Hilton announces 3 new hotels in Mexico — including 2 all-inclusives
If you're saving up your Hilton points for a high-value redemption in Mexico, there may soon be more options than ever because Hilton is adding three new hotels to its portfolio: The Hilton Vallarta Riviera All-Inclusive Resort, Hilton Tulum All-Inclusive and Conrad Tulum.
The three properties are part of Hilton's expansion into Mexico, where the company currently manages 70 hotels and is developing 30 more.
This is great news since Mexico has skyrocketed in popularity since the pandemic. For many Americans who can't travel to most international destinations, Mexico has been a welcome reprieve. It's easy to get to and offers lots of affordable options for a vacation.
While we have not heard back from Hilton about the rates (award or otherwise), Hilton generally offers reasonable cash rates at their existing all-inclusive hotels. For example, I was recently looking for a last-minute stay at the Hilton Puerto Vallarta and a room for four was $250 per night.
Considering the high number of points Hilton offers on paid rates, it might make sense to book these future properties with cash and then accrue a ton of points that make it worthwhile. We'll update this story when we know more.
In the meantime, here's a look at Hilton's new hotels in Mexico and when they're expected to open:
Hilton Vallarta Riviera All-Inclusive Resort
The Hilton Vallarta Rivera is set to open in Q4 2021. The 444-room beachfront resort will be situated between the stunning Bay of Banderas and the Sierra Madres Mountains.
The hotel will offer two pools, a full-service spa, fitness center, not one but six craft cocktail bars and seven restaurants. The restaurants will offer a variety of cuisines, including Asian, Italian, Mexican and tapas.
Targeting both leisure and business travelers, the Hilton Vallarta Rivera will have 26,000 sqft of combined indoor/outdoor event and meeting space.
Related: TPG’s guide to the best all-inclusive points resorts
Conrad Tulum
The Conrad Tulum is set to open in Q4 2021. The 349-room luxury resort will be located on the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. Not only will it offer world-class amenities for vacationers looking for relaxation on the beach, but it's also located close to popular Mayan sites, creating a great base to explore them from.
The property will offer five pools (incredible, considering the 444-room Hilton Vallarta has two), seven restaurants and bars, along with a Chef's Table dining experience.
According to Hilton, the Conrad Tulum will offer a massive 21,500-sqft spa with 16 treatment rooms and a pool. There will also be a 55,000-sqft convention center and an auditorium with capacity for 400 people. Both of these spaces will be shared between guests of the Conrad and the adjacent Hilton Tulum.
Related: The zero-cost vacation: 100+ all-inclusive resorts you can book with points
Hilton Tulum All-Inclusive
The Hilton Tulum All-Inclusive will open in Q1 of 2022, offering 735 rooms, seven dining options, a water park and access to a secluded beach. This sounds like a great spot for families and hopefully, when the hotel opens, it will offer the same kids-stay-free promotion as the Hilton Cancun. This way, families can minimize the number of rooms they need to book or avoid paying extra-person fees for children.
Related: Top hotels to be saving your Hilton points for right now
Other Hilton properties opening soon
In May, we shared that the Hilton Cancun was accepting reservations for Nov. 7, 2021, and onward. The hotel website features impressive renderings of a property that resembles a Conrad more than a typical Hilton. The hotel was pricing out at 95,000 points per night, which is not bad considering room rates were pricing out at over $500 per night and a stay includes all meals and no resort fees.
As great as this property looks, another Hilton hotel opening nearby will get luxury travelers excited: The Waldorf Astoria property will be located adjacent to the Hilton Cancun and is currently accepting reservations for May 1, 2022, onward. The resort has rooms going for over $600 per night during opening week.
Award nights cost 95,000 points per night which might be a good deal, considering TPG values Hilton points at 0.6 cents each. The only downside is that this resort does not currently appear to be all-inclusive, so you're paying the same award rate as the adjacent Hilton Cancun and essentially swapping free meals for a more high-end experience.
Outside of Mexico, Hilton will be unveiling the all-inclusive Mangrove Beach Corendon Curaçao Resort in September 2021. The Curio Collection property is not currently accepting reservations, which leads me to cast doubt on a September 2021 opening date. Time will tell.
Related: Cancun essentials: Everything you need to plan the perfect Mexico getaway
Bottom line
It's great to see Hilton expanding its portfolio and giving Honors members more options to earn and redeem points in popular vacation spots. The expansion of all-inclusive hotels is especially welcome since that's an area value travelers are very interested in and one that Hyatt has executed particularly well.
I'm excited about these new Hilton properties and curious about how the experience compares to more established brands like Hyatt Ziva and Zilara. Of course, TPG will be there to review some of these properties when they open. So keep an eye out for content on that front.
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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.