Mark Ostermann at Travel on Points has unearthed an incredible deal: Calala Island, a Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) property in Nicaragua that is bookable with Hilton Honors points and free night certificates, is offering a 10th anniversary promotion whereby every booking made before May 10, 2026 for a minimum of 4 nights that is completed by June 10, 2027 will receive a payment of $2,510 per cabana by wire transfer within 28 days of receiving complete payment information following check-out. Mark says that he has confirmed that award stays count. While you’ll need to have a lot of Hilton points to burn (or potentially a few free night certificates), this could be a terrific rebate if you were already thinking about staying.

The Deal

• Calala Island (an SLH property) is offering a $2,510 payment when you book a minimum 4-night stay by May 10, 2026 and complete your stay by June 10, 2027. Award stays reportedly count.
• Direct link to this deal

Key Terms

• Must book by May 10, 2026
• Must complete stay by June 10, 2027
• Credit is non-transferable.
• Standard Calala Island booking and cancellation policies apply.
• Payment will be sent within 28 days after completed payment/check-out

Quick Thoughts

Here is the full text of the message you see when clicking through the link to the offer:

A Decade of Calala Island

A message from the owners of Calala Island.

Ten years ago, we opened the doors to a small island with a big heart – with a dream to share the untouched beauty of Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast and to build something meaningful for the people and communities around us.

What began as a vision of true barefoot luxury has grown into something deeper – a way of life rooted in authenticity, conservation, and community. From the start, we have believed that true hospitality goes beyond the tangible; it is about respect for the land, its people, and the spirit that makes this place so special.

Over the past decade, Calala Island has become home not only to esteemed guests from around the world, but to a team whose warmth and dedication embody the very essence of the Island. Our Foundation continues to support local communities, protect endangered species such as the Hawksbill turtle, and champion sustainable practices that ensure this paradise will be shared for generations to come.

As we celebrate our tenth anniversary, we want to mark the occasion with gratitude. Every booking made before 10 May 2026 will receive a u$2,510 payment. It’s a small gesture of our appreciation to the extraordinary guests who continue to shape Calala’s story.

We look forward to welcoming you soon – to raise a glass, share a memory, and begin the next decade together.

*Minimum stay of four (4) nights applies. Bookings must be confirmed by 10 May 2026, for travel completed by 10 June 2027. A payment of US $2,510 per cabana, per stay will be sent by wire transfer within 28 days of receiving complete payment information following check-out. Offer valid from 3 Feb 2026. Credit is non-transferable. Standard Calala Island booking and cancellation policies apply.

Travel on Points says that award stays / free night certificate stays will count, and the promotion should be applied automatically.

Keep in mind that Hilton doesn’t make a mechanism available online for using several free night certificates in a single booking, though I believe that phone agents can do that. If I had multiple free night certificates, I would probably try calling Hilton to see whether they can be used under a single booking confirmation just to make sure that you meet the 4-night stay requirement, though I suppose that even if you booked the nights separate you could probably get the hotel to combine them into one at the desk.

If you’re flush with Hilton points and you were already considering this property, this seems like an awesome rebate. That said, it may not be worth the points for everyone. Standard rooms at this property typically cost 240,000 points per night, so a 4-night stay would cost you 960,000 points. If you were buying those points on sale at 0.5c per point, that’s $4800 worth of points, and you’d get the $2,510 rebate for a net cost of ~$2300. That’s an incredible deal compared to nightly cash rates (I just checked a random 4-night stretch in May 2026 that would be $4,400 per night or more than $17,000 for a 4-night stay at cash rates). And it’s a bit better yet if you’d book a 5-night stay since the 5th night would be free with Hilton Silver status or higher). But whether it is a deal for you comes down to how you feel about paying a net $2300 for four or five nights.

I’ve seen some people gush about this property and others feel lukewarm about it (it is worth seeking out reviews before making any decisions). Be aware that to get to this property, you need to fly in Managua, then overnight, then take a domestic flight, a taxi, and a 2hr riverboat, but the transfers within Nicaragua are included. And you’ll find mixed reviews on all of that — One Mile at a Time called it crazy, but Derrick Dye at Travel on Points was very happy with the overall experience. Your mileage may vary. With only four total rooms, there is no doubt that it provides what looks like a very exclusive experience. Some will no doubt be happy with the splurge.

And this is a creative incentive. I can’t think of a time when I’ve seen a hotel offer a cash rebate by wire transfer after a completed stay. That’s certainly different than offering an on-property credit. The fact that it applies to award stays is especially unique.

If you’re interested, remember that you can use a flexible date search on the Hilton website to find standard award availability.

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