How I Used 130,000 Hilton Honors Points for My London Adventure

Planning a trip can be an exhilarating experience, especially when you have the opportunity to redeem credit card points for travel. Recently, I found myself in a position to redeem 130,000 Hilton Honors points for my first trip to London, and I want to share how I navigated the process to inspire others looking to maximize their travel rewards.

My journey began with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, which caught my attention due to its enticing offer of 130,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 within the first six months. With a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year and a subsequent fee of $150, it seemed like a worthwhile investment for my travel goals.

While I usually lean towards earning transferable reward points, the Hilton Surpass card’s offer was too good to pass up. With my sights set on London, I was excited to explore the numerous Hilton properties available in the city.

Earning a welcome bonus is just the first step; the real challenge lies in redeeming those points effectively. I want to guide you through my experience of searching and booking my Hilton stay in London, ensuring you can find a redemption that suits your travel needs.

As soon as I was approved for the Hilton Surpass card, I dove into researching Hilton hotels in London. Although some may prefer to wait until they’ve earned their welcome bonus before planning, I took the proactive route and started exploring award rates right away.

London had long been on my bucket list, and I had already begun mapping out potential travel dates and accommodations before even applying for the card. This foresight made it easy for me to envision how I would utilize my bonus points.

I aimed to find a hotel in Central London, ideally within walking distance of iconic sites like the Tower Bridge and a nearby train station. The Canopy by Hilton London City checked all my boxes, and I was able to book a two-night stay for 65,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

Hilton’s Points Explorer tool is incredibly useful for pinpointing hotels based on location, desired point expenditure, and property type. This feature helped me narrow down my options effectively.

When searching for award rates, make sure to log in to your account and check the “Use Points” box to see the points price per night rather than the cash rate. This small step can save you a lot of confusion and help you make informed decisions.

Flexibility is key when it comes to maximizing the value of your points. Hilton employs dynamic award pricing, meaning redemption rates can fluctuate based on various factors. Often, the best prices are available during off-peak travel dates, so if you’re willing to adjust your schedule, you can score a better deal.

To get a comprehensive view of award prices, avoid entering specific travel dates initially. Instead, once you find a hotel you like, click “Select Dates” to access a calendar view displaying the points required per night throughout the year.

For my stay at Canopy by Hilton London City, I found availability for 65,000 points per night. However, I noticed that award rates increased in July, with many dates priced at 80,000 points per night. Conversely, looking ahead to January 2026, I discovered some dates available for as low as 59,000 points.

While winter may not be the most popular time to visit London, it could offer exceptional value for your points. The key is to align your travel preferences with the best redemption opportunities.

For instance, a king room in July would cost Hilton Honors members $549 with the Flexible Rate or 80,000 points, yielding a redemption rate of approximately 0.7 cents per point. This rate is above TPG’s valuation of Hilton points at 0.5 cents per point for July 2025. In contrast, a king room in January priced at 65,000 points corresponds to a cash rate of about $262 per night, resulting in a redemption rate of 0.4 cents per point. Since this falls below TPG’s valuation, you might consider paying cash instead of using points.

To maximize your rewards, always compare the cash price to the points cost per night. Sometimes, it may be more advantageous to pay in cash, especially if you aim to conserve your points for future travel.

Once you’ve determined your travel dates, the next step is selecting the right room. Depending on the size or type of room, you may encounter various rates. I opted for a king room at 65,000 points per night for my London stay.

Be mindful of your points balance; however, Hilton does allow you to supplement your points with cash if your desired redemption exceeds your available balance. This flexibility can be a game-changer when booking your stay.

While my Hilton Honors balance is currently low after redeeming my welcome offer, I can still see how much I would need to pay in cash for additional stays, which helps in planning future trips.

Redemptions come in many forms, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to booking your travel. However, redeeming Hilton points can be straightforward, especially if you select dates that align with your current balance.

When I applied for the Hilton Honors Surpass card, I had a clear vision of how to utilize my 130,000 bonus points—and I successfully executed that plan. The next time you’re considering a rewards card, let your imagination guide you to your next redemption; it may be easier than you think.

For more detailed information about the Hilton Honors Surpass card, including rates and fees, check out our full review. Happy travels!