Why I love Hilton's approach with 'free' breakfast for elite members

I don't really like breakfast all that much, and, typically, if I'm eating it while traveling, it's because I have an opportunity to eat a local specialty, like a bagel in New York or pain au chocolat in Paris.

So, perhaps unsurprisingly, when Hilton first eliminated complimentary continental breakfast for Gold and Diamond elite members in favor of a daily per-person food-and-beverage credit at U.S. hotels, I welcomed the change and all the new options it opened up for me and my fellow breakfast skippers.

But even for breakfast devotees, the credit still has some advantages that the old system couldn't match.

Here are a few reasons why my enthusiasm for Hilton's approach to "free" breakfast has only grown in the years since the rollout — and why I think more travelers should embrace them.

Related: I tried out the new Hilton Honors 'breakfast' benefit — and I'm a fan

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As a self-professed hotel fanatic, I love nothing more than checking into a property I'm really excited about and exploring it to the fullest during my stay. I'm keenly interested in how hotel teams curate local experiences for guests, and so many of those efforts come through dining — from the design of bar and restaurant spaces to the inclusion of regional ingredients on menus.

With the daily credit, I can explore more options rather than repeatedly visiting the breakfast buffet. On a three-night trip to the Conrad Los Angeles last January, my husband and I used one day's credit on happy hour snacks at the patio fire pits, another on poolside cocktails and a third on lunch at the rooftop restaurant. I came away from that stay feeling like we'd really gotten the most out of our time at the hotel (and, by the way, I'd highly recommend it).

Of course, hotel dining outlets often carry high prices, especially at higher-end resorts where travelers like to use points. So yes, we do sometimes go over the food-and-beverage credit threshold — but that's where the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card comes in handy. The card comes with quarterly $50 statement credits for purchases made directly with properties in the Hilton portfolio, so even if our stay is covered with points, we can offset other on-property purchases with this benefit.

My husband and I both have a Surpass Card, so when we exceed the daily credit limit, we're often reimbursed.

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Of course, like most people, I travel for various reasons, many of which are not vacation. For every property I visit that imbues its menu with a sense of place, there's a seriously unglamorous one with food I have absolutely no desire to sample — especially if it's a run-of-the-mill buffet.

I believe these hotels are where the food-and-beverage credit shines.

Many of them feature a grab-and-go marketplace where you can spend your credit on prepackaged meals, snacks or drinks. In addition to being so much more convenient (ever tried to save something from a breakfast buffet for later by wrapping it in napkins, only to get it all over your stuff and ultimately dump it in the trash in frustration?), these outlets often include familiar brand names or even items from local merchants. This can be much more appealing than an overpriced buffet with precooked dishes that have been under heat lamps for hours.

Related: Know your benefits: Hiltons can’t opt out of the food-and-beverage credit for elite members

Flexible schedule

With hotels only offering breakfast during set morning hours, the food-and-beverage credit's flexibility makes it a lot more usable. I often leave a hotel early to catch a flight or set off on a long day of driving for a road trip, completely missing breakfast hours. Other times, I'm working remotely and my schedule doesn't allow me to pop down to the hotel restaurant in the morning. And when traveling from the West Coast to the East Coast, jet lag can also influence how early I'm ready to mobilize.

But thanks to the credits, I can still use my elite benefits in a way that works for my schedule.

For example, last summer, I arrived at the Hilton London Heathrow Airport at 2 a.m. after a series of mishaps that resulted in a truly heinous travel evening. With an early flight requiring a 5 a.m. departure, I was more than happy to use the food-and-beverage credit for middle-of-the-night emotional support french fries instead of airport hotel breakfast.

Bottom line

Hilton Honors' food-and-beverage credits are convenient, flexible and easy to use, making them a great perk of the hotel chain's elite status. Whether you're committed to breakfast, love a lobby bar moment or want to stock up on snacks for later, the credit covers options to suit your needs.

In my opinion, the breakfast changes have made Hilton Gold and Diamond status even more valuable, especially since they're attainable on multiple cards. Cardholders of the Hilton Surpass Card, the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express (enrollment is required) enjoy complimentary Gold status as long as the card remains open. Meanwhile, you receive automatic Diamond status through the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.