Hilton Honors Rewards Program – The Best Hotel Loyalty Scheme?

I don’t know about you, but I can quite easily find myself endlessly scrolling through lists of hotels looking for the best deal. Which is why the Hilton Honors Rewards Program is a game-changer.

It’s a world in which your next ride to an airport, your next meal out, and your next hotel stay brings you closer to a wealth of rewards, including free nights at more than 7,000 properties around the globe.

As if this isn’t enough, it gets even better. With lowest price guarantees, free Wi-Fi, digital check-ins, and the option to choose your own room, you cease to be a meagre hotel guest.

You become a valued member enjoying discounts, bonus points, and more. Did I mention the mobile app that turns your phone into a room key and travel planner yet?

The Hiton Honors Rewards Program has the power to shift your travel experiences into overdrive, and it’s free to join. Read on to get the low-down on all you need to know.

Hilton Honors: The Basics

Let’s start with a quick breakdown of what Hilton Honors is all about, and what better starting point than their lowest price guarantee?

If you’ve ever booked a hotel room and then found it to be advertised cheaper elsewhere, you’ll know the feeling of frustration and regret – the ‘if only’ annoyance that taints even the most enjoyable stay.

Well, you can wave goodbye to that emotional anxiety, thanks to Hilton’s lowest price guarantee, which could be the best around. Hilton won’t only match a lower qualified price, but they will also throw in a 25% discount on your stay.

That’s a great sweetener to add to the peace of mind of knowing you’ve got the best deal.

As a Hilton Honors member, you also get to choose your own room, access exclusive Hilton Honors experiences, and benefit from other perks like free Wi-Fi. The further you move up the membership scale, the more benefits become available to you – but more about these later.

You can earn points in a multitude of ways, from dining experiences to hotel stays and more. When you come to redeem them, you can claim free nights and experiences, and even spend them on shopping!

How to Earn Hilton Honors Points

It’s not hard to accumulate points in the Hilton Honors program. Every time you check into a Hilton hotel, you’re earning.

You earn while you sleep, eat, and even when using extra services like spa treatments and room service. It’s a little like Hilton are tipping you for being their guest!

However, the opportunities to earn Hilton points ripple out far from the hotel lobby:

Lyft Rides Turn Your Miles Into Points

Link your Hilton Honors account with your Lyft account, and you’ll earn points for every ride you take. Whether you’re traveling to the airport or getting around town, each journey gives you a reward.

It’s the perfect union of getting to where you want to go, and moving closer to where you want to be on vacation.

Earn While You Eat

If you enjoy dining out, why not get a little extra than what’s on the menu? Register your credit card with your Hilton Honors account, and you’ll start earning points for every forkful at participating restaurants.

Your dining adventures not only fuel your body and soul, but they can fuel your travel plans, too.

Hilton Promotions To Pump Up Your Points

Keep an eye out for Hilton promotions, a magnificent way to accelerate your points accumulation. You could earn bonus points for stays, on seasonal offers, and for using Hilton branded credit cards.

Watch out for Hilton Honors emails in your inbox for details of their latest promotion to ensure you don’t miss out.

Earn On Rental Cars

If you use a Hilton partner when you hire a rental car, you could earn up to 5,000 points per rental. Drive your route to Hilton points with Enterprise, National, and Alamo.

Dial Up Bonus Points

Are you a frequent flyer who needs to stay in touch with family, friends, and work back home? Then buy a OneSimCard to earn 100 points for signing up and an extra point for every minute on incoming and outgoing calls when you’re abroad.

Buy Points To Boost Your Balance

If you’re short of points, you can also buy them to top up your balance.

I wouldn’t recommend this route though – the points cost 1 cent each (with a minimum purchase of 1,000) while the estimated value of a Hilton point is 0.5 cents.

Swipe Points With Hilton Branded Credit Cards

There are several Hilton branded credit cards for individuals that will help you accumulate points on everyday shopping – the easiest way to earn your points. Terms apply with all the cards (and are subject to change), but here are the basics at the time of writing:

Hilton Honors American Express Card

No annual fee, and a 100,000-point welcome bonus if you spend $2,000 in the first six months.

You’ll earn 5 bonus points for each $1 spent at US restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations; 7 points for each $1 of eligible purchases at a Hilton hotel or resort; and 3 points for other eligible purchases.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card

For a $150 annual fee, your rewards receive a massive boost – 155,000 points welcome bonus when you spend $3,000 in the first six months; up to $200 cash back on eligible Hilton purchases; and between 3 and 12 bonus points for spending on your card.

Sounds good, doesn’t it? But how about this: for spending $15,000 within a (calendar) year you get a free night reward at a weekend, and 10 free airport lounge visits when you enroll in a complimentary Priority Pass membership.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Now we’re really cooking on gas! This card may come with a $550 annual fee, but you’ll earn up to 14 points for every dollar of eligible spending on top of the 150,000-point welcome bonus for spending $6,000 in the first six months.

On top of this, you’ll enjoy automatic Hilton Honors Diamond Status, a free annual weekend night for signing up and on every renewal, up to $400 in statement credits for eligible spending at Hilton Resorts, $200 for eligible flight purchases, and unlimited Priority Pass Lounge visits.

How To Redeem Hilton Honors Points

Now for the fun part – how to spend all those points you’ve accumulated:

Unlock Free Nights

Rack up those points and start swapping them for free nights at the Hilton properties.

There’s no fixed points redemption – how many points required depends on the category of hotel, location, season, etc. – but each free night is a chance for a new experience without reaching into your pocket.

VIP Experiences

Hilton Honors Experiences offer you the chance to live like a VIP.

From backstage passes to private dinners with a top chef to VIP tickets for sports events, and more, you can trade in your points for once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Shop Till You Drop

If retail therapy is your go-to, use your points when you shop online with Amazon or Hilton’s online mall.

It’s not how to get the most value from your points, but it’s perfect when you have your eye on something special.

Fly High With Airline Transfers

Convert your points into air miles with one of Hilton’s airline partners and fly to a destination of your desire.

Rides & Drives

Use your points to pay for Lyft rides, or redeem them for rental cars with Hilton’s partners. Your points really can keep you on the move.

Points & Money Nights

If you haven’t accumulated enough points for a free night, you can use points and cash. You decide how many points to use (the minimum is 5,000) and add the cash needed to pay for your stay.

This is often better value than buying the points you would need for a points-only free night.

Membership Tiers & Benefits

As a Hilton Honors member, you’ll enjoy benefits that include access to the Hilton Honors Discount rate, earning points toward free nights and more, no resort fees on reward stays, digital check-in, choosing your room, a digital key, free Wi-Fi, and exclusive Hilton Honors Experiences.

However, the more nights you stay with Hilton, the more benefits and rewards you get:

Silver (10+ Nights)

Receive free bottled water, every fifth night free on reward stays, elite rollover nights, and all-inclusive spa discount. Oh, and a 20% earning bonus on stays.

Gold (40+ Nights)

See your points earning bonus boosted by 80% and, in addition to all the extras you receive as a silver member, you become eligible for space-available room upgrades, a daily food and beverage credit, and milestone bonuses.

Diamond (60+ Nights)

Your points earnings bonus rises to 100% on stays, plus you receive a 48-hour room guarantee, premium Wi-Fi, and Executive Lounge access.

The Hilton App

I like to think of the Hilton App as a personal assistant in your pocket. Its features make the whole experience easier and more enjoyable, both before and during your stay.

Before your stay, you’ll be able to use the app to search for the best rates among Hilton’s huge portfolio. Once booked, you can manage your reservation in the app, track previous and upcoming stays, and even discover local attractions.

In addition, you can choose the exact room you want up to 24 hours before you arrive, and the app helps you to snag exclusive offers to earn even more points.

During your stay, there’s no need to wait in line at the front desk to pick up your key – the app acts as a key to your room. It also controls your TV, lights, and thermostat in locations where this is possible.

Forget about the wait at reception to check out, too – the app takes care of this for you. Finally, if you need a ride during or after your stay, request a Lyft through the app.

Overall, the Hilton app is a powerful addition to your armory, giving you more control and greater choices.

Maximize Your Hilton Honors Membership Benefits

The Hilton Honors Program offers terrific benefits as it is, but here are five simple tactics that will help you to get the most out of your membership:

Sign up for and use a Hilton branded credit card:The welcome bonuses are an incredible springboard to free nights and more. The extra bonus points available are the bread and butter of significant points accumulation.

Sign up for email notifications to stay ahead of promotions and exclusive deals.

Take advantage of the Hilton app: It’s your powerhouse tool from choosing a room to checking out and beyond.

Plan ahead: Plan stays around free nights and 5^th night-free deals.

Remember that loyalty pays: The more you stay with Hilton, the faster you’ll rise through the membership tiers to unlock even more benefits and points-earning potential.

How Do I Sign Up For Hilton Honors Membership?

Joining the Hilton Honors Program couldn’t be easier:

1. Visit the Hilton Honors sign-up page.
2. Fill out the online form with the basic information required (such as name, address, email address, and so on).
3. Set your preferences to tailor your Hilton experiences.
4. Download the app.

That’s it – you’re only four steps away from earning points and taking full advantage of membership.

Become More Than A Guest With Hilton Honors

Hilton Honors is a one-of-its-kind program. With a rich blend of benefits like free nights, digital conveniences through its app, exclusive experiences, and an array of ways to earn and spend points, it’s a must-have membership for all types of travelers.

Every trip you plan and every stay you take can be enhanced with tangible rewards.

If you believe that a rewards program shouldn’t be just about where you stay, but about making each trip more rewarding as an experience and in value for money, you should sign up for Hilton Honors today.