21 in 90 for Hilton Diamond

[JessicaTam]

As I discussed in this thread: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....m-club/hilton-mvp-programme-closed-46660.html I have been offered a diamond challenge to stay 21 nights in 90 days. I have decided to document my stays as I go.

Stay 1/21
14th Feb
Hilton on the Park
Booked: King guest room
Received: King exec room
Upgrades 1/1

Two bottles of water, turn down

Hotel was not very busy. I spent an hour in the lounge, with my glass being topped up constantly. Canapés were enough for dinner. Breakfast was similarly efficient.

 

[JessicaTam]

Stay 2/21
2nd March
Hilton South Wharf
Booked: King guest room
Received: King exec room (paid upgrade) 17th floor
Upgrades 2/2

Two bottles of water, turn down, chocolates

The hotel was full, so I would not have been upgraded without the $79 extra I paid when I booked. The exec lounge was busy but a reasonable range of canapés. I didn't get carried away with them as we were heading out for dinner as part of the AFF medical meet.

Breakfast was a complete schmozzle. I met straitman at 10am and the dining room was very busy. I ordered my coffee, and then when straitman's turned up I ordered again. We got up to get breakfast and on return to our table it had been cleared - including the full coffee. We ordered our coffees again, and mine turned up but straitman's was the wrong one, so off they went again. We had to prompt for tea spoons, twice, and get our own napkins. When the corrected coffee arrived, the attendant asked if I had finished mine. I said I was still going, so she took a step back, then stepped forward and took my cup anyway. When I caught her eye again, I asked why she had taken my coffee she apologised and soon came back with a replacement - the wrong one. At this point I insisted that she not bring any more! Our one course breakfast took a little more than an hour.

Whilst each of the above may seem trivial, when combined they added up to a chaotic experience. By 10:15 the dining room had quietened down, so I cannot understand how this occurred. I filled out the feedback form with the appropriate comments.

 

[Newk]

I shall follow closely. And see if I can wangle similar challenge later in the year. Thanks for the thread

 

[mella2007]

Are you planning on just Melbourne stays or do you have a block of nights coming up somewhere?

 

[JessicaTam]

Are you planning on just Melbourne stays or do you have a block of nights coming up somewhere?

I have SYD and ADL stays booked as well, but I expect most will be in MEL. If I don't make it I will still have until the end of the year to do 30 stays as part of the normal qualifying for HHD, which may increase the variety.

 

[markis10]

Is it just me or is that a ridiculous challenge, that's around $3000 in hotel charges, wonder how much DJ WP could be had as an alternative??

 

[JessicaTam]

Is it just me or is that a ridiculous challenge, that's around $3000 in hotel charges, wonder how much DJ WP could be had as an alternative??

At say $4 per SC, I would need to spend around $3520 - I have 120 VA SCs at the moment. That doesn't take into account that there would be flights that I need to take regardless, as there are hotel stays I need to do as well. I have no status with VA so the first 380 would be with no lounge/seat selection etc.

 

[straitman]

Is it just me or is that a ridiculous challenge, that's around $3000 in hotel charges, wonder how much DJ WP could be had as an alternative??

At say $4 per SC, I would need to spend around $3520 - I have 120 VA SCs at the moment. That doesn't take into account that there would be flights that I need to take regardless, as there are hotel stays I need to do as well. I have no status with VA so the first 380 would be with no lounge/seat selection etc.

I cannot see the relevance of the comment markis10.

Jessica Tam is talking about gaining hotel status and you are talking about airline status which she already has with Qantas.

 

[Deewhy]

I cannot see the relevance of the comment markis10.

Jessica Tam is talking about gaining hotel status and you are talking about airline status which she already has with Qantas.

I think markis is referring to the complimentary diamond offered for VA Plat. So the cost comparison is the hh challenge vs cost of obtaining plat VA.

 

[JessicaTam]

Further to my reply to markis10, I did consider going for VA WP. A couple of things put me off.

Any flights I take with VA are flights I am not requalifying WP with QF, so will need to factor in the cost of additional QF flights. I would also need to requal with 3 airline programs annually instead of 2: QF and TK (for *A)

I am quite happy to put my hotel spend to HH instead of spreading my flight spend too thin, and then still needing to stay in a hotel.

Whilst there is no talk of the VA HH comp ending, I would hate to be half way through gaining VA plat and have the rug pulled from me if the HH comp finishes.

Domestically QF and JQ fly where I need/want to go and I have QP or J lounge access. Internationally I am OWE and *A-G so I am covered for lounges with any carrier I choose.

Perhaps this might be a topic for a different thread, as I would rather keep this one to my hotel stays. I can appreciate that the comparison is worth further discussion.

P.S. My $4 SC was probably optimistic, so I expect the cost would be higher.

 

[markis10]

I think markis is referring to the complimentary diamond offered for VA Plat. So the cost comparison is the hh challenge vs cost of obtaining plat VA.

Exactly, the total cost of getting VA plat and its benefits needs to be weighed up, especially with the SCs for reward flights, effectively $3000 spend with DJ will get you more than $3k spend with Hilton at the moment.

 

[JessicaTam]

Exactly, the total cost of getting VA plat and its benefits needs to be weighed up, especially with the SCs for reward flights, effectively $3000 spend with DJ will get you more than $3k spend with Hilton at the moment.

Alas with next to no VA points that is not an option for me.

 

[straitman]

I think markis is referring to the complimentary diamond offered for VA Plat. So the cost comparison is the hh challenge vs cost of obtaining plat VA.

I understand that, however if she is having hotel stays and then flying with VA to gain Platinum status the effective cost (roughly) doubles.

 

[Fifa]

I have decided to document my stays as I go.

Go JessicaTam, go!!!
Good luck and enjoy the Hilton journey.

 

[diningdecadence]

Reckon you could add a photo in for the different hotels? Maybe an iPhone one upon entering?

Dont do too much domestic travel but would be interested in seeing the differing quality standards.

Also, what reward style did you choose?

 

[JohnK]

Interesting challenge.

Good luck with it. Not sure I would spend that much on mattress runs to attain Hilton Diamond status even though it is a good status to have if you stay a lot in those sorts of hotels.

 

[JessicaTam]

Reckon you could add a photo in for the different hotels? Maybe an iPhone one upon entering?

Dont do too much domestic travel but would be interested in seeing the differing quality standards.

Also, what reward style did you choose?

Consider it done!

I have chosen points + miles to try to boost my VA account.

 

[JessicaTam]

Stay 3/21
3rd Mar
Hilton on the Park
Booked: King guest room
Received: King exec room
Upgrades 3/3

Two bottles of water, welcome note from GM.

The hotel did not seem busy, although there were maybe 15 people in the exec lounge. The attendant recognised me and welcomed me back. I was one of maybe three in the lounge who had their drinks kept full for the duration. Everyone else had to help themselves.

Breakfast was a breeze. The dining room was maybe 1/2 to 2/3 full. I was in at 8am, seated and fed smartly - and I got the coffee I ordered the first time! The difference between the HSW and HOTP breakfast was noticeable. The staff at HOTP seemed confident and competent, unlike HSW. Admittedly it was not as busy, but they gave the impression that it would not matter if they were. I look forward to seeing a busy HOTP for a fairer comparison.

 

[JessicaTam]

Stay 4/21
5th Mar
Hilton on the Park
Booked: King guest room
Received: King exec room
Upgrades 4/4

Two bottles of water, welcome note from GM.

Another pleasant stay. This time my room was on the top floor (20th) with the only complaint being a slightly loose power point in the bathroom.

 

[JessicaTam]

Stay 5/21
8th Mar
Hilton Adelaide
Booked: King guest room
Received: King exec room
Upgrades 5/5

Two bottles of water, turn down, chocolates

My first stay in the Adelaide Hilton. The rooms were modern and stylish, with a large bathroom with separate bath and shower. The exec lounge was reasonably busy with only occasional top ups being provided. I still had a chance to have a good chat to one of the staff. IMHO the wines on offer were not to quite the same standard as those in the Melbourne hotels. Breakfast in the Brasserie was on the perfunctory side of efficient, but was pleasant enough. I will return for the QF81 farewell weekend, so will see if a second stay is any different.



Now, how to rotate the picture?