on the right show premium room rewards. Despite similar cash rates, the premium award pricing is significantly higher.
One key limitation: Free Night Reward certificates can only be used for standard room awards. If only premium room rewards are available, you won’t be able to use your certificate for that stay.
For example, when searching the Hilton Tokyo for April 2026, most dates showed only premium room rewards priced between 90,000 and 137,000 points per night. Only a handful of dates had standard rooms available at 90,000 points. At some properties, limited standard award availability can be a recurring issue.
Pay with Points & Money
Hilton lets you book stays using a mix of cash and points on a sliding scale. While flexible, it’s rarely the best value. Hilton waives resort fees for 100% award stays, so using Points & Money can mean giving up those savings at properties that charge them.
In most cases, you’re better off booking with either all cash or all points. If you’re just short, it can even make sense to buy a few thousand points to secure a full award stay and avoid resort fees.
Hilton Honors fifth night free
My favorite perk of being an elite Hilton Honors member is the fifth night free benefit on award stays. This benefit allows you to get five award nights for the price of four on stays of five or more consecutive nights at the same hotel.
Instead of making the fifth night free outright, Hilton averages the nightly award cost across your stay and deducts that amount. For example, if a five-night stay at the Hilton New York Times Square is priced at 77,000, 75,000, 82,000, 82,000, and 74,000 points per night, you’ll receive a discount of 78,000 points — the average nightly rate.
As a more recent example, I booked a five-night stay at the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa. Since the standard room reward nightly price was 95,000 points for all five nights, I saved 95,000 points, bringing the total to 380,000 points for the stay.
The fifth night free benefit works on stays of five or more nights. You'll receive one free night for every five booked for stays of up to 20 nights. If you have a longer stay, break it up into blocks no larger than 20 nights to make use of this perk.
Using Hilton Free Night Certificates
One of the benefits of the Hilton Aspire and Hilton Surpass cards is the ability to earn free night awards every year. These are redeemable at any nearly Hilton property worldwide with a small list of exclusions.
Hilton free night awards can be used any night of the week — an improvement over their previous limitation where they could only be used on weekends. These awards must be used for stays that occur prior to the expiration date listed on the certificate.
To book a free night, you need to call 1-800-446-6677 and have your certificate number ready. This is a small drawback to the awards and we hope they will add an online redemption option in the future. Remember, to be able to use a free night reward, there must be a standard room award available.
Hilton Honors award sweet spots
With so many properties, you can find plenty of Hilton hotels where award nights are an excellent value. In general, Hilton awards that approach a 1¢ per point value are a great find.
Here is a very brief list of 10 properties that stand out:
- Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi: It goes without saying that Hilton's flagship Maldives property is an excellent award deal (rooms for $2,500 or more?!). The trick is finding standard room availability, even if you're paying 250,000 points per night. Note: There's a pricey, non-avoidable boat transfer costing $800 plus tax per person to reach the resort.
- Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills: Rooms for $800-plus per night or 120,000 points? Points, please. Don't miss the free Rolls Royce rides to stops near the hotel.
- Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam: Amsterdam can be crazy expensive. Rooms easily climb over $1,000. I'd happily book this hotel for 150,000 points per night.
- Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort: Again, rooms for $800 or 130,000 points? Points make paradise free. Note that this is another property where finding award availability is especially difficult. While Maui is a dream destination for many, I've heard this property is a bit overpriced.
- Conrad Bora Bora Nui: I'll take the lagoon view for just 250,000 points, thank you. No need to spend over two grand.
- Conrad Koh Samui: With rates over $800, you'll often get over 0.7 cents per Hilton point staying here, paying 110,000 points for a standard award night.
- The Reach Key West, Curio Collection by Hilton: Rates can eclipse $600 per night, making 105,000 points rather appealing.
- Waldorf Astoria Versailles: It can be difficult to find availability in the summer, but on nights where standard room awards are 105,000 points versus $700-plus cash, I'll choose points.
- Hilton Tel Aviv: When rates creep above $700, paying 95,000 points per night is the way to go.
- Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal: Although rooms often cost well over $1,000 per night, the 250,000-points-per-night standard award cost doesn’t really register as a great deal. However, we mention this hotel since it is a great option for using free night rewards. Anecdotally, I have multiple friends who consistently use their free nights here. It's clearly a favorite.
Beyond these Hilton-brand hotels, there are also many great SLH hotels bookable using points.
Given Hilton's move to dynamic pricing, the best value is usually found at luxury properties. However, many of the best hotels tend to restrict standard room award inventory, only offering premium room awards for much higher prices (and less value). There are also great options for budget-savvy travelers in the Hilton program.
Read more: Hilton Honors Redemptions for the Budget-Savvy Traveler
How to book a Hilton award
The easiest way to book a Hilton award stay is online at Hilton.com or through the Hilton app. You don’t need to log in to search for award availability, but you’ll need to sign in before selecting a room and completing your booking.
To search for points rates, simply check the “Use Points” box in the Special Rates options. Enter your destination and dates and click the “Find a Hotel” button.
I did a sample search for London, England, where there is a large selection of Hilton properties. You can see that there are 80 Hilton hotel options in the London area. The downside is that Hilton doesn't show a total price for multinight stays. Instead, Hilton simply lists the price for the first night.
To view the room types and availability at a particular property, click the “View Rates” button. You'll see which are standard rooms rewards and those that are premium room rewards. The Waldorf Hilton, the property I selected, has a total of 16 room types, with 13 of them bookable with points (the last three were sold out). Only one is a standard room reward, available for 85,000 points for the first night.
Once you settle on a room type, you can enter the reservation details and finalize the booking.
Other ways to redeem Hilton points
Using Hilton points for free hotel stays will provide the best value for your points. However, you can also redeem Hilton points for:
Pretty much all of these uses are a poor value compared to most hotel stays. Amazon lets you cash out Hilton points at 0.2 cents each. The value for redeeming points for Lyft rides is similar. Transferring points to airlines gives you a fraction of what you had before the transfer.
The only potential here is the ability to use Honors points for experiences, and that's because you sometimes can find some unique activities at decent value.
How To Earn Hilton Honors™ Elite Status
Hilton offers a fairly strong elite program that rewards loyal members with perks like complimentary breakfast, bonus points, room upgrades, and executive lounge access. The Hilton Honors loyalty program includes four elite tiers: Silver, Gold, Diamond, and the brand new Diamond Reserve. In addition, there's a basic Member tier (achieved at sign-up), which offers some basic perks.
Hilton elite status tiers and benefits
The benefits you enjoy as a Hilton elite increase as you climb through the tiers. Here is what you can expect at each level:
| Status Tier | Requirements | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Member | Sign up for Hilton Honors | Hilton Honors discount rate Earn points toward free nights & more No resort fees on reward stays Digital check-in option and digital Key Free Wi-Fi |
| Silver | 10 nights OR four stays OR $2,500 in annual spending | All Member benefits plus... 20% bonus points on stays (12 Honors points per $1 spent) Fifth night free on reward stays Two free bottles of water per stay |
| Gold | 25 nights OR 15 stays OR $6,000 in annual spending | All Silver benefits plus... 80% bonus points on stays (18 Honors points per $1 spent) Space-available room upgrades, up to rooms on the executive level (at property discretion) Daily food and beverage credit or continental breakfast at select brands (varies by hotel) Milestone bonuses |
| Diamond | 50 nights OR 25 stays OR $11,500 in annual spending | All Gold benefits plus... 100% bonus points on stays (20 Honors points per $1 spent) Space-available room upgrades, up to standard suites (at property discretion) Executive lounge access Diamond status extension Premium Wi-Fi 48-hour room guarantee Elite status gifting |
| Diamond Reserve | 80 nights OR 40 stays, AND $18,000 in annual spending | All Diamond benefits plus... 120% bonus points on stays (22 Honors points per $1 spent) 4:00 p.m. guaranteed late checkout Confirmable upgrade reward Exclusive customer service Premium club access |
Check out the Hilton Honors terms and conditions for more details.
Rollover nights
Rollover nights are a benefit for Hilton Honors elites. Any nights accrued in excess of the status tier you qualify for are rolled over to get a jump start on the following year's qualification. For example, if you stay 67 nights in 2026, qualifying for Diamond status, you'd roll over 17 nights for 2027 elite qualification.
I've never found much use for this, as I receive Gold status automatically with my Hilton Surpass, which is good enough for me.
Hilton milestone bonuses
Hilton offers milestone bonuses once you hit a certain number of nights in a calendar year. Milestone bonuses start at 40 nights, when you’ll earn 10,000 bonus points. You’ll then earn another 10,000 points for every additional 10 nights, plus an extra 30,000 points at 60 nights — on top of the standard milestone bonus. You can continue earning bonuses every 10 nights beyond 100 nights.
At 100 nights, you can gift Diamond status to another member. At 120 nights, you can choose between an additional 30,000 points or a confirmable upgrade award.
Complimentary elite status from credit cards
All Hilton credit cards come with complimentary elite status (for as long as your account is open):
- Hilton Honors American Express Card: Silver elite
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Gold elite
- The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: Gold elite
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Diamond elite
If you hold a card, you do not need to meet any stay or qualification requirements each year. The Hilton Aspire is the only card that offers Hilton Diamond status and was the only hotel credit card that offered complimentary top-tier elite status in any hotel chain. However, with the addition of the Diamond Reserve elite level, this is no longer the case. That said, Diamond status still offers fantastic benefits.
Beyond Hilton's co-branded credit cards, cardmembers with American Express Platinum Card® or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express can enroll for complimentary Hilton Gold status.
Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
Status matching
Hilton also offers a status match program for elite members of other hotel programs. Terms vary and may be structured as either a direct match or a challenge, depending on your current status. To apply, you’ll need to provide your name, email, Hilton Honors number, proof of elite status, and evidence of at least one stay in that program within the past 12 months.
This can be a great shortcut to elite status with Hilton for the first year. Beyond that, you'll need to meet the normal status requirements to maintain your elite tier.
Related: All Hotel Elite Status Match and Fast Track Opportunities
Hilton Lifetime Diamond status
Hilton offers lifetime status, but only at the Diamond tier. To qualify, you must earn Diamond status for at least 10 years (not necessarily consecutive) and meet one of the following:
- Complete at least 1,000 paid and/or reward nights, or
- Make at least $200,000 in eligible spending with Hilton
Hilton Honors Rules and Policies
Hilton change and cancellation policies
Under normal circumstances, Hilton Advance Purchase reservations are nonrefundable. These offer the lowest rate, but you are locked into your reservation and will forfeit the entire amount should you cancel. It's for this reason that I rarely book nonrefundable rates.
In general, flexible rate Hilton stays (both cash and award) can be canceled free of charge up until 48 or 72 hours before arrival. However, change and cancellation policies are up to the individual hotel, so read the terms carefully. There have been some outliers to these change and cancellation policies, with specific properties requiring more advance notice. For example, my Hilton Moorea stay must be canceled seven days ahead of the check-in date to avoid fees.
Hilton price match guarantee
Hilton offers a Price Match Guarantee that ensures you will find the lowest publicly available rate through official Hilton booking channels. If you find a lower rate at another site, Hilton will both match the lower rate and provide an additional 25% discount off the lower rate.
However, you have to jump through some hoops. You must make your claim within 24 hours of booking through an official Hilton channel. The booking must also be for the same hotel, same room type, and have the same amenities (breakfast, view, check-in time, etc.). If there are any discrepancies, Hilton does not consider this a lower qualified price and will likely reject the Price Match.
If you think you have a Hilton Price Match Guarantee to claim, you can use the online claim form.
Hilton points expiration policy
Hilton points expire if your account doesn't have eligible activity in a 24-month period.
You have numerous ways to extend your Hilton Honors points expiration date, including Hilton co-branded credit card spending. Most earning and redemption activities will extend the expiration date. However, points pooling and Membership Rewards transfers notably will not extend the expiration date.
Final Thoughts
Hilton Honors is an excellent hotel loyalty program and one from which I have personally obtained great value. It's a go-to hotel rewards program for me, thanks to the ability to easily amass points from paid stays and promotions, a suite of excellent co-branded credit cards, and availability of properties worldwide. It's no surprise that it's one of the more popular hotel loyalty programs.
Hilton Honors FAQ
Do Hilton Honors points expire?
Hilton Honors points expire if your account doesn't have eligible activity in a 24-month period.
Can you book Hilton stays for friends and family?
Yes, you can book award nights for friends and family using your Hilton points. You'll need to call 800-446-6677 to make the reservation in their name. You can book paid stays for others, but their Hilton Honors number will need to be attached to earn the points.
How many Hilton points do you need for a free night?
It depends. Free nights are dynamically priced. Prices start at just 5,000 points at a handful of the lowest-tier properties. Most high-end properties will have award prices around 100,000 points per night. Standard nights at a handful of ultra-luxury properties can cost up to 250,000 points per night. Premium rooms can cost even more.
Do you still receive elite benefits when booking through a third party?
No, you will not receive elite benefits when booking Hilton stays through a third-party site. This applies to sites like Hotels.com and Booking.com.
How do I find my Hilton Honors membership number?
Your Hilton number will be emailed to you when you join Hilton Honors. You can find your Hilton membership number in AwardWallet, if you've chosen to track your account, or pull up your card in the Hilton app.
Page Contents
- How To Join Hilton Honors
- Hilton Honors Brands
- Best Ways To Earn Hilton Honors Points
- Earn points on Hilton stays
- Earning Hilton points: An example
- Hilton Honors credit cards
- Transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Hilton Honors
- Transfer Bilt Rewards points to Hilton Honors
- Host meetings and events with Hilton
- Hilton for Business
- Hilton Honors promotions
- Buying Hilton points
- Pooling Hilton points
- Dining program
- Hilton travel partners
- Best Ways To Redeem Hilton Honors Points
- How To Earn Hilton Honors™ Elite Status
- Hilton Honors Rules and Policies
- Final Thoughts
- Hilton Honors FAQ
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Hilton Honors American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (Rates & Fees), Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card (Rates & Fees), and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (Rates & Fees)
