Hilton HHonors - I am a Hilton convert....now what?

I am a nine year Marriott Rewards member and have received many perks from them over the years. Recently, I find myself staying at the extended stay properties where the Platinum level perks are just some water and cookies. I have been staying at a Residence Inn in Arlington for the past month and decided to switch over to the Homewood Suites and I am very impressed. I now realize what I have been missing...hardwood floors in the kitchen, ceiling fan in the bedroom, great mattress, good breakfast, faster free internet, etc... and I am not even an elite member yet.

Hilton would not match my MR status, but did put me on the Diamond Challenge, so I should be Diamond in about a month.

I don't use my hotel points for travel as much as for merchandise (I used some Marriott points to purchase my 50" HDTV last fall via Best Buy gift certificates). I noticed HHonors does not have that many options for merchandise, although the Sharper Image gift certificates are kind of useful. I stay 200+ days a year normally. On the negative side, for double dipping, I only receive 100 AA miles per stay at Homewood Suites, so I am going to double dip for Hilton points.

I want to maximize my experience and earnings with HHonors, so what's next? I am thinking about the Hilton AmEx (50,000 point offer here (https://www201.americanexpress.com/cards/Applyfservlet?csi=4/15887/b/224)) but wouldn't the regular AmEx rewards program be a better option since I can use those easily for merchandise via AmEx gift cards?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

I am a nine year Marriott Rewards member and have received many perks from them over the years. Recently, I find myself staying at the extended stay properties where the Platinum level perks are just some water and cookies. I have been staying at a Residence Inn in Arlington for the past month and decided to switch over to the Homewood Suites and I am very impressed. I now realize what I have been missing...hardwood floors in the kitchen, ceiling fan in the bedroom, great mattress, good breakfast, faster free internet, etc... and I am not even an elite member yet.

Hilton would not match my MR status, but did put me on the Diamond Challenge, so I should be Diamond in about a month.

I don't use my hotel points for travel as much as for merchandise (I used some Marriott points to purchase my 50" HDTV last fall via Best Buy gift certificates). I noticed HHonors does not have that many options for merchandise, although the Sharper Image gift certificates are kind of useful. I stay 200+ days a year normally. On the negative side, for double dipping, I only receive 100 AA miles per stay at Homewood Suites, so I am going to double dip for Hilton points.

I want to maximize my experience and earnings with HHonors, so what's next? I am thinking about the Hilton AmEx (50,000 point offer here (https://www201.americanexpress.com/cards/Applyfservlet?csi=4/15887/b/224)) but wouldn't the regular AmEx rewards program be a better option since I can use those easily for merchandise via AmEx gift cards?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

Everyone seems to think I'm the "world traveler" and I'm sure I don't even hold a candle to you. I can't even imagine (or never even knew) that you could use points to buy mdse., but it doesn't really interest me because the points is how we do travel to the wonderful places that we wouldn't normally be able to do if we had to $$ for the rooms. I use every point I earn on traveling outside the US....this year, Budapest/Amsterdam....so I don't think I could part with my points and buy mdse...although it sounds like you have it down.

Dawn

Everyone seems to think I'm the "world traveler" and I'm sure I don't even hold a candle to you. I can't even imagine (or never even knew) that you could use points to buy mdse., but it doesn't really interest me because the points is how we do travel to the wonderful places that we wouldn't normally be able to do if we had to $$ for the rooms. I use every point I earn on traveling outside the US....this year, Budapest/Amsterdam....so I don't think I could part with my points and buy mdse...although it sounds like you have it down.

Dawn
World traveler....me? Hehehe, I wish. I spend too much time working so I don't travel anywhere else in the world. Unless you count Milwaukee, WI as an exotic destination. You have me beat.

I do have to add that Marriott sent me to Maui for 8 days (with a combo of NWA points). But that was ions ago.

Well, although you seem to prefer HS to RI (and they really vary by property), I think you may be disappointed with Hilton top-tier as opposed to Marriott top-tier. The difference between Diamond and Gold with Hilton is minimal - though you do get generally better service as a Diamond when trying to book a room at a sold-out hotel.

If you get the Hilton Amex and stay 200 nights with points+points, you'll probably soon find that your Hilton points rack up pretty darn fast. Seriously, that Hilton Amex card is the best deal on the planet - 5 points per $ spent at Hiltons (plus 500 on-line bonus) plus 5 points for groceries, gas, etc, plus 3 points on everything else + no annual fee! Compare that to the Starwood Amex (2 pts per $ only at Starwoods) and it's a good deal.

For merchandize, you usually you get ~$100 worth of stuff for 40,000 miles. Since Amex charges 20,000 points for a $100 giftcard and you'll be getting 5X the points with your Hilton Amex while paying only 2X as much for the gift cards (though a more limited selection), it seems like a good deal.

Honestly, staying at Homewoods, there's not much point in being a Diamond. I've never been upgraded at one and Golds and Diamonds both get just waters and cookies. (An aside: at Embassy Suites, you can get upgraded to a larger suite).

Upgrades at Hiltons really vary widely by property.... and folks around this board will tell you how annoyed that get at having to "ask" for upgrades and other benefits upon checkin (from what I understand, Marriott is much more automatic). Still, I find that being a "regular" at a property combined with Diamond status almost always means upgrades, gift baskets, and more.

Anyway, welcome to HHonors!

have you read the FAQ thread? Its a world of information about the HHonors program.
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=462994

and The Definitive “How To Earn Hilton HHonors Points” Thread
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=329057

Well, although you seem to prefer HS to RI (and they really vary by property), I think you may be disappointed with Hilton top-tier as opposed to Marriott top-tier. The difference between Diamond and Gold with Hilton is minimal - though you do get generally better service as a Diamond when trying to book a room at a sold-out hotel.

If you get the Hilton Amex and stay 200 nights with points+points, you'll probably soon find that your Hilton points rack up pretty darn fast. Seriously, that Hilton Amex card is the best deal on the planet - 5 points per $ spent at Hiltons (plus 500 on-line bonus) plus 5 points for groceries, gas, etc, plus 3 points on everything else + no annual fee! Compare that to the Starwood Amex (2 pts per $ only at Starwoods) and it's a good deal.

For merchandize, you usually you get ~$100 worth of stuff for 40,000 miles. Since Amex charges 20,000 points for a $100 giftcard and you'll be getting 5X the points with your Hilton Amex while paying only 2X as much for the gift cards (though a more limited selection), it seems like a good deal.

Honestly, staying at Homewoods, there's not much point in being a Diamond. I've never been upgraded at one and Golds and Diamonds both get just waters and cookies. (An aside: at Embassy Suites, you can get upgraded to a larger suite).

Upgrades at Hiltons really vary widely by property.... and folks around this board will tell you how annoyed that get at having to "ask" for upgrades and other benefits upon checkin (from what I understand, Marriott is much more automatic). Still, I find that being a "regular" at a property combined with Diamond status almost always means upgrades, gift baskets, and more.

Anyway, welcome to HHonors!

Thank you for that. Your AmEx comments make sense. I will apply for the Hilton AmEx tonight.

As far as the top-tier at Marriott, I don't get much at RI either. Nothing to upgrade to. I took my free cookies to the office to give away. I may have a chance for some stays at a full-service Hilton in the near future, so that will be a good test for me since full-service Marriotts treat their top-tiers pretty well in my experience.

Thanks again!

Cheap Elite...I did check out the FAQ, but I had a more specific question related to my stay history. But I gotta say that it is an excellent thread. I found the points calculator to be particularly useful. I changed my preference to points and points since I am staying at a HS. Thank you for the links.

Overall the exchange of points for gift certs is not that good wiht hilton. You can get some other things that marriott does not have like passes to Disney world, and other theme parks. They also have life time experiences, which is rather new, but along the lines of SPG where you can do some cool things liek drive race cars.

Cheap Elite...I did check out the FAQ, but I had a more specific question related to my stay history. But I gotta say that it is an excellent thread. I found the points calculator to be particularly useful. I changed my preference to points and points since I am staying at a HS. Thank you for the links.

Just an aside to agree that the FAQ on the Hilton boards is great - better than any of the other hotel boards IMO. The SPG board did't even have one until recently (of course, they have a dedicated Starwood rep who answers any question, so maybe they don't need one!)

I am a nine year Marriott Rewards member and have received many perks from them over the years. Recently, I find myself staying at the extended stay properties where the Platinum level perks are just some water and cookies. I have been staying at a Residence Inn in Arlington for the past month and decided to switch over to the Homewood Suites and I am very impressed. I now realize what I have been missing...hardwood floors in the kitchen, ceiling fan in the bedroom, great mattress, good breakfast, faster free internet, etc... and I am not even an elite member yet...........

Welcome aboard. I too shifted from Marriott to Hilton. Most of the Hilton HS and HGI are nice and fairly new as compared to the mostly older Marriott RI etc. The HH hotels vary widely with bennies........some hotels bennies are great others are nil or non-existent. Right now many HH Diamonds and Golds are not getting access to executive levels for various not "exactly true' excuses and lies. There appears less consistency between what is advertised and what is given. Much good into on FT so search and read.

MisterNice

Welcome aboard. I too shifted from Marriott to Hilton. Most of the Hilton HS and HGI are nice and fairly new as compared to the mostly older Marriott RI etc. The HH hotels vary widely with bennies........some hotels bennies are great others are nil or non-existent. Right now many HH Diamonds and Golds are not getting access to executive levels for various not "exactly true' excuses and lies. There appears less consistency between what is advertised and what is given. Much good into on FT so search and read.

MisterNice

With RI, I don't see any benefits up front. I do see them if something is not right with my stay, I usually get a quicker response from the management. I assume it will be the same at the HS when I am diamond, but the property is newer, so I am much happier.

I will book a stay at the full-service Hilton after I make Diamond and see how it goes.

I have been staying at a Residence Inn in Arlington for the past month and decided to switch over to the Homewood Suites and I am very impressed. ... On the negative side, for double dipping, I only receive 100 AA miles per stay at Homewood Suites, so I am going to double dip for Hilton points.
Thanks in advance for the advice.

There is a third option, besides the flat 100 miles/stay @ Hampton/Homewood [Points + Fixed Miles], and the 50% HHonors points (that you've chosen) [Points + Points]: 1 airline mile/dollar spent [Points + Variable Miles], room rate only with Hampton/Hilton, all other properties you get credit for misc charges such as phone, food, drink (including tax and tip).

GatorRay did not mention this, but there is also a better reason for the switch that many of those of you who do not know the Marriott program that well will miss.

At Residence Inns, you only earn 5 points/$ spent and you only earn points on the room rate, not extras such as phone calls, business services, etc

At Homewood Suites, you know one earns 10 points/$ spent and also this same ratio on whatever else is charged to your room. So, yes, your double dip is less, but not your point earning capacity, especially when compared to Residence Inns.

Take this with Mr. Nice's cogent observation re the genrerally new Homewoods vs. variable, at best, Marriot RIs and you have a no -brainer.

By the way, GatorRay, the same holds true for HGI's vs. Marriott Courtyard properties, as well. The HGI's kick the Courtyard product into the dirt -- that is why you see Marriott trying at breakneck speed to rehab their Courtyards into the newer product.

However, at CY's you still only get points on the room rate, albeit at the higher 10 points/$ spent, like the HGIs.

By the way, all HGIs have microwaves and I believe a small fridge in the room compared to the lack of these items at most CY rooms.

I think you should look at a Citibank Hilton Visa. That card gives 6 points per dollar spent at Hilton properties. So for example you paid $100 a nite

Using Amex Hilton
100 Base Points
50 Double Dip
500 Amex
Total = 650 points

Using Citibank Hilton
100 Base Points
50 Double Dip
600 Citibank
Total = 750

I assume with your number of stays and the cost of each stay, you'll earn a good amount of extra points just by using the Citibank Hilton instead of the Amex Hilton.

Although, if your looking to charge everything (i.e. everyday expenses) then using the Amex Hilton will be better. If only using the CC at Hilton then Citibank Hilton will win out.

By the way, GatorRay, the same holds true for HGI's vs. Marriott Courtyard properties, as well. The HGI's kick the Courtyard product into the dirt -- that is why you see Marriott trying at breakneck speed to rehab their Courtyards into the newer product.

However, at CY's you still only get points on the room rate, albeit at the higher 10 points/$ spent, like the HGIs.

By the way, all HGIs have microwaves and I believe a small fridge in the room compared to the lack of these items at most CY rooms.

Good point! I avoid CY as a rule. But now I have HGI as an option. And if they have a mini fridge, that is a benefit.




Although, if your looking to charge everything (i.e. everyday expenses) then using the Amex Hilton will be better. If only using the CC at Hilton then Citibank Hilton will win out.

I will use the card for everyday, so that means that I would go for the AmEx. Thank you for the breakdown.

BTW...I am, at this moment, enjoying my Homewood Suite. :p

I will book a stay at the full-service Hilton after I make Diamond and see how it goes.

You may be disappointed with a full-service Hilton as Diamond compared to a full-service Marriott as Platinum. Hilton properties vary a great deal, while Marriott's are more consistent. There's a thread on the SPG forum discussing how SPG, especially Sheratons, has been slipping and how Marriott is more consistent. You'll do better by focusing on HS and HGI and full-service Marriott.

At Homewood Suites, you know one earns 10 points/$ spent and also this same ratio on whatever else is charged to your room. So, yes, your double dip is less, but not your point earning capacity, especially when compared to Residence Inns.

Unless things have changed very recently, that's not so

From Hilton.com:

Earn 10 Base HHonors points per dollar spent on room rate only for eligible rate stays at Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, and Homewood Suites by Hilton hotels.