Travel is Returning; Here’s How to Prepare

“Revenge travel” and “vacci-cations” are trending topics, with people planning a wide range of excursions—from road trips across the U.S. this Memorial Day weekend, to jaunts to iconic cities in England where Hilton recently reopened its hotels, to adventures in Australia and New Zealand with the opening of the Trans-Tasman bubble. As restrictions loosen and vaccination rates increase, once-grounded travelers are jumping at the chance to reconnect with loved ones, see new sights and make new memories.

Yet before hitting the road, it’s prudent to do some pre-trip planning. As you go to pack your bags or book that first vacation in more than 14 months, here are a few tips from Hilton Honors to help you breeze through your next trip with confidence.

Pre-travel planning

Check your account information: Make sure your contact information is up to date and fill in preference details, such as your ideal guest room location. Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond members should also review their MyWay benefit selections to ensure they are current. Members can also check their Hilton Honors Point balances, view progress toward the next status tier and review past stays.

Review expiration dates: Many companies have extended the deadlines to use rewards, so you may have extra time to capitalize on the perks you’ve earned. Hilton Honors-related extension updates include:

• Free Weekend Night Reward certificate expirations have been extended and can continue to be used any night of the week.
  • Certificates issued before May 1, 2020 that were set to expire Aug. 31, 2021 are now valid until Jan. 3, 2022.
  • Certificates issued from May 1, 2020 through Dec. 31, 2020 are valid for 24 months.
  • Certificates issued between Jan. 1, 2021 and Dec. 31, 2021 will expire on Dec. 31, 2022.
• As a reminder, Hilton Honors extended members’ status through March 2022 and any Points set to expire in 2020 will not expire until Dec. 31, 2021.

Explore how to use your rewards: Do some online research or brainstorm with friends and families about your next dream destination. Then get planning!

In 2020, Hilton welcomed more than 400 new hotels across its portfolio of 18 market-leading brands, offering more choices than ever for members to earn and use their Hilton Honors Points. Located in some of the most popular destinations around the world, recent hotels openings have included Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach, Mango House Seychelles, LXR Hotels & Resorts and Sable at Navy Pier Chicago, Curio Collection by Hilton – just to name a few. And with even more openings to look forward to–like Resorts World Las Vegas and Hilton Cancun, an All-Inclusive Resort–now is the perfect time for Hilton Honors members to plan their next dream trip. Hilton Honors members can also use any combination of Points & Money to pay for a stay in increments of 1,000 Points, starting at just 5,000 Points. 

Explore new ways to get to free nights faster: Your lifestyle and buying habits may have dramatically changed in the last 14 months. With your short- and long-term goals in mind, take a look at the benefits the Hilton Honors American Express Cards can provide in relation to both travel-related spending and everyday purchases.

Travel lovers looking for a new rewards credit card can check out these “Points Plus” special offers from Hilton Honors. These opportunities pertain to eligible new Card Members who apply and are approved starting May 6, 2021:

• Hilton Honors American Express Card: Earn up to 130,000 Hilton Honors Points
  • Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Points after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Card in the first three months of membership. Plus, you can earn an additional 50,000 Hilton Honors Points after you spend a total of $5,000 in purchases on the card in the first six months. Terms and conditions apply.
    • With 130,000 Hilton Honors Points, a member could redeem up to three nights at more than 4,400 Hilton hotels worldwide.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card: Earn up to 180,000 Hilton Honors Points
  • Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Surpass^® Card in the first three months of membership. Plus, you can earn an additional 50,000 Points after spending a total of $10,000 in purchases on the card in the first six months. Terms and conditions apply.
    • With 180,000 Hilton Honors Points, a member could redeem up to four nights at more than 4,400 Hilton hotels worldwide.

Additionally, Hilton Honors “More Nights, More Points” promotion lets members earn Double Bonus Points on every stay of one or two nights, and Triple Bonus Points on every stay of three nights or more, in addition to Points earned on eligible hotel spend. The offer is valid from May 3 through Sept. 6, 2021 and includes stays at more than 6,500 properties in 119 countries and territories. You can register at HiltonHonors.com/MoreNights.

What to expect during your hotel stay

Some property-specific protocols, services and amenities may be adjusted, so to stay informed, review information on the hotels’ websites and sign up for pre-arrival communications.

Here are a few reminders of what’s happening at Hilton hotels:

• Contactless Arrival: The Hilton Honors app provides a smooth contactless experience before you even step foot on property. Using a smartphone, you can bypass any front desk lines and check in, choose your room and request a Digital Key to unlock your room at nearly 5,000 properties.
• Cleaning and Distancing: Building on Hilton’s already-rigorous housekeeping standards, the Hilton CleanStay program uses enhanced hygiene protocols and trusted, high-quality disinfecting products to deliver an even cleaner stay. Expect frequently sanitized common areas, as well as a seal on your guest room door to show the space has been disinfected and not accessed since being cleaned.
• Housekeeping upon Request: Knowing people’s comfort levels may have changed with having others in their space, housekeeping is now available by request. If you want to skip the cleaning but need extra towels or amenities, the hotel can arrange that for you.
• Restaurants Reopening:  Many on-property restaurants modified their services last year, so you may see adjusted restaurant hours, altered menus and methods of service, and slightly longer wait times. In the coming months, hotels will resume serving favorites you love and introduce you to some new menu items. 
• New Hilton Honors Elite Member Benefit–Daily Food & Beverage Credit: Whether you look forward to breakfast or would rather skip it in favor of a refreshing beverage and afternoon snack–the choice is yours. In early July through the end of 2021, Hilton Honors will begin offering a Daily Food & Beverage Credit for Gold and Diamond members in the United States. You will be able to use this credit at the hotel brands where complimentary continental breakfast is currently offered as a MyWay benefit. Be on the lookout for more details in the coming weeks.

Even with the best planning, some unexpected events can occur and a change in plans is necessary. As such, most Hilton hotels continue to offer the flexibility to change or cancel up to 24 hours before your arrival day. If you’re booking—or rebooking—a stay, Hilton Honors members always get the lowest price on all Hilton hotels on Hilton.com or on the Hilton Honors app.

By taking some time to get your accounts in order and understand what to expect at your destination, you can set yourself up for a safe and enjoyable adventure as you return to travel.

Hilton Honors members can keep up with the latest account-related information on the Hilton Honors FAQ webpage. More information about the evolving guest experience can be found here. To join Hilton Honors, enroll for free at HiltonHonors.com.