Hilton Auckland {NZL}
#166
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: EWR - Jersey Shore
Programs: UA Gold, *A Gold, HH Dia, Hertz #1 5*
Posts: 630
I agree you beat me to posting.However there are other programs without a major devaluation that do it all.Glad to see Swiss Global was taken care of
Wonder how others are faring and if is any indicator the property is working harder to exceed expectations.As a Diamond paying for two rooms I received
the basic harbor view room some time ago.
Wonder how others are faring and if is any indicator the property is working harder to exceed expectations.As a Diamond paying for two rooms I received
the basic harbor view room some time ago.
I was given the continental breakfast in White for free and was given two complimentary waters each day. I was also presented with a bottle of wine in my room because of the upgrade that wasn't to be.
My MyWay selection was the room upgrade so I would get the upgrade and/or the breakfast. I paid for the one hour of internet (NZD14.50). Anything over one hour is charged the 24 hour rate of NZD29.00. Parking at the Hilton is valet only at NZD30.00/day.
I noticed no mold in my room, especially the bathroom. Between regular housekeeping and the evening turn-down service, the room was always immaculate. Having stayed there twice before (the last being four years ago), I noticed the touch-sensitive minibar was gone and replaced with a decent size fridge with all of your normal minibar stuff inside. The front desk told when me, after I asked, that it would be no problem removing (not consuming, just removing) something out of the fridge in order to make room for something I bought and wanted kept cold.
My previous stays resulted in upgrades to the harbor side. I'm guessing since the hotel was soldout and some rooms were out of service, upgrades were not available. Anyone upgraded to a Bow Suite must have been there during a slower period where those rooms were not sold. The rules for upgrades usually preclude upgrade to suites. Anyone who ever got a Bow Suite and the breakfast should consider themselves extremely lucky.
#167
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: San Diego,CA
Posts: 10,058
I was given the continental breakfast in White for free and was given two complimentary waters each day. I was also presented with a bottle of wine in my room because of the upgrade that wasn't to be.
I noticed no mold in my room, especially the bathroom. Between regular housekeeping and the evening turn-down service, the room was always immaculate. Having stayed there twice before (the last being four years ago), I noticed the touch-sensitive minibar was gone and replaced with a decent size fridge with all of your normal minibar stuff inside. The front desk told when me, after I asked, that it would be no problem removing (not consuming, just removing) something out of the fridge in order to make room for something I bought and wanted kept cold.
My previous stays resulted in upgrades to the harbor side. I'm guessing since the hotel was soldout and some rooms were out of service, upgrades were not available. Anyone upgraded to a Bow Suite must have been there during a slower period where those rooms were not sold. The rules for upgrades usually preclude upgrade to suites. Anyone who ever got a Bow Suite and the breakfast should consider themselves extremely lucky.
Keep in mind that any time one requests or books twin bedded rooms the chances of a great upgrade diminishes substantially in my own experience
Regarding mold it is a serious issue with any building that has experienced any kind of water or moisture damage/entry.You typically can not see mold it grows under floors and in walls.From there it can get into a ventilation system or in the air of a guest room/building.It is not the surface kind of minor mold that one sees growing in between the cracks of grouting and seen on the surface.Every year it causes deaths due to exposure and shortens lives airborne and invisible.
I am no expert but I had it in my house after flooding from a next door neighbors home and was very fortunate to have an insistent friend who argued with the recovery team and insurance company to open up my living room walls and yes there it was rows of it.........Was shocked as you could see nothing in the room.My floors were moisture damaged too and had been to be replaced yet there again looked fine visually.
I would rather stay in a hotel cleaned up after a bed bug infestation which is more easily seen by professionals then be exposed to a water damaged property.Most companies don't do extensive searches for mold becuase it is a costly search and nobody wants to pay typically........
Once it is dry and they do their testing frequently they just hope for the best and move on
For further info google if interested.I only became interested after having the problem
In a word more scary then it looks from the surface
#168
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: EWR - Jersey Shore
Programs: UA Gold, *A Gold, HH Dia, Hertz #1 5*
Posts: 630
I never booked a twin room. I had booked a king room with my award. About 6 days out from my stay I had noticed it had changed from a king to a twin room. I'm guessing they wanted to sell the king rooms and substituted a twin room. The twin bed is way too narrow.
#169
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: San Diego,CA
Posts: 10,058
wow thats evil on the hotels part
If the shoes were reversed I would be all over that situation
If the hotel didn't make good as a Diamond guest I would take it up with Hilton Guest Assistance
Unacceptable IMO They should have stuck you in a king suite if they needed your room type that badly
#170
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,502
Do we have any FTers currently in AKL who can confirm that the scaffolding is still there? What are the chances the repairs will be ongoing in May?
#171
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NC
Programs: AAConciergeKey/1MM, DL DM/2 MM, UA Gold,Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 11,918
It appears that the hotel is again offering Diamonds free continental breakfast...are the drink coupons in the bar still provided as well? Is Internet expensive at this hotel?
#173
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SYD
Programs: QF Emerald EY Plat HH D
Posts: 1,268
stayed here a few years ago as Diamond and got the basics. thinking or staying there again this month
has there been any improvement since feb?
or do they have a givem the basics attitude still.
has there been any improvement since feb?
or do they have a givem the basics attitude still.
#174
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE, AA EXP MM, UA Gold MM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, HH Dia, IHG Plat
Posts: 4,766
View Rooms
Any recent experience of this property? Is any type of harbor view room now verboten for Diamonds on reward stays because Hilton wants more than double the points for those rooms?
Granted the view from parts of the hotel is excellent, this place is very expensive on either cash or points stays. There is no executive lounge, and only continental breakfast is included in the room rate.
Granted the view from parts of the hotel is excellent, this place is very expensive on either cash or points stays. There is no executive lounge, and only continental breakfast is included in the room rate.
#175
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: DL DM, AA PlatPro, Hilton DM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 1,532
We're in the middle of a two-night stay here at the Hilton Auckland.
Hotel is is great shape -- rooms look new and I don't see any construction going on. Received a letter that spells out the Diamond benefits:
The breakfast is a lot nicer then the Hilton Lake Taupo that we stayed at a few days ago -- a good selection of hot items are included as well. The turndown service is nice to get a few bottled waters -- there is also water available at breakfast in a small fridge -- sparkling water is available there too.
Hotel is is great shape -- rooms look new and I don't see any construction going on. Received a letter that spells out the Diamond benefits:
- Complimentary Full Breakfast for two in FISH restaurant
- Complimentary Drink voucher for two in Bellini Bar per night of stay
- Coplimentary in-room high speed internet access
- Complimentary Turndown service including two bottles of Waiwera water
- Complimentary local Newspaper
- Complimentary Late Checkout at request [and subject to availability]
The breakfast is a lot nicer then the Hilton Lake Taupo that we stayed at a few days ago -- a good selection of hot items are included as well. The turndown service is nice to get a few bottled waters -- there is also water available at breakfast in a small fridge -- sparkling water is available there too.
#176
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,865
Thanks for this recent update. We will be there next month so up to date information is always good. What kind of room did you have? What transportation did you take from the airport?
#177
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: DL DM, AA PlatPro, Hilton DM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 1,532
We rented a car since we were driving to Rotorua, Waitomo, etc. It was actually nice to have the car in Auckland as well to get to some of the restaurants in the surrounding neighborhoods.
#178
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,865
We just had a King Harborview room -- it was a pretty busy weekend so no upgrades were available (besides being a harborview). Room was perfectly fine though.
We rented a car since we were driving to Rotorua, Waitomo, etc. It was actually nice to have the car in Auckland as well to get to some of the restaurants in the surrounding neighborhoods.
We rented a car since we were driving to Rotorua, Waitomo, etc. It was actually nice to have the car in Auckland as well to get to some of the restaurants in the surrounding neighborhoods.
#179
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: EWR - Jersey Shore
Programs: UA Gold, *A Gold, HH Dia, Hertz #1 5*
Posts: 630
Try a restaurant called degree (yes, a lower case 'd'). As you exit the Princes Wharf, make a right and head into Viaduct Harbour. You'll see the huge NZ1 Americas Cup boat in front of you. degree is at the corner to the left. Try preparing your own steak on a super heated stone brick and wash it down with a couple of Monteith's Golds.