When most people think of Orlando, they automatically think of theme parks. But after spending a weekend at Conrad Orlando at Evermore, I can tell you there is a lot more to this city than roller coasters and character meets, and a luxury getaway here is a lot more attainable than you might expect. The key to making that happen? The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
Between the card’s welcome offer, automatic Hilton Honors™ Gold status and built-in credits, I was able to experience one of Orlando’s most elevated resorts for a fraction of the out-of-pocket cost.
Here’s how the card can help you do a trip like this, too.
How the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card sets luxury trips up for success
Right now, through July 29, the Surpass card is offering one of its most generous welcome bonuses: enjoy a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150*, and earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $3,000 in purchases on the card within the first six months of card membership (terms apply, see rates and fees).
Based on TPG’s July 2026 valuations, 130,000 points can cover or contribute to multiple reward nights at a property like Conrad Orlando. But the welcome bonus is really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the benefits that make a trip like this work:
- Automatic Gold status: Includes space-available room upgrades at select properties, complimentary continental breakfast at select brands outside of the U.S. or daily food and beverage credits at select brands in the U.S., an 80% bonus on points earned during stays and the fifth night free on standard room stays booked with points.
- $200 Hilton credit: Earn up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made on the Surpass card directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio, including spa services, dining and resort charges.
- Free night reward: Earn a free night reward after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on the card in a calendar year, redeemable at over 9,000+ Hilton properties worldwide, any night of the week with no blackout dates.
- Earning rates: 12 points per dollar on purchases made directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio, 6 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, 4 points per dollar on U.S. online retail purchases and 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
What does Conrad Orlando at Evermore offer guests?
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LAUREN WASSUM/THE POINTS GUY
One of the Hilton portfolio’s luxury properties, Conrad Orlando, is set on the shores of Evermore Bay in Lake Buena Vista, and it’s only 15 minutes from the Walt Disney World Resort.
It’s a stark contrast to what you’d expect of a resort so close to the attractions, as the Conrad is designed to be a serene retreat amid the energy of long park days. And with automatic Gold status through the Surpass card, you’re arriving with benefits that make it even easier.
Speaking of, automatic Gold status means space-available room upgrades at select properties, so there’s a real chance your stay starts just like mine, even better than expected.
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As for the accommodations themselves, I had a wellness room with in-room amenities focused on rest and recovery. By far my favorite perk of this room type, though, had to be exclusive access to the spa’s outdoor water garden — complete with the vitality pool, a cold plunge and a hot plunge soaking tub — throughout my entire stay.
How to make the most of your resort fee
For anyone looking to take advantage of the Florida sunshine, the resort fee includes access to Evermore Bay, the resort’s 8-acre crystal-clear lagoon, complete with white-sand beaches, designated swimming zones, hammocks and rope swings.
It also covers complimentary private transportation to the Disney parks, which, as a Disney girl, I absolutely had to take advantage of. And since the resort fee is charged directly as a Hilton property expense, putting it on your Surpass card means it earns 12 points per dollar, making it one of the more quietly valuable charges on your card.
And if you’re booking on points, the fifth night free benefit on reward stays adds real value — a five-night reward stay becomes more affordable simply because you carry the card.
How to use your $200 Hilton credit — starting with the spa
Now, I love a good spa, and I always try to budget for one in my hotel stays whenever possible. So when I found out the Surpass Card’s $200 Hilton credit — distributed as up to $50 in statement credits per quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio — could be put toward spa services, it felt like the most natural way to use the credit.
I started with the aromatic floral bathing treatment ($150) in the spa water garden, which, surrounded by Florida greenery, felt like a tropical escape. The treatment featured a custom-tailored blend of botanical aromatics and bath salts to enhance feelings of calm while I read in an open-air soaking tub.
Afterward, I also tried the hibiscus peptide power facial ($235), which was equally worth it and left my skin feeling firm and refreshed.
Using the quarterly credit here made sense for me, but even if you are not a spa person, the credit is flexible enough to put toward eligible resort dining, poolside drinks or even activity bookings. Plus, the quarterly structure means there’s no pressure to use it in just one-way.
Dining on vacation helps you earn toward your next trip
Every meal you charge to your Surpass card during a trip like this also quietly builds toward that future reward stay.
On-property dining at the Conrad earns 12 points per dollar as an eligible Hilton purchase, whether you book a fancy dinner at Ceiba, the resort’s rooftop Mexican restaurant with views of Epcot, or enjoy a leisurely breakfast buffet at Sofia’s Trattoria overlooking Evermore Bay.
But even when you hop on the complimentary shuttle and grab dinner at a Disney property restaurant, the Surpass card will still earn 6 points per dollar.
TPG tip: Don’t just put resort and dining charges on your Surpass card. The card also earns 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Bottom Line
A luxury weekend in Florida doesn’t have to be out of reach, especially when you have the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card in your wallet. It turned what could have been an expensive getaway into an attainable one, thanks to the welcome bonus points, the automatic Gold status at the Conrad, the quarterly credit and the points I earned on every eligible charge throughout the stay.
If a trip like this sounds like a dream (and I can confirm it is), now is a good time to look at the full Hilton Honors card lineup. All three personal cards are offering elevated welcome bonuses through July 29, 2026:
- Hilton Honors American Express Card: Earn a $100 statement credit and 100,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $2,000 in purchases on the card within the first six months of card membership. Terms apply.
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card: Enjoy a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150,* and earn 130,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in purchases on the card within the first six months of card membership. Terms apply.
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $6,000 in purchases on the card within the first six months of card membership. Terms apply.
*For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card, click here.
