Apr 24, 2018, 6:57 pm
Last edit by: rrgg
$250 Hilton Resort Credit
Note: The web page for the resorts has changed. You must input dates and/or a specific region to get a list of all resorts in that region. Sometimes the web page works better on a mobile device.
The resort credit benefit changed in late 2023. Refer to this separate discussion and wikipost for FAQs.
AMEX TERMS:
Note: The web page for the resorts has changed. You must input dates and/or a specific region to get a list of all resorts in that region. Sometimes the web page works better on a mobile device.
The resort credit benefit changed in late 2023. Refer to this separate discussion and wikipost for FAQs.
AMEX TERMS:
During each year of your Card Membership ("reward year"), you are eligible to receive up to $250 total in statement credits on your Card Account for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts with your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card during that reward year. Your first reward year begins on your account opening date. Each subsequent reward year begins on the anniversary of your account opening date.
Eligible Hilton Resort purchases must be made directly with the participating Hilton Resort and charged to your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card account for the benefit to apply. Incidental charges (including charges made at restaurants, spas, and other establishments within the hotel property) must be charged to your room and paid for with your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card at checkout in order for them to be recognized as Hilton Resort purchases. Visit hilton.com/resorts for the list of participating Hilton Resorts. Purchases made by both the Basic and Additional Card Members on the eligible Card Account are eligible for statement credits. However, each Card Account is eligible for up to a total of $250 per renewal year in statement credits across all Cards on the Card Account. Please allow 8-12 weeks after the eligible Hilton purchase is charged to your Card Account for statement credit(s) to be posted to the Account. Please call the number on the back of your Card if statement credits have not posted after 12 weeks from the date of purchase. Card Members remain responsible for timely payment of all charges.
FAQ
ELIGIBLE RATES
1) Do you have to book directly through Hilton in order to receive the resort credit?
NO. See below.
2) If I’m booking at Hilton.com or through the Hilton app, etc., are any rates not eligible for the resort credit?
Any rates charged by the hotel directly will trigger the credit. Advance purchase rates for properties in the USA are charged by Hilton Corporate in Tennessee and WILL NOT trigger the credit. Advance purchase rates for properties outside the USA are typically charged by the hotel directly, so these WILL trigger the credit. According to DoC and the discussion from post #849 onwards advance purchase rates are becoming ineligible starting Aug 1, 2019, though it is unclear how this will be enforced for international properties.
3) I have to book through my corporate travel agent or use my corporate rate code at Hilton.com, will I still get the resort credit?
YES. Any rates that are charged by the hotel directly will trigger the credit.
4) What about bookings through Orbitz, Expedia, and other online travel agencies?
As long as the rate is “pay at hotel” then it will trigger the credit. Prepaid and other special rates that are charged directly by Orbitz or Expedia, etc. and not the hotel will not trigger the credit.
5) I’m looking at an eligible hotel that charges a refundable one-night deposit for all bookings, can I get the resort credit for this?
YES. As long as the deposit is charged directly by an eligible hotel to your Aspire, it will trigger the credit.
6) I see the Aspire also offers a $100 property credit at certain Conrad and Waldorf Astoria properties. What is the difference? Can I combine both credits?
YES, these are different credits but it is possible to combine them. In order to be eligible for the $100 property credit you must book a specific rate via the www.hiltonhonorsaspirecard.com website. The $100 property credit will be applied by the property at check-out before you card is charged, while the $250 resort credit will be applied by AMEX a few days after the charge appears on your statement.
For example, say you book the qualifying property credit rate via the website above for 2 nights @ $250/night, and then charge $100 in dinner to your room. At check-out, your preliminary folio is $600. The front desk will apply the $100 credit, making your final folio $500 which would be charged to your Aspire. A few days later AMEX will apply the $250 resort credit to your AMEX statement, making your total out of pocket only $250 for a $600 stay. Not bad!
ELIGIBLE PROPERTIES
As of 2022 or 2023, there is no static list of eligible properties.
You can either go to Hilton.com/resorts and hit "explore more resorts," or apply the "Resorts" filter on the search yourself.
7)Only properties listed at the official Hilton Resorts link (hilton.com/resorts) are eligible for this credit!
8) However, the hilton.com/resorts website isn’t the best! Please search thoroughly. For example, the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas does not appear when you search North America > US & Hawaii > Nevada, but it does appear if you search the map.
9) I didn’t see a property listed at the official Hilton Resorts link, but it did show up when searching Hilton.com and filtering amenities to “Resort Property,” can I get the resort credit here?
NO. Only properties listed at the official Hilton Resorts link (hilton.com/resorts) are eligible for the credit.
10) What about this hotel I stayed at last year, it’s not listed at the official Hilton Resorts link, but it has a pool and a spa and the sun was out when I was there, surely I can get the resort credit there?
NO. Only properties listed at the official Hilton Resorts link (hilton.com/resorts) are eligible for the credit.
11) OK, I get it, only properties listed at the official Hilton Resorts link (hilton.com/resorts) are eligible for the credit, but are there any others that have fallen through the cracks?
Any properties that are not listed at the official Hilton Resorts link but with positive reports of triggering the resort credit are listed below:
- HILTON WAIKIKI BEACH HOTEL (reported by jphripjah May 1, 2018) Has been added to hilton.com/resorts since.
El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort is not listed on Hilton Resorts searchable link (by state), but shows up on the map. It is reported it by mdosu April 10, 2018 that there is positive report of triggering the resort credit.
ELIGIBLE CHARGES
12) What charges are eligible for this resort credit?
ANYTHING charged directly by the hotel or to your room by an eligible property will trigger the resort credit. Room rate, taxes, fees, room service, dining, bars, spa, transportation, jet skis, beach chairs, excursions, etc. etc. etc. AMEX doesn’t discriminate on what the charge is, as long as the charge appears directly from an eligible hotel it will trigger the credit.
13) I booked an award stay using Honors points at an eligible property, can I still get the resort credit for incidentals charged to the room if I pay with my Aspire?
YES. ANYTHING charged to your room by an eligible property will trigger the resort credit, as long as you settle the charges with your Aspire.
14) I booked a prepaid rate through Orbitz at an eligible property with a different credit card, can I still get the resort credit for my hotel bar tab that I charged to the room if settle this at check-out with my Aspire?
YES. ANYTHING charged to your room by an eligible property will trigger the resort credit, as long as you settle the charges with your Aspire.
15) I bought some cat food and fresh underwear at the hotel gift shop and charged it to my room. It’s an eligible property and I’m paying with my Aspire, but surely I won’t get the resort credit for this?
WRONG. ANYTHING charged to your room by an eligible property will trigger the resort credit, as long as you settle the charges with your Aspire. And don’t call me Shirley.
CREDIT TIMING
16) How long does the resort credit take to post to my Amex statement?
The resort credit typically postsbetween 2-5 days after 10 days or even more after the eligible charge posts to your Amex account. Note that sometimes your charge will not even be processed until the following day, early in the morning.
17) What happens if I stay in an eligible property, pay with my Aspire, but the resort credit doesn't post automatically?
If the resort credit hasn't posted within 7 days, it will most likely not post automatically, and you need to call Amex to have it manually applied. Unfortunately Amex typically requires you to wait until 8 weeks after the charge before they will manually apply the resort credit. The credit not posting automatically is very rare though, see below.
18) What properties seem to have issues with the credit posting automatically?
FT members have reported that the resort credit has not posted automatically at several of the eligible resorts:
LXR Susona Bodrum, Turkey - May 2021 [Also, bonus is showing 3x, not 14x. Indicating this hotel is not coded correctly in their system. Multiple chats did not resolve this problem but a phone call did.
Resort credit has now posted and was told this should be fixed going forward. Still waiting for add'l 11x bonus points]
19) Is the credit per membership year or per calendar year?
Per membership year. Your first reward year begins on your account opening date. Each subsequent reward year begins on the anniversary of your account opening date.
20) For which resorts has the resort credit posted?
Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines
Crocksford Las Vegas
WA Grand Wailea - Multiple reports of credit not posting automatically, however one positive data point in Feb 2019 of the credit posting, YMMV.
DT Fallsview Resort Niagara Falls - several reports
Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk - 7/6/2021
Hilton Tokyo Bay - several reports
Elara Las Vegas - several reports
WA La Quinta - two reports
Hilton Mauritius - one report
Hilton Sedona - one report
Jewel Dunn River Curio Jamaica - one report
Hilton Malta - one report
Hilton Queenstown Resort and Spa - 8/2019, 2/2023
Hilton Hangzhou Qiandao Lake Resort - 4/2018
Hilton Sanqingshan Resort -4/2019
Hilton Palm Springs, CA - 1/2022
Hilton Waterfront Resort, Huntington Beach, CA - 10/2021
FAQ
ELIGIBLE RATES
1) Do you have to book directly through Hilton in order to receive the resort credit?
NO. See below.
2) If I’m booking at Hilton.com or through the Hilton app, etc., are any rates not eligible for the resort credit?
Any rates charged by the hotel directly will trigger the credit. Advance purchase rates for properties in the USA are charged by Hilton Corporate in Tennessee and WILL NOT trigger the credit. Advance purchase rates for properties outside the USA are typically charged by the hotel directly, so these WILL trigger the credit. According to DoC and the discussion from post #849 onwards advance purchase rates are becoming ineligible starting Aug 1, 2019, though it is unclear how this will be enforced for international properties.
3) I have to book through my corporate travel agent or use my corporate rate code at Hilton.com, will I still get the resort credit?
YES. Any rates that are charged by the hotel directly will trigger the credit.
4) What about bookings through Orbitz, Expedia, and other online travel agencies?
As long as the rate is “pay at hotel” then it will trigger the credit. Prepaid and other special rates that are charged directly by Orbitz or Expedia, etc. and not the hotel will not trigger the credit.
5) I’m looking at an eligible hotel that charges a refundable one-night deposit for all bookings, can I get the resort credit for this?
YES. As long as the deposit is charged directly by an eligible hotel to your Aspire, it will trigger the credit.
6) I see the Aspire also offers a $100 property credit at certain Conrad and Waldorf Astoria properties. What is the difference? Can I combine both credits?
YES, these are different credits but it is possible to combine them. In order to be eligible for the $100 property credit you must book a specific rate via the www.hiltonhonorsaspirecard.com website. The $100 property credit will be applied by the property at check-out before you card is charged, while the $250 resort credit will be applied by AMEX a few days after the charge appears on your statement.
For example, say you book the qualifying property credit rate via the website above for 2 nights @ $250/night, and then charge $100 in dinner to your room. At check-out, your preliminary folio is $600. The front desk will apply the $100 credit, making your final folio $500 which would be charged to your Aspire. A few days later AMEX will apply the $250 resort credit to your AMEX statement, making your total out of pocket only $250 for a $600 stay. Not bad!
ELIGIBLE PROPERTIES
As of 2022 or 2023, there is no static list of eligible properties.
You can either go to Hilton.com/resorts and hit "explore more resorts," or apply the "Resorts" filter on the search yourself.
7)
9) I didn’t see a property listed at the official Hilton Resorts link, but it did show up when searching Hilton.com and filtering amenities to “Resort Property,” can I get the resort credit here?
NO. Only properties listed at the official Hilton Resorts link (hilton.com/resorts) are eligible for the credit.
10) What about this hotel I stayed at last year, it’s not listed at the official Hilton Resorts link, but it has a pool and a spa and the sun was out when I was there, surely I can get the resort credit there?
NO. Only properties listed at the official Hilton Resorts link (hilton.com/resorts) are eligible for the credit.
11) OK, I get it, only properties listed at the official Hilton Resorts link (hilton.com/resorts) are eligible for the credit, but are there any others that have fallen through the cracks?
Any properties that are not listed at the official Hilton Resorts link but with positive reports of triggering the resort credit are listed below:
- HILTON WAIKIKI BEACH HOTEL (reported by jphripjah May 1, 2018) Has been added to hilton.com/resorts since.
El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort is not listed on Hilton Resorts searchable link (by state), but shows up on the map. It is reported it by mdosu April 10, 2018 that there is positive report of triggering the resort credit.
ELIGIBLE CHARGES
12) What charges are eligible for this resort credit?
ANYTHING charged directly by the hotel or to your room by an eligible property will trigger the resort credit. Room rate, taxes, fees, room service, dining, bars, spa, transportation, jet skis, beach chairs, excursions, etc. etc. etc. AMEX doesn’t discriminate on what the charge is, as long as the charge appears directly from an eligible hotel it will trigger the credit.
13) I booked an award stay using Honors points at an eligible property, can I still get the resort credit for incidentals charged to the room if I pay with my Aspire?
YES. ANYTHING charged to your room by an eligible property will trigger the resort credit, as long as you settle the charges with your Aspire.
14) I booked a prepaid rate through Orbitz at an eligible property with a different credit card, can I still get the resort credit for my hotel bar tab that I charged to the room if settle this at check-out with my Aspire?
YES. ANYTHING charged to your room by an eligible property will trigger the resort credit, as long as you settle the charges with your Aspire.
15) I bought some cat food and fresh underwear at the hotel gift shop and charged it to my room. It’s an eligible property and I’m paying with my Aspire, but surely I won’t get the resort credit for this?
WRONG. ANYTHING charged to your room by an eligible property will trigger the resort credit, as long as you settle the charges with your Aspire. And don’t call me Shirley.
CREDIT TIMING
16) How long does the resort credit take to post to my Amex statement?
The resort credit typically posts
17) What happens if I stay in an eligible property, pay with my Aspire, but the resort credit doesn't post automatically?
If the resort credit hasn't posted within 7 days, it will most likely not post automatically, and you need to call Amex to have it manually applied. Unfortunately Amex typically requires you to wait until 8 weeks after the charge before they will manually apply the resort credit. The credit not posting automatically is very rare though, see below.
18) What properties seem to have issues with the credit posting automatically?
FT members have reported that the resort credit has not posted automatically at several of the eligible resorts:
LXR Susona Bodrum, Turkey - May 2021 [Also, bonus is showing 3x, not 14x. Indicating this hotel is not coded correctly in their system. Multiple chats did not resolve this problem but a phone call did.
Resort credit has now posted and was told this should be fixed going forward. Still waiting for add'l 11x bonus points]
19) Is the credit per membership year or per calendar year?
Per membership year. Your first reward year begins on your account opening date. Each subsequent reward year begins on the anniversary of your account opening date.
20) For which resorts has the resort credit posted?
Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines
Crocksford Las Vegas
WA Grand Wailea - Multiple reports of credit not posting automatically, however one positive data point in Feb 2019 of the credit posting, YMMV.
DT Fallsview Resort Niagara Falls - several reports
Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk - 7/6/2021
Hilton Tokyo Bay - several reports
Elara Las Vegas - several reports
WA La Quinta - two reports
Hilton Mauritius - one report
Hilton Sedona - one report
Jewel Dunn River Curio Jamaica - one report
Hilton Malta - one report
Hilton Queenstown Resort and Spa - 8/2019, 2/2023
Hilton Hangzhou Qiandao Lake Resort - 4/2018
Hilton Sanqingshan Resort -4/2019
Hilton Palm Springs, CA - 1/2022
Hilton Waterfront Resort, Huntington Beach, CA - 10/2021
[Archive 2021-2023 Hilton Amex Aspire $200 Resort Credit]
Dec 17, 2022, 3:14 pm
#616
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
I’m not referring to credits as a result of returning things. Of course that doesn’t count. If it did, you could spend several thousand, return it and expect Amex to pay a SUB? Def not. I’m referring to (Amex card benefit) offsetting credits, e.g. resort credit, airline reimbursement, Uber, grubhub, etc. that you get as a result of paying an annual fee. All of those transactions definitely count as SUB spend.
150,000 Hilton Honors™ Bonus Points
You can earn 150,000 Hilton Honors™ Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 (the "Threshold Amount") on eligible purchases on your Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership starting from the date that your account is opened. Eligible purchases to meet the Threshold Amount of this offer include those made by both the Basic and Additional Card Members on the Card Account. Eligible purchases are purchases for goods and services minus returns and other credits.
Dec 19, 2022, 7:02 pm
#617
Join Date: Jan 2022
Programs: Delta
Posts: 5
Does anyone have any experience getting incidentals like gaming charged to a room at one of the Hilton resorts in Vegas? Or any experience getting the credit to trigger by buying something at a hotel there without actually charging it to a room?
My credit expires in two weeks and I am staying one night in Vegas but already have a non Hilton property booked. Outside of booking a cheap room I don’t need and charging incidentals to it I am wondering if I have any options to use the credit before the end of the month. Only other option I can think of is booking an international hotel I may or may not stay at.
My credit expires in two weeks and I am staying one night in Vegas but already have a non Hilton property booked. Outside of booking a cheap room I don’t need and charging incidentals to it I am wondering if I have any options to use the credit before the end of the month. Only other option I can think of is booking an international hotel I may or may not stay at.
Jan 4, 2023, 6:51 pm
#619
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: NYC
Posts: 58
I have a stay booked on points at a resort, and considering adding two more nights via mine and my wife's Aspires with the resort credit. Do I need to pay for those nights separately for them to count? Or can I merge the reservation and split final payment between the two cards? Thanks!
Jan 5, 2023, 2:46 pm
#620
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, FB Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 3,294
I have a stay booked on points at a resort, and considering adding two more nights via mine and my wife's Aspires with the resort credit. Do I need to pay for those nights separately for them to count? Or can I merge the reservation and split final payment between the two cards? Thanks!
Jan 5, 2023, 4:42 pm
#622
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
Yes, you must spend on property and charge it to your room so that it shows up on your final bill. It is an Amex benefit, so if Amex sees you spent $300 at the property and paid with your Aspire card, they will reimburse $250 of that.
Jan 6, 2023, 8:51 am
#624
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 2,255
Anything that hits you bill should count. Food, spa, etc. The room, since you didnt pay with your AMEX obviously wont count
Jan 8, 2023, 10:55 am
#625
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CAK/CLE
Programs: UA Plat/AA,DL Dirt/HH Diamond,Hyatt Something-ist/Hz Prez,Avis Pres Club
Posts: 674
Data point: Stayed at Doubletree by SeaWorld in Orlando on the night of 1/1. Charge posted on 1/3 for just under $240. Credit posted today (1/8) marked as 1/7 (although it wasn't actually there yesterday--same thing happens with airline fee credit).
Still have just over $10 left to burn but probably won't make it before card year anniversary...should have bought some stuff onsite last week. :P
Still have just over $10 left to burn but probably won't make it before card year anniversary...should have bought some stuff onsite last week. :P
Last edited by UAzip; Jan 9, 2023 at 2:43 pm Reason: noticed I mistyped "Orlando" and maybe it helps search hits to spell it right!
Jan 10, 2023, 2:05 pm
#626
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 981
Data point: Stayed at Doubletree by SeaWorld in Orlando on the night of 1/1. Charge posted on 1/3 for just under $240. Credit posted today (1/8) marked as 1/7 (although it wasn't actually there yesterday--same thing happens with airline fee credit).
Still have just over $10 left to burn but probably won't make it before card year anniversary...should have bought some stuff onsite last week. :P
Still have just over $10 left to burn but probably won't make it before card year anniversary...should have bought some stuff onsite last week. :P
Jan 14, 2023, 5:00 pm
#627
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: RDU
Programs: HH Diamond, AA Gold, Marriot Plat
Posts: 209
Was just reimbursed the $250 Aspire Card resort credit four days after my recent stay at ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts. On top of that, the resort provided a 25% discount for Diamond members on all food and drink at its restaurants, so the credit went a long way.
Jan 14, 2023, 5:21 pm
#628
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: NGS
Programs: UA Silver, ANA MC, HH Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Bonvoy Plat, IHG Plat, Shangri-La GC, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,233
I paid with Aspire at checkout after charging to my room. Using FNC and paying food charges with Aspire should definitely trigger the credit. I don't know about an advanced deposit, since I haven't tried that, perhaps someone else can answer that question for you.
Jan 17, 2023, 5:07 pm
#630
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 55
You're confusing advance purchase rates with normal rates that charge a deposit. To summarize:
Advance purchase rates at properties in the US do not trigger the credit as the charge comes from Hilton Corporate, not the hotel itself. Amex has no idea whether the charge is from a qualifying resort or at a Hampton on the side of the highway.
Advance purchase rates at international properties outside the US typically do trigger the credit, as the charge comes from the hotel itself.
But regardless of whether the property is in the US or not, they can have a normal rate but charge a deposit (that is usually refundable). The deposit is charged by the hotel itself and thus will also trigger the credit.
So if you reserve the room above with your Aspire then that should trigger the credit as soon as the deposit is charged.
Advance purchase rates at properties in the US do not trigger the credit as the charge comes from Hilton Corporate, not the hotel itself. Amex has no idea whether the charge is from a qualifying resort or at a Hampton on the side of the highway.
Advance purchase rates at international properties outside the US typically do trigger the credit, as the charge comes from the hotel itself.
But regardless of whether the property is in the US or not, they can have a normal rate but charge a deposit (that is usually refundable). The deposit is charged by the hotel itself and thus will also trigger the credit.
So if you reserve the room above with your Aspire then that should trigger the credit as soon as the deposit is charged.
This is helpful. I’m just browsing this thread. I’ve got a flexible rate booked at the Hilton Whistler Resort in Canada in June. I’ve asked them if I can prepay part of the stay now and to charge the rest when I arrive (so I can use 2 x $250 worth of resort credits).
They gave me 2 options:
- Charge the card on file with Hilton (Hilton Honors Aspire)
- Fill out a PDF form and email it back with a copy of my driver’s license
If they charge the card on file, would that be from the front desk? Hoping it would still tag as a charge from the resort.