Spending $15,000 to earn a free night certificate might sound like a hefty commitment, but when that certificate has no blackout dates, resort fees, or weekend-only restrictions, it becomes a game-changer for savvy travelers.
Shifting Focus to Hilton
In 2023, I decided to pursue the free night offered by the Hilton Surpass AMEX card. The Hilton free night requires $15,000 in spending, but it comes with one significant advantage over a similar offer from the World of Hyatt card. The Hilton free night can be used at nearly any Hilton property worldwide. Unlike Hyatt’s certificates, the Hilton free night has no category restrictions.
To streamline meeting the spending requirement, I handed the Hilton Surpass card to my wife, Sharon, to use as her primary card. Its 6X earning rate on supermarket, gas station, and restaurant purchases helped us hit the $15,000 mark by the end of the year. Along the way, we earned at least 45,000 Hilton Honors points, plus bonus points from category spending.
Maximizing the Hilton Free Night
The flexibility of the Hilton free night makes it an attractive option. Whether you’re eyeing properties like the Waldorf Astoria Maldives or the Conrad Bora Bora, where nightly rates often exceed $1,000, there are countless ways to extract exceptional value.
Our travel style doesn’t typically include high-end resorts. However, the flexibility allows us to splurge when we want. Even with our best plans, we used the free night at a Homewood Suites, a $300 value—not quite the luxury experience we had in mind. Even so, I planned to earn another free Hilton night in 2024 and use it in 2025.
Is It Worth It?
Earning a free night certificate by spending $15,000 is not for everyone. To determine if it’s worth it for you, consider:
- Spending Habits: Can you meet the $15,000 threshold through everyday spending categories without forcing unnecessary purchases?
- Travel Goals: Do you value flexibility in redemption, and do you have plans to stay at properties where the free night will deliver exceptional value?
- Additional Benefits: Factor in the points earned during the spending period. For the Hilton Surpass, the 6X earning rates on specific categories can add significant value.
For us, the Hilton free night certificate has proven to be a worthwhile goal. Its flexibility and potential for high-value redemptions make it a standout benefit, especially when compared to free night certificates offered by other programs.
Where Have You Used Your Hilton Free Night?
What’s the most valuable redemption you’ve made with a Hilton free night? Share your favorite destination or dream booking in the comments below—we’d love to hear your tips!
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