If you’ve been collecting Hilton Honors points, you might be wondering how to book a Hilton hotel with points and get the best possible value.
This comprehensive Hilton points booking guide will show you how to earn Hilton Honors points quickly, the exact step-by-step process to book a hotel stay with Hilton points, and how to maximize rewards with Hilton’s 5th Night Free benefit.
Whether you’re searching for the best value Hilton points redemption, planning a budget-friendly getaway, or aiming for a luxury stay at a Waldorf Astoria or Conrad without spending cash, these strategies will help you stretch your points further.
Why use Hilton Honors Points for your next stay
Redeeming Hilton Honors points can save you hundreds, even thousands, of dollars on hotel stays.
Hilton award nights have no blackout dates, waive resort fees, and elite members receive added perks, such as free breakfast and room upgrades.
Plus, with over 7,000 Hilton properties worldwide, there’s a redemption option for every type of traveler.
Over the years, our family stayed at the Waldorf Astoria in Los Cabos, Hilton Waikoloa Village in Hawaii, and Hilton Edinburgh Carlton, using points! And have 3 upcoming stays in French Polynesia later this year!
How to earn Hilton Honors Points fast
Earn points from Hilton Hotel stays
Earn 10 points per $1 at most Hilton brands and 5 points per $1 at Home2 Suites and Tru by Hilton.
Elite members earn bonus points on top: Silver (+20%), Gold (+80%), and Diamond (+100%).
Get a Hilton Honors American Express Credit Card to earn points
One of the fastest ways to grow your Hilton Honors balance is by opening a Hilton Honors American Express credit card.
These cards often offer large welcome bonuses, sometimes worth multiple free nights, along with extra points for Hilton stays, dining, gas, and grocery purchases.
Here are the main Hilton Amex credit card options:
- Hilton Honors American Express Card (No Annual Fee)
- Great for beginners who want to earn Hilton points without paying an annual fee.
- Comes with Hilton Silver Status (that would allow you to furhter use the 5th Night Free Reward)
- Earn 80,000 poins after meeting the minimum spend
- Earn 7X points at Hilton hotels, 5X points at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations, and 3X pointson all other purchases.
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- Ideal for frequent Hilton travelers looking for Hilton Gold Status and higher earnings.
- Earn 130,000 poins after meeting the minimum spend
- Earn 12X points at Hilton hotels, 6X points at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations, and 3X points on other purchases.
- Comes with Gold Elite status automatically, which includes free breakfast at most brands.
American Express Hilton Honors Surpass
Earn a signup bonus of 130,000 Hilton Honors Points when you sign up for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card and spend $3,000 in the first 6 months.
REWARDS RATE
3x-12x
BONUS VALUE
$1,300
SIGN-UP BONUS
130,000 points
ANNUAL FEE
$150
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire® Card
- Premium card with Hilton Diamond Status and luxury travel perks.
- Earn 150,000 poins after meeting the minimum spend
- Earn 14X points at Hilton hotels, 7X points on flights, car rentals, and U.S. restaurants, and 3X pointseverywhere else.
- Includes $250 resort credit and annual free night reward.
- Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
- Designed for small business owners who want to earn Hilton points on business spending.
- Earn 130,000 poins after meeting the minimum spend
- Earn 12X points at Hilton hotels, 6X points on select business categories (e.g., gas, wireless, shipping), and 3X points on other purchases.
- Comes with Hilton Gold Status and the ability to earn a free night after meeting spending thresholds.
Transfer Amex Membership Rewards points to Hilton
If you have an American Express card that earns Membership Rewards points, like The Platinum Card® from American Express, American Express® Gold Card, or American Express® Green Card, you can transfer Amex points to Hilton Honors at a 1:2 ratio.
That means 1,000 Amex Membership Rewards points = 2,000 Hilton Honors points, instantly boosting your Hilton balance for a free night redemption.
Why Transfer Amex Points to Hilton?
Occasional Transfer Bonuses: Amex often runs limited-time promos offering 20%–40% more Hilton points when you transfer, giving you even better value.
Instant Top-Ups: If you’re just short of the points you need for a booking, a quick transfer can make up the difference.
Flexible Rewards: You can keep points in Amex until you see a good Hilton redemption, then move them over.
Earn points with Hilton dining and shopping partners
Link your credit card to the Hilton Honors Dining Program or shop through Hilton’s online portal to earn extra points.
Take Advantage of Hilton Honors Promotions
Hilton frequently offers double or triple points promos. Register for promotions before booking your stay.
Pool points with friends or family
Hilton lets you combine points with up to 10 other members for free, perfect for family trips.
How to book a stay with Hilton Points
Step 1: Log In to Your Hilton Honors Account
Visit Hilton.com or open the Hilton app and sign in with your account details.
Step 2: Search for Hilton Hotels or destinations
Enter your destination, travel dates, and number of guests. Press “Find a Hotel”.
Step 3: Compare Hilton Award Night Rates
Press “View Rates” and then check Use Points & Money. Budget Hilton hotels can start at 20,000 points/night, while luxury brands like Waldorf Astoria may cost 120,000+ points/night.
To see Hilton award availability in calendar view, start by clicking “Edit Stay” at the top of the booking page. Select the date field to open the small date picker window, then choose “Shop by Price” to view a full month of rates.
Make sure the “Use Points & Money” box is checked so you can see the points availability for each date and easily spot the lowest Hilton Honors points rates.
Step 4: Search for Standard Room availability
- Standard Room Rewards offer the best value (it is also the type of the room that you can redeem your Hilton Free Night Reward at)
- Premium Room Rewards give more choices but require way more points.
If traveling with kids, look for standard rooms with two beds or book connecting rooms where available.
Step 5: Review Points, policies, and fees before booking
Check the total points, cancellation policy, and any fees. Even when booking with points, you’ll need a credit card on file.
Step 6: Confirm and get your reservation details
Click Book, and Hilton will email your confirmation. Your reservation will also appear in your Hilton app.
Hilton’s 5th Night Free benefit explained
Who qualifies for Hilton’s 5th Night Free
All Silver, Gold, and Diamond members receive this benefit when booking Standard Room Rewards.
How the Hilton Free Night is calculated
When booking five or more consecutive nights on points, every 5th night is free. Hilton averages the nightly points rate, then deducts one night from your total.
Example:
If a Hilton hotel stay costs 50,000 points per night and you stay 5 nights, you’ll pay 200,000 points instead of 250,000 — saving 50,000 points.
To get the best value from your Hilton Honors points, book early to lock in lower award rates, use the Hilton Points Explorer tool to find hotels that match your points balance, and plan mid-week or off-peak stays for cheaper redemptions.
Always compare the cash vs. points price before booking, as paying cash can sometimes offer better value, and if you have Hilton Silver, Gold, or Diamond status, take advantage of the Hilton 5th Night Free benefit to stretch your points even further.
Frequently Asked Questions About Booking Hilton Hotels with Points
How many Hilton Honors points do I need for a free night?
Prices start around 20,000 points/night for budget hotels and go up to 95,000+ points/night for luxury brands.
Can I combine Hilton points with cash?
Yes, Hilton’s Points + Money option lets you use a mix of points and cash for your booking.
Do Hilton points expire?
Yes, after 24 months of inactivity. Any earning or redeeming activity resets the expiration clock.
Can I book suites with Hilton points?
Yes, but they’re usually available as Premium Room Rewards and require more points.
The rule has change for the Fifth Night Free : NO MORE THAN 95,000 POINTS PER NIGHT. Crazy !!!!
From the hilton Website:
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How to redeem a Fifth Night Free
When you book a standard room reward stay for five or more consecutive nights, every fifth night is free.
Free nights can be redeemed for as few as 5,000 Points per night and no more than 95,000 Points per night for a standard room. Select properties with specialty accommodations may require up to 120,000 Points per night for a standard room.
The number of Points required may vary depending on the hotel, time of year, and cost of the room.
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I believe (and hope) this is the old information, as they themselves can’t keep up with constant devaluation. This is what it says further “5th Night Free: For every Standard Room Reward stay of five or more nights, every 5th night is free. Members can utilize the 5th Night Free benefit on an unlimited number of stays annually. Applies only to five consecutive nights within the same full Points Standard Room Reward stay at the same property, up to 20 nights, when confirmed at time of booking… A standard room is defined by each hotel and subject to availability at participating hotels within the Hilton Portfolio. Applies to Standard Room Reward stays only, not to paid stays or Points & Money Rewards™”. So as long as it’s a Standard Room, it should allow you to take advantage of the 5th night free: 95k and 120k were the previous Standard Room rates, and now they are up to 250k.