How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

[Andrew Curran]

So no more Vintage Cellars?

 

[mel-world]

Correct. It's all going, including the Coles.

 

[jase05]

Correct. It's all going, including the Coles.

Coles was shutting today and that whole area back to the markets is being demolished.
Going to be a mess there for up to 4 years

 

[Anna]

Coles' last trading day is tomorrow.

 

[jase05]

Coles' last trading day is tomorrow.

Oh, wasn’t aware. The email said last day to receive stock was Thursday 1pm.
Obviously just trying to run down stock.

 

[Anna]

Yes I wouldn't go there this weekend hoping to do a big shop as I'd expect a lot of empty shelves. But maybe to get some closing down bargains.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Sunday, May 22 to Friday, 27 (5 nights)
Property: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Alana - Waikiki Beach
Honours Status: Gold
Room booked: City Mountain View (1 King Bed)
Rate: Travelzoo 50,000 Hilton point/night redemption (5th night free)
Received: 2 free bottles of water, freshly baked cookie and my choice of an $18 F&B credit or some bonus points (chose the credit)
Late Check Out: Didn't request (may not end up needing anyway)

Arrived at the hotel around 12:30 PM and proceeded to check-in. Hotel staff were friendly and provided an early check-in no questions asked. The receptionist gave me a few options: an upper level room but there would be state inspection of the balcony throughout the week or a lower level floor with 2 king beds. I chose the latter as I didn't want any surprise visits during my stay.

Room was pretty typical for a Hilton property, not terrible but certainly nothing to write home about:





Balcony View:



There was a smallish pool and fitness centre on the Mezzanine level:



Would I stay here again? Probably if the price is right. In hindsight I should've spent my hard earned Honours points elsewhere. This is now my third trip to the Hawaiian Islands, and by far my favourite property thus far has been the Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel, excellent redemption with it just off the shore of the pacific with a great pool area and other amenities. Then again, hindsight is always 2022!

-RooFlyer88

 

[samas]

Stayed: 21 May to 23 May
Property: Hilton Sydney
Status: Diamond
Room Booked: Superior King
Rate : $261.26 Member travel and save
Received: Executive Room
Coffee Tax: $5

After my first stay in >10 years the previous weekend, coming back for a second weekend in a row I already had front desk and lounge staff personally remember me and welcome me back which was pleasant and unexpected.

2.30pm late checkout for today Monday 23/5 was promptly approved with no fuss.

For reference: pool facilities opening hours (whilst gym is 24 hours)
Mon-Thurs 0600 to 2045
Fri: 0600 to 1945
Sat and Sun 0900 - 1745.
(i rocked up too early for Sunday morning getting times mixed up in my head. Pool area was very busy just before close time Sunday evening which is no surprise given how early it closes on weekends. Aquatic facilities are only open during fitness first staffed hours.)

 

[Berlin]

For reference: pool facilities opening hours (whilst gym is 24 hours)

While I otherwise quite like the Sydney Hilton, the so-called "pool and gym facilities" is what I detest here as I just think it's a big scam- especially that the hotel even outrageously claims to have "Australia's biggest hotel gym". Well, no. It's a Fitness First to which you get access to. With all the riff raff and dirty facilities that you'd expect in a Fitness First. Change rooms smell like dirty socks. The place is always super packed. The pool never gets cleaned or looked after in any way.

As one can tell, it's a topic that I'm quite passionate about. A hotel gym and pool (to me, at least) is a nice inviting facility that is exclusively used by hotel guests. Getting access to some public gym is nothing compared to that and the fact that this Fitness First happens to be in the same building doesn't change this a single bit in my eyes.

 

[http_x92]

Sunday, May 22 to Friday, 27 (5 nights)
Property: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Alana - Waikiki Beach
Honours Status: Gold
Room booked: City Mountain View (1 King Bed)
Rate: Travelzoo 50,000 Hilton point/night redemption (5th night free)

Looks like the Doubletree Alana and the Hilton Garden Inn are the only 50k/night properties in Honolulu. The Timeshare resort (HGV) prices are through the roof.

Also with the points you avoid all the resort fees that come with a cash booking, so points would be worthwhile here.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Looks like the Doubletree Alana and the Hilton Garden Inn are the only 50k/night properties in Honolulu. The Timeshare resort (HGV) prices are through the roof.

Also with the points you avoid all the resort fees that come with a cash booking, so points would be worthwhile here.

Avoiding the resort fees was certainly one of the reasons why I decided to make a Hilton awards booking over a Marriott one. I suppose the thing about Hilton is I always set my expectations too high and end up disappointed. Also part of me has in the back of their mind my trip in late 2018 to Bali where I could stay 5 nights at the HGI DPS for 20,000 points for a hotel I'd argue is better in almost every respect (i.e. pool, breakfast buffet, etc.) The idea of spending the same number of points here on a 5 night stay as a 50 night stay at the DPS airport is kind of insane.

-RooFlyer88

 

[http_x92]

Avoiding the resort fees was certainly one of the reasons why I decided to make a Hilton awards booking over a Marriott one. I suppose the thing about Hilton is I always set my expectations too high and end up disappointed. Also part of me has in the back of their mind my trip in late 2018 to Bali where I could stay 5 nights at the HGI DPS for 20,000 points for a hotel I'd argue is better in almost every respect (i.e. pool, breakfast buffet, etc.) The idea of spending the same number of points here on a 5 night stay as a 50 night stay at the DPS airport is kind of insane.

-RooFlyer88

Have heard its one of the cheapest Hiltons in the world (coming in at around 55 AUD a night) but sounds like people have a good experience of the HGI in Bali. Near the airport but people make their way to the beaches anyway.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Have heard its one of the cheapest Hiltons in the world (coming in at around 55 AUD a night) but sounds like people have a good experience of the HGI in Bali. Near the airport but people make their way to the beaches anyway.

The only downside about the hotel is it's not a resort in the sense that there's a private beach and the beaches in Bali proper aren't that great. That being said you can often buy in to many beach resorts for like $25 USD IIRC, spending like $8 on an Uber there.

-RooFlyer88

 

[sudoer]

Have heard its one of the cheapest Hiltons in the world (coming in at around 55 AUD a night) but sounds like people have a good experience of the HGI in Bali. Near the airport but people make their way to the beaches anyway.

I'm not a huge fan for anything more than a one night stay just before/after a flight, the proximity to the airport is a curse otherwise as the roads around are often congested making Grabs to other parts of the island quite painful. The rooms are nothing to write home about, and the pool is fairly small considering there is no beach or other tourist attractions nearby. There are an abundance of better hotels for only a slightly higher cost and in far better locations, so I don't understand the appeal of longer term HGI DPS stays unless manufacturing HH nights.

 

[snabbu]

Catching up on my recent stays at Hilton...
-----
Property: Waldorf Astoria Orlando
Date: 09Apr2022 - 14Apr2022
Status: Diamond
Room Booked: Deluxe 2 Queens
Room Received: Gold View - Deluxe Room - 2 Queen Beds
Rate: 320k points ( 5th night free)

Food credit ($50/day for 2 adults) used at Peacock Alley for takeaway food and pastries to be eaten while at Disney theme parks.

I would not recommend this hotel if you are thinking of going to Disney theme parks. The WA Orlando is a Disney partner and you'd be allowed to have early entry into the theme parks which is a great advantage. Unfortunately the early morning Disney shuttles (which are covered by the resort fees or waived on points bookings) don't come early enough to make this worthwhile.
Secondly, the shuttles first stop is at the Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek next door. You're going to have a "fun" time waiting if there are a lot of people wanting to go to Disney early in the morning. I would recommend walking to the Signia shuttle pick-up area if you don't want to miss out.

I have a short stay at this hotel coming up, first time at a Waldorf property. Not visiting Disney. Gold status. Any thing worth noting, things to look out for etc? Will def check out using Peackock Alley for the F&B credit.

 

[dairyfloss]

Stayed: 21 May to 23 May
Property: Hilton Sydney
Status: Diamond
Room Booked: Superior King
Rate : $261.26 Member travel and save
Received: Executive Room
Coffee Tax: $5

After my first stay in >10 years the previous weekend, coming back for a second weekend in a row I already had front desk and lounge staff personally remember me and welcome me back which was pleasant and unexpected.

2.30pm late checkout for today Monday 23/5 was promptly approved with no fuss.

For reference: pool facilities opening hours (whilst gym is 24 hours)
Mon-Thurs 0600 to 2045
Fri: 0600 to 1945
Sat and Sun 0900 - 1745.
(i rocked up too early for Sunday morning getting times mixed up in my head. Pool area was very busy just before close time Sunday evening which is no surprise given how early it closes on weekends. Aquatic facilities are only open during fitness first staffed hours.)

Curious - does the Hilton Sydney lounge offer real coffee that you could carry in a takeaway cup to Glass to enjoy 'tax free' with your breakfast? I've done this in other properties where the barista coffee was not included in the buffet

 

[Princess Fiona]

Curious - does the Hilton Sydney lounge offer real coffee that you could carry in a takeaway cup to Glass to enjoy 'tax free' with your breakfast? I've done this in other properties where the barista coffee was not included in the buffet

The coffee in the Lounge is from a self service machine. They do provide takeaway cups.
The lounge is on level 36 and Glass level 2 so it would take some effort to save $5.
Paying $300 a night for the hotel, I wouldn’t waste my time for $5. But YMMV of course.

I stayed here again last week.
Booked standard room Govt rate and got a Junior Suite high floor (old relaxation rooms)
Got told some rubbish at check-in about $10 upcharge at Glass for the hot buffet breakfast.
Nothing was charged, not even the coffee.

 

[http_x92]

I'm not a huge fan for anything more than a one night stay just before/after a flight, the proximity to the airport is a curse otherwise as the roads around are often congested making Grabs to other parts of the island quite painful. The rooms are nothing to write home about, and the pool is fairly small considering there is no beach or other tourist attractions nearby. There are an abundance of better hotels for only a slightly higher cost and in far better locations, so I don't understand the appeal of longer term HGI DPS stays unless manufacturing HH nights.

Havent been to Bali before but it does look like a built up place with lots of local roads to get to the beachside from the airport. Resorts along Nusa Dua seem to be in high demand, almost every big chain has a hotel/resort around that place. Sounds like the most popular spot for a stay.

 

[jase05]

Havent been to Bali before but it does look like a built up place with lots of local roads to get to the beachside from the airport. Resorts along Nusa Dua seem to be in high demand, pretty much every big chain has a hotel/resort around that place. Sounds like the most popular spot for a stay.

Depends what you are after. We are very regular visitors there and have stayed in Nusa Dua maybe half a dozen times tops, just isn’t our cup of tea but we have friends that don’t stay anywhere else when they go to Bali

 

[kermatu]

Property: Hilton Cairns
Status: Diamond
Room Booked: One bedroom Exec suite
Rate : Gov, 5 nights. Extended to a 6th night given I was...
Received: ...upgraded to the Premier Suite (Rm 930, refurbished).
Amenity: Eight waters (replenished each day), block of chocolate, bottle of Shiraz and several small jars with snacks (macadamia nuts, dried fruits. chocolates, trail mix etc - not replenished).

Excellent stay a couple of weeks back. Upgraded to the Premier suite which was a surprise given length of stay. No problems this time with housekeeping. No communal water station on level 9 so maybe that floor gets waters replenished.

Continued excellent service at breakfast, with no coffee tax and ability to order anything from the kitchen such as French toast or better omelettes. Didn't quite get everyone's name but can add Lily and Mikayla to the list of excellent staff.

Had a great spa session with Pom at the Banyan Spa. Promoted by, but not actually linked to the hotel, so can't charge to the room. But convenient and great service.