The Hilton Brand is one of the largest hotel brands in the world. There are over 7,000 properties in over 95 counties giving you endless options to choose from. There are 19 different brands within the Hilton Portfolio from affordable options to world class luxury property. Here is the ultimate guide to help you understand the Hilton Brand and help you get free award travel to some of the best properties!
HILTON HONORS
Hilton’s loyalty points system is called Hilton Honors and it is free to sign up! Earn points for every dollar spent on property and earn loyalty status for every night booked! Being loyal to a hotel is one of the best things you can do to help you get free perks or rooms!
HILTON LOYALTY STATUS
Hilton Honors Silver status is earned after four stays or spending 10 nights in a calendar year at a Hilton Property. This status gives you 20% bonus points for every stay as well 15% off discounts at spa.
Hilton Honors Gold status is earned after 20 stays or 40 nights in a calendar year at a Hilton property. This status gives you daily food and beverage credits and room upgrades! Plus, you can earn 80% bonus points for every stay helping you earn more points to get free rooms quicker.
Pro Tip: You can get this status for FREE with the Hilton Honors Surpass Card (see below)
Hilton Honors Diamond Status is the top tier status and is earned after 30 stays or 60 nights in a calendar year at a Hilton Property. This status gives you room upgrades (including suites), executive lounge access, premium wi-fi, and 100% bonus points for every stay.
Pro Tip: You can get this status for FREE with the Hilton Honors Aspire Card (see below)
BOOKING HILTON PROPERTIES
The best way to book a Hilton Property is with a Hilton co-branded credit card with American Express. There are a few credit cards available that provide amazing perks like earning loyalty status, earning free rooms, or enjoying free services on property!
The Hilton Honors Card is a no annual fee no brainer credit card to have! With no annual fee obligations, you can earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Points for signing up plus Automatic Silver Status.
The Hilton Honors Surpass Card has a low annual fee at $150 making it a better credit card. You can earn 170,000 Hilton Honor Points for signing up which can get you a free night in a standard room at the best Hilton properties like the Maldives or Bora Bora! Additionally, the card grants you automatic Gold Status!.
The Hilton Honors Aspire Card is the premiere and BEST credit card. With a higher annual fee of $550 it is still no doubt the BEST credit card in the lineup. The card comes with 180,000 Hilton Honor Points at signup which is good for almost 2 free standard rooms at any of Hilton’s best properties. Additionally, you get automatic top tier Diamond Status ! In addition, the card comes with amazing perks that completely offset the annual fee with $400 in property credits (enjoy a spa day or food & beverage) as well as $200 in Airline Fee Credit! If that wasn’t enough, the card comes with an annual Free Night Reward with the ability to earn an additional 1 or even 2 more free nights per year by spending $30,000 and $60,000 per year. This card can easily give you a free week of vacation in one of the best Hilton properties in the world exceeding value of $10,000 in free award travel.
BOOKING HILTON PROPERTIES FOR FREE WITH POINTS
As a Hilton Honors member you can book properties for FREE! Here are some tips and tricks to help you get maximum value when booking free rooms!
Book 5 Nights for the price of 4!
You get one night free when booking a stay for 5 nights. This is THE best value for booking. It is best practice to only book rooms when staying for 5 nights.
Pro Tip: I booked a 5 night stay at the Conrad Maldives which is one of the best properties in the Hilton Portfolio. I saved 85,000 points by booking the 5th night free! Now I can use those points for my next points redemption!
Book Free Rooms only at top tier properties!
Save your points and only use your points when booking the best premium properties. You get way more value points per dollar when using points at luxury properties. For 85,000 points you can get a free night at the Waldorf Astoria in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico valued at over $2,000 a night. This is much better value than booking a property for 20,000-30,000 points per night at a room that is only $200.
Pro Tip: I would never pay $2,000 for one night but now I can experience ultimate luxury by using points and staying at the Waldorf Astoria properties to ultimate luxury experiences.
Buy Points with Caution!
If you need points you can buy points at Hilton.com directly. These typically don’t offer the best value but are good if you need to top off your account to get a free stay!
Use Hilton Credit Cards!
Sign up bonuses and daily spending with a Hilton Credit card is the best way to score a free room! The Hilton Honors Aspire Card also gives you a free night which can be added to extend your stay!
Pro Tip: My Hilton Aspire Amex gives me a free night each year. Additionally, if you spend $60K a year then you can earn a 2nd free night! I put my apartment rent and daily expense on my Hilton Card which gave me a 2nd free night certificate plus enough points for another 3 free nights!
HILTON BRANDS
There are 19 different brands in the Hilton Portfolio from affordable to ultra luxury. Find out more about each brand and add some of these amazing new properties to your travel bucket list!
LUXURY GETAWAYS
There are 3 different top tier luxury brands in the Hilton Portfolio.
The Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts is considered the most luxurious and iconic with 32 hotels located across 15 different countries. These are some of the most iconic resorts with unforgettable spas, dining, and timeless luxury and service.
The Waldorf Los Cabos, Grand Wailea in Maui, and Monarch Beach in Laguna are some absolute must visit destinations!
LXR Hotels & Resorts has 9 hotels across 7 countries. These resorts have more of a boutique resort feel in the world’s most alluring locations.
Crockfords in the brand new Las Vegas hotel or Zemi Beach House in the Caribbean are must visits.
Conrad Hotels & Resorts has 44 hotels in 22 countries. These properties are smart luxury where business and pleasure intersect and are known as affordable luxury options in city and resort destinations world wide.
Cornad is a great brand combining fun and luxury. From the Conrad downtown LA to the Conrad Bora Bora, to the the Conrad Maldives, there are so many amazing properties to visit.
LOCAL ESCAPES
There are 3 different brands providing immersive stays in the best neighborhoods perfect for the adventurous traveler.
Canopy by Hilton is a newer brand with 37 hotels in 10 counties bringing a vibrant boutique hotel feel. These properties are aimed toward younger travelers and located in trendy neighborhoods and offering elevated food, beverage, and dining services.
Tempo by Hilton is a new brand to the family with stylish and contemporary lifestyle properties. They have wellness rooms designed to help you power up the day with peloton bikes in the room!
Motto by Hilton has three hotels in the US with centrally located properties focused on reasonably priced accommodations with less traditional lodging in a one of a kind experience.
PREMIUM ESCAPES
Signia by Hilton is a new brand of premier hotels with two destinations in the US. These are in popular urban and resort destinations. These are great properties for meetings and event capabilities as well as premium wellness and dining.
Hilton Hotels & Resorts is the largest of the brand with 600+ hotels in 95 countries. This is the generic and big brand in the portfolio but also has stand out and iconic properties like the Beverly Hilton.
DoubleTree by Hilton has 649 hotels and resorts across 51 countries but is best known for their amazing chocolate chip cookies. Best for business and leisure travelers, this property is great for people who don’t necessarily care about top tier luxury and seeking more about the adventure.
CURATED COLLECTIONS
Curio Collection by Hilton has 133 hotels in 34 countries and appeals to passions travelers seeking local discovery in a boutique hotel collection.
The Curio in the Virgin Vegas Resort is a must visit.
Tapestry Collection by Hilton has 90 hotels in 12 countries with a boutique brant with unique properties and design. This is perfect for a traveler who doesn't want the same cookie cutter appearance time in and time out.
New Orleans, Chicago, and Connecticut have some amazing and stylish properties.
SUITE COLLECTIONS
Embassy Suites, Homewood Suites, and Home2Suites are big brands in the portfolio that offer multiple bedroom suites, kitchen, and a home away from home feel for extended stays.
ELEVATED ESSENTIALS
Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton, Tru by Hilton, and Spark by Hilton are all fun and upscale accommodations in a more affordable environment. These are great budget friendly properties with locations all over the world.
VACATION OWNERSHIP
Hilton Grand Vacations is a Timeshare based company for long and extended vacations featuring upscale spacious suites with fully equipped kitchens. There are 169 resorts including amaIng vacation destinations like Hawaii and Mexico.
Hilton Grand Vacation Properties in Hawaii are must visits from O'ahu to the Big Island.