Pros
- Large portfolio of popular hotel chains
- Multiple worthwhile co-branded credit cards
- Special perks for elite-level members
- Large number of transfer partners
- Many redemption options
Cons
- Points expire after 24 months of account inactivity
- Earning rates vary by type of Hilton property
- Elite rewards status is hard to earn without a Hilton credit card
Hilton Honors Rewards Program Review Summary
Hilton Honors is the 5th best hotel rewards program, according to WalletHub research. Some of Hilton Honors’ greatest strengths, which make the program worth joining for just about any traveler, include lots of bonus points for elite-level members, numerous redemption options and few limitations on earning rewards.
Below, you can learn all about Hilton Honors, from its status levels and perks to its redemption options and point values. You can also see how Hilton Honors stacks up against popular competitors.
Hilton Honors Scorecard
| Category | WalletHub Rating | Rank vs Other Hotels |
|---|---|---|
| Earning Policies | 20% | #5 |
| Rewards Value | 9% | #9 |
| Redemption Policies | 90% | #2 |
| Geographical Coverage | 82% | #2 |
| Status Levels | 68% | #5 |
| Other Features | 76% | #1 |
| OVERALL | 55% | #5 |
Hilton Honors Snapshot
| Points Needed for a Free Night: | Min: 5,000 Avg: 50,000 Max: 95,000 |
| Average Point Value: | 1 point = 0.57 cents 1,000 points = $5.69 |
| Transfer Partners: | 28, including: Amtrak Guest Rewards, Delta Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airways and more |
How to Earn Hilton Points
WalletHub Rating for "Earning Policies": 20% (3 / 15 points)
Hilton Honors members earn points when they make certain types of purchases through the hotel chain. As you’ll see below, exactly which types of transactions accrue points and the number of points you’ll receive per dollar spent depend on which Hilton-owned brand you’re staying with. Other types of purchases outside of Hilton can earn you Hilton Honors Points, too.
- 5-10 Hilton Points per $1: Stays at more than 8,400 hotels in the Hilton portfolio around the world
- 3-14 Hilton Points per $1: Purchases made using Hilton credit cards
- 3 Hilton Points per $1: Lyft rides (must link Hilton Honors account to Lyft account)
- Rates from 1:1.5 to 1:2: Exchange points to turn points and miles from other rewards programs into more Hilton Honors Points
- Up to 5,000 Hilton Points: Car rentals from preferred partners
In addition, you can sometimes find special deals on the websites of the brands in the Hilton portfolio, deals which let members earn more Hilton Honors Points than normal for stays at certain Hilton locations or use fewer points than usual for booking certain rooms. While these deals aren’t guaranteed, if you’re able to get one it can be a fantastic way to save money.
How Much Are Hilton Points Worth?
WalletHub Rating for "Rewards Value": 12.88% (3.22 / 25 points)
Hilton Honors Points are worth 0.57 cents each on average, according to WalletHub’s research. The average Hilton Honors Points value is exactly the same for both weekday and weekend reservations.
How to Redeem Hilton Points
WalletHub Rating for "Redemption Policies": 92.24% (23.06 / 25 points)
| Redemption Method | More Info |
|---|---|
| Hotel & Resorts | Get free nights in Standard and Premium Rooms (points can be combined with cash) |
| Redemption Experiences | Spend points on concerts, exclusive trips and more |
| On-Property Rewards | Trade points for vacation packages and other purchases at resorts/golf courses |
| Travel & Transportation | Purchase airline/rail miles, cruise certificates and car rentals |
| Exchange Points | Transfer points to airline/rail and credit card rewards programs |
| Pool & Transfer Points | Share points with family and friends |
| Shopping & Dining | Shop online and pay for dining |
| Donate Points | Give to charities and non-profits |
Where Can Hilton Honors Points Take You?
WalletHub Rating for "Geographical Coverage": 79.53% (11.93 / 15 points)
The size of Hilton Honors is a big plus. Hilton Honors includes more than 1,250,000 rooms at over 8,400 properties in more than 140 countries and territories. The Hilton Honors portfolio also includes 24 different hotel brands, including Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Hampton by Hilton, Homewood Suites, and Canopy – just to mention a few. Travelers with any sized budget can find a good place to stay.
Hilton Honors Status Levels
WalletHub Rating for "Status Levels": 67.87% (4.75 / 7 points)
The Hilton Honors rewards program is free to join. Most people will join as a basic member, or “Blue Member.” Hilton Honors Blue membership benefits include complimentary in-room and lobby internet access, special member discounts, and express check-out.
The more nights you stay at Hilton hotels and resorts, and the more purchases you make with a Hilton credit card, the higher your “Elite Status” level becomes. Higher Hilton Honors Elite Status levels give more perks at Hilton properties.
Below is a breakdown of exactly what you’ll need to do to achieve and maintain each Hilton Honors status level. You can also learn about the benefits that come with each level.
| Hilton Honors Levels | Nights Needed per Year | Points Bonus | Other Notable Perks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Member | None | None | Guaranteed discount Complimentary internet (in-room and lobby) Digital check-in Express check-out |
| Silver Elite | 10 | 20% | Blue Member benefits Access to fitness centers Two free bottles of water per stay at select brands |
| Gold Elite | 40 | 80% | Silver Elite benefits Upgrades at select properties Bonus points on stays at select properties |
| Diamond Elite | 60 | 100% | Gold Elite benefits Complimentary continental breakfast at select properties |
Members must satisfy a given status level’s qualifying requirements between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 to reach or maintain that status level and enjoy the corresponding benefits. Normally, members must re-qualify for elite status each year.
If you have an elite status in another hotel’s loyalty program, Hilton will automatically upgrade your status in Hilton Honors to Gold Elite for 90 days. If you stay 8 nights during that period, you will maintain Gold status after the 90-day period, and if you stay additional 6 nights you will be upgraded to Diamond Elite.
In light of the above information, Hilton Honors' scores for this section are as follows:
Ease of achieving elite status: 87.50% (1.75 / 2 points)
- According to our study, the cost of achieving elite status with Hilton Honors is $4,363.
Valuable membership perks: 60% (3 / 5 points)
- Based on light, average and heavy spending profiles, new members can expect to receive late check-out, member discounts, free room upgrades, priority/express check-in as a valuable perks.
Other Features of the Hilton Honors Program
WalletHub Rating for "Other Features": 76.30% (9.92 / 13 points)
The "Other Features" component of this Hilton Honors program review focused on five sub-categories. Below, you can see how many points Hilton Honors earned in each category, along with the corresponding WalletHub Rating.
| Category | Points | WalletHub Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Points Expiration | 4.62 / 5 | 92.40% |
| Expired-point reactivation | 2 / 2 | 100% |
| Transferring points between accounts (without fees) | 2 / 2 | 100% |
| Number of Transfer Partners With No Fee | 1.30 / 2 | 65% |
| Purchasing points | 0 / 2 | 0% |
Hilton Honors Credit Cards
Opinions and ratings are our own. This content is not provided, commissioned or endorsed by any issuer. Some offers are from WalletHub partners.
You might want to consider applying for a Hilton credit card if you have at least good credit and you stay at hotels in the Hilton portfolio at least a few times each year. There are a few different Hilton credit cards to pick from, though. You can find a comparison of the current offers below.
Hilton Honors Credit Card Offers Compared:
annual fee$0 | annual fee$150 | annual fee$195 | annual fee$550 |
rewards rate
| rewards rate
| rewards rate
| rewards rate
|
bonus offer Earn 70,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 4/29/2025. | bonus offer Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 4/29/2025. | bonus offer Limited Time Offer: Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business Card within the first six months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 4/29/2025. | bonus offer 175,000 points |
Purchase Intro APRN/A | Purchase Intro APRN/A | Purchase Intro APRN/A | Purchase Intro APRN/A |
transfer intro aprN/A | transfer intro aprN/A | transfer intro aprN/A | transfer intro aprN/A |
Regular APR19.99% - 28.99% (V) | Regular APR19.99% - 28.99% (V) | Regular APR19.99% - 28.99% (V) | Regular APR19.99% - 28.99% (V) |
SponsoredApply Now SponsoredApply Now | SponsoredApply Now SponsoredApply Now | SponsoredApply Now SponsoredApply Now | SponsoredApply Now |
For more information, check out our complete review of the latest Hilton credit card offers.
6 Tips for Hilton Honors Members
- The best way to redeem Hilton Honors Points is for Hilton stays. Points are worth 0.57 cents apiece that way.
- Pool or transfer points if it makes sense. Hilton allows members to pool their points together for easier redemption. This is especially helpful for family members with individual Hilton Honors memberships who often travel together.
- Take advantage of status perks. The assorted small perks with which members are rewarded for their financial loyalty can be a big selling point for hotel rewards programs, but they are often forgotten by users as time goes by.
- Consider applying for a Hilton credit card. The best Hilton credit card could save the average person roughly $3,300 over the first two years of use, according to WalletHub’s calculations.
- Make sure to read Hilton reviews & Hilton Honors FAQs. Learning from experts and fellow travelers will help you pick up some helpful tips as well as avoid tricks and pitfalls.
- Compare your hotel options if you’re not wedded to Hilton. Hilton is not the only worldwide hotel chain with a rewarding loyalty program. You can see how Hilton Honors compares to a couple of popular alternatives below. You can also check out WalletHub’s rankings of the Best Hotel Rewards Programs to learn more.
Hilton Honors vs. Marriott Bonvoy vs. World of Hyatt
| Category | Hilton Honors | Marriott Bonvoy | World of Hyatt |
|---|---|---|---|
| WalletHub Rank | 5th | 4th | 1st |
| Average Point Value | 0.57 cents | 0.86 cents | 2.45 cents |
| U.S. Properties | 5,883 | 5,882 | 791 |
| International Properties | 1,743 | 3,144 | 544 |
| Countries/Territories with a Property | 126 | 139 | 76 |
| Point Expiration | After 24 months of inactivity | After 24 months of inactivity | After 24 months of inactivity |
| Credit Card to Consider | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card | The World of Hyatt Credit Card |
Hilton Honors Review Methodology
Overall program rankings are based on the same methodology as WalletHub’s annual study on the Best Hotel Rewards Programs. Editor’s ratings reflect the sum of each rewards program’s scores across the study’s 6 major categories – earning policies, redemption policies, rewards value, geographical coverage ,status levels and other features – adjusted to a 5-point scale and to create a representative distribution of ratings.
WalletHub calculated Hilton Honors point values by comparing room rates in 20 popular travel destinations – 10 domestic and 10 international – to the number of points needed to book a rewards night. We did this for all Hilton-owned hotel locations within 50 miles of the city center in each destination, applying the process to weekend and weekday dates in each destination’s high and shoulder tourist seasons.
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