Hilton HHonors - Where can you get stay credit without check-in?

I've read on this forum that some Hilton chain hotels (e.g., Hampton in Milpitas), let you get stay credit without check-in (e.g., FAX in your receipt after booking and paying on-line and then no-showing).

I've searched the forum to see if I could find a list of other cheap Hiltons where this has worked, e.g., for status maintenace or advancement, no success.

Am I missing the link or are such hotels few and far between?

Is this practice frowned on by other Hilton Honors members, even if you are paying for the room?

I think such hotel would be very few and very far between. I would just try to find someplace cheap within a quick drive form your home etc and just check in. You will be automatically checked out the next morning.

I've searched the forum to see if I could find a list of other cheap Hiltons where this has worked, e.g., for status maintenace or advancement, no success.

Try a search for "Reno Hilton". This place is popular with the HHonors FTers for the purposes you describe.

TECHNICALLY you as the HHonors member must be a guest in the room. This of course means showing up at the front desk and presenting a credit card for authorization (no phone check ins :p ). I have found that Marriott brands have been even more militant about this stipulation. I did a mattress run and was staying at a TownPlace Suites for a ridiculous $49/night and had to run back and get my Express checkout folio from under the door and then go to the front office (my plans changed and I foolishly left things in the room and had to go back).

Those express checkouts contain a lot of personal information, and don't rely upon the night auditor to honor a request NOT to slide one under the door. At least they pretty much XXXX out your membership/credit card #'s, but remember that your complete name, address, airline FF#, dates of stay will all appear on that one piece of paper. I make it a point to always retrieve it for me to keep/destroy.

I have found the best way to increase my stay #'s is in fact find an office/executive park setting near your house and just stay a couple nights during the year...near me Somerset, NJ (near New Brunswick) has some ridiculously low rates. The Hampton Inn can be had for $58.50 on the weekend and as a diamond I get upgraded to a 2 room suite with a fridge, microwave and sink...

Last year I needed 2 stays to keep my Gold status. Hilton Reno had some really nice rates between Christmas and New Years. It was around $25 per night. I made 2 reservations, something like Tuesday and Thursday and did the pre-pay to get the above rates. Never showed up, called them after the second "stay" and requested the folios. They faxed them to me, I faxed them to HHonors and within a day or 2 the stays and points were posted.

I tried the same thing earlier with a place in Indonesia or something similar. Their rate was under $20. Unfortunately it wasn't a pre-pay rate, it was just a regular rate. They thought they were doing me a favor and never charged me for the no-show :( . When I contacted them they were very nice and explained that to me, thinking that I would ne happy. NOT!!!!! Just kidding, but I thought the whole thing was kind of funny. :D