Where's the best Exec lounge in Oz?

[Virgin Bart]

Hi all

My girlfriend has been bugging me for years to switch from Accor to Hilton. So, I'm giving it a go starting with Hilton Cairns (booked for November, but I will be booking a few more before then). Any tips?

Also, in your experience, brainstrust, which Australian property has the best lounge? Again, any tips?

Thanks in advance!

 

[jetlagger]

Hi all

My girlfriend has been bugging me for years to switch from Accor to Hilton. So, I'm giving it a go starting with Hilton Cairns (booked for November, but I will be booking a few more before then). Any tips?

Also, in your experience, brainstrust, which Australian property has the best lounge? Again, any tips?

Thanks in advance!

From my experience & IIRC with the Cairns Hilton, the lounge was neither opulent or generous in offerings in the food & drink, seat & space variety.
The property location made up for the varied overall shortcomings though.

 

[wingspan]

From my experience & IIRC with the Cairns Hilton, the lounge was neither opulent or generous in offerings in the food & drink, seat & space variety.
The property location made up for the varied overall shortcomings though.

And O the breakfasts!

 

[Ewing]

Also, in your experience, brainstrust, which Australian property has the best lounge? Again, any tips?

My favourite is Hilton South Wharf.

My least favourite is Hilton Sydney (the Uni Café).

 

[turtlemichael]

From my experience & IIRC with the Cairns Hilton, the lounge was neither opulent or generous in offerings in the food & drink, seat & space variety.
The property location made up for the varied overall shortcomings though.

Agree but it usually has pleasant staff. Breakfasts in the restaurant downstairs are above average and superior to the lounge.

 

[DeKa]

My favourite is Hilton South Wharf.

My least favourite is Hilton Sydney (the Uni Café).

Agree with HSW after just spending 3 nights there. My guests who joined me and in a second room were blown away.

 

[tuapekastar]

Have only used HH ELs at HSW, HSP, H ADL and H SYD (well I saw H SYD, but did not use it due to time constraints) and HSW/HSP were roughly equal - ADL had cough food - (though Conrad SIN was much better than both).

 

[Deleted member 29185]

My assessment of the lounges I've visited:

CNS - Very friendly, very helpful. It's small, but that's not an issue with the hotel size. Big benefit, a nice balcony overlooking Cairns esplanade and Trinity inlet.

BNE - Smallish and can become very overcrowded. Nothing to write home about but does have a small offering all day which some others don't.

HSP - Best view in Oz. Can get crowded, not very friendly, service is ordinary (drinks fridge is miniscule and regularly runs out without being replenished), sometimes gets overcrowded (understandable given the hotel size) and the food offering is the worst of all Hiltons I tried.

SYD - Best food offering in Oz. Agree with the uni cafe comments, but it ranks probably as my favourite lounge simply because of the wide variety of food and the tendered bar.

HSW - Biggest lounge in Oz. Generally acceptable across the board. Nice deck area, resaonable food offering.

I cannot comment on HoTP or ADL as I haven't tried them.

Although my favourite would be SYD as mentioned above, they all suit me. I don't select a city/town to visit based on the lounge offerings. My least favoured lounge is HSP (due to the cough food offering), but the others are all acceptable in my books. As for breakfast....HSW is my favourite with SYD, HSP, CNS all very good. BNE is probably my least favoured breakfast but that's mainly because the coffee is cough and they do regularly run short of things (on time performance is not high on their list).

EDIT: Another benefit of CNS is happy hour is three hours long (5pm - 8pm). I think most of the others are 6pm-8pm with the exception being HSW which from memory is 6pm-8.30pm (please correct me if my memory errs).

 

[Toddkurnski]

The Hilton Cairns is OK. As a diamond I have always received my benefits as described and been upgraded to the executive floor usually with a note and a gift from management. I have never had a spa room or suite. The executive lounge in my experience has been average but all the staff I have encountered have been helpful, cheery and polite. I stayed at the Pullman once as a platinum member and received no benefits so I never went back.

 

[Fifa]

My favourite lounge is HSW and I certainly agree with swanning_it about HSP.
The only one I haven't been to is Brisbane.

Best breakfast is Hilton Sydney at Glass.

 

[drross]

My assessment of the lounges I've visited:

CNS - Very friendly, very helpful. It's small, but that's not an issue with the hotel size. Big benefit, a nice balcony overlooking Cairns esplanade and Trinity inlet.

BNE - Smallish and can become very overcrowded. Nothing to write home about but does have a small offering all day which some others don't.

HSP - Best view in Oz. Can get crowded, not very friendly, service is ordinary (drinks fridge is miniscule and regularly runs out without being replenished), sometimes gets overcrowded (understandable given the hotel size) and the food offering is the worst of all Hiltons I tried.

SYD - Best food offering in Oz. Agree with the uni cafe comments, but it ranks probably as my favourite lounge simply because of the wide variety of food and the tendered bar.

HSW - Biggest lounge in Oz. Generally acceptable across the board. Nice deck area, resaonable food offering.

I cannot comment on HoTP or ADL as I haven't tried them.

Although my favourite would be SYD as mentioned above, they all suit me. I don't select a city/town to visit based on the lounge offerings. My least favoured lounge is HSP (due to the cough food offering), but the others are all acceptable in my books. As for breakfast....HSW is my favourite with SYD, HSP, CNS all very good. BNE is probably my least favoured breakfast but that's mainly because the coffee is cough and they do regularly run short of things (on time performance is not high on their list).

EDIT: Another benefit of CNS is happy hour is three hours long (5pm - 8pm). I think most of the others are 6pm-8pm with the exception being HSW which from memory is 6pm-8.30pm (please correct me if my memory errs).

Agree with all the above and can add the last 2.
ADL is small. Attentive staff, average food

HoTP is a little bigger than ADL and often very slow service. Staff very variable.

 

[johnself]

Best interior: HSW
Best staff/service: ADL / HOTP / BNE

As a long stayer at the above hotels the (hot)food selection doesn't vary from week to week much at all but certainly from day to day so your luck will vary. A rather unfortunate trend across the board is parents bringing in noisy kids and stacking multiple plates high with food to feed the family dinner.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Best staff/service: ADL / HOTP / BNE

As far as service goes, (this is turning out to be an interesting thread), I'd go with the top three being (in my estimation) BNE, CNS and SYD. CNS, as a previous cat.5 hotel is actually the stand out as they deliver a comparable service to the old cat.7 hotels with the exception of valets. You often have to lump your luggage in, but that doesn't particularly bother me. BNE is great and once escorted me to the bar and arranged a complementary tab until my room was ready (HSP would go broke if they did that). SYD has been excellent (admitedly, my last stay with a king suite certainly helps). HSW is OK for service....friendly enough, and I have certainly had very nice upgrades, but the checkin always leaves me little more than luke warm (I know others will disagree with that and it's probably my only beef with HSW) and HSP is absolutely useless at anything even remotely service oriented (but once again, I have had very nice upgrades).

 

[Deleted member 29185]

The Hilton Cairns is OK. I have never had a spa room or suite.

I once received a relaxation room as an upgrade at CNS, but it was before I had status....just blue!

 

[kermatu]

I have experience at a few ELs around the place. Pretty much agree with swanning_it 's assessments:

Cairns - small but very good service, with regular offering of drinks. Nice atmosphere. 3 hours is a plus and when food runs low it is replenished. Breakfast downstairs is better, but can be crowded. Lounge quieter, more relaxed and with fresh juice. While it has 3 hours for drinks, it is closed most of the rest of the day.

HSW - I actually like the food in the lounge for canapés, and the drinks. But limited hours and only 2 or 3 staff who, despite being very nice in my experience, are run off their feet - a problem if you want spirits. Open all day for at least coffee, cold drinks, and basic snacks. Always have breakfast downstairs which is absolutely outstanding in my view.

Minimal experience with Brisbane and HSP - but I was lucky and neither were crowded when I stayed. Nice food in Brisbane but limited offerings. Open all day with some food was a big plus after arriving mid-arvo and needing a quick bite. Breakfast downstairs was great. HSP super view and drinks were great. I liked the food variety. Breakfast not so good though - albeit quiet and with a stunning view. Best upgrades and free items on arrival at these 2 places - basically none at Cairns or HSW.

Will be trying Adelaide shortly, and next stay in Melbs is at HoTP.

 

[hgwells01]

Been at HOTP a lot recently, lounge is open until 8.30pm on weekday nights and 8pm on weekends. Lounge breckie has smoked salmon, cheeses and cold cuts, good selection of pastries and good staff. Concierge service at hotel is excellent, always get helped with my bags to room or car. Always upgraded recently to relaxation suite last 6 stays.

HSP great views, packed, not a lot of staff around and food average upgraded to suite.

Syd, oysters and prawns at night, busy but has good staff make a mean Bloody Mary but new layout not a fav with me. Great concierge staff, and breckie at Glass is the way to go.

HSW largest lounge and a varied food offering including specially cold cuts from the tapas bar downstairs. Hot breckie in lounge but I'd having a hot breakfast I'd go downstairs, have been upgraded a few times to suites, will be back wed so will see if the upgrade fairy is on duty.

Bne very small lounge, struck a rude staff member there a couple years back and haven't been back, not because of that but I have FIFO friends in area so usually stay with them and freeload, their exec lounge is awesome lol.

 

[penegal]

(though Conrad SIN was much better than both)

I agree. I have never actually stayed at the Conrad in SIN, but have been to that lounge many times, and have always enjoyed myself

 

[DeKa]

I agree. I have never actually stayed at the Conrad in SIN, but have been to that lounge many times, and have always enjoyed myself

That's good to hear! I'm staying there in a month.

 

[penegal]

That's good to hear! I'm staying there in a month.

PM me the dates?

Depending on work I may be in town if you are keen for a drink.

 

[Kef]

Hi all

My girlfriend has been bugging me for years to switch from Accor to Hilton. So, I'm giving it a go starting with Hilton Cairns (booked for November, but I will be booking a few more before then). Any tips?

Also, in your experience, brainstrust, which Australian property has the best lounge? Again, any tips?

Thanks in advance!

The Hilton Cairns I personally like this hotel but their lounge is miniscule and by no means lavish. Its almost a small airline lounge. We were there last November for a week last year and a few times pior to then also.
coughtail hour was very busy and it was standing room only. Breakfast is ok, if all your looking for is cereal, toast and you might be lucky in scoring a boiled egg.
As someone else said the property location will make up for it. Great Italian restuarant down on the boardwalk.
Park Hyatt Melbourne, now that lounge is a fantastic lounge in my experience, plenty to drink and eat and wonderful views.
Hilton Surfers Paradise is a hit and miss great views of the ocean.
I love the Hiltons in the US they know how to do it right and thats the only reason I joined the HH program. Australian hotels as far as I am concerned are inconsistent with their product and services.