We're here now, Saturday through Thursday, and the property is chockers with people arriving from cruises or about to depart on cruises. As Bridgetown cruise pier and the ADM flour mill pier can handle a number of ships - and they are because a number of cruise ships changed their San Juan, St. Thomas and Sint Maarten itineraries due to the hurricanes. Add a major ship that went mechanical last week and you add thousands to those seeking lodging and waiting for extra flights to be added to evacuate passengers. As well, the Hilton serves as an aircrew layover hotel. Crowded!
We arrived at 2 pm to a lobby mob scene with cruisers occupying the lobby waiting for transport to their ships. and were sent to the third world lounge to wait for our room. It became available at about 3:30 (check-in is 4 pm) and we were given a double corner room (views of the south coast in front of the hotel, on down towards Oistins and some of the empty industrial area towards the highway, as well as the adjacent parlor room on the eighth floor. Our room and all south view rooms were subject to amazingly loud D.J. Music from about 4:30 pm Sunday, though it finally ended ~8:30 pm. After that, loud carts were hauling and metal clanging ensued as late as 9:30 pm. The Carlisle Bay view rooms - all seven suites- would not be subject to these noises and have the best views here. All rooms have electronic safes.
Note refurbishment is
still going on! Our room is still unrefurbished, and weekdays there are hammering and loud machine noises nearby. In fact, some of the property is bare and in need of paint and one vertical building corner is very corroded (under repair as we departed). Paint in our bathroom is bubbled. Among annoyances, water service in the bathroom failed several times during our stay, and this morning (Wednesday) when water was restored there was no hot water. Water service was interrupted several times during our stay, ranging from no water to water with a lot of air bubbles or lack of warmer than tepid water.
On arrival, we were given a high speed internet access code and two towel cards. Exchange these for beach towels, get them back when you give the towels back. Fail to turn in the laminated paper cards and you will be charged US $10 per card. Housekeeping was friendly and efficient. Hilton collection linens and Peter Thomas Roth amenities were provided. Robes, no slippers. On occasion face cloths were overlooked, but a call gets these quickly.
Lounge: Coffee machine, tea, soft drinks, water (the latter just put n the fridge and room temperature) and 3-4 trays of cakey things put out at 3 pm for "tea". The lounge has creaky tropical furniture that mostly consists of tables and chairs, a couple of PC / Internet stations, a couple of overstuffed chairs and a sectional sofa - in this case taken over by a woman using her backpack as a computer rest and putting her bare feet on the couch after doffing her shoes.
What pass for canapés are out at 5 pm, and they are notable only by their cheapness and rapid disappearance. Lower shelf alcoholic beverages are available for pay (only). Crudités and dip, bits of cheese, crackers pretty well sum up the meager offerings.
Meagre applies to breakfast as well. Some chopped mature and immature cantaloupe, honeydew melon and pineapple - some immature, some past their time and tasting of fermentation, three juices, "French" toast with sugar syrup, cereal, an empty boiled egg tureen, several bread and pastry offerings, a "sludge" of compressed bits of pork colored pink and "turkey" slices tasting strongly of chemicals. And within a half hour of opening this "lounge" gets very crowded to boot.
The sole good aspects to the Executive Lounge are the lovely views of Carlisle Bay and the friendliness of the staff. But honestly, as a Diamond nearly two decades, this may be the worst Overseas Hilton lounge in the heap. Management has obviously been discussed instructed to keep the guests marginally served and assure pumped up pricing on everything on sale.
There is a VIP cocktails get together for Diamonds etc. at 5-6 pm on the 5th floor pool deck on Wednesdays.
Breakfast at the Lighthouse Terrace restaurant for those with Lounge access is free for Continental, which normally costs $47.50 Bajan Dollars, and $30 Bajan upgrade to full breakfast with cooked to order eggs station and much more than the Lounge. IMO, the USD $15 upgrade to Lighthouse Terrace full breakfast is well worth it.
Dinner on some weekdays is served at The Grille, but the reservation we made by phone at 1 pm was not registered or honored at 7 pm. Walk-ins were being told they had a 20 minute wait, those with bookings at 7 were told to wait in the bar because the chef could not keep up with the number of orders. There is a dress code, but a walk in in denim shorts, tennis shoes and tee shirt was told to wait and accommodated. We were told we could be seated, but the chef’s workload would require we wait. We walked out. What a total joke! And, the Lighthouse Terrace was closed, forcing you to go out or use The Grille for dinner. Restaurants are closed for special events, such as the Wednesday barbecue and floor show. Check the schedules on the chalkboards in the lobby!
Alternate places to eat listed in Wikipost at top of page.
Executive summary: gorgeous setting and beaches, concierge will arrange an array of activities, staff are friendly, upgrades are often granted if there is availability. Executive lounge is essentially a view with crap offerings, food throughout the property is mostly okay but nothing special (best were the marlin sandwiches at Water’s Edge beachside bar). Stuff fails periodically, service is friendly but not timely nor efficient at times. Prices other than the rooms are high, even converting from Bajan to US dollars - and it’s not just because of the service charge and 17.5% VAT added to everything. Good for holidays, but keep your service expectations low.