Programs: Hhonors (Diamond); HGVC (Elite); Ex/Comp'd - Priority Club (Platinum); UA (Gold); KLM (Gold);
Posts: 655
Abu Dhabi - help required
Before anyone says it - the search facility isn't working
Can anyone help with the Hiltons in Abu Dhabi: Baynunah, Corniche Residence or Hilton International ?
I am looking to go beginning of March, so hopefully not too hot. Want somewhere to relax - pool and spa facilities; also looking for a good upgrade for my hard-earned Diamond status.
Am willing to try 2 out of 3 hotels, as the extra stay will help towards keeping Diamond until end of next year.
Specifically which hotel has the best leisure facilities and the best Exec perks?
Programs: CO Plat, HP Plat, Hilton Gold, Starwood Gold
Posts: 1
Quote:
Originally Posted by Travel The World
Before anyone says it - the search facility isn't working
Can anyone help with the Hiltons in Abu Dhabi: Baynunah, Corniche Residence or Hilton International ?
I am looking to go beginning of March, so hopefully not too hot. Want somewhere to relax - pool and spa facilities; also looking for a good upgrade for my hard-earned Diamond status.
Am willing to try 2 out of 3 hotels, as the extra stay will help towards keeping Diamond until end of next year.
Specifically which hotel has the best leisure facilities and the best Exec perks?
Corniche Residence
I stayed last year at the Corniche Residence. As a Gold I didn't receive breakfast, but a "room with a view". No Executive Lounge. The hotel is downtown with a lot of traffic around the hotel. Staff was unfriendly and not really helpful.
Hilton Abu Dhabi
After two nights at the Corniche Residence, I moved to the Abu Dhabi Hilton and this was much better. I received Lounge Access and an upgrade to a Junior Suite. Staff was very friendly. As a hotel guest you can visit the Hiltonia Beach Club - which is across the street (Corniche Road) - free of charge. They have several pools, a water slide and of course a beach. (I think there is no public beach in Abu Dhabi.) The hotel offered a free shuttle to the nearby Marina Shopping Center in the afternoon, but you can also walk there in less then 15 minutes or take a (really cheap) taxi.
after lurking around on ft i finally found the courage to post!
if i can remember correctly the closest hilton to the embassy is the hilton baynunnah. However the three hiltons are all kinda on the same road, ( along the corniche) and taxi;s are quite frequent so staying at any of them shouldnt be a problem.
Personally I would recommend the baynunnah, its the newest building of the three, extremely helpful staff, an easily accessible business centre, and most importantly for me, nice large rooms.
If thats not unavailable i would go for the hilton corniche but ONLY if you get a room on the corniche level (the third floor) as they are the only newly decorated and renovatd rooms, the rest are quite dingy and old!
Programs: Hhonors (Diamond); HGVC (Elite); Ex/Comp'd - Priority Club (Platinum); UA (Gold); KLM (Gold);
Posts: 655
The Abu Dhabi Hilton is a little further out of town than the other two, but is the better of the three hotels, especially if you have any status as it's the only one with a club room. Also it has multiple restaurants and the Hiltonia Beach Club across the road (with gym etc.)
There's not much to do around the Baynunah Hotel, but as has been commented taxis are relatively cheap.
The Baynunah is right next to the British Embassy so probably not too far from the US Embassy - but that's just a guess.
I haven't stayed at the Corniche, but did have a quick look when passing and it's similar to the Baynunah. Mainly long term rentals with a few hotel rooms, all have kitchens and all are suites.
Programs: Hilton Diamond - Lifetime SPG Platinum - UA Premier Exec - Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,673
FWIW, I just had a nice stay at the Hilton Abu Dhabi. It is, as indicated, a bit away from the centre, but the gym is nice and the lounge is more than adequate.
Programs: BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 180
Hilton HHonors Properties in Abu Dhabi
Am intending to go to Abu Dhabi for a city break in early March.
Which is the best Hilton in the city, in terms of access to the beach / city, and also which treats Diamonds best, in terms of exec lounge facilities, or upgrades ?
Programs: UA 1K, QR/EK Gld, AF Gld, CX Slv, SPG Plt75, IC Plt/RA, Hyatt Dia, Shang Jade, Marr Gld, Hilt Slv
Posts: 3,156
No contest -- the main Hilton. It's a true resort, with a very nice pool and beach area -- one of the best beaches in Abu Dhabi in fact -- a gym (out on the beach), and multiple decent restaurants. (Although the restaurants compare unfavorably to the food available nearby.) It has a lounge up on the tenth floor and suite upgrades, which I assume are easy to come by for Diamonds. (When I stayed there I wasn't Diamond, but my co-worker who was arranged the upgrades for me.) It's also walking distance from the Emirates Palace hotel, which is worth a visit, and the Marina Mall.
The other two -- the Baynunah and Corniche -- are barely even full-service hotels. They are catered to longer-term travelers. They have no beach, mediocre (and limited) food, no valet parking, and very bad '70s-style rooms. The only benefit is that both of these are more in the center of downtown, within walking distance of restaurants and shopping. However, this is a minor benefit, because taxis in Abu Dhabi are plentiful and ridiculously cheap. A taxi from the other Hilton to downtown is only ten minutes and $2.
When I stayed at the Baynunah in October, it was undergoing some sort of construction that made it difficult to even get to the hotel. The rates are often much lower, naturally, but if you're on a short vacation I would avoid these two.
Please PM me if you need more info on Abu Dhabi -- I just got back from four months there.
Programs: UA 1K, QR/EK Gld, AF Gld, CX Slv, SPG Plt75, IC Plt/RA, Hyatt Dia, Shang Jade, Marr Gld, Hilt Slv
Posts: 3,156
I suppose the moderators consolidated multiple threads to create this one.
One more note: the U.S. Embassy is outside of town in the "embassy district" along the airport road, about a 20-minute drive from any of the three Hiltons.
My vote would be the Abu Dhabi Hilton. Great lounge and facilities, looks after any level of Hhonors member very well and with the taxi's being very cheap (standard taxi) and relatively cheap (Al Gazal taxi) getting around is very easy.
Great place for an afternoon drink is the Hiltonia across the road where you can watch the sun set and the Emirates Palace light up .
__________________
The Golden Rule - He Who Has The Gold Makes The Rules
When we went in February 2006 the hotel gave us a complimentary one way transfer as I am a Gold. I can't find anything about this on their website but you could try emiling them. abudhabi@hilton.com.
Are the taxis at the airport trustworthy, or should we book one in advance ?
The taxi industry in Abu Dhabi is well regulated, the cars new and generally well maintained. The airport is quite a distance from the Hilton (about 35-40 km) and the fare will be about AED 70 (around $19).
The Hilton provided me with a one way complimentary transfer to the airport but I suspect that this is a perk for those on the Executive Floor.
As there are three HIltons in Abu Dhabi, make a note of the address for your Hilton.
Programs: AV, QF-WP, UA 1M, Rydges Plat, A-Club Plat, HHon-Diamond
Posts: 3,090
Just stayed at the Hilton Corniche Apartments in Abu Dhabi as it was very convenient for downtown. Generally very happy with the place:
As a Gold, upgraded to a very large suite of rooms with kitchen & microwave but no crockery/cutlery.
Room service available 24 hours, asked for a beer and a ham sandwich but no go. This is a dry hotel, as is the Hilton Bayunah, whereas there seems to be a licensed jazz-bar at the real Hilton.
Asked at reception for a map of the area so I could walk to my appointment, they gave me a dirty photocopied sheet ... walked back and no sign of the hotel where it was marked on the map! It's actually 2 blocks east of where that map says it is.
Restaurant menu has everything from Italian to Chinese food, but nothing tasted quite authentic except the Indian curry.
Hilton HHonors Properties in Abu Dhabi
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