Visit these international Hilton properties for 10,000 points or less
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
The luxurious and aspirational 95,000 point-per-night properties are eye-catching, but they also aren't the only way to spend your points. You can easily turn one credit card welcome bonus into a week or more of hotel accommodations if that's your goal. With international travel set to resume in the coming months, now is a good time to explore some of the cheapest redemptions Hilton Honors has to offer.
Although some properties on these lists are more practical than aspirational, others are shockingly impressive.
Today our focus is on international Hilton properties. Specifically, let's consider how many nights you can squeeze out of the current welcome bonuses on various cobranded Hilton credit cards, as well as some examples of properties where you can stay for as little as 5,000 Hilton points per night.
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How to Get Hilton Points
If you're low on Hilton points, there are a few ways to earn them. One option is to transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Hilton -- sometimes there are even transfer bonuses. Another option is to purchase points during a sale. A final opportunity is to apply for one of the cobranded Hilton credit cards and meet the minimum spending requirements to earn the welcome bonus.
If you're interested in adding a cobranded Hilton card to your wallet, here are the current welcome bonuses:
- Hilton Honors American Express Card: Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the card within your first three months of card membership . The card has a $0 annual fee. (See rates and fees)
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the card within your first three months of card membership. $95 annual fee (see rates & fees).
- The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business card within the first three months of card membership. The card has a $95 annual fee. (See rates and fees)
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Earn 150,000 points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of card membership. The card has a $450 annual fee. (See rates and fees)
The information for the Hilton Aspire Amex card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Best ways to earn more Hilton Honors points
How Many Nights Can I Get From the Welcome Bonuses?
Standard room award nights start at 5,000 Hilton points per night and can reach up to 95,000 points per night (or more). So, you could get anywhere from one night to a lot of nights out of the current welcome bonuses offered by the Hilton cards.
Hilton doesn't publish award charts, but you can use the Hilton Points Explorer tool to see the maximum point values required for a one-night stay in a standard room. For this piece, I only consider Hilton properties outside the US that are bookable for 10,000 points per night or less. TPG's most recent valuation pegs the value of Hilton points at 0.6 cents each, so 10,000 points are worth about $60 and 5,000 points are worth about $30.
Since Hilton offers every fifth night free on award stays of five to 20 nights for Silver, Gold and Diamond elites, you can stretch your points even further on longer stays. Although you only need four stays, 10 nights or 25,000 base points per year to earn Silver status, Hilton elite status also comes as a benefit of all of the cobranded Hilton credit cards as well as The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Related: The 7 Best Starter Travel Credit Cards
Here's how many award nights you could get with the welcome bonus offered by these cards (not counting the points earned while you are meeting the spending requirements for the welcome bonus). I also assume that you'll use your points for award stays in increments of five nights so you can utilize the fifth-night-free benefit. For the Amex Platinum, I assume you'll transfer the Amex welcome bonus to Hilton points at the standard 1:2 ratio.
| Card | Welcome Bonus | Annual Fee | Status Provided by Card | Maximum Award Nights from Bonus at 5k Properties | Maximum Award Nights from Bonus at 10k Properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Honors American Express Card | Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the card within your first three months of card membership | $0 (See rates and fees) | Silver | 18 | 8 |
| Hilton Honors Surpass American Express Card | Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the card within your first three months of card membership. | $95 annual fee (see rates & fees) | Gold | 31 | 15 |
| Hilton Honors American Express Business Card | Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business card within the first three months of card membership. | $95 (See rates and fees) | Gold | 31 | 15 |
| Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express | 150,000 Hilton bonus points after you spend $4,000 within your first three months | $450 (See rates and fees) | Diamond | 37 | 18 |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in your first 6 months of Card Membership. | $695 (see rates and fees) | Gold
Enrollment required. | 30 | 15 |
Here are some lower-tier properties that you might want to consider for an upcoming trip.
Properties in Egypt
Egypt has recently experienced a tourism slump, resulting in some impressive-looking Hilton properties available for just 5,000 and 10,000 points per night. The two 5,000-point properties are located in tourist resort areas, while the two 10,000-point properties are located near Egypt's largest cities.
Hilton Pyramids Golf
The Hilton Pyramids Golf is southwest of Cairo, just 10 minutes from the Great Pyramid of Giza. The hotel has an 18-hole golf course, a fully-equipped spa, outdoor pool, five restaurants, two bars and an Executive lounge (accessible to Hilton Diamond members). For 10,000 points per night, you can book a room with one king bed or two twin beds. Prices start at $94 per night before taxes and fees.
Hilton Alexandria Green Plaza
The Hilton Alexandria Green Plaza is located inside the 370-shop Green Plaza mall on the outskirts of Egypt's second-largest city, Alexandria. The hotel has seven restaurants and bars, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a fitness center and spa and an Executive lounge (accessible to Hilton Diamond members). For 10,000 points per night, you can book a room with one queen bed or two twin beds. Prices start at $142 per night before taxes and fees.
Related: Top Budget International Family Travel Destinations
Properties in Turkey
I visited Turkey in 2011 for a multiweek trip around the country. So, I'm particularly excited to see low-category Hilton properties in many of the areas I enjoyed on that trip -- including multiple options in Istanbul. I'll start with two 5,000-point per night properties before discussing some 10,000-point per night properties.
Hilton Garden Inn Konya
The Hilton Garden Inn Konya is in historic Konya next to the Mevlana Culture Center, a grand whirling dervish hall. The hotel has a fitness center, on-site restaurant and bar. It's also near historic sites and local businesses, making it perfect for sightseeing. For 5,000 points per night, you can book a room with one king bed, two twin beds or a queen bed and a sofa bed. Prices start at $30 per night before taxes and fees.
Hilton Garden Inn Ankara Gimat
The Hilton Garden Inn Ankara Gimat is on the west side of Ankara in a busy area with shopping malls, cinemas, restaurants, entertainment and a nearby subway stop that can get you into the heart of Ankara quickly. The hotel has a fitness center, Turkish bath, on-site restaurant and lobby bar. For 5,000 points per night, you can book a room with two twin beds. Prices start at $52 per night before taxes and fees.
Related: Redeeming Miles to Fly Turkish Business Class
Properties in Europe
There aren't many Hilton properties in Europe (outside of Turkey) for 10,000 points or less. Here are two of the more attractive options.
Hampton by Hilton Krakow (Poland)
The Hampton by Hilton Krakow is on the outskirts of Krakow within walking distance of Krakow Arena Hall and just 10 minutes from the center of Krakow. The hotel has a fitness center and includes daily hot breakfast. For 10,000 points per night, you can book a room with two twin beds or a queen bed. Prices start at $68 per night before taxes and fees.
Hampton By Hilton Iasi (Romania)
The Hampton By Hilton Iasi is centrally located in the heart of Iasi's business, entertainment and shopping districts. Iasi is a university city in eastern Romania and is also the country's second-largest city. The hotel has an on-site restaurant and bar, fitness center and includes daily hot breakfast. For 10,000 points per night, you can book a room with one queen bed. Prices start at $91 per night before taxes and fees.
Properties in Central and South America
Believe it or not, an oceanfront property in Mexic and some centrally located Hilton properties in well-known Central and South American cities cost just 10,000 Hilton points per night. Here's a little more information about some of the best-looking properties.
Hilton Garden Inn Boca del Rio, Veracruz, MX (Mexico)
The Hilton Garden Inn Boca del Rio, Veracruz, Mexico is in Veracruz suburb Boca del Rio on the coast. The hotel has an oceanfront pool, fitness center, coin laundry and a weeknight happy hour with appetizers. For 10,000 points per night, you can book a city-view room with two queen beds or one king bed. Prices start at $63 per night before taxes and fees.
Hilton Garden Inn Guatemala City, Guatemala (Guatemala)
The Hilton Garden Inn Guatemala City is centrally located in Guatemala City's Zone 9 within walking distance of restaurants, bars, shopping centers and a metro station. The hotel has a fitness center, on-site restaurant and a free airport shuttle that runs at preset times. For 10,000 points per night, you can book a room with one queen bed, two double beds or one king bed. Prices usually start at $55 per night before taxes and fees, so check cash rates before using your points.
Hampton by Hilton Bogota, Usaquen, Colombia (Colombia)
The Hampton by Hilton Bogota, Usaquen is in Bogota's upmarket neighborhood of Usaquen. The hotel has a fitness center, includes daily hot breakfast and is within walking distance of ample restaurants, shops and nightlife. For 10,000 points per night, you can book a room with one queen bed or two semi-double beds. Prices start at $49 per night before taxes and fees, so check cash rates before using your points.
Hilton Garden Inn Belo Horizonte, MG (Brazil)
The Hilton Garden Inn Belo Horizonte is centrally located within walking distance of the popular Lourdes neighborhood in Belo Horizonte. The hotel has a fitness center, sauna, outdoor pool, whirlpool and an on-site restaurant. For 10,000 points per night, you can book a room with one queen bed or two twin beds. Prices start at $60 per night before taxes and fees.
Related: Using Miles to Fly to Mexico in a Lie-Flat Seat
Properties in Asia
Although the four properties described below are all attractive due to their location or amenities, you can often find rates that make cash bookings a better option than redeeming points. Granted, these low rates are often nonrefundable, so booking with points will usually provide more flexibility.
Hilton Garden Inn Bali Ngurah Rai Airport (Indonesia)
The Hilton Garden Inn Bali Ngurah Rai Airport is near Bali's main airport (DPS). The hotel has a free airport shuttle, free shuttle to Kuta, outdoor pool, fitness center, on-site restaurant and coin laundry. For 5,000 points per night, you can book a room with one king bed or two twin beds. Prices start at $31 per night before taxes and fees, but the lowest price tends to vary greatly, so for some stays, you may squeeze a lot of value from your points.
Doubletree by Hilton Agra (India)
The Doubletree by Hilton Agra is located near the Taj Mahal and claims to be one of the few hotels in Agra that offer views of the Taj Mahal. Regardless of the view from your room, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Taj Mahal from the outdoor infinity pool. The hotel has a fitness center, outdoor swimming pool, relaxing courtyard, spa and four on-site restaurants and bars. For 10,000 points per night, you can book a room with one king bed or two twin beds. Prices start at $45 per night before taxes and fees, so check rates to ensure whether it will be best to use cash or points for your stay.
Doubletree Resort by Hilton Penang (Malaysia)
The Doubletree Resort by Hilton Penang is outside Georgetown on the northern coast of Penang. As I found on a stay earlier this year, the hotel is family-focused with an on-site Teddy Bear museum, large children's pool and play area, kids club, babysitting service, special kid's food areas at the buffet and family packages. There's also a large pool for adults and a gated walkway to Miami Beach.
For 9,000 points per night, you can book a room with one king bed or two twin beds. Prices start at $52 per night before taxes and fees, so check rates to determine whether to use cash or points for your stay.
Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi (Vietnam)
The Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi is centrally located in Hanoi near the Hanoi Opera House, Old Quarter and many well-known restaurants. The hotel has a fitness center, coin laundry and an on-site restaurant. For 10,000 points per night, you can book a room with one king bed or two twin beds. Prices start at $57 per night before taxes and fees.
Related: The best credit cards for hotel elite status
Get Status for a Better Stay
If you're going to stay at Hilton properties for many nights, you'll want to have elite status before your stay. If you have Hilton Gold status, you can get space-available upgrades at check-in up to Executive rooms. And, if you have Diamond status, you can get space-available upgrades at check-in up to one-bedroom suites. Of course, there's no guarantee you'll be upgraded -- nor to what category you'll be upgraded, but status does help.
All elite levels are eligible for late checkout, and both Gold and Diamond elites receive breakfast for two each morning of their stay. Some properties also offer an Executive lounge, which Diamond elites can access with a guest even if they aren't upgraded to an Executive room. Golds may be allowed if they are upgraded to an Executive room type.
You can obtain Gold elite status with the following credit cards:
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (elite status automatically conveyed)
- Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (elite status automatically conveyed)
- The Platinum Card® from American Express (elite status must be requested; enrollment required)
- Hilton Honors American Express Card (through the end of the next calendar year when you spend $20,000 on your card in a calendar year)
Alternatively, you can earn Diamond status with 30 stays in a calendar year, 60 nights in a calendar year or by earning 120,000 Hilton Honors Base Points in a calendar year (which equates to spending $12,000 in a calendar year at Hilton properties). You can also earn top-tier Diamond elite status with the following credit cards:
- Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express (elite status automatically conveyed)
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (through the end of the next calendar year when you spend $40,000 on your card in a calendar year)
- Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (through the end of the next calendar year when you spend $40,000 on your card in a calendar year)
If none of that works for you, you can also try to status match your way to being a Hilton elite.
Bottom Line
There are some excellent options for stretching your Hilton points in many parts of the world. From U.S. road trips to resort stays in Egypt, there are options for almost anyone that prefers to get as many nights as possible out of their Hilton points.
Related: How to Choose the Best Hilton Credit Card for You
Have any of the properties in this piece inspired you to stretch your Hilton points on a trip? If so, we'd love to hear about it.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Amex, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Amex Surpass, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Business Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Aspire Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here.