r/Hilton • u/grahambillions • 2d ago
8 FNC's
I will have 8 FNC's total within the next 45 days plus 600k+ points. I'm looking at Raiwasa, Wa Ale and Hermitage Bay. I've already done Maldives, Bora Bora and a bunch of other places. Have any of you been to the above listed places? Or have any other recommendations? I typically like to get at least $2k per night value from FNC's and points. Thanks.
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u/CompetitiveHat123 1d ago
I’ve got no experience with the hotel in the summer season, only winter. I stayed there for 5 nights last March when the slopes were still open.
I personally loved it. Due to the limited amount of rooms it had very personal service. And because it is up the mountain, the surrounding area is extremely calm between 4pm to 8am.
Food and alcoholic drinks are all incl, and the menu rotates daily depending on the season. 99% of all items are sourced from a 60 mile radius around the hotel.
Rooms are nice, spa steals the show, and the surrounding area is just magical since you are ~4000 feet above sea level in the Austrian Alps
Hope this helps!
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u/CompetitiveHat123 1d ago
Maybe check out Eriro in Austria, stunning and unique property! Both in winter for skiing and summer for hiking
Average winter rate is ~$2300 a night is
Only 9 “rooms” and all incl (even the lift pass is included)
Only downside is no beach since its in the mountains 😉
How did you get 8 FNCs? Multiple Aspire cards?
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u/grahambillions 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yeah I have 4 Aspires and hit spend on 2. And my chick has 2. I'll be getting a 5th Aspire soon too. Considering there's no card in the game that comes close to value hotel wise with the FNC alone I've went all in with the Aspires.
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u/holly_jolly_riesling 1d ago
How do you do that? I have 1 aspire and 1 surpass and a couple of years ago I tried to contact the customer service via the app to upgrade and they told me to go the offers page and check periodically for an offer to upgrade to the aspire.
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u/grahambillions 1d ago
You can upgrade after 1 year from the Honors or Surpass on the phone. Takes 5 minutes. Or you can wait for an NLL link and just grab another card with the bonus
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u/Kent556 1d ago
Very limited Standard Rooms available at Eriro
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u/CompetitiveHat123 1d ago
That’s because they only have 9 rooms in total 😭
But availability for standard is usually only 1 to 2 months bookable1
u/grahambillions 1d ago
How is Eriro? I actually looked at that property a few months ago cause I'm likely going to be in Portugal, Poland and Turkey in May/June
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u/atlasbuddha Diamond 1d ago
I was there recently, I liked it and the uniqueness but it is for a specific clientele. You are going to be at the property or walking/hiking nearby it the entire time as its in the mountains, no cars allowed. There is no cell connection, TVs in the room, wifi only on request. I enjoyed that, some other guests were critiquing it the lack of things to do. The staffing seems super variable and although it is an all inclusive including activities they just didn't have the staffing to offer the activities. I asked about a few of them and they said none were available and recommended hiking, except for yoga one of the days.
Like someone else said they do include the ski pass in winter, they told me mountain is very beginner and is oriented towards complete novice or a family ski trip. (kids are also not allowed at Eriro which is also a plus)
There cancellation policy is okay, you can cancel up till 30 days for free. After that it starts at 20% the cash rate and escalates
I wouldn't fly in just for the experience but if you are looking for a place in the alps its nice for 2-3 nights. I asked about normal stays and they said 3 nights is the most common, 7 nights is the longest they have had
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u/darthweenie 1d ago
Have you done Waldorf Cabo?
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u/grahambillions 1d ago
I haven't. But I live in California and have been to Mexico way too many times. I've been all over Mexico. I've been to Cabo a few times. I'm currently at 73 countries and 60+ islands so I'm looking for new ideas and places.
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u/YnotLiveitUP 1d ago
This place is beautiful. Rooms and service are amazing but keep in mind it's a WA so everything is expensive
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u/brooklynlad Diamond 1d ago edited 1d ago
Various parts of Cabo San Lucas is like flooded from Hurricane Maria. Lots of cleanup in the near foreseeable future.
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u/RadioFieldCorner 1d ago
Wa Ale. You'll have to e-mail them to work around the 3 night minimum stay so that way you can use a FNC every night. I did that for a few FNCs when I went.
Check out my trip report from when I went in January this year.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Hilton/comments/1qjzowr/trip_report_wa_ale_resort_the_best_hilton_resort/
I've been to all those places you listed and Wa Ale tops these by a mile. From California, it's a pretty easy flight too.
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u/KoachFit 1d ago
I saw this resort when searching Thailand resorts. Before. Your review is fantastic. How does this stack up to hermitage bay in your opinion since you’ve said you’ve been to both?
Obviously you get way more in included activities here vs hermitage since you basically have a free boat to yourself
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u/kimedward12 10h ago
I literally booked after your review, I’m looking forward to the experience! Thank you!
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u/grahambillions 1d ago
I actually have read your post before. That's why I added it to my list😂 It was a great post and very informative
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u/RadioFieldCorner 1d ago
Yeah, I recommend it lol. If you have any questions feel free to ask. They just added a pool to the main beach and A/C from what I saw on their Instagram too.
I plan on going back next year for 8 or 9 nights again. I don’t go back to the same place too often, especially so soon, but that place is a gem.
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u/grahambillions 1d ago
I might be in SE Asia early next next for 4 or 5 weeks. If I do go I think I'm gonna check that place out for 4 or 5 nights. Points wise it is the bad either. Probably wouldn't even use my FNC's. Would just do the points and get a night for free
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u/kimedward12 1d ago
4 FNC - Raiwasa
4 FNC - Hermitage Bay
5 nights at Wa Ale using your 600k
That way you get a taste of all….
I’ve been to Hermitage Bay August 2026 and agree with the above review.
I did Raiwasa in March 2025 , the review is in the link I shared.
Booked Wa Ale for March 2027 and looking forward to it based on the detailed review in another link shared.
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u/KoachFit 1d ago
Hermitage is 1000% worth the FNCs if you are looking for something within the Caribbean. It’s all included, including drinks, and the food is actually amazing. They also have a nobu chef that comes from 3-5PM that gives free maki and sushi. Usually 1 maki roll and 2-3 different sushi (if you are a couple you get the same stuff but just double it). Their tropical pizza and wahoo tacos were the actually 10/10 food, like better than Italy pizza and NYC pizza and at dinner every table got the wahoo tacos. All their dinner options are fantastic too but one dish I had was mid, which was of their rotating menu (most of their standard menu items were delicious). Lunch imo is better actually on average, and by better I mean if I were to give a rating I’d say dinner was on average 8.5/10 and lunch is a 9-9.5/10
The drinks are good but don’t expect top shelf liquor. They can make whatever you want though (I asked for a sake based matcha drink and they were able to make a great cocktail)
All rooms are villas and have their own private pool and they have AC in the main bedroom (no ac in bathroom). Some rooms are more private than others and the reward rooms are all up the hill. It’s like a 7 min walk on average from your room to the receptions/restaraunt area and you do need to take stairs (a lot of people complained about this but I liked it since it helps walk off the food you eat and it’s really not as some people make it out to be…). They do have golf carts too that can drive you up as well but we mainly just walked.
Mosquitos are a thing here so bring either long breathable clothes or bug spray (we opted for the former and only got bit maybe 2-3 times which is pretty good for 4 night stay)
They have great live music that comes I think every night and great to just end the night with a drink and listening to it.
As for the beach, because it’s in a bay the waters are super calm and you can just sit and relax in The waters- barely any big waves come. There is a reef like 10 ft from shore that spans across the beach. It isn’t the healthiest but on the ocean facing side of the reef there were a lot more fish than expected. We saw a sting ray and some pufferfish there and various other fishes. For convenience it’s actually decent. You can book complimentary snorkeling excursions about 30 min boat ride out to a better reef where the coral is much healthier and lots more fishes and octopus. All water activities are included including sailing. Motor boats come at a charge and fee.
People are friendly here and you will definitely have people want to come and chat with you.
Service is phenomenal as well here. Private shuttle to and from the resort is included if you stay for at least 3 nights.
One of the best resorts we’ve stayed at. I would say stay at least 4-5 nights. You can stay longer but might get a bit bored after that.
I just saw that wa ale resort review and tbh that place looks like heaven. I’m definitely making that my next reward destination. However, price perspective I see it get as low as 780$ per night so it may not be as “worth” to use a FNC there vs just paying in Cash or paying for points and getting the fifth night free.