One of my all-time favorite credit cards is the American Express Hilton Honors Aspire Card, and it continues to deliver insane value year after year—especially through its Free Night Reward. This isn’t just any free night; it’s valid for a standard room at virtually any Hilton resort worldwide. Yes, any. That means you can potentially use this certificate at properties that would normally cost well over $1,000 per night. And trust me, I have.
Over the last four years, while my son was attending USC, we used the Aspire free night again and again at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, one of the most luxurious hotels in Los Angeles. If we had paid in cash, we’d have easily dropped upwards of $1,000 a night—but with the Aspire card, we walked in and checked out without ever seeing a bill. It was the perfect way to treat ourselves during campus visits and parents weekends.
Over the years, I’ve also used this free night certificate at the Waldorf Astoria in Park City, Utah, a beautiful escape during ski season, the Grand Wailea in Maui, a dreamy beachfront resort where room rates can soar well beyond $1,000 per night, and most recently at the Oceania in Santa Monica, using the free night certificate from my beloved card. These redemptions alone have saved us thousands of dollars and turned ordinary trips into extraordinary experiences.
Yesterday, I added another free night to my collection through Rob’s Aspire card. Now that we no longer have a reason to frequent LA as often, I started wondering how we’d use these valuable nights. But travel always has a way of creating opportunities. This fall, we have one night in Rome before heading to Sicily, and I was thrilled to discover a new option for using our free night certificates.
Enter the Hilton x Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) partnership. After Hyatt lost their SLH alliance, Hilton swooped in, opening up an entirely new portfolio of upscale boutique properties where you can redeem your points and certificates. That’s how I managed to book a night at the Hotel d’Inghilterra (part of SLH, available through Hilton) in Rome. The going rate? Around 800 euros per night. We’re getting that night completely free—just for holding the card.
But full disclosure, I did go for the free night at the Waldorf in Rome, the Rome Cavalieri. But remember, I can only book a STANDARD night with the free night certificate and currently there are only premium rooms available on points. But I have a long way to go. I will check back probably daily to see if a standard room opens. I bet it does. I will let you know. 🙂
Finally, the free night certificate is just one reason I love the Aspire card. Here are a few more perks that make it worth every penny of the annual fee:
- $50 airline fee credit each quarter – perfect for baggage fees, seat upgrades, or inflight snacks.
- $200 Hilton resort credit every six months – a bit trickier to use now that the list of eligible properties is more limited, but still valuable.
- Hilton Diamond status – This is a game-changer. Resort credit for food which usually can cover breakfast, room upgrades, and late checkout, etc
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit-Receive up to $199 in statement credits per year after you sign up and pay for a CLEAR® Plus Membership
In a world where so many credit card perks seem to get devalued over time, the Hilton Aspire card has remained incredibly generous. Whether it’s a luxurious night in Beverly Hills, a snowy getaway in Park City, a tropical escape in Maui, or a boutique stay in Rome, the free night reward alone more than justifies the card’s place in my wallet.
If you’re looking to elevate your travel experience while squeezing out serious value, the Hilton Honors Aspire card is one of the best tools out there.
Selfies are always better-
When Your Vacation is Free!
