Dynamic prize pricing (setting reimbursement rates based on demand rather than a set award schedule) has its pros and cons. Sure, it can complicate the booking process, but it can also offer stellar value during high-demand periods.
I’ve found that some of the best times to rely on my points and miles stash are when cash rates spike around events. So when I wanted to find a centrally located hotel in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, to attend a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tar Heels basketball game, I thought it was a good time to review my Hilton Honors balance.
Although TPG February 2026 ratings Putting Hilton points at 0.5 cents each, I got over 1.3 cents per point in value for my game day weekend redemption. That’s how I booked it and earned the points to get there.
How I booked my award stay
I booked the central one Hilton Hotel Graduate in Chapel Hill for a weekend of home basketball at a great price.
It’s a beautiful hotel within walking distance of the UNC campus and some of my favorite restaurants and bars in the city. I had passed by there countless times and dreamed of staying there with my partner one day.
I knew finding availability for a weekend of home basketball could be difficult, but I was surprised to see that a two-night stay was just over $1,426.
This was an intra-conference basketball matchup against the University of Pittsburgh, and it was Valentine’s Day weekend, so I figured this stay would still be a dream.
That’s when I decided to check out how much this could cost in points.
I found out I could book a room with a balcony for 45,000 points the first night. I knew I already had a little over 60,000 Hilton Honors points in my account, thanks to spending on my Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Cardso my interest was piqued immediately.
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When I selected both nights, I saw that doing a Points and Money redemption would bring tonight to a cost of 100,000 Hilton points plus about $68.
I only had 60,000 Hilton points, but I have a healthy balance of American Express Membership Rewards needles. Since they transfer to Hilton Honors at a 1:2 ratio, I only had to transfer 20,000 Amex points to complete my award.
Crunching the numbers, I got a value of 1.3 cents per point for this redemption, more than double what TPG was in February 2026. valuation of Hilton points at 0.5 cents each.
How I earned Hilton points
It is highly recommended that you earn Hilton points spending with the brand’s co-branded cards and staying at Hilton properties. You can earn Hilton points by spending with the following cards:
- Hilton Honors American Express Card: Earn 70,000 bonus points plus a free night reward after you spend $2,000 on purchases during the first six months of card membership. This offer ends April 15.
- Hilton Amex outperforms: Earn 130,000 bonus points plus a free reward night after you spend $3,000 on purchases during the first six months of card membership. This offer ends April 15.
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Earn 175,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases during the first six months of card membership. This offer ends April 15.
- Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: Earn 175,000 bonus points plus a free reward night after you spend $8,000 on purchases during the first six months of card membership. This offer ends April 15.
My Hilton Surpass earns all my spending from Hilton, of course, earning 12 points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases made at a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
However, I also use the card for US gas station purchases, as it earns 6 points per dollar spent, as well as online retail purchases in the US, as it earns 4 points per dollar spent.
Related: Is the Hilton Surpass Amex Card worth the annual fee?
Completing my balance for the exchange
Since I didn’t have enough Hilton points in my account to cover this redemption in full, I had to top up my Hilton account with some amex points Had.
It’s almost always better to earn Hilton points by spending on a co-branded card or by staying with the brand rather than transferring points or miles from other programs. From February 2026 from TPG ratings If you consider that Amex points are worth 2 cents each (much more than Hilton’s valuation of 0.5 cents each), you’ll generally be better off transferring them to a higher value point. transfer partner. Some examples include Air Canada airplane, Air France-KLM Flying Blue and Virgin Atlantic Flight Club.
However, transfers from Amex to Hilton can make sense in circumstances like mine where you only need a few points to reach your dream trade-in. Below are some ways you can top up your Hilton balance if you need just a few points to reach your stay.
Transfer from American Express (or Bilt)
As I mentioned, I transferred 20,000 Amex points at a 1:2 ratio to reach the 40,000 Hilton points I needed for this stay. We don’t normally recommend this route, but it was a good choice for me. (In addition, there are There is no such thing as “perfect redemption”, anyway.)
However, you can also make transfers to Hilton from Bilt Rewardsalthough we don’t normally recommend this method as they only transfer at a 1:1 ratio and you may find much better value by transferring to another of Bilt’s partners. These include Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards and Hyatt World.
Buy Hilton points
There are times when buy Hilton points can help you save a lot on a stay. This is especially worth considering if they are on sale at a lower price than TPG’s February 2026 price. valuation 0.5 cents each. Just be sure to compare the cost of purchasing points to book a stay with the cost of booking it directly.
Take advantage of transfer bonuses
Be attentive to transfer bonuses from Amex or Bilt to Hilton that can help you get more value from your points.
Bilt previously offered a transfer bonus of up to 200% to Hilton during the March 2025 monthly subscription. Rental Day Promotion. We have also seen Amex multiple transfer bonuses in recent years, so it’s worth checking periodically to see if another one pops up.
Related: Credit Card Transfer Bonuses Available Now
In a nutshell
If you’re booking a hotel stay during a high-demand period, whether it’s a college basketball game or a popular concert, checking award rates is a great way to save some money.
I love redeeming my points and miles for stays when I travel for an event. Often my ticket to a concert or game can be expensive on its own, so having points and miles helps offset the cost of travel and accommodations.
Add in that many loyalty programs offer transfer bonuses to take advantage of, and you’ll be able to come out on top (like I did) the next time you travel for an event.
Apply here: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
Apply here: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Apply here: Hilton Honors American Express Card
Apply here: Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
