With more than 7,000 hotels in 123 countries across 18 brands, you're likely to find a property that suits your needs when you travel. If you combine this with a strong portfolio of credit cards and points that are easy to earn and redeem, you can make a strong case for being one of the best hotel rewards programs out there.

The overview of elite status and how to earn and redeem miles can be found in this in-depth look into the program.

Hilton Honors elite status

The four tiers of the program are offered by Hilton. Signing up for the program will get you a membership. There are three tiers of elite status for thehiltonhonors

Hilton Honors Member

Everyone who signs up for the program will be a member tier. Guests who are member-tier are given the following benefits.

  • Free standard internet in your room and the lobby during stays.
  • No resort fees on award stays.
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi.
  • Access to the Hilton Honors Member discount rate.
  • Choose your room from available rooms up to 24 hours in advance.
  • Use digital check-in and a digital key.

5 base points are earned for every dollar spent at Tru and Home2 brands and 10 base points are earned for every dollar spent at all other properties of the company. The valuation of the points is at 0.6 cents each. Signing up for the program will give you a 3% return at Tru and Home2 brands and a 4% return at other brands.

There are easy ways to earn hotel elite status.

Hilton Honors Silver

The Conrad Washington, DC. SCOTT MAYEROWITZ/THE POINTS GUY

After four stays, 10 nights or 25,000 base points, you can become a silver member of the program.

On top of the benefits available to all members, there are also perks for Silver members of the program.

  • Fifth night free on award stays booked solely with points.
  • 20% bonus on base points earned on every stay.
  • Elite rollover nights.
  • Two bottles of water per stay at select properties.
  • 15% off spa discount at Hilton's all-inclusive brands.

6 points per dollar spent at Tru and Home2 brands and 12 points per dollar spent at all otherHilton properties are earned by the 20% bonus. Silver members get a 3.6% return at Tru and Home2 brands and a 7.2% return at otherHilton brands.

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Due to the bonus earnings and fifth night free on award stays, the value of the program is $60 per year.

If you have a credit card, you can get the status of the hotel.

The American Express Card Silver status is a card benefit for the people who use it. If you spend $1,000 on the card in the first three months, you'll get 80,000 bonus points, which can be used for hotel stays, cruises, and other leisure activities.

There are 5 ways that theHiltonHonors should improve.

Hilton Honors Gold

Hilton Honors Gold members enjoy either a food and beverage credit or breakfast. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

You have to stay 20 stays, 40 nights or 75,000 base points in a year to become a gold member of the program.

The benefits of both the Silver and Gold members of the program are the same.

  • Daily food and beverage credit (U.S. hotels only) or continental breakfast (non-U.S. hotels).
  • Space-available room upgrades, all the way up to the executive level.
  • Milestone bonuses: Earn 10,000 bonus points every 10 nights after you’ve stayed 30 nights in a calendar year.
  • 80% bonus on base points earned on every stay.

9 points per dollar are earned at Tru and Home2 brands, and 18 points per dollar are earned at all other properties of the company. Gold members get a 5.4% return at Tru and Home2 brands and a 10.8% return at otherHilton brands.

Due to the bonus earnings, space- available room upgrades and breakfast benefit, the value of the gold status is $1,255 a year.

Credit cards can be used to get the gold status of the hotel.

Cardholders of the following American Express cards have their card automatically upgraded to gold if they keep their account open.

If you spend $20,000 on the American Express card in a calendar year, you can earn an upgrade to the gold level of the program.

There is a guide to elite status with Marriott andHilton.

Hilton Honors Diamond

Diamond status can sometimes get you much better upgrades, like this one at the Conrad New York Midtown. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

After 30 stays, 60 nights or 120,000 base points are accumulated, you can earn the Diamond status.

The following perks are also available to members of the Diamond program.

  • Space-available room upgrades (up to a one-bedroom suite).
  • Executive lounge access for you and up to one other guest registered in your room.
  • Premium Wi-Fi.
  • 48-hour room guarantee if you reach out at least 48 hours before your stay.
  • Elite status gifting: Typically, if you hit 40 nights in the calendar year, you can gift Gold status to any member, and if you hit 70 nights, then that gift is upgraded to Diamond.
  • 100% bonus on base points earned on every stay.

10 points per dollar at Tru and Home2 brands and 20 points per dollar at all otherHilton properties are earned by the 100% bonus. Diamond members get a 4% return at Tru and Home2 brands and a 12% return at other brands.

The bonus earnings, space- available room upgrades, milestone bonuses, food and beverage credit, and continental breakfast benefit are some of the factors that make up the value of thehiltonhonors diamond status

How to get Hilton Diamond status with a credit card

You can spend your way to Diamond status with some of the credit cards that offer complimentaryHiltonHonors Gold status as a benefit. If you spend $40,000 on your card in a year, you'll get an upgrade to Diamond status on the American Express cards.

As long as you keep the card account open, you can get complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status. If you spend $4,000 on the card within the first three months, you will receive a welcome bonus of 150,000HiltonHonors points. Many perks may justify the $450 annual fee for the card.

The information for the card has been collected by a third party. The card issuer did not review or provide the card details on this page.

There are three reasons why a new elite tier should be added.

Status match to Gold and challenge to Diamond

A challenge to keep Gold or upgrade to Diamond status is often offered by the company.

HILTONHONORS.COM

If you request a status match, you'll be able to see how members travel for the next 90 days. You can keep Gold status if you stay seven nights during your 90-day trial. You will be upgraded to Diamond if you stay 12 nights during your 90-day trial.

Since the terms and conditions state that only members who have not previously completed a status match challenge are eligible, you need to time your match carefully. Reward stays are not counted towards the qualification.

The hotel elite status match is related.

Which bookings are eligible for Hilton elite benefits?

When you don't book directly with a hotel brand, you won't get elite benefits and earnings. The following channels will be eligible for on-property benefits if you book through them.

  • Any official Hilton hotel brand or Hilton Honors website.
  • Hilton Reservations and Customer Care phone line.
  • Hilton Honors or Hilton mobile application.
  • Directly at a hotel in the Hilton Portfolio.
  • Through an IATA-accredited retail travel agent that books through a Hilton channel or one of the following Global Distribution Systems: Amadeus, Apollo/Galileo, Worldspan and Sabre.

You won't get on-property benefits in certain circumstances, according to the terms and conditions.

  • Reservations booked through a non-Hilton direct booking channel, a non-designated GDS, a third-party website or any other channel.
  • Rates available on “opaque” websites where you don’t know the hotel brand and specific hotel until after booking.
  • Third-party hotel packages or travel packages not booked through one of the eligible channels.
  • Any ineligible stay, including but not limited to wholesale/tour operator packages, contracted crew rates and travel agency discount rates, as defined in the Hilton Honors terms and conditions.

You will want to book through an eligible channel if you want to get elite earnings and benefits.

I'm spending 4 millionHiltonHonors points.

How to earn Hilton points

La Quinta Resort & Club, Curio Collection by Hilton. BENJI STAWSKI/THE POINTS GUY

There are many ways to earn points in the program. Many travelers earn most of their points when they stay at a hotel or use a credit card.

There are a number of ways to earn points.

Hotel stays

You will only earn 5 base points per dollar spent at Home2 Suites and Tru by Hilton, but you will earn at least 10 base points for every dollar you spend. You can earn base points if you stay in up to four rooms per stay.

Bonus points will be earned based on your status tier with HHonors. Silver members get a 20% bonus; Gold members get 80% andDiamond members get 100% bonus points.

Bonus points can be earned on hotel stays, thanks to the promotions offered by the company. In the first four months of the year, registered members will receive double points on all stays. During the promotional period, you'll earn bonus points for staying at each of the 18 brands.

If there is a trip coming up, you need to register even if you don't have an upcoming hotel stay.

It's possible to get elite status benefits on more than one hotel room.

Credit card spending

If you want to earn a lot of points, you'll probably want to use your credit card. It is relatively easy to earn Hilton points using a credit card.

The American Express card is honored by the hotel.

The American Express Aspire Card is one of my favorites. Even though the card has a $450 annual fee, it comes with a lot of benefits that can justify it even if you stay with the hotel a few times each year.

If you spend $4,000 on the card within the first three months, you'll get a bonus of 150,000 bonus points. The welcome bonus points are worth almost $1,000. The card has a number of bonus categories.

  • Earn 14 points per dollar at hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio (8.4% return based on TPG’s valuations).
  • Earn 7 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel, on car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies and at U.S. restaurants (4.2% return).
  • Earn 3 points per dollar on other eligible purchases (1.8% return).

You can get up to $250 in statement credits each year for using your card at participating hotels. You will get one free night certificate with your new card and every year after renewal, as well as the ability to earn another free night certificate after spending $60,000 on purchases on your card in a year.

The fee for the perks is worth it.

The American Express surpass card was honored by the hotel.

If you are looking for a credit card with a lower annual fee, the American Express surpass card is a good choice.

If you spend $2,000 on the card in the first three months, you'll get 130,000 bonus points. The bonus points are valued at $780.

You will earn the following when using the hotel surpass.

  • Earn 12 points per dollar at hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio (7.2% return based on TPG’s valuations).
  • Earn 6 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and U.S. restaurants (3.6% return).
  • Earn 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases (1.8% return).

After spending $40,000 in a calendar year, a person can earn a complimentary gold status and the ability to earn a diamond status through the end of the following year. You will get 10 Priority Pass lounge visits each year if you enroll. You can get a free night certificate if you spend $15,000 on your card in a year.

Which card is best for you?

The American Express business card was honored by the hotel chain.

WYATT SMITH/THE POINTS GUY

If you are looking for a business credit card that has the same benefits as thehilton surpass, you should consider the american express business card The card has an annual fee. You can earn 130,000 bonus points if you spend $3,000 in the first three months of cardmembership.

The bonus categories for the business card are listed below.

  • Earn 12 points per dollar at participating hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio (7.2% return based on TPG’s valuations).
  • Earn 6 points per dollar at U.S. gas stations and U.S. restaurants and on U.S. shipping purchases, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies (3.6% return).
  • Earn 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases (1.8% return).

You can get up to 10 complimentary Priority Pass lounge visits a year if you are a business card member. Up to two free night rewards can be earned if you meet certain spending thresholds.

There is a review of a business card.

The American Express card was honored by the hotel chain.

If you are looking for a no-annual-fee credit card, theHiltonHonors Card from American Express is a good choice. If you spend $1,000 on the card in the first three months, you'll get 80,000 bonus points. The bonus is worth as much as $480.

The ability to earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold status through the end of the year is available to cardholders of the Hilton Amex. The following bonuses are offered by the Hilton Amex.

  • Earn 7 points per dollar at hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio (4.2% return based on TPG’s valuations).
  • Earn 5 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations (3% return).
  • Earn 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases (1.8% return).

Credit cards for hotels.

Transferable points

Transferring American Express Membership rewards points to the Hilton Honors will give you the most points. Transfer bonuses are sometimes offered by the program.

The Amex points are valued at 2 cents per point and theHiltonHonors points are 0.7 cents per point. Transferring during a bonus period is not a good idea.

Transferrable points should be earned.

Partners

You can earn Hilton points on Lyft rides. RGSTUDIO/GETTY IMAGES

Through partners, you can earn and redeem points. You can convert Hawaiian Airlines miles and Virgin Atlantic points into points with the help of the guest rewards program.

You can earn points by using the service. You can earn 3 points for every dollar you spend on shared rides and 2 points for every dollar you spend on economy rides if you link yourHiltonHonors account with yourLyft account. If you earn points on your base fare, bridge tolls, fuel surcharges and tips won't count towards your points. You can earn points for every dollar you spend on the app.

You can earn up to 5,000 points for every completed rental you book through the hotel. The 5000 points are worth $30.

You can earn between 2 and 8 points per dollar at participating restaurants if you create an account and link a credit or debit card to the program. These points can be earned from your credit card or the restaurant's loyalty program.

For certain benefits, you must enroll.

11 of the most generous airline and hotel dining reward programs.

Buy Hilton points

You can buy up to 160,000 points at 1 cent each for a year. You may be able to purchase a larger amount of points for as low as half a cent during some promotions.

It makes sense to buy points and miles at certain times of the year.

How to redeem Hilton points

Conrad Punta de Mita. KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY

Hotel points can be redeemed for free nights at participating properties. It's true when it comes to redeeming points from the hotel chain. Here you can find an overview of all of your redemption options.

Award nights

Award charts are not published by Hilton. Points Explorer can be used to find properties based on location and number of points you are willing to spend per night.

HILTON.COM

You can use location and points amount to find results. There is a sample search for properties in Florida that cost 25,000 points or less per night.

HILTON.COM

The current redemption rates may be different from those shown in the Points Explorer. The points explorer uses historical data. Before you get excited about a property, you should check the current points cost using the standard booking engine.

When you redeem your points for a free night, the value you can get from your points will vary from one hotel to another. Let's take the Conrad New York Midtown On a random day, the rate is $657 plus $102 of taxes, or 95,000 points.

The value of 1 cent per point is more than enough for a night in New York City. You would still be getting more than the valuation of the company.

HILTON.COM

You might get a worse value for your points on some redemptions. There is a room at the hotel for $178 on a given day. A redemption value of just 0.47 cents per point is what the hotel chain wants for that room. That is not worth the hard earned points.

HILTON.COM

You can redeem your points for better accommodations. Some rooms are more expensive than others when it comes to pay with points.

HILTON.COM

It can be good for people who need a larger room or want an upgraded view.

There are 8 ways to maximize the redemptions of the hotel rewards program.

Points & Money rewards

Points and money can be used to stretch your points and redeem for a free night award. Cash and points can be used instead of points for a free night. You can change the ratio using a sliding tool.

HILTON.COM

I would be able to save $129.21 by paying 30,000 points, which is worth 0.43 cents each.

There are many ways to use a free night reward.

Travel rewards

You can transfer your points to many people. You need to transfer at least 10,000 miles at the same time.

You will usually only get a small amount on these redemptions. All of these travel rewards options are not recommended by me.

There is a way to earn and redeem points.

Hilton Honors Experiences

MIRKO VITALI/EYEEM/GETTY IMAGES

If you're looking for a non- hotel award with substantial value, you can redeem points for various experiences through the program. There was a couples massage and four-course dinner for 20,000 Hilton points. Some experiences can be purchased using points, while other experiences can be auctioned.

HILTON.COM

There are a lot of different options and experiences to choose from. It is important to check the website frequently to see what experiences appear.

Here is how to use your credit card to get access to the events.

Donate

Points can be donated to charity through PointWorthy. The charity of your choice will receive $10 for every 3,500 points you donate. The value of points donated is 0.29 cents per point, which is below the valuation of 0.6 cents per point.

There are 6 best credit cards to maximize your donations.

How to book Hilton Honors award nights

It's simple to book award nights through the website. To find your destination, dates and number of guests, type it in from the home page. Click on special rates and check use points to find a hotel.

HILTON.COM

The award rates for your stay will show up in the search results once you click on the link.

HILTON.COM

You can compare rates for different room types. You can make a quick decision on whether the points are worth it.

HILTON.COM

The flexible date search can be used to see a month at a time. When you enter the dates for your hotel stay, you will see a calendar view of how much a stay of your choice would cost per night for each check-in date.

HILTON.COM

I want to get a redemption rate of at least 0.6 cents per point. This is in line with the valuation of the hotel by the private equity firm. If you are willing to book awards with a value of less than 0.6 cents each, you should aim for an award that is no more than the maximum listed on the Points Explorer page.

European Hilton hotels for under 40,000 points per night are my favorites.

Maximizing Hilton Honors

There are some strategies you can use to get the most value out of your stay.

Promotions

You can earn extra points by taking advantage of the promotions offered by the hotel. We keep you up to date with the latest on the promotions of the hotel.

There are 6 reasons to get a hotel rewards card.

5th night free on awards

KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY

You can get a fifth night free on award stays if you are a Silver, Gold, or DiamondHiltonHonors member. Standard room reward stays of five or more nights are free with this benefit.

The free nights will be subtracted from the average number of points needed each night if the price is different. There is no limit on how many times you can use this benefit each year.

I didn't get a free hotel night.

Price match guarantee

The price match guarantee is offered by Hilton.

If you find a lower price for the same accommodations and terms before making a reservation or within 24 hours of making your reservation through an officialHilton booking channel, the hotel will honor the lower price and take an additional 25% off the room rate for each night of your stay.

To qualify for the price match guarantee, you need to book the lowest rate available through the official booking channel. Since it auto-populates much of the required information, it is easy to use.

A phone call saved me hundreds of dollars in a hotel room.

Stretch your points at low-category Hilton hotels

You can redeem your points at high end properties. You can get a lot of value from your points at low- category hotels. The 5,000- and 10,000-point-per-night properties in Turkey and Indonesia are impressive. Some properties in the U.S. cost less than 10,000 points a night.

There is a high-low travel strategy that mixes luxury and budget travel.

Frequently asked questions

How much are Hilton points worth?

How you redeem your points will affect the value of the points. The value of the points is 0.6 cents per point. The value you can get when you redeem these points is one of the factors that determines the valuation of the company.

The reader success story is about the saving of $1,000 by buyingHilton points.

How many points do I need for a free night at Hilton?

The number of points needed for a free night depends on the hotel, time of year and room rate. A standard room at a select property can cost as much as 150,000 points. Premium rooms are more likely to be booked for more points than standard rooms.

You can use the Points Explorer tool to plan a better redemption.

How do I get lifetime Diamond status with Hilton?

If you meet both of the requirements, you can get lifetimeHiltonHonors Diamond status.

  • Earn Hilton Diamond status for 10 (nonconsecutive) years.
  • Complete a total of 1,000 paid and reward nights or earn 2 million base points.

You have to be a Diamond for a year before it counts as a full year.

Is it worthwhile to pursue lifetime elite status?

Which Hilton brands are best?

Home2 Suites properties are designed for extended stays and are one of the 18 brands in theHilton group. The brand you choose depends on your preferences. Many travelers think that the best brands are the Curio Collection and the Conrad brand.

Your ultimate guide to hotels.

Do Hilton Honors points expire?

If you don't have any eligible account activity for 25 months, you'll lose your points.

Keeping your points and miles from expiring is related.

Bottom line

It's relatively easy to earn and redeem points from theHiltonHonors. If you stay at at least a few times each year, I recommend getting a credit card with the name of the hotel on it. The annual fee is justified by the card's perks. If you need to earn points for an upcoming redemption, you'll be able to spend on theHiltonHonors card.

When you redeem for award nights, you'll get the most value from your points, which is why it's so important. Every fifth night free on award stays is when I stay in a five night increment of five.

Click here to find the rates and fees of the hotel. Click here if you want to know the rates and fees of the hotel. Click here if you want to know the rates and fees of the business. Click here to find rates and fees of the Amex Platinum. Click here for the Amex Business Platinum rates. Click here to find the rates and fees of the hotel.

The additional reporting was done by two people.