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UPDATE – Read this for Hilton Diamond status from just one stay instead!
It’s certainly no secret that we are big fans of Hilton Gold status here at InsideFlyerUK Towers (o/t we really need a snappier HQ name…). In my view, it is definitely the best mid-level status offered by any of the major hotel loyalty programmes – and the fact that there are always a few shortcuts to gaining it just sweetens the deal.
The latest shortcut gets you Hilton Gold status after just three stays rather than the usual twenty (technically it’s designed for people who have a premium credit card from the National Bank of Kuwait – but these sort of links have been around for many years and have been used by thousands of people without a problem).
I won’t rehash the benefits of Hilton Gold again here, because Tom has already written such a brilliant (and detailed) summary of the perks – but basically if you value free upgrades, free breakfast, (usually) free lounge access, bonus Hilton Points etc, you should take a look!
Rules
The three stays have to be within 90 days of registering, can’t be back to back (making separate bookings for consecutive nights at the same hotel won’t work) and the offer runs until 30th November 2016.
Best way to hit the three stays?
If you stay at Hilton hotels every now and again anyway, then obviously just do that!
If you need to ‘manufacture’ the stays, it’s definitely worth noting that award stays count – so you can use Points.
I had a look at some of the more interesting Category 1 and 2 hotels (that only require 5,000-10,000 Points per night!) in a post last week if you’re looking for some ideas.
There’s only one Category 1 left in the UK these days sadly, the Hampton by Hilton Newport East, but there’s still a few decent Category 2s:
- Hampton by Hilton Corby/Kettering
- Hampton by Hilton Liverpool John Lennon Airport
- Hampton by Hilton Newcastle
- Hilton Newport
- DoubleTree by Hilton Sheffield Park
- Hampton by Hilton Sheffield
Outside of the UK, the Category 1 Hampton by Hilton in Krakow is fantastic value using Points! Krakow/Poland generally could be a great place for a bit hotel hopping this Summer to complete your IHG Accelerate targets at the same time as gaining Hilton Gold status and having a lovely break.
If you don’t have any Hilton Points, you can always transfer American Express Membership Rewards Points, or (slightly more circuitously) from Tesco Clubcard to Virgin Flying Club to Hilton HHonors at an effective rate of 1 Clubcard Point to 3.75 Hilton Points.
Just 4,000 Clubcard Points (£40.00 of vouchers) would therefore be sufficient for 3 stays at a Category 1 hotel, and double that for Category 2 hotels.
Status Match?
If you already have elite status with another major hotel loyalty programme, forget this post and read this one instead!
How long do you keep Hilton status for?
Hilton status lasts for the rest of the calendar year in which it is earned, for all of the subsequent calendar year, and until 31 March of the year following that full calendar year.
In other words, if you get Hilton Gold status right now, it will last until 31st March 2018!
Conclusion
Hilton Gold is great and being able to get it after just three stays is well worth considering.
Great find!
I was kindly offered gold status by the HH team recently for 5 x stays from Silver. 3 x stays makes this route a lot more attractive.
Hi Joe, I’m so sorry as I seem to keep asking you these daft questions, but you wouldn’t know off the top of your head what the conversion rate is for Virgin Atlantic Miles to Hilton HHonors points, would you & whether there is a minimum quantity you need to convert?
V much appreciated – Nxxx
Hi Naomi,
No worries at all! – it’s genuinely what we’re we are here for, but I see Adam has already beaten me to it.
Much appreciated both!! PS I would agree with Joe on IHG, sometimes they are great but at other times bit rubbish? My husband had quite a battle with them over Exec Lounge access recently, despite him being a Platinum member. We generally find Hilton & Marriott much better.
VA – HH is 2:3 redemption rate. (10,000 VA = 15,000 HH)
Min redemption allowed from VA – HH is 10,000.
Hope this helps!
Ah thx so much Adam! xxxxx
Doesn’t say how long the Gold status lasts for ?
I got Gold status through a link a while ago and stayed in 2 Hilton hotels , one in Canada and 1 in England , neither greeted me as being a Gold member and neither gave me a room upgrade . I got 2 bottles of water tho from one ! brilliant
I’m now going to try IHG status , and see how im treated by them when I stay
Hi,
Yes I should have put that in really and will update later. Hilton status lasts for the rest of the calendar year in which you earned it, for all of the subsequent calendar year, and until 31 March of the year following that full calendar year. In other words, if you earned it now it would last until 31st March 2018.
It’s a shame about your experience with Hilton – they really are usually the most consistent in terms of mid-level benefits (but I suppose it does always come down to the individual hotel following the rules in the end). Did you at least get to take advantage of free breakfast?
IHG can be great and can be rubbish. I’ve had some of the best upgrades of my life from them and fairly often absolutely nothing at all!
Hi Joe,
You could use a different link for instant Hilton Gold. Here is my post on the topic…
http://www.travelhackingtutor.com/2016/05/09/instant-hilton-gold-status-no-stays-required/
Of course you *should* be a employee of that specific company, but there are no checks in place.
Infact checking over this post it seems that the sign up form has been removed. A few weeks ago there was the possibility to sign up. Another good loophole closed.
I’ve actually now come up with a way for everyone to get Diamond from just one stay (I think!), and no using links intended for others is required. Will get a post out this afternoon hopefully!