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You can use Amex Hilton Free Night Certificates at almost any Hilton hotel, including the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Waikiki Beach.
Steve Heap/Getty Images
Hilton credit card Free Night Certificates were originally only valid on weekends, but were temporarily made more flexible during the pandemic.
Now, Hilton has changed the rules permanently, and Free Night Certificates can be used any day of the week.
You can redeem Hilton Free Night Certificates at almost any Hilton property worldwide — even expensive resorts.
Read Insider’s guide to the best travel rewards credit cards.
Hilton Honors quietly made a positive change to one of the best perks on its cards, and it’s good news for cardholders. The Free Night Certificates (previously referred to as Free “Weekend” Night Certificates) you can earn with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card,Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card are now valid any day of the week, instead of just Friday, Saturday, or Sunday nights. Amex is an Insider partner.
This is a permanent change and not just an extension of the flexible redemption policy Hilton introduced during the pandemic, which made Free Weekend Night certificates redeemable any night through the end of 2022.
Here’s what that means for Hilton Honors members.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Hilton removes weekend restriction from Free Night Certificates
Due to COVID, Hilton temporarily extended its certificate flexibility to encompass weekday availability — but, as first reported by Frequent Miler, this change is now permanent. So whether you’re traveling for business or fun, you can cash in your free night awards any day of the week.
Hilton Honors and American Express offer several co-branded cards for travelers (such as the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, and the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card) which earn Free Night Certificates either automatically or for meeting spending thresholds. You can use these certificates at most Hilton properties around the globe — even the most fancy resorts.
Three of Hilton’s cards are currently offering elevated limited-time bonuses, which can earn you a bunch of Hilton points toward your next vacation destination.
How to earn Hilton Honors Free Night Certificates
There are multiple ways to earn a Free Night Certificate, and the easiest is with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. The card automatically earns a Free Night Certificate upon card opening — and then once per year after your card’s anniversary. But there’s a Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card annual fee.
Although that can be jarring, the Free Night Certificate and complimentary Hilton Diamond elite status make the card more than worth it if you stay with Hilton frequently, especially when you factor in perks like include Hilton resort credits and up to $250 per year in airline incidental fee credits.**
That said, if you’re not willing to pay that much, you can also earn a Free Night Certificate after you spend $15,000 in a calendar year with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. This card has a Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, and it’s currently offering Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
Similarly, the The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has a The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card annual fee and is currently offering a The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card. With this card, you can earn a Free Night Certificate when you spend $15,000 or more on eligible purchases in a calendar year, and a second certificate if you spend a total of $60,000 with your card in a calendar year.
The best ways to use your Free Night Certificates
You can use Hilton Free Night Certificates at most Hilton properties worldwide, but you’ll get the highest value when you redeem at expensive Hilton properties or resorts. If you’re looking to add value to your next trip, this is an easy way to do it.
But keep in mind that a handful of Hilton locations don’t accept Free Night rewards. Also, the certificate doesn’t cover premium rooms (only standard rooms qualify).
Great hotels for redeeming Hilton Free Night Certificates:
Waldorf Astoria Maldives IthaafushiWaldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal Conrad Maldives Rangali IslandGrand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria ResortThe Biltmore Mayfair, LXR Hotels & ResortsWaldorf Astoria Beverly Hills
Free Night rewards can be worth around $1,000 or more, depending on where you stay. You’ll get the most value when you redeem them at upscale brands like Conrad or Waldorf Astoria, but there are plenty of options to choose from.
Hilton points are worth, on average, 0.5 cents each, based on Insider’s points and miles valuations.
Keep in mind that Free Night Certificates will expire a year after they are issued and there’s no way to extend them. That means you need to keep track of how long you’ve had yours and make sure to use it before it’s too late.
With the pandemic, however, certificate expirations dates had been extended:
Certificates issued between January 1 and December 31, 2021, expire December 31, 2022Certificates issued between January 1 and December 31, 2022, expire 12 months from the issue date
You can view your Free Night rewards and expiration dates in your Hilton online account. But you’ll have to call Hilton at 800-446-6677 to redeem.
If desired, you can use your Free Night Certificate in conjunction with a cash or points booking to extend your stay. Likewise, if you have the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, you can use your $250 in annual Hilton resort credits for on-resort spa, dining, or activities expenses. Be sure to read Insider’s guide to earning and redeeming Hilton points to learn about the best ways to maximize the Hilton Honors program.