Discover how Hilton’s Points Explorer tool can enhance your award redemption planning.

Recently, Hilton Honors opted to retire published award charts. Fortunately, they still use a backend system to price awards, which means that the points needed aren’t solely based on the cash rate for any given night. However, planning an award trip can be tricky without knowing the points required for a room.

Thankfully, Hilton launched the Points Explorer tool in February 2019. With the boost in Hilton card bonuses, we conducted tests to evaluate how beneficial this tool can be when planning your next getaway.

Prior to the launch of the Points Explorer tool, we only knew that standard award nights could range from 5,000 to 95,000 points per night, varying by property (or up to 150,000 at this resort). This tool simplifies the process of planning an award stay and helps determine how many points you need to save.

What Can You Do with the Hilton Points Explorer Tool?

The Points Explorer tool provides historical data on the range of points required for awards at specific hotels. It doesn't display current or future availability. To check actual pricing, you must visit Hilton.com and search for specific dates. You can also use the Flexible Dates option to estimate redemption costs for various nights throughout the year.

However, knowing the lowest and highest points paid by Hilton Honors members for a particular hotel over a recent period can be quite helpful. When using the tool, you’ll encounter information like this:

Lowest Points per night that our members have secured at this hotel as of June 12, 2020. Current Points per night may differ. Maximum Points per night for a Standard Room as of June 12, 2020. Subject to change.

How Does the Tool Function?

Go to the Points Explorer page to start your search. You can look up a specific property or explore options across an entire city.

You can also narrow down your search by hotel brands.

You can easily view the minimum and maximum award rates that Hilton members have paid at different hotels within the specified time frame.

How Reliable Is the Points Explorer Tool?

The Points Explorer tool reveals the award rates that other Hilton Honors members have secured at various hotels. However, this doesn’t guarantee that you can book an award at the lowest rate displayed. Sometimes, rooms may not be available at the lowest rate, but you might also find rooms for fewer points than the minimum shown in the Points Explorer tool.

Here’s what I discovered while exploring four different properties using both the Points Explorer tool and Hilton.com. (I examined nearly 12 months of availability at each hotel on my list on Hilton.com.)

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

I began my search in the Maldives, where Hilton operates three properties: The Waldorf Astoria Ithaafushi, SAii Lagoon Maldives, and the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island. The rate range at the Conrad was 95,000 points per night, which is correct.

I reviewed almost a full year of availability for the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island on Hilton.com and found no dates available for less than 95,000 points.

Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando - Lake Buena Vista Resort

This is a highly popular choice for families visiting Orlando. It features an on-site pool, a complimentary shuttle to Disney World, and a free evening reception for all guests.

While searching on Hilton.com, I discovered that I could book this property for fewer points per night than what the Points Explorer tool indicated.

I found available dates in September priced at 21,000 points per night. This is only a slight difference from the 24,000 point minimum listed. However, if your family stayed for four nights at 21,000 points per night instead of 24,000, you’d save 12,000 Hilton Honors points.

Additionally, Hilton Honors elites enjoy the fifth night free on award stays, meaning if you could book this hotel at 21,000 points per night, you would only pay 84,000 points for five nights instead of four. This brings the average nightly redemption rate down to 16,800 points.

That being said, your rate will fluctuate based on your travel dates.

Canopy by Hilton Washington DC The Wharf

Next, I checked Canopy by Hilton Washington DC The Wharf, where rates vary between 45,000 and 80,000 Hilton points per night.

In this instance, the current points range on Hilton.com was significantly different from what was shown on Points Explorer. During my search on Hilton.com, I found much lower rates: starting at just 25,000 Hilton points per night in February.

Doubletree Highline Vail

Next, I explored the ski country and the DoubleTree Highline Vail.

It’s common knowledge that ski season typically requires more points than the offseason in Vail. The tool indicates that Hilton Honors members have booked this hotel for as little as 32,000 points per night. However, in my search covering nearly a full year, I discovered better rates—30,000 points per night on select dates in mid-to-late April and throughout May (the offseason).

You can expect the 80,000-point rate during Christmas, January, February, and most of March. In the fall, rates range from 44,000 to 65,000 points.

Earn Bonus Hilton Honors Points

Of course, using the Points Explorer tool and searching Hilton.com for award availability is pointless if you lack enough Hilton Honors points to book your desired trip. Fortunately, this award currency is relatively easy to accumulate.

Staying at a Hilton property can certainly enhance your account balance, but one of the quickest ways to boost your Hilton Honors points may be to apply for one of the chain's cobranded credit cards. There are four options available.

• Hilton Honors American Express Card: Receive 70,000 Hilton Honors bonus points and a Free Night Reward after spending $1,000 on the card within the first three months.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Get 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points and a Free Night Reward after spending $2,000 on the card in the first three months.
• The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus points and a Free Night Reward after spending $4,000 within the first three months of membership.
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Gain 150,000 Hilton points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.

The information for the Hilton Aspire Card has been independently gathered by Dinogo. The details on this page have not been reviewed or supplied by the card issuer.

Lastly, you can transfer your American Express Membership Rewards points to Hilton, although the 1:2 transfer ratio is generally not very favorable. However, there are occasional transfer bonuses that can improve the value of the transfer.

Bottom Line

Hilton's Points Explorer website serves as an excellent resource when you're starting to plan a points-based vacation. While current and future award rates may not perfectly align with historical data, past rates can provide a solid indication of what to expect moving forward. Begin with the tool and supplement your research with real-time availability checks on Hilton.com.

All images provided by Hilton.com