Hilton Honors Experiences: My VIP Components 1 expertise on the British Grand Prix
I’ve all the time used factors and miles as a device to get pleasure from journey experiences that I might sometimes by no means in any other case afford to buy. Over time, this has typically meant maximizing my rewards to e-book first-class flights and fancy resort rooms. However apart from staying in Waldorf Astoria lodges and reserving first-class flights on Japan Airways’ latest A350-1000 plane, your factors may also be used to e-book particular occasions and unique experiences.
Particularly, you need to use Hilton Honors Experiences to redeem your factors for actions, VIP occasions, live shows and a lot extra — plus, these experiences aren’t solely hotel-related. Whereas some experiences may be “bought” outright utilizing Hilton Honors factors, others are auctioned off. For those that require you to bid, there’s an expiration time, at which level the one that bid the best variety of factors will win the expertise.
In July, Hilton Honors Experiences auctioned off a VIP alternative to attend the British Grand Prix. I used to be extremely privileged to be invited by Hilton to get inside entry to the McLaren F1 Workforce VIP Expertise in Silverstone to see what successful one in all these auctions is absolutely like.
Associated: Hilton Honors: Every part to know in regards to the loyalty program
You may e-book Hilton Honors Experiences utilizing factors
As a Hilton Honors member, you might have entry to an array of bookable VIP experiences on the web site. In July, Hilton auctioned off a VIP weekend expertise to attend the British Grand Prix 2024. This expertise for 2 included VIP entry to the race, entry to the VIP McLaren F1 Expertise, entry to the Pit Lane Stroll, varied McLaren F1 Workforce-hosted actions, entry to Hilton’s “Keep on the Grid” rooftop expertise and a two-night keep on the Hilton Backyard Inn Silverstone, which included breakfast.
The bid for this particular occasion began at 150,000 Hilton Honors factors and finally bought for 1,075,000 factors. In keeping with TPG’s September 2024 valuations, Hilton Honors factors are price 0.6 cents per level, which means we worth 1,075,000 factors at $6,450.
So, was this luxurious expertise price it?
Associated: How 20,000 Hilton factors acquired me a 60-minute {couples} therapeutic massage and a 4-course dinner for two
Hilton Honors Experiences: My expertise on the British Grand Prix
Hilton has been the worldwide resort associate of the McLaren Components 1 group for nearly 20 years. Whereas Hilton offers lodges for McLaren Racing around the globe, this notable partnership is way more thrilling for followers.
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Once I attended the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, I acquired a primary take a look at a VIP McLaren and Hilton expertise. I stayed on the Hilton Backyard Inn Silverstone, which sits proper on the racetrack and is on the coronary heart of the actions. Rooms are precisely what you’d anticipate from this model within the Hilton portfolio: clear, very snug and purposeful. You may anticipate a barely higher-end, enterprise travel-style resort.
My fourth-floor room included a balcony with fabulous views of the racetrack, the pits and the beginning grid.
The expertise additionally included entry to the field, which had comparable race views as my balcony; plus, the VIP field additionally supplied meals, snacks and premium drinks all through the day.
Associated: Nice methods to make use of 100,000 Hilton Honors factors and a free night time reward
On the night time earlier than the race, Hilton threw an enormous “Keep on the Grid” rooftop bash on the resort, which included complimentary meals and drinks. There have been additionally musical performances from U.Ok. artist Jess Glynne and a DJ set from Wilkinson.
Different notable occasions all through the night time included interviews with the group’s drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and McLaren CEO Zak Brown. It was notably electrical as the 2 drivers had simply pushed very properly within the qualifying classes, securing the third and fifth positions on the beginning grid.
However most significantly, a lot to my delight, the night time additionally included an interview with longtime F1 and Hilton associate Paris Hilton, who mingled and hung round on the rooftop occasion.
Since breakfast was included on this VIP bundle, on race day, I loved a scrumptious morning meal on the roof of the resort. Once I commented to the waiter that the omelet was probably the perfect I had ever eaten, I used to be advised the chef getting ready it within the kitchen had acquired two Michelin stars.
Since I had VIP entry to the race, due to Hilton Honors Experiences, I acquired to look at all the race-day pleasure unfold in a collection, which included drinks and meals. I had an ideal view of the prerace leisure taking place on the Crimson Bull stage, together with a flight show by the Crimson Arrows, the British Royal Air Drive Aerobatic Workforce, and a rendition of “God Save the King” by Hannah Waddingham of “Ted Lasso” fame.
Being within the VIP suite, I had the proper spot to not solely watch the race but in addition see celebrities crawl across the beginning grid because the vehicles lined up.
Associated: The perfect bank cards for live performance tickets and VIP entry
It was an extremely memorable race, and Lewis Hamilton’s thrilling victory on house turf triggered the British crowd to go notably wild.
There’s nothing fairly like experiencing a Grand Prix as a VIP visitor. For a lot of, having fun with this expertise with this form of exclusivity and perks would value a number of thousand {dollars}. Due to this fact, having the ability to entry distinctive experiences resembling this one with factors offers me another excuse to proceed incomes Hilton Honors factors.
Finest bank cards to earn Hilton Honors factors
If you wish to construct your stash of Hilton Honors factors, listed below are just a few of our favourite playing cards which might be providing profitable welcome bonuses.
The knowledge for the Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Backside line
This luxurious VIP expertise was undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime alternative. So, if in case you have a stash of Hilton factors, utilizing your rewards to e-book a dream expertise might be worthwhile.
Plus, maintain a detailed eye out for Hilton and McLaren’s “Be a part of the Workforce” experiences, which can take issues to the subsequent degree, placing company in a group package and giving them entry to the storage for a race weekend.
Associated studying:
For charges and charges of the Hilton Amex Card, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Hilton Surpass Card, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Hilton Aspire Card, click on right here.
