The Hilton Honors program has used dynamic award pricing for a few years. With out award charts, the unpublished normal room reward cap has elevated many occasions over time, together with to 120,000 points in March 2022, 200,000 points in May 2025 and 250,000 points in September 2025.
Nonetheless, Thrifty Traveler just lately discovered that normal room rewards at some high-end Hilton Honors properties at the moment are inexpensive on choose dates. For instance, till just lately, all the usual room reward nights at Conrad Orlando at Evermore price 105,000 factors. However now we’re seeing some that price 90,000 factors.
A number of TPG staffers additionally observed that award charges for traditional room rewards and premium room rewards are converging. For instance, TPG’s Carly Helfand observed that throughout the identical month on the Waldorf Astoria Riviera Maya, normal room reward nights price as a lot as 180,000 factors, whereas premium room reward nights begin at 145,000 factors.
You’ll be able to redeem only a few extra Hilton factors on some dates to safe a premium room reward at some Hilton properties. For instance, rooms with views of Mount Yotei on the Hilton Niseko Village are bookable as premium room rewards for only a few thousand extra Hilton factors per evening on some dates.
This small distinction might lead you to e-book a premium room reward when redeeming Hilton points to your keep. However take into account that you possibly can’t use Hilton free night certificates for premium room rewards.
Associated: How to redeem Hilton points for upgraded rooms
We additionally discovered a number of cases the place normal room rewards different in value considerably. For instance, TPG’s Eric Rosen observed that though normal room reward nights on the Conrad Washington, DC price 85,000 factors on most dates, the usual room reward price jumps to 105,000 factors and even 180,000 factors on some dates.
The distinction is much more profound at Hilton Niseko Village, the place normal room rewards bounce as excessive as 160,000 factors throughout peak vacation ski season however are as little as 29,000 factors throughout different seasons.
And sadly, many high-end Hilton Honors properties nonetheless have all their normal room reward nights pricing on the unpublished cap of 250,000 factors. For instance, normal room reward nights on the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi and Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal nonetheless price 250,000 factors each time obtainable.
Reward your inbox with the TPG Day by day e-newsletter
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
Particularly since some properties provide inexpensive normal room rewards on some dates, it is value checking your present Hilton Honors bookings to see whether you can rebook at a lower rate. And in case you have a versatile schedule, it is value checking whether or not it can save you some factors by touring on totally different dates. For instance, by staying on the Conrad Washington, DC from March 19 to 22 as a substitute of March 26 to 29, you would redeem 135,000 fewer factors.
It is also a good suggestion to periodically test your award bookings — not solely within the Hilton Honors program but additionally in different applications that use dynamic award pricing — for value drops. These checks can prevent some critical factors, particularly when award charges fluctuate continuously.
I’ve a weekly reminder to test my upcoming reservations for value drops, however chances are you’ll wish to test roughly continuously. Alternatively, you would arrange award alerts in your favourite hotel award tool — equivalent to Rooms.aero — to inform you if award nights drop beneath a specific value.
Associated: How and why you should maximize your hotel stays by using multiple loyalty programs
Backside line
The draw back of applications that use dynamic award pricing is that award charges can spike with out discover. Nonetheless, the optimistic facet of dynamic award pricing is that generally award charges lower, particularly in case you have flexibility relating to when and the place you journey. As such, it is vital to periodically test your dynamic awards for value drops.
Hilton free evening certificates stay an effective way to remain at properties with sky-high normal room rewards. However, particularly as normal and premium room reward charges converge, keep in mind you possibly can solely use Hilton free evening certificates for traditional room rewards.
Associated studying:
Trending Merchandise
