Such a pity to see them doing the minimum hours on the lounge.

I guess it depends on your membership of other programmes or your willingness to pay for the perks you might otherwise enjoy at the Hilton on the basis of your HH status.

The Intercontinental has a far better location at around the price of the Hilton. If you're fortunate, or are willing to pay more, or you're an Ambassador/RA you're likely to get a suite or even a terrace room looking out over the square and the cathedral. The lounge is small but seldom hosts more than a small handful of guests, comes at a supplememt if you're not RA but out-classes the Hilton lounge by a very significant margin.

Thanks to both for the updates. Very helpful indeed. I'll check out the IC.

A new cocktail bar opened in February. Nice selection but the location is still not perfect.

Nice to know, where is it? The main bar is out of the man door and to the right, is this somewhere else?

How's the Happy Hour service/timing in the evening here? Thanks.

Was there last month. Timing was good (5 or 6pm till 8pm) but the offerings were quite meagre. Booze was low quality red/white plus bottled Heineken. Food was crackers and peanuts plus one hot food item in spoon sized portion. Disappointing considering the space is ample, attractive and full of seating.

On the other hand we were very pleasantly surprised by the restaurant, great food, reasonably priced (by Western standards) so made a beeline for that after the disappointing happy hour.

Thanks for this. It's a shame that many Hiltons are now just dumbing down or "ticking the box" regarding executive lounges. Still, if/when travelling solo it's nice to have a comfortable space for a cold beer/glass of wine & some light nibbles.

It's probably tiresome to see this pointed out again, but the saturation of HH programme with premium members probably removes the incentive for hotels to provide anything beyond nibbles and (cheap) wine.

Many or most of those who might pay extra for higher standards of room and for lounge access get those for free on the back of their membership.

on the opposite end why would you pay for or book an exec/club room if the offer is so poor.

Well you wouldn't. But I'm guessing the hotels have worked out there's not much point making the effort: so much of the potential market for those rooms already get them as upgrades.

There are exceptions to that depressing scene, but most of those seem to be in Asia

Just on my last night of a 5 night stay on points, booked the standard king bed room, upgraded to executive room prior to arrival.

Executive Lounge happy hour is from 5:30 to 8:00, and the lounge closes at 9:00. Hot food in metal cups, about 3 spoonfuls of pork each night on nights 1, 2, 4 and 5, sometimes with beans or vege, was out on night 3. Beer is Heineken, a local beer, plus nonalcoholic Heineken, local white, rose and red wines. Also cheese, fruit, some other salads in individual bowls varying over the nights but 2 or 3 times was shrimp, plus 2 deserts.

Breakfast buffet in Oxbo restaurant is good.

Mini bars are no longer stocked, instead you have to buy at market in lobby.

2 330ml glass bottles of water daily.

AC is very good, shower water pressure is good.

Hotel is a short walk from the European Union metro station (M2 line), but the exit near the hotel is stairs only, you have to go to the farthest exit to get an elevator which is almost a 10 minute walk, vs 3 minutes for the closer exit.

Near the farthest exit there is a small mall which has a few eateries plus a BILLA supermarket which had some good prices on liquor, where I got a bottle of Kavalan Whiskey at a really good price - better than duty free, and other liquor was cheaper than what we pay in Vancouver (only occasionally gets Kavalan and then it is the much more expensive variety).

McD’s, for those who like it across from the hotel, it also serves Heineken.

I would stay here again.

Enjoyed an excellent stay here overall (one glitch, more later) & was pre-upgraded to a King Park Executive Suite which was great. Comfortable, modern & very peaceful.

Breakfast in Oxbo restaurant was very good with decent choices & plenty of the usual hot & cold options.

The Executive Lounge is a beautiful space, airy, very nice decor plus an outdoor terrace, which was great in the 30c temperatures. Hardly anyone in there each day - perhaps 8-10 maximum. There were 2 beers, Heineken & a Bulgarian lager, white, rose & red wines. Vodka, Whiskey & one other spirit that I can't recall (Rum maybe?). No gin annoyingly but the staffer with whom I spoke said requests from guests fro gin have been listened to by management so we'll see. Food options were plentiful IME, incl. greek, mozzarella & various other salad options, cold cuts, cheese, crackers, bread sticks, nuts, plus a couple of small hot dishes. There were also 2-3 desserts/cakes, plus fresh fruit. Perfectly adequate.

The only negative was a failed airport pick top that I had arranged a few days before arrival & their initial handling of this was really crappy. However matters were satisfactorily resolved eventually once I had made my feelings clear!

The hotel has been refurbished to a high standard & is beautifully maintained. I wouldn't hesitate to stay again.

Thanks for posting - then I must re-visit ... By the way, the hotel is easily reachable with the metro from the airport, even if one brings along suitcases, but that is of course personal preference.

I did the pre-booked hotel car because I'd been travelling long-haul beforehand & I knew my arrival at SOF airport after 6pm would leave me exhausted & I was right!