Hilton HHonors - London Hilton

Hi. Anyone stayed recently at the London Hilton? We'll be there in March 2001. Do they have hairdryers provided in the bathrooms and do they provide breakfast as part of the "rate". We'll be staying using points using the wonderful GLON program.

To find the Hairdryer look in the Desk top drawer.

Yea I know in the desk, Don't ask it's a British thing! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

No breakfasts, no upgrades and yes indeed, the hair dryer is in the middle desk drawer (as in most other London Hiltons.....but not the Conrad). This crummy breakfast/upgrade policy was firmly adhered to by the unfriendly London Hilton staff on all my paid stays as a HH Diamond. Totally contrary to the Apr 2000 HHonors T&C written policy............... http://www.hilton.com/hhonors/benefits/levels.html .

MisterNice

I'd be interested in any comments from those of you who've stayed recently at the London Hilton. My family and I will be staying there in March. . . still a little while out. How are the rooms? We were told we need to reserve 2 (for 2 adults and 2 teenage children). Is the staff helpful? Breakfast included etc.

Thank you.

hi!

1. Breakfast should be depends on rate you pais. However in St Ermis I had my continental breakfast on Bed free of charge.

2. I saw some hotel with "Family" Twin room (with sofa bed) and you may want to check them.

3, I stayed Hilton Islington and St Ermis.
Islington is a no gimmick large bright room hotel some 3mins from tube (angel station). Cheaper then St Ermis.

St Ermis, on the other hand, is more "tourist" hotel with VERY nice front desk and congrie (spelling, sorry) service. The building itslef is hostorical and charming but the room is just normal size (i.e. much smaller then Islington). It is less than 1 mins from St James Park Tube station, near the Palace, London Eye, Big Ben...

Hope this helps!

I told you UK - Mich that you would like the Hilton Islington.

[This message has been edited by DOC 2 BE (edited 03-11-2001).]

I don't know what you are paying, but we were very happy, as was another Flyertalker, at the London Metropole. Newly remodeled, nice rooms, upgrades, etc. We got the Value Rate of 75 GBP, inc full buffet breakfast for two, and taxes. Excellent location with tube across the street. In a working class neighborhood. A $5 cab ride from the Marble Arch stop of the Heathrow bus.

Karen2-
Wow! Great review. We're staying at the London Hilton because it was about the only one we could stay for the entire week on points. Considered moving from hotel to hotel and opted for the simplicity of one place and zero cost other than meals and entertainment.

I wouldn't expect any HHonors benefits from them. I was a Gold member, two stays away from Diamond, and they refused to upgrade to Exec level or give lounge access, saying it was reserved only for Diamond members. Despite showing a statement, and in WRITING where upgrades are given to Gold members, the manager on duty told me it was "his hotel, not mine". I went to the front desk, as a new manager was coming on, and started to check out of the hotel. The new manager noticed I had just checked in, and proceeded to get involved. She convinced me to stay, and did get us on to the exec level and lounge. After a letter to Hilton and the GM of the Hotel, I received no reply. It was a less-than-average stay.
I found the concierge services to be OUTSTANDING. However, I found the front desk staff and most management to be generally unfriendly. I strongly encourage you, if you are a HHonors VIP, to contact a manager at the hotel about HHonors benefits before you go, and GET A NAME of the person to whom you spoke. I have discouraged many people from giving this hotel any of their business. There's better service at the Holiday Inn in Mayfair.

A hearty recommendation here for the Hilton Islington as well. Upgraded to club room (w/desk, computer, and free internet access), friendly staff, big rooms.

The location is great too. Funky neighborhood, close to the Angel tube stop, good restaurants.

Charles

quote:
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"... Hilton Islington as well. Upgraded to club room (w/desk, computer, and free internet access)..."
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Oh if it was true. Are you certain? I have never seen a Hilton in London giving free internet access. The Business Centers charge a mind-boggling GBP 5.00 for 15 minutes of very slow access. I use EasyEverything (I think this is the name). Prices vary on usage, ie busier they are, the pricier they are. Typical rates are 38-50 minutes for 1.00 GBP and really fast connections too. Five locations 24/7 and all within 1/4 block of major tube stops.

MisterNice

I can assure you that it was true. It was a DSL line as well so it was pretty quick. No charges for internet access on my bill. Checked out on monday. I think there are about 20 club rooms at the Islington, and I assume they all have the free access (and computer). I stayed in room 237.

It was great keeping up with Flyertalk (among other things) on my vacation!

Charles

There are a lot of different Hilton properties in London. The biggest (and flashest) is on Park Lane - Hobson which one exactly are you staying in and Ill give you more details...

Graeme

Has anybody ever been able to use points to book a room at the London Hilton? If so, how far out in advance and during what month(s)?

Two weeks ago when I booked five nights at the Trafalgar (six not available) for June, the six-night awards at the London Hilton were also available for just about any date.

I just stayed there on points for 6 nights and booked about 8 weeks out. At the time, all the London properties were wide open.

Last week I was able to book an award stay at the Metropole for mid-January. The Conrad was also available using premium level points however I wanted to use points at classic level.

Although not of interest to me as they are too far out of the city, I was told that the Hiltons at Heathrow and Gatwick were available mid-January, using Pointstretcher awards.

I have used points to stay at the London Hilton on Park Lane and there was no problems. Used the Ex. Lounge and they could not have been nicer. I booked with only two weeks notice and got right in.

------------------
UA1K,Plt. AA, M/M DL,
Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Plt, Starwood Plt.

I stayed back in may with only 3 days notice. The hotel was sold out - but I am a Diamond Member. No problem. In addition, they had listed on the Transportation Page "Courtesy Bus" - which is now taken off of course. I called and they arranged a car to pick my up at Heathrow and take me back - no charge. All because there is no courtesy bus - but is offered online. Rooms are small - lounge is ok. I would advise the MetroPole.

I just used 150k points to book GLONP at the
London Hilton. I am famaliar with the Hotel
from stays at nearby Four Seasons. As a
HHonors Silver member what can I expect if
anything? Any Club lounge? Upgrade w/
award use? Buy my way into a better room?
Should I try to get some more status with
Hilton as Hyatt Diamond and Starwood
Platinum? Help please. Thanks

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by RTWSTARALLIANCE:
Should I try to get some more status with
Hilton as Hyatt Diamond and Starwood
Platinum? </font>

Try getting HH Gold - I've never heard of a successful comp to HH Diamond. Gold gets you free breakfast / lounge access and in general a reasonable chance for an upgrade.

There has been indication from HHonors that a new "instant gold" / fast-track promotion may be coming..

Sorry they would NOT upgrade or allow exec lounge access for this HH Diamond on 4 occasions during the past 2 years, They are still on my "DO NOT USE" list.

MisterNice

For this Gold 2 award stays within last 2 years, treated very well, upgraded, lounge access and welcome basket.
I like this property.
Mike

I was there a few weeks ago as a Diamond. Had a nice room and used their great exec lounge.

Arrived at the London Hilton last summer to be told that they were the one Hilton in London that did not participate in the upgrade program for Golds such as myself. However, after I explained that no one had pointed this out to me at any time during the reservation process and that my wife and I were on an anniversary trip they upgraded us and provided free room service breakfasts as a courtesy. And this was on a heavily discounted rate. Excellent customer relations and very nice people with which to deal. As has been my experience at most Hiltons and affiliates.

This is the most pretentious hotel I have ever stayed in. They pretend to be "Friendly" but if you aren't spending £250 a night there, they really don't seem to care who you are. On my past 2 stays, the first they begrudingly gave me lounge access. On the second, they refused (after a polite request) and I requested what about HHGold breakfast, had pulled out a copy of the HH T&C from my bag, and he then gave me an "of course". I just spent 2 nights at another property (currently at LHR waiting for my flight) where I had a great room for £80, tax included, and an in-room coffee setup, kingsize bed, fully airconditioned, and no attitude, along with a no-issue 9AM checkin. Frankly, free wasn't worth the aggravation at the London Hilton (along with them "accidentally dishono(u)ring" my award certificate which took months and months and a creditcard dispute to resolve).

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by andersja:
Try getting HH Gold - I've never heard of a successful comp to HH Diamond.</font>

Comps to HHonors Diamond can and do happen, although not with any great frequency. It certainly isn't as simple as "I've got Starwood Platinum, please comp me HHonors Diamond..."

If you can show significant hotel spend (80-90+ nights) together with a commitment to the Hilton brand (long reservation, etc), Hilton will consider comping Diamond. There is a set of formal decision-making criteria, but I'm not privy to what the limits are.

You may need to be persistant, however. Most normal reservation agents and HHonors agents will insist that Diamond is never comped.