Got a big event coming up? You’ll want to make it special with a luxurious stay! Or maybe you’ve got free night certificates (FNCs) from your Hilton co-branded credit cards burning a hole in your pocket and no idea what to do with it. Well, stick with me – this would give you just the right spark for your next trip!
I had one of those soon-to-expire FNCs myself. Originally, I was going to use it for our stay at Hilton Tokyo Bay this summer, but I found a better way to cover that stay, leaving me with a lonely FNC. Then it hit me: my sister-in-law’s 60th birthday is coming up, and it is on the same day my FNC expires. So, we jumped on the idea and booked a spontaneous two-night award stay at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal.
What Makes This Hotel So Special?
Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal is tucked between a gorgeous beachfront and the dramatic cliffs of Pedregal Mountain in Cabos San Lucas, Mexico. Every room offers stunning Pacific Ocean views, plus your own private plunge pool – talk about relaxation! The King Pacific View Room with Plunge Pool, which you can snag with Hilton points as a standard reward room, has a huge space of 860 square feet. And the cash price? Usually between $1,000 and $2,000 a night, making it a serious steal if you use points for redemption.
How To Find Eligible Hilton Free Night Rooms
When it comes to finding rooms you can book with your Hilton points and FNCs, there are two main tricks I used. First, I check Hilton’s website daily for availability, but I also use a handy tool called “MaxMyPoint” to set up alerts. (Thanks to my friend, Emily!)
The most layman trick is check on the official website. Head to Hilton.com to see if a “Standard Room Reward” is available for your dates. Be sure to tick the “Use Points” box under “Special Rates.” If you’re flexible on dates, you can also use Hilton’s points calendar to check month-by-month availability. Each hotel has its own rules for what counts as a standard room, but Hilton makes it pretty easy to spot them. For instance, at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos, you’ll see two types of rewards: Premium Room Rewards and Standard Room Rewards. Only the Standard Room Rewards work for Hilton points and the FNC redemption.
How To Book Standard Reward Rooms
For my stay, I needed two nights. While it’s a breeze to book a standard reward room online with Hilton Points, using a FNC is a bit more work.
Sadly, you can’t book with your FNC online. Instead, you’ll have to call Hilton or use their online chat. To call, dial 1-800-446-6677. For the chat, log into your Hilton Honors account, and you’ll see a chat button in the bottom right corner. The Hilton Honors representative can check your account for any available FNCs. But just in case, have your unique Reward ID (i.e. certificate # ) handy. It helps speed things up!
Pro tip: the Hilton representative would ask if you’re celebrating anything special, so mention it! While the Hilton Honors members with diamond status possibly get complimentary upgrade to the next preferred room subject to the availability, they might still try to sweeten the deal with an even nicer room or suite upon arrival – fingers crossed!
So, it took me about 15 minutes to connect my two reservations – one with the FNC and one with Hilton points (120,000, to be exact). The representative confirmed everything, sent my booking details, and made sure my Hilton account balance was correct so I wasn’t overcharged. She also reminded me that the Reward ID (Certificate #) was listed in the confirmation when using an FNC.
How To Earn Hilton Honors Points
Credit Cards
From now through January 8, 2025, there are elevated sign-up bonus for American Express (Amex) Hilton co-branded credit cards, like:
- Hilton Honors Card: earn 100,000 sign-up bonus point
- Hilton Honors Surpass Card: earn 165,000 sign-up bonus point
- Hilton Honors Aspire Card: earn 175,000 sign-up bonus point
- Hilton Honors Business Card: Earn 175,000 sign-up bonus points
Points Promotions
Hilton regularly runs points-buy promotions, offering price at 0.5 cent per points. Imagine snagging a 120,000-point night at Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal for a standard reward room that’s worth $1,200 (including tax and resort fees) – that’s just $600, or 50% off, when you buy points during one of these promotions!
How To Earn Hilton Free Night Certificates
You can rack up Hilton FNCs in a few ways, especially through two Amex Hilton co-branded credit cards:
- Hilton Honors Aspire Card: Get a free night when you open your account and every year after that. Earn additional FNCs after spending $30,000 and $60,000 in a calendar year.
- Hilton Honors Surpass Card: Earn a free night after spending $15,000 within the first year and each year after that.
Summary
And there you have it – our spur-of-the-moment trip to Los Cabos, all booked! While some people think it’s tricky to find great value stays with Hilton points or FNCs, the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal proves it’s one of the great places among Hilton hotels to cash in on both.
