Update 3 – replaced Hilton Sibiu (went up to 20k), Hampton Inn Medellin (now 20k), and DoubleTree Queenstown (now 40k) with Hilton Garden Inn Bali Airport, DoubleTree Agra, and Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi. Also got rid of some devaluated honorable mentions.
Update 2 – replaced DoubleTree Melaka (which went up to 10k) and Hampton Inn Fall River (went up to 20k) with DoubleTree Sighisoara and Hampton Inn Farmington. Added 10k option in Vienna.
Update – replaced Hampton Inn Mexico City (which went up to 20k/night) with DoubleTree Melaka, which is bookable on points now.
My favorite use of hotel points is for low category, high value redemptions. You tend to get close to 1 cent per point or better value. Many are in Asia, but they also scatter throughout the continents. For higher category hotels, I prefer to use free night certificates. It’s all about strategic use of your currencies. Although Hilton seems determined to exterminate these sweet spots with their multiple rounds of no-notice devaluations, a few still exist as shown here.
Generally, the hotels on this list meet the 2 criteria I care about:
- Be a good value (cents per point), well above the average value of the program. For Hilton, I shoot for a minimum of 0.75 CPP.
- Be in an interesting location (the region or the neighborhood) and/or have outstanding facility. Location generally takes precedence, though sometimes the facility is so good that it’s worth going for the “pampering” (this applies more to upscale hotels, but I leave that criteria here to cover all the bases).
Keep in mind – many hotels on the list are in low-cost markets. So yes, the hotel is a great use of points, but alternatively you often can get a nice local accommodation – less luxurious but with more character – for a very good price. It just depends on what you prefer.
I want to cite Travel is Free as a source of inspiration; for example, back in 2014 he made a map of cat 1 and 2 Hiltons (no longer up to date). Also see Loyalty Traveler‘s comprehensive list of 10k hotels and 5k hotels (as of Sep 2018).
With that, let’s get right to it (in no particular order).
My Top 10
#1 – DoubleTree Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (10k). A well known sweet spot. Billed as a 5-star hotel (I’d say more like 4 stars by US standards), the restaurant breakfast buffet (free for Gold and Diamond) is one of the best and biggest that I’ve tasted, encompassing a massive selection of Malay, Indian, Chinese, and Western dishes. Petronas Towers are 10 minutes by foot. The executive lounge also serves hors d’oeuvre in the evening. I once stayed here for 5 days eating nothing but the free hotel breakfast and “dinner”. I wouldn’t recommend doing that (KL is one of the best food cities in the world), but it’s possible (as I proved ;)).
View from my room – DoubleTree KL
#2 – Hilton Garden Inn Vienna South, Austria (10k). Great value in one of the perennial “best quality of life” cities that’s also famous for its classical music and coffee culture. For detailed instructions on public transportation between hotel and the historic center, see this TripAdvisor post. (thanks to reader JohnnieD)
#3 – DoubleTree Agra, India (10k). Some rooms have distant view of Taj Mahal. No lounge.
{ Credit: Hilton }
#4 – Hampton Inn Farmington, New Mexico (10k). I recently visited the Farmington area and loved the nature and history. This is a nice new hotel with spacious rooms, an incredible bargain by US standards. Stay tuned for a trip report.
Hiking in the otherworldly Bisti Badlands near Farmington
5. Hilton Garden Inn Bali Ngurah Rai Airport, Indonesia (5k). Most people rightfully use it as an airport hotel, but it’s such a good deal that some use it as a base for exploring Bali. It has a nice pool and grounds, and it offers free shuttle to nearby Kuta and of course airport. The road reportedly gets congested, so you could be stuck in traffic for going anywhere.
{ credit: Hilton}
#6 – DoubleTree Sighisoara – Cavaler, Romania (10k) – I recently stayed here. The location is impeccable – 5 minutes walk to the base of the citadel. The hotel itself is less impressive: mediocre service, barebones breakfast, no AC upstairs in 2-story room (same size as standard room), and loud music until 2am. For the 5k I paid, it’s hard to complain, but it’s 10k now.
#7 – DoubleTree Penang, Malaysia (10k). Brand new hotel opened in Jan 2018. Penang is the food capital of Malaysia, with George Town described as how Hong Kong was like 30 years ago (not sure how accurate that is judging by the mass tourism). Unfortunately this hotel is far from George Town with not much in the vicinity.
Dilapidated Buildings, Phee Choon Road, Georgetown, Penang. Source
#8 – Hampton Krakow, Poland (10k). Another backpacker hotspot. 10min to Historic District by taxi ($8) or by tram (?). Good value, though personally I may want a hostel for socializing.
#9 – Hilton Garden Inn Singapore Serangoon (20k). Singapore has virtually zero good-valued low-category hotel redemption (many upscale ones, but not great value IMO), and this is the first one I would consider. ADR is ~$150 USD after tax for dates I checked, a good value for Hilton points. Location is in Little India, served by the subway station of the same name. IMO, it’s a decent and convenient enough location. I’d stay here for sure on points.
Clarke Quay, Singapore – a few MRT stations from the Hilton. Source
10. Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi, Vietnam (10k). Located in French Quarter part of town.
Honorable Mentions
- DoubleTree Bratislava (thanks reader sven)
- Tons of 5k properties in Turkey. See Loyalty Lobby link above.
In a nutshell
Have been been to any of these hotels? Others you want to highlight?
Hilton Garden Inn South-Vienna Austria 10K
Short bus/metro ride to city center.
I have it in my notes as far from city center. Good to know about public transportation service. Will review it again.
What about doubletree Bratislava at only 10k?
Looks like another good one.
nice list – mostly agree!
– Hilton Garden inn Hanoi is usually $59, not worth redeeming points
– same issue with Doubletree KL which can be had under $75 these days
– Hampton Mexico City is is in a bad location IMHO not worth it
– HGI Singapore is not a deal at 20k points IMHO, better to get a cheap hotel on Expedia (starts at $80)
– Hampton Inn Cali, Colombia is 10k too
Thanks for commenting! $59 rate might be $70 after tax, which still makes a decent Hilton redemption rate. I disagree on HGI Singapore – name 2 other cities at SG’s cost level with a 20k redemption in a relatively convenient location in the city. I’m happy to stay in a $80 hotel in SG, but the same can be had in say Sibiu for $30 probably. If we do that, the only good redemptions left will be the cat1 5ks.
I’m curious why you think Hampton inn Mexico city is in a bad location?
Hampton Mexico City is 20k/night, not 10k anymore; Second the opinion about not being in an ideal location, either for business or tourism due to desert streets after dusk which is kind of eerie for a newcomer; not that really close to underground either. Much better affordable locations both in Historic Centre and elsewhere in CDMX, either for pleasure or business.
It was a “nice to have” at 10k, but definitely expensive at 20k, when public rates are $70..
If staying in Mexico City, currently there is more value at Hilton Mexico City, a five star property, and formerly a Sheraton, at 30k and in a scenic large avenue and awesome views, than paying 20k for the Hampton Inn in an odd narrow street.
Beg to differ but I cannot consider Hampton Inn any longer an opportunity.
Argh, damn Hilton, no-announcement points rate changes!!
Did a 5 night rewards stay at Singapore HGI March 2019 at 20k pts per 4 nts with 5th nt free. Loved it. Nice buffet breakfast free for Diamond and Gold. Convenient access to Metro for trips into heart of city, interesting area and close to Gold Souks if you’re interested in that.
However, shortly after March 2019 it appears to have increased to 30k pts per nt so not the bargain it was. Would now consider Hampton Inn or IHG properties if doing another rewards stay.
I totally agree with Hilton Sibiu as number 1. I had incredible luck as a Diamond with an amazing upgrade, fantastic breakfast/dinner in the club lounge, nice pool/spa/gym facilities, nice restaurants, and a peaceful location next to an outdoor museum. I didn’t even use points because it was only about $50 a night plus bonus point promotions. I highly recommend checking it out.
I wish I’d known about the Doubletree Sighisoara, because the location was amazing and the hotel looked great. The town itself is a must-see.
Excellent!
Doubletree KL is a very good deal at 10K points even if it can be had for under $100, and I would easily rate it 4.5 stars. Close to the towers and Hop On bus, too. I mean, how much do we expect Hilton pesos are worth?
HGI Hanoi is in a very good location, and seems to be a nice, if basic, hotel. I put my cousin there once and saw the property and the room.
Hilton Salalah I researched in the past. It’s a solid hotel and the value is excellent if anyone is interested in that part of Oman.
Romania and Medellin sound like good deals, too. Singapore — I don’t know. I’ve seen HGI for under $100 a night there, so wouldn’t be my first choice.
It seems to me that with the Hilton’s new structure it’s only the lowest and the highest redemptions that can make sense nowadays.
Complete agreement with the last sentence. The middle has always been crappy value – except for some old C&P, but that’s no more.
Re: DT KL – my first stay I would have rated it 4.5 stars, but my 2nd (longer) stay revealed more issues.
Issues, yes. I had to change the room twice, and the restaurant tried to upcharge me for my request to fortify their watered-down caipirinha. 🙂 It’s funny how your mind filter out things that made you unhappy. But the facilities were great, and the breakfast — one of the best ever!
http://lazytravelers.net/kuala-lumpur-part-a-bangkok-airport-lounges-malaysia-airlines-short-hop-hilton-doubletree-kuala-lumpur/
Breakfast is indeed epic, though best to remember end time means food stopped being served time, not merely customer admittance cutoff like in US. I’d say facility =~ 4.2, but service =~ 3.5. FWIW I stayed at Le Meridien Chiang Mai right after and thought that was much better in both facility and service.
Doubletree Queenstown was definitely not 20K when I looked.
I believe in the category days it ranged from 20k-30k. Now it seems to be firmly 30k. Post updated.
Can you tell me about your research into Farmington, New Mexico? We are considering a trip to NM and I would love some insight or resources into that area.
Thanks for the thoughtful post!
These are all within a short drive of Farmington:
Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness
Shiprock
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Aztec Ruins National Monument
San Juan National Forest
Mesa Verde National Park
Four Corners (just to check off list)
I love Las Cruces (White Sands, Organ Mountains) and Santa Fe (old town, Taos, hiking) too, which are also abundant with low category hotel redemptions. New Mexico is a gem. Farmington will be a top 10 in the Marriott list (stay tuned).
Enjoy!
Hampton Krakow is 10k from Jan 1st
Ugh
Wow, I need to work on my attitude about Farmington, NM. That was so funny to see you mention that as a favorite spot. We drive from Austin, TX to SLC, UT a few times a year and I have come to really detest New Mexico. Knowing it is someone’s favorite spot was really eye opening!
I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite spot, and to be fair there’s nothing to do in Farmington itself, but it’s a good base for exploring the nearby stuff that I mentioned above. What turns you off about NM?
Amazing list. Thanks for this. These are actually places I want to visit.
Cheers
Cartagena Hampton 1000 Points