Turning 26k Amex Points Into a $775 Concert Weekend Stay

This is one of those redemptions that reminds me why I love transferable points—especially when a transfer bonus pops up at just the right time.

The Transfer: Amex → Hilton (With a Bonus)

A while back, I transferred 26,000 American Express Membership Rewards points to Hilton and ended up with 62,400 Hilton Honors points.

For comparison:

• Normal transfer rate: 1 Amex Membership Reward → 2 Hilton points

• With this promo: 1 Amex Membership Reward → 2.4 Hilton points

That bonus made a huge difference and turned an already flexible currency into a powerful hotel stay.

The Redemption: 1 Night, $775 Value

We used 50,000 Hilton points for a 1-night stay at the

Hilton Vancouver Metrotown when we went to Vancouver for a concert.

• 💵 Cash price at booking: $775

• 💳 Out-of-pocket cost: $0

• ⭐ Points used: 50,000 Hilton points

The Math: Cents Per Point (This Is the Fun Part)

Here’s where this redemption really shines:

• $775 ÷ 21,000 points = 3.69 cents per American Express Membership Reward point

That’s an excellent value for the original Amex points.

Why This Worked So Well

• ✔️ Transfer bonus increased buying power

• ✔️ High cash rates due to demand (concert weekend)

• ✔️ Flexible points saved real cash we didn’t want to spend

• ✔️ Perfect for a short, high-impact trip (no need for multiple nights)

Takeaway for Families (and Couples)

Even if you’re not booking long vacations, points can be clutch for quick trips—concerts, sporting events, or weekend getaways where cash prices are inflated. This was a simple one-night stay, but it saved us $775 we could put toward future travel.

Bottom line:

21k Amex points → concert weekend → downtown Vancouver stay → 3.69 cpp and $0 out of pocket. That’s a win in my book.