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Old Feb 7, 2023 | 9:15 am
  #732  
mreynolds767
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Join Date: Oct 2022
Posts: 272
Originally Posted by lsprice
Can you give any other feedback on the Hilton vs. WA? I know they're in a different league, but I've read that the Hilton is a bit of a "junior" WA in terms of good (but not quite as great) service, pools, grounds, etc. Was that your experience? I see the downside of not being able to walk into town.

I've only been to Cabo once and stayed at WA, so I'm prepared to lower my standards next time we return. Just trying to plot out other options when we can't find award availability at WA.
Six Travelers did a great job above comparing the 2 ; I agree with their overall take but I would say I disagree on a couple of points.

While I feel the WA is clearly in a different league and has a for me HUGE location advantage the Hilton did have some areas where it actually was superior to the WA.
Funny you mention junior WA as far as service, I would say exactly that. At the Hilton they seemed to try and do many of the same things as at the WA from a service prospective. I found the service there excellent. WA service is more over the top but would give the Hilton top marks for service.
You get a welcome Margarita as one similar example.
The breakfast staff at the Hilton is fantastic, remembered our morning drinks and undercharged us each morning ; that did not happen at the WA.
The valet / bell hop service was great at the Hilton.
Room service was excellent, like the WA they had AM and PM turndown service ; getting the towels swapped out 2x per day plus getting free waters each time was nice to have.
Around the grounds maybe the general workers were not as outwardly friendly and front desk seemed a little more cold there but overall we experienced excellent service.

We were upgraded from a partial ocean view (standard award) to a Ocean Front but I think to get better than this would only be possible with a paid upgrade. They charge more for the Alta Mar rooms ; ocean front Alta Mar room I believe was $96 per night upgrade. I think in the app offered me $128 per night but then was offered to me for less when checking in. Had we planned on spending more time at the hotel I would have done that. Alta Mar is either the top floor or top 2 floors and the way the hotel is arranged I could see that having a better overall view. Alta Mar has other benefits like free full breakfast, free in coffee brought to your room, some snacks mid day ; a departing gift kind so I think if you opted for Alta Mar you may experience service on par as WA.

Big down side at least in our room but I assume all of the rooms was the bathroom was in dire need of an upgrade. The shower quite un-impressive and the room was boring ; typical hotel room setup. Had a decent sized balcony but not overly functional other than for enjoying a drink on. Bed was equal in terms of comfort / quality as at the WA.
The WA room layout was totally unique and we really loved that.

Concerning the view though ; most all rooms have the entire resort as your primary view with the beach / ocean behind that ; so a decent distance from your balcony to the ocean.
Is just the way the resort is constructed and so I don't think you will be in awe of the view. After being spoiled by a front building room at the WA the view was not overly great at the Hilton. We did not have a high floor at either property, the Hilton's tree line would require to be at least on the 4th floor I think to see over the trees.

The infinity pools and infinity hot tub on the property are fantastic though. The main pool is enormous and has a swim up bar where you can get food.
In this regard the Hilton clearly outshined the WA.
Unlike Six Travelers I also felt the food was superior at the Hilton. Breakfast was better, the lunch menu available pool side I thought was MUCH better and since we are not big on sea food preferred the main sit down dinner option at the Hilton over the choices at WA.
It felt like the Hilton for breakfast had more local specialties than the WA. The sit down dinner place was more Italian though, we liked that as we had tired a little of some of the same food eating out locally after a few days and the dinner was excellent! Check out the reviews for the dinner place and I think you will be impressed.
WA scene at night I preferred as the main after dark activity at the Hilton was in the bar by the lobby ; inside the building which seemed more like a typical hotel bar. The WA had live music outside in more of a chill / relaxed setting which we preferred. Neither are party or night life spots.
The Hilton has a good chance of hosting a business conference or wedding parties at the resort which could affect your stay in this regard, I think that would be much more uncommon at the WA.

Both kept their pools and hot tubs open 24 hours and heated all night ; which I thought was a very guest friendly thing to do. We travel more often to Europe and that is just never done there so something we appreciated even though we never did go for a late night swim.
I am not positive if this happens every night or if was from a nearby resort but there were fireworks about an hour after sunset which was pretty cool while we were at the Hilton. The fireworks were quite nice! We were out a few nights but on the 2 nights we were there at this time they happened.
One of the evenings they seemed to come from the Hilton's beach, the other night from the place next door to the right but we could see them in the sky very well.

So in summary:
Location: greatly prefer WA
Rooms / Property: both indoor and outdoor spaces: greatly prefer WA
Service: excellent at both ; superior at the WA but Hilton clearly was above expectations
Pools: Hilton superior with the huge caveat that nothing trumps having your own in room plunge pool
Food: Hilton superior but if you enjoy a high end seafood dining experience, the WA restaurant is going to be superior than anything at the Hilton.

As Six Travelers addressed in his post, the WA property is a unique layout and in a unique location. For me this is what made it so superior.
I would love to stay at the WA in Cabo again ; the Hilton Cabo I don't think I would return to despite enjoying our stay there ; from Boston it is not easy to get to Cabo with no direct flights. If I had a future work conference that was to be at the Hilton in Cabo I would be very happy about that!

Last edited by mreynolds767; Feb 7, 2023 at 9:29 am
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