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.

 

[foggy]

If they want to charge they will tell you.
If it's available I'd take it

Followed your advice and took the online check in

Did you actually request the e-upgrade? Either way, sounds like a free upgade to me as they should have informed you if your request - and associated cost - had come through. So take the room now.

Checked in and the staff member made no mention of needing to pay anything extra.
Happy days, nice room and just went into the outdoor onsen very pleased so far. We are here for 7 nights so the upgrade is huge for us

 

[JessicaTam]

Property: HH CDG
Date: Jan 2018
Status: Diamond
Booked: Std room
Received: High floor exec room
Rate: points + pay

I got to the hotel at 0800 and there wasn't anything ready - understandably I might add. I was given access to the exec lounge for breakfast and wifi.

The room was ready at 10. I was actually offered a larger room, but as I had asked for a view of the runway was given a choice. I chose the view which TBH is not all that flash. As I was travelling alone, the room type did not worry me.

Late check out until 3pm given as well.

 

[ALH]

Property: Hilton Nairobi
Date: 5th - 7th January, 2018
Status: Diamond
Booked: Queen Guest with working desk
Rate: $ 123
Received: Queen Junior Suite with
Executive Lounge and Breakfast
4 bottles water, fruit & chocolates.
Same driver to pick me up from NBO as last trip. He seemed very happy to see me again. Free wifi in car.
Early check-in available. All the staff remember me from last visit and feeling very welcome. Pool has been refurbished so will chill out with a coughtail or four

Edit: Fresh flowers delivered to my room today

 

[Aeolus]

Property: Hilton Garden Inn Singapore
Booked: Base Room on points
Received: King Deluxe city views
Quite impressed with the quality of the rooms and the ease to get to the airport via the MRT. I came in via JHB which was quite a nightmare (and a story on its own). The MTR ride to the airport was SGD2.40 for the 40 mins ride on the green and blue lines with the Little India station within manageable distance even with 2 luggages. Breakfast selection was quite large for a Garden Inn and is located next to the pool.

Property: Conrad Bali
Booked: Base Room
Received: King Deluxe Lagoon
First non suite stay and first time in the resort area but the staff were very apologetic citing the lack of rooms due to the shutdown of an entire wing for renovation. The lagoon access was quite a nice change and I ended up using the pool more than my previous stays and the room size was sufficient for one guest. The impact of renovation on guests were minimal, hardly any noise, etc. A small section of the pool area is closed but Suku is still operating. 8 Degrees is temporarily closed. Major changes include the exec lounge where it is now un-manned until evening canapés and all check-ins are done in the main lobby. Rin’s Breakfast selection has significantly reduced with the removal of the Japanese breakfast menu and also a reduction of the buffet selection which was disappointing but the staff was gracious enough to make the Japanese breakfast for me anyway which was really nice. Was told the exec lounge change is temporary but will make a comment about the negative changes on both the lounge and Rin and hope these won’t become permanent.

 

[GlennIE]

Property: Doubletree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur
Date: 02-05 Jan 2018
Status: Diamond
Booked: 2 x Base Room on points (10,000 HH / night)
Received: Both rooms upgraded to Executive Rooms

Great upgrade for the in-laws since I wasn't able to come due to work. I heard the breakfast there was amazing as you would expect from an Asian hotel.

 

[Buzzard]

Further to my review of Hilton SFO, I completed the emailed how was your stay questionnaire honestly. Received an email from the hotel stating that they were concerned about my disappointment and would refund one night's stay including taxes. I'm happy with the outcome.

 

[Daver6]

Further to my review of Hilton SFO, I completed the emailed how was your stay questionnaire honestly. Received an email from the hotel stating that they were concerned about my disappointment and would refund one night's stay including taxes. I'm happy with the outcome.

That reminds me when I raised several issues with the Hilton in Austin TX they did similar. However, I raised the issues while I was still there (first night and following morning).

 

[Virgin Bart]

Further to my review of Hilton SFO, I completed the emailed how was your stay questionnaire honestly. Received an email from the hotel stating that they were concerned about my disappointment and would refund one night's stay including taxes. I'm happy with the outcome.

IME that would be a refund of $300+! Still can't believe how expensive SFO is.

 

[earlyriser]

Wonderful last minute winter trip to China with suite upgrades at every stay:

DIAMOND

Hilton Beijing Capital Airport
Booked: King
Received: King Premier Suite
Wonderful stay. Massive hotel. Very professional service. Special diamond member taste testing at breakfast.

Hilton Wangfujing
Booked: King HIlton Deluxe Plus
Received: King Deluxe Suite
VIP treatment from the incredibly friendly executive staff. Cannot fault this stay. Different food in the executive lounge on five consecutive nights.

Hilton Xi'an
Booked: King
Received: King Deluxe Suite
Again VIP treatment by the executive lounge. Partner fell ill and they organised a taxi to the hospital complete with detailed translations on paper. They checked in on her to ask how she was doing as well. Executive lounge had different foods throughout the evening as well as daily!

Waldorf Astoria Shanghai
Booked: King Deluxe
Received: King Junior Suite
Here at the moment. Partner wanted the suite, I would have preferred the view. Very professional check-in process, lovely hotel. 15% discount at all restaurants for Diamond members and 100 RMB per person for a welcome drink.

 

[Danger]

Property: Hilton Bogota
Status: Diamond
Room booked: king Hilton guestroom
Rate: USD240 total for three nights
Received: king Hilton executive, lounge access, turndown.

Property: Hilton Lima Miraflores
Status: Diamond
Room booked: king Hilton guestroom
Rate: Two nights at 64k points (total) and one night at 33k + USD28
Received: king Hilton executive, lounge access, turndown, voucher for espresso.

And with that, I bid Hilton adieu.

 

[serfty]

And with that, I bid Hilton adieu.

Where to now @Danger?

 

[Lord_Lenny]

Just back from a 3 week trip through Europe with Lady Lenny, Hilton's in 3 of the 4 cities we visited (now who do we speak to in order to get a Hilton in Salzburg??) and this is my first Europe trip as a Diamond thanks to VA Platinum status match.

Munich: Hilton Munich Park
Booked: King Park View Room
Received: King Park View Room
Stayed for 6 nights over New Years, so upgrade availability for this length over this period was sketchy, wasn't expecting anything.
Fruit and chocolate raisins/nuts in the room in addition to the usual water bottles, standard welcome letter from the manager. I had emailed the property earlier as we were arriving @ 06:00 into Munich, and were at the hotel just before 07:00 and was able to ensure the room was ready and stocked for us on arrival for showers etc. and breakfast was available. Decent property, a bit far from the centre of things, but an unparalleled view of the NYE fireworks from the rooftop terrace and a 5 course dinner with included champagne, wine & beer in their top floor restaurant/function rooms - for which they comp'd Lady Lenny as it was her birthday which was unrequested and a lovely surprise.

Vienna: Hilton Vienna
Booked: King Guest Room
Received: Junior Suite with City View
This was the first (and so far only Hotel) to pro-actively contact me prior to arrival, apart from the automated email of course. The executive lounge manager emailed whilst we were in Munich to welcome me, suggest some dinner options and offer a gin tasting in the bar. Very generous chocolate and fruit bowl in the room on arrival, 2 bottles of water (replaced daily) plus the upgrade. Excellent hotel although the breakfast in the dining room was a bit chaotic, small Executive lounge that we used for breakfast once, and for Happy Hour once which ended up being dinner as the hot food on offer was a tomato pasta that went very well with the small schnitzels that had there too and paired deliciously with Austrian wine. Would definitely stay again, and was very handy for the Airport train when it came time to leave.

London: Hilton London Hyde Park
Booked: King Deluxe Room
Received: King Deluxe Room with Park View
Whilst I hear there's better options just down the road in Kensington, and I personally prefer the Hilton London Paddington Lady Lenny loves the location of this one, so it's become our go-to option when in London. View of Kensington Gardens from the window, decent breakfast in the French Restaurant on site, and literally right above Queensway tube. It may have changed owners since we were last there as the staff seem to be younger and more enthusiastic than our last stay (around 18mths ago) and would always say hello or goodbye by name when we left or came back. It is a more limited property in terms of facilities but it does the job well for us.

 

[boomy]

Just back from a 3 week trip through Europe with Lady Lenny, Hilton's in 3 of the 4 cities we visited (now who do we speak to in order to get a Hilton in Salzburg??) and this is my first Europe trip as a Diamond thanks to VA Platinum status match.

Nice reports LL.

We are doing simalr route later this year staying in same cities but different Hilton properties. In Salzburg will be taking a (forced) break from Hilton, staying at the Sheraton which supposed to have good views.

 

[Lord_Lenny]

Nice reports LL.

We are doing simalr route later this year staying in same cities but different Hilton properties. In Salzburg will be taking a (forced) break from Hilton, staying at the Sheraton which supposed to have good views.

Yeh I was actually slightly annoyed by the lack of a Hilton in Salzburg, I've become quite used to them. Major first world problem though I know haha.

Sheraton Salzburg looks great, I couldn't quite justify the $$ as we were only there 2 nights, we stayed in the Crowne Plaza - The Pitter (almost exactly opposite the Sheraton) which left IHG and the Crowne Plaza branding before we arrived, but still honoured the IHG members price. Excellent hotel with a beer cellar and decent breakfast with a view of the alps. The Sheraton looks like it will do though!!

 

[Aeolus]

Property: West Hotel, Sydney
Booked: King Acacia (Base Room)
Received: King Banksia (Deluxe Room)
First impression - nice decor, high tech (love the in room bluetooth speaker and Chromecast), good pressure showers, great breakfast made to order menu (no coffee tax) and some familiar faces at concierge and reception (ex HSYD staff) who were visibly pleased to see some regulars from HSYD checking the place out. Had dinner there too which was quite tasty and much more reasonaly priced than HSYD.
Note to anyone booking, please ensure you list 2 guests so that you'll receive 2 drinks vouchers (I learnt it the hard way). The $19 coughtails are definitely worth trying. Overall, great option to HSYD but HSYD is still my preferred as they do look after me well. However, if comparing HSYD King Guestroom to West's King Acacia at same price points, I think West has the edge.

Pics of coughtail, dinner & breakfast

 

[boomy]

Yeh I was actually slightly annoyed by the lack of a Hilton in Salzburg, I've become quite used to them. Major first world problem though I know haha.

Sheraton Salzburg looks great, I couldn't quite justify the $$ as we were only there 2 nights

That’s funny, I could justify the $$ as we are going to be there only two nights

Will PM you later for tips on what to do in the area if you don’t mind sharing.

 

[Daver6]

That’s funny, I could justify the $$ as we are going to be there only two nights

Will PM you later for tips on what to do in the area if you don’t mind sharing.

I can highly recommend Hangar-7

 

[Danger]

Where to now @Danger?

I have top tier with Hyatt through February 2019. I'm hoping for a miracle so I can somehow reach the 60 nights needed (I need 60, not 55) to make it again but short of a category one Hyatt opening up on my street, I'm not hopeful.

I'm currently on the Marriott Platinum challenge. When I finish that in March I'll have Platinum for 23 months which may hopefully give me some leverage with another program (possibly even with Hyatt).

For the most part I've enjoyed Hilton. My account page currently says "To maintain Diamond in 2019 you need 53 more nights" which I find odd. I didn't requalify last year so surely it should read something like 'To reach Silver you need x nights'. Maybe, just maybe, Hilton has botched it and I actually have Diamond for another year. I won't know until April though.

 

[serfty]

Hilton have botched it.

I qual. Hyatt Glob. with 60 nights, so "only" need 55 this year.

 

[Lord_Lenny]

That’s funny, I could justify the $$ as we are going to be there only two nights

Will PM you later for tips on what to do in the area if you don’t mind sharing.

I was trying to minimise the bill shock for Lady Lenny and keep the entire trip to around $5k each , she still hasn't quite shaken the 'backpacker mentality' yet and wasn't sure of her employment situation when we booked. A few years of corporate travel have well and truly consigned my 'backpacker mentality' to the history books. I'm slowly wearing her down haha, she's gotten very used to Hilton perks and points upgrades!!

PM away mate, we used it as a bit of a rest stop so weren't super active, but very happy to share what we did and where we ate etc.