How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

[Moopere]

Property: Conrad Bali
Date: Late December 2015
Status: Gold
Booked: Deluxe Resort King (one up from base)
Received: Same as booked.
Price: Points, 278,000 for 6 nights (40K x4 + 59K x 2), revenue asking was circa AU$280/night inc tax/service.


No upgrade for me as a Gold. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that a lot of golds get upgrades at this property but I received the usual denial of 'hotel is full' - which it plainly wasn't (good availability across all rooms on website and looking around for the next several days it was obvious - in fact, the 'Conrad' suites area was a ghost town.)

Probably two main reasons for no upgrade in my opinion:

- I was on a full rewards stay, no money, I've always wondered about this when I've done it before and have often had no upgrade or poor upgrades - though I should say that in Thailand, BKK, HKT and HHQ areas had no problems in upgrading me to suites even when using rewards stays.

- Long stay. I've been bitten before, though mainly in Australia. Stays extending past 2-3 days (at most) have tended, for me anyway, to result in no upgrade or a token upgrade.

In any event, this probably ended up working to our advantage. We got a 4th (top) floor room with partial ocean views and good close proximity to the main pool area. It was active without being overly noisy which was nice. The Conrad area, which we explored later, was desolate, no people and surprisingly long walk to the main hotel amenities. I did certainly miss not having an executive lounge available to me - but pretty soon got used to wandering around outside the main hotel area for eats and drinks - not a lot of choices close to the Conrad, but those that were there were ok.

Full breakfast in the main restaurant which was consistently great - good selection of Asian and Western foods and two egg chefs.

Had a great stay, staff were excellent, room kept in a good state several times each day. But, without taking anything away from the resort or the staff, there isn't really anything that I noticed which identifies the Conrad Bali as a 'Conrad' experience as compared to other 'Hilton' branded Resorts elsewhere in SE Asia.

 

[hummel]

Property: Conrad Bali
Date: Late December 2015
Status: Gold
Booked: Deluxe Resort King (one up from base)
Received: Same as booked.
Price: Points, 278,000 for 6 nights (40K x4 + 59K x 2), revenue asking was circa AU$280/night inc tax/service.


No upgrade for me as a Gold. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that a lot of golds get upgrades at this property but I received the usual denial of 'hotel is full' - which it plainly wasn't (good availability across all rooms on website and looking around for the next several days it was obvious - in fact, the 'Conrad' suites area was a ghost town.)

Probably two main reasons for no upgrade in my opinion:

- I was on a full rewards stay, no money, I've always wondered about this when I've done it before and have often had no upgrade or poor upgrades - though I should say that in Thailand, BKK, HKT and HHQ areas had no problems in upgrading me to suites even when using rewards stays.

- Long stay. I've been bitten before, though mainly in Australia. Stays extending past 2-3 days (at most) have tended, for me anyway, to result in no upgrade or a token upgrade.

In any event, this probably ended up working to our advantage. We got a 4th (top) floor room with partial ocean views and good close proximity to the main pool area. It was active without being overly noisy which was nice. The Conrad area, which we explored later, was desolate, no people and surprisingly long walk to the main hotel amenities. I did certainly miss not having an executive lounge available to me - but pretty soon got used to wandering around outside the main hotel area for eats and drinks - not a lot of choices close to the Conrad, but those that were there were ok.

Full breakfast in the main restaurant which was consistently great - good selection of Asian and Western foods and two egg chefs.

Had a great stay, staff were excellent, room kept in a good state several times each day. But, without taking anything away from the resort or the staff, there isn't really anything that I noticed which identifies the Conrad Bali as a 'Conrad' experience as compared to other 'Hilton' branded Resorts elsewhere in SE Asia.

Interesting thoughts, I've got 1 night on points there next week for the first time so will be sure to report back.

 

[foggy]

Property: Conrad Sanya Haitang Bay
Date: 20th-26th Dec
Status: Diamond
Booked: Oceanview room (base room)
Received: King Garden Pool Villa (was around 3500cny excluding service fee)
Price:2350 CNY PER NIGHT including their service fee. I think it was CNY2010 excluding service fee

I had thought we wouldn't be upgraded given that it was a 6 night stay and was pleasantly surprised via OLCI that we have been upgraded. We were also travelling with some friends who had no status and so I had got them to book via CTRIP for CNY1690 per night including breakfast. We arrived and checked in together and I had requested for them to be upgraded and after the check-in girl called the manager on duty, was surprised it was approved! So they had the villa next to ours.

This place is definitely for couples and not too as suitable for kids. The property right next door (doubletree) has a kids waterslide which can be freely accessed via golf cart or walking. We hired a car for CNY400 per day to get around as Haitang bay is quite remote from the main area of Sanya. We travelled up to Shangrila's resort and used their pool area which is much bigger and better ( for kids). For adults the personal pool in the villa is great as you wouldn't need to wear any swimmers .

Breakfast @ conrad was good as they did provide a large selection of asian and western food. Also an egg chef. The juices are all real fresh juices. Free afternoon tea is offered between 2pm-4pm which consists of a fruit platter and a selection of cakes as well as coffee/tea/fresh juice. Not sure if its free just because we are diamond members.

Fruit bowl was refreshed everyday as well as free soft drinks in the mini bar.

I actually really enjoyed the stay despite reading the reviews on tripadvisor. The staff were very friendly and keen to help. Great views and the hotel is very private. Saw an asian actor celebrity at breakfast, no idea who he was but a few hotel guests went to get an autograph and a selfie. Asked the waitress and she told us he was a famous actor.

Eating dinner at the hotel is a rip-off though and does not taste as good as the "nearby" restaurants(really do recommend hiring a car).

Oh and we got the dolphin as part of our conrad collection

 

[Deleted member 29185]

(really do recommend hiring a car).

So no dramas driving there? All pretty civil, or road chaos?

 

[nonpop]

Property: Hilton Budapest City (West end)
Date: Late Dec 4 nights
Status: Gold (via status match)
Booked: king room (base room)
Received: Executive floor king room
Price: E66 per night via a winter sale

Have had 2 x small bottles of red delivered on 1st night + each night a large bottle of still water.

 

[kermatu]

Property: Brisbane
Date: Mid-December 2015, one night
Status: Diamond
Booked: Base Guestroom
Received: King Diamond Suite.

Did online check-in upon seeing an upgrade to Exec Room. On arrival (about 6pm) asked for a suite and was told that was already done! Welcome note and water but nothing else.

Room upgrade was excellent, albeit for 1 night only. Room layout and position of bath is odd, but nice space and well-appointed.

Lounge a bit indifferent. Is a good space in the day, with excellent service. But evening canapés were very average. Crowded and noisy (I was only there briefly and late). Food selection quite poor and too few staff to look after guests with drinks or food replenishing.

Full breakfast in restaurant. No charge for my espresso (couple next to me were informed there'd be a charge). Partial late check-out granted (2pm).

Good stay for the price and the room upgrade. I'll be in Brisbane a fair bit in future and will try the Sofitel next...

 

[boomy]

Property: Conrad Sanya Haitang Bay
Date: 20th-26th Dec
Status: Diamond
Booked: Oceanview room (base room)
Received: King Garden Pool Villa

Breakfast @ conrad was good as they did provide a large selection of asian and western food. Also an egg chef. The juices are all real fresh juices. Free afternoon tea is offered between 2pm-4pm which consists of a fruit platter and a selection of cakes as well as coffee/tea/fresh juice. Not sure if its free just because we are diamond members.

Fruit bowl was refreshed everyday as well as free soft drinks in the mini bar.

I actually really enjoyed the stay despite reading the reviews on tripadvisor. The staff were very friendly and keen to help. Great views and the hotel is very private. Saw an asian actor celebrity at breakfast, no idea who he was but a few hotel guests went to get an autograph and a selfie. Asked the waitress and she told us he was a famous actor.

Eating dinner at the hotel is a rip-off though and does not taste as good as the "nearby" restaurants(really do recommend hiring a car).

Oh and we got the dolphin as part of our conrad collection

No more coughtail happy hour 4-6pm?

When we were there all the mini bar was free and (include beers) restocked each day.

I'm glad you enjoyed your stay, those villas are amazing. Here is another good example why it's not always good idea to take TripAdvisor reviews seriously.

Agree about the restaurants, especially the "traditional" Chinese, huge rip off for nothing.

Btw, I recommend hire local driver there. It's relatively cheap saves the hassle of driving.

 

[puppysparkes]

Property: Hilton Darwin

Date: 28-30 December 2015

Status: Diamond

Booked: Double guest room

Received: King deluxe with harbour views

Price: Rack rate $139, $10 cheaper than the website.

I called ahead and was advised to book the cheapest room and I would be upgraded.

The executive lounge is closed for the Christmas period and reopens on 10 January 2016. Full buffet breakfast is offered at Mitchells restaurant. Coffee and non alcoholic drinks are available throughout the day at Mitchells bar. Canapés and alcohol are available between 17:00 and 19:30.

Excellent room with frosty air conditioning, perfect for sleeping in.

 

[foggy]

So no dramas driving there? All pretty civil, or road chaos?

I've driven in shanghai and hong kong before, compared to those cities in asia, sanya has less people on the road. You'd still have to drive as though you were riding a motorcycle in australia (ie. everyone is out there to kill you or to be killed by you) so the concentration level is up there. However the roads are wider and better visibility.

No more coughtail happy hour 4-6pm?

When we were there all the mini bar was free and (include beers) restocked each day.

I'm glad you enjoyed your stay, those villas are amazing. Here is another good example why it's not always good idea to take TripAdvisor reviews seriously.

Agree about the restaurants, especially the "traditional" Chinese, huge rip off for nothing.

Btw, I recommend hire local driver there. It's relatively cheap saves the hassle of driving.

I wasn't told about the happy hour, maybe it was replaced with afternoon tea between 2-4pm? or was that available too during your stay?

I didn't see any beers in the minifridge, just oreo biscuits, OJ, apple juice, coke and sprite.
How much was the local driver? we were quoted roughly $200CNY for taxi from airport to the hotel @ the tourism info desk (so to not get ripped off) and we would have required 2 as we had 5 people total. So hiring a car for 5 people was good for us.

 

[boomy]

I wasn't told about the happy hour, maybe it was replaced with afternoon tea between 2-4pm? or was that available too during your stay?

I didn't see any beers in the minifridge, just oreo biscuits, OJ, apple juice, coke and sprite.
How much was the local driver? we were quoted roughly $200CNY for taxi from airport to the hotel @ the tourism info desk (so to not get ripped off) and we would have required 2 as we had 5 people total. So hiring a car for 5 people was good for us.

We had both afternoon tea and happy hour (similar arraignment as at Conrad Maldives).

The mini bar used to be stocked with Tsingtao and Heineken. Seems they "enhanced" some perks since our last stay.

Can't remember how much the driver cost but the price looked reasonable to us at that time.

 

[Danger]

Property: Hilton Brussels City
Status: Diamond
Room booked: single Hilton guest room
Rate: EUR57 per night plus tax AP for three nights
Received: early check-in (~ three hours), king deluxe (~ three level upgrade), two bottles of water per day, breakfast in restaurant (no lounge), phone call from check-in agent shortly after arrival checking on everything, one drink voucher per day of stay, typed/non-personalised welcome note.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Property: Hilton Darwin
I called ahead and was advised to book the cheapest room and I would be upgraded.

Thanks for the report. I'm booked there in April, also in the base room so your comment was comforting!

I've actually booked all three properties whilst I'm there, not so much for a mattress run (which I don't need) but to give them all a try. I was particularly bemused by the DT Esplanade with both some unusual room choices, but also due to it commanding higher rates than the Hilton! I booked a terrace suite of some description at that one! I'm looking forward to it.

 

[DAC1]

Property: Hilton Adelaide
Status: Diamond
Booked: Double Hilton Guest Room
Rate: $161 - AAA rate
Received: King Hilton Executive, two bottles of water, breakfast in restaurant (lounge was closed for breakfast)

First ever stay as a Diamond and no recognition at all on check in of loyalty. As a Gold (or even when I was a Silver) I always got an acknowledgement. No explanation of the breakfast situation at check-in either. Other than that, stay was fine. Decent enough spread in Executive lounge during the evening.

Property: Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Alice Springs
Status: Diamond
Booked: Double Double Guest Room
Rate: $95 - corporate rate
Received: King Junior Suite, two bottles of water per day, breakfast in restaurant (lounge was closed for breakfast), bottle of red wine, typed thank you card and chocolate platter

Again at check-in, no acknowledgement of loyalty or explanation of breakfast. Got into my room and nothing there at all. It was only until I came back that evening that I found a bottle of wine, thank you card and chocolate platter. Stay was okay, but property is of course nothing special.

 

[kermatu]

Property: Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Alice Springs

Received: King Junior Suite, two bottles of water per day, breakfast in restaurant (lounge was closed for breakfast), bottle of red wine, typed thank you card and chocolate platter

rabbits5 - I didn't know the DT Alice Springs had an Exec Lounge - is that new?

 

[nonpop]

Property: Hilton Vienna Danube Waterfront
Date: Late Dec 5 nights
Status: Gold (via status match)
Booked: king water view room (base room with Danube view) for 2 pax
Received: king water view room (base room with Danube view)
Price: 136k points using the 5th night free offer (price was over E220 per night for this room if we had to use real life money)

Received:
2 x bottles of water in room (and so far not replaced).
2 x apples and 1 x generic welcome card from management.
Full breakfast (via daily dated vouchers) in main restaurant.
No room upgrade nor exec lounge access granted (was told hotel is full ... and a quick check via Hilton website shows they were)

This looks like a nice hotel, but so far I wouldn't be in a rush to come back. It is out of town but close enough to a metro.

Issues like ... no bathrobes nor slippers in room (have tried 3 times to get them ... 2 x calling house keeping and 1 x going to reception across the 3 days so far). They just never show up. Also house keeping seems average at best as well with many surfaces not cleaned.

The restaurant for breakfast seems to go flat out and food isn't replaced fast enough nor tables cleaned away.
I personally don't like the way they do not refresh the pot of coffee on the table nor the little pitcher of milk from seating to seating. Only when the coffee runs dry on the table thermos (like a stainless steel pitcher) do they replace the thermos. So the coffee is ever hot and I have hygienic concerns as they seem to end up with fingers and jam etc smudged over them. May be I'm too OCD. I have pushed for fresh machine coffee after seeing the thermos / milk situation and have received machine coffee $n/c (but with less than happy looks from the staff). Some of the glassware isn't replaced either i.e if the staff think it wasn't used, they just seem to leave the clear glasses on the table when they replace cutlery and napkins.

May be because it is over new years the hotel is just stretched to capacity as I know they were full over NYE.

P.S I asked at check-in (only after we were issued room keys and I had done the upgrade asking) how much the rate we paid was ... the check-in agent said it was E25 per night and she then kept repeating how that was such an amazing rate etc. So I wonder if that is what the hotel receives from Hilton for the points burn.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Hilton Vienna Plaza is the place to stay if looking for a vienna hilton.

 

[puppysparkes]

Thanks for the report. I'm booked there in April, also in the base room so your comment was comforting!

I've actually booked all three properties whilst I'm there, not so much for a mattress run (which I don't need) but to give them all a try. I was particularly bemused by the DT Esplanade with both some unusual room choices, but also due to it commanding higher rates than the Hilton! I booked a terrace suite of some description at that one! I'm looking forward to it.

Update, it seems it is not all smooth sailing after my stay. My cc was debited for $245 above the rate listed on the express check out invoice. Nil points appeared on my account and the stay no longer appears on the HH app. I phoned Darwin Hilton and spoke to a person who did their best within their level of experience. The person offered to follow up and call back. That was at 6:36 DRW time, 7:06 BNE time. Stupidly on my part I failed to ask when the call back would occur. I assumed it would be tonight, my error I know. I'll keep you posted.

 

[straitman]

Hilton south wharf, Melbourne Melbourne.

Just checked in, booked king room, received king executive with a fantastic view that made hubby very happy.

No one at the front when we arrived to arrange valet parking/drop off keys, big queue to check in, no Diamond desk to check in, no mention of benefits (water, WiFi ect but being Diamond I guess we're suppose to know those things).

Going to hit the lounge soon. Lots of people here for the $250pp buffet Christmas lunch.

Go straight to the lounge for checkin when downstairs is too busy. Sometimes need to knock on the door but it is still much quicker than in the scrum.

 

[straitman]

Property: Conrad Bali
Date: Late December 2015
Status: Gold
Booked: Deluxe Resort King (one up from base)
Received: Same as booked.
Price: Points, 278,000 for 6 nights (40K x4 + 59K x 2), revenue asking was circa AU$280/night inc tax/service.


No upgrade for me as a Gold. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that a lot of golds get upgrades at this property but I received the usual denial of 'hotel is full' - which it plainly wasn't (good availability across all rooms on website and looking around for the next several days it was obvious - in fact, the 'Conrad' suites area was a ghost town.)

Probably two main reasons for no upgrade in my opinion:

- I was on a full rewards stay, no money, I've always wondered about this when I've done it before and have often had no upgrade or poor upgrades - though I should say that in Thailand, BKK, HKT and HHQ areas had no problems in upgrading me to suites even when using rewards stays.

- Long stay. I've been bitten before, though mainly in Australia. Stays extending past 2-3 days (at most) have tended, for me anyway, to result in no upgrade or a token upgrade.

In any event, this probably ended up working to our advantage. We got a 4th (top) floor room with partial ocean views and good close proximity to the main pool area. It was active without being overly noisy which was nice. The Conrad area, which we explored later, was desolate, no people and surprisingly long walk to the main hotel amenities. I did certainly miss not having an executive lounge available to me - but pretty soon got used to wandering around outside the main hotel area for eats and drinks - not a lot of choices close to the Conrad, but those that were there were ok.

Full breakfast in the main restaurant which was consistently great - good selection of Asian and Western foods and two egg chefs.

Had a great stay, staff were excellent, room kept in a good state several times each day. But, without taking anything away from the resort or the staff, there isn't really anything that I noticed which identifies the Conrad Bali as a 'Conrad' experience as compared to other 'Hilton' branded Resorts elsewhere in SE Asia.

If you wish to follow up the GM moved from Fiji a few months ago and is a very approachable guy. He is an AFF member so a PM should get him. Let me know if you want his name.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Update, it seems it is not all smooth sailing after my stay. My cc was debited for $245 above the rate listed on the express check out invoice. Nil points appeared on my account and the stay no longer appears on the HH app. I phoned Darwin Hilton and spoke to a person who did their best within their level of experience. The person offered to follow up and call back. That was at 6:36 DRW time, 7:06 BNE time. Stupidly on my part I failed to ask when the call back would occur. I assumed it would be tonight, my error I know. I'll keep you posted.

That's not good. Lucky you're on the ball. I always check the bill, rarely do I check the CC amount. Maybe that's another chore I should start doing. I rarely use express check out though, as I like to get the printed receipt so maybe that's a benefit.