With over 6,500 locations globally and its recognizable touches of luxury and comfort, Hilton has established a strong reputation as a trustworthy brand. It is also one of the largest global hospitality businesses around.
When guests reserve their lodgings at any company’s facilities, members of its unique loyalty program Hilton Honors, are rewarded with free night stays, upgrades, and other advantages. With many alternatives available, visitors might struggle to use their points efficiently.
However, using these six tips, you can get the most out of your membership in Hilton Honors and have a genuinely gratifying experience each time you visit one of its inns or resorts.
1. Use Your Points for Merchandise and Gift Cards
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You can pay for hotel stays using Hilton Honors Points and various goods and services from affiliate businesses, including Amazon, Best Buy, Sephora, Marriott, and more. There are almost a thousand choices, including technology items, furniture, clothing, getaways, and theater tickets.
It’s an excellent chance to cater to your wants or interests while enabling you to spend loyalty club points to get something you appreciate. Choose this option if you think your membership has benefits beyond merely staying at Hilton hotels.
Additionally, it allows you to use their points for things other than housing regularly, which is not always possible with other incentive programs. It’s important to remember that spending your points to buy merchandise or gift cards frequently results in a lesser value than using them to reserve hotel rooms or other experiences.
Your other option can be to sell Hilton points to a broker and earn cash. If you find nothing interesting in using your Hilton honors points, make money by selling them. Be careful to evaluate your worth to the value you may gain from a hotel redemption before using your points for rewards other than hotels.
2. Book Your Stays Directly Through Hilton.Com
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Booking your stays directly via Hilton.com is one way to maximize your Hilton Honors membership. The highest point-earning rate in the program is available to guests who book directly via Hilton.com. This rate is five points for every dollar they spend on their stays.
This implies that guests will earn extra rewards points for each night spent at a participating hotel in the Hilton portfolio, which may be used for future stays or other benefits like upgrades to better room categories, early check-in/check-out timings, and admission to exclusive events and experiences.
Members also get unique access to savings and perks like free Wi-Fi and breakfast when making direct reservations with Hilton, which is only occasionally possible through third-party websites like Expedia or Priceline. Your reservation is guaranteed if you make it directly via Hilton, and their customer support staff can readily handle any problems or adjustments.
This can save you time and worry compared to a third-party booking service. You may benefit from Hilton’s Best Price Guarantee when you book directly with them, in addition to accruing points and getting access to exclusive bonuses.
3. Sign Up For The Hilton Honors American Express Card
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One of the most significant ways to optimize your Hilton Points is by using the Hilton Honors American ExpressCard, which offers new members a fantastic opportunity to swiftly accrue a sizable number of points with its substantial sign-up bonus offer.
You gain 10,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $4,000 in the first three months after you open the card, which may be used for free nights or other prizes at any affiliated Hilton hotel worldwide.
4. Use Your Points for Free Nights
Redeeming your Hilton points for complimentary nights at Hilton hotels is the most significant use of your points. No matter the category, you may use your points to reserve any basic accommodation at any Hilton hotel. One of the most well-liked methods for members to make the most of their membership perks is to use Hilton Honors points to redeem for complimentary stays at Hilton locations.
But you can frequently reserve even mid-range lodging for just a few thousand points each night. Members may also upgrade their accommodation type or take advantage of additional facilities like breakfast or early check-in/check-out privileges by using their points.
5. Pool Them with Family and Friends
Another way to maximize your Hilton points is to pool them with relatives or friends. You can pool your points with up to ten other Hilton guests to speed up the redemption process. Think about sharing your points with other Hilton Honors members who are close relatives or friends.
By combining your Hilton Honors Points with those of family or friends, you may book accommodation at any hotel chain’s locations worldwide. Combining your points allows you to access more luxurious accommodations and activities than if you had used each alone.
For instance, pooling your points may enable you to book a whole floor of rooms at one of Hilton’s finest hotels, like the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills or Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort, if you are in a large group.
6. Stay At High-Value Properties
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Maximize the value of your Hilton Honors points by booking stays at high-value Hilton hotels. When redeeming points for free nights or other advantages, finding hotels or resorts within the Hilton network with a greater point-per-dollar value is necessary. Studying beforehand may help you find these “higher value” locations, and you can then plan your visits to make the most of each point you spend.
Bottom Line
You must be proactive, spend your Hilton points intelligently, and benefit from alliances and bonuses to maximize your earning potential. Remember that you may cancel your reservation without paying a fee up to 24 hours before check-in, thanks to Hilton Honors’ accommodating cancellation policy.
You may book a room in advance to lock in the points rate, but you still have the choice to change your plans if required.