How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

[Ewing]

And with no pool is a 4 in my book ....

I've stayed in some pretty decent 4* hotels with a pool.

Sent from my LT26i using AustFreqFly

 

[TonyHancock]

Now I have a dilemma, do I stay in the exec lounge or do I head to my junior suite a polish off the cheeky Dan Murphy's Taster's Choice Shiraz I have with me?

Not sure why I found two options...I decided to do both.....hic..hic...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Interesting that you refer to it as a 5 star hotel. I consider most Hilton Hotels to be 4-4.5.

They vary a bit, thats for sure. What would you view as a true 5 star? In Australia?

Does anyone really know? I've heard Hayman Island being referred to as the only 6 star hotel in Australia, but what do the stars mean anyway? Is there really such a thing as a 6 star resort?

To me 5 star means:

• clean;
• well maintained;
• 24hr reception;
• consierge;
• valet parking;
• 24hr room service;
• housekeeping;
• tea/coffee;
• toiletries (including soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, mending kit, shower caps, cotton buds/balls/wipes etc);
• mini bar;
• on site restaurant/bar(s) offering all meals;
• phone service;
• entertainment (TV, video/dvd/in-house movies, radio, clock);
• hair dryer;
• usable design, usable/comfortable furniture and accessories (particularly bed/pillows etc);
• blockout blinds.

That's my minimum expectation, but a pool, spa and sauna is pretty much expected by us as well. I was dumbfoundered when HSW said they didn't have at least a pool! Admitedly I didn't check prior, I just assumed!

 

[oz_mark]

Does anyone really know? I've heard Hayman Island being referred to as the only 6 star hotel in Australia, but what do the stars mean anyway? Is there really such a thing as a 6 star resort?

You asked, so if you want to know some details of how it is all scored: http://www2.aaatourism.com.au/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=EEwMI5-rMnU=&tabid=132&mid=600

Note, though that Hilton is generally self rated, as they fell short of 'official' (or should I say licensed) 5 star ratings

 

[straitman]

Straitman?

The GM.

 

[serfty]

Look for posts by SWinsider, here & on FT, but basically in the planning/building stage it was a choice between the (rather large) Executive lounge or a swimming pool.

 

[JohnK]

Interesting that you refer to it as a 5 star hotel. I consider most Hilton Hotels to be 4-4.5.

Does it really matter? I find "so-called" 1 star hotels quite nice.

Most Hiltons I have stayed at are no more than 3-4 star hotels. And that is not a bad thing by the way.

 

[TonyHancock]

Does it really matter? I find "so-called" 1 star hotels quite nice.

Most Hiltons I have stayed at are no more than 3-4 star hotels. And that is not a bad thing by the way.

Could not agree more.

 

[Flashback]

Does it really matter? I find "so-called" 1 star hotels quite nice.

Most Hiltons I have stayed at are no more than 3-4 star hotels. And that is not a bad thing by the way.

Exactly... the price reflects that too!

 

[drross]

Does anyone really know? I've heard Hayman Island being referred to as the only 6 star hotel in Australia, but what do the stars mean anyway? Is there really such a thing as a 6 star



That's my minimum expectation, but a pool, spa and sauna is pretty much expected by us as well. I was dumbfoundered when HSW said they didn't have at least a pool! Admitedly I didn't check prior, I just assumed!

Stayed at Hayman only a couple of months ago ... 4 star and definitely no more than that. Has a bloody big pool but the resort is looking tired, the rooms need updating, restaurants were closed and the shopping 'arcade' had vacant stores as well

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Stayed at Hayman only a couple of months ago ... 4 star and definitely no more than that. Has a bloody big pool but the resort is looking tired, the rooms need updating, restaurants were closed and the shopping 'arcade' had vacant stores as well

That's disappointing to hear. Doesn't really bother me though, whenever we holiday in the Whitsundys, we're on a yacht! Does Hilton have any 4-4.5 star yachts to accrue points and stays with?? :mrgreen:

 

[drross]

Interesting option. If they're opening in karratha you never know what else maybe on their agenda

 

[beardoc]

The GM.

I was merely wondering - is there a deliberate attempt to employ younger people at HSW?

 

[Timtammi]

Hotel: Hilton KL Sentral
Date: June 2012
Booked: King Deluxe Lake View
Received: King Deluxe Lake View on executive floor

Note that Mr Timtammi is the HH Diamond and booking was on his account.

We had the front desk at the Tokyo Hilton (where we were staying before this stay) phone ahead to request early check-in if possible as we had a red-eye flight On Air Asia from HND-KUL. They confirmed it was subject to availability but would do what they could.

Arrived hotel approx 8.00am. Told room not ready yet but invited to have breakfast in exec lounge while waiting, room was ready by 9.00am. Fruit, welcome letter, water etc. Later went down to ask about late check-out the next day as we had another red eye flight KUL-MEL the next night and did not want to push our luck on check-in given our early arrival time. Conversation re late check-out went something like this:

Mr Timtammi - "I would like to see if we can get a late check-out tomorrow as we have a very late flight tomorrow night (almost midnight) back to Melbourne".
Front desk lady - tap, tappity, tap, tap. "I can do 3pm at no charge for you or 6pm with a half day charge or if you pay for another night you can check out as late as you like."
Mr Timtammi - "Well I dont want to pay so if 3pm is the best you can do I will take that."
Front desk lady - tap, tappity, tap, tap. "Actually I can do 4pm. I trust that is perfect for you?"
Mr Timtammi - "Well that is great and I really appreciate it but as our flight is really late even later would have been better but that is fine."
Front Desk lady - tap, tappity, tap, tap. "ok you can have 6pm at no charge".

We were very happy with that outcome especially given that we only paid for one night "great getaway sale rate" (cant remember exactly how much) and actually got to use the room for 33 hours!

Exec lounge breaky quite nice, happy hour fine, took another guest and nobody even asked our room number let alone tried to charge us for anything additional.

Cheers

Timmi

 

[Flashback]

Status: HH Gold
Property: Doubletree Sheffield Park
Rate: GBP 67.5/night
Booked: Queen Hilton Guestroom
Upgraded: King Deluxe
Received: Breakfast in Glass Brasserie, 3 pieces of fruit and a bottles of water.

Also received the cookie on check-in, but I think everyone gets that. It was delicious though!

 

[beardoc]

Status: HH Diamond
Property: Hilton Sydney
Date: 1-2 July 2012
Rate: 171.25/night (less 20% HM discount)
Booked: King Hilton Guestroom
Upgraded: King Junior Suite
Received: Executive Lounge Access, Breakfast in Glass Brasserie, 1 piece of fruit, two bottles of water, card from GM (signed "Michael" but otherwise printed).

Overall, a lovely stay at the Hilton. I really love this hotel - it's starting to become my favourite over HSW now that I have stayed a few times!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Property: Hilton Sydney
Overall, a lovely stay at the Hilton. I really love this hotel - it's starting to become my favourite over HSW now that I have stayed a few times!

A big call that, but one I tend to agree with. I loved the HSW stay we had recently, but Hilton Sydney just has the edge (IMO). The check-in staff let HSW down whereas check-in at SYD for us was handled probably the best way possible and I'd even say the best I've ever experienced. Not to mention Hilton Sydney is so conveniently located to just about everything in the city. MEL lacks that with both its Hiltons and if raining, taxi would really be the only option for HSW. Not so in SYD.

 

[QF WP]

Status: HH Gold
Property: Hilton Surfers Paradise
Date(s): 29 & 30 June
Rate: First night - The Great Getaway ($235.50 less 20% HPD discount); second night - Adv Purchase ($315.20 less 20% HPD discount)
Booked: First night - King Hilton Deluxe, Second night - King Hilton Exec
Upgraded: First night to Exec Floor (1501) to match second night
Received: Access to breakfast in Salt Restaurant, 4 beers (Burleigh Beer Co) and 2 bottles of water. I was keeping the beers but left them in cooler - they replaced them with Hahn Premium Light on night 2!

As they were both prepaid and billed separately, hoping that I get double points on 1st night and triple on 2nd night. Couldn't check out in Exec Floor (she couldn't log in), no 20% HPC discount came off either reservation so both amounts reduced 2nd night. They failed to bill me for the 2nd night parking as well.​

 

[Ausbt]

A big call that, but one I tend to agree with. I loved the HSW stay we had recently, but Hilton Sydney just has the edge (IMO). .

Just stayed in both HSW and SYD this past week. HSW's lounge is much better than Sydney's, but the hotel location is of course not optimal (unless you are a gambler I suppose). I found Reception staff at both to be wonderful. I liked the openness of the HSW lounge and the fact the staff pretty much left you alone, whereas Sydney's staff insisted on pouring drinks for me. They also asked me, when I requested two drinks, if I had a guest with me - to ensure I wouldn't slug both 'free' drinks at once!

 

[beardoc]

A big call that, but one I tend to agree with. I loved the HSW stay we had recently, but Hilton Sydney just has the edge (IMO). The check-in staff let HSW down whereas check-in at SYD for us was handled probably the best way possible and I'd even say the best I've ever experienced. Not to mention Hilton Sydney is so conveniently located to just about everything in the city. MEL lacks that with both its Hiltons and if raining, taxi would really be the only option for HSW. Not so in SYD.

A big part of it for me at Hilton Sydney is the gym (classes, etc.) and the pool, spa and steam rooms/sauna. I love it there.