This post may contain affiliate links; please read our advertiser disclosure for more information.The Hilton daily food and beverage credit is one of the more polarizing hotel elite benefits in the past few years.  Many like the increased flexibility of the credit.  Others are frustrated by the benefit’s monetary devaluation (real or perceived) and increased complexity.  I’m somewhere in the middle, opting to treat every Hilton stay and benefit application on a case-by-case basis.  A recent stay yet again highlights the importance of understanding the credit.  But having that knowledge resulted in another surprise – one that worked out well for us.  Here’s how.Checking In on Our Recent StayOn the front end of spring break, we stayed at a full service Hilton located downtown.  At check-in, the bubbly front desk agent offered complimentary breakfast for my family of four.  I brought up the Hilton daily food and beverage credit, and the agent clarified that his offer was completely separate from this benefit.  Not expecting this level of generosity, I deliberately confirmed that we would receive complimentary full breakfast and could also use the credit for each day of our stay on top of that.  He agreed, mentioning that he had already noted this in their system.While pleasantly surprised, I also figured I’d inevitably run into confusion with the room charges at checkout.  Oh well, I thought – I know the Hilton daily food and beverage policy, have the agent’s name, and will deal with it a few days later.Using Our BenefitsDuring our three-night stay, my family and I enjoyed full breakfast at the onsite restaurant.  It was a buffet layout, fine enough but nothing special.  Given the restaurant’s reputation, I was a bit disappointed in the quality, actually.  Nonetheless, it was satisfactory for our stay, similar to Hilton Garden Inn’s offering minus the cooked to order aspect.We ended up only using the $30 daily food and beverage credit once, for a few drinks at the bar.  This wasn’t due to any hotel limitation, more our hectic schedule while visiting extended family nearby.Fun While Checking OutMany enjoy the simplicity of digital checkout, opting to skip the front desk entirely to get on with their day.  Not this writer.  In my experience, the risks of digital checkout far outweigh the benefits.  I always opt for in-person checkout, as I want to review the folio and promptly have any errors corrected prior to departure.And, boy howdy, were there errors this time.  Room charges for our bar visit were the wrong total.  We were charged for breakfast despite being told it was complimentary.  It goes on, but you get the point.I politely brought up the discrepancies with the front desk agent, one who wasn’t present at my check-in.  She reviewed the folio as I mentioned the benefit specifics I was told at check-in.  Matter of factly, she mentioned that the property is still adjusting to the Hilton daily food and beverage credit policy.  She excused herself to the office, wanting to check with a manager on how to handle the situation.Upon her return, she advised that they had decided to wave all charges on the room.  I expected to pay for the overages on my benefits, including part of the bar tab during our stay.  But I happily accepted her offer.Hilton Daily Food and Beverage Credit – ConclusionIf I hadn’t been knowledgeable on my elite benefits, including the Hilton daily food and beverage credit, I clearly wouldn’t have departed with an accurate bill.  And even better, I walked away with no payment due, even for the accurate room charges.  I’m choosing to take this one as a small win.  As part of playing our game, I inevitably experience some losses.  Recognizing the positives are definitely important.How have you come out ahead with the Hilton daily food and beverage credit?Disclosure: Miles to Memories has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Miles to Memories and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.Increased Offer! Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card – 80KChase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the most popular travel cards around. It earns 3X on dining plus 2X on travel and unlocks the ability to transfer Ultimate Rewards to partners like Hyatt & Southwest. Right now earn 80K Ultimate Rewards after $4K spend in the first 3 months. $95 annual fee is not waived.Learn more about this card and its features!Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.