Discovering the Best Hilton Travel Strategies
Traveling for free sounds like a dream, but with the right strategies, it’s entirely possible. From the charming streets of Amsterdam to the historic charm of Prague, four Hilton properties in four countries were booked for a total of $0. Here’s a breakdown of the travel hacks that made this incredible journey happen, all using points and credit card perks.
Transferring Points to Hilton Honors
The first stay in Amsterdam features a pretty sweet strategy of transferring points to the Hilton Honors program. Earning points on a travel credit card and transferring them to a partner program like Hilton is simpler than it sounds. American Express is currently the only major card provider allowing point transfers to Hilton, at a 1:2 ratio. This means 1,000 American Express points become 2,000 Hilton Honors points, doubling the booking potential.
Dynamic pricing can make Hilton redemptions unpredictable, with standard rooms often requiring 60,000 points or more per night. However, with the favorable transfer ratio and occasional transfer bonuses (e.g., a 25% bonus), the cost in Amex points can be significantly reduced. For example, a room valued at $723 only needed 24,000 Amex points thanks to a transfer bonus, delivering an impressive redemption value of 3 cents per point.
Using Travel Credits for a Free Stay
Next, in Brussels, travel credits were used for a complimentary stay. Travel credits offered by various credit cards can be a game-changer. Cards like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card provide annual travel credits of $300, applicable to bookings made through their travel portal. This flexibility allows stays at properties like Hilton to be covered without dipping into point balances. It’s worth noting that changes in how these credits are applied now mean instant deductions at checkout, making the process simpler but forgoing points earned on bookings.
Booking Directly Through Card Providers
Budapest was the next stop, where booking directly through a card provider proved to be the best move. For this stay, Chase Ultimate Rewards points were used to book a Hilton property. With the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, points receive a 25% boost when used through the Chase TravelSM portal, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a 50% boost. In this case, a two-night stay that would require 30,500 Amex points through the Hilton site was booked for just 21,000 Chase points, equating to a redemption value of 1.7 cents per point—better than most direct transfer options.
Leveraging Credit Card Welcome Offers
The last stop in Prague highlighted the power of welcome offers. The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card offers a hefty bonus after meeting a spending requirement, making it possible to book multiple nights for free. In this instance, a two-night stay valued at $660 was covered entirely by 100,000 points from the card’s welcome offer, with points left over for future adventures. While the card comes with a $150 annual fee (Rates & Fees), it includes automatic Gold status, which unlocks perks like free breakfast and potential room upgrades.
Final Thoughts
Booking Hilton stays with miles and points comes with numerous options: transferring points with favorable ratios, using travel credits for flexible bookings, redeeming through card providers for point boosts, and leveraging welcome offers for high-value redemptions. In total, the four properties visited on this trip would have cost over $1,900, but with strategic planning and smart use of credit card perks, the out-of-pocket expense came to $0. For more insights and tools to make free travel possible, check out up-to-date transfer bonuses and top travel credit cards.
