The first hint on trouble occurred when I skirted past a half dozen folks awaiting check-in, going to an unoccupied staff at the far end of the check-in desk, and was asked by the clerk, “Are you next in line?” When I told her that I assumed that this was the HHonors check-in, she lamented (while checking me in) that she wished that it was, but this (Monterey, Ca DoubleTree) hotel was merely an affiliate, and did not recognize Hilton Honors.

“Oh, and how would I know this, is there something on the website that would alert me?” “No” she continued, “we only use the website for reservations (whatever that meant) so just call and ask the individual hotel, there are only about 8 DoubleTrees in the country--I don’t know which--that don’t participate in Honors.”

Well, it’s no biggie, but I would have liked to have the option to consider Priceline or another hotel where I have status. Probably, would have stayed at the DT anyway, given the location and price, but it seems to me that I should be able to assume that a hotel on the Hilton website is an Honors participant, unless otherwise stated. Even the Las Vegas properties, which are not on the website, recognize (to a degree) status. The likelihood of me calling and asking in nil.

BTW, anyone know the other non-participatory DTs?