TPG Readers Reveal Their Favorite Brands in the Hilton Honors Program
We recently asked the esteemed members of our TPG Lounge to tell us about their favorite brands in the Hilton Honors program. Here's a look at some of our favorite answers. (Some responses have been lightly edited for style and clarity).
Living in Luxury at Conrad, Waldorf Astoria and Curio
From gorgeous overwater bungalows at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island to the unique boutique-like hotels of the Curio brand and classics like the Waldorf Astoria, our TPG Lounge readers have great taste when it comes to living it up in luxury.
"I've stayed at a couple Conrad properties with Hilton Honors points. The one in Fort Lauderdale blew my socks off. I have enough points for the one in the Maldives, but not the overwater bungalows, unfortunately. I just need $5,000 to get there." — Bill L.
"Conrad Maldives Rangali Island and Conrad Ko Samui for the win. They're ridiculously beautiful hotels with nice Hilton Honors amenities. The Ko Samui location is fantastic and much cheaper to get to than Rangali Island. Both of them are incredible properties, offering a great redemption value for your points." — Jessica R.
"My Conrad experiences in Manila have been considerably better than my Waldorf Astoria experiences in Bangkok and Chicago." — Leujay C.
"Conrad Singapore and Conrad Istanbul hands down over the Waldorf Astoria properties I’ve tried in Florida, Arizona and New York City. I'm hoping to try the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island in 2019 and am also curious about Curio." — Deana D.
"I love them all, but Conrad and Waldorf Astoria are the best." — Robert C.
"Conrad Bangkok. Great place. I have over 75 stays there." — Mark B.
"The Conrad in Hong Kong. The ones in Singapore and Tokyo are just as great." — Kevin H.C.C.
"Conrad Bali and Conrad Cartagena are off the charts." — Lazer W.
"The Waldorf Astoria brand does luxury right without being too much." — Jonathan F.
"Waldorf Astoria. I've always wanted to stay at the one in New York since it’s in movies. Sadly, when my wife and I made it to New York last November, it was closed for renovations. I guess we will need to go back just to stay there." — Wil L.
"Waldorf Astoria, mainly due to the high quality service and local theme in each hotel. Case in point: The Waldorf Astoria Park City." — Khurrum K.
"The Curio line has been good to me, with Hilton benefits and an individual feel that lets the hotel stand out more." — A. R. M.
"Curio is cool. I have not tried Conrad or Waldorf as they are outside my allowable expense policy — Hilton Honors Diamond member here." — Jonathan A.
"I love the individuality of Curio properties combined with the benefits of Hilton Honors status." — Mike M.
"Curio, because they are so unique, like a boutique hotel." — Armetrice C.
Business Travelers Prefer Brands With Breakfast
Some TPG Lounge members recognized tried-and-true perks like complimentary made-to-order breakfast and do-it-yourself laundry facilities, praising brands like Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn and Hilton Garden Inn for making their business trips easier to manage.
"I'm a big fan of Embassy Suites. I like having a living room and table, plus free cooked breakfast and free happy hour." — Debbie R.
"Embassy Suites for the suite and made-to-order breakfast." — Gary L.
"Conrad and Waldorf Astoria take the cake, but for everyday work travel, I love Embassy Suites or Doubletree." — Betsy A.
"I like Hampton Inn for these reasons. The pricing is always within my company travel budget. They're easy and predictable, with free parking and properties everywhere I travel to. I think I hit roughly 100 hotel nights this year." — Kevin L.
"For business, I like the consistency of the Hampton Inn — the price is perfect for my travel budget. For pleasure or personal travel, I like Waldorf or Conrad." — Misty H.
"The rooms, breakfast and amenities can’t be beat at Hampton Inn." — Raúl H.
"I love Hilton Garden Inns because they are consistent when I travel for work and always provide a cooked to order breakfast!" — Matthew R.
"I love the Hilton Garden Inn when traveling long-term, [with perks like] do-it-yourself laundry facilities and solid breakfast. There are usually suite upgrades available, too. There are never Executive lounges, but I still love them." — Derik P.A.
"I like the Hilton Garden Inn because I find it to be a good value and it almost always has onsite coin laundry. I don't like to stay in properties like Conrad or Waldorf because they are not always well suited for people who live out of a suitcase." — Kyle L.
Newer Hilton Brands: Canopy, Tru and Motto
Several TPG Lounge readers said they were excited about some of Hilton's up-and-coming brands, which aren't afraid to try new things to appeal to a younger crowd.
"I’m really excited about the direction Hilton is going in with its new brands. Motto looks cool, too. Very fresh and innovative." — Kelly T.
"I agree. I do like the Tru brand, too. The colors in the room make it feel very inviting and kind of beachy, with light and medium blues and greens." — Shawn C.
"The Canopy Reykjavik was super awesome as well." — Jessica R.
Longer Stays: Homewood Suites and Home2Suites
When it comes to long-term stays, nothing beats the spacious hotel layouts and complimentary meals offered by Hilton's Homewood Suites and Home2Suites brands.
"Homewood Suites is by far my favorite, with Embassy Suites right behind that. As someone who basically lives in Hilton hotels almost 220 nights this year, I need my laundry facilities." — Shawn C.
"I recently tried a Home2Suites and thought it was pretty cool for a longer stay." — Lisa M.T.
"I guess I am in the minority. Sure, Conrad is amazing, but it's neither practical nor abundant. I travel to a lot of medium-to-small-sizes cities and I can always count on a Homewood Suites to be nearby with [perks like] free breakfast, dinners, drinks (usually) and a much more spacious suite. They're reasonably priced and the coffee is always hot." — Jeffrey C.
Featured photo of the Conrad Maldives courtesy of Hilton.
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| 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.