Amex points earned at Waldorf Astoria Cabo depend on your card and whether you book through Amex Travel
The number of Amex points you earn at Waldorf Astoria Cabo varies based on which American Express card you hold and how you make the reservation. If you book the hotel directly through the property or through a third-party site, you earn the base earning rate on your card — typically 1 point per dollar spent. If you book through Amex Travel (the airline and hotel booking portal available to Amex cardholders), you may earn additional points beyond your card's base rate, though the exact bonus varies by promotion and card type.
Waldorf Astoria Cabo is part of the Hilton family of hotels, which matters because some Amex cards offer bonus points at Hilton properties. The Hilton Honors American Express card, for example, earns 10 points per dollar at participating Hilton hotels when you use that specific card. Other Amex cards do not have this Hilton bonus, so they earn only their standard rate.
You also earn Hilton Honors points directly through your Hilton Honors membership account when you stay at the property, separate from Amex points. These two point currencies are different — Amex points and Hilton Honors points do not combine or convert into each other.
Key Takeaways
- The Hilton Honors American Express card earns 10 points per dollar at Waldorf Astoria Cabo, while most other Amex cards earn 1 point per dollar.
- Booking through Amex Travel may add bonus points on top of your card's base earning rate, though the bonus amount changes based on current promotions.
- You earn Hilton Honors points directly from the hotel stay through your Hilton account, which is a separate currency from Amex points.
- Waldorf Astoria Cabo charges resort fees that typically do not earn points, so your point earnings explore only to the room rate itself.
How earning rates work across different Amex cards
Most American Express cards earn 1 point per dollar on all purchases, including hotel stays at Waldorf Astoria Cabo. This means a $200 night would earn 200 Amex points. Some cards earn higher rates in specific categories — for example, certain Amex business cards earn 3 points per dollar on travel purchases — but the Waldorf Astoria Cabo stay would need to be booked in a way that qualifies for that category bonus.
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is the exception for this property. It earns 10 points per dollar at all Hilton properties worldwide, including Waldorf Astoria Cabo. A $200 night would earn 2,000 Hilton Honors Amex points with this card. The Hilton Honors Surpass American Express Card earns the same 10 points per dollar at Hilton properties.
If you hold multiple Amex cards, you choose which one to use for the booking, and that card's earning rate applies. You cannot combine points from multiple cards on a single transaction.
Booking through Amex Travel versus booking directly
When you book Waldorf Astoria Cabo through Amex Travel, you earn your card's standard points plus any current Amex Travel promotion bonus. These bonuses are not permanent — they change throughout the year based on what Amex is promoting. You would need to check Amex Travel directly to see what bonus, if any, is running at the time you plan to book.
When you book directly with the Waldorf Astoria Cabo website or by calling the hotel, you earn only your card's base rate. You do not earn any Amex Travel bonus. However, you may have more flexibility on room selection, cancellation terms, or special requests when booking directly.
Some travelers book through third-party hotel sites like Booking.com or Expedia. These bookings earn your card's base Amex points, but they do not trigger Amex Travel bonuses. They may also not earn Hilton Honors points through your Hilton account, depending on how the booking is processed — this varies by site and should be confirmed before you complete the reservation.
Hilton Honors points earned separately from Amex points
Your Hilton Honors membership account earns points directly from your stay at Waldorf Astoria Cabo, independent of which Amex card you use. The earning rate depends on your Hilton Honors elite status level. Members at the base level earn 10 Hilton Honors points per dollar spent on the room rate. Elite members earn higher rates — for example, Diamond Elite members earn 80 base points plus 10 points per dollar.
These Hilton Honors points are separate from Amex points. If you earn 2,000 Amex points and 2,000 Hilton Honors points on the same stay, you have two separate point balances in two separate accounts. Amex points are redeemed through your Amex account for travel, merchandise, or statement credits. Hilton Honors points are redeemed through your Hilton account for free nights, room upgrades, or other Hilton benefits.
To earn Hilton Honors points on your stay, you must provide your Hilton Honors membership number when you check in or include it in your reservation. If you do not provide it, the hotel will not credit the points to your account.
What does not earn points at Waldorf Astoria Cabo
Resort fees at Waldorf Astoria Cabo typically do not earn Amex points or Hilton Honors points. These fees cover amenities like beach access, fitness center use, or Wi-Fi and are charged separately from the room rate. If your resort fee is $50 per night, that $50 does not generate points — only the room rate itself does.
Incidental charges like spa services, dining, or activities may earn points depending on how they are processed. Some charges post to your room bill and are paid through your Amex card at checkout, which would earn points. Others are charged separately or require a different payment method. Ask the hotel at check-in if you want to know which charges will post to your room bill.
Taxes are included in the room rate for point-earning purposes, so a $200 room rate plus $40 in taxes earns points on the full $240.
How to maximize points on a Waldorf Astoria Cabo stay
If you stay at Waldorf Astoria Cabo multiple times or plan a longer stay, holding the Hilton Honors American Express Card makes the biggest difference in Amex point earnings — 10 points per dollar instead of 1. A five-night stay at $200 per night would earn 10,000 Amex points with this card versus 1,000 with a standard Amex card.
Check Amex Travel before booking to see if there is a current bonus promotion. Even a small bonus — say, 5 extra points per dollar — adds up on a multi-night stay. Amex Travel promotions are listed in the travel section of your Amex account.
Make sure your Hilton Honors membership number is attached to your reservation so you earn Hilton Honors points on the stay itself. These points can be used for future free nights or upgrades at any Hilton property, which has value separate from your Amex points.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I earn Amex points if I book with a discount code or through a travel agent?
Yes, you earn Amex points on the final amount you pay, whether you used a discount code or booked through a travel agent. The earning rate is based on your card, not on how you found the rate. However, if you book through a travel agent rather than Amex Travel, you will not earn any Amex Travel bonus that might be running.
Can I transfer my Amex points to Hilton Honors?
Some Amex cards allow you to transfer points to Hilton Honors at a set ratio, typically 1 Amex point to 1 Hilton Honors point. Not all Amex cards offer this transfer option — check your card's benefits guide or log into your Amex account to see if transfers are available. Hilton Honors points cannot be transferred back to Amex.
What if I cancel my stay — do I keep the Amex points?
Amex points are credited to your account when the charge posts to your card, which usually happens after checkout. If you cancel before your stay, the charge does not post, so no points are earned. If you cancel after your stay has already posted, the points remain in your account even if the hotel refunds your money.
Does the Waldorf Astoria Cabo earn more points than other Hilton properties?
No, the earning rate is the same across all Hilton properties. The Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 10 points per dollar at any Hilton hotel, whether it is a budget property or a luxury resort like Waldorf Astoria Cabo. The value of those points may differ based on the property's nightly rate, but the earning rate itself does not change.