Hilton Honors Experiences: How to redeem points for activities, VIP events, concerts and more
If you’re a regular TPG reader, you know we believe that the best use of hotel points is for hotel stays — other uses are almost always a bad idea. This is because you typically lose value on your hotel points when you redeem them for other things outside of booking a hotel.
However, Hilton Honors Experiences is determined to prove that there are other ways to redeem your Hilton points that won't yield an offensive return. While not all options are good deals, we’ll show you how to determine which are winners.
What are Hilton Honors Experiences?
Hilton Honors Experiences are a fun, non-hotel-stay way to redeem your points. There are four main categories for Hilton Honors Experiences:
- Culture
- Food
- Music
- Sports
This concept is not unique to Hilton; other hotel loyalty programs, such as Marriott Bonvoy Moments and Hyatt Find Experiences, also offer the ability to book exclusive events and adventures with points. But Hilton’s got a handful of excellent value propositions.
You can book things like PGA Championship tickets (both general admission and VIP), an evening meet-and-greet with various celebrities, Formula One passes and even an activity during your stay at a Hilton property.
In 2022, TPG Senior Writer Katie Genter redeemed 20,000 Hilton points through Hilton Experiences for a 60-minute couples massage and a four-course dinner for two.
While Experiences aren’t exclusively hotel-related, some may include a Hilton hotel stay. For example, when you book the “Ultimate Thanksgiving Parade Viewing Experience,” you’ll receive three nights at the New York Hilton Midtown along with various credits, welcome amenities and access to a VIP parade viewing area.
Some are auctioned, while others can be “purchased” instantly with points. The ones that require bidding have a definite expiration time, at which point the highest bidder will win the experience.
You can also link your Hilton account to Ticketmaster to redeem points for concerts and other events.
How to book Hilton Honors Experiences
Booking Experiences with your points is simple. Just head to the Hilton Honors Experiences website and begin poking around. At the top of the page, you can choose from specific destinations and Experience categories. You can also choose to see all Experiences at once.
You can sort Experiences by bid count, current bid and time left. You can also filter your search by the number of points required and whether an Experience is an auction or available for immediate redemption. If you’re looking exclusively for an on-property Hilton experience, there’s a filter for that, too.
Once you find an intriguing Experience, click on it to read more details. You’ll see everything that comes with the purchase (hotel stay, food, etc.), as well as the number of guests it includes. If you’re willing to part with the points, you can redeem your rewards and Hilton will contact you within a couple of days with more details.
Are Hilton Honors Experiences worth it?
Hilton Honors Experiences can absolutely be worth it. In some cases, they provide excellent value for an activity you would have otherwise paid for.
For example, a yacht transfer to the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi regularly costs over $1,000 per adult (after taxes and fees). But you can reserve the trip for just 100,000 points per adult. That means you’d get a value above 1 cent per Hilton point. According to TPG's January 2025 valuations, Hilton points are worth 0.6 cents each, making this an excellent redemption deal.
On the other hand, redeeming Hilton points through Ticketmaster will net you an abysmal value of 0.2 cents per point. Just remember, as long as you’re getting a value at or above TPG’s estimated reasonable redemption value for your rewards, you’re golden.
Alternatively, you may simply want to book something that you can’t reserve with money — such as an intimate dinner prepared by a celebrity chef. This is something you might not be able to book otherwise, as it’s only available through Hilton Honors Experiences. If you stumble upon an event like this, you’re the only one who can decide if it’s worth the points.
It’s also worth noting that you can routinely buy Hilton points for 0.5 cents each or wait for a promotion to buy Hilton Honors points with a bonus.
Best credit cards to earn Hilton Honors points
Hilton offers many cards that typically come with massive welcome bonuses and high return rates for Hilton purchases:
- Hilton Honors American Express Card: Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. This card has no annual fee (see rates and fees).
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Earn 155,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. This card has an annual fee of $150 (see rates and fees).
- The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. This card has a $195 annual fee (see rates and fees).
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. This card has a $550 annual fee (see rates and fees).
Additionally, American Express Membership Rewards points transfer to Hilton at a 1:2 ratio (1 Amex point equals 2 Hilton points). By earning the welcome bonuses on cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Gold Card, you can opt to transfer your Amex points to Hilton and book a Hilton Honors Experience.
Bottom line
Hilton Honors Experiences give you another worthwhile outlet to redeem your Hilton points. Some activities are an excellent value, and some can’t even be reserved with money, meaning that a healthy stash of Hilton points can open up fun opportunities that most other folks don’t even know exist.
Let us know if you’ve ever used Hilton Honors Experiences for a unique adventure!
For rates and fees of the Hilton Amex Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Amex Business Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Surpass Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Aspire Card, click here.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.