Although some travelers like to redeem their points regardless of the redemption rate, many of us are interested in getting good value when redeeming our rewards. The value you’ll get from Hilton Honors redemptions will vary depending on how you redeem. For example, redeeming Hilton points for premium rooms or Amazon purchases often provides a lower value than redeeming for standard reward nights.
However, even some standard reward nights won’t provide good value. Here are six ways I get good value from my Hilton Honors redemptions.
Keep Hilton point value in mind
To maximize the value you get when redeeming Hilton points, calculate your redemption rate and compare it to the Hilton point value you want to obtain. TPG’s April 2025 valuations estimate that Hilton points are worth 0.6 cents each. As such, you’ll usually only want to redeem Hilton points when you get at least 0.6 cents per point.
If you redeem Hilton points frequently, consider calculating and writing down your redemption rate each time. Then, based on your redemptions, you can calculate your own value for Hilton points.
If you have more Hilton points than stays you want to book, you may still redeem Hilton points even when the redemption rate is low. But if you don’t have enough Hilton points to book all your stays with points, you’ll only want to redeem Hilton points for high-value redemptions.
Related: Why points and miles are a bad long-term investment
Get a fifth night free
Hilton’s fifth night free on reward stays perk is the easiest way to maximize Hilton Honors redemptions. This perk lets members with Hilton Honors elite status pay zero points for every fifth night (up to four free nights per stay) when redeeming points for a standard room type. Unfortunately, points and money stays are not eligible for the fifth-night free perk.
You can easily boost your redemption rate by using the fifth-night free benefit. For example, assume a hotel costs $80 or 15,000 points per night. On a five-night stay, you’d get 0.53 cents per point without the fifth-night free benefit and 0.67 cents per point with the benefit. That’s a notable difference that shifts the redemption from poor to decent based on TPG’s April 2025 valuations.
Related: Maximize your rewards by getting a fourth or fifth night free on award stays
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Book stays at the Hilton points cap
The other primary way I maximize Hilton points is by booking stays that are at a property’s unpublished points cap.
Usually, you’ll find outsize value when booking luxury hotels and resorts at their unpublished maximum rates. For example, I’ve redeemed a combination of Hilton free night certificates and points for stays at Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa (unpublished standard room cap of 120,000 points per night) and Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi (unofficial standard room cap of 150,000 points per night). I got 1.13 cents per point and 1.55 cents per point on these stays, respectively.
However, Hilton’s unpublished caps can be valuable even at more practical properties during events and peak travel dates. For example, in 2023, I redeemed 30,000 points per night at the Hampton by Hilton Utrecht Central Station during a music festival that caused paid rates to spike. I suspect 30,000 points was the property’s unofficial cap at the time, as no dates carried higher award night prices.
Related: 7 mistakes to avoid when redeeming hotel points
Get a Hilton credit card
Whether you utilize the Hilton Honors program weekly or annually, having a Hilton credit card can help you maximize your redemptions. These cards offer valuable benefits (including Hilton elite status, which unlocks the fifth-night free benefit), generous welcome bonuses and the ability to earn Hilton Honors points on purchases. Here’s a look at some of our favorite Hilton credit cards:
| Card | Welcome offer | Earning rates | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card | Earn 130,000 bonus points plus a free night reward after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the card within your first six months of card membership. This offer ends April 29. | 12 points per dollar for eligible purchases made directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio
6 points per dollar on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery, on groceries at U.S. supermarkets and on gas at U.S. gas stations 4 points per dollar on U.S. online retail purchases 3 points per dollar on other eligible purchases |
$150 (see rates and fees) |
| The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card | Earn 175,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your card in the first six months of card membership. This offer ends April 29. | 12 points per dollar for purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
5 points per dollar on the first $100,000 in other eligible purchases each calendar year (3 points per dollar thereafter) |
$195 (see rates and fees) |
| Hilton Honors American Express Card | Earn 70,000 bonus points plus a free night reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership. This offer ends April 29. | 7 points per dollar for eligible purchases made directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio
5 points per dollar on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery, on groceries at U.S. supermarkets and on gas at U.S. gas stations 3 points per dollar on other eligible purchases |
No annual fee (see rates and fees) |
| Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | Earn 175,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the card within your first six months of card membership. This offer ends April 29. | 14 points per dollar for eligible purchases made directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio
7 points per dollar on select travel, including flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies 7 points per dollar on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery 3 points per dollar on other eligible purchases |
$550 |
I applied for the Hilton Aspire in 2022 and have been a satisfied cardmember ever since. My husband and I signed up for cards around the same time, so we use our free night certificates to book back-to-back, one-night stays at an aspirational Hilton Honors property each year. We usually redeem Hilton points for an additional night or two, which lets us enjoy a three- or four-night stay at one of Hilton’s top properties each year without spending a lot of points or cash.
The information for the Hilton Amex Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Hilton Surpass vs. Hilton Aspire: Do you want Gold or Diamond status?
Consider Hilton Honors Experiences
I check the Hilton Honors Experiences site every few months to see whether there are any appealing experiences in destinations I plan to visit. In 2022, I got a great deal through the program for a couples massage and dinner. Meanwhile, TPG’s Nicky Kelvin booked a British Grand Prix experience in 2024.
The value you’ll get when redeeming Hilton points for experiences varies, especially for the experiences that require you to bid on the experience instead of simply redeeming a set amount of points. However, it’s worth periodically checking your options to see whether any will let you redeem Hilton points for a good value or an epic experience money can’t buy.
Related: 8 of the most exclusive travel experiences you can book with points and miles
Utilize buy points promotions
If you don’t have enough points to cover your entire stay, you can book points and money rewards. However, a better option is often to buy Hilton points during a 100% bonus or discount sale. During the best sales, you can buy Hilton points for as little as 0.5 cents each.
Buy points promotions let you top off your account with the points you need for a specific redemption. But, if you’d be redeeming Hilton points for more than the cost you’d pay, buying Hilton points to redeem for a stay can make sense instead of booking a paid rate.
Related: When does it make sense to buy points and miles?
Bottom line
The key to maximizing Hilton Honors redemptions is calculating your redemption rate and only redeeming points when your redemption rate is above a specific threshold. TPG’s April 2025 valuations estimate that Hilton points are worth 0.6 cents each, so that’s a decent threshold. You’ll likely determine your redemption threshold as you earn and redeem Hilton points.
You can often boost your redemption rate by utilizing the fifth-night free benefit when booking standard room types for stays of five nights or longer. However, you can also get high value from your Hilton points when you book standard nights at the unpublished upper award pricing cap for a specific property. Booking premium room types with Hilton points usually provides poor value, so you’ll want to stick to standard award nights for maximum redemption value.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Surpass Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Business Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Amex, click here.
