Darwin NT: Hilton or DoubleTree?

[BD1959]

Afternoon all.

Looking to spend a couple of nights in Darwin next July with Mrs BD, haven't stayed in any of the Darwin properties previously so looking for feedback. Am HH Gold.

Firstly: majority of my stays are at ADL but have spent nights in MEL (South Wharf) and SYD. Although usually booking on the lowest corporate rate, I seldom fail to get an upgrade at ADL have mostly been successful at SYD, never at MEL SW. What are people's experiences with Darwin - most likely looking to book KS with Harbour view.

Does a points booking reduce the possibility of upgrade?

Secondly: ignoring firstly, who has stayed at both Hilton and DT in Darwin and which do you prefer - and why?

Sorry for the newbee-type questions, but although well versed with the QF and VA forums - the HH Forum is still a bit new to me!!

Regards,

BD

 

[Steady]

Maybe you should fly up for the DRW dinner and drinks on the 27th and find out first hand.... Then we can plan another DRW event for your visit. ;-)

 

[JessicaTam]

I would be interested in this as well.

FWIW I had quite a few award and points+pay stays with HH in EU and the USA recently and had pretty good success with upgrades.

 

[BD1959]

Maybe you should fly up for the DRW dinner and drinks on the 27th and find out first hand.... Then we can plan another DRW event for your visit. ;-)

November 27? Would love to Steady, unfortunately I'm in Adelaide until the 26th having arrived on the 19th. I don't think Mrs BD would take too kindly to me heading north instead of South East at the end of the current week!

Regards,

BD

 

[Steady]

I understand BD1959 - you can't blame me for trying....

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I can't recall too many reports on DRW Hilton group properties. I think we may have had one or two on the Alice.....but Darwin??
(PS - I can't help but would be interested as well)

 

[defurax]

I can't compare with DT Darwin, but I stayed at the Hilton Darwin twice. My first stay was 2 days after the hotel had been re-branded and it was quite shambolic, but I was upgraded from a standard room to Executive floor with lounge access.
They did a lot of renovations lately and it really shows in the bathroom. The fitness "closet" is now a fitness room and the pool area is also nice.

Hope this helps.

 

[BD1959]

I can't compare with DT Darwin, but I stayed at the Hilton Darwin twice. My first stay was 2 days after the hotel had been re-branded and it was quite shambolic, but I was upgraded from a standard room to Executive floor with lounge access.
They did a lot of renovations lately and it really shows in the bathroom. The fitness "closet" is not a fitness room and the pool area is also nice.

Hope this helps.

Thanks defurax.

How's the Executive Lounge there?

Regards,

BD

 

[defurax]

Thanks defurax.

How's the Executive Lounge there?

Regards,

BD

No fights! So very civilised for the NT

But seriously, the service is great for breakfast and pre-dinner drinks and the attendants are always attentive. The view is also great!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

How's the Executive Lounge there?

Yes, defurax needs some Hilton report professional development. Fancy an AFFer reporting on a gym and not even mention the exec. lounge! What's the world coming to. :shock:

PS...thanks defurax, for the EL update!

 

[Clivem]

I have stayed in all three (3) under the Hilton banner in Darwin, There are two (2) Double Trees properties virtually side by side – that alone causes much confusion to those who don’t know that…just ask a Darwin cabbie how many punters end up at the wrong one.

One is ‘Darwin Double Tree by Hilton’ the other is ‘Darwin Double Tree Esplanade by Hilton’.
Both are ‘hand me down’ old tired Holiday Inns with very little in anyway of improvement since the takeover. The hard offering is tired / staff are OK / food basic……..The last time I stayed at the ‘D.T.by Hilton’ the AC fan in the room rattled like a 20 year old two stroke Victa lawn mower. It was one of the worst night sleeps in my life and I can sleep virtually anywhere. The room should never have been released for occupancy and I checked out and grabbed a Logoon room at Sky City for the remaining two days I was in town.

The actual Hilton is the old Crowne Plaza, it has undergone refurbs of the high levels and they are ongoing at lower levels –they generally have not been intrusive on the 5 or 6 time I have stayed while they have been ongoing. But I have been unlucky that fire alarms have gone off twice due to accidental being triggered by the works. Bad point is alarms cannot be cancelled in Darwin – the fire tender/s - service must attend and this has resulted in evacuations and me walking down stinking hot fire escapes from the top floor each time.
The refurbs are fine but your typical half-baked, ‘we’ll rework the room but forget about the old bathrooms’ type deals.
A new lounge is now on the top floor – its small and basis and service is hit and miss depending on who is on duty. (If you want a decent well run lounge in a regional Hilton it is hard to go pass Anne who runs the Exec Lounge at the Cairns Hilton – she is worth her weight in gold).
The Darwin Hilton do recognise H.H. Status well and some form of upgrade is nearly always provided

I would score the D.T. 3/10 the D.T. Esplanade 4/10 the Hilton 7 /10.

Darwin is crying out for a new ‘bar raiser’ in the major accommodation stakes but that seems a long way off. Best time of visit Darwin is clearly winter … Mindil beach market for a good range of eats entertainment / people watching etc. (it does not operate wet season)

Best accommodation from a room standard perspective in Darwin is probably the Logoon Suites at Sky City. Enjoy the humidity although that is not a real issue in 'winter'- and remember ‘no shoes no service’ (the locals will get it) !

 

[BD1959]

Thanks Clivem, that pretty much decides it for me between the DTs and the Hilton.

Would much prefer to be closer to Town, so the Sky City really doesn't appeal that much - plus the majority of the premier rooms are not available.

Now - hopefully - a final question. If I want to stay in a property for 3 nights, but have enough points for only 2, can I:

1. Book the three nights and split the total booking points and cash, or
2. Pay separately for the 2 + 1 nights and somehow link the bookings so that they're all taken in the one room?

Regards,

BD

 

[Clivem]

Thanks Clivem, that pretty much decides it for me between the DTs and the Hilton.

Would much prefer to be closer to Town, so the Sky City really doesn't appeal that much - plus the majority of the premier rooms are not available.

Now - hopefully - a final question. If I want to stay in a property for 3 nights, but have enough points for only 2, can I:

1. Book the three nights and split the total booking points and cash, or
2. Pay separately for the 2 + 1 nights and somehow link the bookings so that they're all taken in the one room?

Regards,

BD

Go to the H.H. site do a use points booking - select the room- it should send an option that advises the make up cash value if you are short to get the booking. I have seen some spit out an outrageous 'make up cash value' but some are usually what you would expect .....unsure why / or how that happens.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Thanks Clivem, that pretty much decides it for me between the DTs and the Hilton.

Would much prefer to be closer to Town, so the Sky City really doesn't appeal that much - plus the majority of the premier rooms are not available.

Now - hopefully - a final question. If I want to stay in a property for 3 nights, but have enough points for only 2, can I:

1. Book the three nights and split the total booking points and cash, or
2. Pay separately for the 2 + 1 nights and somehow link the bookings so that they're all taken in the one room?

Regards,

BD

3 nights in Darwin. Only 7,302 more and you'd qualify as a local BD!

 

[BD1959]

3 nights in Darwin. Only 7,302 more and you'd qualify as a local BD!

That as maybe, Cap'n, but I'd still have my accent in 20yrs time. Probably rule me out for good!

Regards,

BD

 

[BD1959]

Go to the H.H. site do a use points booking - select the room- it should send an option that advises the make up cash value if you are short to get the booking. I have seen some spit out an outrageous 'make up cash value' but some are usually what you would expect .....unsure why / or how that happens.

OK - looks like I just hit the "outrageous stakes"!

Room cost is AU$419 p/n with the easy cancellation, or 101,000 pts.

If I choose to use only points, the 80k top-up for the 3rd night costs me US$1,621.54 (non-refundable) ... don't think I'll be choosing this option!!

Regards,

BD

 

[Clivem]

Agree - you spun the wheel and it landed on - outrageous.....

$419 .....would be the std rate for a King with lounge access if you don't get lounge with gold status.
About $295 is the going std rate for a king room with diamond status you will get top floor and lounge access.

That said I think just about EVERY hotel room rate in Darwin is a rip off in terms of $ to what you get.

AT $419 don't think you are going to get anything like you would at say the Hilton South Wharf in Melb. that's for sure.

Also if you do go ...... do not leave it to late to book ........places often are booked out especially over winter.

 

[BD1959]

So, with the "manual" points plus cash, buying two nights on points and one on cold-earned .. can I/do I have to: link the two bookings together? ... (I'm thinking of the airline analogy of separate award and cash tickets and linking the PNR so the operating carrier can at least see I've two linked flights)

Regards,

BD

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Room cost is AU$419 p/n with the easy cancellation, or 101,000 pts.
If I choose to use only points, the 80k top-up for the 3rd night costs me US$1,621.54 (non-refundable)

It seems to make the decision easy.
Are you saying your choices are:
Option A - you could use 223000 points and give them a further US$1621.54; or
Option B - you just book the room normally and give them cash of AU$1257.00?

If so, one would have to assume they don't want point redemptions for whatever reason. Are you sure the point rate was for the same room type?

So, with the "manual" points plus cash, buying two nights on points and one on cold-earned .. can I/do I have to: link the two bookings together? ... (I'm thinking of the airline analogy of separate award and cash tickets and linking the PNR so the operating carrier can at least see I've two linked flights)

I've never tried that with points and cash, but I have from time to time done something similar, which is separate cash bookings on consequtive dates (to get the cheapest rates for some of the nights). I've never had an issue with the hotel giving me the same room over the multiple bookings. You could always make the booking and ring the hotel (or HH) and they will make a note in the bookings for you. I doubt very much you'll have any kind of problem.

 

[BD1959]

It seems to make the decision easy.
Are you saying your choices are:
Option A - you could use 223000 points and give them a further US$1621.54; or
Option B - you just book the room normally and give them cash of AU$1257.00?

... or Option C : Points for 2 nights of 202,000 plus pay for one night at $419 ... yes!

Are you sure the point rate was for the same room type?

Yes - because I picked the room type and the full points payment option was 3x the nightly rate (unless HH have been going to the QFIT College to get its IT maintenance done).

Regards,

BD