8:30 AM Friday January 10, 2009
knock, knock, knock, knock, knock. "House Keeping"

Depends on location. My most frequent US HHonors redemption, the Millenium Hilton in NYC, has been super generous with me over the years. Most of the time with Hilton I'm not at a full service property, so upgrades are pointless anyway.

In Europe, Hilton's been very nice to me with reward stays in London and Paris — not only giving me an award room that saved me hundreds of dollars, but also upgrades to executive level rooms with lounge access — and lounges that really were worth visiting. The last time I was in Paris my travel companions and I (we had three Hilton Diamonds in the group of six) probably consumed at least 10 bottles of wine/champagne, and didn't pay for any of it. Or the room. Or the lavish breakfast buffet in the restaurant each morning.

I have drawn a good image in my mind now.... :p

I have never been given any trouble with the govt rate anywhere in 10 years.

Tell this little punk to back off or you will call paris on his a$$. lol

The valet tonight was nice, and they were fine when I stayed here in May. That time I was in my own car. Tonight it's National's car. They can do what they want with that Highlander. It's crap anyway, with not one, but two tires that are leaking air. As long as it looks fairly decent tomorrow when I return it to IAH, I'm fine with it. They can take it out for a joyride for all I care. I've got unlimited mileage.

Hiltons in Europe are great for awards -- except most of the UK properties which generally suck regardless of how you pay (The Hilton Park Lane being one notable exception). I, too, have used the Millenium Hilton in NYC for awards and have never been disappointed.

You can overthrow the Panamanian government just about any other weekend of the year. Just not that particular one.

I've found a few of the newer Hiltons in London being very good too. I try to avoid the older ones, but the ones that have opened in recent years (Canary Wharf, Tower Bridge, etc.) are not only quite nice, but very good with giving upgrades to Diamonds.

Don't stay in a Marriott on a government rate! They're vicious. Government employee ID or else. I've even had them up my rate before I ever checked in because they figured out I was a contractor.

Usually Hilton properties couldn't care less — especially if you use their online check-in, and you arrive late enough in the evening. Generally I've found if you arrive after 11:00 PM, you can be on any rate and they don't care. I once booked an AARP rate at the Toledo Hilton for about a 60% discount off the "best available rate" on the website. I arrived around midnight, looked very tired and pissed off, and they didn't care that I was on the ultra-cheap AARP rate. They checked me in, no questions asked, despite the fact I obviously was a few decades from being eligilble to join AARP.

I can take him out. No need to call Paris.

How true! Hilton London Euston was rather a dump IMHO.

I'm slowly sobering up. Slowly.

Haven't stayed in it. I did do the Hilton Kensington once, and it wasn't all that bad — but a friend who was there at the same time who had no Hilton status was in a truly dreadful room. I was a lowly Silver at the time, and was upgraded, and had a pretty decent room. Still not my top choice today, but not as bad as some on the Hilton forum would make it out to be either.

That's why there's a do not disturb sign already on my door.

Worst housekeeper ever? The one in late September 2007 at the Benton Harbor Courtyard by Marriott who knocked on my door at 7:45 AM — despite me putting the sign out. She continued to do the same, and use her master key to try to open the door (I had the deadbolt set) off and on for two hours. And then she called a maintenance guy to break into the room.

Benton Harbor Michigan? :confused: What did you expect? Last time I was there the weeds were 3 feet tall in the sidewalks downtown. I can't imagine it's gotten much better...

Wirelessly posted (Samsung Omnia: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows CE; PPC; 240x320))

I know about the marriott govt rate. they are married to the feds after they found his kidnapped family member. I don't bother with marriott unless its a significant savings over spg.

I have not have the nerve to try the aarp rate yet, although lord knows I have been temped.