Hilton HHonors - Hotel for a family of 5 in Orlando

Hi all,

I am planning to go to Orlando in october. Since I have 300k points at HH, I was trying to find the best place to stay. Of course, a suite with room would be preferable. The problem is that, until you get to the room, it is hard to know if the size of the room is suitable for 2 adults and 3 kids (10-8-5). If any of you have ever been there and have any hilton room to suggest, I would like to ear from you!


Thanks

Oh, and also let me know if breakfast are included and if my diamond status would help.

Thanks

Your best bet would be to book a suite with two double beds at an Embassy Suites hotel. They sofa in the living room can be turned in to a bed. Five of you can comfortably stay in the room and breakfast is included.

Check out Embassy Suites - Lake Buena Vista (http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_US/es/hotel/MCOWDES-Embassy-Suites-Orlando-Lake-Buena-Vista-Florida/index.do?brand_id=HI&brand_directory=/en/hi/&xch=433020538,QKMQKJLBF3LOYCSGBIU222Q).

I agree with aglp2k. Plus, of course you get free breakfasts cooked to order, a significant savings for five (the kids usually love the whole Embassy breakfast scene.) Free transportation to WDW helps too.

The property is AAA <><><>-rated, and as a Category 5 it's 35,000 points per night (unless you have a AMEX Hilton Honors card, allowing you to use an AXON award for four nights for 125,000 points, for example.)

BTW, you can use the EDIT function to edit a post of yours to add / correct / edit, without having to add a second post; just use the Edit button you see beneath your posts.

Enjoy Orlando / WDW!

Embassy Suites look great! I planned a family reunion 6 years ago and we stayed at the Homewood Suites - forgot which property in Orlando. It did not have the free shuttle to WDW but it was so long ago you never know what has changed. Besides coming here I like to check out reviews on tripadvisor.com

According to the website, the Homewood in Maitland has two bedroom suites which would have one king in one room, two doubles in the other bedroom, and a pull out sofa in the living room.

Perfect for a family.

Getting a way to reserve it for an award is a totally different thing, but such rooms are out there.

If you have any other stays coming up elsewhere, you might want to save your points for somewhere that would get more value out of them. Orlando hotels are extremely reasonable. I just searched on 10/1 - 10/8, and depending on which Embassy Suites you're interested in, the nightly rate for a room with two beds and a sofa is as low as $95.99 prepaid or $101.99 with AAA.

The Embassy Suites WDW is a pretty decent property. It has a great pool area. It has the comp beverages and the cooked to order breakfast. Just request a room away from I-4. I have stayed there twice. I like the interior atrum entry rooms best.

Have you considered an HGVC award? You would get a full kitchen and washer and dryer in the room. Might make it easier. They have 1 to 3 BR units. Points vary, but start at 35,000 per night. There are 3 HGVC resorts in the orlando area.

As HHonors Diamond, I'd consider calling the front desk manager or general manager of one of the Homewood properties and try to arrange an award stay upgrade to a 2-bedroom suite. 2-bedroom suites are available at many ES properties, but I'd say your chances of getting one on points would be higher at a HS. That said, if proximity to WDW property and shuttle transportation is important, the ES LBV or DT Suites WDW might be better choices. Regardless, I'd try to arrange an upgrade of some sort to a larger suite ahead of time. A 1-bedroom ES suite will work, but may be more cramped than you think. A snail-mail letter or email to the GM ahead of time has worked for me in similar instances in the past.

You will find any of the 3 Hilton Grand Vacation Club properties have very nice large 1, 2, and 3 bedroom suites. All of them include a hide-a-bed sofa in the living room. You should be able to book them with points as you can reserve them for nightly rates through the regular Hilton web site. October is off season, but in my opinion the best time to go. I always go for Halloween. The parks are dressed up for the holiday and have special events. In addition the Food & Wine festival is going on at Epcot.

Another option is the Homewood Suites Lake Buena Vista just opening this month. I understand it is at the entrance of WDW. I am looking at this for 2/10 for my HHonors points and family of four.

Question #1: Wondering if anyone knows about this Homewood yet?

Also...there is the new Bonnet Creek Hilton, but then we are back to one standard room.

Question #2: How do you use points to make a reservation for something larger than a one bedroom studio at the HGVC properties? We are Gold and were told you could only use points for one bedroom. We also have 300K points.

Thanks

Your best bet would be to book a suite with two double beds at an Embassy Suites hotel. They sofa in the living room can be turned in to a bed. Five of you can comfortably stay in the room and breakfast is included.

Check out Embassy Suites - Lake Buena Vista (http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_US/es/hotel/MCOWDES-Embassy-Suites-Orlando-Lake-Buena-Vista-Florida/index.do?brand_id=HI&brand_directory=/en/hi/&xch=433020538,QKMQKJLBF3LOYCSGBIU222Q).

Stayed here in Dec 2007, started out for my nieces 5th birthday, then Grandma had to come, then Mom and Dad had to come (my sis and Bro-in-law). So 5 of us in 1 room.

2 queen beds in a large bedroom (with more than enough space for the princess blow up bed, which after I blew up with a foot pump, my niece decided she absolutely could not sleep in and that she absolutely could only go to sleep if she was in bed with ME!). A queen size pull out in the living room. A sink in the bedroom, a full bath and a small kitchen with bar sink and a small fridge, micro, and coffee pot. 2 large TV's, a small dining table and an easy chair.

Free breakfast for everyone (and for some twice, my niece got up at 7:00am, woke me up for breakfast, ate her mickey mouse shaped pancakes, then woke her parents up at 9:00am and ate a second round). Free drinks (or punch) in the evening, along with popcorn and a free cartoon movie on the screen over the pool.

Free parking and free trans to and from the parks.

If you are going to Disney, this hotel offer the very best value to families. It is one of the very best use of points, in my opinion. It totally caters to kids and family's.

Finally booked at the Embassy Suites Orlando-International Drive South/Convention. 270k for 9 nights.

This is my first attempt at booking hhonors points hotels. Hope I wont be disapointed. And hope family will value the many nights spent away from home!

The HGVC resort across from SeaWorld would be the nicest. Ask for a room that looks over the evening fireworks.
I've stayed there a number of times on business trips and was upgraded each time.