Here’s my trip report from the Hilton Luxembourg (HHonors Reward Category 4), 12 Rue Jean Engling, Luxembourg, L 1466, Tel: Tel: 352-43-781 Fax: 352-43-6095, email: [email protected]

This hotel is located way outside of the city center. Valet parking was n/a. There are a lot of free parking spaces right behind the hotel. There's a taxi stand right in front of the hotel and a bus stop approx. 100 yards to the right. The hotel provides a compl. shuttle service from the hotel to the city centre and the airport (for further information and maybe a free airport-hotel transfer contact the concierge on extension 8040).

Check-in was efficient and OK. All my room-preferences set in my profile were honored. As a Hilton GoldVIP I received what I booked, a Hilton guest room on the 12th floor (on their HHonors Floor). I was offered a room upgrade to a Hilton Deluxe room for 25 €, or to a Suite for 50 € per night (both seemed refurbished). As this hotel does not have an Executive Floor / Lounge and breakfast was included in my rate, I set my on site VIP benefit to 1,000 bonus points. Asking for a comp. upgrade was denied, advising I choosed to receive the 1,000 bonus points instead. Baggage assistance wasn’t offered.

In my room there was a personal welcome note from the GM, two bottles of complimentary Gerolsteiner water and three oranges. I found my room clean, kind of dark and really in need for refurbishment. The room featured A/C, WiFi (10.00 € for 24h), a working desk, an old CRT TV, one bathrobe, one pair of slippers and the new Hilton clock. Be aware, the pillows are very small, soft and uncomfortable.

The minibar was stocked with: orange juice, apple juice, Coke, Diet Coke, Tonic Water 4.00 €, mineral water (sparkling / non-sparkling), Beer 5.50 €, Vodka, Gin, Whiskey, Cognac 7.50 €.

The bathroom was small but clean, with a tub and the usual amenities. However the standard is way beyond up to date!

Checked out their pool, sauna and solarium (Level -1) which was really nice (opening hours: 06:30 a.m. – 09.30 p.m.).

We had dinner at the Restaurant Indigo (opening hours: 06.00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m) next to the lobby, which was bright and had a nice modern decor. As it’s a small restaurant for this size of hotel, the hotel suggests to make a reservation in advance (extension 8076). I did so and it turned out it was a good decision. Almost every table was taken at 08:00 p.m. on a Friday night. You have the choice of either ordering a la carte or taking the buffet. As you are in Luxembourg expect everything to be a little bit more expensive than usual. Hilton Classics: Hilton Caesar Salad 13.90 €, Hilton Burger 18.50 €, Hilton Club Sandwich 18.50 €. Buffet was 28 €, a 300g tenderloin steak with Bernaise sauce, potato wedges and salad 29 € and a bottle of Australian Cabernet Sauvignon 29 €. Average prize for a bottle of wine is between 27 € and 35 €. While the wine and the steak was quite good, the buffet wasn’t. They had a salad bar with a good variety but except from olive oil and balsamico vinegar no dressings. The entrées were: chicken breast in a curry sauce, butter-farfalle with herbs, sausages, lentils with dark roux, au gratin potatoes, fish, white wine sauce. Everything tasted the same! Obviously no salt, no pepper, no herbs, even no curry in the curry sauce that came with the chicken. My recommendation as long as you do not want to enjoy the extensive dessert buffet, which was really good, stay away from the buffet and order a la carte.

Afterwards we went upstairs to have a cocktail in the Mezzo Bar (Level 1) Opening hours: Monday – Saturday from 04:30 p.m. – 01:00 a.m, Sunday from 04:30 p.m. – 00:00 a.m.). The bar features 50 different Whiskies (ave. price 7 €). Ave. price for a cocktails is 10 €. This is not a smoke-free bar!

Next morning we went downstairs for breakfast and were told that Indigo is closed because they were full. We were sent upstairs where a separate buffet was arranged. Oh boy... here’s what I found: coffee, tea, milk, orange juice, tomato juice, apple juice, grapefruit juice, Evian water, three sorts of French Rolls, two sorts of bread, toast, croissants, two sorts of cheese, one cream cheese, ham, Lyoner, salmon, three different cereals, Nutella, honey, peanut-butter, marmalade, three different yoghurts, hard boiled eggs (cold!), apples, kiwi, oranges, fruit salad, sliced bananas, pancake (cold!) with maple syrup. The “hot” buffet included sausages, plain tomatoes (no salt, no herbs,no nothing), mushrooms, bacon, potatoes (cold!), scrambled eggs (lukewarm, tasted awful). Afterwards I went downstairs to the main breakfast buffet to find out, that variety over there was much better. Be aware that they charge 25.00 € per person for Continental breakfast and 27.00 € for American breakfast.

Check-out was fast, very friendly and accurate.

Final notes: The hotel is located way outside, but they offer a free shuttle service to the city centre and the airport so this is no big issue. Free parking is available. The staff is friendly and speaks at least French, English and German. Food has a poor to moderate quality and is pricy. Pillows are very soft and uncomfortable (if you’re not used to it). The basic guest rooms need to be refurbished. If you can get a good rate which incl. breakfast, it’s a good place to stay. I do recommend this property.

Five days after dropping their guest questionnaire at check-out, I received a reply from the GM.

***pictures available upon request***