Best chance of being upgraded to a suite?

[Harthagan]

I'm thinking of booking 3 nights at the surfers paradise hilton in Feb 2020 and 3 nights at the cairns hilton in May 2020. Both would be mid week stays.

As a diamond member would u just book the cheapest room and hope for the best on the day or is there a better method? I'm reluctant to pay for an executive level room as I already will get the executive lounge upgrade as a diamond for free, but if it would mean that I got upgraded to the suite it might be worth it?

 

[kermatu]

Bear in mind Cairns has very few suites. 1 genuine suite (Premier) and I think now only 3 spa suites (which are lovely but still basically one room/space). I have never had an upgrade to one of these rooms from a basic room from memory. In the past couple of years I've only ever booked a suite or the regular spa rooms (level 8, and with a walk-in shower). Have been upgraded from this latter room type maybe 15 per cent of the time. I am diamond and a regular at the hotel, so not that great a hit-rate, and certainly not of late.

 

[Harthagan]

Yeah I had feeling that's the case. I think I'll just book the cheapest room and keep my expectations very low for the chance of an upgrade.

Do u have to book directly using the hilton website in order to get diamond benefits? Do they ever have sales?

 

[Buzzard]

Ask nicely.

 

[Harthagan]

Ask nicely.

Lol that's a given.

 

[kermatu]

Yeah I had feeling that's the case. I think I'll just book the cheapest room and keep my expectations very low for the chance of an upgrade.

Do u have to book directly using the hilton website in order to get diamond benefits? Do they ever have sales?

Technically yes, you do have to book direct through website or direct with hotel. Use of 3rd party sites (eg Hotels.com) renders benefits null.

I have had some success though when booked through a corporate agent but having my EA call the hotel directly afterward to add my details and preferences to the booking. These usually then stick and I've had upgrades and Diamond benefits automatically applied (or at least easier to seek and confirm on check-in). In general for Hilton, including at least twice at Cairns, but not attempted at Surfers.

 

[hydrabyss]

Yeah I had feeling that's the case. I think I'll just book the cheapest room and keep my expectations very low for the chance of an upgrade.

Do u have to book directly using the hilton website in order to get diamond benefits? Do they ever have sales?

I would always just book the cheapest room then negotiate the best price for a suite when I used to stay there. The best I could manage back then was $60 extra per night for a top floor executive spa suite.