How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

[2tall4Y]

Property: HSW
Status: Diamond
Date: 2-4 April 2016
Booked: Queen family room
Rate: First night booked on a reward weekend night certificate, second night $125 (pre-paid flash sale rate)
Received: Queen family room for first night, 2-bedroom suite for the second

My first stay since receiving diamond status for meeting the required spend on the Hhonors Macquarie Platinum card, and also my first stay at HSW. Despite having my status acknowledged, I wasn't initially offered any upgrade - upon asking was told no larger rooms available for the first night (despite all suites being available to book; can't help think it was because the fist night was an award stay) but that a 2-bedroom suite was available the second night. After having a restless night's sleep with our 3-year old right next to us in the family room, the suite was much appreciated

Both mornings had breakfast downstairs at the restaurant (Dock 37; nice, reminded me of Salt at HSYD from a few years ago)- first morning was told barista coffees would be $4 each, but upon asking had it confirmed that the charge would be waived for diamonds. On the second morning, after ordering coffees the waitress started to apologise for the charge, but then took quick a look at the 'ticket' on the table and stopped mid-sentence - I'm guessing the 'D' at the top did the trick

 

[turtlemichael]

Sydney Hilton

I don't mind the yogurt station (and packaging is a waste) and more than just seeds on my last two visits. OJ is just outside, then squeezed juices to the right (or you can ask for something fresh).

Agree the layout is a bit strange (result of doubling as a real restaurant) but still think it's pretty decent

I guess it is all a question of taste. My view of the yogurt is it is poor quality and distinctly unhygienic as set up.

My partner asked the waiter for and received a freshly squeezed grapefruit juice (gj is not in the dispensers) and I asked for a similar orange juice. The waiter filled mine from the dispenser. Of course, these are first world problems but I reckon there is a big deterioration in one of the plus things of this hotel. I ate one breakfast in the Executive Lounge and it seemmed much the same as previously. Although the choice is limited there it was a much more pleasant experience.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Property: HSW
Status: Diamond
Date: 2-4 April 2016
Booked: Queen family room
Rate: First night booked on a reward weekend night certificate, second night $125 (pre-paid flash sale rate)
Received: Queen family room for first night, 2-bedroom suite for the second

Despite having my status acknowledged, I wasn't initially offered any upgrade - upon asking was told no larger rooms available for the first night (despite all suites being available to book;

I must be mellowing with old age, as I didn't overly mind no upgrade (OK we did....view moved from west to east) and actually argued in my head that a family queen room is a difficult upgrade without committing themselves to a trundle bed. At check in, I was welcomed back, but no thanks for status (which we normally get) and no other incidental benefit noticed. No turn down either, but three into the lounge and breakie is a benefit (over and above the HH blurb). We helped ourselves to the mini bar water, which was happily refunded (along with a little coke), so I guess we can't complain too loudly.

The short and tall of it is that given a choice of H-SYD or H-MEL, I'd choose H-MEL any day of the week (thinking about the hotel only).

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Parmelia Hilton Perth
Diamond
25 March 2016
Booked: base room
Received: King Hilton Deluxe

I arrived late and was out fairly early the next morning so lack of executive lounge was no issue. The room was spacious and staff were friendly. Breakfast in the restaurant was fine. I have no reference point for Perth but would stay at this hotel again.


Hilton London Paddington
Diamond
27 March 2016
Booked: Double guestroom
Received: Double guestroom

As far as I could tell there wasn't much of an upgrade offered. Not a bad hotel but quite aged. Very convenient location for National Rail and Heathrow Express. The executive lounge is very small with adequate food offerings. Breakfast in the restaurant was quite good with lots of variety. Probably would not stay at this hotel again unless I desperately needed the location.

Hilton London Bankside
Diamond
28 March 2016
Booked: King guestroom
Received: King deluxe room

Top quality Hilton property in London. The rooms are all very modern and the reception staff are excellent. The executive lounge is very sophisticated in appearance and the staff are more than willing to get your drinks. Breakfast is amazing with eggs, pancakes and waffles all made to order with a wide variety of other foods. Definitely a good value and modern property in London. Such a combo seems to be hard to come by.

Hilton Berlin
Diamond
30 March - 1 April 2016
Booked: Single guestroom
Received: King executive room

Very centrally located hotel. The rooms were adequate and executive lounge was quite good but did get congested at peaks times in the evening which meant some larger parties had to wait for tables. The location and quality of the executive lounge and breakfast in the restaurant would mean I would return to this property. Options from the airport are either 25 euro by taxi or 2.70 euro by bus and train.

Hilton London Bankside
Diamond
3 April
Booked: King guestroom
Received: Executive room

The staff remembered me from my previous stay which was a nice touch. I arrived early so the room wasn't immediately ready but allowed me to go into the lounge for the end of breakfast and soon after a room was arranged. Upgrades weren't that high but occupancy was quite high so the nicer rooms were genuinely sold out. The staff at this hotel really make the difference and I have submitted very positive feedback to Hilton in regards to this hotel.

 

[Willsmere]

Property: Adelaide
Status: Gold
Date: 1-3 April 2016
Booked: King Hilton with Breakfast
Rate: $370 for 2 nights
Received: King Hilton Executive

Hadnt stayed here before and really enjoyed it. It was the first time I got my upgrade online, certainly beats groveling or wondering at the check in counter. I like to book and pay for full breakfast just to be sure, even if I get executive lounge upgrade they are mostly (all?) continental breakfasts in the lounge. This was the first time I used online check in on the app and it preempted the upgrade saying due to your status we would like to offer you an upgrade with a choice of rooms, so got a large corner room on the same floor as the executive lounge with a view to the ocean, very happy. Have others found they are getting offered their upgrade online before arriving?

 

[blackcat20]

Property: Hilton Adelaide
Status: Gold (at checkin, silver by checkout)
Booked: King Hilton Delixe
Rate: $243/night
Received: King Hilton Executive

I was blue by the time we checked out

Property: Hilton Adelaide
Status: Gold
Booked: King Hilton
Rate: ~$123/night
Received: King Hilton Executive

Enjoyed a corner room selected online. Water in room on arrival, two more bottles when room made up on second morning, and two more (plus chocolates) at turn-down.

 

[Katie]

I was blue by the time we checked out

Property: Hilton Adelaide
Status: Gold
Booked: King Hilton
Rate: ~$123/night
Received: King Hilton Executive

Enjoyed a corner room selected online. Water in room on arrival, two more bottles when room made up on second morning, and two more (plus chocolates) at turn-down.

Did you get turn down both nights?
I got two bottles on Sat night (checked in after 6:30pm), when we returned after midnight, two chocs with turndown.
Sun afternoon two more bottles, no tirndown Sun night.

 

[blackcat20]

Did you get turn down both nights?
I got two bottles on Sat night (checked in after 6:30pm), when we returned after midnight, two chocs with turndown.
Sun afternoon two more bottles, no tirndown Sun night.

None on Friday because we didn't arrive till almost 9pm.

 

[hummel]

Hilton Foshan, China
7-10th April 2016
HHonors Gold
Room Booked: Base King ~$110/night
Room Received: One-Bedroom corner suite, 1 below the top suite. 2901.

2 years ago I was here and received the same upgrade, however back then the exec lounge wasn't finished and the top two floors were still under construction, (I posted about it at the time).

I've got this room till Sunday but will need to stay on further next week so hoping I can book the base room again and keep this one. Pictures incoming.

 

[boomy]

Property: Hilton Garden Inn Rome
Booked: Single Bed Room
Rate: €116 p/night 1 night (pre-payed rate)
Received: King Bed Room

Had more luck than brains with this booking as the hotel was fully booked on the day we checked in and we could end up sleeping in one single bed!

At first was told must add €20 for extra person. I'm used to make bookings just for one person but apparently at Garden Inns the 'second guest free' diamond benefit doesn't apply. I didn't mind paying the extra fee but since the hotel was full the fee was eventually waved as "compensation" for lack of better upgrade.

Room was nice with wooden floor. Diamond benefits were two bottles of water and complementary breakfast.
We found an interesting gift in the room - lock with the hotel logo. At first I thought it's an odd gift but then remembered that we are in Rome where a lock is always something practical to have

 

[drross]

Property: Hilton Garden Inn Rome
Booked: Single Bed Room
Rate: €116 p/night 1 night (pre-payed rate)
Received: King Bed Room

Had more luck than brains with this booking as the hotel was fully booked on the day we checked in and we could end up sleeping in one single bed!

At first was told must add €20 for extra person. I'm used to make bookings just for one person but apparently at Garden Inns the 'second guest free' diamond benefit doesn't apply. I didn't mind paying the extra fee but since the hotel was full the fee was eventually waved as "compensation" for lack of better upgrade.

Room was nice with wooden floor. Diamond benefits were two bottles of water and complementary breakfast.
We found an interesting gift in the room - lock with the hotel logo. At first I thought it's an odd gift but then remembered that we are in Rome where a lock is always something practical to have

great gift idea. hope it came with a key

 

[boomy]

great gift idea. hope it came with a key

Even better, it has code!

 

[drross]

definitely better

Even better, it has code!

 

[boomy]

Property: Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri
Booked: King Deluxe
Rate: €137 + 32K points p/night 3 nights
Received: King Deluxe Premium Rome View

This amazing property deserves it's own thread. I'll find the time to post detailed review and photos but meanwhile bottom line is: when in Rome, stay there!!

 

[moa999]

Agree the Cavalieri is a pretty darn nice hotel - had a conference there a few years ago.

Great view over all of Rome from the Exec Lounge

 

[moa999]

Property: Hilton Sydney
Status: Diamond
Date: Sun 10 April
Booked: King Guestroom Plus $150 40% off sale
Received: King Exec 36th floor.

Usual story for me with the app.
Had options on the app of levels 22-26 until about 10am, then upgraded to Exec Room with choices from 35-38. I checked into an Exec King room on the north side of 36.

Checked in downstairs, and the girl saw my room and said without prompting, oh I'll see if I can get you a better room, and i was thinking and then proceeded to give me a keycard for an Exec Room on the south side of level 36 :-( (oh well - still to see a suite at this hotel including in 5 stays in the last six months).

Exec Lounge catering was dire - hot food was beef meat pies and chicken drumsticks... I think there was a baked salmon dish but almost gone by my 630 arrival and replaced by smoked salmon.. Salads and dessert were at least decent. And no sushi (not that it's ever great)

No bottles of water (or any other amenity) so I called at 630 and they were delivered by the time I returned from drinks.

Coffee tax seems to be back :-(
Had a new server who mentioned it (and I said yes, knowing previously I haven't been charged).. I then asked if I could have an eggs Benedict as the eggs dish - she said yes, and then 5min later returned saying on the bain marie (they are pretty poor), so I got an omelette instead.

But when I checked out at Exec Lounge coffee charge was there. I mentioned that I thought it was not charged for Diamonds, and she said no it is charged but would remove it this time only.

--

So all in all a very underwhelming stay

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Property: Hilton Sydney

Coffee tax seems to be back :-(

Perhaps H-SYD like seeing diamonds doing the hokey pokey!

You put your coffee tax in,
You take your coffee tax out,
You put your coffee tax in and stir it all about,
You do the diamond jokey and turn the bunnies around,
That's what it's all about!

 

[drross]

Hilton Cairns overnight.
Diamond
Points and pay ($83 and 16000Pts)
Wife checked in( as I was still at 'work') - upgraded from 318 showing on app to 901
welcome gift - 2 bottles of water and chocolate
breakfast in lounge or downstairs
no coffee tax for diamonds
always enjoy this hotel even though I was too late for the evening lounge experience - the boss enjoyed it!

 

[hydrabyss]

Property: Hilton Cairns
Status: Diamond
Date: Sun 11 April - 16th April
Booked: Double guestroom 40% off sale $155/night for first 2 nights then $143/night for the next 3
Received: Upgrade to Executive King Room on water side showing day before for room 927. Nor1 upgrade to Executive Spa Suite was showing as an extra $69/night. On checkin asked about an upgrade to a Spa Suite and what the price would be and managed to get this down to $250 for the 5 nights. So ended up in 922 which has the Bose sound system and water mountain views. For under $200/night more than happy with the room.
Although not really a granted upgrade as I payed the extra what made it affordable is that they only charge the extra from an exec room to a spa suite instead of the guestroom I booked.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Property: Hilton Cairns
Status: Diamond
Date: Sun 11 April - 16th April
Booked: Double guestroom 40% off sale $155/night for first 2 nights then $143/night for the next 3
Received: Upgrade to Executive King Room on water side showing day before for room 927. Nor1 upgrade to Executive Spa Suite was showing as an extra $69/night. On checkin asked about an upgrade to a Spa Suite and what the price would be and managed to get this down to $250 for the 5 nights. So ended up in 922 which has the Bose sound system and water mountain views. For under $200/night more than happy with the room.
Although not really a granted upgrade as I payed the extra what made it affordable is that they only charge the extra from an exec room to a spa suite instead of the guestroom I booked.

Nice outcome. About $200/night for those spa suites is good value. The cheapest I can buy them usually is $239/night on a discount rate and even though a spa suite complementary upgrade would have been nice, H-CNS policy is not to generally offer them (although it does from time to time happen).