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Hilton’s partnership with Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) gives you access to unique, upscale stays at boutique properties around the globe, including some stunning spots in the Caribbean. Even better, you can book stays at these posh properties with Hilton points or free night certificates.
Here’s how to make the most of Hilton’s SLH partnership for a luxury Caribbean escape.
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What Are Small Luxury Hotels of the World?
Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) is a collection of around 600 independent hotels across more than 90 countries. Most of these properties are relatively small, averaging just 50 rooms, and each one is unique. And you can book several hundred of these properties through Hilton channels, too.
Through its partnership with SLH, Hilton Honors members can enjoy many of the same perks they’d receive at traditional Hilton properties. For example, you’ll earn both base and bonus points on eligible room rates at SLH hotels, just like you would at a Hilton.
Hilton elite members also get added benefits, including complimentary breakfast or a food and beverage credit, and potential room upgrades (up to a suite, when available). You can even take advantage of the fifth-night-free benefit on award stays.
Related: 9 Things to Love About the Hilton Honors Program
Best Hilton Redemptions at Caribbean SLH Properties
Of all the SLH properties you can book with Hilton points or free night certificates, some of the best value can be found in the Caribbean. Here are a few standout SLH hotels in the region where you can put your Hilton rewards to great use.
Hermitage Bay, Antigua
One of the standout SLH properties you can book with Hilton is Hermitage Bay in Antigua. This boutique resort offers gorgeous beachfront and garden-view villas, and you can often find standard room availability for around 150,000 points per night. You can also use Hilton free night certificates to book your stay.
To check availability, search for Hermitage Bay on the Hilton website or app and enter your desired travel dates. Look for standard room pricing around 150,000 points per night. If you only see higher rates, that means standard award space is not available.
If you're using points, simply select the room you'd like and click “Book Now.” For a five-night stay, you’ll only need points for four nights thanks to Hilton’s fifth-night-free benefit for elite members. If you're using free night certificates, you’ll need to call Hilton to complete your booking.
For example, I recently booked a six-night stay at Hermitage Bay for 750,000 points, using the fifth-night-free benefit. The cash rate for the room was $2,800 per night, meaning I got over 2 cents per point, which is much better than what AwardWallet users typically redeem Hilton points for.
Liming Bequia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
The Liming Bequia is a serene escape on Bequia Island, part of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It’s an intimate resort with just 11 villas, each featuring a private infinity pool. You can book award nights for 95,000 points or use a Hilton free night certificate.
Using Hilton’s fifth-night-free perk, a five-night stay in a one-bedroom villa would cost just 380,000 points. With nightly rates hovering around $1,750, that’s a 1.9 cents-per-point value.
South Bank, Turks and Caicos
South Bank in Turks and Caicos is another incredible Caribbean SLH property. Every room here features a full kitchen and private pool, providing you with plenty of space to spread out. Standard room availability starts at 130,000 points per night, and you can also use free night certificates.
Booking a five-night stay at 130,000 points per night (with the fifth-night-free benefit) totals 520,000 points. With cash rates around $2,540 per night, that’s about 2.1 cents per point.
Ways to Earn Hilton Points and Free Night Certificates
One of the best ways to get outstanding value from your SLH stay is by using Hilton points or free night certificates instead of paying cash. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to earn both.
Earning Hilton points
You can earn Hilton points by collecting a welcome bonus and through everyday spending on one of Hilton’s co-branded credit cards from American Express. There are four Hilton cards to choose from:
- Hilton Honors American Express Card
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
- The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Each of these cards earns Hilton points, and some earn especially strong rates on common spending categories.
(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.
(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
(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
You’ll also earn Hilton points on stays at Hilton properties. The number of points you earn depends on your elite status level and whether you’re paying with a Hilton credit card. If you hold the Hilton Aspire — which comes with automatic Hilton Diamond status — you’ll earn an impressive 34X points per dollar on eligible purchases.
Another creative way to stock up on Hilton points is by purchasing them during a sale. Hilton regularly sells points for 0.5 cents each, which can deliver solid value in the right situation. For example, a 150,000-point night that might normally cost thousands of dollars in cash could cost you just $750 if you buy points at the right time.
Earning Hilton free night certificates
Free night certificates are another excellent way to get outsized value, especially at high-end or boutique SLH properties. You can use them at nearly any Hilton hotel worldwide, as long as there's standard room availability.
Here’s how you can earn these certificates:
- The Hilton Aspire comes with one free night certificate every cardmember anniversary.
- Those with the Hilton Aspire can earn two more free night certificates by spending $30,000 and then an additional $30,000 in the same calendar year, for up to three total per year.
- The Hilton Surpass offers one free night certificate after you spend $15,000 in a calendar year.
(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
- 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
In addition, you may also find that Amex occasionally includes a free night certificate as part of a Hilton card's welcome offer. Thus, you might find value in waiting for one of these offers to come around, as they're especially valuable.
It's worth noting that free night certificates can’t be used in combination with the fifth-night-free benefit, which is only for points bookings. However, you can combine points and free night certificates on a longer stay. For example, this could mean using a certificate for the first or last night and points for the rest.
Related: Why I Spend $15,000 Each Year on My Hilton Surpass Card
Final Thoughts
SLH properties stand out for their uniqueness and attention to the guest experience. Thanks to the SLH partnership with Hilton, you can redeem either Hilton points or free night certificates for stays — often unlocking exceptional value.
This is especially true in the Caribbean, where nightly rates at boutique resorts frequently climb into the thousands of dollars per night. Whether you're booking a romantic retreat or a bucket-list beach escape, using Hilton rewards can make this high-end travel far more accessible. And with the right strategy — like taking advantage of the fifth-night-free perk or strategically timing your free night certificate use — you could be unlock outsized value from otherwise-somewhat-fixed-value Hilton points.
If you’re eyeing a trip to the Caribbean, be sure to check out Hilton’s SLH properties as part of your planning. They combine the charm of independent hotels with the rewards power of the Hilton Honors program — making them a smart (and luxurious) redemption option.
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), and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (Rates & Fees)
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