Hilton HHonors - What to do with 900k HHonors Points?

I am a current HHonors Gold member and have 900k points to use. The problem is that I've had this same total of points for several years and I can't even come to find a good way to use them. The original plan had been to use it on the Safari VIP vacation until they canceled that offer.

So what are your recommendations?

FYI - I used to stay at Hhonors properties all the time in the past but over the last 4 years I've become a Starwood man.

Thanks!

Do you have the Hilton AMEX card? If you get it, you can get 4-night award stays at Cat 6 properties for 125k each. I find that using them in major cities with dense sightseeing patterns - such as HK, Tokyo, NYC, Sydney, and Paris - are some of the best returns on my points.

I find that this is a much better value than the 175k 6-night stay because I really don't usually have time to stay six nights at any one property.

So what are your recommendations?

Three months at the Hampton Inn in Milford, CT?? http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml;jsessionid=LSCR1RXWVKWISCSGBJBNUKQ?cty hocn=MIFPLHX :eek:

Seriously, do you have any parameters you want to consider?

Head to the Maldives.

4 nights AXON award at Bora Bora Nui for 125K followed by 4 nights AXON award at Hilton Moorea. Hilton just picked these properties up from Starwood. Redemption values are much better with Hilton. You can find threads with extensive property descriptions in the Starwood forum.

4 nights AXON award at Bora Bora Nui for 125K followed by 4 nights AXON award at Hilton Moorea. Hilton just picked these properties up from Starwood. Redemption values are much better with Hilton. You can find threads with extensive property descriptions in the Starwood forum.

I had no idea HH picked them up. The Nui resort looks amazing!.

I say use CC when you can and trade for what you want/need.

Thanks for the responses. I wasn't aware that those properties are now HH.

I'm looking for the best value use of the points in terms of unique experiences/adventures and/or merchandise. The problem is that at looking at the options, it appears that hotel stays will be the best use, but please keep them coming!

Thanks again!

Oh-so-thank-U, SD1K, for that info. Bora Bora Nui was way overpriced @35K Starwood a night (or was that 70K for a Cat. 7 suite??,) but 29K via GLONP2 or 31K via AXON is a great deal : ) !

I'm pretty much in the exact same boat as the op.. gold thru 6/10, 888K pt balance, and don't want much to do with Hh any more

I don't have and am not getting a Hh AX so that won't help.. is that the only way to get the Tahiti awards?

The GLONP2 awards are available to any Hilton honors elite member (silver, gold, diamond) while the AXON awards require the Hilton credit card.

Deluxe Ocean View (above the 6th floor) at the Grand Wailea in Maui. The sunrise/sunsets are beautiful, the hotel is 5 star, flights to Maui are affordable. Room goes for $800 a nite.

My plan is to get to 5,250,000 HHonors points. When I'm ready to retire, I'll head to Barbados and drink greyhounds for 6 months straight.

4 nights AXON award at Bora Bora Nui for 125K followed by 4 nights AXON award at Hilton Moorea. Hilton just picked these properties up from Starwood. Redemption values are much better with Hilton. You can find threads with extensive property descriptions in the Starwood forum.

Can I get this without the AXON? Let me rephrase, are there other possibilities to get these properties using Hh points?

You can book any hotel within HHonors, but the real value comes from being able to use those 'special' rewards since you can stay at those properties at a discounted point rate. (OP please correct me if I'm wrong)

Is there anything that can be purchased with points that may be worthwhile (too bad navigating the shop with points site is such a disaster and HH doesn't offer special event auctions like SPG).

AXON is nothing else then a discount for a 4 days reward stay, it doesn't offer any special availability or something alike.

Can I get this without the AXON? Let me rephrase, are there other possibilities to get these properties using Hh points?

AXON is for 4 night bookings only. VIP awards (which are even better value than AXON) are available for from a minimum of 6 nights to a max of 14 nights. http://hhonors.hilton.com/en/hhonors/rewards/hrr/index.jhtml

Based on the responses, I'm figuring that hotel stays are the best use of points...
Seems like the Bora Bora, Maldives and Hawaii properties top that list...

(Since I travel so much for work, sometimes I just wish I could use points on something that did not require an airplane or another hotel stay...)

Three months at the Hampton Inn in Milford, CT?? http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml;jsessionid=LSCR1RXWVKWISCSGBJBNUKQ?cty hocn=MIFPLHX :eek:



Hey, I've stayed there while visiting New Haven!

OK OK, I suppose I wouldnt want to vacation there. Maybe in the summer the beach in New Haven is nice? Haha

Good point... So far in this thread the top uses of 900k points would be stays at Maldives, Bora Bora, Hawaii and Milford, CT...

:p

Have you taken at least a few minutes to peruse the possible rewards on the HHonors website?

http://hhonors1.hilton.com/en_US/hh/rewards/index.do?it=Not,TnavRewards

The categories include:

Hotels
Experience Rewards
Car Rentals
Cruises
Entertainment Parks
Shopping & Dining

As already suggested, the best bang for your point is probably hotel stays (especially the GLON*, etc. series), but there's nothing stopping you from redeeming for any of the other things if they would give you more enjoyment.

(Perhaps you already did this research, but you didn't indicate so. It came off as though you just wanted to be spoon-fed answers.)

Hi Kathy,
Thanks for the response, and, yes, I have looked at the site. The experience rewards are interesting but seem to be a complete waste of points since they are so over-the-top expensive. Same goes for the shopping and dining.

I have done a little leg work (admittedly, not exhaustive) but thought that others may have better ideas or recommendations.

Thanks again.

Has anyone ever tried one of the 'Vocation Vacations'?

The problem is that I've had this same total of points for several years and I can't even come to find a good way to use them.

I'll be happy to provide my HH number to you so we can transfer them into my account. Since you can't even come to find a good way to use them, I think thats a GREAT way to use them!

Out of curiosity, are you sure you've still got them?

If you're not staying at Hiltons, and you don't have a point-earning card, one year after the last use, the points disappear - Hilton will zero out your account.

I still have the points and I'm still a gold. I've stayed at an HHonors property at least once a year for work...

Give 'em to me! They'll match the 1.1 million points I have (even though I spend points regularly and have enjoyed some nice Conrad stays and have given some stays to friends and relatives...) and let me do even more reward stays... ;)

If you enjoy travel, head to Bali, Singapore (if you actually get into Singapore, you will not find a sterile place at all, but rather a place that is multicultural and where different traditions exist side by side,) Bangkok, Tokyo, Moscow, French Polynesia, Maldives, etc. etc.

Give some to a charity and I would spend it on the Fashion week tickets for 2 ($750K). It's crazy how hard it is to get into even 1 show during fashion week!

HHonors policy regarding closing accounts is not consistent. One family member got stung at the one year point, losing a lot of points. Another is still being carried for over 2 years BUT with few points, like 500. 'Splain that.

How can I use points for Fashion Show Tickets?

You could adopt 30 animals. ;)

http://hiltonhhonors.goldenmoments.com/product/adopt_an_animal/10001578//

Add the Hilton Seychelles.

Spectacular use of HH points....

Only challenge is getting there--discussed in other posts.

How can I use points for Fashion Show Tickets?

HHonors rewards store. Spring Fashion week is next week but I'm sure Hhonors will have this for the Fall Fashion Week too.

Fashion Week Tickets for Two
Starting At 750,000 Hilton HHonors Points

The most significant fashion event taking over NYC in February attracts designers, industry insiders, buyers, retailers, celebrities, VIPs and inter/national press. These exclusive invitation-only events showcase New York's global status as a major fashion force. Two tickets for two events will include seating in private luxury suites with open bar service and hors d'oeuvres. Limited availability. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for arrangements to be made.