How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

[QF WP]

Just thought I'd create a thread for this - looking back over the last year, I thought I'd done a thread here as well as on Priority Club.

I'm a Gold member.

Friday, 22 May to Sunday, 31 May (yes, 9 nights)
Property: Hilton Cairns
Room booked: King Room
Rate: Travelzoo $135 package rate (included bottle of red wine)
Received: Upgrade to King Suite, card from GM and the wine, obligatory 2 free water bottles per day

Wednesday, 8 July
Property: Hilton Parmelia Perth
Room booked: King Room
Rate: Award room
Received: Upgrade to King Suite, card from GM and the obligatory 2 free water bottles

Thursday, 9 July
Property: Hilton Adelaide
Room booked: King Room
Rate: Award room
Received: Upgrade to Exec Floor, card from GM and the obligatory 2 free water bottles

Saturday, 11 July
Property: Hilton Brisbane
Room booked: King Room
Rate: Met Package (birthday present for Mrs LW, included 2 buffet breakfasts at Atrium Cafe & 2 tickets to Qld Art Gallery for Impressionists Showing from Metropolitan Museum New York - to get some culture)
Received: Upgrade to Exec Floor, card from GM and the obligatory 2 free water bottles

Got some more travel to do to Melbourne this Friday, so hoping to fly down Thursday night to sample the new Hilton.

 

[drross]

AFF London dinner!

really?????

 

[Cruiser Elite]

i've stayed Trafalgar London previously. Great location and funky Hotel. better rates for those dates

Location - walk out the front door and there are theatres to the left - theatres to the right - love the history of Waldorf also.

 

[Cynicor]

Just note that the Waldorf London is a Hilton level hotel, and not a W=A or Waldorf Astoria. They do have a Conrad now (formerly IC) too.

Hilton price rooms on points 2 ways- via standard awards for a base room- that is the 80k queen room, on a pay 4 get 5 basis. Or as a "any seat award" style rate where the room rate corresponds to the price.

Note that while points required seems quite high, I can often get a return of 20-40 points per $ spent in Hilton hotels. Generally they are valued at 0.005USD each, or half a US cent.

 

[boomy]

While we are on the topic of London hotels I'd appreciate some opinions about Conrad vs Waldorf vs Park Lane (all category 9).

I'm staying for 5 nights in March and currently holding P+P bookings at all three.
Still thinking if it worth moving around to try different properties and increase chances of suite upgrades or just book one hotel for all 5 night using points (4+1) but reduce dramatically the chances of getting a suite.

Edit: TripAdvisor ratings out of 1,058 hotels:
Conrad 41
Park Lane 282
Waldorf 429
I'm not usually following TripAdvisor but boy these are huge differences between the three.

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

While we are on the topic of London hotels I'd appreciate some opinions about Conrad vs Waldorf vs Park Lane (all category 9).

I'm staying for 5 nights in March and currently holding P+P bookings at all three.
Still thinking if it worth moving around to try different properties and increase chances of suite upgrades or just book one hotel for all 5 night using points (4+1) but reduce dramatically the chances of getting a suite.

Edit: TripAdvisor ratings out of 1,058 hotels:
Conrad 41
Park Lane 282
Waldorf 429
I'm not usually following TripAdvisor but boy these are huge differences between the three.

I'll be in London for a few days later in the year so also keen to hear feedback re above.

 

[Cynicor]

What specific aspects? We have experience with Conrad and Park Lane.
They don't really stick to the brand standards with the Conrad, as it is a new property. Was ok, but not on par with a lot of other Conrads.

Compared to the park lane? Well, where do you need/want to be? The park lane is quite a modern build. I got a junior suite IIRC.

I would take the Conrad if it's the same price and the location is ok. The Waldorf is apparently overrated and gets relatively bad feedback on FT the last few times I checked.

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

Main element for me is location.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

The Waldorf is apparently overrated and gets relatively bad feedback on FT the last few times I checked.

Waldorf is far from best hotel in London - but it's one big plus is the best location IMHO. Last time we stayed there was paid in Junior Suite - grossly overpriced for quality - but aren't they all? Our room had hardware probs and probs getting rectified - but Exec Lounge was pretty good - we are staying 4 nts London basically as a theatre stopover - hence the perfect location just so suitable.

Last visit to London we stayed over river in Park Plaza Westminster - room substantially better but no lounge access and inability to walk to where we wanted big downer. I have a Comp Stay certificate to use so pts on other 3 nts will be the way to go I think - I have never booked before using pts and just staggered at pts step to different classes.

 

[boomy]

What specific aspects?

They all cost give or take the same, both in cash and points (Waldorf slightly cheaper) so I'm trying to figure out if it's better to spend all 5 nights in one property (most likely Conrad) or use P+P and stay in two or three places.

I'm wondering how they treat diamonds, chances of getting upgrades, rooms in good condition or dated, breakfast quality, executive lounge, proximity to a tube station.

 

[Cynicor]

All those things are good with Park Lane. Can't recall Conrad to a tube, but it ticks all the boxes otherwise.

Overall- I hate moving rooms when I don't need to, so I'd stay at one of those two and choose based on location. Up to date feedback on the Conrad would be good though.

 

[DAC1]

I had excellent treatment at Park Lane even as a gold. Can't speak for the others but count me as a vote for PL.

 

[kermatu]

Property: Hilton South Wharf
Date: Mid-Jan (1 night)
Status: Diamond
Booked: King Exec
Received: Relaxation Suite
Did OLC the day before for the room booked. Saw on the morning of arrival that I had been upgraded to Relaxation Suite again. On arrival approx. 3pm again advised room wasn't ready so waited in lounge. Two waters, full breakfast, no coffee tax, no welcome note or amenity. TV again had very bad 'burn-in' of the Welcome message! Late checkout to 3pm granted without any drama. Pleased given the tennis was already on. But probably explains why the 3pm check-in isn't always guaranteed for suites.

 

[Buzzard]

Thanks guys - want to book 4nts at Waldorf London but they aren't actually giving the rooms away:

Queen Hilton Room - £359 / 80,000 pts
Queen Hilton Superior Room - £389 / 197,165 pts
Queen Hilton Deluxe Room - £409 / 210,002 pts
King Hilton Executive Room - £459 / 235,674 pts
King Hilton Junior Suite - £509 / 261,347 pts (last time we stayed here we were in Junior Suite)
Hilton Executive Suite - £559 / 287,020 pts

Good grief - these jerks don't even say 'Stick 'em up' as they rob you! Am I missing something? Do these look about normal rates?

Queen for 80k seems like a great deal to me.

 

[hydrabyss]

Property: Sydney
Date: 26th Jan 1 night
Status: Diamond
Booked: King Guestroom Plus
Rate: AAA $189
Received: Relaxation Room

Property: Sydney
Date:29th Jan 1 night
Status: Diamond
Booked: King Guestroom Plus
Rate: AAA $189
Received:Relaxation Suite
Both upgrades granted on arrival after having used online checkin. No upgrade was showing in the booking for the first stay and had the feeling it was overlooked by whoever was doing them that day.I felt this may have worked in my favour in receiving such a good upgrade. Second stay was upgraded to an exec room day before hence the reason why I used online checkin thinking this was as good as it would get. Upon arriving was told room was not ready hence I decided to try my luck again with asking for an upgrade.

 

[drross]

Property: Sydney
Date: 26th Feb 1 night
Status: Diamond
Booked: King Guestroom Plus
Rate: AAA $189
Received: Relaxation Room

Property: Sydney
Date:29th Feb 1 night
Status: Diamond
Booked: King Guestroom Plus
Rate: AAA $189
Received:Relaxation Suite
Both upgrades granted on arrival after having used online checkin. No upgrade was showing in the booking for the first stay and had the feeling it was overlooked by whoever was doing them that day.I felt this may have worked in my favour in receiving such a good upgrade. Second stay was upgraded to an exec room day before hence the reason why I used online checkin thinking this was as good as it would get. Upon arriving was told room was not ready hence I decided to try my luck again with asking for an upgrade.

Maybe Jan rather than Feb???

 

[hydrabyss]

Maybe Jan rather than Feb???

Thanks.Not sure how I missed that.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Both upgrades granted on arrival after having used online checkin. No upgrade was showing in the booking for the first stay

I mentioned to H-CNS that only low level rooms were showing in the OLCI and they gave the answer. OLCI is programed to give only the room options that were booked. It can be opened up to show better options, but that is a manual task that is done by the hotel staff and they can obviously add options by room class. While I spoke to her, she tapped on the computer and then OLCI showed all exec level rooms (but no suites).

So I guess it remains an unknown quantity and is totally reliant on hotel staff to both open up OLCI to allow better options and to assess your "worthiness" at actual check in (as very few....one I think, worldwide.....Hiltons have digital room keys as yet) to see if you can be granted something a bit better (or worse, which has happened to me).

Nice to see H-SYD still occasionally offering suites without prompting.

 

[Aeolus]

Property: H-ADL
Status: Diamond
Booked: King Guestroom
Received: King Exec

With the exception of the helpful and friendly EL staff, the service overall was by far inferior to the other Hiltons in Oz. At check-in, I asked about the occupancy, was informed in was just a bit over 60% so I thought I'll try to ask if there's any chance for a better room upgrade. No problems, that would be $$ extra, so I stuck to the room given. Breakfast service - table was dirty, no coffee/tea was offered, had to ask after 20 mins and I noticed the staff simply wiped the table and swept the crumbs, etc that were on the table straight onto the carpet! After breakfast, I tried to ask for extended checkout to 2pm. No problems, that would be $30/extra per hour after 12noon. Hell, by then I had enough and I mentioned that this is very unlike treatments of Diamonds in any Hiltons I have ever stayed at, even in Oz. Front desk then said she will get back to me and rang back to advise it was ok. Unfortunately, the impression has been set by then, what a money grabbing hotel, service left a lot to be desired.

 

[kermatu]

Property: H-ADL
Status: Diamond
Booked: King Guestroom
Received: King Exec

With the exception of the helpful and friendly EL staff, the service overall was by far inferior to the other Hiltons in Oz. At check-in, I asked about the occupancy, was informed in was just a bit over 60% so I thought I'll try to ask if there's any chance for a better room upgrade. No problems, that would be $$ extra, so I stuck to the room given. Breakfast service - table was dirty, no coffee/tea was offered, had to ask after 20 mins and I noticed the staff simply wiped the table and swept the crumbs, etc that were on the table straight onto the carpet! After breakfast, I tried to ask for extended checkout to 2pm. No problems, that would be $30/extra per hour after 12noon. Hell, by then I had enough and I mentioned that this is very unlike treatments of Diamonds in any Hiltons I have ever stayed at, even in Oz. Front desk then said she will get back to me and rang back to advise it was ok. Unfortunately, the impression has been set by then, what a money grabbing hotel, service left a lot to be desired.

Thanks for posting - not good experiences. While I've had limited stays there, I have had much better service and a suite upgrade once when I asked at check-in. Breakfast service was quite poor last time I recall. It was in the temporary location which didn't help.

 

[earlyriser]

Type: Gold

Hilton Garden Inn Central Park South - Midtown West
- No special treatment. Computer was down and I did not even get the room I chose in OLCI.

Hampton Inn Bloomsburg PA
- Upgraded to Studio Suite despite booking hotel only a few hours before arriving.

Hilton Garden Inn Cleveland Airport
- No special treatment.

The Curtis - DoubleTree Denver
- Received a 9:30am check-in despite seeing many people knocked back over the duration of my stay.