The Curio Collection is one of my favorite hotel brands within Hilton’s portfolio. It comprises more than 200 independent hotels around the globe, meaning I can get a boutique-style stay while enjoying my Hilton elite status perks and earning points for future stays.
When you think of a big hotel chain like Hilton, you might have a cookie-cutter template in mind, where each hotel’s furniture and in-room amenities are the same. With Hilton’s Curio Collection, you’re getting the opposite. These are upscale properties that are designed to reflect the locales they’re in, and I’ve often found them to be fun places to visit even when I’m not staying at the hotel.
At Curio Collection, “the hotel is the hero,” says Brooke Thomas, Hilton’s brand leader for Curio Collection. That mindset allows properties to retain their unique characteristics while offering standard Hilton amenities like online check-in and digital keys.
I’ve stayed at several Curio Collection properties over the years for both personal and work trips. Here are the ones I’d book again using points, as well as some that are on my Curio Collection bucket list.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Hilton Honors points are worth 0.4 cent per point, according to NerdWallet’s latest valuations. To get the best deal, you should aim to get at least this much value out of your points.1. LondonHouse Chicago
LondonHouse Chicago has a prime location on the Chicago River, and its rooftop bar is home to one of the best views in the city (although it can get crowded). If you’re an architecture buff, spend some time admiring the building’s original facade from 1923 that now seamlessly integrates with a modern glass tower addition. I enjoyed staying right along Michigan Avenue, which meant I was in easy walking distance from high-end shopping and Chicago landmarks like the Bean.
Room rates can climb to $500 or more (with some dates upwards of $1,000) depending on when you’re staying, so this is a fantastic option to book using Hilton points. Standard rooms typically go for 75,000 points a night, but we’ve seen them for as low as 54,000 points.
» Learn more: My full LondonHouse Chicago review
2. Hotel del Coronado
The Hotel del Coronado (or Hotel Del, for short) is just outside of San Diego, California. It’s a sprawling beachfront resort with several restaurants — including its own Nobu outpost — and multiple pools. The property, which opened in 1888, is a beautiful blend of the historic and the modern. I loved wandering around the hotel and, for the paranormal enthusiasts out there, learning why many think it’s haunted.
However, beachside historic charm doesn’t come cheap, which is reflected in the room rates (which started at $524 a night during our search) and the on-property dining prices. Award prices for standard rooms ranged from 100,000 to 110,000 points a night. But, you don’t pay resort fees when booking Hilton award stays.
I wrote a full review of the Hotel del Coronado following a complimentary press stay at the property, after its extensive renovations in 2025.
3. Hale Hokuala Kaua’i
The Hale Hokuala Kaua'i property technically hasn’t opened yet, but it’s accepting reservations for stays starting Oct. 1, 2026. It’s the first Curio Collection property in Hawaii, so I’m excited to see how that comes to life in the property and its amenities, which will include an outdoor pool and a golf course. It’s also near a beach, although it won’t have the direct beachfront access you might typically expect from a Hawaiian resort.
In our search, standard rooms were typically priced in the $500 to $600 range, or 120,000 points per night. Standard award availability is wide open, so now could be an excellent time to book.
4. Royal Senses Resort and Spa Crete
Almost everything shuts down on Crete for the off-season, so you’ll only be able to stay at this Curio Collection property from spring to late autumn. Every room and suite has a view of the sea, and some even have their own private pool. You'll also have access to a nearby private beach, multiple pools and (if you want to leave the property for some reason) a quaint fisherman’s village a short drive away.
You can stay here for as little as $225 a night, but rooms during peak summer months will cost about $400 to $500. Award pricing during that period will run you 95,000 points a night.
5. The Caledonian Edinburgh
If you’re looking for a central location and historic charm, The Caledonian Edinburgh has you covered. It used to be an old railway station, and the soaring ceilings coupled with its grand Victorian opulence help evoke that heritage. The hotel has an excellent view of Edinburgh Castle and is right next to the Princes Street Gardens. I appreciated that it wasn’t directly on the city’s Royal Mile, which made it feel more calm and peaceful.
You’ll find the best deals during January through March (although you’ll have to deal with short daylight hours and freezing temperatures). Prices can drop as low as $200 or 57,000 points a night. For the other seasons, expect to pay about $300 to $800 a night, or 100,000 points.
🤓Nerdy Tip
If you have Hilton elite status (included with all Hilton credit cards), you can take advantage of the “Fifth Night Free” perk. When you stay on points for five nights, you only pay for the price of four.6. The Trafalgar St. James
Staying in London can be pricey, especially if you want to be in the central area, where The Trafalgar St. James is. The five-story hotel overlooks Trafalgar Square, and its rooftop bar offers an excellent view of the London skyline. Other nearby attractions include the National Gallery, Covent Garden and Buckingham Palace.
The cheapest room rates typically go for around $400, but they can easily clear $800 or more during busy periods. Standard room rewards are available but scarce (we only found availability for rooms within the next month or so), given the hotel's prime location. Expect to pay 105,000 Hilton points a night if you're lucky enough to snag a room.
7. Aleph Rome
Have you ever wanted to stay inside a bank’s headquarters? That’s what the Aleph Rome offers guests at its 80-room property in the heart of this Italian city. Guests are a short walk away from the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and the Villa Borghese. After you’re done exploring, check out the hotel spa, located inside the former bank’s vault.
This property offers a wide range of prices depending on how busy it is, so you might see prices from $250 to more than $900 a night. Standard award pricing also varies, but we found rates ranging from 94,000 to 120,000 points a night. Make sure to do the math to see whether it’s better to pay in points or cash.
8. Reykjavik Konsulat Hotel
Iceland isn’t known for its affordability, and that includes its hotel rooms. The Reykjavik Konsulat Hotel, a former department store, in the capital city’s downtown is no exception. It’s in close proximity to some of my favorite Reykjavik attractions, including Rainbow Street, the harbor and Baejarins Beztu Pylsur, the city’s popular hot dog stand.
Cash rates start at around $300 a night but it can reach the $1,000 mark depending on the time of year. A standard room will typically cost you 90,000 points per night, so make sure you do the math. Spending 90,000 points when the nightly rate is $870 makes a lot more sense than when the cash cost is $297.
9. Royal Palm Hotel Galapagos
Going to the Galapagos Islands is on my bucket list, and staying at the Royal Palm Hotel would be an incredible way to experience the destination. The hotel is located in the forested Santa Cruz highlands, and you'll find lava tunnels, an infinity pool and giant tortoises wandering about the property. I’m most interested in trying the Lava Lounge, a fine dining restaurant inside one of the tunnels.
The cheapest room rates go for $269 a night, but cash rates can go as high as $800 a night (although you probably won’t find standard availability on points during those dates). Standard room awards generally cost 79,000 to 80,000 points a night.
Other great Curio Collection properties
While the Curio Collection offers premium stays, it’s not quite as luxurious as a Waldorf Astoria. That means pricing can be pretty reasonable at some properties.
For example, Turkey’s Elika Cave Suites Cappadocia — Hilton's first-ever cave hotel, which just opened in 2026 — is an absolutely stunning property that I'd love to visit, but cash rates are fairly affordable (under $200 a night) so I'd probably choose to save my points for a different Hilton stay.
I used that same method when I stayed at the Al Seef Heritage Hotel Dubai, situated in an open-air market along Dubai Creek. The cash rate was affordable, and my Hilton elite status from my credit card got me into the delicious breakfast buffet for free.
Some Curio Collection properties in the U.S. that are highly rated include The Candler Hotel Atlanta, HALL Arts Dallas, the Art Hotel Denver and Mills House Charleston. However, it probably makes more sense to pay cash than points at these hotels.
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