Hilton HHonors - Hilton Advance purchase rates

Does anyone know how HHonors handles advance deposits. I have noticed a few places that will give you a cheaper rate if you book 21+ days in advance with a one night deposit.

I was wondering, will you earn the points for that pre-paid night?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jkzahn:
Does anyone know how HHonors handles advance deposits. I have noticed a few places that will give you a cheaper rate if you book 21+ days in advance with a one night deposit.

I was wondering, will you earn the points for that pre-paid night?</font>

Yes - in my experience, even when these 21 day advance rates are booked as a single night stay, it will count for stay/night credit, and receive points.

Mike

Yes, I did search, but couldn't find this specific question answered:

If you buy an Advanced Purchase stay (on the Hilton site) do you still get all the point bonuses (i.e., Diamond, Points & Points option, etc.)? The answer seems intuitively "yes," but I'd hate to be burned by some fine print.

On a finer level of detail, do you end up with a bill at checkout that itemizes room stay plus incidentals (like restaurant, etc.) and then indicates that you'd paid most of it in advance? In other words, does the bill reflect the total cost of your stay includeing the advanced purchase. Seems important it should to cover my first question.

Thanks in advance.

P.S. I wish you could edit thread titles! "Adbance," indeed!

Is this a advanced purchase on the Hilton (or hilton brand) website?

If YES, then you get points.
see this thread Net Direct Rates: The Definitive Thread (http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=444500&highlight=net+direct)

If you've booked it thru a third party website, the answer is NO
See this thread and the Hilton T&C's
Book a Room at Expedia, Orbitz or Travelocity: Still Receive Hilton HHonors Points? (http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=582634&highlight=travelocity&page=3)

Your bill will reflect what you've "paid" in addition to any charges to the room.

Thanks, "Cheap,"

I found that thread, but didn't find the exact answer in the last year or two's replies and don't like to assume that something posted years ago is still valid. Yes, the Advance Purchase rate I was refering to is that offered as a non-refundable option on the Hilton web site.

Yes, you get all the points. The advance payment is booked as a deposit. Different if you book on a third party webpage: The advance payment goes to the third party and the room is for "free" from the hotel's view.

I did Advance Purchase on HHonors site for Doubletree Costa Rica.
I now see on my Amex that I was charge in Costa Rica Colon currency, so Amex added 3%.
My email confirmation and reservation on HHonors site show prices in US$.
Is this right? to charge in Local Currency?, or should I call HHonors complaining...?

Can't hurt to call but this is the reason I stopped using my AMEX overseas and got a Capital One Card that does not charge the 3%.

Cheers

...Is this right? to charge in Local Currency?, or should I call HHonors complaining...?

AFAIK, it's standard hotel industry practice to charge in local currency, even if the website showed a rate in US dollars. There might be some exceptions to this, though I can't think of any offhand.

I suspect there are some T&Cs that came up when you made the reservation, explaining this.

AFAIK, it's standard hotel industry practice to charge in local currency, even if the website showed a rate in US dollars. There might be some exceptions to this, though I can't think of any offhand.

I suspect there are some T&Cs that came up when you made the reservation, explaining this.

This is where the hotel invites problems by showing only US dollars and then unsuspecting guests get upset when the currency conversion charge shows up on credit cards. The hotels should always show local currency with conversion to US dollar for information only, especially if the exchange rate can fluctuate.

This is where the hotel invites problems by showing only US dollars and then unsuspecting guests get upset when the currency conversion charge shows up on credit cards. The hotels should always show local currency with conversion to US dollar for information only, especially if the exchange rate can fluctuate.

The problem is, you cannnot protect "unsuspecting" people from all eventualities. Also, such people are probably the least inclined to bother to read footnotes, T&Cs provided by the hotel chain, T&Cs of the credit card they are using, etc., etc., etc. :eek:

When I book rooms in foreign countries, I assume the price I am paying in dollars is only approximate (due to constant currency fluctuations), and that it will be jacked up further by both the hotel and the credit card company. In other words, prepare for the worst, but hope for the best. ;)

You can find out the room rates in the local currency when making your room reservation at the Hilton Hotels Internet web site. In fact, the local currency is usually the default.

Simply print out that rate and ensure that the final bill matches the rate you were originally quoted. You have the option afterward of checking the currency exchange on that day and calculating whatever fees were added.

This way, if you believe you were overcharged for whatever reason, at least you are better equipped to deal with it and state your case if indeed you feel compelled to submit a claim.

The whole thing is not a big deal, just a point to wonder about (I'm the original poster). But I want to add that there were NO T&Cs about charges in the hotel country local currency. I think it is an omission of HHonors website.

Anyhow, I called HHonors Customer Service. I could not even determine if the agent understood the issue... but she said it belongs to Guest Assistance dept and transferred me.
The agent at Guest Assistance said she'll try to get the hotel in conf call with us, but failed. I then asked her for the tel number... and she said: it starts with 506 area code, followed by the number nnn... (8 digits). So, it seems she did not know she had to dial 011 before dialing abroad, that 506 was country code, followed by city code + number.
So- just an unsuccessful experience with HH agents.
But she was nice and sent me email with Case Number.

In retrospect, I should have expected the charge in local currency.
It is just that I never did before Advance-Purchase for hotel abroad, and I was with the mindset that I am purchasing something on a website in the U.S. in US$s.
The email confirmation and reservation online in my HH acct are both only in US$s, which re-enforced this misconception.

You can expect to pay the room rate displayed in United States dollars when making your reservation if you are actually using the Advance Purchase Full Pre-Payment option, when you are paying immediately for your room. Refunds and changes are not permitted with this particular rate. Your credit card is immediately charged. The rate is set.

Otherwise, all you are really doing is making a reservation in advance, which defaults to the price that you are quoted in local currency, paid when you check out of the hotel property and subject to currency exchange fluctuations.

You can expect to pay the room rate displayed in United States dollars when making your reservation if you are actually using the Advance Purchase Full Pre-Payment option, when you are paying immediately for your room. Refunds and changes are not permitted with this particular rate. Your credit card is immediately charged. The rate is set.

Otherwise, all you are really doing is making a reservation in advance, which defaults to the price that you are quoted in local currency, paid when you check out of the hotel property and subject to currency exchange fluctuations.

I did: Advance Purchase Full Pre-Payment, No refund, etc etc, and my Amex was immediately charged BUT in Costa Rica Colons (even that rates were displayed in US$ and they appear so on my reservation online and my emailed confirmation).

By the way, in ref to my post above this one - apparently HH Guest Assistance sent email abt my complaint to the hotel, BUT not explaining (or not understanding) the issue. The email from the hotel basically said: what do you want from us... it is your credit card that charged you conversion fees.

I was looking to make a reservation and was wondering how long in advance of the stay date is the Advance Purchase rate available. For example; If my stay is on April 15th, when will the Advance Purchase rate stop showing up? I would assume that as it gets closer to the date there is a cutoff date after which the Advance Purchase rate disappears. It wouldn't make much sense to have a lower rate 2 days before the stay for example.

The hotel could have a large change in planned occupancy and pull an advance purchase rate at any time. There's really no knowing. I have had fleible reservations and replaced them with prepaid reservations the day of arrival.

Some are tied to a 14 or 21 day period and will state so in the rate details. Most are likely based on availability and you will not know if and when they will be removed.

Which is a real pain at international properties. No Hilton fault, however: fluctuating exchange rates add a "bet" part on the reservation, should you book the discounted AP rate at today's exchange rate, or should you book the flexible rate and be subject to the exchange rate (not knowing if an AP rate will be available later to "fix" the price).

I bought 9 months ago a 4 night stay in Hilton Frankfurt using their advance purchase rate for an event I suppose to attend. However, my company asked me to cancel the attendance of the fair. Is there any way I can cancel my booking and get my money back or I assume that I lost my money ? I contacted the hotel in the past and they not cooperating with me and they refused to refund me the money.

APR are non-refundable which you knew when you booked it. It is clearly stated in the T&C of the rate and directly on the rate quote. Why should they cooperate re:refunds? They are completely in the right to refuse any refund. No reason to be upset at the hotel.

If you want refunds, book a cancellable rate in the future.

Your money is gone. However, if you have status, sometimes the hotel will apply the cost towards a future stay at the hotel. But no refund

You complaining about a hotel "not cooperating" with your request to refund a non-refundable rate?

I agree with travelinfoo--the best you can hope for is moving the 4-day stay to another time when you can use it.

9 months and 4 nights- wow that is a long stay...

:D

Employees should not use nonrefundable rates for business travel without express and explicit agreement from the employer that the employee will be reimbursed for any loss from change/cancellation in travel. I agree it is a smart way for money to be saved- but only with this condition in place. Savvy bosses/companies will determine whether the savings are worth the potential risk. Otherwise book the refundable, more expensive rate.

9 months and 4 nights- wow that is a long stay...



Sorry for the misunderstanding. I meant here 9 months ago I completed the purchase for a 4 night stay in Hilton Frankfurt.

The reason I want to cancel that reservationis that we suppose to particiapte in one of Frankfurt fairs. However, due to the economical situation the company decided to cancel the participation and I am stuck with the APR for 4 nights.

However, due to the economical situation the company decided to cancel the participation and I am stuck with the APR for 4 nights.

If the company asked you to buy non-refundable fare, they should reimburse you anyway. Bad business decision for them to book accomodation and not sending you. Hilton is not responsible for your boss's change of mind, and shouldn't have to suffer from that.

I really can see no fault of Hilton. If you company won't reimburse you after telling you to book accomodation, suing them (depending on your jurisdiction) might be the best course of action. Complaing to Hilton, one doomed to fail.

This happened to me two years ago with the Hilton Garden Inn in Stuttgart. I was actually staying in the hotel when the company pulled the plug on the contract and told me to come home right away. The hotel was very gracious when I explained the circumstances and cancelled my remaining reservations that were AP rates and refunded my money. In my case, the AP rates were the only way I could get a rate within the companies per diem rate, so I did not have much choice.

Non-refundable is just that.

However, you are HH Diamond and you have 4 nights prepaid, maybe you can approach the hotel diplomatically. They might charge you for 1 or 2 nights and refund the rest. I think the art of negotiation might carry some weight.

I do know that if you had pricelined this reservation, you offer to pay for the "travel insurance" premium, they would make refund minus insurance premium.

There should be no refund, it's one of the risks of prepaying a non refundable rate.

I bought 9 months ago a 4 night stay in Hilton Frankfurt using their advance purchase rate for an event I suppose to attend. However, my company asked me to cancel the attendance of the fair. Is there any way I can cancel my booking and get my money back or I assume that I lost my money ? I contacted the hotel in the past and they not cooperating with me and they refused to refund me the money.

Every time I have booked an advanced purchase rate I have had to tick a box that I agree that "if I cancel for any reason I will get no refund." I assume you had to agree to those terms as well? How can the hotel be "not cooperating" just because they enforce the terms that you agreed to?

I booked a non-refundable rate at a HGI SFO Airport a couple of years ago that I had to cancel due to an illness. I called the hotel manager to explain my situation and the manager gave me the opportunity to defer the room nights as long as I used them before the end of that calendar year. I thought that was a generous offer on his part.

I currently have a refundable reservation at the Hilton in Burlington, VT.

I curious as to how long the advance purchase rates stay available before a stay date?

I'm interested in switching to the less expensive rate and would like to know how long I have.

Thanks!

I would think that's more of a yield management issue - though in my experience you will see the APRs disappear a few days from a possible stay even in hotels with low occupancy rates, though I'm not sure how many days.

I currently have a refundable reservation at the Hilton in Burlington, VT.

I curious as to how long the advance purchase rates stay available before a stay date?

I'm interested in switching to the less expensive rate and would like to know how long I have.

Thanks!

I need to make a booking at the Hilton Waikiki Prince Kuhio for 6 nights in early April, but have been holding back in the optimistic hope that the exchange rate (paying in GBP) may move in my favour.

For the last two months the advance purchase rate has been $156, but in the last week I have seen it at $189, $179, $156 and $152. So I'm kind of leaning towards paying the current $152 rate and having done with it.

However, last year I made a booking at the Caribe Hilton on the advance purchase rate in April, but my credit card was not charged until the first night of my stay in August, and in $ by the hotel.

So, when will I actually be charged, and what in what currency? I'll be booking through Hilton.co.uk via BMI online shopping if it makes any difference.

I have had Hiltons charge pre-paid immediately, sometimes the charge is in the week before and other times on check in/out.

In fact, I have had my "home" Hilton do all three over the last few years.

Most often though, is for the charge to be debited soon after confirming the booking.

It's a real YMMV.

My two or three pre=paids have been charged pretty much right after booking it (months in advance). I thought that was SOP, but apparently not?!

I only did 2 pre-paid bookings so far. Both for March in 2 Manchester Hiltons.
Both reservations done on 11.01.
One was deducted 11.01., the other at 23.01.

Of my last 4 bookings 2 were charged on my last day of stay, and 2 were charged at the time of booking........so, no idea!

Hard to say about the Kuhio, but most of the few prepaid stays I have had in the last two months all charged a day or so from booking. (HGIs, Hiltons in LON and Mainz.)

There's always the chance of things working in your favour, exchange rate wise, by hotels not taking payment immediately on Advance Purchase Rates, but unfortunately that's not working in my favour right now.

Two weeks ago I booked three different properties, in three different countries, as part of a SE Asia vacation next month; the exchange rate was good, I was ready to pay and expected, as has usually been the case for me, for them to take payment after a couple of days. Unfortunately that hasn't happened this time. None of the hotels has processed payment yet and I'm already looking at an overall increase of about £75/$125 due to the drop in exchange rates.

While I accept it's very much a YMMV as to when they do it, I do find it strange that this has happened with all three, one Hilton and two Conrads.

Any recent updates regarding point and stay earnings when using Advance Purchase rates?

I have used the Advanced Purchase rate many times. I have always received full credit and Diamond amenities.

HOWEVER>>>

-these are non-refundable, non-changeable. Not airline non-ref, non-change which usually gives you a small window to adjust for boo-boos. I mean really non-ref, non-change (unless the hotel decides to be very accommodating.) So, double-triple-quadruple check that booking.

-The rates are weird. You may see fluctuations in the rate so it can be worth it to check the rates day-by-day and over 2 days, 3 days with separate reservations over however long you'd like to stay. I have seen the AP rate vary by $30.00.

-not all the hotels seem to offer the AP rate and some offer it weeks away and some up until a couple days away. There is little consistancy.

If you can accept all the fuxing around they do and can accept "final sale," it's a good way to save some money, get some points, and work toward HH status.