What does Hilton Status Get You?

Related Posts:

1. Earning Status with Hilton
2. What does Hilton Status Get You?
3. Earning Points with Hilton and the Double-dip Option
4. Redeeming Points Utilizing Hilton AXON Awards
5. Redeeming Points Utilizing Hilton’s 5th Night Free Awards
6. AXON vs. 5th Night Free Award – Which One is Better?
7. The New Hilton Honors Program

In my last post of this series, I described two ways to earn status with Hilton: 1) Staying at their hotel, or 2) Having one of their four co-branded credit cards that gives you status. Additionally, throughout the year, Hilton runs some pretty lucrative fast-track to status offers where you can earn Gold status by completing four stays in a 90-day time period (like this current offer). Now, the question is, once you earn status, what will that really get you?

Silver Status:

• Point bonus: Earn 15% bonus on all base points during your stay.
• Health club: Complimentary access to hotel owned and operated health club or fitness centers during your stay (yes, some hotels do charge, primarily in Europe from my experience).
• Elite only rewards: Get your 5th night free on all hotel stays booked with points.
• Chain specific perks:
  • Hilton Grand Vacations property:
    • Early check in/late check out, subject to availability
    • Two bottles of water per stay
  • Waldorf Astoria hotels:
    • Expedited HHonors check in at designated desk
    • Late checkout based on availability
    • Two bottles of water per stay

My thoughts on Silver status: Personally it doesn’t give you too much unless you are looking to redeem points for a multi-night stay (which are then amazing)! For example, a category 7 hotel for 1 night typically costs 50,000 points, but if you were to stay 4 nights you’d be spending 42,500 points. 7,500 point discount a night is huge. And the longer you stay, the greater the discount. Aside from that, no great perks.

Gold Status:

• Point bonus: Earn 25% bonus on all base points during your stay.
• Internet access: Receive complimentary high-speed in-room internet access
• Health club: Complimentary access to hotel owned and operated health club or fitness centers during your stay (yes, some hotels do charge, primarily in Europe from my experience).
• Elite only rewards: Get your 5th night free on all hotel stays booked with points (same as Silver perk)
• Chain specific perks:
  • Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, and DoubleTree by Hilton:
    • Preferred room upgrades. If you are upgraded to the Executive Floor Lounge you will receive automatic access to the Club Lounge. However, many hotels will still give Gold members Club Lounge access even if they are not upgraded (but no guarantees)
    • Select one: 1) 1,000 bonus points per stay OR 2) continental breakfast (for 2 guests)
  • Embassy Suites Hotels:
    • Select one: 1) You can chose two of the following – Two candy bars, or Two bottles of water, or Two bottles of soda, or Two pieces of fruit, or Salty snack; OR 2) 500 bonus points per stay
  • Hampton Inn and Hampton Inn Suites:
    • Select one: 1) One bottle of water and one snack item; OR 2) 250 bonus points per stay
  • Hilton Garden Inn:
    • Select one: 1) Daily complimentary hot cooked-to-order breakfast for two guests; OR 2) 750 bonus points per stay
  • Hilton Grand Vacations property:
    • Early check in/late check out, subject to availability
    • Two bottles of water per stay
    • 1,000 bonus points per stay
  • Homewood Suites by Hilton:
    • Select one: 1) Two bottles of water and Pepperidge Farm cookies; OR 2) 250 bonus points per stay
  • Home2 Suites by Hilton:
    • Select one: 1) Bottle of water and a snack provided by the front desk; OR 2) 100 bonus points per stay
  • Waldorf Astoria hotels:
    • Expedited HHonors check in at designated desk
    • Late checkout based on availability
    • Two bottles of water per stay
    • Complimentary health club access where available, owned and operated by the hotel
    • Welcome beverage (up to two guests)
    • One category room upgrade (excludes suites, Napua Tower at Grand Wailea and Imperial Floor at Rome Cavalieri)
    • Select one: 1) 1,000 HHonors bonus points; OR 2) One in-room movie per stay (*if the room upgrade is not available, you will receive both options)
  • Conrad Maldives Rangali Island benefits:
    • No upgrade accommodations given
    • One bottle of wine
    • Chocolate & fruit amenity
    • Daily happy hour at Vilu restaurant for two guests from 5-6pm
  • Hilton Maldvies Iru Fushi Resort & Spa benefits:
    • No upgrade accommodations given
    • Daily complimentary happy hour from 5-6pm (no food, just drinks)
    • One bottle of house wine

My thoughts on Gold status: I personally think it is one of the best mid-level tier statuses out of all the major hotel chain programs. This is basically due to the fact that you get complimentary breakfast for you and a guest. One of my favorite things at a hotel is being able to eat breakfast (for free!) before I get my day started. For the above hotels that do not specify complimentary breakfast, that is because breakfast is already free for all guests at those hotels. On top of the free breakfast, there is also a decent chance you’ll get lounge access (but as stated above, not guaranteed). You will also get free internet, which can add up otherwise.

Diamond Status:

• Point bonus: Earn 50% bonus on all base points during your stay.
• Internet access: Receive complimentary high-speed in-room internet access.
• Guaranteed reservation: Guaranteed reservation when a hotel is sold out 48 hours prior to arrival. Note though, that there are black out dates for this benefit and many times you’ll be paying an incredibly expensive rack rate. This is only available for paid stays, not those using points.
• Health club: Complimentary access to hotel owned and operated health club or fitness centers during your stay (yes, some hotels do charge, primarily in Europe from my experience).
• Elite only rewards: Get your 5th night free on all hotel stays booked with points (same as Silver status).
• Chain specific perks:
  • Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, and DoubleTree by Hilton:
    • Preferred room upgrades, including suites, if available – it gives the next-best available room from the room type booked, not the best room available
    • 1,000 bonus points per stay
    • Continental breakfast (for 2 guests)
    • Executive floor lounge access even if you do not receive a room upgrade to this floor
  • Embassy Suites Hotels:
    • Select one: 1) You can chose three of the following – Two candy bars, or Two bottles of water, or Two bottles of soda, or Two pieces of fruit, or Salty snack; OR 2) 1,000 bonus points per stay
  • Hampton Inn and Hampton Inn Suites:
    • Select one: 1) One bottle of water and one snack item; OR 2) 250 bonus points per stay (exact same perk as Gold members)
  • Hilton Garden Inn:
    • Select one: 1) Daily complimentary hot cooked-to-order breakfast for two guests; OR 2) 750 bonus points per stay (exact same perk as Gold members)
  • Hilton Grand Vacation property:
    • Early check in/late check out, subject to availability
    • Two bottles of water per stay
    • 2,000 bonus points per stay
  • Homewood Suites by Hilton:
    • Select one: 1) Two bottles of water and Pepperidge Farm cookies; OR 2) 250 bonus points per stay (same exact perk as Gold members)
  • Home2 Suites by Hilton:
    • Select one: 1) Bottle of water and a snack provided by the front desk; OR 2) 100 bonus points per stay (same exact perk as Gold members)
  • Waldorf Astoria hotels:
    • Expedited HHonors check in at designated desk
    • Late checkout based on availability
    • Two bottles of water per stay
    • Complimentary health club access where available, owned and operated by the hotel
    • Welcome beverage (up to two guests)
    • Upgrades to preferred rooms, which may include suites, executive floor rooms, or the next-best available room from the room type booked (excludes suites, Napua Tower at Grand Wailea and Imperial Floor at Rome Cavalieri)
    • Access to the Waldorf Astoria Lounge, even if you do not receive a room upgrade. (PLEASE NOTE: Lounges are available only at select Waldorf Astoria properties.)
    • Select two: 1) 1,000 HHonors bonus points; OR 2) One in-room movie per stay; OR 3) Discount at Hotel/Resort facility – either Spa, Gold, or Restaurant (*if the room upgrade is not available, you will receive all three options)
  • Conrad Maldives Rangali Island benefits:
    • No upgrade accommodations given
    • One bottle of sparkling wine
    • Chocolate & fruit amenity
    • Daily happy hour at Vilu restaurant for two guests from 5-6pm
  • Hilton Maldvies Iru Fushi Resort & Spa benefits:
    • No upgrade accommodations given
    • Daily complimentary happy hour from 5-6pm (no food, just drinks)
    • One bottle of sparkling wine
    • Fruit basket upon arrival (regular replenishment for subsequent days)

My thoughts on Diamond status: While a 50% bonus on your base points earned, it is not necessarily that much better than Gold. If you are able to secure Gold status, don’t kill yourself trying to earn Diamond. You still get the free breakfast and free internet. The main perk is that you are guaranteed access to the club lounge (if there is one at the hotel). You also get 1,000 bonus points per stay, which can add up especially if you do many one night stays, or hotel hop.

**If you have Gold or Diamond status, you will need to select your earning preference at the hotels where you have a choice of an amenity. You must select this in your online profile prior to checking into the hotel.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As always, thanks for supporting the blog and enjoy traveling on a deal! You can learn more about all four Hilton sign up offers here.