Hilton HHonors - Blackout dates/ Award stays

I've tried to search as much as I could before I asked these questions. Since their are now no blackout dates can I wait til November or December to build up my point balance before booking my award stay at Embassy Suites in Honolulu. I've two stays under my belt with several coming up. Just got approved for the HHP card. My trip is in March of 2009

Though there are no blackout dates, award rooms are still subject to "standard room availability."

Though there are no blackout dates, award rooms are still subject to "standard room availability."

How does that usually work out? Any advice on how often "standard availability" is available?

How does that usually work out? Any advice on how often "standard availability" is available?

It's still pretty a pretty new benefit. I'd check a few weeks before a busy time this year and see if there are award nights available. This will give you some inkling about what it will be like then. Of course, if you are booking single nights and not a 6 or 7 night award, you could always reserve the nights one at a time as you get the miles you need.

How does that usually work out? Any advice on how often "standard availability" is available?

If you get to Diamond, you pretty much don't need to worry about standard availability.

Am I correct in assuming it will cost me 175,000 points for a six-night at the ES in HNL

I have a question about standard availability as well. I was trying to book a Doubletree and the "best rate" was displayed and rooms available, but I couldn't book an award room. This is during the Olympics in Beijing, but the way I read the policy is that this shouldn't matter.

Any advice or special numbers I can call to inquire about this policy? 1-800-HILTONS was basically useless.

Thanks.

Yeah, there're no blackout dates, but I've never been able to book an award reservation at the Deadwood, SD Hampton during Sturgis Bike Week, or at any of the nearby Hiltons during Daytona Beach, FL Bike Week, and on and on. If it walks like a blackout ... tls

I'm soon booking a 6-nighter at the Conrad Tokyo and have found Jan 2nd is for some reason already fully booked (believable, but very annoying!).

I should get to Diamond in 6 days or so and plan on emailing them then to see what could be done. I can just about move my stay around or maybe just sacrifice a couple nights, but it's really frustrating to see a single day occupied.. in the middle of my plan.

On the positive side, showing new year free really shows Hilton are serious about not having black-out dates.