Hilton HHonors - Hilton London Olympia hotel Trip Reports and Reviews

Booked 43.50GPB rate (including VAT & bkfst) - my opinion - it's going to have to be disgusting for me to be unhappy at that rate, and it wasn't. I'd stay again at that rate easily.

Arrived LHR & took Picadilly Line to Earls Court. Thanks to a post on other Olympia thread, I knew to switch to Kensington/Olympia - District Line. Once you're on that line, you're looking for the train marked 'Olympia' - it runs every 15 minutes (one downside - but I never had to wait that long actually). Someone suggested other stops & longer walks, but I went for closest.

Come out of tube station at Olympia (which is above ground) & walk down block (basically walking alongside Olympia Hall bldg) to High Street Kensington & make a left (crossing over 'bridge', which is what trains go under) - we're talking 5 minute walk max.

Checked in - room ready (room 610) - bottle of still water, 2 chocolates & a note thanking me for being HHonors & coming back (forgot I stayed there a few years ago) in room when I get there (so room pre-assigned). I'm a Gold.

Room bigger than what I stayed in before. Bad news is that this room faces both main street & the trains - you're not going to get much sleep in that room unless you put the pillows over your head (which I did for 2 nights). Double-pane glass hasn't crossed their minds yet.

Room ok size & has all the necessaries. As mentioned in other threads, the height in the shower isn't very tall. I looked at it & it's because of the shower tub bottom actually being elevated - I think if the tub bottom was level w/ the floor it wouldn't be an issue - anyway, whatever. Had all the various soaps, gels, etc. Also, shower thing was on a chain that moved (can't think of word) so that you didn't have to crouch down; you could just move the shower head wherever you wanted.

BTW - there's a schematic of the floor plan for each floor. I didn't have a digital camera w/ me, but I tried to do a diagram of the rooms so I could post which were the best (in terms of size & lack of noise) & not, so will post that tomorrow or next day. Don't have time to post now, but will post soon on the rooms in hopes others get good size or lack of noise anyway (and I'd trade size for quiet, btw - even the large rooms aren't that large, so don't let status get in the way of sleep).

Newspaper delivered every morning. Several TV channels; BBC World although not CNN.

Bkfst included w/ room, at my rate anyway. The hostess in the restaurant has a printout of each room, which tells her if you get it gratis or you have to pay. I was also told at check-in that if I wanted it in room, 5GPB + 2.50GPB room charge. I walked downstairs. Bkfst is a big buffet (eggs, meats, fruit, cereals, toast, etc) in Plum, their main restaurant (minimal Asian decor - or that's what they're striving for - beats what it was a few years ago). Time of morning depends on how busy it is.

Also went to health club. You actually have to go to front desk to sign a form saying you're not going to die or sue them if you do, and then they give you a key to let you in (2nd floor). 2 rowers, 2 treadmills, 2 bikes & 1 step machine. Free weights, as well as Nautilus leg press & bench press. Also, water machine & fresh apples.

Trains back to Olympia - last one leaves at 23:45 (11:45pm), so if you're out & about you need to make that, or take night bus or mini-cab. I ended up mini-cabbing from Soho & it was 16GPB one night & 18GPB the next.

Hope this helps.

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Sharon

[This message has been edited by SkiAdcock (edited Jan 28, 2004).]

****, if I had known it was that nice I would have sucked it up and paid 79GBP last December!

Thanks for the report, I'll have to add this one to my list.

Thanks for the report. I'll stay there in February.

Ok, looking at my scribbles from the room schematic on the wall outside of the elevator, I'll try to give an idea of what rooms to get/avoid. No guarantees totally on everything, but when you stay at hotel, feel free to add to this post re: your room # & what you experienced.

BTW - I'm using the 6th floor as an example since that's the floor I was on. The hotel has 8 floors; my guess would be the higher the floor the better in terms of noise.

And the only reason I'm doing this (I don't normally provide this much detail re: rooms) is because my room really was loud because of street/train noise/no double-paned windows & I'm 'giving back' to my fellow FTers so that they might get some sleep.

The following rooms are on Kensington High Street, so are going to be noisy probably: 635 (big), 634, 633, 632, 630, 29, 627 (very big), 601, 602, 604, 606, 608, 609, 610 (my room-big), 611 (big), the latter 2 also face train stop.

Also, these are on the side but kind of facing Kensington & train stop. 612, 614, 616, 618, 620, 622, 624, 626 (I think maybe the last 2 might be ok).

Think the first few are also noisy cuz of KHStreet, but as you go down row, it's a side street so not as bad. 636 (very big), 637, 638 - those 3 think would be noisy. 640, 641, 642, 644, 650, 652, 654, 656, 658, 660, 662 more on side street farther away from KHSt.

These are inside corridors so don't expect really any noise. 631 (big), 639 (big), 643 & 646.

The following face an inner courtyard; on the one hand I'd think no noise, but also think this might be courtyard where deliveries or garbage goes, so could be.
603, 605, 607, 613, 615, 617, 619, 621, 623, 625, 625, 645, 647, 648, 649 (somewhat big), the next seem to be long & narrow but normal size? 651, 653, 655, 657, 659, 661.

Anyway, when I say big on some of these don't think gargantuan but ok size. Some of the other rooms are small, so big is relative.

And again, I'd say go for sleep over status (ie, I must have a big room; if it's like 610 w/ pillows over head, I'd take a smaller room on the inside).

PS - If anyone stays there that has a digital camera, if you could take a picture of the schematic & scan to this thread, people would have a better idea of what the above means.


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Sharon

[This message has been edited by SkiAdcock (edited Jan 28, 2004).]

Boraxo, it's not super posh, but it's certainly not a fleabag.

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Sharon

I have got to warn all other travellers about this establishment.

Currently I am a Hilton Diamond member, after a lovely project in another city. The Hilton there was nothing special looks wise, but I earnt my diamond status despite a corporate rate.
The hotel took the time to upgrade you atleast 3 out of every 4 weeks, even though I was there 4 nights a week for 6 months.
Anyway the Olympia could not be more different, after 6 weeks there I have had not had an upgrade, even the VIP pack does not always end up in my room!
My colleague has had the worst luck of anyone I know in the place, he has encountered (but not endured/suffered)
Smelly rooms,
Broken showers,
Broken Tv's
Room Service orders that are not delivered
Rooms not being ready even after 4hours
Both of us have had enough, we are checking out of the Hilton Olympia never to return.
Be warned all frequent travellers about this hotel, it is woeful and does not deserve the Hilton brand.
There is a better Hilton in Kensington, a slightly further walk to the underground, but I think it is well worth it.
I will taking my points from newly order Amex card, and using them for reqrd stays.
Hope this helps someone avoid a rubbish stay

Chris aka BoobBoo

First, Welcome to FT!!

Sorry to hear you (and your colleague) had a bad experience. BTW - from your title I wasn't sure if you were trying to compare the Kensington to the Olympia or asking for input on both.

The Olympia is no great shakes; that's been established for years. But usually the rate overrides that, as it's one of the less expensive London properties. I've stayed at it multiple times & haven't had the bad experiences you did.

I thought someone said recently Olympia was going to undergo renovation. That might help in the future. Also, for those who are reading the thread, if you do a search on both Kensington & Olympia, you'll get lots of info (pros/cons) re: both properties to help make choices. Kensington is slightly better than Olympia, but people have had problems there as well.

Cheers.

I am in total agreement the Olympia is a dump. I stayed there two weeks ago and during the evening of my first night there I called the front desk trying to get a phone number of the UK Diamond Desk (if one exists). When they asked why, I told them that I wanted to change hotels since the room smelled, heat was coming on, and the bathroom was way to small.

The hotel told me that they would be able to change my room the following day and brought up a fan (which was way to noisy to use while I slept). The upgraded room wasn't much better, but it did have AC instead of heat. I would not stay at that hotel again.

I think this all goes back to the inconsistency seen in the Hilton hotels.

While my stays in the Olympia have not been the best in my life, they have not been as bad as my colleague.

Still I suppose the worst thing for me is the lack of recognition of Honors status', I have been extremely loyal to their brand and now being treated like a unloyal guest.

Chris aka BoobBoo

Just FYI, there are already approximately 135 threads with "London" in the title on this (HHonors) forum.... (Search this forum -> Advanced search -> "London," Titles Only...)

Usually it's best to append to an existing thread rather than start a whole new one on such well-worn topics as London Hilton properties! :eek: ;)

I was also at the hotel two weeks ago. Stayed purely because of the location.
I called before our stay and enquired about the "renovation rumor". There are two rooms re-made as "test" rooms. Of course they are on a first come, first serve basis. They have no schedule for a "total" renovation
It is old and dumpy. I was lucky to be upgraded and my room was a good size, clean and decent bathroom. My colleague first had a closet sized room and was moved to a slightly larger one.
Would only stay again for location purposes.

Stayed at the Olympia last week on a Priceline stay. While the room itself was ok, they said the air conditioning was being renovated for two weeks, and some rooms will have working air, others will not. It was very warm in London, and of course my room had no air. They did supply a fan though. Unless a great deal, other hotels in London would be a better choice.

I think this all goes back to the inconsistency seen in the Hilton hotels.

While my stays in the Olympia have not been the best in my life, they have not been as bad as my colleague.

Still I suppose the worst thing for me is the lack of recognition of Honors status', I have been extremely loyal to their brand and now being treated like a unloyal guest.

Chris aka BoobBoo

I guess that varies too. When I've been at Olympia, usually had a note in the room along w/ bottled water (and one time a bottle of red wine). But in fairness I haven't been there in a year.

Kensington recently underwent renovation, so obviously it's the better of the 2 properties (although I've heard it no longer allows e.l. access unless on e.l. level).

If they're approximately the same rate, then Kensington would be better. If Olympia is a lot less (as it is sometimes), given the exchange rate for us Yanks, then $$ trumps dump.

And not sure where to put this, but I'll just add it here. If someone is staying at the Olympia, the Pizza Express across the street (back near the entrance to the subway) is decent & reasonable. Also, the Chinese restaurant in the Kensington does take-out, so you can order Chinese & take it up to your room/charge it to room service.

Cheers.