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California seeks sterilization victims to pay reparations

January 3, 2023 Published by ADAM BEAM

Top News: US & International Top News Stories Today | AP News

Moonlight Pulido stands by the shore at Harbor Lake Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, in Los Angeles. California is paying reparations to victims, mostly women, who were either forcibly or coercively sterilized by the government. Pulido was sterilized while incarcerated in 2005. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — About 600 people alive today can’t have children because California’s government sterilized them either against their will or without their knowledge, and now the state is trying to find them so it can pay them at least $15,000 each in reparations.

But after a year of searching, the state has approved just 51 people for payments out of 310 applications. There’s one year left to look before the $4.5 million program shuts down and the challenges remain steep. State officials have denied 103 people, closed three incomplete applications and are processing 153 others — but they say it’s difficult to verify the applications as many records have been lost or destroyed.

Two groups of people are eligible for the money: Those sterilized by the government during the so-called eugenics movement that peaked during the 1930s and a smaller group who were victimized while in state prisons about a decade ago.

“We try to find all the information we can and sometimes we just have to hope that somebody maybe can find more detailed information on their own,” said Lynda Gledhill, executive officer of the California Victims’ Compensation Board that oversees the program. “We’re just sometimes not able to verify what happened.”

California in 2021 was the third state to approve a reparations program for forced sterilizations, joining North Carolina and Virginia. But California was the first state to also include more recent victims from its state prison system.

The eugenics movement sought to prevent some people with mental illness or physical disabilities from being able to have children. California had the nation’s largest forced sterilization program, sterilizing about 20,000 people beginning in 1909. It was so well known that it later inspired practices in Nazi Germany. The state did not repeal its eugenics law until 1979.

Of the 45 people approved for reparations so far, just three were sterilized during the eugenics era. With surviving victims from that time in their 80s, 90s and beyond, state officials have sent posters and fact sheets to 1,000 skilled nursing homes and 500 libraries across the state in hopes of reaching more of them.

The state also signed a $280,000 contract in October with JP Marketing, based in Fresno, to launch a social media campaign that will run through the end of 2023. The biggest push will begin this month, when the state will pay for TV and radio ads in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento that will run through next October.

The hope is that victims’ friends or relatives will see the ads and help their loved one apply for the program. Only victims are eligible for payments. But if a victim dies after being approved but before receiving the total payment, they can designate a beneficiary — such as a family member — to receive the money.

“We take that mission very seriously to find these folks,” Gledhill said. “Nothing we can do can make up for what happened to them.”

The second group of people eligible for reparations were sterilized in California prisons. A state audit found 144 women were sterilized between 2005 and 2013 with little or no evidence they were counseled or offered alternative treatments. State lawmakers responded by passing a law in 2014 to ban sterilizations in prison for birth control purposes while still allowing for other medically necessary procedures.

It’s been much easier to find records verifying those victims, as their procedures happened recently. State officials have sent letters to inmates believed to have been sterilized and urged them to apply while also putting up fliers in state prisons advertising the program.

Wendy Carrillo, a Democratic member of the California Assembly who pushed to get the program approved, said she will ask lawmakers to extend the application deadline beyond 2023. She wants to give victims more time to apply, and she wants to expand the program to include victims who were sterilized at county-funded hospitals. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors apologized in 2018 after more than 200 women were sterilized at the Los Angeles-USC Medical Center between 1968 and 1974.

“I’m not thrilled with the numbers that we are seeing so far, but I believe that as we exit out of COVID and we begin to fully work at our full capacity — meaning that we are able to do community meetings and in-person meetings and more direct outreach other than behind a computer and through Zoom — things will change,” she said.

Finding inmates who were sterilized is still a challenge, Gledhill said. “It’s a population that may not be very trusting of government, given what happened to them.”

One of those people is Moonlight Pulido, who was serving a life sentence for premediated attempted murder. While in prison in 2005, Pulido said a doctor told her he needed to remove two “growths” that could be cancer. She signed a form and had surgery. Later, something didn’t feel right. She was constantly sweating and not feeling like herself. She asked a nurse, who told her she had had a full hysterectomy, a procedure that removes the uterus and the cervix, and sometimes other parts of the reproductive system.

Pulido was shocked. She was 41-years-old at the time, already had children and was serving a life sentence. But she said the doctor took her right to start another family — something that deeply affected her.

“I’m Native American, and we as women, we’re grounded to Mother Earth. We’re the only life-givers, we’re the only ones that can give life and he stole that blessing from me,” she said. “I felt like less than a woman.”

Pulido was released on parole in January of 2022. Working with the advocacy group Coalition for Women Prisoners, she applied for reparations and was approved for a $15,000 payment.

“I sat there and I looked at it and I cried. I cried because I have never had that much money ever in my life,” she said.

Pulido could get more money. The state has $4.5 million for reparations and whatever is left over once the program ends will be divided up evenly among approved victims.

Pulido said she spent some of the money fixing up a car someone gave her when she got out of prison. She’s trying to save the rest. Known as DeAnna Henderson for most of her life, Pulido said she changed her name shortly before being released from prison — taking inspiration from gazing at the moon outside the window of her cell.

“DeAnna was a very hurt little girl that carried a lot of hurt baggage, and I got tired of carrying all that around,” she said. “I’ve lived in the darkness for so long I want to be part of the light that’s going to be part of my name.”

GOP speaker defectors rally around Jordan in second ballot

January 3, 2023 Published by Nancy Vu

Politics, Policy, Political News Top Stories

A number of Republicans changed their votes to Jim Jordan during the second vote for the speaker’s gavel.

McCarthy’s bid for speaker to continue, Trump urges support

January 3, 2023 Published by LISA MASCARO, FARNOUSH AMIRI and KEVIN FREKING

Top News: US & International Top News Stories Today | AP News

House Republican leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy says he’s in a “battle for the conference and the country” as he spars with right-flank conservatives who refuse to give him their votes to become Speaker of the House. (Jan. 3)

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., stands on the floor after he failed to get enough votes to become the new House Speaker during the opening day of the 118th Congress at the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, Jan 3, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans will open the second day of the new Congress much like the first — with leader Kevin McCarthy trying to become House speaker despite losing in multiple rounds of voting that threw the new GOP majority into chaos.

It was the first time in 100 years that a nominee for House speaker could not take the gavel on the first vote, but McCarthy appeared undeterred. Instead, he vowed to fight to the finish, encouraged, he said, by former President Donald Trump to end the disarray and pull the Republican Party together.

Early Wednesday, Trump publicly urged Republicans to vote for McCarthy: “CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY,” he wrote on his social media site. He added: “REPUBLICANS, DO NOT TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT.”

The House will try again on Wednesday after Tuesday’s stalemate essentially forced all other business to a standstill, waiting on Republicans to elect a speaker.

“Today, is that the day I wanted to have? No,” McCarthy told reporters late Tuesday at the Capitol after a series of closed-door meetings. Asked if he would drop out, McCarthy said, “It’s not going to happen.”

The tumultuous start to the new Congress pointed to difficulties ahead with Republicans now in control of the House.

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Tensions flared among the new House majority as their campaign promises stalled out. Without a speaker, the House cannot fully form — swearing in its members, naming its committee chairmen, engaging in floor proceedings and launching investigations of the Biden administration. Lawmakers’ families had waited around, as what’s normally a festive day descended into chaos, with kids playing in the aisles or squirming in parents’ arms.

But it was not at all clear how the embattled GOP leader could rebound to win over right-flank conservatives who reject his leadership. It typically takes a majority of the House to become speaker, 218 votes — though the threshold can drop if members are absent or merely vote present, an strategy McCarthy appeared to be considering.

McCarthy won no more than 203 votes in three rounds of voting, losing as many as 20 Republicans from his slim 222-seat majority,

Not since 1923 has a speaker’s election gone to multiple ballots, and the longest and most grueling fight for the gavel started in late 1855 and dragged out for two months, with 133 ballots, during debates over slavery in the run-up to the Civil War.

“Kevin McCarthy is not going to be a speaker,” declared Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., one of the holdouts.

A new generation of conservative Republicans, many aligned with Trump’s Make America Great Again agenda, want to upend business as usual in Washington, and were committed to stopping McCarthy’s rise without concessions to their priorities.

In many ways, the challenge from the far-right was reminiscent of the last time Republicans seized power in the House, when tea party Republicans brought hardball politics and shutdown government after winning control in the 2010 midterm elections.

As the spectacle of voting dragged on, McCarthy’s backers implored the holdouts to fall in line for the California Republican.

“We all came here to get things done,” the second-ranking Republican, Rep. Steve Scalise, said in a speech nominating McCarthy for the vote and urging his colleagues to drop their protest.

Railing against Democratic President Joe Biden’s agenda, Scalise, himself a possible GOP compromise choice, said, “We can’t start fixing those problems until we elect Kevin McCarthy our next speaker.”

But the holdouts forced a third and final round of voting before Republican leaders quickly adjourned Tuesday evening.

“The American people are watching, and it’s a good thing,” said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, who nominated fellow conservative Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio as an alternative for speaker.

Jordan, the McCarthy rival-turned-ally, was twice pushed forward by conservatives, but he does not seem to want the job. The Ohio Republican is line to become Judiciary Committee chairman, and he rose during the floor debate to urge his colleagues to instead vote for McCarthy.

“We have to rally around him, come together,” Jordan said.

In all, a core group of 19 Republicans — and then 20 — voted for someone other than McCarthy. The first ballot sent votes to Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Jordan and others, while Jordan alone won the votes on the next two ballots.

The standoff over McCarthy has been building since Republicans won the House majority in the midterm elections. While the Senate remains in Democratic hands, barely, House Republicans are eager to confront Biden after two years of the Democrats controlling both houses of Congress. The conservative Freedom Caucus led the opposition to McCarthy, believing he’s neither conservative enough nor tough enough to battle Democrats.

To win support, McCarthy has already agreed to many of the demands of the Freedom Caucus, who have been agitating for rules changes and other concessions that give rank-and=file more influence in the legislative process. He has been here before, having bowed out of the speakers race in 2015 when he failed to win over conservatives.

Late Tuesday, pizza, Chick-fil-A and tacos were carried into various meeting rooms at the Capitol after the failed votes as McCarthy supporters and detractors hunkered down to figure out how to elect a speaker.

“Everything’s on the table,” said McCarthy ally Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C. — except, he said, having the leader step aside. “Not at all. That is not on the table.”

Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., the chairman of the Freedom Caucus and a leader of Trump’s effort to challenge the 2020 presidential election had said earlier it was up to McCarthy to meet their demands and change the dynamic.

Democrats enthusiastically nominated Jeffries, who is taking over as party leader, as their choice for speaker. He won the most votes overall, 212.

If McCarthy could win 213 votes, and then persuade the remaining naysayers to simply vote present, he would be able to lower the threshold required under the rules to have the majority.

It’s a strategy former House speakers, including outgoing Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Speaker John Boehner had used when they confronted opposition, winning the gavel with fewer than 218 votes.

Said McCarthy late Tuesday at the Capitol: “You get 213 votes, and the others don’t say another name, that’s how you can win.”

Mega Millions jackpot soars to $785 million for Tuesday night's drawing. These are your odds of winning

January 3, 2023 Published by CNN

Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

CNN
—

If your New Year’s goals include buying 2,616 castles or 1,520 high-end Ferraris for you and your closest friends, Tuesday’s Mega Millions jackpot could make your dreams a reality.

OK, probably not. Your odds of winning the grand prize is 1 in 302,575,350.

But the estimated $785 million jackpot is among the biggest in Mega Millions history. The winning numbers will be drawn at 11 p.m. ET Tuesday.

The largest jackpot in history was $1.537 billion, scored by one outrageously lucky winner in 2018.

If a single winner hits the jackpot Tuesday, they could get their $785 million by choosing annuity payments over 29 years, lottery officials said.

But a winner who wants their avalanche of cash immediately can choose the cash option of $395 million.

source

‘Varsity Blues’ mastermind faces sentencing for college scam

January 3, 2023 Published by ALANNA DURKIN RICHER

Top News: US & International Top News Stories Today | AP News

FILE – William “Rick” Singer founder of the Edge College & Career Network, departs federal court in Boston, on March 12, 2019. The mastermind of the nationwide college admissions bribery scandal is set to be sentenced on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, after helping authorities secure the convictions of a slew of wealthy parents involved in his scheme to rig the selection process at top-tier schools. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

BOSTON (AP) — The mastermind of the nationwide college admissions bribery scandal is set to be sentenced on Wednesday after helping authorities secure the convictions of a slew of wealthy parents involved in his scheme to rig the selection process at top-tier schools.

Federal prosecutors are asking for six years behind bars for Rick Singer, who for more than a decade helped deep-pocketed parents get their often undeserving kids get into some of the nation’s most selective schools with bogus test scores and athletic credentials.

The scandal embarrassed elite universities across the country, put a spotlight on the secretive admissions system already seen as rigged in favor of the rich and laid bare the measures some parents will take to get their kids into the school of their choice.

Singer, 62, began secretly cooperating with investigators and worked with the FBI to record hundreds of phone calls and meetings before the arrest of dozens of parents and athletic coaches in March 2019. More than 50 people — including popular TV actresses and prominent businessmen — were ultimately convicted in the case authorities dubbed Operation Varsity Blues.

In the nearly four years since the scandal exploded into newspaper headlines, Singer remained out of jail and kept largely silent publicly. He was never called as a witness by prosecutors in the cases that went to trial, but will get a chance to address the court before the judge hands down his sentence in Boston federal court.

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In a letter to the judge, Singer blamed his actions on his “winning at all costs” attitude, which he said was caused in part by suppressed childhood trauma. His lawyer is requesting three years of probation, or if the judge deems prison time necessary, six months behind bars.

“By ignoring what was morally, ethically, and legally right in favor of winning what I perceived was the college admissions ‘game,’ I have lost everything,” Singer wrote.

Singer pleaded guilty in 2019 — on the same day the massive case became public — to charges including racketeering conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. Dozens of others ultimately pleaded guilty to charges, while two parents were convicted at trial.

Authorities blew the lid off the scandal after an executive under investigation for an unrelated securities fraud scheme told investigators that a Yale soccer coach had offered to help his daughter get into the school in exchange for cash. The Yale coach led authorities to Singer, whose cooperation unraveled the sprawling scheme.

For years, Singer paid off entrance exam administrators or proctors to inflate students’ test scores and bribed athletic coaches to designate applicants as recruits for sports they sometimes didn’t even play, seeking to boost their chances of getting into the school. Singer took in more than $25 million from his clients, paid bribes totaling more than $7 million, and used more than $15 million of his clients’ money for his own benefit, according to prosecutors.

“He was the architect and mastermind of a criminal enterprise that massively corrupted the integrity of the college admissions process — which already favors those with wealth and privilege — to a degree never before seen in this country,” prosecutors wrote in court documents.

If the judge agrees with prosecutors, it would be by far the longest sentence handed down in the case. So far, the toughest punishment has gone to former Georgetown University tennis coach Gordon Ernst, who got 2 1/2 years in prison for pocketing more than $3 million in bribes.

Others ensnared in the scandal included “Full House” actor Lori Loughlin, her fashion designer husband Mossimo Giannulli, and “Desperate Housewives” star Felicity Huffman. The federal appeals court in Boston is considering a challenge to the convictions of two other parents who were found guilty at trial.

One parent, who wasn’t accused of working with Singer, was acquitted on all counts stemming from accusations that he bribed Ernst to get his daughter into the school. And a judge ordered a new trial for former University of Southern California water polo Jovan Vavic, who was convicted of accepting bribes.

House Democrats cheer as McCarthy fails to clinch speakership multiple times

January 3, 2023 Published by

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News

House Democrats cheered after the chamber failed to reach a majority multiple times during a vote for speaker, muddling Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s hopes to secure the top leadership spot.

McCarthy, R-Calif., has yet to emerge triumphant after the first three rounds of votes, during which not a single lawmaker received the majority of votes needed to become speaker: 218. Republicans have 222 lawmakers in the slim majority, so McCarthy can leave only four GOP minds unchanged.

Cheers rang out by Democrats on the House floor following the conclusion of the second round of voting, after 19 Republicans voted for Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. The total meant that McCarthy again fell short of the majority 218 votes need to become speaker. A third round of voting delivered the same outcome, adding one more GOP vote for Jordan for a total of 20.

Democrats also broke into cheers of “Hakeem, Hakeem, Hakeem” when the nomination of incoming House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., was announced ahead of the third round of votes. The same group similarly cheered when Jordan was nominated by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., in a slight to McCarthy.

THE VOTE FOR HOUSE SPEAKER: LIVE UPDATES

McCarthy told reporters Tuesday morning that “we are going to have a good day.” But his bid for speaker has since failed so far, with 19 Republicans voting for other representatives each time. The votes marked the first time the House failed to reach a majority in a speaker vote since 1923.

Democratic leadership advised its members to stay present for continued rounds of votes. If some members left, they would be marked as absent, which would lower the total needed for McCarthy to reach the majority needed to clinch the speakership.

MCCARTHY’S GOP FOES DIG IN BEFORE HOUSE SPEAKER VOTE: ‘NO PRINCIPLES,’ ‘PART OF THE PROBLEM’

HOUSE SPEAKER BATTLE: PROFANITIES FLY AS REPUBLICAN FACTIONS GET HEATED OVER MCCARTHY SPEAKERSHIP BID

Republicans nominated Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., in the first round of votes to challenge McCarthy, then nominated Jordan in the following two rounds.

“Maybe the right person for the job of speaker of the House isn’t someone who wants it so bad,” Gaetz said of Jordan. “Maybe the right person for the job of speaker of the House isn’t someone who has sold shares of himself for more than a decade to get it.”

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Jordan voted for McCarthy and introduced him in the second round.

President Joe Biden “certainly will not insert himself” in the House speaker vote process, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday.

Georgia police arrest alleged deputy killer

January 3, 2023 Published by

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News

A Georgia man accused of fatally shooting a Fulton County deputy last week has been arrested and charged with murder, according to reports.

Fox station WAGA in Atlanta reported that Alton Oliver, 26, was arrested for the alleged shooting death of 24-year-old Deputy James Thomas.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and the Atlanta Police Department announced the arrest during a press conference on Tuesday.

ATLANTA SUSPECTS VANDALIZE HISTORIC CHURCH WITH THREATENING GRAFFITI; FBI OFFERS $10K REWARD

Police responded to reports of a shooting near Bolton Road and Payton Road at around 4:30 a.m. on Dec. 29, and when they arrived, they found a vehicle that was involved in a crash with a victim inside.

That victim was identified as Thomas.

According to WAGA, Atlanta investigators spoke with the driver of a van who called 911 after hearing shots.

GEORGIA DEPUTY SHOT TO DEATH IN CRASHED CAR, POLICE SEARCHING FOR POSSIBLE 2ND VEHICLE

“The van observed the victim’s vehicle kind of driving erratically in the middle of the road on Bolton Road,” Atlanta police investigator Peter Malecki said. “When they went to pass that vehicle is when they believe they heard gunfire.”

Police said they think Thomas was killed after the crash, adding they do not believe the two men knew each other and the shooting was the result of a dispute, WAGA reported.

Oliver was taken to the Cobb County Jail and charged with murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm while committing a felony. He does not have a criminal history other than a few traffic violations.

Chinese carrier strike group, drones operating near Japan, which dispatched aircraft to monitor situation

January 3, 2023 Published by

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News

Chinese drones were operating near Japan this week, prompting Japanese defense officials to dispatch aircraft and naval ships to monitor the situation, according to media reports.

The unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been transiting the Miyako Strait from the East China Sea into the Pacific and returning the same way, USNI News reported. The Miyako Strait is a waterway between Miyako Island and Okinawa.

Meanwhile, Chinese warships were also seen in the East China Sea after two weeks near the Philippines.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy Liaoning Carrier Strike Group (CSG) was likely heading home after a brief patrol, according to the news outlet.

CHINA’S NEW FOREIGN MINISTER PRAISES AMERICANS, STRIKES FRIENDLY TONE

On Monday, Japan said it scrambled fighter jets and dispatched aircraft and warships over the past two weeks to keep tabs on China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier, Reuters reported.

Japan monitored the operations after the Chinese naval group, which included missile destroyers, sailed between the main Okinawa island and Miyakojima island into the Western Pacific from the East China Sea on Dec. 16, Japan’s Ministry of Defence said in a press release.

Tensions between China and Japan have escalated as Beijing has expanded its military exercises and interests farther out into the Pacific.

CHINESE TRAVELERS FACING COVID-19 TESTING REQUIREMENTS FROM MORE COUNTRIES AMID OUTBREAK

“From my point of view, the U.S. and China have been in war,” Yoko Ishii, a Japanese political commentator, told Fox News in November. “America was fighting against terrorism, but now America has shifted the policy to fight against China.”

Ishii said China has ambitions beyond taking Taiwan as it had “invading” the area around Japan’s Senkaku Islands.

“They come into the waters around our territories like every day, and they do that to make it seem like they own the place,” Ishii said. “China is gradually just coming toward the Pacific Ocean.”

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has accused China of infringing on its sovereignty as the eastern powers grow increasingly aggressive. Chinese fishing and naval vessels have frequently ventured into Japanese waters in recent months.

2024 Volvo EX90 Makes North American Debut At CES

January 3, 2023 Published by Brad Anderson

Carscoops

The all-new 2024 Volvo EX90 has landed in North America for the very first time at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas that kicks off on January 4 with the press day.

Volvo’s EX90 isn’t only important as the brand’s latest electric SUV but also because it will be produced at the automaker’s South Carolina manufacturing plant starting later this year. Pre-orders have already opened in the U.S. and those interested can configure their cars in the fall and receive prioritization when deliveries begin in early 2024.

Read: 2024 Volvo EX90 Is A Polestar 3 Electric SUV Dressed For A Court Appearance

The car manufacturer is showing the EX90 at CES alongside Google and Luminar. It also plans to announce and demonstrate a number of new technologies later in the week.

Volvo EX90 Lidar

Volvo will sell two versions of the EX90, both underpinned by a 107 kWh battery pack that supports 250 kW DC charging and can be filled from 10-80 per cent in just 30 minutes. The entry-level variant has a pair of electric motors that combine to deliver 408 hp and 568 lb-ft (770 Nm) of torque while the Performance model lifts these figures to 510 hp and 671 lb-ft (910 Nm), meaning it can hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in an impressive 4.9 seconds.

Like all other Volvo models, the EX90 has a keen focus on safety. Indeed, it features one long-range lidar, 5 radars, 8 cameras, and 16 ultrasonic sensors. The lidar featured comes courtesy of Luminar and is able to see small objects roughly two football fields ahead in both day and night and at highway speeds.

A comprehensive suite of technologies are also found in the cabin. These include a 14.5-inch central infotainment system with Google built-in, meaning it offers seamless integration of Google Assistant, Google Maps navigation, and a host of apps from Google Play. It also supports wireless Apple CarPlay.

The award travelers guide to Hilton Honors

January 3, 2023 Published by Katie Genter

The Points Guy

With more than 7,000 hotels in 123 countries across 18 brands, Hilton likely has a property to suit your needs when you hit the road. When you combine this with a strong portfolio of Hilton Honors credit cards and points that are relatively easy to earn and redeem, Hilton Honors makes a strong case for being one of the best hotel rewards programs out there.

Here is an in-depth look into the Hilton Honors program for award travelers, including an overview of elite status and how to earn and redeem miles.

Hilton Honors elite status

Hilton offers four tiers within its Hilton Honors loyalty program. You’ll become a member just by signing up for the program. Plus, there are three Hilton Honors elite status tiers: Silver, Gold and Diamond.

Hilton Honors Member

Hilton automatically gives Member tier status to everyone who signs up for the Hilton Honors program. Member-tier guests get the following benefits:

Free standard internet in your room and the lobby during stays.
No resort fees on award stays.
Complimentary Wi-Fi.
Access to the Hilton Honors Member discount rate.
Choose your room from available rooms up to 24 hours in advance.
Use digital check-in and a digital key.

On top of these benefits, Hilton Honors Members earn 5 base points per dollar spent at Tru and Home2 brands and 10 base points per dollar spent at all other Hilton properties. TPG’s valuations peg the value of Hilton Honors points at 0.6 cents each. So, just by signing up for the Hilton Honors program, you’ll get a 3% return at Tru and Home2 brands and a 6% return at other Hilton brands as a Hilton Honors Member.

Hilton Honors Silver

The Conrad Washington, DC. SCOTT MAYEROWITZ/THE POINTS GUY

You can earn Hilton Honors Silver status after four stays, 10 nights or 25,000 base points in a calendar year.

On top of the benefits available to all Hilton Honors members, Hilton Honors Silver members also get the following perks:

Fifth night free on award stays booked solely with points.
20% bonus on base points earned on every stay.
Elite rollover nights.
Two bottles of water per stay at select properties.
15% off spa discount at Hilton’s all-inclusive brands.

With the 20% bonus, Hilton Honors Silver members earn 6 points per dollar spent at Tru and Home2 brands (5 base points plus 1 bonus point) and 12 points per dollar spent at all other Hilton properties (10 base points plus 2 bonus points). Based on TPG’s valuations, Silver members get a 3.6% return at Tru and Home2 brands and a 7.2% return at other Hilton brands.

TPG values Hilton Honors Silver status at $60 per year, primarily due to the bonus earnings and fifth night free on award stays.

How to get Hilton Silver status with a credit card

Hilton gives cardholders of the Hilton Honors American Express Card Silver status as a card benefit. This card has no annual fee (see rates and fees) but currently offers 80,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months of card membership.

Hilton Honors Gold

Hilton Honors Gold members enjoy either a food and beverage credit or breakfast. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

You’ll earn Hilton Honors Gold status after 20 stays, 40 nights or 75,000 base points accrued in a calendar year.

On top of the benefits available to Hilton Honors Silver members, Hilton Honors Gold members also get the following benefits:

Daily food and beverage credit (U.S. hotels only) or continental breakfast (non-U.S. hotels).
Space-available room upgrades, all the way up to the executive level.
Milestone bonuses: Earn 10,000 bonus points every 10 nights after you’ve stayed 30 nights in a calendar year.
80% bonus on base points earned on every stay.

With the 80% bonus, Hilton Honors Gold members earn 9 points per dollar at Tru and Home2 brands and 18 points per dollar spent at all other Hilton properties. Based on TPG’s valuations, Gold members get a 5.4% return at Tru and Home2 brands and a 10.8% return at other Hilton brands.

TPG values Hilton Honors Gold status at $1,255 per year due to the bonus earnings, space-available room upgrades and breakfast benefit.

How to get Hilton Gold status through credit cards

Cardholders of the following American Express cards automatically get Hilton Honors Gold status (enrollment is required) for as long as they keep their card account open:

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: $95 annual fee (see rates and fees).
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: $95 annual fee (see rates and fees).
The Platinum Card® from American Express: $695 annual fee (see rates and fees).
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: $695 annual fee (see rates and fees).

Additionally, Hilton Honors American Express Card cardholders can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold status through the end of the following calendar year by spending $20,000 on the card in a calendar year.

Hilton Honors Diamond

Diamond status can sometimes get you much better upgrades, like this one at the Conrad New York Midtown. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

You can earn Hilton Honors Diamond status after 30 stays, 60 nights or 120,000 base points accrued in a calendar year.

In addition to Gold benefits, Hilton Diamond members also get the following perks:

Space-available room upgrades (up to a one-bedroom suite).
Executive lounge access for you and up to one other guest registered in your room.
Premium Wi-Fi.
48-hour room guarantee if you reach out at least 48 hours before your stay.
Elite status gifting: Typically, if you hit 40 nights in the calendar year, you can gift Gold status to any member, and if you hit 70 nights, then that gift is upgraded to Diamond.
100% bonus on base points earned on every stay.

With the 100% bonus, Hilton Honors Diamond members earn 10 points per dollar at Tru and Home2 brands and 20 points per dollar spent at all other Hilton properties. Based on TPG’s valuations, Diamond members get a 6% return at Tru and Home2 brands and a 12% return at other Hilton brands.

TPG values Hilton Honors Diamond status at $3,025 per year due to the bonus earnings, space-available room upgrades, milestone bonuses and food and beverage credit or continental breakfast benefit.

How to get Hilton Diamond status with a credit card

Some Hilton Honors credit cards that offer complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status as a benefit also allow you to spend your way to Hilton Honors Diamond status. Specifically, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card offer an upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the following calendar year when you spend $40,000 on your card in a calendar year.

Meanwhile, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status as long as you keep the card account open. The Hilton Aspire currently offers a welcome bonus of 150,000 Hilton Honors points (worth $900 by TPG’s valuations) after you spend $4,000 on purchases on the card within your first three months of cardmembership. The card has a $450 annual fee (see rates and fees) but includes many perks that may justify the annual fee.

The information for the Hilton Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Status match to Gold and challenge to Diamond

Hilton Honors frequently offers a status match to Hilton Honors Gold with a challenge to keep Gold or upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status.

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You can currently request a status match to Hilton Honors Gold and experience how Hilton Honors Gold members travel for the following 90 days. If you stay seven nights within your 90-day trial period, you can keep Gold status through March 31, 2024. And, if you stay 12 nights within your 90-day trial period, Hilton will upgrade your status to Diamond through March 31, 2024.

However, you’ll want to time your status match carefully since the terms and conditions often state that only members who have not previously completed a status match challenge are eligible. Additionally, reward stays do not count toward the status match qualification.

Which bookings are eligible for Hilton elite benefits?

You usually won’t get access to elite benefits and earnings when you don’t book directly with a hotel brand. Luckily, the Hilton Honors terms and conditions state that bookings through the following channels will be eligible for on-property Hilton Honors benefits:

Any official Hilton hotel brand or Hilton Honors website.
Hilton Reservations and Customer Care phone line.
Hilton Honors or Hilton mobile application.
Directly at a hotel in the Hilton Portfolio.
Through an IATA-accredited retail travel agent that books through a Hilton channel or one of the following Global Distribution Systems: Amadeus, Apollo/Galileo, Worldspan and Sabre.

The Hilton Honors terms and conditions also note that you won’t get on-property benefits in the following circumstances:

Reservations booked through a non-Hilton direct booking channel, a non-designated GDS, a third-party website or any other channel.
Rates available on “opaque” websites where you don’t know the hotel brand and specific hotel until after booking.
Third-party hotel packages or travel packages not booked through one of the eligible channels.
Any ineligible stay, including but not limited to wholesale/tour operator packages, contracted crew rates and travel agency discount rates, as defined in the Hilton Honors terms and conditions.

So, if you’re looking to get elite earnings and benefits on a stay, you’ll want to book through an eligible channel.

How to earn Hilton points

La Quinta Resort & Club, Curio Collection by Hilton. BENJI STAWSKI/THE POINTS GUY

As with most hotel loyalty programs, there are many ways to earn Hilton points. Although you can earn some points through Hilton Honors partners, many travelers earn most of their points by staying at Hilton properties or through credit card spending.

Here’s a quick overview of some popular ways to earn Hilton points.

Hotel stays

You’ll earn at least 10 Hilton Honors base points for every dollar you spend at most Hilton brands, although you’ll only earn 5 base points per dollar spent at Home2 Suites and Tru by Hilton. You can earn base points on up to four rooms per stay, and you’ll earn base points on all eligible charges you make to these rooms.

You’ll also earn bonus points based on your Hilton Honors status tier. Specifically, Silver members earn a 20% bonus; Gold members earn 80% and Diamond members earn 100% bonus points.

Hilton Honors often offers promotions that can allow you to earn bonus points on hotel stays. For the first four months of 2023, Hilton has a Double Up & Explore promotion giving registered members double points on all stays. You’ll also earn 1,000 bonus points (worth $6 at TPG’s valuations) for each of Hilton’s 18 brands you stay at during the promotional period.

Even if you don’t have an upcoming Hilton stay in early 2023, register in case a trip comes up.

Credit card spending

Credit card spending will likely be your best bet for earning a large sum of Hilton Honors points. Between sizable welcome bonuses and high category bonuses, it’s relatively easy to earn Hilton points quickly using Hilton Honors credit cards.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

My favorite Hilton Honors credit card is the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. Although the card has a $450 annual fee (see rates and fees), it comes packed with benefits that can justify this annual fee even if you stay with Hilton a few times each year.

The Hilton Aspire comes with a welcome bonus of 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases on the card within your first three months of cardmembership. Based on TPG’s valuations, the welcome bonus points are worth $900. Plus, the card offers the following bonus categories:

Earn 14 points per dollar at hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio (8.4% return based on TPG’s valuations).
Earn 7 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel, on car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies and at U.S. restaurants (4.2% return).
Earn 3 points per dollar on other eligible purchases (1.8% return).

Regarding card perks, you’ll get complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status and up to $250 in statement credits each year of cardmembership for use at participating Hilton Resorts. Plus, you’ll get one free night certificate with your new card and every year after renewal, as well as the ability to earn another free night certificate after you spend $60,000 on purchases on your card in a calendar year.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card

If you’re looking for a Hilton Honors credit card with a lower annual fee, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card may be a good option with its $95 annual fee.

The Hilton Surpass currently offers a welcome bonus of 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $2,000 on purchases on the card in the first three months of cardmembership. Based on TPG’s valuations, the bonus points are worth $780.

And when using the Hilton Surpass for purchases, you’ll earn the following:

Earn 12 points per dollar at hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio (7.2% return based on TPG’s valuations).
Earn 6 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and U.S. restaurants (3.6% return).
Earn 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases (1.8% return).

Hilton Surpass cardholders get complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status and the ability to earn Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the following calendar year after spending $40,000 in a calendar year. Once enrolled, you’ll get 10 Priority Pass lounge visits each Priority Pass membership year. And you can earn a free night certificate after spending $15,000 on your card in a calendar year.

Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

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If you’re looking for a business credit card with similar benefits to the Hilton Surpass, you will want to consider the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card. This card has a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees). And you can earn a welcome offer of 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months of cardmembership.

As a business card, the Hilton Honors Business Card offers the following bonus categories:

Earn 12 points per dollar at participating hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio (7.2% return based on TPG’s valuations).
Earn 6 points per dollar at U.S. gas stations and U.S. restaurants and on U.S. shipping purchases, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies (3.6% return).
Earn 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases (1.8% return).

As a Hilton Honors Business cardmember, you’ll get automatic Hilton Honors Gold status and up to 10 complimentary Priority Pass lounge visits yearly (enrollment required). You can earn up to two free night rewards and Hilton Honors Diamond status by meeting specific calendar year spending thresholds.

Hilton Honors American Express Card

Finally, if you’re looking for a no-annual-fee credit card, the Hilton Honors Card from American Express may be suitable (see rates and fees). This card currently offers 80,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months of cardmembership. Based on TPG’s valuations, this bonus is worth up to $480.

Cardholders of the Hilton Amex get complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status as well as the ability to earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold status through the end of the following calendar year by spending $20,000 on their card in a calendar year. Plus, the Hilton Amex offers the following bonus categories for spending:

Earn 7 points per dollar at hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio (4.2% return based on TPG’s valuations).
Earn 5 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations (3% return).
Earn 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases (1.8% return).

Related: Best hotel credit cards

Transferable points

You can typically get Hilton Honors points by transferring American Express Membership Rewards points to Hilton Honors at a 1:2 ratio. The program occasionally offers transfer bonuses.

However, TPG values Amex points at 2 cents per point and Hilton Honors points at 0.6 cents per point. So, even transferring during a bonus period may not make sense.

Partners

You can earn Hilton points on Lyft rides. RGSTUDIO/GETTY IMAGES

Hilton Honors has partners through which you can earn and redeem Hilton points. For example, you can convert Amtrak Guest Rewards points, Hawaiian Airlines miles and Virgin Atlantic points into Hilton Honors points.

You can also earn Hilton Honors points by riding with Lyft. By linking your Hilton Honors account with your Lyft account, you can earn 3 points per dollar on Lyft rides (economy, luxury and extra seats) and 2 points per dollar on shared Lyft rides. You’ll earn points on your base fare, so bridge tolls, fuel surcharges and tips won’t accrue additional Hilton points. You can earn Hilton points on up to $10,000 of Lyft spending per calendar year.

You can also earn Hilton points on select Alamo, Enterprise and National car rentals. Specifically, you can earn up to 5,000 Hilton points for every completed qualifying rental reserved through Hilton. Based on TPG’s valuations, 5,000 Hilton points are worth $30.

Finally, by creating an account and linking a credit or debit card to Hilton Honors Dining, you can earn between 2 and 8 points per dollar at participating restaurants for a 1.2% to 4.8% return based on TPG’s valuations. Note that these points are on top of the points you might earn from your credit card or the restaurant’s loyalty program.

Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Buy Hilton points

Hilton generally sells points for 1 cent each, allowing you to purchase up to 160,000 points for $1,600 per calendar year. However, during some Hilton promotions, you may be able to purchase a larger quantity of points for as low as 0.5 cents apiece.

How to redeem Hilton points

Conrad Punta de Mita. KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY

Generally, the best way to redeem hotel points is for free nights at the program’s participating properties. This is certainly true when it comes to redeeming Hilton Honors points. But here’s an overview of all of your options for redeeming Hilton points.

Award nights

Hilton doesn’t publish an award chart. But you can use the Points Explorer tool to search for properties based on location and the number of points you’re willing to spend per night.

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Once you’ve searched by location and points amount, you can filter your results based on the brand. Here’s a sample search for Florida properties booked recently for 25,000 points or less per night.

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Although Hilton’s Points Explorer tool can be helpful for trip planning, the current redemption rates may vary from those shown in the Points Explorer. After all, the Points Explorer tool uses historical data. So, you’ll want to check the current points cost using Hilton’s standard booking search engine before getting too excited about a particular property.

Although Hilton doesn’t have a published award chart, the value you can get from your Hilton points when redeeming for a free night will vary. For example, let’s take the Conrad New York Midtown. On a random date I checked, the rate is $657 plus $102 of taxes for one night, or 95,000 Hilton Honors points.

Although 95,000 Hilton points is a lot to spend for a night in New York City, you would get a value of 1 cent per point. TPG values Hilton points at 0.6 cents each, so you’d still be getting more than TPG’s valuation.

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But you may get a much worse value for your points on some redemptions. For example, a room at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Fiji is $178 on a given date. However, Hilton wants 38,000 points for that same room, giving a redemption value of just 0.47 cents per point. That is incredibly low and likely not worth your hard-earned points.

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Note that you also can redeem your points for upgraded accommodations. When looking at Pay with Points options for a room, you’ll usually see that some rooms cost more than others.

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While redeeming for a premium room usually won’t provide great value, it can be excellent for those needing a larger room or who want an upgraded view.

Points & Money rewards

Redeeming for a free night award using Points & Money allows you to stretch your points. Instead of paying all points for a free night, you can use a combination of cash and points. Unlike with other programs, you can even adjust the ratio in increments of 1,000 points using a sliding tool.

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In the case above, I’d be able to pay 30,000 points to save $129.71, which makes these points worth 0.43 cents each.

Travel rewards

You can transfer your points to approximately 40 travel partners. But you’ll usually need to transfer at least 10,000 miles simultaneously, and the transfer ratios aren’t favorable.

You can also redeem your Hilton points toward car rentals, Shop with Points at Amazon and Lyft rides. But you’ll usually only get about 0.2 cents per point on these redemptions. So, I’d recommend avoiding all of these travel rewards options.

Hilton Honors Experiences

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If you’re looking for a non-hotel award with substantial value, you can redeem points for various experiences through Hilton Honors Experiences. That’s how TPG’s Katie Genter enjoyed a 60-minute couples massage and four-course dinner for 20,000 Hilton points. You can purchase some experiences using a set amount of points, while Hilton sells other experiences in an auction format.

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The options and types of experiences available tend to change often. So, it’s worth checking the website frequently to see what experiences may appear.

Donate

Finally, you can donate your points to charity through PointWorthy. For every 3,500 Hilton points you donate, a charity of your choice will get $10. Note that donating your points provides a value of 0.29 cents per point, well below TPG’s valuation of 0.6 cents per point.

How to book Hilton Honors award nights

Booking award nights through the Hilton website is easy. From the homepage, type in your destination, dates and number of guests. But, before clicking “Find a Hotel,” click on “Special Rates” and check the “Use Points” box.

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Once you click “Find a Hotel,” the award rates for your stay will appear in the search results.

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You can click on a specific property to compare rates for each room type. Then you can quickly decide whether redeeming points is worthwhile.

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You can also use the flexible date search to easily view a month at a time. When you enter the dates for your hotel stay, select “Shop by price,” and you’ll see a calendar view of how much a stay of your chosen length would cost per night for each check-in date.

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I aim to use Hilton points only to get a redemption rate of 0.6 cents per point or higher. This is in line with TPG’s valuation of Hilton points at 0.6 cents each. Even if you’re willing to book awards that get a value of less than 0.6 cents each for your Hilton points, it’s generally best to aim for an award where the rate is no more than the maximum listed on the program’s Points Explorer page.

Maximizing Hilton Honors

Here are some strategies to get the most value out of your Hilton Honors experience.

Promotions

As mentioned, Hilton Honors frequently offers promotions that allow you to earn extra points. Be sure to refer to this page which we regularly update for the latest on Hilton Honors promotions.

5th night free on awards

KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY

As mentioned above, Silver, Gold, and Diamond Hilton Honors members have access to a fifth night free on award stays. This benefit provides every fifth night free for standard room reward stays of five or more nights.

If Hilton prices some nights differently during your stay, the free night(s) will be subtracted from the average number of Hilton Honors points needed each night. There is no limit on how many times you can use this benefit annually, but Hilton will not award you more than four free nights per stay.

Price match guarantee

To incentivize you to book directly with Hilton, Hilton offers a price match guarantee.

Under this guarantee, if you find a lower price for the same accommodation and terms before making a reservation or within 24 hours of making your reservation through an official Hilton booking channel, Hilton will honor the lower price and take an additional 25% off the room rate for each night of your stay.

When multiple prices for the same accommodations are available through the official Hilton booking channel, you must book the lowest rate to qualify for the price match guarantee. Hilton’s claim process is easy to use since it auto-populates much of the required information using your Hilton confirmation number.

Stretch your points at low-category Hilton hotels

You can get great value by redeeming your Hilton points at luxury properties. But you can also get significant value from your points at low-category Hilton properties. There are many low-category Hilton properties internationally, including 5,000- and 10,000-point-per-night properties in Egypt, Turkey and Indonesia that look impressive. Even some low-category Hilton properties in the U.S. cost as little as 10,000 points per night.

Frequently asked questions

How much are Hilton points worth?

The value of Hilton points depends on how you plan to redeem your points. However, TPG values Hilton Honors points at 0.6 cents each. TPG bases its valuation on the value you can get when redeeming these points and the cost at which TPG would be willing to buy Hilton points.

How many points do I need for a free night at Hilton?

Hilton doesn’t have an award chart, so the number of points required for a free night varies depending on the hotel, time of year and room rate. A standard room usually costs between 5,000 and 95,000 Hilton Honors points but may cost as much as 150,000 points at select properties with specialty accommodations. And premium rooms are bookable for more points than standard rooms at most properties.

How do I get lifetime Diamond status with Hilton?

You can get lifetime Hilton Honors Diamond status by meeting both of the following requirements:

Earn Hilton Diamond status for 10 (nonconsecutive) years.
Complete a total of 1,000 paid and reward nights or earn 2 million base points.

You must have Hilton Diamond status for 365 days before it counts as a fully completed year.

Which Hilton brands are best?

Hilton has 18 brands, ranging from luxurious Waldorf Astoria properties to practical, budget-focused Home2 Suites properties designed for extended stays. The best brand for you depends on your needs and preferred style. But many travelers believe that Hilton’s best brands are Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, LXR and Curio Collection.

Do Hilton Honors points expire?

Hilton Honors points usually expire if you don’t have any eligible account activity for 25 consecutive months.

Bottom line

As you can see, earning and redeeming Hilton Honors points is relatively easy. If you stay at Hilton properties at least a few times each year, I recommend getting a Hilton Honors credit card, such as the Hilton Aspire or Hilton Surpass. It will get enough value from the card’s perks to justify its annual fee. Having a Hilton Honors card will also let you spend to earn Hilton points if needed for an upcoming redemption.

When it comes to redeeming, you’ll get the most value from your Hilton points when you redeem for award nights and, in some cases, Hilton Honors Experiences. I usually stay in increments of five nights when using Hilton points since Hilton Silver, Gold and Diamond members get every fifth night free on award stays.

For rates and fees of the Hilton Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Surpass, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Business Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Aspire, click here.

Additional reporting by Brett Holzhauer and Kyle Olsen.