Good uses of Hilton Aspire Annual Free Night Certificate

[SNS02]

Honestly Taylor swift concerts were maybe the biggest point flex. The hotels were sooooo inflated and being able to walk in Indy and not stay 30min away was so nice.

 

[HuskerATL]

Honestly Taylor swift concerts were maybe the biggest point flex. The hotels were sooooo inflated and being able to walk in Indy and not stay 30min away was so nice.

great concert...we took the train to the venue here in ATL....

 

[SNS02]

great concert...we took the train to the venue here in ATL....

Yes! Did that here in Seattle (yes I went three times!)

 

[JohnnyO]

Two years ago we used 2 Free nights at WA Dana Point, CA in conjunction with another trip in So Cal. February 2025 we will be using 2 free nights at the WA Los Cabos Pedregal in Cabo San Lucas Mexico ($2,000+ per night or 140k HH) and tagging on another three night stay at HGVC La Pacifica Los Cabos. First time to Cabo San Lucas and we are going because it has always been on our bucket list and we had to use one of our two free nights before they expired. A last minute Valentine's Day trip.

 

[HuskerATL]

Two years ago we used 2 Free nights at WA Dana Point, CA in conjunction with another trip in So Cal. February 2025 we will be using 2 free nights at the WA Los Cabos Pedregal in Cabo San Lucas Mexico ($2,000+ per night or 140k HH) and tagging on another three night stay at HGVC La Pacifica Los Cabos. First time to Cabo San Lucas and we are going because it has always been on our bucket list and we had to use one of our two free nights before they expired. A last minute Valentine's Day trip.

That is what we did last summer, two nights at WA Cabo and then a week at Cabo Azul

 

[JohnnyO]

That is what we did last summer, two nights at WA Cabo and then a week at Cabo Azul

Cabo Azul never even came up for us as an option. We must be dregs ...

 

[HuskerATL]

Cabo Azul never even came up for us as an option. We must be dregs ...

We booked through DEX EU

 

[4TimeAway]

WA Dana Point, CA

How was it? Thinking I migth use mine here.

 

[JohnnyO]

How was it? Thinking I migth use mine here.

We loved it although we had a couple of personal challenges. They have a beach club with a restaurant on a beautiful beach and the weather was great. If one plans to utilize the resort it's always best to combine two nights so you have a complete full day to enjoy the resort. They also have a nice pool and hot tubs and good restaurants and drinks on site although expensive. Since we are Diamond members I'm pretty sure we got $200 credit to use at the resort as well and an upgraded room. Have fun.

 

[Chris-ATX]

We are using FNC for three nights at the Waldorf Astoria in Dana Point CA. The cash rate is $806 per night, or 95K points per night.

Have been there before and loved it. Especially liked the little patio with gas fireplace outside our rooms to relax and hang out. Very nice!

 

[CalGalTraveler]

We always combine to get at least one full day to use resort. This year we combined 3 to get two full days and will probably combine in the future.

 

[JohnnyO]

Two years ago we used 2 Free nights at WA Dana Point, CA in conjunction with another trip in So Cal. February 2025 we will be using 2 free nights at the WA Los Cabos Pedregal in Cabo San Lucas Mexico ($2,000+ per night or 140k HH) and tagging on another three night stay at HGVC La Pacifica Los Cabos. First time to Cabo San Lucas and we are going because it has always been on our bucket list and we had to use one of our two free nights before they expired. A last minute Valentine's Day trip.

Ok we are here at WA Cabo … wow what a place. We got majorly upgraded as Diamond members … amazing place. Whales are blowing and breaching. Our own plunge pool and “included” Clase Azule bottle of tequila with snacks … my wife and I don’t want to leave the room … even for the Super Bowl Party they are throwing …

 

[HuskerATL]

Ok we are here at WA Cabo … wow what a place. We got majorly upgraded as Diamond members … amazing place. Whales are blowing and breaching. Our own plunge pool and “included” Clase Azule bottle of tequila with snacks … my wife and I don’t want to leave the room … even for the Super Bowl Party they are throwing …

Nice, we used ours there last year

 

[brp]

Embassy Suites Napa (80K points) to see Rhiannon Giddens.

Cheers.

 

[Eric B]

Just booked 2 nights at WA Los Cabos Pedregal in May before our 2 weeks at Flora Farms. Managed to use my last two FNCs that were expiring soon after - standard room rewards there are up to 140,000 now. Looking forward to trying out Pedregal.

 

[buzglyd]

Just booked 2 nights at WA Los Cabos Pedregal in May before our 2 weeks at Flora Farms. Managed to use my last two FNCs that were expiring soon after - standard room rewards there are up to 140,000 now. Looking forward to trying out Pedregal.

I’m going in May and thought I would use mine there but couldn’t get a standard room award. I used a Marriott cert and booked the JW in San Jose for my final night.

 

[Eric B]

I’m going in May and thought I would use mine there but couldn’t get a standard room award. I used a Marriott cert and booked the JW in San Jose for my final night.

I've been watching the availability at Pedregal; it seems to start opening up the standard redemption rewards around two months out. This time it opened up for the first night at about 62 days; the web site didn't show the second night available as a standard redemption but when I called to get it booked it was available as one. You might recheck as it gets closer to check in unless you're happy with the JW.

 

[buzglyd]

I've been watching the availability at Pedregal; it seems to start opening up the standard redemption rewards around two months out. This time it opened up for the first night at about 62 days; the web site didn't show the second night available as a standard redemption but when I called to get it booked it was available as one. You might recheck as it gets closer to check in unless you're happy with the JW.

Maybe I'll check. I booked my Hilton cert for June in San Diego for a Padre game. Not a fancy hotel but rooms are $700 a night. My friend stayed at the JW and liked it. I'm interested in exploring the San Jose Marina area so I might just keep it the way it is. I'm flying down on May 25. Not sure if that's in your timeframe.

 

[Eric B]

Maybe I'll check. I booked my Hilton cert for June in San Diego for a Padre game. Not a fancy hotel but rooms are $700 a night. My friend stayed at the JW and liked it. I'm interested in exploring the San Jose Marina area so I might just keep it the way it is. I'm flying down on May 25. Not sure if that's in your timeframe.

Unfortunately not; we've got weeks 18 & 19 at Flora and booked Pedregal for the two nights prior. We're down there pretty frequently though; maybe next time....

 

[buzglyd]

Unfortunately not; we've got weeks 18 & 19 at Flora and booked Pedregal for the two nights prior. We're down there pretty frequently though; maybe next time....

Some friends of mine bought a place on Gringo Hill so I will likely visit them in the summer.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

The 230 best places to use a Hilton Free Night Certificate worldwide (includes SLH)

Here's over 230 of the best places around the world to use a Hilton free night certificate, as well as some tips on how to get it done.

frequentmiler.com

 

[buzglyd]

Just scored last week. Availability at the Waldorf popped up so my final Cabo night will be there. Rooms are currently about $1900 a night.

 

[letsgobobby]

I like these ideas but would I ever stay at the WA Cabo for $1900/nt? no. Would we have paid $1250 for ES next to the Taylor Swift concert, or $600 at Homewood to move our daughter to college? probably! So another approach to maximizing FNC value is to seek the outliers in time (super high demand that might only be super high demand for a very specific window for a small number of customers) as opposed to the "best value" aka most expensive resorts you can find anywhere in the world.

 

[Sandy VDH]

At least the place I am staying in Scotland make the list.

 

[Zenichiro]

I am always looking for better than average uses of the FNC awards. I am liking the one I did today, but I am always looking for good suggestions going forward.

International does yield better opportunities. I used this years for 1 night at Inverlochy Castle for my summer visit to Scotland. https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/inviclx-inverlochy-castle/

Reward is equal to 110,000 HH points, cash rate would be 637 GBP or about 784 USD per night.

That completely covers the annual cost of the card. All other perks are just gravy now.

What good use have you found and want to share?

We just returned from Hilton LaRomana using 5 nights points and 2 FNC. Just booked Zemi Miches Curio for March 2026 5 nights points and FNC. Have Conrad DC booked for June as well FNC. Great value