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.

 

[jackthomas]

Hey,

Status is Gold.
I mean that the rate I booked online, was different to the rate on their computer ( on check in, they tried to charge me $100 extra than the rate I booked)

The front desk, attempted to convince me to upgrade to an executive room but WITHOUT exec lounge access.

Since this, I've spoken to the Duty Manager ( my problem was with the attitude, not upgrade situation) to which she removed the extra fee I paid for the suite and had a bottle of champagne delivered.. I didn't expect or request either of these. Glad to see the team here is still sticking to their high quality service despite one person.

 

[nonpop]

Hilton Barcelona (in the financial district with no pool)
Status: Gold
Room: Booked a basic Hilton king
Room received: King but on executive floor with lounge access with breakfast in the main restaurant as lounge close in morning
Rate: approx €100 p.n for 5 nights across Xmas
Amenities: 2 water each day replaced, 1 movie, 1 shirt laundered

Staff have been friendly.
The lounge is average with very average nibbles ... But it was free so fine as a pre-dinner ...alcohol is white and red and beer.

 

[Katie]

Hilton Dresden
Status: Gold
Room: Booked a Queen Executive Family room
Room received: as booked.
Rate: €246/night for 2 nights (*cough* - Dresden is an expensive city!!!)
Amenities: arrived around 2pm, or even a bit earlier; the room was ready. We got into the room and the trundle bed was made up. I have loved that in all the European properties, the bed has been ready for Little Miss 8, and there's been no discussion about it costing an extra $80/night, as I've had in Sydney.

2x1L bottles of still water in the room; a fruit plate and printed welcome letter were delivered while we were wandering that afternoon. Access to Exec lounge (comments in the Exec amenities letter about not removing any food or drink from the lounge, and that it was for consumption in the lounge only). 2L water refreshed daily.

The staff and duty manager were a great help to us, as on our second night Mr Katie needed a doctor's attention. They arranged the doctor, ensured all communications were understood (though I told the doctor to just speak to me in German, as his English was fine, but he was struggling with vocab). Any time I spoke to anyone after asking for the doctor, I'd be asked how my husband was.

 

[Katie]

Hilton Munich City
Status: Gold
Room Booked: King Hilton Guestroom
Room received: king Hilton Executive
Rate: €123/night for two nights

Amenities: access to Exec lounge, small jar of Italian nuts. Trundle bed made up in room before we got there. No water. Similar letter about not taking exec lounge food or drinks from the lounge.
Very good buffet in the hotel restaurant each morning. Didn't bother with the lounge as +1 and Little Miss were underwhelmed by it on the first night while I was at the laundromat up the road. I didn't see it, and +1 was barely a day into his antibiotics after getting sick in Dresden. We also spent most of the day travelling to Munich from Dresden (day after seeing the doctor), so he really justneeded to be in bed.

Room felt very small after the rooms in Dresden and Berlin, but that's what I'd booked!

We were able to store three suitcases with their bell desk for two days, while we went to Füssen to see Neischwanstein and Hohenschwangau. We were very grateful to be able to do that.

 

[Katie]

Hilton Munich City
Status: Gold
Room booked: King Hilton Guest room
Room Received: King Junior Suite :shock:
Rate: €123 - stayed for one night after weekending near Neuschwanstein and before returning to London for Christmas week.

I had requested a Nor1 upgrade for €70 or so after our exprience in the regular king room earlier in the week, even though Mr Katie was much better by then. We got the King Junior Suite, but didn't need to oay any more! Nice!
Again, no water. There was a block of chocolate in the room (branded for the hotel).

We were right next to the Exec lounge on the fifth floor; I was worried about noise, but it was fine. Soon after we got to the room, someone arrived to make up the sofa bed for Little Miss.

 

[BLK343]

Property: Conrad Bangkok
Honours Level: Gold
Room Booked: King Deluxe Corner
Room Received: King Deluxe Suite
Rate: 3325 Bht (~A$133) - Thaland 50% discount

Large suite (~114 Sqm). Excellent service from bell boy to Executive Lounge. Great variety of canapés and hot food at the Lounge during breakfast. Shame to see people not respect the dress code

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Hilton Cairns have excelled again. I'm believing H-CNS is possibly the best Hilton in Oz. Not because it's a flash hotel ( it isn't) but because I feel most at home there. The staff are good. The location is good. The prices are generally good. HHonors recognition is excellent. Gemma has to be the best of the lounge hosts in Oz. I always look forward to returning which I guess is what management strive for!

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I am HH Gold

Hilton Sydney this week: King Guestroom Plus >>>>>>>> Relaxation Room - Great stay, love this room. My fave room in oz perhaps

Doubletree by Hilton Flinders St this week: Historic Station view <<<<<<<<<<<< Downgraded to King city view ..... yes, they downgraded a gold from a paid for booked room. And the response from the front desk team was laughable at best. Ended up with a bottle of wine compensation. Not good enough. Complaint filed with HHonors. Other things to note from this stay:
- Restaurant still not open, temporary meeting room being used for buffet breakfast only on level 1. It was a joke - by 0930 most things had run out and not been replenished.
- One bottle of water in room not two (rectified after I mentioned it to front desk)
- exhaust fan in bathroom non-functional
- the entire wall along room shakes every time somebody slams their room door shut
- check-in/check-out slow with only one person working
- no chocolates at turn down when I received them just 3 weeks ago
- wifi in room unavailable at all due to problem with the computer issuing the access codes. In this instance there should be a default access code provided. WHen mentioned to front desk was told 'oh but wifi works in the lobby fine'. Well I don't want to work on my laptop in the lobby, I want it in my room thanks!

Overall things have gone downhill in the past few weeks at DT Flinders st... I'd doubt I'd be back.

 

[JMFK]

I am HH Gold

Hilton Sydney this week: King Guestroom Plus >>>>>>>> Relaxation Room - Great stay, love this room. My fave room in oz perhaps

Doubletree by Hilton Flinders St this week: Historic Station view <<<<<<<<<<<< Downgraded to King city view ..... yes, they downgraded a gold from a paid for booked room. And the response from the front desk team was laughable at best. Ended up with a bottle of wine compensation. Not good enough. Complaint filed with HHonors. Other things to note from this stay:
- Restaurant still not open, temporary meeting room being used for buffet breakfast only on level 1. It was a joke - by 0930 most things had run out and not been replenished.
- One bottle of water in room not two (rectified after I mentioned it to front desk)
- exhaust fan in bathroom non-functional
- the entire wall along room shakes every time somebody slams their room door shut
- check-in/check-out slow with only one person working
- no chocolates at turn down when I received them just 3 weeks ago
- wifi in room unavailable at all due to problem with the computer issuing the access codes. In this instance there should be a default access code provided. WHen mentioned to front desk was told 'oh but wifi works in the lobby fine'. Well I don't want to work on my laptop in the lobby, I want it in my room thanks!

Overall things have gone downhill in the past few weeks at DT Flinders st... I'd doubt I'd be back.

Disappointing to hear about DT - booked my parents a stay there this weekend past and they were pleasantly surprised. Especially after I'd told them to expect the worst given some experiences on this forum.

They had 'the best room' in the hotel with great views of Flinders St Station. Apparently it was previously two rooms and DT converted it to one room when they took over so it was fairly spacious.

But they echoed your issues with breakfast.

Should improve when the restaurant is finished.

 

[Princess Fiona]

A bit of a cross-post but this rightfully belongs here :
Hilton Sydney
Status : Diamond
Room Booked : Relaxation Room on AAA rate
Room Received: Master King Suite

This is my best ever upgrade here, no contest. I did OLCI via the App and selected a high floor Relaxation room.
Shrek arrived a few hours before me and stated that no-one mentioned an upgrade but they were keen to point out the Diamond benefits.

The only downside of the stay was that the queue for brekkie at Glass was all the way back towards the lift lobby so we headed upstairs for continental in the Exec Lounge.

Some pics

 

[Buzzard]

Does anybody know, if as a Diamond, I book 2 rooms for 4 people, will all of us get exec lounge access, breakfast and what are the chances of an upgrade? Our alternative is to book 2 rooms, one as a Diamond and one as a Gold.
Hotel is HSW. TIA

 

[boomy]

Does anybody know, if as a Diamond, I book 2 rooms for 4 people, will all of us get exec lounge access, breakfast and what are the chances of an upgrade? Our alternative is to book 2 rooms, one as a Diamond and one as a Gold.
Hotel is HSW. TIA

From my experience, if you book both rooms as diamond then both are eligible for upgrade plus exec lounge access for all guests.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Does anybody know, if as a Diamond, I book 2 rooms for 4 people, will all of us get exec lounge access, breakfast and what are the chances of an upgrade? Our alternative is to book 2 rooms, one as a Diamond and one as a Gold.
Hotel is HSW. TIA

Depending upon how well you know the other people, your other option is booking a two bedroom apartment. When I've had that, everyone in the room have been granted access to the lounge and been complementary for breakfast. I usually book a bay side room and get an upgrade to a city view room.

 

[hummel]

Just booked HSW for tomorrow as a night a away for the wife and I. Been a while since we stayed there as all our stays have been at HOTP... Here's hoping I can get better than Exec access as a Diamond which is all I've got in the past.

 

[jojen]

Does anybody know, if as a Diamond, I book 2 rooms for 4 people, will all of us get exec lounge access, breakfast and what are the chances of an upgrade? Our alternative is to book 2 rooms, one as a Diamond and one as a Gold.
Hotel is HSW. TIA

Hi Buzz,

Have had no problems when booking 2 rooms in Sydney, Perth or Brisbane Hiltons getting exec lounge access for both rooms. I am sure somewhere in the Hilton rules it does state that is the case. Have not booked more than one room at HSW.

Sydney hilton even extended it to four rooms over Christmas, with one of the roms booked at an extremely cheap rate !!!

jojen

 

[NT2010]

Hi,

Under HHonors T&C: "Upgrades will be given only for one room for themember, regardless of additional rooms the member may have purchased at orafter the time of booking" so it is entirely subject to the check-in manager.

Anyway, as a Diamond, I have been mostly lucky over the past stays where they upgraded all two rooms to Executive Floor except in Japan

 

[DC3]

.... Have had no problems when booking 2 rooms in Sydney, Perth or Brisbane Hiltons getting exec lounge access for both rooms ....

There must have been some pretty good magic being weaved in Perth to get EL access there.

 

[vitagen]

An interesting experience that happened to me today. I'm on a mattress run/holiday in BKK and booked a Superior Room in doubletree. Was overbooked and was sent to Hilton instead. Got the lowest category room, told them wasn't happy so they gave me lounge access.

Anyone else experienced overselling of hotel rooms?

 

[moa999]

Bit of a different format review.
Just spent four nights (post Xmas) at the various KL Hilton properties.

Status - Gold

Hilton KL - Booked Basic King - Received Exec King - Rate ~A$140 (all in)
Doubletree KL - Booked Basic King - Received Exec King - Rate ~A$110 (stayed twice)
Hilton PJ - Booked Basic King - Received Exec King - Rate ~A$80

And a bit of a combined review.

Amenities - Nuts and fruit in Hilton KL, Fruit in Hilton PJ, Fruit & Cake at Doubletree, Water in all
Addl amentites - 2 item free pressing at Hilton PJ (as per FT thread, the dry cleaning benefit is gone for Gold at the Doubletree)
Check-in - Front desk for Hilton KL and Hilton PJ, directed upstairs to Exec lounge at Doubletree (Hilton KL unwilling to check me in after early morning arrival at 7am and told me to come back at 11am. No problem at other hotels with 10-11am checkins)
Rooms - All similar size - Hilton KL has the most open bathroom and modern design. Doubletree has shower only, no bath. Hilton KL did not have ironing board and iron.

Exec Lounge - Drinks and Canapes 5.30-7.30 at Doubletee. 6-8pm at Hiltons. Doubletree Lounge was packed on the dot of 5.30 both visits (lots of kids) and it was a madhouse with staff struggling to cope although Cathryn (main person in this lounge) was keeping things under control. Food items relatively basic. Hilton KL better albeit still limited (mostly canape style selection). Hilton PJ was great - attentive staff and by far the largest selection of foods including numerous hot dishes and desserts
Breakfast - Previously only used Exec Lounge - decided to try all main restaurants - all are good with multiple stations, lots of chefs and a wide variety of food including Indian, Malaysian and Noodles as well as egg station. Makan Kitchen at Doubletree has the nicest design and is best laid out, Hilton PJ slightly better selection than Hilton KL (which had a 10min queue when I arrived)
Pool - Hilton KL wins with large pool shared with LeMeridien, Doubletree is nice but smaller and in front of a hotel restaurant and overshadowed by buildings, Hilton PJ is small and dated
Gym - Hilton KL and Doubletree both good, Hilton PJ adequate but dated

Location - None of the Hilton properties are in what I would call a 'central location' for tourists which I would describe as between KLCC and Bukit Bintang. Doubletree is closest being about 500m and one LRT stop from KLCC. Hilton KL next being above the main train station and opposite the Nu Sentral Mall with about five monorail stops to centre or five LRT stops. Hilton PJ is about five other stops the other way from Sentral, so the furthest out (and is a good 500m from either of the two closest stops)
Surrounding location - Doubletree KL above a modern small centre with a grocer, chemist and a number of good restaurants and bars, and walkable to KLCC in 10-15min, Hilton KL connected to main station and across from Nu Sentral (brand new mall including restaurants), Hilton PJ surrounded by old local shops

All good options, but at the price I paid, Doubletree wins.

Other KL tips
Doubletree - If coming from the airport and connecting to the LRT to Ampang Park take the exit to "Citibank/Intercontinental" rather than Doubletree, as that side of the road has an escalator that goes up to the road crossing.
Public Transport - Get yourself a smartcard - queues to buy single tickets at machines can be horrendous. There are two cards on offer that cost MYR10 with MYR5 credit -
TouchnGo which can be used on Monorail/LRT/Bus/KTM and parking (the original card and built into Malaysian's MyCad card). Advantages are it can be used on the KTM (Batu Caves and MidValley/Gardens Mall), Disadvantages are it can only be topped
MyRapid Card - Can be used on Monorail/LRT/Bus (Bus recent extension) - Competing card from the operator of these services. Can be topped up at the automatic machine
Monorail - Until the HRT (Heavy Rail) opens in 2017/2018 the quickest way into Bukit Bintang which is traffic hell. However the monorail is often crushed beyond capacity. In the last 2 weeks a number of brand new 4 car monorails have entered service (and they are still testing auto doors and displays) but at the same time they have withdrawn/ had issues with many of the older 2car sets so services can be 10min headways and the platforms get busy. Hopefully this will be fixed as they get more of the bigger trains on the network.
LRT - Seems to be max 6min headways and a simple way to get around. All driverless trains and kids love riding up front.

Also the Peter Thomas Roth shower gel in both Hiltons has changed. Used to be the clearish liquid with microballs (super bad for environment I know). Now an Orange liquid. At Hilton KL this was thick and hard to use, at Hilton PJ better consistency. Is this a global change??

 

[jojen]

There must have been some pretty good magic being weaved in Perth to get EL access there.

Sorry about that. I was dreaming. Meant to say that both rooms received Diamond benefits in Perth which included breakfast, 2 drink vouchers and tapas plate. Hopefully one day they will have an exec lounge !!!

jojen