Cash Variability in HHonors Points & Money Awards

Hilton HHonors Points & Money Awards have variable cash payments even for the same category hotels. Where you stay can result in a large difference between cash amounts paid for each night.The hotels surveyed for this post found HHonors category 6 Points & Money award nights ranging from $68 to $150 per night, in addition to 50% points of Standard award nights.

Hilton HHonors Points & Money awards require only 50% points compared to HHonors Standard award nights. There is not a published table for the cash portion for this award type. There are prevailing rates, however, some hotels have a higher cash portion than typical for the hotel category.

As far as I have seen the points portion is always 50% standard award or even 50% peak season award rates at Waldorf Astoria hotels.

The cash portion depends on the location and the specific hotel. Amsterdam has a Doubletree and Hilton Hotels both listed as Category 6 award nights. The Points & Money awards for these two locations showed different cash portions with Amsterdam Hilton at 54 EUR + 20,000 points and Doubletree Amsterdam at 85 EUR and 20,000 points, even though the published room rate for Amsterdam Hilton was 65 EUR higher than Amsterdam Doubletree rate.

Here are samples of Hilton HHonors Points & Money rates based on searches and prevailing rates in Europe and the USA.

Hilton HHonors Points & Money rates

• Category 1 HHonors Standard Award = 7,500 points per night.
• Category 1 HHonors Points & Money Award= ?
• All category 1 hotels I checked showed only Standard Awards at 7,500 points per night.

• Category 2 HHonors Standard Award = 12,500 points per night.
• Category 2 HHonors Points & Money Award = $30 + 6,250 points (US).

• Category 3 HHonors Standard Award = 25,000 points per night.
• Category 3 HHonors Points & Money Award = $40 + 12,500 points (US).
• Category 3 HHonors Points & Money Award = £25 (USD $39.16) + 12,500 points (UK).

• Category 4 HHonors Standard Award = 30,000 points per night.
• Category 4 Points & Money Award = $50 + 15,000 points (US).
• Category 4 Points & Money Award = £31 ($48.57) + 15,000 points (UK).
• Category 4 Points & Money Award = €38 to €42 + 15,000 points (2 hotels in Mainz, Germany). €38 to €42 = USD $50.92 to $56.28.
• Category 4 Points & Money Award Hilton Warsaw = 160pzl + 15,000 points (Warsaw, Poland). 160pzl = USD $51.62.

• Category 4 Points & Money Award = €62 + 15,000 points (Hilton Madrid Airport, Spain). €85 = USD $83.12.
• Category 4 Points & Money Award = €85 + 15,000 points (Hilton Vienna Danube). €85 = USD $113.93.

• Category 5 HHonors Standard Award = 35,000 points per night.
• Category 5 Points & Money Award = $60 + 17,500 points (US).
• Category 5 Points & Money Award = £37 (USD $57.97) + 17,500 points (UK).
• Category 5 Points & Money Award = €46 + 17,500 points (Germany). €46 = USD $61.62.

HHonors Category 6 hotel awards have high cash variability.

• Category 6 HHonors Standard Award = 40,000 points per night.
• Category 6 Points & Money Award = $70 + 20,000 points (US).
• Category 6 Points & Money Award = £43 (USD $67.37) + 20,000 points (UK).
• Category 6 Points & Money Award = €54 + 20,000 points (Germany, Italy, Netherlands). €54 = USD $72.32.
• Category 6 Points & Money Award = €85 + 20,000 points (Doubletree Amsterdam, Netherlands). €85 = USD $113.98.

• Beverly Hilton, HHonors category 6 hotel = $125 + 20,000 points (Los Angeles, USA).

• Category 6 Points & Money Award = €112 + 20,000 points (Hilton Vienna Plaza, Austria). €112 = USD $150.08.

 HHonors Category 7 awards

• Category 7 HHonors Standard Award = 50,000 points per night.
• Category 7 Points & Money Award = $85 + 25,000 points (USA).
• Category 7 Points & Money Award = £53 (USD $83.03) + 25,000 points (UK).

  Waldorf Astoria Collection

• Waldorf Astoria Berlin = HHonors Standard Award = 50,000 points per night.
• Waldorf Astoria Points & Money Award = €77 + 25,000 points. €77 = USD $103.11.

• Waldorf Astoria New York = HHonors Standard Award = 50,000 points per night.
• Waldorf Astoria New York Points & Money Award = $150 + 25,000 points.

Waldorf Astoria New York ($150) requires 50% more cash than Waldorf Astoria Berlin ($103) for same 50,000 points standard award room night.

• Waldorf Astoria = HHonors Peak Season Award = 60,000 points per night.
• Waldorf Astoria Points & Money Award =  £62 (USD $97.10) + 30,000 points (UK).

• Waldorf Astoria Chicago = HHonors Peak Season Award = 70,000 points per night.
• Waldorf Astoria Points & Money Award = $185 + 35,000 points.

Hilton HHonors Points & Money Awards.

Readers have sent me emails over the past year mentioning variability in HHonors Points & Money award rates. This appears to be a growing trend worldwide among HHonors hotels based on my most recent research inot Points & Money awards.

Ric Garrido, writer and owner of Loyalty Traveler, shares news and views on hotels, hotel loyalty programs and vacation destinations for frequent guests. You can follow Loyalty Traveler on Twitter and Facebook and RSS feed.