Maximizing Your Hilton Honors Points: A Complete Guide

23.07.2024 - 11:54 / insider.com

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With one of the world's largest footprints, most travelers have stayed in — or at least seen — a Hilton hotel. Since this vast hotel chain has a variety of properties to fit every budget and over 7,000 hotels located across 123 countries, it makes a lot of sense to consider joining the Hilton Honors loyalty program. 

Hilton's loyalty program is one of the best amongst major hotel chains. Enrolling in Hilton Honors is free, and Hilton offers excellent rewards just for signing up. This includes earning points for free stays, late checkout, waived resort fees on award stays, earning free WiFi, and discounted rates. As your status increases, you'll also see perks such as free breakfast, room upgrades, and a fifth night free on eligible award stays. 

Earning and redeeming Hilton rewards points is also very simple — there are a ton of ways to jump-start your points balance, including large welcome bonus offers from travel credit cards, hotel promotions, and even transferring points from different partners. Once you've got a good amount, you can then use points toward free hotel stays, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, Amazon purchases, and even airline miles. 

We'll break down everything you need to know to earn, redeem, and maximize your Hilton Honors points. 

Joining Hilton Honors can be especially lucrative if you're frequently on the road. As your elite status increases, so will the benefits you're offered during your stay. 

Just for enrolling, you'll get late checkout when available, complimentary Wi-Fi, members-only rates, no resort fees on award stays, award nights that count for elite status, and the ability to earn Hilton Honors points. 

Silver Elite status adds a 20% points earning bonus on stays, the fifth night free on award stays, free bottled water, and elite rollover nights.

Gold Elite members can earn their status from stays or by holding an Amex Platinum or Hilton Surpass card. In addition to all the Silver benefits, Gold members receive an 80% points-earning bonus on stays, room upgrades, free breakfast, and milestone bonuses. 

Diamond — Hilton's top-tier status — elite members experience