Originally Posted by
beachfan
Thanks, good to know about the relative value from someone who has been there regularly. Hope you don't mind a few more questions.
Not at all. And just to reassure you, you are absolutely going to the right place for the FHR and Aspire double dip. Honestly, I keep Aspire cards to use at this place -- the ratio of highly desirable place (being able to walk out of the hotel into the Versailles Parc is fantastic) to cost of rooms is the best I have found among qualifying Hilton "resorts." And using the FHR night at the end, to get the 4pm check out, is like getting an extra day in the Parc.
1) Any advantage re: likely upgrades to the BIg House between Bunk House King and Bunk House Garden view (30 euros more)?
I doubt it. I mean, it does open you up to the possibility that they will just move you across the hallway ("to Garden View!") and call that an upgrade, so that is a consideration, and maybe it is worth 30 euros not to have to worry about that. I had not quite thought about it in those terms, since usually we are only booking the last night through FHR anyhow. And, were that to happen, it would probably mean that they were very booked up (in which case prices would be higher, and I would be less likely to be there! But since you can get a perfectly agreeable Bunk House King room -- P2 is over here nodding her head -- with a nice view as well looking back toward town, the risk reward ratio tends toward unity.
2) In terms of relative value, for the dates I'm looking at, the difference is 100 euros (Bunk House Garden to Big House Garden) - is that around what you thought when you said not so much as to be paying for?
Sounds about right, but maybe a little low, and depending where this stay fits in your trip experience, it may be worth it to you to just guarantee the better property (if not a "bigger" room). Again, we have come to be "volume" users of this place, and are willing to let things even out over the longer run.
3) As a regular, Have you ever been upgraded to a suite (or Junior Suite)? If so, what room was it from.
Never. I don't know how many real suites they have. I am guessing few, and that they are quite elegant. I think we (credit card Hilton Diamond + FHR) have maxed out with a pretty impressive 3rd or 4th floor corner room (which, for all I know, they call a junior suite). But then I haven't tried an upper limit FHR Big House booking to force the issue.
A consideration here -- at least from my perspective -- is that it's a Hilton, not a Hyatt, and although the people at the front desk can be considerate, elite status counts for less.
Wondering about doing one night on FHR and 2 Nights Impressario to get my $200 back from Amex Plat and two Aspire cards. I assume Impresarrio and FHR are treated similarly with respect to upgrades.
No particular detailed info there except that, as per my comment just above, they stick pretty hard and fast to the rules (in their favor).