Hilton Points – Should We Burn Them Now?

March 8, 2013 - Bryce

As you all probably know, Hilton announced that it was changing the structure of its Hilton HHonors reward program. There has been a lot of buzz around the blogosphere about how big of a devaluation this is. Hilton is moving from a seven category program to a ten category system with some properties almost doubling in cost! With that in mind, I’m planning a trip around a Hilton stay so that I can make sure to get the most value out of my points.

I have about 127,000 Hilton points after signing up for the Citi Hilton Visa card and the American Express Hilton card, both of which are no-fee cards. I had been collecting 6x Hilton points at drug stores by buying Vanilla Reloads, but that bonus was recently taken away. I had been saving up for a lengthier trip, but given where we are on the calendar, I’m resigned to using my points for a 4-night Category 6 AXON award, which costs 125,000 points. I have two long weekends in the coming months that I could potentially take a trip during – Memorial Day at the end of May and Labor Day at the very beginning of September. My only problem is that I’m not quite sure where I want to go, which is where all of you come in!

I have several places that I would love to go, but deciding which destination is the best for this particular award has been difficult. For instance, I loved Paris when I went there last summer, but there isn’t a great Hilton in Paris that I would want to redeem my points for. There is a Waldorf-Astoria in Versailles, but I can’t use an AXON award at a Waldorf-Astoria. Have any of you stayed at the Hilton Paris La Defense? It seems out of the way, but do you think it’s a worthy hotel? I’ve wanted to travel to Barcelona for several years and there is a Category 6 Hilton there. However, right now Labor Day weekend is right about 100€, so it would be a terrible value for my points. The only other Hilton in the city is a Category 7 so I wouldn’t have enough points, but even that is less than 200€. London has many Hilton Hotels, but they’re all Category 7 hotels! I could stay at the Hilton London Docklands, but it’s in a very inconvenient location outside the city. It seems I’m destined not to travel to Europe!

Looking domestically, there are a lot of different cities that I would love to visit. Charleston, SC has been on my list for a few years now, but they don’t have a proper Hilton there. I could stay at the Hampton Inn, but that just doesn’t excite my very much. I love Seattle, but even the Hilton there is a Category 7 and out of my price range. San Francisco is also out of the question with only Category 7 Hiltons available. Where is there to travel in a Category 5 or 6 hotel!? Miami has a Conrad that is a Category 6 hotel, but is only $148 right now! It’s back to the drawing board for me it seems, but I’m sure I’ll find something. There are so many places in the world that I want to go that I’m sure I’ll find something.

What are all of you doing with your Hilton points? Burning them like there’s no tomorrow or holding on to them? While a lot of hotels are increasing in price, not all of them are so make sure to see the new categories for all of Hilton’s hotels. Moreover, Hilton and American Express haven’t detailed how AXON awards will be affected. While I’m sure they’ll be devalued, they could still be a good value.However, it seems like aspirational properties like the Conrad Koh Samui are increasing dramatically so if you’ve been dreaming of one of those properties, make sure to make reservations before March 28!

http://www.facebook.com/jonlnichols Jon Nichols

I’m going to Prague in September, staying at Hilton Prague Old Town. It’s a Category 6, but I actually got it through Hotwire at $79/night… lucky me! (the current rate at Hilton.com is about $250). I just took a shot at Hotwire, since the price was so good and it looked like it would be a good hotel. Hopefully they’ll still honor my Gold status and give me an upgrade (though I suppose that’s a bit hit or miss with Hotwire bookings)
withaspark

If you’re flexible on dates, http://www.hiltonwaikoloavillage.com for June 13-17. Premium rooms for around 32k/night. Cash prices are low too…so not great redemption value, but huge value if you’re trying to burn pts, considering what you’re getting. If you look closely, it’ll tell you resort charge is waived with premium room redeption…another $100 there…

Dave

32k? I just looked for those dates (June 13-17, 4 nights) and the lowest I see is 40K+. Did this disappear or is there another trick?

withaspark

Hmm…they’ve gone up a bit from when I speculatively booked a few days ago at 37,811 on the 13th and 32,524 for each night 14th-17th. Now it’s 40,343 for the first night and 32,702 for each of the 3 following nights…still pretty good.

It’s a GLON rate, so you do need HHonors status (for others following the conversation). But it appears rates have shifted a bit…(I checked today @ noon EST) try 14-17 @ 32,524 per night in LAGOON TWR MOUNTN VW-1KNG-PLUS 25USD RSRT CHG (130,096 pts total for 4 nights). Not bad when it means you save the resort fee instead of using an AXON and who knows…maybe a better upgrade(?).

BobChi

I’m kind of confused. Is the primary goal of your travels really to find the right Hilton to burn your points at? This seems backwards to me. Wouldn’t it be better to travel to the places you really want to see, then redeem your points at a suitable Hilton if there is one, or stay somewhere else if not? I guess each person has his own priorities, but this whole post seems weird to me.

http://www.frugaltravelguy.com Bryce

I have a lot of different cities and destinations that I want to see. Right now, I’m hoping to find a great Hilton that’s at one of those destinations. I’m not going to visit just any destination to spend these points.

truprunbike

What do you mean the 6x points was recently taken away? Is that because your drugstore wont accept credit cards anymore? I know it was dicusssed that the Hilton card was ending this, but i just logged into my account and its still valid and i visit my CVS 6 times a month.

Ken Paynter

I think FTG is incorrect. My understanding is that the 6x at drugstores will go away end of June. I just got my 6x bonus for Feb. There was originally some speculation it was going away ASAP.

penncomm

I keep hearing people say this, but I have never actually received word from American Express that there will be a change in terms coming. I’ll hang my hat on that when/if it come.

http://www.frugaltravelguy.com Bryce

I’m relying on this application page: https://www262.americanexpress.com/apisites/microsite/apply/hilton-hhonors-card/71-1000-95

It doesn’t mention any bonus points for grocery stores or pharmacies. It could be that I’m wrong or it could be just for new applicants.
withaspark

I received notice with my Feb AMEX (no fee) HHonors statement. New earning is 7x Hilton, 5x gas, groceries, and surprisingly dining (can’t remember how this was worded). 3x everything else.

It was supposed to be effective at the start of new statement in May (I think).

Ken Paynter

You are right. It’s May when 6x goes. Until then, load up!

http://www.facebook.com/bob.erickson2 Bob Erickson

Too many VR cards sold at CVS = 6 x HH points no longer profitable for Amex.

Brian

I stayed in the Docklands last time I was in London, it was ~15 minutes to downtown via the underground. I wouldn’t exactly describe that as a “very inconvenient location outside the city” but I suppose that’s a presonal call. There’s a pretty great museum there, on the history of the Docklands, also. Either way, good luck!
http://twitter.com/NewNomads D Daniel

We have 6 nights booked at the Sydney Hilton and will still have over 250K points left after that (entirely from STAYS). I’m not looking to “burn” points but I am not going to keep saving them for something special either.
David

The Los Cabos Hilton is great! And a stay on points is free from resort fee (10% of room rate). I think it is cat. 6 too.

jmw2323

one of my top targets for burning my points. no change in their redemption rate

surveyoror

is breakfast included for gold members? thanks

penncomm

For us, our points are just as valuable. Some properties actually benefited from the change. I’m not interested in dropping a huge load of points to stay 1 night at a ritzy hotel. We’ll hold on to ours for a 4 or 5 night stay at a family-friendly Homewood Suites, Garden Inn, or Embassy Suites. We would be happy to take over your “worthless” Hilton points
https://twitter.com/ProfCharlotte Charlotte (TYR)

Burning them ASAP. The Conrad Tokyo goes to 80K a night for when I was expecting to go next year with the new points system. Booked it a few days ago for 37.5 K a night. Quite a big jump and will probably mean I will look more toward another hotel chain like Starwood or even Carlson for most of my hotel stays in the future. I know some of you did not see any differences in points for you for the future, but I was saving up for some high end Hilton hotels that I could never afford to pay for except by points and I am still in shock that it would go up from 37.5 to 80K points a night.
Gary72

Doubletree in London is 40,000 points now (to go up to 60,000) and is almost right next to a tube station…which make all of London accessible. If you have not been to London, it is truly a wonderful experience, especially all all the free museums and terrific locals….

http://solidstateid.com TomF

Second that motion. The Doubletree Tower of London is a fine property and was a deal at 40k points/night. I’m in burn-and-exit mode also and my standard practice is to target properties like this in major / expensive cities that offer good value compared to the top-tier Hilton alternatives in the same city.

jmw2323

I am hoping to burn most if not all of my hilton points (280k after recent CC run) for spring break 2014. Just waiting for the dates to become available. Looking caribbean or mexico. Fortunately most of what I am looking at, redemption stayed the same or went up 1 or down 1 level so not too bad.

I just don’t get their “premium” room redemptions. 50k/nt for a standard room and around 115k/nt for a room that costs $30 more
http://www.facebook.com/michele.quintas Michele Quintas

We have 525K+ points. We want to go to Moorea, Bora Bora so I need to get booking. LOL Conrad Tokyo sounds good too. We stood at the Hilton in Paris near the Arc. It was very nice. Not sure if it is still a Hilton property though?

Brian

Nope – no longer a Hilton – which sucks because the Hilton ADT was on many folks top Hiltons list. I stayed there a few times and it was perfect – superb location, nice lounge, great service. I was so extremely disappointed that they sold it – I was planning on going back many times over the years.

brandsteve

They didn’t sell it. It was taken away from them in a lawsuit.

jacisme

The other day I booked 4 nights in the Conrad Hong Kong for July for 145k using the AXON award hotline. Only needed 3 full nights but getting a 4th night and qualifying for AXON is actually cheaper than paying 3 full nights with no discount! I had to transfer 7k ThankYou points over to get enough in my account, but now I’m pretty cleaned up. I have 250 Hilton points left in my account. Screw it!
http://twitter.com/swtapple Allison G

How about Brazil?
Kirk

About Charleston, SC… you seemed to miss the fact that there is a Doubletree and Embassy Suites in the historic district! How much time are you planning to spend at the hotel?!? There are many incredible restaurants and sights to see throughout the very walkable historic district. As long as the hotel has good reviews, I wouldn’t discount the Hampton.

League

The Doubletree gets pretty solid reviews, too, but it is a Cat 7, which he seems to be trying to avoid. The Embassy Suites gets pretty poor reviews… look on tripadvisor… not saying their reviews are always perfectly unbiased, but I generally find it to be pretty accurate, esp when there’s a bunch of reviews as there are in this case. In any case, though, Charleston is an *excellent* destination! I’m mainly a Europe-lover, and there’s only a tiny # of places in US that get me excited in the same way – SFO, NYC, and Charleston! Going back again this year!

http://www.facebook.com/jerry.knight.583 Jerry Knight

My wife and I stayed at the Hilton in Amsterdam a couple of years ago, great restaurant for breakfast, and without a doubt the nicest club level ever on the top floor. Location was OK
http://twitter.com/nicholaslees Nick Lees

My wife and I are trying to figure out where to use our 230k HHonors points in early June… are biggest trouble is getting there (airfare) since most of our points are spread across airlines, so we may have to fly separately.
MB

Hilton Cabo is incredible and grey value for points. I’m about to do a 11 day Australia trip and I’m burning about 600K points – planned we but even more satisfying after I saw the change. There is an doubletree (i think – its the only property right downtown next to the farmers market) downtown in Charleston that is really cool. Rooms are nice an hotel has an old feel to it – great to walk to everything. The 2 Hilton’s in Amsterdam are nicely equipped for traveled as well – especially if you have access to Exec lounges. Good luck, cheers.
http://www.facebook.com/bob.erickson2 Bob Erickson

Burn baby, burn! Use as many points as you can before the deadline, especially for hotels moving to categories 9 and 10.
Justin

Personally, I wouldn’t burn them just to burn them. By doing so you’re likely going to be burning air miles and/or cash for plane tickets for a vacation you only half way want to take… trade them or wait and see where the sweet spots are (if any) in the new system
http://www.facebook.com/kenny.menzel.3 Kenny Menzel

The Hilton Hotel mattresses are too firm for my liking.

Hilton Points – Should We Burn Them Now?

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