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.

 

[DC3]

Not sure if we will be spending much more time in Hilton's as I am pretty sure my Gold Status runs out in March …

There are usually offers for Gold status, by staying a few nights to qualify. Sometimes four nights, but I’ve also seen two. Might pay to check around.

 

[GCC]

Similar position here, dropping to silver after 10+ years of being either Diamond or Gold. HH offered me a fast track when I asked them, 10 nights to Gold , 20 to Diamond in 90 days but with no status during the 90 day period.
Not a great offer, and I think I’ll wait to see what else comes along that seems more reasonable for HH Gold. In the meantime I’m enjoying trying some other hotels without worrying about status, or getting annoyed because I don’t receive any benefits.

 

[maaz]

There are usually offers for Gold status, by staying a few nights to qualify. Sometimes four nights, but I’ve also seen two. Might pay to check around.

Thanks DC3 - I did extensive research before we left for our holiday but unfortunately I couldn't find any.

 

[Sabot]

I've come to the conclusion that the executive lounges are actually worse than the Qantas Club. Some of the behaviour I have seen in the last 12 months leads me to consider whether being diamond is worth it. I'm about half way to LTD.

 

[Ryan Bingham]

I've come to the conclusion that the executive lounges are actually worse than the Qantas Club. Some of the behaviour I have seen in the last 12 months leads me to consider whether being diamond is worth it. I'm about half way to LTD.

The worst for me is Sydney. We stayed at GC, Adelaide and Cairns during Covid and much preferred the at-table service. Less feeding time at the zoo, less confusion... I'm dropped Diamond to Silver too and will only miss the bfast.

 

[jase05]

I'm dropped Diamond to Silver too and will only miss the bfast.

Going on my last couple of experiences at Hilton properties I’m not going to miss that either.

 

[mel-world]

Me too. Have been Diamond in the past, now Gold but soon Silver. A few points to use up but post that, I'll look for the best value proposition. I do like Asian Hiltons and Conrads but experience so variable, especially outside this part of the world.

 

[sudoer]

Property: Hilton Resort Miyako Island, Japan
Nights: 3
Status: Diamond
Room booked: King Deluxe Room Ocean View
Received: King Deluxe Room Sunset View
Rate: Three separate bookings - HH standard reward (80k), Amex free night cert, Flex rate (used US$250 Aspire credit)

Stayed in the days leading up to NYE and had meant to post this in January but forgot. My in-laws live on this remote tropical island a couple of kilometres from this newly opened Hilton resort. My wife and I have been tracking progress of the hotel over the last 4-5 years and were quite excited to stay. It was absolutely packed with new years being a popular time for domestic travellers, so I was very happy with the upgrade to a sunset view room, which was about $100pn more expensive over the peak period.

Pros

• Incredible location with a beautiful sunset behind Irabu bridge (longest toll-free bridge in Japan!)
• Extensive buffet breakfast selection, e.g. freshly grilled agu pork, rotating selection of local dishes (taco rice, tuna & sea grapes rice bowl, miyako soba), fish burger sliders, pancake station with local 'yukishio' sugar, ice cream station, etc.
• Evening drinks at the exec lounge offered a decent selection of hot food and plenty of alcohol - a few French & Spanish wines, heaps of sake, a few different beers, some local gins, standard spirits. They also kicked off 30 minutes early on both days in anticipation of high demand.
• Free car parking and lots of it - renting a car in Miyako is cheap and highly recommended as public transport is practically non existent on the island.
• Coin-operated dual mode washer/dryers
• Decent indoor pool with change rooms, lockers, swimsuit drying machine

Cons:

• No bottled/filtered water in room under the guise of sustainability. Instead there is a single ice maker and chilled water dispenser on each floor and a 1L jug in the room, resulting in several trips for water each day. Tap water is safely drinkable though.
• Breakfast not served in the exec lounge, except during peak periods. Gold & Diamond members can reserve a table for breakfast at the buffet to avoid queueing though.
• Outdoor pools were closed during our stay in the middle of winter. I was okay with this as it was too cold to swim outside during our stay, but I've read they stay closed for 4-5 months of the year which is ridiculous. There is a very nice and calm beach about 100m from the outdoor pools though.
• Fairly basic welcome gift - two soft drinks and a couple of biscuits
• Huge construction site next door for Hilton Canopy due in 2026 - I didn't experience any disruption from this, but the site might have been temporarily shutdown over the holidays

 

[Cynicor]

Should probably update a few of my own.
Diamond.


Conrad Tokyo 2023 Oct- cash rate base room, upgrade to city view suite. 3 night stay.
No complaints, decent hotel and stay as usually.

Conrad Centennial SIN- multiple 2023 stays in base room cash rate. Mostly even split of high/top floor upgrade and suite upgrade.

Waldorf maldives- 2023 5 nights points. No upgrade, great hotel, more artificial and busy feeling than Conrad

Conrad Maldives 2023 5 nights points- no upgrade, 4th stay, definitely suffering from the other Hilton chain hotels opening and you can feel them nickel and diming. Still the nicest HH hotelin the Maldives for the deserted tropical island feel, though.

Conrad Bali. Multiple stays booked for my parents. They love my parents, not sure why. I think they sent them all money during covid shutdowns maybe. Either way they give my folks free transfers, even sending cars to grab them when they aren’t staying at the hotel and gave my mum a day use room for free during a transit.
Still an excellent hotel that recognise status more than any other I’ve seen in the brand.

Hilton Narita- booked king room, got junior suite. 1 night. Does what it says on the box. Decent hotel, getting old in the rooms, shuttle to station, mall and airport. Breakfast the usual full fare. If you have to stay at a Hilton, one in Japan will usually be pretty decentz

 

[justinbrett]

Property: Hilton San Salvador
Status: Diamond
Room booked: King
Received: Executive King - Volcano View
Rate: US$133
Breakfast: Full Hot
Lounge: Cold food all day, hot food and alcohol (inc spirits) during happy hour
Welcome amenity: M5.5 earthquake

 

[sudoer]

Volcano View

Welcome amenity: M5.5 earthquake

Nope.

Hope all's okay!

 

[justinbrett]

Nope.

Hope all's okay!

Yeah too far away for any damage.

Though I did google, that volcano is active and only erupted 80 years ago. It can potentially destroy the whole city. That was not in the brochure.

 

[k_sheep]

Status: Gold (for about another month)
Property: Hilton Narita Airport
Room booked: 2x base on points
Rate: 50000
Room received: As per self check in - no upgrade
Received: 2x bottles of water, free drink (which included small snacks).

Always like this hotel for the night before an early flight. Great shuttle to get to the mall and train station, from there it's a short walk to the excellent park and temple nearby.

 

[Cynicor]

Have never been there in enough daylight to see anything but restaurants and the mall. Typically only stay from about 8 (or midnight) to early AM.

 

[Lynda2475]

So looking for a hotel in Darwin (not at the airport) seems to only be 3 shubless options: Mantra Pandanus, Hilton and Hilton Garden Suites - anyone have any recent experience at the Hiltons? The room pics look the same so wondering how accurate they are?

I've ruled out the Doubletree due to Shub.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Hilton Surfers Paradise
Booked 2 Bed Ocean View Govt Rate
Received 2 Bed Premium Ocean View.

Bit of shenanigans at OLCI, the options were pretty garbage and mostly south facing on low floors.
Messaged the hotel and eventually allocated an 04 apt on a high floor. These are by far the best of the 2 bedders.

Did OLCI and bypassed front desk.
Bottle of bubbly on ice and note left in the room on arrival.
Lovely apt, very clean, great view, big balcony.
Exec Lounge on Level 2, usual spread of hot and cold canapés, wine and beer self serve, spirits on request.
Had buffet breakfast each morning and it was fine, standard Hilton fare. No coffee tax.

 

[mel-world]

So looking for a hotel in Darwin (not at the airport) seems to only be 3 shubless options: Mantra Pandanus, Hilton and Hilton Garden Suites - anyone have any recent experience at the Hiltons? The room pics look the same so wondering how accurate they are?

I've ruled out the Doubletree due to Shub.

What is Shub?

 

[Flashback]

What is Shub?

Shower over a bath tub.

 

[Daver6]

What is Shub?

It's like finding a shrub in your hotel bathroom....but worse!

 

[DC3]

What is Shub?

Surely you have gone into a hotel bathroom and felt somewhat disappointed to find a shub in there?