Hilton Cairns vs Hilton Doubltree Cairns

[Nellycoo]

Hubby & I have just got HHonors Gold via our business Amex Card. We're travelling to Cairns in May. Can anyone offer any recent experiences on Hilton Cairns vs Doubletree Cairns? Is Hilton $110/night better than Doubletree?

 

[moa999]

I did a stay at both properties about 18months ago.

Neither are new properties by any stretch but both are adequate.

The DT is further away from waterfront park, convention centre and casino but not much further from CBD. Hilton has much nicer pool and gym and restaurant facilities.

But at that price difference I'd probably be going DT. Slightly different if you were Diamond and had guaranteed Lounge access at Hilton.

 

[kermatu]

Have a look at some recent posts in this thread: Question - How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

 

[Nellycoo]

Is getting a Hilton room upgrade a bit of a lottery? I'm now considering going with Pullman Cairns, as I get a free night (and it's better rated via Trip Advisor)

 

[kermatu]

Is getting a Hilton room upgrade a bit of a lottery? I'm now considering going with Pullman Cairns, as I get a free night (and it's better rated via Trip Advisor)

While I'm a Hilton regular and usually looked after well, I'd say yes, upgrades are a lottery. The hotel is often full - just takes one major event in the city or a conference nearby at the Convention centre. Of course, this can mean upgrades for diamonds.

I now usually only book the spa suites, from which there is only one actual room that you could upgrade to - so I'm not in the upgrade game anymore, and others may have better feedback.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

What's cheaper? What are going to be doing?

I can't comment on the Pullman as I haven't stayed there and I'm not Gold, so my experiences with Hilton and DT are likely not relevant. Cairns at the moment has a number of constructions under way, which means hotels now are busy and upgrades may not be so forthcoming. I really like the Hilton as it's close to the marina and town. Doubletree has got a lot better of late and I'd suggest you'd likely get a HH floor room there, but just what, I don't know. DT is very close to the new Aquarium.

Sorry for being vague, but you really need comment from a Gold HH stayer for it to be relevant. There is only one hotel that would be likely to prise me away from either of the Hilton properties at the moment and that is the Riley, but that looks too unfinished and too expensive just now (and I do get corporate rates there). To answer your original question, Hilton is not $110/night better than DT. IMHO. Keep in mind that (I think) Pullman is in two parts, the one attached to the Casino and the one across the road. I have heard the one on top of the Casino is the better of the two, but as I said, I haven't stayed there.