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.

 

[turtlemichael]

Property: Doubletree Rome Monti
Booked: Queen guest room
Received: Queen Guest room
Breakfast: full breakfast including made to order

The hotel is full with the Ryder Cup golf currently on in Rome so I could see an upgrade wasn’t coming through prior to arrival. The rooms are typical Doubletree in size and furnishings but very nice. 60k points per night which I think is very good value given the location 5 mins walk from the main station and 15 minutes walk to the Colosseum. A good area with plenty of restaurants. Our favourite was Pasta Urbane 5 minutes down the hill from the hotel. Cheap and cheery with the best carbonara in Rome. A highlight of the hotel is the rooftop bar

I've looked at this hotel, which has consistently received excellent reviews, for a five night stay in May 2024. I was worried that their queen room may not be big enough for 2 of us with 2 big suitcases. 60K points is very good but the Honors Discount rate, at just short of 800 euros per night, is eye watering.

At this stage, we have opted for HGI Claridge where we have stayed once before. Its 60k for the standard room and our rate for a king superior is just under 400 euros per night.

 

[pjm99au]

The queen rooms aren’t large (think doubletree finders street if that helps) and in typical fashion there is no real closet space just a luggage rack and hanging space. We are carry on only and it was absolutely fine for us for three nights

 

[JessicaTam]

Property: HH Parmelia Perth
Booked: Twin room
Received: Queen Exec room
Status: Diamond

Very disappointing stay. "Upgraded" to an exec room. I didn't check online, but the hotel did not look busy at all. Despite "high floor" being on my profile, only made it to level 5 (of 10).

Attempted to charge me extra for full breakfast - so I ate in the lounge. I assume coffee tax in place, but didn't bother asking.

Since the renovations there are no lights in the ceiling so needed all desk/floor lamps on to light the room. (A personal bug-bear of mine!)

I have provided feedback.

I will be going back to the DT when I am next in PER.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Property: HH Parmelia Perth
Booked: Twin room
Received: Queen Exec room
Status: Diamond

Very disappointing stay. "Upgraded" to an exec room. I didn't check online, but the hotel did not look busy at all. Despite "high floor" being on my profile, only made it to level 5 (of 10).

Attempted to charge me extra for full breakfast - so I ate in the lounge. I assume coffee tax in place, but didn't bother asking.

Since the renovations there are no lights in the ceiling so needed all desk/floor lamps on to light the room. (A personal bug-bear of mine!)

I have provided feedback.

I will be going back to the DT when I am next in PER.

The new DT Waterfront is really good !!

 

[JessicaTam]

The new DT Waterfront is really good !!

That’s next on my list.

 

[Happy Dude]

Which hotel in SIN would y'all recommend for a diamond? Travelling with wife, two kids.

It seems most here stay at (prefer?) the Conrad Centennial.

Not a lot of recent info re the Conrad Orchard, Garden Inn or Hilton Orchard but the latter is only about $40/night cheaper than the Centennial, which doesn't seem like value. HH adds nearly 20% taxes to all rates too. I hate that.

The Conrad Orchard is not a participating hotel for the current Amex promo. So looking at spreading bookings at one of the others across a few cards. Two rooms is waaayyyy cheaper than booking one family room (aka suites).

 

[I love to travel]

Which hotel in SIN would y'all recommend for a diamond? Travelling with wife, two kids.

It seems most here stay at (prefer?) the Conrad Centennial.

Not a lot of recent info re the Conrad Orchard, Garden Inn or Hilton Orchard but the latter is only about $40/night cheaper than the Centennial, which doesn't seem like value. HH adds nearly 20% taxes to all rates too. I hate that.

The Conrad Orchard is not a participating hotel for the current Amex promo. So looking at spreading bookings at one of the others across a few cards. Two rooms is waaayyyy cheaper than booking one family room (aka suites).

I hated the Hilton Orchard. Noisy and tiny rooms lounge mediocre

 

[bits]

Property: Hilton Sydney
Date: 1 Oct
Booked: King Premium Corner
Received: King Executive Corner
Rate: $267 Govt
Status: Diamond

Labour Day long weekend, but Monday was not treated as a public holiday by the hotel, so Glass Brasserie and Exec lounge breakfasts both finished at 10am, rather than 11am for public holidays. As I was met by a familiar staffer at Glass during breakfast, she didn't bother to push the +$10 buffet tax.

 

[kyle]

Which hotel in SIN would y'all recommend for a diamond? Travelling with wife, two kids.

It seems most here stay at (prefer?) the Conrad Centennial.

Not a lot of recent info re the Conrad Orchard, Garden Inn or Hilton Orchard but the latter is only about $40/night cheaper than the Centennial, which doesn't seem like value. HH adds nearly 20% taxes to all rates too. I hate that.

The Conrad Orchard is not a participating hotel for the current Amex promo. So looking at spreading bookings at one of the others across a few cards. Two rooms is waaayyyy cheaper than booking one family room (aka suites).

Don't think Conrad Orchard is open yet for stays.

I definitely vote for Conrad Centennial for its service. Rooms a little dated, but not shabby. Hotel pool was of a decent size and they bring water over without asking. Full breakfast spread huge.

 

[Daver6]

Don't think Conrad Orchard is open yet for stays.

I definitely vote for Conrad Centennial for its service. Rooms a little dated, but not shabby. Hotel pool was of a decent size and they bring water over without asking. Full breakfast spread huge.

I haven't stayed there in a while, but didn't they refurbish the rooms only a few years ago?

 

[kyle]

I haven't stayed there in a while, but didn't they refurbish the rooms only a few years ago?

Well five years ago now, but the bathroom still doesn't look modern. Guess the style goes with the rest of the room

 

[Cynicor]

No one has ever stayed in the Conrad Orchard.
They might have stayed in the regent but the hotel was shut down, rebranded, restaurants reopened and it opens for stays next year (or other exact date you can look up).

For your stay dates of the orchard I open you could try it as an unknown quantity, otherwise the Marina property is decent

 

[Comoman]

Currently at the Conrad Centennial:

- staff great. All v keen to please.
- rooms fine for me - king bed v comfy. Bathroom has rain shower and bath. Room big.
- Exec lounge excellent, breakfast with chef, afternoon tea (incl some booze) and evening canapés (incl all booze).
- Oscar’s restaurant for breakfast as an alternative is also good option (but can be v. busy at peak periods. Great buffet lunch and dinner as well.
- Promenade MRT literally just around the corner.
- at pool got iced water, fruit kebab and banana milkshake all comp.
- they make good coughtails at the bar.
- 25% off all F&B until the end of the year as gold and diamond (all Hiltons in SE Asia have I think).

edit to add: I’m Diamond and got double upgrade. Status respected.

 

[kyle]

Currently at the Conrad Centennial:

- staff great. All v keen to please.
- rooms fine for me - king bed v comfy. Bathroom has rain shower and bath. Room big.
- Exec lounge excellent, breakfast with chef, afternoon tea (incl some booze) and evening canapés (incl all booze).
- Oscar’s restaurant for breakfast as an alternative is also good option (but can be v. busy at peak periods. Great buffet lunch and dinner as well.
- Promenade MRT literally just around the corner.
- at pool got iced water, fruit kebab and banana milkshake all comp.
- they make good coughtails at the bar.
- 25% off all F&B until the end of the year as gold and diamond (all Hiltons in SE Asia have I think).

edit to add: I’m Diamond and got double upgrade. Status respected.

Where was my fruit kebab in August? Didn't see anyone else get one.

I don't think the double upgrade means much though as a diamond unless you got the suite. I see the rooms as either normal rooms vs suites.

 

[justinbrett]

Which hotel in SIN would y'all recommend for a diamond? Travelling with wife, two kids.

It seems most here stay at (prefer?) the Conrad Centennial.

Not a lot of recent info re the Conrad Orchard, Garden Inn or Hilton Orchard but the latter is only about $40/night cheaper than the Centennial, which doesn't seem like value. HH adds nearly 20% taxes to all rates too. I hate that.

The Conrad Orchard is not a participating hotel for the current Amex promo. So looking at spreading bookings at one of the others across a few cards. Two rooms is waaayyyy cheaper than booking one family room (aka suites).

I stayed at the HGI a few weeks ago. I quite liked it, but it’s no frills. It’s in Little India which is an interesting district and close to the MRT so super convenient to get anywhere.

Just don’t get a room facing West (old racecourse) as Singapore government restrictions require the windows in that direction to be frosted as they would otherwise have a view of the presidents residence.

If you get a good price I’d recommend it.

 

[Happy Dude]

So that explains why no reviews of the Conrad Orchard!

My stay is for April next year and I'm offered these. The Hilton Orchard seems relatively pricey so expect it'd be a no-brainer to opt for the Centennial. Not sure it's much of an advantage being a diamond at hotels with an EL.

It's a shame that booking a second room doesn't yield a discount on the second room. I could book three and bit rooms for the price of a suite.

 

[justinbrett]

Property: Hilton London Park Lane
Booked: King
Received: Exec King

How does this property treat elites? Terribly.

The hard product is good. The location, views and room are great. The executive lounge has very good booze (inc Havana Club 7) and the restaurant is very good for breakfast.

The soft product is among the worst I’ve seen. No welcome letter in the room, let alone an amenity. Breakfast and lounge situation was never explained so I had to work it out.

They sent an email prior to arrival asking when I would arrive. I said early in the morning as I was arriving on an overnight flight. Fat lot of good that did, as at 2.30pm my room was still not ready on the app. I went to the hotel and asked they said it was ready but waiting on supervisor signoff. They gave me a key to the lounge where I waited for more than an hour. Finally the lounge staff member gave me keys and said my room was ready. Catch was they swapped me to an inferior room (same class but not as good view) and by now it’s nearly 4pm, an hour after check in.

Being tired I went to bed around 9.30pm I was woken at 11.45pm by a phone call from the front desk. They said they had a note to call me as they were told there was a problem with my stay (I had not reported anything at this point). I complained for being woken up and asked why they were calling me so late. They said they understood but the note said they had to call to check if everything was OK. I simply hung up.

I sent off a formal complaint via email to the manager at 12pm. As at 6pm I have received no reply.

 

[Flashback]

Property: Hilton London Park Lane
Booked: King
Received: Exec King

How does this property treat elites? Terribly.

The hard product is good. The location, views and room are great. The executive lounge has very good booze (inc Havana Club 7) and the restaurant is very good for breakfast.

The soft product is among the worst I’ve seen. No welcome letter in the room, let alone an amenity. Breakfast and lounge situation was never explained so I had to work it out.

They sent an email prior to arrival asking when I would arrive. I said early in the morning as I was arriving on an overnight flight. Fat lot of good that did, as at 2.30pm my room was still not ready on the app. I went to the hotel and asked they said it was ready but waiting on supervisor signoff. They gave me a key to the lounge where I waited for more than an hour. Finally the lounge staff member gave me keys and said my room was ready. Catch was they swapped me to an inferior room (same class but not as good view) and by now it’s nearly 4pm, an hour after check in.

Being tired I went to bed around 9.30pm I was woken at 11.45pm by a phone call from the front desk. They said they had a note to call me as they were told there was a problem with my stay (I had not reported anything at this point). I complained for being woken up and asked why they were calling me so late. They said they understood but the note said they had to call to check if everything was OK. I simply hung up.

I sent off a formal complaint via email to the manager at 12pm. As at 6pm I have received no reply.

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On the upside, it was absolutely cracking weather today!

 

[justinbrett]

On the upside, it was absolutely cracking weather today!

I got rained on waiting to enter Australia House to vote, but the rest was OK.

I did get some strange looks for wearing shorts and thongs this morning.

 

[Flashback]

I got rained on waiting to enter Australia House to vote, but the rest was OK.

I did get some strange looks for wearing shorts and thongs this morning.

They obviously haven't seen my traipsing around the place then, but agree - yesterday was really foggy where I live and people had winter coats on. Nope, still warm and shorts/t-shirt/thongs for me.