Pre-purchase rate for Diamond members (and bonus Rome Cavalieri question)

[Mh4k]

Hi there,

I don't book much of my own travel, so this hasn't been something I've faced before, but yesterday I made reservations at a couple of hotels in Glasgow and Rome for next year at the "instant-purchase/non-refundable" rate. I am an HH Diamond member and have noticed that nothing has been charged to my credit card fully 24 hours later. The booking itself, meanwhile, shows as confirmed.

Is this an unpublished benefit for Diamond members?

Secondly, my stay at Rome will be at the (very nice looking) Rome Cavalieri - Rome Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts - Home - I'm a little confused about how room upgrades will be handled. The HH site states Diamond members get automatic room upgrades at Waldorf Astoria brand hotels, but excludes the "Imperial Floor" at the Rome Cavalieri. I'm booked into a deluxe (non-Rome view) room - does this mean I can expect an upgrade to a city view?

Anyone stayed here able to comment on whether a more generous upgrade can be expected, despite the HH site's claim? In my experience many hotels go above and beyond (i.e., suite upgrades are officially excluded but I get them about 15% of the time at most Australian hotels).

Thanks in advance!

Edit - bah, can someone please fix the egregious typo in the title of this post?

[Austman]

I am an HH Diamond member and have noticed that nothing has been charged to my credit card fully 24 hours later.

24 hours is probably too soon. Wait a few more days.

[serfty]

It depends upon the hotel - Sometimes they don't take payment until later, sometimes a week before, sometimes until you actually check-in (or don't show).

As for the Cavalieri, nice place - we stayed there 15 months ago.

Diamonds get free breakfast and maybe a Rome view room.

The breakfast is one of the best I have come across (although no 'eggs to order').

They have a special lounge for Diamonds/Golds ("Colloseo") which is on the ground floor but I see recent posts on FT that it's opening hours are limited from 6pm-11pm.

Here's their HHonors page: Rome Cavalieri | Hilton HHonors^® | Luxury Hotel

E-Standby upgrades can be available; you might like to register. (We used these).

Also, you can contact the hotel and possibly arrange for a paid upgrade.

For everything you wanted to know about this, see the Flyer Talk thread, especially posts since April 2010:

Rome Cavalieri, The Waldorf Astoria Collection - Page 115 - FlyerTalk Forums

[Mh4k]

Wonderful - thanks serfty.

[drron]

Over the years I have had varying experiences with the prepaid rates.Sometimes the charge appears immediately at other times not until you have stayed and in between as well.think it is an individual hotel policy and not just a diamond benefit.Since becoming a WA the benefits of Diamond have decreased.if you are going in a busy period there may not be an upgrade.Reports suggest even if upgraded to an Imperial floor room you may not get Imperial lounge access.I was fortunate to stay before it became a WA.My FT posts do contain some local info-
Rome Cavalieri, The Waldorf Astoria Collection - Page 26 - FlyerTalk Forums
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If you are into fine dining I can reccomend La Pergola at the hotel.Was a fantastic experience though expensive.We booked by emnail 3 months in advance(When bookings opened at that time).Cant prove it but I think we got treated better because of this-our room was one of the largest on the floor(by map on back of door) and we seemed to get more than others we spoke to including a bottle of champagne(not prosecco).

[Mh4k]

Thanks for the links. I am really looking forward to this stay. They have now charged my credit card, after I emailed to book a limo transfer and secure a booking at La Pergola.

The Rolls Royce Phantom was tempting but I will be slumming it in an E Class Merc instead

[Austman]

They have now charged my credit card

In my experience, most (but not all) hotels will immediately charge your credit card for pre-paid rates. But it usually takes a few days to show on the cc statement. If it hasn't showed after a few days, they usually leave it until the booked date.

[skywalkerLAX]

It depends upon the hotel - Sometimes they don't take payment until later, sometimes a week before, sometimes until you actually check-in (or don't show).

As for the Cavalieri, nice place - we stayed there 15 months ago.

Diamonds get free breakfast and maybe a Rome view room.

Whats the difference to Hilton Gold then who are as well guaranteed a free breakfast ?

[Moopere]

Whats the difference to Hilton Gold then who are as well guaranteed a free breakfast ?

Not much. Diamonds will get access to the executive or club lounge even if their room is not upgraded to the exec/club floor, golds won't unless they get the upgrade.

You'd like to think that Diamonds would be first in line for a room upgrade if the hotel was almost fully booked (over gold, silver and blue), but I've not seen any real evidence that this is so. Diamonds also get more hhonors bonus points ... but they aren't worth much so its not a big benefit in my view.

[serfty]

Whats the difference to Hilton Gold then who are as well guaranteed a free breakfast ?

Gold get those as well. There are some (minor) differences, see here: Rome Cavalieri | Hilton HHonors® | Luxury Hotel Rome

We used Nor1 to get an imperial level upgrade (€49 - not Rome view) and access to the "real" lounge.