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.

 

[rfur78]

Property: HSW
Status: Diamond
Stay: 1 night
Booked: Standard King ($214 inc double points offer)
Received: King Yarra Suite


First time staying as Diamond after status match off accor plat status. A card and a couple of bottles of water as a welcome nice touch.

Over all a great hotel with one of the better exec lounges going around. At the rate i booked at its great value, would stay again.

 

[JessicaTam]

Property: HSW
Status: Diamond
Date: 31 Mar '16
Booked: King room
Received: Yarra Suite

I booked the room that morning and was offered an upgrade to a 'deluxe' room on checking in. I asked if a suite was available. Prices were very low across the hotel, so I was a little surprised one was not offered. After checking, the receptionist was happy to offer me a Yarra suite.

I have not had this room before and it is my new favourite.

No water (I took them from the mini bar without charge), welcome or amenity. But I did book only 6 hours before checking in, so no biggie.

Eggs florentine for breakfast and no coffee tax.

 

[boomy]

Property: Hilton Molino Stucky Venice
Booked: King Guestroom
Rate: €135 p/night 3 nights (USOC rate)
Received: King Executive Suite With View

This time suite upgrade showed in the booking one day before check in. According to the room categories on the hotel website this is actually 5 levels upgrade from basic room!

View from living room



View towards our room from outside



This hotel is quite special, in fact apart from the usual amenities it doesn't look like a typical Hilton at all. The original building was built in 1895 and used to be flower mill up until the civil war. The building was left abandoned for many years until it was taken over by Hilton 15 years ago and transformed into the biggest hotel in Venice. Although renovated, some original features were kept like the factory style wooden ceilings and the unique window frames.

Our suite was quite large with separate living room and kitchen. Only disappointing thing was the shower in bath, one of my pet peeves and not something I'd expect to see in a suite that costs over €500 p/night.

Executive lounge is ok, nice views, good canapés but poor alcohol selection (only red choice was Merlot). The bar on 8th floor however offers great coughtails and the best views of Venice.

Breakfast at main restaurant was excellent with full table service for coffee and eggs to order.

Shuttle boat to/from Sam Marco takes 15 minutes. It leaves every 40 minutes and the cost is €4.50 per guest one off payment at check in.

Public boat ride from VCE airport to Hilton takes almost two hours and cost €15 per person. It's long but nice ride and good opportunity to see Venice from the water side. For those who want to cut the journey short and make it in style there is private taxi boat option that takes only 30 minutes and cost €120 flat rate.
Public boat ride from Hilton to Santa Lucia railway station takes 20 minutes and cost €7.50.

 

[drross]

Property: Hilton Molino Stucky Venice
Booked: King Guestroom
Rate: €135 p/night 3 nights (USOC rate)
Received: King Executive Suite With View

This time suite upgrade showed in the booking one day before check in. According to the room categories on the hotel website this is actually 5 levels upgrade from basic room!

View from living room

View attachment 67472

View towards our room from outside

View attachment 67473

This hotel is quite special, in fact apart from the usual amenities it doesn't look like a typical Hilton at all. The original building was built in 1895 and used to be flower mill up until the civil war. The building was left abandoned for many years until it was taken over by Hilton 15 years ago and transformed into the biggest hotel in Venice. Although renovated, some original features were kept like the factory style wooden ceilings and the unique window frames.

Our suite was quite large with separate living room and kitchen. Only disappointing thing was the shower in bath, one of my pet peeves and not something I'd expect to see in a suite that costs over €500 p/night.

Executive lounge is ok, nice views, good canapés but poor alcohol selection (only red choice was Merlot). The bar on 8th floor however offers great coughtails and the best views of Venice.

Breakfast at main restaurant was excellent with full table service for coffee and eggs to order.

Shuttle boat to/from Sam Marco takes 15 minutes. It leaves every 40 minutes and the cost is €4.50 per guest one off payment at check in.

Public boat ride from VCE airport to Hilton takes almost two hours and cost €15 per person. It's long but nice ride and good opportunity to see Venice from the water side. For those who want to cut the journey short and make it in style there is private taxi boat option that takes only 30 minutes and cost €120 flat rate.
Public boat ride from Hilton to Santa Lucia railway station takes 20 minutes and cost €7.50.

we love staying there. the staff have always looked after us and totally agree about the rooftop bar. has the best pool views in venice.

 

[ithongy]

Property: Hilton SYD
Status: GOLD
Date: 1 April '16
Booked: King Guest room
Received: King Guest Room executive lounge access.

 

[Foreigner]

Am HH gold but hoping for status match applied for. If that happens will certainly consider Hilton stays.

 

[turtlemichael]

I'm on just my second visit to Sydney Hilton in recent months. I had lots last year but only twice so far in 2016. I had breakfast in glass this morning and noticed a substantial decline in quality apart from the irksome coffee tax. Gone are those nice individual yogurt containers (can't remember the brand) and they've been replaced by two large tubs. The condiments have been reduced to a few different seeds. The yogurt area is a food mess and looks like something you'd find in a downmarket Holiday Inn. The fruit is now just the basics (melon, brown pineapple and watermelon) and the fresh orange juice has gone. All up a rip off for the price they charge. I'm glad I'm not paying but what was one of the pleasant things about a stay at Hilton Sydney is now just one less reason to book. Anybody else like to comment?

 

[Flyer 777]

Booked South Wharf for tonight and tomorrow night at $119 p/n and just did online check-in and have been upgraded to 2 bed suite which is great as we have separate bedroom for our 4yr old. Fantastic deal plus lounge and breaky.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I'm on just my second visit to Sydney Hilton in recent months. I had lots last year but only twice so far in 2016. I had breakfast in glass this morning and noticed a substantial decline in quality apart from the irksome coffee tax. Gone are those nice individual yogurt containers (can't remember the brand) and they've been replaced by two large tubs. The condiments have been reduced to a few different seeds. The yogurt area is a food mess and looks like something you'd find in a downmarket Holiday Inn. The fruit is now just the basics (melon, brown pineapple and watermelon) and the fresh orange juice has gone. All up a rip off for the price they charge. I'm glad I'm not paying but what was one of the pleasant things about a stay at Hilton Sydney is now just one less reason to book. Anybody else like to comment?

Yes I agree completely. The breakfast offering has been substantially altered and is a shadow of what it used to be.

 

[kamchatsky]

Property : Hilton Adelaide
Status: Gold
Date: 25 March 2016
Booked: Double Guest Room (AAA rate)
Received: Double Guest Room, with separate Executive Lounge Access and free breakfast downstairs for family.

Normally I would get upgraded to Executive Level rooms. However given they don't have 2 double beds at Executive Levels, they offered me same room booked but separate EL access plus free breakfast downstairs. That's great as I am only a Gold. However it may be the fact that I stayed there at least once a year on paid fare helps.

The breakfast is as always, very high quality even though not the biggest range. Never tried their coffee so not sure about coffee tax. Will stay there again..... After my status match back to Gold first.

 

[straitman]

Booked South Wharf for tonight and tomorrow night at $119 p/n and just did online check-in and have been upgraded to 2 bed suite which is great as we have separate bedroom for our 4yr old. Fantastic deal plus lounge and breaky.

I might see you there tonight then. Arriving at about 5:30 and a 2BR would be wonderful also as I have a 9yo in toe.

 

[straitman]

I might see you there tonight then. Arriving at about 5:30 and a 2BR would be wonderful also as I have a 9yo in toe.

Not my normal 1817 or 1917 but a 2 br apartment on the 18th floor so I really can't complain for $125.

 

[moa999]

The condiments have been reduced to a few different seeds. The yogurt area is a food mess and looks like something you'd find in a downmarket Holiday Inn. The fruit is now just the basics (melon, brown pineapple and watermelon) and the fresh orange juice has gone.

I don't mind the yogurt station (and packaging is a waste) and more than just seeds on my last two visits. OJ is just outside, then squeezed juices to the right (or you can ask for something fresh).

Agree the layout is a bit strange (result of doubling as a real restaurant) but still think it's pretty decent

 

[ithongy]

Straitman, can I ask if your odd numbered room has Yarra views?

Not my normal 1817 or 1917 but a 2 br apartment on the 18th floor so I really can't complain for $125.

 

[boomy]

Property: Hilton Garden Inn Florence
Booked: King Room
Rate: €76 p/night 3 nights (30% pre-payed rate)
Received: Junior Suite

Was impressed to see the upgrade in my profile two days before check in. Very generous upgrade considering it's their top category room and they only have two junior suites in this hotel.

TBH I didn't know what to expect from this hotel. Garden Inn properties can be hit and miss but reviews I read online were mostly positive and price was very tempting so decided to give it a go.

Check in was very friendly, diamond status recognised and apart from the upgrade was given box of delicious Tuscan chocolate and voucher for two bottles of water from the Pantry. Garden Inns have an interesting system, instead of offering overpriced mini bar items in the room they have pantry next to reception stocked with food and drinks sold at affordable prices which can be purchased and stored in the empty room fridge.

The room was impressive! Large living area, modern closet, working desk, wooden floor and plenty windows for natural light. Honestly the room was so big they could easily install a door between the living area and bedroom to make it "proper" suite. Personally I prefer an open plan design so couldn't be more happy with it. Amenities in bathroom were standard Thomas Roth given at Hiltons.

Breakfast at restaurant was basic with some hot options like scrambled eggs, bacon and mushrooms. The coffee was self serve from Nestle machine (not to be confused with Nespresso capsules).

The hotel is located 10 minutes by taxi or bus from Santa Maria Novella station. Taxi was €13 but getting to/from the old city can be easily done by bus which comes quite frequently and cost just €1.20 each way. Tickets for the bus can be purchased at reception

 

[penegal]

I should post in these threads more often, but always forget.

Property: Hilton Adelaide
Status: Diamond
Date: 1-3 April 2016
Booked: King Room (base)
Rate: $175 per night for 2 nights (Publicly available Flexi rate, few months in advance)
Received: Queen Junior Suite**


**Initially the upgrade was to an King Executive room, but upon asking at check in, I was bumped to a Queen Junior Suite.

 

[straitman]

Straitman, can I ask if your odd numbered room has Yarra views?

It views to the west away from the city. They did ask if that was alright. If I'd said no i would have received 1817 but they were setup with this one.

 

[ithongy]

Thanks... That means all even numbered rooms are facing the city & all the odds are facing the West Gate Bridge. I really wonder if you insist in staying in an even numbered room to secure a better room upon checking in. Firmly
insist you have a phobia of staying in odd numbered rooms for HSW.

It views to the west away from the city. They did ask if that was alright. If I'd said no i would have received 1817 but they were setup with this one.

 

[oh_lol]

I have always been treated quite well with Hilton, even with the slight mishap they've rectified any issues in good manner.

Will have to admit Hilton is poor in the USA though, I don't even bother even as Diamond.

 

[Katie]

Property: Hilton Adelaide
Status: Gold (at checkin, silver by checkout)
Booked: King Hilton Delixe
Rate: $243/night
Received: King Hilton Executive