This sounds snobby, however I’ve turn into a little bit of a Waldorf Astoria connoisseur of late. I’ve managed to hit six of them previously few years — not as a result of I’m a part of the 1%, in fact, however as a result of I maintain the Hilton Honors American Specific Aspire Card.
The Hilton Aspire is one among my favourite journey bank cards as a result of it comes with a slew of invaluable perks, providing complimentary top-tier resort elite standing and saving me a number of hundred {dollars} a 12 months with annual assertion credit. Plus, as a cardholder, I obtain an annual free evening award certificates, which can be utilized at most Hilton properties worldwide.
That being stated, throughout a current keep on the Waldorf Astoria Versailles – Trianon Palace, this card saved me massive. Right here’s how I maximized the Hilton Aspire to recover from $930 in worth for a one-night keep.
Hilton room improve: I saved $250
The Hilton Aspire routinely comes with complimentary Diamond elite standing — Hilton’s top-tier standing (till 2026). One advantage of being a Diamond member is the space-available room improve (as much as a one-bedroom suite).
Though I didn’t obtain a set improve throughout my keep at Versailles, I did obtain a noteworthy improve at check-in.
The Waldorf Astoria Versailles is exclusive in that it contains two buildings: a four-star resort, Pavillon du Trianon, and a five-star resort, the Trianon Palace. I reserved a room at Pavillon du Trianon for round $400. Hilton upgraded me to the Trianon Palace, which included a bigger room that bought for round $650 per evening.
In fact, there’s no strategy to inform for positive if I’d have been upgraded with out Diamond standing — however I doubt it. I’m confidently attributing the room improve to my Aspire card.
Hilton resort credit score: I saved virtually $200
The Hilton Aspire comes with as much as a $400 annual Hilton resort assertion credit score, doled out in as much as $200 biannual increments. Lots of of Hilton properties worldwide are eligible for this credit score — and the Waldorf Astoria Versailles is one among them.
This credit score can be utilized for something on the resort, together with room charges, meals and spa companies, and there’s no minimal spending requirement. If you end up at a Hilton resort sooner or later through the 12 months, it’s successfully free cash.
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Through the use of my Aspire card for my aforementioned $400 room fee, I paid simply $200 for the room.
Amex’s focused Hilton provide: I saved $200
Amex Affords are focused digital coupons that you simply use to save cash on journey, eating, procuring and extra. You possibly can enroll your card in these focused presents out of your on-line account with a easy click on, and when the provide phrases have been met, you’ll routinely be rewarded (usually with bonus factors or assertion credit).
A current Amex Provide on my account allowed me to earn a $200 assertion credit score after spending $1,000 at luxurious Hilton manufacturers (like Waldorf Astoria). Due to the Aspire’s biannual as much as $200 resort credit score, I’d must spend simply $800 out-of-pocket to set off the $200 Amex Provide.
When mixed with the $200 already knocked off my invoice by the resort credit score, the Amex Provide may primarily get me $1,000 in worth for simply $600 of my very own cash. The room fee already value me $400, so I made a decision to go for it.
I booked a therapeutic massage, and my household ordered costly meals on the restaurant that we in any other case by no means would have paid to strive.
Free breakfast as a Hilton Diamond member: I saved $90
Hilton Diamond elite standing comes with meals and beverage privileges at Hilton properties (varies by model and area). For home accommodations, this implies a forgettable $10-$25 credit score, however at worldwide accommodations, you’ll obtain a complimentary continental breakfast. Fancier properties like Waldorf Astoria typically offer you a full breakfast and/or allow you to order from the a la carte menu.
Breakfast on the Waldorf Astoria Versailles prices 39 euros per particular person (about $45 on the time of writing). For my husband and me, this amounted to about $90 in worth.
Bonus Hilton Honors factors: I saved $190
For the $1,100 I spent on the Waldorf Astoria Versailles, I earned over 38,000 factors with the Aspire card. Right here’s how:
- Stays at most Hilton accommodations earn 10 factors per greenback spent
- Holding Diamond elite standing earns me a 100% bonus on base factors (subsequently, one other 10 factors per greenback spent)
- The Aspire card earns 14 factors per greenback spent on Hilton purchases
That’s a whopping 34 factors per greenback spent for paid Hilton stays. Per our December 2025 valuations, TPG pegs Hilton factors at 0.5 cents every, that means 38,000 factors are price $190.
And if you understand how to maximise Hilton Honors redemptions, you can doubtlessly get much more worth out of your factors.
Different invaluable perks of the Hilton Aspire
It’s price noting that the Aspire additionally comes with many different invaluable journey perks that may assist offset the $550 annual price (see charges and costs). It’s one of the vital well-rounded resort bank cards due to:
- Annual Free Night time Rewards: Obtain a free evening certificates upon account opening and after every cardmember anniversary. You possibly can redeem this free evening for the standard room at practically any Hilton resort on the planet (even those who cost 250,000 factors per evening).
- As much as $200 in annual flight assertion credit: Rise up to $50 in credit every quarter towards flights booked immediately with the airline or by way of AmexTravel.com.
- As much as a $209 annual assertion credit score towards a Clear Plus membership: Clear is a program that lets you skip the TSA line in lots of airports, and even some stadiums (enrollment required; topic to auto-renewal).
Learn our Hilton Aspire evaluate to see what different advantages the cardboard has to supply.
Backside line
Throughout my brief keep on the Waldorf Astoria Versailles, I spent $700 out of pocket, however I acquired over $900 in worth from holding the Aspire card, saving:
- $250 on my upgraded room improve
- (as much as) $200 Hilton resort credit score
- $200 Amex Provide
- about $90 for a complimentary breakfast for 2
- Incomes $190 price of Hilton factors
In different phrases, my keep was greater than half off. I nonetheless splurged significantly ($700 is some huge cash — particularly for one evening), however maximizing all of the perks of the Hilton Aspire gave my household a quick “dwell just like the 1%” expertise that solely journey rewards bank cards can ship.
For charges and costs of the Hilton Honors American Specific Aspire Card, click on right here.
