mnredfox

Ok, given I just started staying at Hyatt's I can't comment. But I found lots of Hilton hotels with closed lounges on weekends.

jamesteroh

Well the properties is the main reason I stay with Hilton. If Hyatt had as many properties as Hilton, I would have no problem making the switch. In LA, Hyatt is the exception and has the andaz in the area I like to be in where Hilton has no properties, but in any other city I am in, Hilton has at least on property in the area I want to be at and Hyatt usually has none.

For people who like airline miles, the double dipping is a great benefit. I used to love the benefit when Southwest had RR 1. Now I don't use it, except for in cases like now where you can get Delta MQMs (which aren't much but still help to pad the rollover).

If you have a lot of expensive hotel stays but not enough nights to make diamond at Hyatt, Hilton can be at an advantage there if you have $10K in charges a year.

Hyatt does offer a guaranteed 4 p.m. check out even for me as a PM which is nice and they also offer guaranteed room availability and it seems to be a lot better than Hiltons. I was considering a LA trip a couple weeks ago and all the hotels in the city were sold out and Hilton was claiming extradordinary demand and wasn't allow diamond force on their rooms, but as a PM with Hyatt I could have received a room at the Andaz (was $350 a night but was still a room if I REALLY needed to be in LA)

mnredfox

Good summary. I couldn't agree more on properties, huge benefit for Hilton. Double dipping is a valid point too, but you could look at it as Hilton redemptions are more expensive. 50% more, hard to say.

stifle

I have a giraffe plush

jamesteroh

If Hyatt had the kind of property selection that Hilton does, it would be a no brainer switching my loyalty over to Hyatt, even without double dipping. Just being assured of a 4 p.m. checkout is worth it for me.

Keyser

yet another flaw with hilton diamond benefits....they do not guarantee the 4pm checkout....its only subject to availability....i have been denied 4pm checkout a number of times....

Keyser

another request denied this morning saying that as long as a premium room is available, i cannot use the normal number of points to book a room....

stifle

I don't think late checkout is a published benefit in HHonors, other than subject to availability.

jamesteroh

No. I normally don't get denyed a late checkout (usually I never ask for no later than 2), but I have been declined before. The Palmer house in chicago is the only property I have stayed at where they will offer a diamond a 4 p.m. and a gold a 1 p.m. checkout time when they check in.

Hyatt provides a late checkout guaranteed for their top two tiers (can't remember if it's 2 or 4) and Starwood has the 24 hour day revolving checkin benefit.

Keyser

its not....i think its the only major chain that does not offer this benefit....

my24 is a benefit offered to those who have over 75 nights a year....but all plat & gold members are offered 4pm checkout (except at resort & conference properties) as a published benefit....

so once again, its only hilton that doesn't offer 4pm checkout as a published benefit to their top tier members....

tkelvin69

Did you contact the hotel directly? I encountered this on the website but contacted the Conrad Singapore directly and they opened up a night so I could use a 4 night award. I suspect being diamond had a lot to do with it.

tomy77

Wait, is that true?
I've contacted diamond desk, and they said they can't force the hotel to open up regular room (for award booking). Only premium room is available on my dates, and the points cost just horrible.

And it was Conrad Singapore. Do you have any contact for the hotel?
Thanks in advance.

ILovetheReds

I would just try calling the DD again. It may depend on the property and how full they are as well.

My wife tried using her two Citi weekend certificates in London as a gold and was denied since only premium rooms were available. I called the diamond and they got the request through.

Sometimes the DD has to contact the property make the request and will get back with you a few days later as well.

ILovetheReds

I arrived at the Washington Hilton yesterday for a 2-night trip with my wife and someone else in my office who is gold and her husband for a meeting this afternoon.

At the Washington Hilton, it does pay to be Diamond. They gave us a great end suite 3-room suite and the kitchen separating the Living room/seating area and the bedroom has a full size subzero fridge and all three doors have their own hallway entrance. It appears that they gave us three separate rooms the all connect.

This property only gives lounge access to people on the exec level or diamonds, they will only give golds lounge access if they are on the exec level. Whilst I am not on the exec level (I'll take this awesome suite over an exec level room anyday), we should have access but the lounge is closed for 7 to 10 days (not sure if they are renovating or it is due to the holiday and a staffing shortage). My wife and I received a great full breakfast and the other lady in my office and her husband only received a cont. breakfast. We also received vouchers for free appetizers in the bar and 4 drink chits for the bar due to the lounge being closed, and the other couple didn't receive them.

Properties like this and the Atlanta Hilton are great about giving their diamond guest the right treatment.

Keyser

tried that as well....they said redemption requests have to be made with hilton & there is nothing the property could do about it....