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The Guide to Booking Award Nights With Hilton Honors

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How many Hilton points for a free night?

Best strategies for booking hilton award nights, where you can use your hilton honors points, how else can you use hilton honors points, other hilton points tips, using hilton points for free nights recapped.

Once upon a time there was a Hilton award chart. That made it quite clear how many Hilton Honors points you needed to book an award night, allowing you to save your cash for you and to cover your hotel room with points. There's now no longer a published Hilton Honors points redemption chart, but you can still book award nights using Hilton Honors points. Now, points generally correspond a bit more closely with the cash price to book a room — but that's not always the case.

Luckily, Hilton doesn't leave you totally in the dark in terms of how much it costs to book a room on points. Instead, Hilton has what it calls the Points Explorer tool, giving you a better gauge of how many points you'll need to book a specific Hilton reward. You can even filter results by the number of points you actually have.

The minimum amount of Hilton points that you’ll need to book a standard room is 5,000 points, and the cost can reach upward of 120,000 points for high-end properties. For a step-by-step guide on how to use points to book an award stay, check out this resource: The complete guide to using Hilton Honors points .

Since Hilton doesn’t offer an award chart, the number of points needed for any given stay will vary based on hotel, room, booking and stay date. Although this can make pricing your award night more uncertain, Hilton does put both a minimum and a cap on the number of points needed for stays at each property. Use the Points Explorer tool to check the maximum price.

For example, a night at the Conrad Tokyo requires a minimum of 65,000 points and a maximum of 95,000 points.

Importantly, the cap on the maximum number of points needed per night for Hilton award redemptions applies only to a standard room rate; premium rooms can cost quite a deal more. Here’s an example standard room redemption at the Conrad Tokyo:

Use points and money

Hilton also allows you to pay with a mixture of points and cash for hotel stays. Although this can be a helpful feature if you don’t have enough Hilton points to book a full stay, if you’re looking to maximize the value of your points, this isn't usually the best option.

You’ll still need to pay resort fees for bookings made with Points & Money (notably, resort fees are waived for award bookings paid entirely with points). Additionally, by using the strategies in this article, you’ll often be able to get a better redemption rate for your points than is offered through Points & Money.

Here are some strategies that can help you maximize the value of your Hilton Honors points:

1. Use the Hilton 5th night free benefit

One of the best ways to get the most value out of your Hilton points is using Hilton’s fifth night free benefit. Whenever you book a standard room reward for five or more nights with Hilton, the fifth night is free.

This benefit is available to any Hilton Honors™ elite (Silver level and above) — and don’t worry, elite status is really easy to get with Hilton (more on that below).

By taking advantage of the fifth night free perk, you are spending 20% less points on an award stay. For example, if an award night costs 30,000 points, a four-night stay and a five-night stay will both cost 120,000 points. By taking advantage of the fifth night free, you’re effectively paying 24,000 points per night instead of 30,000.

For example, take a look at this five-night hotel stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Brussels City Centre in June 2023.

Although each night is priced at 30,000 points, when you book five nights, the last night is free — so the entire stay will cost only 120,000 points. Those points used for the stay are worth around $600 given NerdWallet's valuation of 0.5 cent per point.

Now, if you look at the hotel price in cash, you will see that you’re being charged for the fifth night. That's because the fifth night free perk is not available on stays paid in cash.

This five-night stay will set you back about $800 based on the current exchange rate. By using points, you’re getting a value in excess of 0.75 cent per point, which is above what the points are worth based on our valuation.

By using points on a five night stay, you’re not only spending fewer points but also saving more cash. As long as you book a five-night stay, this perk will let you meaningfully increase the value of your points.

As mentioned before, to take advantage of this benefit, you’ll need to at least have Hilton Honors™ Silver status. Luckily, Hilton makes it pretty simple to reach Silver.

2. Get Hilton Silver status

Hilton has three elite status levels: Hilton Honors™ Silver, Hilton Honors™ Gold and Hilton Honors™ Diamond. Once you sign up for a loyalty account and get a Hilton Honors account number, you reach the Member level. As a Member, you still get some perks like no resort fees on award stays and free Wi-Fi.

To get the fifth night free award, you’ll need to reach Hilton Honors™ Silver elite status, which can be achieved by staying 10 nights at Hilton properties. However, a much faster way to attain Silver status is to get approved for a Hilton credit card (even one without a fee).

For example, the Hilton Honors American Express Card does not charge an annual fee. In addition to automatic Silver status, the card offers the following perks:

7 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels or resorts.

5 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations.

3 points per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.

No foreign transaction fees. Terms apply.

Unlike many other cards without annual fees , this card does not charge foreign transaction fees. If you’re a Hilton loyalist and you’re looking to add a hotel card to your portfolio, this is a solid option. Not only can you use it when traveling internationally, but you can also earn 7x Hilton points when you swipe the card at Hilton properties. Most importantly though, you get Silver status, which gets you the fifth night free on award bookings.

» Learn more: The best hotel credit cards

3. Use a Hilton free night certificate

While the fifth night award is great, the free night certificate is also a great perk and provides you with a lot more flexibility for shorter stays. These certificates can only be earned by those who have Hilton co-branded credit cards that charge an annual fee.

The certificate can be used at almost any Hilton property as long as there is a standard room available. Hilton hotels are priced from as low as 5,000 points per night to upwards of 120,000 for a standard room — generally, you’d be extracting the most value from a certificate by using it at a higher-end property.

To learn all about the different ways to maximize the certificate, how to earn, and the best ways to redeem it, check out our guide: How to Earn and Redeem Hilton Free Night Certificates .

Here are the various Hilton cards that either offer a free night certificate outright or provide a path to earning one.

on American Express' website

Get one free night reward with the card each year. Earn an additional night after you spend $30,000 on purchases in a calendar year and another after you spend $60,000 in a calendar year.

Terms apply.

Earn a weekend night reward after you spend $15,000 on purchases on your card in a calendar year.

Earn a free night reward after you spend $15,000 on purchases on your card in a calendar year and a second when you spend an additional $45,000 in the same calendar year ($60,000 total).

4. Focus on Hilton luxury hotels

Luxury properties generally offer the best opportunity to maximize the value of your Hilton points. One way to find a luxury stay is to use Hilton’s Points Explorer tool , which allows you to select the nightly price and filter by location and/or other criteria.

Although on the Points Explorer tool, the maximum number of points you could choose from the slider is 95,000, there are properties that require more points, even for a standard night. Nonetheless, we can input this search into the Points Explorer tool to see what comes up.

You’ll then see a map, which will allow you to zoom in by location and also let you filter by specific hotel brands. You may be prompted to enter a location.

Let’s say for example, you’ve decided to check out the Conrad Los Angeles, which starts at 90,000 points per night. A scan of the calendar over the year shows plenty of availability at 90,000 points per night, even during the holidays in December.

However, if you were to book this stay with cash, you’d pay $4,514.32, which also includes a daily resort fee of $30 ($150 for all five nights), which is waived on award stays.

By booking with points you’d extract a value of 1.2 cent per point ($4,514 / 360,000 points), which is more than double our 0.5 cent per point valuation.

Whenever possible, book your award stays entirely with points to avoid the much-dreaded resort fees.

Hilton is one of the largest hotel companies with 18 brands , more than 6,800 hotels in 122 countries. Its Hilton Honors loyalty program can be richly rewarding for members and includes the following brands:

Canopy by Hilton.

Conrad Hotels & Resorts.

Curio Collection by Hilton.

Doubletree by Hilton.

Embassy Suites by Hilton.

Hampton by Hilton.

Hilton Garden Inn.

Hilton Grand Vacations.

Hilton Hotels & Resorts.

Home2 Suites by Hilton.

Homewood Suites by Hilton.

Tapestry Collection by Hilton.

Tru by Hilton.

Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts.

Top-tier Hilton hotels where you can use your points

If you’re looking for some suggestions on where you can put your points or free night certificates, check out our guides:

3 high-value Hilton Honors points redemptions

How to maximize your Hilton free night certificates

Best Hilton hotels in Las Vegas to book with points

Best Hilton hotels in Hawaii

As a Hilton Honors member you can redeem points toward travel in other ways.

NerdWallet values Hilton points at 0.5 cent each. This is a baseline value, drawn from real-world data, not a maximized value. In other words, you should aim for award redemptions that offer 0.5 cent or more in value from your Hilton points.

Airline and Amtrak points. For example, 10,000 Hilton Honors points can be redeemed for 1,500 Amtrak Guest Rewards points, while the same number of points equals 1,000 Delta or United miles.

Hilton Experiences. Hilton also lets you redeem points for experiences and events. Some of these "once-in-a-lifetime experiences" can be booked outright, while others require bidding. For example, bidding for tickets to a Jim Gaffigan comedy show in New York topped out at 90,000 points — or you could get The Ultimate Mezcal Tasting Experience in Cancun for just 25,000 points.

Non-travel awards. You can also use points to shop for non-travel awards. Some options including shopping and purchasing items through Hilton’s partnership with Amazon.com — link your Hilton account to Amazon and you can use your points through the Shop with Points program. On Amazon, 500 points equals $1. You can also pool your points with other Hilton Honors members free of charge and redeem for free night awards. If you're feeling charitable, members can donate points through Point Worthy to a number of nonprofit organizations, such as the Red Cross. Redeem at least 10,000 points for a $25 donation.

How many Hilton Honors points will I earn on hotel stays?

Hilton Honors members earn 10 points for every $1 spent at most Hilton properties. Home2 Suites and Tru hotels earn 5 points per $1.

Hilton Honors™ elite members earn additional bonuses on top of the 10 points per $1:

Silver: 20% bonus points.

Gold: 80% bonus points.

Diamond: 100% bonus points.

Additionally, meeting planners can earn 1 point for every $1 spent when booking guest rooms, meeting rooms and other event space.

Earn more points with the Hilton credit cards

Hilton offers four credit card options that come with welcome bonuses and elite status, among other benefits.

• 7 points per $1 on eligible purchases with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.

• 5 points per $1 at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations.

• 3 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.

• 12 points per $1 on eligible purchases with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.

• 6 points per $1 at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations.

• 4 points per $1 on U.S. online retail purchases.

• 14 points per $1 on eligible purchases with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.

• 7 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies.

• 7 points per $1 at U.S. restaurants.

• 5 points per $1 on other purchases made using the Hilton Honors Business Card on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, 3 points per $1 thereafter.

• Complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver status, which gives you a 20% bonus on Hilton Honors base points as well as a fifth night free whenever you use points to book five or more nights at a Hilton property.

• Path to Gold status. Get an upgrade to Gold if you spend $20,000 or more on the card in a calendar year.

Learn more about elite status levels with our guide to the Hilton Honors program .

• Complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold status , which gives you an 80% points bonus, as well as complimentary breakfasts at select hotels and room upgrades at select properties where available.

• Path to Diamond status. Get an upgrade to Diamond if you spend $40,000 or more on the card in a calendar year.

• $200 annual statement credit for eligible Hilton purchases on your card (doled out in $50 statement credits per quarter).

• Potential free night. Earn a weekend night reward after you spend $15,000 on purchases on your card in a calendar year.

• Complimentary Hilton Honors™ Diamond status , which gives you such perks, such as double bonus points on all base points you earn, room upgrades when available, premium Wi-Fi, late checkout and more.

• Free nights. Get one free night reward with the card each year. Earn an additional night after you spend $30,000 on purchases in a calendar year and another after you spend $60,000 in a calendar year.

• Flight credit. Get up to $50 in credit each quarter on flight purchases made directly with an airline or through American Express.

• $200 annual resort credit . Get up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually for eligible purchases at participating Hilton Resorts.

• Potential free nights . Earn a free night reward after you spend $15,000 on purchases on your card in a calendar year and a second when you spend an additional $45,000 in the same calendar year ($60,000 total).

• Airport lounge access. Ten complimentary Priority Pass visits each year. Enrollment is required.

Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business Card within the first six months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 6/5. Terms Apply.

Even without a points chart, Hilton Honors has a really great award program if you’re savvy and willing to invest the time to find the best redemptions. To maximize the value of your points, try to save enough so that you can book your entire stay using the points, ideally at luxury properties and for at least five nights.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

2x-10x Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

What are Hilton Honors points worth?

T he Hilton Honors program features more than 6,200 properties around the globe, which makes it one of the largest hotel loyalty programs worldwide. Free night awards start at 5,000 points and go all the way up to 95,000 points for a standard room, and you can even pay for your stay with a combination of points and cash if you prefer.

But how much are Hilton Honors points worth? That really depends on when you want to travel, the Hilton property you want to stay in and additional factors that may or may not be in your control. Still, there are plenty of ways to maximize Hilton points value if you’re willing to put in some effort and be flexible with your travel plans.

Understanding Hilton Honors points value

Hilton Honors point value varies, but it is determined by looking at the per-point value for specific redemptions. Since Hilton doesn’t follow an award calendar—and since they use dynamic award pricing instead—it’s difficult to know the “average” value of points in this program without comparing the cost of reservations at various properties throughout the year.

The value listed below is based on rewards availability, the average value across several different properties and any additional fees you might have to pay if you use points.

What are Hilton points worth?

According to recent valuations from Bankrate , Hilton Honors points are worth approximately 0.6 cents each. This valuation makes them about average among popular hotel loyalty programs, although some hotel points are worth considerably more or somewhat less. For example, points in the World of Hyatt program are worth around 2.3 cents each, while IHG Rewards points are only worth 0.7 cents each.

The following chart shows the average value of hotel points right now across the top hotel rewards programs:

How to get the most value from Hilton points

Getting more than 0.6 cents per point for your Hilton Honors points is easier than you might think if you’re flexible with your travel plans. Remember, the Hilton point value we report in this guide represents the average value you can receive, but it’s possible to get more or less.

If your goal is maximizing your Hilton points value, consider these tips:

Book standard rooms in high-end luxury properties

First off, you’re more likely to get more bang for your buck if you use Hilton Honors points for luxury resorts that have exorbitant nightly rates. For example, you could book a Beach Villa at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island for 95,000 points per night or $902 in December. Booking with points, in this case, would mean getting a Hilton Honors point value of 0.9 cents each, which is higher than average.

Get your 5th night free

Also, keep in mind that you’ll get a 5th night free when you book at least four consecutive nights and you have Hilton Honors Silver elite status or higher. This means you can book five nights in points for the regular price of four, which helps you stretch your Hilton Honors point value by 25 percent.

Interestingly, you don’t have to be a frequent traveler to get at least Silver status with the Hilton Honors brand. That’s because the Hilton Honors American Express Card offers automatic Silver elite status for cardholders plus other benefits with no annual fee.

You can also get complimentary Hilton Honors elite status through The Platinum Card® from American Express . This American Express card offers automatic Hilton Honors Gold Status, among many other travel benefits. The card also carries an annual fee of $695.

Be flexible with travel dates

Due to the dynamic nature of awards in the Hilton Honors program, it pays to be flexible with your travel dates. You may find the same hotel requires significantly more (or fewer) points over a small range of dates and that you can save in a big way if you’re willing to go with the flow and travel during off-peak dates.

You may also find award nights for fewer points on weekdays instead of weekends.

Hilton Honors transfer partners

While Hilton Honors points are worth more when you use them for hotel stays, you also have the option to transfer your points away from Hilton and into various frequent flyer programs. Hilton airline and rail partners include the following:

• AirAsia BIG
• Air New Zealand
• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• ANA All Nippon
• Asiana Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• China Eastern
• Delta Air Lines
• Ethiopian Airlines
• Etihad Airways
• Flying Blue (Air France/KLM)
• Frontier Airways
• Garuda Indonesia
• Hainan Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Japan Airlines
• Jet Airways
• Malaysia Airlines
• Philippine Airlines
• Qantas Airways
• Qatar Airlines
• SAS Scandinavian Airlines
• Saudi Arabian Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• South African Airways
• Turkish Airlines
• United Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic
• Virgin Australia

Also, keep in mind that some partners let you transfer points from other programs into the Hilton Honors programs. Partners that let you transfer their points to Hilton include the following:

• American Express Membership Rewards
• Virgin Atlantic Airways

How to transfer Hilton points

To transfer points from the Hilton Honors rewards program to one of its travel partners, you’ll first need to set your preferred travel partners in your Hilton Honors account. Navigate to your account preferences and choose the program you want to transfer to from the drop-down list. You’ll need to enter your account number to link your two rewards accounts together.

Once you’ve chosen your transfer partner, go to the Hilton points exchange to complete your transfer. Select your rewards partner from the list and check the exchange rate between the two programs. If you accept the rate, hit “next” to choose how many points to send to the other program and complete the exchange.

Are Hilton Honors points worth it?

Only you can decide if Hilton Honors points are worth it or not, but there are plenty of reasons this program is one of the most popular hotel loyalty programs out there. For starters, Hilton Honors points may not be worth quite as much as points in a few other hotel loyalty programs, but they’re extremely easy to earn. Not only do you earn 10 Base Points for each dollar you spend on stays in Hilton properties, but you can earn even more points on Hilton stays if you have elite status. Plus, Hilton credit cards let you earn up to 14x points per dollar spent with the brand, and you earn this on top of the base points you earn for being a member.

Hilton also makes it easier than other programs to earn their top level of elite status, known as Hilton Diamond status. In fact, you can get automatic Hilton Diamond membership just for signing up for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Credit Card .

Also, consider the fact that Hilton boasts an array of properties all over the globe ranging from luxury resorts in far-flung destinations to Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites. That makes these points useful whether you crave a high-end getaway, a road trip or anything in between.

The bottom line

Hilton Honors points may not be as valuable as some other types of rewards you can earn with a credit card, but they’re still worth pursuing if you love to stay with Hilton hotels. This is especially true if you’re willing to pick a hotel credit card from Hilton since they all offer generous welcome bonuses and points for each dollar you spend.

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Is Hilton within striking distance of dethroning Marriott as the world’s largest hotel company?

Marriott International, with more than 30 brands under its belt, is the undisputed leader in the world's hotel orbit.

However, Hilton leaders Wednesday morning outlined a growth strategy signaling why their cross-town rival in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area shouldn't get too complacent in its lofty perch.

The hotel giant behind brands like Waldorf Astoria, Conrad and Home2 Suites has an array of new brands and partnerships that should add thousands of new hotels and Hilton Honors loyalty program engagement in the years to come. Hilton's development pipeline of 472,000 hotel rooms worldwide is still well shy of Marriott's 573,000-room pipeline reported at the end of last year, but Hilton leaders still have bragging rights.

"Approximately half of our pipeline is under construction, and we continue to have more rooms under construction than any other hotel company, accounting for more than 20% of industry share and nearly four times our share of existing supply," Hilton CEO Christopher Nassetta said on a company earnings call Wednesday.

Where does Hilton's growth come from?

In just the last few months, Hilton acquired two brands and formed two new partnerships that provide Hilton Honors members with new ways to earn and redeem points.

Hilton's acquisition of Graduate Hotels , a brand focused on college and university settings, gives the portfolio a special lifestyle option that Nassetta said on Wednesday could eventually see as many as 500 hotels worldwide. Currently, the brand has a little more than 30.

"Graduate presents a unique opportunity to serve more guests, especially in markets where we're not present today," Nassetta said.

The company also acquired a controlling stake in Sydell Group, the parent company of NoMad Hotels, earlier this month to beef up its presence in the luxury lifestyle hotel space — occupied by brands like Marriott's Edition and Hyatt's Thompson Hotels — by 100 hotels. The acquisition spree is a departure from Hilton's "build it, don't buy it" ethos of launching new brands organically instead of acquiring them.

Both deals are a case of Hilton getting in relatively early before significant global expansion. NoMad only has hotels in London and Las Vegas, but the Sin City property isn't included in the deal and will eventually change brand affiliation.

"The ethos of what [Sydell Group founder and CEO] Andrew Zobler and his team have created is a sort of bullseye for what we think is modern luxury lifestyle today and going forward in terms of what customers are looking for," Nassetta said of NoMad. "It hit every button for us in terms of making sense, but yes, it's very small. The good news is it's very small, we didn't pay a whole lot for it, and that means great organic growth going forward."

It's not just the luxury segment driving Hilton's growth. The company's new premium economy Spark brand is one Nassetta anticipates will eventually be Hilton's biggest brand in terms of property count. The brand grows from converting existing hotels into Spark branding, and Hilton leaders previously told TPG there are "tens of thousands" of conversion candidates for Spark worldwide.

Hilton accounted for 40% of all conversion deals in the U.S. last year, Nassetta claimed while specifically highlighting Spark, DoubleTree and the Tapestry and Curio collections as driving factors there.

On the new-build front, Hilton's Home2 Suites has the most projects in various stages of development in the U.S., according to a report last year from Lodging Econometrics . Marriott's TownePlace Suites comes in second place.

Partnership fuel Hilton Honors engagement

Hilton also pulled a Small Luxury Hotels of the World partnership away from Hyatt earlier this year and announced a partnership with outdoor lodging brand AutoCamp . Both deals provide significant opportunities for Hilton Honors members to explore more bespoke travel opportunities within the Hilton ecosystem. It's unlikely to stop there.

"What we're doing with SLH, what we're doing with Autocamp, you should expect to see more … not Graduate [Hotels]-type things but more partnerships, particularly in the experiential area," Nassetta said. "Think areas like safaris and riverboat cruise[s] because we know those are adjunct travel experiences that connect to our business, that gives our base of customers incremental things to engage with us and is not in conflict in any way with our business. We think it's synergistic."

The percentage share of Hilton Honors members accounting for overall occupancy at Hilton hotels hit a record high of 64% in the first three months of this year, Nassetta said. The plan is to boost that number to 75%.

While he didn't provide further detail about how the company plans to hit that lofty number, Nassetta hinted at one area of opportunity: providing geographic-specific offerings to account for different travel patterns and behaviors worldwide.

Don't write off Marriott

Hilton kicked off hotel earnings season with a roar, and there have been swelling industry murmurs that the company is on track to overtake Marriott this year in terms of loyalty membership count. That's quite possible, but this race is far from over.

Marriott's new partnership with MGM Resorts fuels a new on-ramp for the Bonvoy loyalty program at some of the most popular Las Vegas casino resorts and other MGM properties across the U.S. Other industry murmurs note that even if Hilton Honors overtakes Marriott Bonvoy in member count, the widely held belief is Bonvoy members spend more at a property.

Does bigger mean better?

We'll wait to see how the pipeline and loyalty member counts factor in at Hilton's top competitors over the next few weeks and report back.

Related reading:

• The award traveler's guide to Hilton Honors
• How to choose the best Hilton credit card for you
• What is Hilton Honors elite status worth?
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• Which credit cards offer the most lucrative rewards for hotel stays?
• The best hotel rewards programs in the world
• Best hotel credit cards

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Hilton Garden Inn Bangkok Silom in Thailand [In-Depth Review]

Ehsan Haque

Content Contributor

52 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 100 U.S. States Visited: 24

Keri Stooksbury

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Paying Cash vs. Using Points

Elite benefits, rooftop pool, fitness center, meeting room, living room, silom all-day dining, room service, final thoughts.

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Thailand is a dream destination for many, and for good reason. Known for its vibrant culture, rich history, and stunning landscapes, Thailand attracts millions of visitors each year.

Bangkok’s bustling capital city is home to world-class nightlife, ornate temples, hectic night markets, and incredible cuisine. It also serves as the center of commerce, culture, and politics.

Although I have been to Bangkok several times, I always enjoy returning. The city has a unique energy and incredible nightlife that keeps bringing me back.

It also has hundreds of hotels, including many Western hotel chains. I decided to give the new Hilton Garden Inn Bangkok Silom a chance on this trip.

Read on for my full review and take on why you should consider this property if you visit Bangkok.

Since I had 2 nights in Bangkok without accommodation, I began looking at most of the chains we’re familiar with: Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott.

After staying at most Hilton properties in Bangkok over recent years, I chose the Hilton Garden Inn Bangkok Silom this time around. Although the property is relatively old, the hotel recently joined the Hilton portfolio in December 2023. Before that, it was a Novotel hotel.

I was surprised at the cash rates, as they were significantly cheaper than any other Hilton property in the city. A 1-night stay could be booked for as low as ฿1,976 or about $55.

Since cash prices were incredibly low, I decided to take a shot and book this property for 2 nights. However, I needed to compare the cash price to the points price before booking.

While booking my 2-night stay at this property, I saw that the room could be booked for 18,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

According to our valuations, Hilton Honors points are worth 0.5 cents per point , making 18,000 Hilton Honors points worth $90. However, the cash price was significantly less than when compared to the points price.

With the cash rate of around $129 for the 2-night stay,  an award redemption would have been an incredibly poor use of Hilton Honors points. I decided it would be better to book these nights by paying cash.

I booked a Twin Guest Room , which was the cheapest room available. The Hilton Garden Inn Bangkok Silom has 216 rooms and suites, so I was confident I would get upgraded to a better room as a Hilton Honors Diamond member .

The room for this 2-night March 2024 stay was under $129, including taxes and fees.

I used the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card for payment, as it earns 14x points on Hilton purchases. For this stay, I earned 1,168 base points and an additional 1,168 points for being a Hilton Diamond.

Check out our detailed guide on the valuable benefits of the Hilton Aspire card .

The Hilton Garden Inn Silom is located in the commercial district of Silom . It is a 10-minute walk from 2 BTS Skytrain (the city’s rapid-transit system) stations: Surasak and Saphan Taksin.

The property is near many of Bangkok’s major tourist attractions, including the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple , Patpong Night Market, Assumption Cathedral , and Chao Phraya River.

Other major Bangkok attractions, such as the ICONSIAM shopping mall , Silom Edge shopping mall , and Lumphini Park , can be reached in less than 15 minutes by taxi or tuk-tuk.

Exiting my Grab taxi, I headed inside the hotel and proceeded directly to the check-in desk right around 9 a.m. A flower centerpiece was on a table directly between the hotel’s entrance and the check-in desk.

I proceeded to the check-in desk and was greeted by a staff member who welcomed me to the hotel with a smile. Although there wasn’t a dedicated check-in line for Hilton Honors elite members, the early hour meant I had the desk to myself, with no other guests in sight.

The front desk agent courteously requested my passport for identification and promptly located my reservation. She thanked me for being a Hilton Honors Diamond member .

As a Diamond elite, I was entitled to the following Hilton Honors benefits :

• 100% points earning bonus on stays
• Daily food and beverage credit or continental breakfast
• Executive lounge access
• Free bottled water
• Premium Wi-Fi
• Space-available room upgrades

The front desk representative upgraded me to a King Deluxe Suite on the 18th floor, which I greatly appreciated. The agent also asked if I wanted a 4 p.m. late checkout entered into the system. Of course, I said yes.

The agent handed over the keys to my room and offered information about breakfast. She highlighted that I was entitled to complimentary breakfast at the hotel restaurant as a Hilton Diamond member. Additionally, she provided instructions on how to connect to the hotel’s Wi-Fi.

Several armchairs were located to the immediate right of the check-in counters, offering a cozy spot for guests to relax.

Adjacent to the hotel entrance were the concierge’s desk and a few more armchairs.

Next to the concierge desk, you could find the hotel lobby bar, Stone Bar. More on that later.

The hotel’s elevators were directly across the hall from the concierge desk.

The hotel lobby was relatively small but had an intimate feel to it. Although it was empty when I arrived, it did get bustling around normal check-in time. There were often queues despite 3 hotel staff members working the front desk.

Surprisingly, the Hilton Garden Inn Bangkok Silom offers plenty of amenities to guests. Here’s a look at what you can expect.

The property boasted a delightful rooftop pool on the seventh floor’s expansive terrace. The pool is open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The pool was immaculate and well-maintained. I loved that the pool deck boasted incredible views of nearby buildings. It made the pool feel like an oasis in the city.

Several pool chairs were also available. A menu was written on the wall, where you could conveniently order food without leaving the comfort of the pool lounging area.

The pool area was equipped with an intricate towel storage system, which ensured guests had easy access to fresh towels.

The 24-hour fitness center was located indoors near the pool. Although it was relatively small, it was well-equipped with everything you could want in a gym. Cardio, strength, and balance equipment were available.

In the far left corner of the room were 2 treadmills and a single elliptical machine.

There were 2 additional elliptical machines on the right side of the fitness center.

Adjacent to the elliptical machines was a rack with an assortment of dumbbells.

The property also featured a single meeting room on the seventh floor. The meeting room was relatively basic, with a single table and seating for a dozen.

The hotel featured complimentary self-parking on-site. Valet parking was not available. Parking is available for up to 40 cars on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The hotel also provided complimentary Wi-Fi throughout all areas of the property. The Wi-Fi speeds were adequate, and the network maintained a steady connection, even when connected to a VPN.

King Deluxe Suite

After a few minutes in the lobby, I headed to my room on the 18th floor. After exiting the elevator, I proceeded straight to my room across the hall.

Despite my preference for rooms away from the elevator, I was delighted to have a suite to myself. As I entered my room, I was surprised at how much space there was.

I was greeted with an open-concept living room as I entered the foyer. Immediately to the right of the entrance was a half bathroom. More on that below.

The living room was one massive open space. Its focal point was the 2-person sofa with a massive coffee table in front of it. 

To the right of the sofa was a closet with ample storage. A separate section contained amenities, including a kettle, some coffee and tea packets, 2 complimentary water bottles, and some glassware.

The room’s minibar featured snacks several snacks for sale such as Pringles chips, salted cashew nuts, and salted cocktail nuts. Interestingly, a pack of condoms was also available.

The minibar offered a simple selection of beverages, including popular Thai beers and soft drinks.

The room had a massive window across from the minibar and adjacent to the sofa. It offered a captivating view of the bustling highway, nearby buildings, and Chao Phraya River. 

Despite being right next to the busy highway, there was minimal street noise.

The room’s small workstation and mounted TV were to the left of the windows. There was also a comfortable chair. However, it did not have any armrests, which proved necessary as the chair was not very relaxing during extended periods of sitting.

The workstation had a safety information card, a no smoking sign, a small desk lamp, and a Panasonic radio and speaker. A sheet also details the Silom All-Day Dining restaurant’s “Rush Hour” lunch buffet.

The bedroom was separated from the living room with a sliding pocket door.

The focal point of the bedroom was the king-size bed. It was extremely comfortable and came with 4 pillows and 2 throw pillows. The bedding was extremely relaxing and provided a cooling sensation. 

I liked the headboard’s design and feel, which added an elegant aesthetic to the room. Mounted nightstands were conveniently placed on each side of the bed.

The room’s phone was on the nightstand to the right of the bed. Above that was a single AC power outlet and a reading lamp. The nightstand on the left of the bed held the remote.

A surprisingly small TV was mounted to the wall directly across the foot of the bed.

The bedroom boasted 2 expansive closets separated by a small bench. A large mirror was also positioned on the wall directly above the bench.

There was so much storage space that I could probably have stored all the clothes I own between these 2 closets.

The left closet was divided into 2 sections. The room’s iron, ironing board, and safe were found in this closet. 

The right closet was empty save for a few hangers. It was also incredibly spacious.

The main bathroom was located through the bedroom. Immediately to the left was the bathroom vanity.

The countertop provided plenty of clutter-free space, and the sink was spacious and deep.

The hotel thoughtfully provided spare towels and complimentary toiletries, including 2 toothbrush sets, a shaving kit, a comb, a vanity kit, and a shower cap.

The bathroom was stocked with Deep Nature Spa-branded hand wash and body lotion. 

The hotel also provided 2 pairs of complementary bathroom slippers beneath the sink. 

To the right of the vanity was a massive freestanding soaking tub, which added an element of luxury to the space. Although it looked relaxing, I did not use it during my stay.

The room’s toilet and walk-in shower were next to the deep soaking tub, separated by a sleek glass divider. Each area offered privacy with a dedicated door.

The toilet in the bathroom was equipped with a bidet wand.

The shower was stocked with more Deep Nature Spa-branded toiletries in reusable bottles.

As mentioned, the suite also featured a half bathroom near the room’s entrance. As you walked in, you saw the vanity and an LED mirror above it. There was also more of the Deep Nature Spa-branded hand wash. 

The toilet in this bathroom was also equipped with a bidet wand.

Overall, the suite was quite spacious and comfortable and exceeded all expectations. It wasn’t the most luxurious I’ve ever stayed in. However, it served its purpose perfectly. The open-concept living room was a great place to spend some time and get work done. The bedroom boasted incredibly comfortable bedding, providing a few restful sleep nights. Although I paid for the most basic room, I was upgraded to the nicest suite the hotel offered. I must commend Hilton for providing excellent service to their elite members.

Food and Beverage

Although the hotel was quite massive, there was a limited selection of food and beverage options. Here’s a look at what was available.

The hotel’s main on-site restaurant, Silom All-Day Dining, was on the sixth floor. The restaurant offers a great selection of Thai and Western food and an extensive international lunch buffet menu.

Lunch Buffet at Silom All-Day Dining

I decided to try the Rush Hour lunch buffet as it was reasonably priced. The buffet costs ฿329, right around $9. Rush Hour buffet is available between 12 and 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Before reviewing the food options, I walked around the restaurant to examine the various seating options. Several dining tables along the wall behind the buffet.

Several booth-styled rounded tables were also available. This was the restaurant’s most private and cozy seating option.

The main seating area of the restaurant featured more than 20 individual tables, offering ample seating options for guests.

After looking at the various seating options, I walked around the buffet to see what it offered. The first part of the buffet was the dedicated pasta station , where the chef would prepare pasta based on requests.

Next to the pasta station was a selection of warm dishes, including sauteed vegetables and grilled pork.

There was also a selection of Thai dishes, including stir-fried chicken with chili paste and green curry with pork.

A separate table offered spicy glass noodle salad, boiled pork with lime sauce, and margarita pizza.

There was a separate table dedicated to seafood on ice. However, choices were limited to clams and shrimp.

There was also a small fruit selection, which included pieces of papaya, cantaloupe, and dragon fruit.

There was also a small salad station, offering an assortment of toppings and dressings, allowing guests to customize their salads to their liking.

The buffet also featured 2 coffee machines that served a variety of beverages, from espressos to cappuccinos.

Lastly, a good selection of desserts was available, ranging from pieces of layered cakes to thong yib , an egg-yolk-based Thai dessert.

The buffet even featured a shaved ice machine, allowing guests to make customized shaved ice desserts with a great selection of syrups and toppings.

After perusing the buffet’s offerings, I curated a plate filled with a wide selection of items. I particularly enjoyed the stir-fried chicken with chili paste and the alfredo pasta.

The pasta was quite delicious, so I decided to get another serving. However, this time, I opted for the pasta with tomato sauce.

Overall, the Silom All-Day Dining lunch buffet was quite good, especially considering the price. There was a diverse selection of food options, but the highlight was definitely the stir-fried chicken with chili paste.

I thought the dessert selection was also great. I enjoyed the option of having shaved ice.

Breakfast at Silom All-Day Dining

Hotel guests can also have breakfast at the restaurant. Breakfast is available daily between 6 and 10 a.m.

Although the Silom All-Day Dining lunch buffet had a great food variety, the same could not be said about the breakfast selection.

There was a decent selection of pastries and bread, including butter croissants and cinnamon raisin rolls.

Pancakes and waffles were also available, which unfortunately were cold.

A small section was also dedicated to yogurt, oats, and fruit salad.

Lastly, a small selection of fruits was available, including pineapple, watermelon, and papaya.

After reviewing the various breakfast options, I gathered a mini-pancake, waffle, and a few pastries.

I was surprised at the limited selection for breakfast. I did not even bother waking up for breakfast on the morning of checkout.

The hotel also features a bar and restaurant combination called Stone Bar in the lobby.

You could order drinks directly from the bartender or choose a soft drink or Thai beer from the fridge.

Stone Bar featured a “buy 1 get 1 free” happy hour promotion every evening between 5 and 8 p.m. There was a wide selection of wines, beers, and cocktails.

The corner couch was the focal point of Stone Bar’s main lounging area. I loved its plush, modern seating options and minimalist design.

The restaurant also features several dining tables spread throughout.

The Stone Bar room service menu was on the back wall of the desk in the suite. The menu featured a diverse selection of food.

I found the hotel staff to be incredibly welcoming and courteous. However, I met a language barrier with several staff members, which hindered my ability to communicate certain requests. Regardless, the hotel staff displayed exceptional hospitality and attentiveness throughout my stay.

I felt the hospitality Thailand is known for. Despite my many requests, every staff member conveyed warmth and sincerity, helping me feel welcomed and valued as a guest.

The Hilton Garden Inn Bangkok Silom is a solid Hilton property worth considering for those visiting Bangkok. The property is relatively close to many major Bangkok attractions. Best of all, it is near 2 BTS stations that connect the rest of Bangkok quite easily.

The hotel perfectly served my needs and provided everything you could ask for at an incredible price. I enjoyed my room and am thankful to the property for the suite upgrade (pun intended). I enjoyed the views from the room, and the outdoor rooftop pool was a great way to pass the time.

The Silom All-Day Dining restaurant offered an excellent lunch buffet selection. However, breakfast options were limited.

I’d consider staying at this hotel again on my next trip to Bangkok. However, with so many other hotels I’ve yet to try in Bangkok, it may be a while before I do.

The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is the hilton garden inn bangkok silom from suvarnabhumi airport.

The Hilton Garden Inn Bangkok Silom is a 45-minute drive from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).

What are some famous places near the Hilton Garden Inn Bangkok Silom?

The Hilton Garden Inn Bangkok Silom is located in the Silom district of Bangkok. Nearby attractions include the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Patpong Night Market, Assumption Cathedral, and Chao Phraya River.

Does the Hilton Garden Inn Bangkok Silom have a pool?

Yes, the Hilton Garden Inn Bangkok Silom has an outdoor rooftop pool.

How many rooms does the Hilton Garden Inn Bangkok Silom have?

The Hilton Garden Inn Bangkok Silom has 216 guest rooms and suites.

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About Ehsan Haque

Ehsan is an avid traveler who has traveled to 100 countries, diligently using points and miles to fund his journeys. Currently, he holds 32 active credit cards and earns over a million points and miles annually, primarily using them for luxury hotels and long-haul premium cabins.

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THE 10 BEST Resorts near Electrostal History and Art Museum, Elektrostal

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The Moscow Metro Museum of Art: 10 Must-See Stations

There are few times one can claim having been on the subway all afternoon and loving it, but the Moscow Metro provides just that opportunity.  While many cities boast famous public transport systems—New York’s subway, London’s underground, San Salvador’s chicken buses—few warrant hours of exploration.  Moscow is different: Take one ride on the Metro, and you’ll find out that this network of railways can be so much more than point A to B drudgery.

The Metro began operating in 1935 with just thirteen stations, covering less than seven miles, but it has since grown into the world’s third busiest transit system ( Tokyo is first ), spanning about 200 miles and offering over 180 stops along the way.  The construction of the Metro began under Joseph Stalin’s command, and being one of the USSR’s most ambitious building projects, the iron-fisted leader instructed designers to create a place full of svet (radiance) and svetloe budushchee (a radiant future), a palace for the people and a tribute to the Mother nation.

Consequently, the Metro is among the most memorable attractions in Moscow.  The stations provide a unique collection of public art, comparable to anything the city’s galleries have to offer and providing a sense of the Soviet era, which is absent from the State National History Museum.  Even better, touring the Metro delivers palpable, experiential moments, which many of us don’t get standing in front of painting or a case of coins.

Though tours are available , discovering the Moscow Metro on your own provides a much more comprehensive, truer experience, something much less sterile than following a guide.  What better place is there to see the “real” Moscow than on mass transit: A few hours will expose you to characters and caricatures you’ll be hard-pressed to find dining near the Bolshoi Theater.  You become part of the attraction, hear it in the screech of the train, feel it as hurried commuters brush by: The Metro sucks you beneath the city and churns you into the mix.

With the recommendations of our born-and-bred Muscovite students, my wife Emma and I have just taken a self-guided tour of what some locals consider the top ten stations of the Moscow Metro. What most satisfied me about our Metro tour was the sense of adventure .  I loved following our route on the maps of the wagon walls as we circled the city, plotting out the course to the subsequent stops; having the weird sensation of being underground for nearly four hours; and discovering the next cavern of treasures, playing Indiana Jones for the afternoon, piecing together fragments of Russia’s mysterious history.  It’s the ultimate interactive museum.

Top Ten Stations (In order of appearance)

Kievskaya station.

Kievskaya Station went public in March of 1937, the rails between it and Park Kultury Station being the first to cross the Moscow River.  Kievskaya is full of mosaics depicting aristocratic scenes of Russian life, with great cameo appearances by Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin.  Each work has a Cyrillic title/explanation etched in the marble beneath it; however, if your Russian is rusty, you can just appreciate seeing familiar revolutionary dates like 1905 ( the Russian Revolution ) and 1917 ( the October Revolution ).

Mayakovskaya Station

Mayakovskaya Station ranks in my top three most notable Metro stations. Mayakovskaya just feels right, done Art Deco but no sense of gaudiness or pretention.  The arches are adorned with rounded chrome piping and create feeling of being in a jukebox, but the roof’s expansive mosaics of the sky are the real showstopper.  Subjects cleverly range from looking up at a high jumper, workers atop a building, spires of Orthodox cathedrals, to nimble aircraft humming by, a fleet of prop planes spelling out CCCP in the bluest of skies.

Novoslobodskaya Station

Novoslobodskaya is the Metro’s unique stained glass station.  Each column has its own distinctive panels of colorful glass, most of them with a floral theme, some of them capturing the odd sailor, musician, artist, gardener, or stenographer in action.  The glass is framed in Art Deco metalwork, and there is the lovely aspect of discovering panels in the less frequented haunches of the hall (on the trackside, between the incoming staircases).  Novosblod is, I’ve been told, the favorite amongst out-of-town visitors.

Komsomolskaya Station

Komsomolskaya Station is one of palatial grandeur.  It seems both magnificent and obligatory, like the presidential palace of a colonial city.  The yellow ceiling has leafy, white concrete garland and a series of golden military mosaics accenting the tile mosaics of glorified Russian life.  Switching lines here, the hallway has an Alice-in-Wonderland feel, impossibly long with decorative tile walls, culminating in a very old station left in a remarkable state of disrepair, offering a really tangible glimpse behind the palace walls.

Dostoevskaya Station

Dostoevskaya is a tribute to the late, great hero of Russian literature .  The station at first glance seems bare and unimpressive, a stark marble platform without a whiff of reassembled chips of tile.  However, two columns have eerie stone inlay collages of scenes from Dostoevsky’s work, including The Idiot , The Brothers Karamazov , and Crime and Punishment.   Then, standing at the center of the platform, the marble creates a kaleidoscope of reflections.  At the entrance, there is a large, inlay portrait of the author.

Chkalovskaya Station

Chkalovskaya does space Art Deco style (yet again).  Chrome borders all.  Passageways with curvy overhangs create the illusion of walking through the belly of a chic, new-age spacecraft.  There are two (kos)mosaics, one at each end, with planetary subjects.  Transferring here brings you above ground, where some rather elaborate metalwork is on display.  By name similarity only, I’d expected Komsolskaya Station to deliver some kosmonaut décor; instead, it was Chkalovskaya that took us up to the space station.

Elektrozavodskaya Station

Elektrozavodskaya is full of marble reliefs of workers, men and women, laboring through the different stages of industry.  The superhuman figures are round with muscles, Hollywood fit, and seemingly undeterred by each Herculean task they respectively perform.  The station is chocked with brass, from hammer and sickle light fixtures to beautiful, angular framework up the innards of the columns.  The station’s art pieces are less clever or extravagant than others, but identifying the different stages of industry is entertaining.

Baumanskaya Statio

Baumanskaya Station is the only stop that wasn’t suggested by the students.  Pulling in, the network of statues was just too enticing: Out of half-circle depressions in the platform’s columns, the USSR’s proud and powerful labor force again flaunts its success.  Pilots, blacksmiths, politicians, and artists have all congregated, posing amongst more Art Deco framing.  At the far end, a massive Soviet flag dons the face of Lenin and banners for ’05, ’17, and ‘45.  Standing in front of the flag, you can play with the echoing roof.

Ploshchad Revolutsii Station

Novokuznetskaya Station

Novokuznetskaya Station finishes off this tour, more or less, where it started: beautiful mosaics.  This station recalls the skyward-facing pieces from Mayakovskaya (Station #2), only with a little larger pictures in a more cramped, very trafficked area.  Due to a line of street lamps in the center of the platform, it has the atmosphere of a bustling market.  The more inventive sky scenes include a man on a ladder, women picking fruit, and a tank-dozer being craned in.  The station’s also has a handsome black-and-white stone mural.

Here is a map and a brief description of our route:

Start at (1)Kievskaya on the “ring line” (look for the squares at the bottom of the platform signs to help you navigate—the ring line is #5, brown line) and go north to Belorusskaya, make a quick switch to the Dark Green/#2 line, and go south one stop to (2)Mayakovskaya.  Backtrack to the ring line—Brown/#5—and continue north, getting off at (3)Novosblodskaya and (4)Komsolskaya.  At Komsolskaya Station, transfer to the Red/#1 line, go south for two stops to Chistye Prudy, and get on the Light Green/#10 line going north.  Take a look at (5)Dostoevskaya Station on the northern segment of Light Green/#10 line then change directions and head south to (6)Chkalovskaya, which offers a transfer to the Dark Blue/#3 line, going west, away from the city center.  Have a look (7)Elektroskaya Station before backtracking into the center of Moscow, stopping off at (8)Baumskaya, getting off the Dark Blue/#3 line at (9)Ploschad Revolyutsii.  Change to the Dark Green/#2 line and go south one stop to see (10)Novokuznetskaya Station.

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Jonathon Engels, formerly a patron saint of misadventure, has been stumbling his way across cultural borders since 2005 and is currently volunteering in the mountains outside of Antigua, Guatemala.  For more of his work, visit his website and blog .

Photo credits:   SergeyRod , all others courtesy of the author and may not be used without permission