#4 Among Hotels
Point Value
0.50 ¢
Hobby Score
7.7
Quality hotels but points go fast with high per night point cost.
Hilton has 24 brands and nearly 8000 properties across the world. The fastest ways to earn Hilton Honors points are by staying at a Hilton property or opening one of the four co-branded Hilton credit cards. Hilton is also a transfer partner of American Express, but using only Amex Membership Rewards points for an entire stay is rarely a good value because Hilton award rates are high. Amex points can still be useful for top ups.
You can earn points on all Hilton stays booked directly with the hotel. You’ll also earn bonus points if you hold status with Hilton.
Hilton has four co-branded cards, all issued by American Express. These cards can help you earn points quickly, but the Amex 1/7 rule limits how often you can earn each welcome offer. Each card provides at least Silver status, so you automatically boost your earning rate on Hilton stays.
Bilt and American Express both transfer to Hilton Honors, which is helpful for topping up your account. Because Hilton’s award prices are often high, we don’t recommend transferring points from either system for an entire stay. Amex does transfer at a 1:2 ratio, though, so if you find a lower-cost redemption, topping up can be valuable.
Special Offers Related to Hilton Honors. Click the arrow to see more.
- Hilton Honors Amex Surpass card, limited time offer of 150,000 points after spending $3000 in 6 months, $95 annual fee.
- Hilton Honors Amex Business card, limited time offer of 165,000 points after spending $5000 in 3 months, $95 annual fee.
- Hilton Honors Amex, limited time offer of 100,000 points after spending $2000 in 6 months, no annual fee.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card, limited time offer of 100,000 bonus points after spending $3000 in 6 months, $95 annual fee.
-Marriott Bonvoy Bold card, limited time offer of 60,000 bonus points after spending $2000 in 6 months, no annual fee.
- Hilton Honors is now offering 100,000 bonus points after spending $1000 in 3 months.
- Hilton Honors Surpass card is now offering 130,000 bonus points after spending $2000 in 3 months.
Both are limited time offers ending on 10/26/22 & don't forget, American Express cards are once in a lifetime benefits so if you already cashed in on either of these credit cards within the last 10 years you will not qualify for these offers.
Limited Time sign up offer - earn 100,000 Hilton Points on the American Express Hilton Honors Card. Offer Expires 7/6/22.
- Discover It 5% Cash Back starting October 1st for Amazon.com, Walmart.com & Target.com, activate offer now.
- Hilton Honors is extending Elite Perks for another year.
Redeeming your Hilton points for stays at a Hilton property is the best use of your points. Hilton’s redemption rates are on the high side, so you may experience sticker shock if you’re used to a program like Hyatt. It’s more effective to earn points from paid Hilton stays or co-branded Hilton credit cards and redeem those for award nights. Using American Express Membership Rewards or Bilt points for full stays is rarely a good value and is best reserved for small top ups.
Discover your points' highest-value redemption options. Use the filters to find the optimal sweet spot for your next trip.
You can earn complimentary Silver status by holding the Hilton Honors credit card (no annual fee) or complimentary Gold status by holding the Hilton Surpass or Hilton Business cards, or complimentary Diamond status by holding the Hilton Honors Aspire card
One of the more unpopular aspects of hotel stays over recent years is the increase of properties charging “resort fees” for your stay. These are no longer limited to stereotypical resorts and are charged more and more for amenities that used to be free. If you use points to book an award stay at Hilton, the resort fees are waived, which is a nice perk
Log on to Hilton’s website and enter your destination. Leave the dates blank, click on “Use Points,” then click search. You can then find the specific hotel you’re interested in, and click on “select dates.” You can then search by month to quickly see the cheapest available nights
Hilton has a Points Explorer Tool to browse what’s available for a certain number of points. Go <a href="https://www.hilton.com/en/hilton-honors/points-explorer/" target="_blank">here</a>, set the number of points you have, then search based on location or type of property you’re looking for
Hilton Honors is a solid loyalty program with a large global footprint and one of the easiest paths to elite status among major hotel chains. With 24 brands and more than 8000 properties worldwide, from Conrad and Waldorf Astoria to Hampton Inn, there is a Hilton option for every type of traveler.
Opening any of the four co-branded credit cards is the simplest way to earn status, since each card includes status as a built-in benefit. The signup bonuses are generous, and you can transfer points from American Express or Bilt for top ups. Elite members enjoy perks like fifth night free on award stays, and Gold and Diamond members receive free breakfast.
The biggest drawback is the high cost of award stays at many properties. Dynamic pricing makes it hard to predict a hotel’s rate since it varies by season and brand. If you’re used to Hyatt, Hilton’s award prices may come as a shock. Even so, the massive footprint, ease of earning points, and automatic status from credit cards make Hilton a strong program for travelers who value simplicity and flexibility over top-tier redemption value.
Starting January 1, 2026, Hilton Honors will have five membership tiers, beginning with Member, which is free to join. Hilton is debuting a new elite tier - Diamond Reserve, for 2026 and beyond. All of the elite tier content on this page reflects those changes for 2026.
Once you qualify for a tier, you keep that status for the rest of the year and the entire following calendar year. After Member, you can earn status through nights, stays, base points earned, or by opening a co-branded Hilton credit card.
When you join Hilton Honors, you receive Member status. Benefits include:
Following are the elite status levels for Hilton Honors, what it takes to reach each level, and benefits for each
Any Hilton Honors points you earn with a credit card will be automatically added to your Hilton Honors account. If you choose to cancel a credit card, your points will be safe (for at least 24 months). Keep in mind that all Hilton co-branded cards are issued through American Express, and their 1/7 Rule means you won’t be able to open or earn a signup bonus on that same card within a 7-year period. Since every card offers automatic status, you will also lose that unless you meet the other criteria for that elite status level.
