Hilton vouchers

[NM]

I need to remember to make my bookings in May as far out as I can. Since HHonors allows award stays to be cancelled and points redeposited it is a no lose option (as long as you have enough points now) - book early and if points go up you have it charged at the lower rate, if the points goes down then cancel get the credit and rebook.

Number of points is not an issue. I have almost half a million available. I am interested to find out how the Australian Hilton's categories will change. Perhaps with the downgrading of some properties * rating, they will also downgrade their redemption categories (and there goes another blue pig flying backwards).

 

[guy]

Hilton Premium Club vouchers

I've stayed at the Hilton Sydney now on the $125 exclusive rate so often since they opened, they don't even bother asking for the voucher anymore. I guess $125 is my corporate rate.

I am HH Diamond so always get an upgrade to executive club (or bf at Luke Mangan's for 2) if I ask, also free broad band.

Although the rooms are tiny, they are new and functional, also I request the end rooms which are about a normal hotel room size. So for $125 its not bad, hard to find a property on www.wotif.com.au for less than that.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I need to remember to make my bookings in May as far out as I can. Since HHonors allows award stays to be cancelled and points redeposited it is a no lose option (as long as you have enough points now) - book early and if points go up you have it charged at the lower rate, if the points goes down then cancel get the credit and rebook.

Number of points is not an issue. I have almost half a million available. I am interested to find out how the Australian Hilton's categories will change. Perhaps with the downgrading of some properties * rating, they will also downgrade their redemption categories (and there goes another blue pig flying backwards).

yeah right

 

[QF WP]

I'll be considering whether I renew my Premium Club...the loss of * rating for Hiltons across Australia isn't that important to me, proximity to clients is of higher value.

Courtesy of Dave 10* Noble, I've also been tempted by Priority Club (but at the moment, not a wholesale change but rather useful as positioning hotels for multipe SPG or Hilton stays). Also can be cheaper, but the rooms aren't as good (read new). Whilst I get upgrades regularly at Hilton, SPG don't and I'd have to say, PC are 1 for 1 (but it helps being PC Platinum :wink: )

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I had my first non upgrade at a Hilton (Conrad actually) since sometime in 2004, earlier this year. I know they are not guaranteed but came as a bit of a shock at the time, especially as it was a hotel I've stayed at many times. Unfortunately for me they were totally full up.

 

[serfty]

I had my first non upgrade at a Hilton (Conrad actually) since sometime in 2004, earlier this year. I know they are not guaranteed but came as a bit of a shock at the time, especially as it was a hotel I've stayed at many times. Unfortunately for me they were totally full up.

That'll learn ya ! IIRC, that was at the FT Singapore DO. You were one Diamond amongst many, and if you had been able to check in earlier your upgrade would have happened.

This mere Gold simply booked the Executive level that nite. :wink:

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Sure I could have booked exec level for a lot more than I was prepared to pay.

Overall I have done very well with Hiltons, which is why I tend to stick with them where it is practical and convenient to do so.

 

[serfty]

Sure I could have booked exec level for a lot more than I was prepared to pay.

Overall I have done very well with Hiltons, which is why I tend to stick with them where it is practical and convenient to do so.

Fair enough. When I made the booking inearly July last year to difference between the cheapest room rate and an executive room was about SGD50. (SGD230 against SGD280.) Also, when I booked I was a HHonors pleb silver.

About two months after booking, the rates skyrocketed and so did the difference.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I paid a lot less than S230.

 

[serfty]

Yes, I saw the base room price went down, several posts on FT about it. But the cost of the Exec room did no go down by nearly so much, so I deceded to keep my original booking. At SGD280 it was still much less thanwhat the wanted for the same room closer to the event.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

No even lower than that small decrease. Booked way, way early.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I need to remember to make my bookings in May as far out as I can. Since HHonors allows award stays to be cancelled and points redeposited it is a no lose option (as long as you have enough points now) - book early and if points go up you have it charged at the lower rate, if the points goes down then cancel get the credit and rebook.

Number of points is not an issue. I have almost half a million available. I am interested to find out how the Australian Hilton's categories will change. Perhaps with the downgrading of some properties * rating, they will also downgrade their redemption categories (and there goes another blue pig flying backwards).

I take it back - its all bad news.

Master page

Hiltons
Conrads
Hamptons
Doubletrees
Hilton Garden Inns
Homewoods
Embassys
Scandic


Of the changes almost all are up 1 or more (up to 3!) categories. Some seem reasonable, others are ridiculous.

The Australian/NZ Hiltons

AKL - up from 5 to 6
BNE - no change
BNE conrad - no change
CNS - up from 3 to 4
MEL airport - up from 3 to 4
MEL park - up from 3 to 4
PER - no change
SYD - no change

Malaysia - KL and PJ Hiltons up from 1 to 3 (given how low the rates are there is simply no point in any award there at those rates).

Okay, now I gotta think out how to best spend my points before 1 June.

 

[BlacKnox]

Of the changes almost all are up 1 or more (up to 3!) categories. Some seem reasonable, others are ridiculous.

The Australian/NZ Hiltons

AKL - up from 5 to 6
BNE - no change
BNE conrad - no change
CNS - up from 3 to 4
MEL airport - up from 3 to 4
MEL park - up from 3 to 4
PER - no change
SYD - no change

Malaysia - KL and PJ Hiltons up from 1 to 3 (given how low the rates are there is simply no point in any award there at those rates).

OMG :shock: :shock:

Okay, now I gotta think out how to best spend my points before 1 June.

Hmmm, me too . Thanks for the headsup :wink: .

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

serfty - not sure if you were planning on staying at Colombo Hilton on points, but a heads up its up a category also.

 

[NM]

OMG :shock: :shock:
...

Hmmm, me too . Thanks for the headsup :wink: .

It not that bad. The increase is around 5K/night. But I think I might plan a few nights at KUL for 10K/night. Didn't realise it was so cheap in HH points. The room cost is often similar to what I pay in Brisbane Hilton, so its a great deal at cat 1.

Good to see Brisbane stays at 25K/night.

 

[serfty]

serfty - not sure if you were planning on staying at Colombo Hilton on points, but a heads up its up a category also.

Thanks for the headsup. K/F, it's cheap enough at LKR8500 anyway.

For me, the best use for HHonors points is at the really expensive properties. e.g. I had already booked the Hilton Dubai Creek next month on a C401 for 30,000 points. This is against the cheapest rate I can get for the same date at ~AUD403. I note that this will go from a cat 4 to 6 and require a C601 @ 40,000 points.

The one I am looking at currently is the Hilton in Anchorage; it is not listed as changing so I assume it will stay a Cat 5. I have it currently booked at ~AUD372; I am looking to scrounge another 4½K to book it on points.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Thanks for mentioning Anchorage. Sounds like a good way to use up a couple of my free C601 vouchers (which cant be converted back to points and expire due to promo t&cs).

 

[NM]

For me, the best use for HHonors points is at the really expensive properties.

I agree, though it varies. I have used HH points for stays at Hilton Paddington in London (a good value use of points at the time) as well as Scandic Grand Marina in Helsinki, which was soon after Scandic joined and the 3 night stay cost 15K points and they put us in a suite on the top floor.

I am looking to scrounge another 4½K to book it on points.

Amex transfers at 1:1 to HHonors.