If you've got a stash of Membership Rewards points from cards like *amex platinum* or *amex gold*, we've got good news: Amex is out with a 25% bonus when transferring to Hilton Honors … but not for much longer!
Since Amex points usually transfer to Hilton at a 1:2 ratio, this new bonus means every 1,000 Amex points you transfer will get you 2,500 Hilton points. If you're thinking of taking advantage you need to hurry: It ends Friday, March 14.
Read our guide on Amex transfer partners and how it works!
Admittedly, transferring points to a hotel program like Hilton Honors won't always make sense – hotel points rarely get you as much value as the airline programs on Amex's roster. But from some luxe Conrad or Waldorf Astoria properties around the world to Hilton's recent addition of nearly 400 Small Luxury Hotel (SLH) properties, there are plenty of properties where it could make sense. This transfer bonus makes those redemptions even better.
While you may be tempted to cash in immediately, remember: These transfers are a one-way street – once you send points to Hilton, you can't get them back to your Amex account. That means you shouldn't transfer points to Hilton (or any partner, for that matter) with out a pretty good use in mind.
Not sure where to start? Our team of Hotel Deal experts are constantly scouring the globe for the best ways to use Hilton points (and other hotel points, too). We send Thrifty Traveler Premium members who opt into hotel deals an alert when we find a good deal. And there have been plenty of stellar Hilton redemptions lately.
Here's a look at how this bonus works – and what you should consider booking before it disappears.
Read more: A Complete Guide to Hilton Honors: Free Nights, Credit Cards & More
Best Use for Hilton Points
So what can you do with this big transfer bonus? In a word (or two words): a lot.
Like many other hotel programs, Hilton uses a dynamic pricing model … with a twist. While the points rate is typically tied to the cash price, they also have “standard awards” at a set rate for every property. This means award rates can be all over the map at many Hilton properties – sometimes as high as 1 million points a night – but there’s still a lowest-and-best base rate when redeeming Hilton Honors points.
When you can find “standard award” availability at top-notch properties like the Conrad Bora Bora Nui, for example, that's the time to put them to use.
The words Bora Bora and cheap simply don't go together – but instead of shelling out $1,000 (or more) per night, you could instead book an award night for 130,000 points. With the current transfer bonus, you'd need just 52,000 Amex points for a free night here.
If high-end boutique hotels are your jam, Hilton's partnership with SLH is just the thing. This has been a massive win for travelers with Hilton Honors points, as it opens the door to book some truly impressive properties around the globe, getting you some serious bang for your buck.
Take the little slice of Caribbean heaven known as the Hermitage Bay Resort in Antigua, for example. After a devaluation late last year, this property goes for a whopping 150,000 Hilton Honors points per night. At first glance, that might not seem like a great deal. But considering that this all-inclusive, adults-only resort in the Caribbean ordinarily costs $3,000 (or more) per night, you can quickly see just how valuable Hilton points can be.
With this transfer bonus, you'd only need to transfer 60,000 Amex points to book a free night.
If you've got any level of Hilton status – including the complimentary Hilton Gold status that comes with the Amex Platinum Card – you get the fifth night free on award bookings. That means you could book a five-night stay at this island paradise … that might normally cost $15,000 or more … for just 240,000 Amex points. Yes, please!
And then there's my personal favorite Hilton redemption: Calala Island.
Located off the coast of Nicaragua, Calala is a near-private island with just a half-dozen villas, all right on the beach. You can fish, snorkel, paddle board, island hop, and even do private rum tastings to your heart's content – and it's all included.
Standard nights here cost 150,000 Hilton points – a bargain compared to the $4,000-a-night cash price – but finding availability to book can be tough … unless you're a Thrifty Traveler Premium member subscribed to Hotel Alerts, that is. Just earlier this week, we sent an alert, tipping members off to some of the best availability we've ever seen to book a free night here.
With the current transfer bonus, you'd only need 60,000 Amex points per night to book a stay. With the fifth-night-free benefit, that's only 240,000 Amex points for a five-night stay that would otherwise cost north of $20,000.
To be perfectly clear, this isn't something I've booked for myself (yet) – but it's been on my short-list. This big transfer bonus might be just the push I need.
These examples are really just the tip of the iceberg, though. You don't have to travel to Bora Bora or a semi-private island in Nicaragua to put this transfer bonus to good use. No matter if you have your sights set on a family vacation to Orlando or prefer a nice city hotel like the historic Waldorf Astoria New York, this bonus can help you book for even fewer points.
Bottom Line
Amex is out with a 25% transfer bonus when moving Membership Rewards points to Hilton Honors. Since Amex points ordinarily transfer 1:2 to Hilton, every 1,000 Amex points you transfer will get you 2,500 Hilton points.
Transferring points to hotel chains like Hilton doesn't always make sense. But if you're ready to book one of Hilton's top-dollar properties – or one of the new SLH locations – it could be well worth it.
Just be sure to take advantage before this bonus ends Friday, March 14!
