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What is the best way to use Hilton or Marriott points in Waikiki?
For most travelers, Hilton points go further in Waikiki. Hilton doesn't charge resort fees on award stays (checked Oct 12, 2026). Waikiki resort fees add up fast, so that waiver is a real advantage. Marriott is the better pick when you want a specific historic beachfront hotel, or when you can stay five nights or more.
Either way, don't book on points automatically. Price the same dates in cash, add the resort fee and taxes, and only redeem when the points price clearly beats that total.
The short math
Use this formula for any Waikiki hotel:
Cents per point = (cash rate + resort fee + taxes − any cash you pay with the award) ÷ points needed × 100
- Hilton's resort-fee waiver on all-points stays means the fee goes into the "cash you save" side. That often pushes Hilton redemptions above average value. Hilton's award rates move with demand, so check the date you want on hilton.com.
- Marriott's resort fee is still due on an award stay, so it doesn't add to your savings. Marriott charges resort fees on award stays, even when you use points or free night certificates. (checked Oct 12, 2026) Check Marriott's current terms before you book.
- Marriott Bonvoy uses dynamic award pricing, so there is no set number of points for a free night. (checked Oct 12, 2026) The price changes by date, so any number you've read in an older article may be out of date.
- At Hilton Hawaiian Village, a third-party fee tracker listed a nightly resort fee of $64.88 as of February 2026 (checked Oct 12, 2026). Confirm the current amount on the hotel's own page. Over five nights, a waived fee at that level is a meaningful saving.
Who it's for (and who should skip it)
Hilton points suit you if:
- You want a big resort with pools and a lot to do on site.
- You're traveling as a family and want a suite.
- You hold Silver status or higher (a no-annual-fee Hilton card can provide it; details below) and can stay five nights.
Marriott points suit you if:
- You care more about the location and history of the hotel than about the points price. For example, the Moana Surfrider opened on March 11, 1901 (checked Oct 12, 2026).
- You have lots of flexible points from Chase, Amex or Bilt, which all transfer 1:1.
- You want to charge meals across several beachfront resorts (see below).
Skip points if: a cash rate looks cheap (during a sale or a quiet week) and the award price is high. Also skip them if you need only one or two nights and can't get decent value. Keep your points for a higher-value redemption.
Where Hilton points work in Waikiki
Hilton's Honolulu listing shows several Waikiki-area options. These include DoubleTree by Hilton Alana – Waikiki Beach, Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk and Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach (checked Oct 12, 2026). Hilton Hawaiian Village is the big resort in the lineup. NerdWallet's roundup of Waikiki points hotels names it Hilton's best option for resort-style amenities (checked Oct 12, 2026).
- Hilton Hawaiian Village. This is the "resort day" pick, with pools and a beach on the property. It's usually the best fit when the waived resort fee is at its biggest.
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk. The address is 201 Beachwalk Street (checked Oct 12, 2026). It's an all-suite hotel with complimentary breakfast and internet. For a family that would otherwise buy breakfast every morning, that breakfast adds to the value of an award stay. Its page also describes it as one block from swimming and sunbathing on Waikiki Beach.
- Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach. This is the lower-key choice on Kuhio Avenue (checked Oct 12, 2026). If you rent a car, note that its page lists self-parking as not available and valet at $58.00. Confirm the per-night basis on the hotel page.
- DoubleTree Alana. It's another Waikiki option on Hilton's list. Compare its award price against your date.
Fifth night free, Hilton style
Hilton's fifth night is free when you book a standard room with 100% Points, with Silver status or higher (checked Oct 12, 2026). Some details to know:
- The benefit is capped at 20 consecutive nights per reservation at a single property. (checked Oct 12, 2026)
- It applies only to standard room reservations fully booked with points. A Points + Cash booking is not eligible.
- The fifth night waives the actual points that night costs, rather than an average of all five nights. (checked Oct 12, 2026) That means it can pay to line up your stay so the priciest night is the fifth. Test a few start dates before you book.
- To get Silver, the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors American Express Card grants Silver status (checked Oct 12, 2026). Check the card's current terms with the issuer.
Where Marriott points work in Waikiki
Marriott's own Hawaii site lists these Waikiki properties: Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort, Moana Surfrider, The Laylow (Autograph Collection), The Royal Hawaiian (a Luxury Collection Resort) and Sheraton Princess Kaiulani (checked Oct 12, 2026). NerdWallet's list adds the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach (checked Oct 12, 2026).
The four "Waikiki Collection" hotels are the Royal Hawaiian, Moana Surfrider, Sheraton Waikiki and Sheraton Princess Kaiulani. They have a program that suits points travelers. Dining charges at participating restaurants and bars across the other three resorts may be signed to your room, and Bonvoy members can earn points on eligible charges across all four. (checked Oct 12, 2026) Participating outlets vary, so check the property page.
Marriott's "Stay for 5, Pay for 4"
- All Marriott Bonvoy members are eligible, and the benefit is applied automatically when you search logged in on Marriott's website. (checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Because award nights are dynamically priced, the discount applies to the cheapest night rather than the fifth night.
- Cash + Points, upgrade awards and free night awards from co-branded cards are not eligible for this program.
- Another source says nights booked with cash or free night awards don't count toward the five-night requirement (checked Oct 12, 2026). So if you use a card certificate, expect to lose the fifth-night discount on those nights, and split the booking if that math works better.
Getting points into Hilton or Marriott
If you hold flexible points, here are the transfer ratios from our chart. See our full list on transfer partners.
| From | To Hilton | To Marriott |
|---|---|---|
| Chase | not a partner | 1:1 |
| Amex | 1:2 | 1:1 |
| Bilt | 1:1 | 1:1 |
| Capital One, Citi | not a partner | not a partner |
A 1:2 Amex-to-Hilton ratio sounds generous, but Hilton points are worth less per point than Marriott's. Judge the deal by the room price, not the ratio. Only transfer once you've seen award space for your dates and confirmed the price is final.
Tips and tricks
- Run the cash price first. Add the resort fee and taxes to the cash rate, then divide by the points price. Do this for Hilton and Marriott on the same dates.
- Book five nights if you can. Both programs give you one night free on a five-night all-points stay. Hilton needs Silver status or higher, while Marriott's applies to everyone.
- Keep the fifth-night rules clean. Book standard rooms, pay 100% in points, and keep it in one reservation. Mixing in cash or certificates can void the discount.
- Use Hilton for resort-fee-heavy stays. The waiver matters most at big Waikiki resorts. Check the current resort fee on the hotel page so you know what you're saving.
- Use Marriott's dining program. Spread your meals across the Waikiki Collection and earn points on eligible charges.
- Skip the rental car in Waikiki. Parking is a separate charge at many hotels, and Hilton Garden Inn lists valet only. Check each hotel's parking page.
- Re-check the price before your trip. Award prices move with demand. Ask the hotel what your cancellation or change options are at booking.
- Stay flexible on dates. Moving a stay by a day or two can change the award price a lot.
Worked example (illustrative)
Suppose you have a family of four and want five nights near the beach, with breakfast that doesn't cost extra.
- Hilton route. Check Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk for five straight nights on a standard room, logged in with Silver status or higher. Because the stay is all points on a standard room, the fifth night is free and the resort fee is waived. The complimentary breakfast also removes one daily expense.
- Marriott route. Search Sheraton Waikiki or the Waikiki Beach Marriott for the same dates. The fifth night is free automatically, but the resort fee is still due. Add it to the cash comparison.
- Compare. Work out cents per point on each, including the resort fee on the Marriott side. Pick the better value, then transfer only the points you need.
- If neither beats cash, pay cash and save your points.
FAQ
Do Hilton hotels in Waikiki charge a resort fee on points stays?
Hilton doesn't charge resort fees on all-points reward stays, according to The Points Guy's overview of Hilton Hawaii redemptions. That's one reason Hilton redemptions tend to hold up well in Waikiki. Mixed points-and-cash bookings may be treated differently, so check the booking summary before you confirm.
Does Marriott charge a resort fee when I use points in Waikiki?
Yes, at hotels that have a resort fee, you'll typically owe it on award stays. Marriott's terms say members may be responsible for mandatory resort fees on award stays, according to CNN Underscored's summary. Check the hotel's page and your booking confirmation for the exact fee and what it covers.
Do I need elite status for fifth night free?
At Hilton, yes. You need Silver or higher, and the stay must be a standard room paid entirely with points. At Marriott, no. All Bonvoy members get "Stay for 5, Pay for 4" on eligible standard award stays when logged in. Free night certificates generally don't count toward the five nights.
Which is better for a family: Hilton or Marriott?
For many families, Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk is the easiest points fit. It's all-suite with complimentary breakfast, and Hilton waives the resort fee on all-points stays. Marriott's Sheraton Waikiki and the other Waikiki Collection hotels offer beachfront locations and the dine-around program. Compare your actual dates.
Should I transfer credit card points to Hilton or Marriott?
Only after you've seen award space and the price on your dates. Our chart shows Amex to Hilton at 1:2, Bilt to Hilton at 1:1, and Chase, Amex and Bilt to Marriott at 1:1. Transfers are generally one-way, so don't move points on a hunch. See our transfer partners page.
Is the Moana Surfrider worth the points?
It can be, if you want a historic beachfront stay. Marriott's page says it opened in 1901 and has been renovated. It still carries a resort fee on award stays, so add that to your cost. Compare the points price with the cash price before you commit.
Want the whole trip planned? The PerkJolt Oahu guide puts the routes, timing and points strategy in one place. Get the Oahu guide
More questions about Oahu
- Are points hotels in Waikiki worth booking?
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- Should I Stay in Waikiki or on the North Shore of Oahu?
- Waikiki Hotel or Condo: Which Works Best for a First Trip?
- Do I Need a Rental Car on Oahu, or Is TheBus Enough?
See every question about Oahu → /answers/oahu/
Last verified: 2026-10-12. Award prices, resort fees and the fifth-night-free rules are the most likely to change. Check hilton.com and the hotel pages on marriott.com before you book.
Good to know before you go
. Confirm hours, fees, schedules and road or trail status on the official page before you book or go.
Sources
- https://www.hilton.com/en/hilton-honors/
- https://www.hilton.com/en/locations/usa/hawaii/honolulu/
- https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/hnleses-embassy-suites-waikiki-beach-walk/
- https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/hnlkugi-hilton-garden-inn-waikiki-beach/hotel-info/
- https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/hnlwi-moana-surfrider-a-westin-resort-and-spa-waikiki-beach/overview/
- https://www.marriottbonvoyhawaii.com/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel/learn/where-to-stay-in-waikiki-with-hotel-points
- https://thepointsguy.com/loyalty-programs/use-hilton-points-hawaii/
- https://thepointsguy.com/loyalty-programs/award-travelers-guide-to-marriott-bonvoy/
- https://thepointsguy.com/guide/free-nights-hotel-award-stays
- https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/hotels/fourth-or-fifth-night-free/
- https://frequentmiler.com/hilton-honors-complete-guide/
- https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/travel/free-hotel-award-nights
- https://www.resortfeechecker.com/13857-resort_fee_hilton_hawaiian_village_waikiki_beach_resort.html