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One of Hilton's most lauded and customer-friendly policies has been its free breakfast benefit for all members with Hilton Gold or Diamond elite status.
The Hilton breakfast offering has changed over the past couple of years, for better or worse. Many US properties no longer receive "free" breakfast. Instead, they issue daily "food and beverage credit," which may or may not cover your entire breakfast bill.
This is still an extremely valuable benefit for two reasons:
There are plenty of hotel credit cards that offer hotel elite status as a benefit to cardholders. But only Hilton partners with credit cards that automatically provide a level of status high enough to include free breakfast at all hotels.
Hilton is currently offering food and beverage credits between $10 and $25 per person (maximum two per room) depending on the hotel brand. When traveling overseas, you can still benefit from the "free breakfast" policy without having to mess with credits. That can save you a small fortune if you're heading to an expensive location like Bora Bora or Seychelles.
These Hilton credit cards are currently offering excellent welcome bonuses:
If you have a Hilton credit card that charges an annual fee, you've already got the Hilton elite status you need for free breakfast. But did you know that there are a couple of non-Hilton Amex cards that also grant you status lofty enough to qualify for free breakfast?
Below are all the cards that net you either free breakfast or food and beverage credits with Hilton:
| Card with Hilton status | Elite status | Annual fee | Welcome bonus offer | Review |
| Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card | Gold | $150 | 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership (offer ends 7/31/2024) | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass card review |
| Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | Diamond | $550 | 175,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the card within your first six months of card membership (offer ends 7/31/2024) | Hilton Honors Aspire card review |
| American Express The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card | Gold | $195 | 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the card within the first six months of card membership | Amex Hilton Honors Business card review |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | Gold** | $695 | 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership | American Express Platinum Card review |
| The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | Gold** | $695 | 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the card within the first three months of card membership | Amex Business Platinum Card review |
Many Hilton hotel brands offer free breakfast to all guests. Even if you have no elite status, you won't have to pay for breakfast when staying with Embassy Suites, Hampton, Tru, Homewood Suites, Home2 Suites, and any all-inclusive locations.
For all other brands, Hilton issues a daily food and beverage credit to Gold and Diamond elite status members when staying in the US. These credits are worth between $10 and $25 per day, depending on the hotel brand with which you're staying. You'll receive twice that value for double occupancy, and the credits don't roll over from one night to the next — so use them or lose them.
You'll receive $10 per day ($20 if double occupancy) when staying with:
You'll receive $15 per day ($30 if double occupancy) when staying with:
In the following markets, you'll receive $18 per day at the above seven hotel brands ($36 if double occupancy):
You'll receive $25 per day ($50 if double occupancy) when staying with:
Hilton
To be clear, food and beverage credits are only doled out at Hilton hotels located within the US as a replacement for the MyWay complimentary continental breakfast. If you travel internationally as a Gold or Diamond elite status member, you'll still get a blanket "free breakfast" at Hilton hotels.
Depending on where you stay, you may prefer Hilton's food and beverage credits over free breakfast. After all, free breakfast doesn't always mean you can have anything on the menu. Many hotels offer a continental breakfast or buffet with the option to upgrade to menu items.
Also, Hilton's food and beverage credits can be used for any food at the hotel, including the proper menu. You don't even have to use them for breakfast. You can use it for:
These credits are certainly more flexible than a simple "free breakfast" policy. But depending on where you stay, you may find yourself paying more than before. Hotels like Waldorf Astoria often charge $40+ per person for their lavish breakfast buffet. A $25 credit won't offset the full price of your breakfast.
Another thing to keep in mind is that Hilton issues a maximum of two food and beverage credits per room per day. Free breakfast (though perhaps not necessarily intended to work this way) has historically been given to all occupants of a room at many properties — even if there are more than two guests. For example, a family of four staying in one room may receive free breakfast for everyone. Now, you're handcuffed by two food and beverage credits even if there are more than two people in your room.
In other words, these credits may be enough for families to reevaluate their hotel brand strategy.
Typically, Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond members are eligible for complimentary breakfast at participating properties.
Most full-service Hilton brands offer free breakfast for eligible members, but offerings can vary by brand and location.
The complimentary breakfast benefit usually covers the member and up to one additional guest staying in the same room.
Breakfast offerings range from continental to full American breakfast, depending on the hotel brand and location.
Yes, the free breakfast benefit is available at many international Hilton properties, but offerings and eligibility may vary.
