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I have to agree with Mike... This Hilton is my first or second favorite Hilton (excl. Conrad) worldwide. When we stayed here last March we found the service provided by the Concierge staff to be exemplary and truly enjoyed the lounge. Sorry to hear that your stay wasn't up to par!

Stayed at this hotel last month. Was an OK stay but this isn't my favourite part of BA. Hotel felt more corporate than the others we've stayed in while in BA.

However there are a few PCs behind the executive lounge desks at the entrance which you can use for free. I found they were never busy.

Stayed there 5 nights Jan 1 - Jan 6 with Mrs Meineke and just-turned-5 Tim Jr. I'll try to repeat what's been put in other posts:
- when I got my reservation reminder, it said it was a smoking room. I called the Diamond desk and told them I wanted non-smoking, they said there's was nothing avaiable. Also wanted early check-in (we landed at EZE at 6:30), they said they couldn't promise anything. Said I wanted a room with 2 beds, same response. I am pleased to say that when I got to the hote, they gave me the EXACT right answer - "Mr. Meineke, we see that you requested a non-smoking room with 2 beds. We don't have a room like that right now, but why don't you and your family go into the lounge and have some breakfast, and we'll come get you when the room is ready". Which they did 45 minutes later
- the food in the lounge was OK, not great. They kept running out of Diet Coke (I go to a lot of conferences and this happens a lot; when are hotels going to figure out that a lot of people only want to drink diet soda, so they should stock accordingly). Some days they did have diet sprite. Beware of the croissants - they are very heavy - I'd advise only eating the flaky outisde and not the dense inside. They are also very big on having you sign the ticket to say what room you're in
- my son loved the pool and the pool table in the lounge
- the lobby area seemed like a popular place to eat, so we tried it. the food was not very good
- not a fan of Puerto Madero area generally. Very sterile on the Hilton side, and theme-parkish on the other side. Plus a ton of mosquitos (who fortunately did not make it up to the pool), including in the adjacent park
- the 2 computers behind the desk on the 7th floor seemed booked a lot, and they closed at 10 (and 10 for BA is not all that late!). One night I went to the biz center to use a computer, there was no-one there to give me the code. Misunderstanding a previous post on this thread, I went behind the biz center desk, where there was a Lufthansa lounge with computers. Not clear if this is supposed to be open to the public so I used it just that once
- a lot of the landmarks in BA are under renovation. If you're trying to decide between going in 2010 or 2011, I'd wait a year
- many cab drivers didn't seem to know where the Hilton is. Three tips that seemed to have helped 1) pronounce it the HEEL-ton, 2) mention that it's in Puerto Madero (not a lot of name recognition on that one), 3) the street Macacha Guemes changes to Avenida Juan Peron once you get out of Puerto Madero.

All in all a very nice property, but perhaps more suited for a business trip than for a vacation exploration of a vibrant city like BA

We're finishing our third night here and it's interesting to compare and contrast our impressions to those of two years ago when we first stayed here.

The same friendly Aussie concierge, Victor, is still presiding in the lobby and even pretended to remember us.

We checked in at the 8th-floor lounge desk and got our room promptly, despite having arrived at the hotel from our UA flight into EZE around noon.

We found out the 8th-floor lounge is currently being renovated - lots of horrible grinding noises and vibrations that may be tile removal but the noise isn't loud enough to bother us in our nearby 8th-floor room - and the "presidential suite" on the 9th floor is being used as a substitute. It's not a bad venue and includes a huge balcony that must hold ten or more tables. No plaque on the door saying "El Presidente Bill Clinton slept here" though.

We noticed and rectified a few little details after we arrived. They failed to provide us with the welcome letter until we asked (we like to see spelled out in writing the hours for breakfast, etc., and to what amenities we're entitled), there were no bathrobes in our room (brought promptly on request), and they failed to replenish our water yesterday.

We also had our conditioning unit suddenly start to drip a stream of water through a pot-light in the entrance way and maintenance was up quickly to fix it and the minor mess was cleaned up as well (we probably scared them since we first suggested it might an overflowing bathtub upstairs).

The lounge staff are perfectly friendly but there seemed to be so many different employees at that 8th-floor lounge reception desk not far from our room that we didn't really establish much in the way of casual human contact with any individuals. Maybe we're getting fussier, but I'd agree the breakfast buffet is no great shakes, even though there's a fair amount of variety: scrambled eggs, bacon, little sausages, and pancakes at one end, along with a selection of fresh fruit, yogurt and varied bread and pastries, all nicely presented.

The evening appetizers are also "okay" at best but not spectacular, leaning to the starchy. The alcohol includes several wines, beer, and a reasonable variety of hard liquor IMHO.

Edited to add: Tonight there was only one red wine, a fairly thin cabernet, a white, and a sparkling. We also noted the number of plates at other tables with uneaten hunks of bread left on them. There's very little food there that's not attached to a piece of bread and the one warm item was some kind of empanada more reminiscent of a British pasty. I'll now say definitively that the food and service have deteriorated seriously in the lounge since our previous visit, with one young employee only to have us sign those annoying sheets confirming our room number, busing tables, bringing out additional food and wine, and presumably plating food in the back room.

We happen to like the Puerto Madero area but understand that it wouldn't be to everyone's taste. We're moving to the Marriott tomorrow as there was no room availability here - maybe an influx of people on the cruise we're leaving on or another one. It'll be interesting to compare the two as we bought lounge access (being lowly Silvers) at the Marriott.

Finally, there are two 220 outlets next to the desk I'm sitting at; one fits a standard American plug and the other has the two prongs set at angles, i.e. like an Australian plug.

There was allegedly 15% inflation in Argentina in 2009 alone with 20% predicted for 2010, so maybe Hilton is cutting back here and there or maybe we're turning into a couple of jaded hard-to-please old crocks. We still like the property, we'd still return, but I think the temporary lounge arrangements, coupled with what is a decline in the breakfast and evening appetizers, are preventing its being the "Wow" experience it was two years ago.

OTOH it's my first and probably last time to see the inside of a presidential suite.

Cheers,
Fredd

Any idea when the lounge renovations will be finished? I arrive on march 3rd

I asked the concierge on the way to breakfast this morning and she said the work had only started a few days ago and will take two months to complete. She herself volunteeered that it felt very strange to be sitting at the same desk with the lounge at a considerable distance away up the stairs.

Incidentally, a tip for those who like croissants. Mrs. Fredd tried one this morning and to her delight it was not some sweetened pastry but a genuine croissant au beurre that equaled any we've enjoyed in France. ^

thanks for that Fredd. What is the internet access like? Is there free WiFi in the lounge? I've booked a club room, and may choose "free internet" as my gold benefit if WiFi is not free.

There wasn't when I was there a couple of weeks ago, and that was in the regular lounge on the 8th floor.

If interested, you get free internet using the business center computers, but if both of the computers dedicated for the Executive Floors' guests are busy and you opt to go down to use the ones on the 5th floor, then prepare for the hassle of having the business center staff repeatedly unlock the computers or having to call up to get them unlocked if the business center has no staff present.

No free wireless in the temporary lounge either but there are still two computers in what appears to be the master bedroom of the Presidential Suite, i.e. temporary lounge, and there are the pros and cons of the business center computer as you point out.

We found the three-day rate for Internet so cost-effective (less than $10 daily IIRC) that we just sprang for that. Very quick and no problems. Even the daily rate wasn't terrible and I'm sorry I don't recall the exact rate, certainly less than a lot of domestic Hiltons.

Just checked in this morning, and so far its been pretty a pretty bad experience. No upgrade, they offer me a free breakfast instead (I had to ask about the upgrade, they didn't mention it). I ask when they expect to have upgrade rooms available, and they said in a couple of days I can check back. There is constant construction noise around the hotel, so much so that I can hardly think. (I just noticed after several hours when the construction noise stopped for a few minutes just how loud its been). Then I am getting ready to take a shower, and discover no cold water. The hot water, in the meantime, comes out an ugly brown color (so much for the little note on the $10 bottle of Evian that says the tap water is fine to drink if I didn't want to buy the Evian). I call down, they said that they didn't know about it, but someone else just complained too, and they would send someone. 30 minutes later, still haven't heard back. Finally, after checking the water a few times, the final time it blasts out (with all the air pressure) all over the bathroom. Water still rust colored but a little clearer.

Thus far, I'm not impressed. And the construction just started again.

Update: five days later and things only improved slightly (and in some cases went downhill).

So, first, an update on the original situation. I was in a room (not upgraded) but offered breakfast instead. The room had water problems, and there was no bottled water available in the room except for the minibar.

I eventually went down to the lobby as I was heading out to the office, and asked to speak to a manager. I explained the problem with the water (to which he said there was a pump that broke) and I asked him 1) if there would be upgrades available later in the week to the executive floor, and b) if they would provide the two bottles of water that are customary for Hilton HHonors members. He said that they wouldn't have anything for at least two days for an upgrade, but to check back, and he would take care of the water.

Now, I really don't care too much about the upgrade, except that it gives access to the executive lounge with some snacks and soft drinks, which is nice. So at least it was possible to be upgraded later in the week for that.

There was no price list for the minibar, so I had no idea how much anything cost. (I looked everywhere). The manager did indeed take care of the water, and two days later I was upgraded to executive floor.

In the meantime, I took breakfast downstairs in the restaurant, and I'll have to say that the breakfast was a disappointment. Most of the stuff (especially the breads) did not seem entirely fresh. In fact some were quite hard. I would not have paid for the buffet breakfast. Each day I got the bill, and there was a charge on the bill. And each day I wrote "No charge" on the bill before I signed it.

On the third day, I was upgraded, which was nice. Of course, even this was not very easy, as there was a message on the phone, but when I picked up the phone, it said something in Spanish and wouldn't let me dial. I tried line 2 to check messages, and it said there were no messages. So I used line 2 to call down to the desk, and they patched me through to apparently another voicemail, where they told me to go to the executive floor for an upgrade.

I went up there, and they offered me something on the executive floor, which I accepted. There was no difference in the rooms except for access to the lounge. Although the housekeeping service seemed better in the executive level.

On to the lounge, which was one of the more disappointing lounges I have experienced in a Hilton. The drinks were warm, and not many of them were placed out. The food for the evening reception was not very good at all, and there was nothing outside of reception time. I went up there around 10:00pm, hoping to see something small to munch on, and there was nothing (not even drinks then, only coffee). They had already set up for breakfast.

There were about 10 other little problems that I won't get into, however when I checked out, I wanted to see what the bill was like and if there was anything strange. Sure enough, they had tried to charge me for the "free" breakfasts. The person checking me out took them off. Finally, there was a charge for mini bar. Now, I had not used the minibar, mostly because even in the second room I could not find a price list. It turns out they charged me for using the coffee in the room, because it was considered part of the minibar. And it wasn't even a good coffee machine, just an automatic drip.

Overall, I would say that this was one of the biggest disappointments for a Hilton I have seen. Complete failure. And certainly not up to standards. Someone from Hilton really should take a look at what goes on here... I think the thing that annoys me the most is the lack of mini bar prices. That is purely bad business practices. I would not recommend Hilton Buenos Aires, and I doubt I will be back.

After two recent stays within the past month, we share your disappointment. We stayed here two years ago and immediately put in in our favorites category, along with places like Prague and Munich City.

Our two most recent stays removed it from that list, although we had nothing approaching your problems.

The quality of the food in the lounge has declined seriously. I can't believe it's all due to the lounge renovation and the temporary lounge although having the concierge desk separated from the lounge itself is an impediment to service.

On our final stay (two rooms on a "breakfast included" rate), I had to make my case the following morning to be allowed to eat breakfast in the restaurant rather than the lounge. During our late check-in the people at the front desk told us the breakfast was "the same" in the lounge as in the restaurant. Sadly, it isn't that much better (although an omelette chef supplied us with quite tasty omelettes), but worth an argument to get what we'd paid for and were entitled to.

I don't know if it's the economy or what - while we would stay there again it's no longer a property we'd be looking forward to.

edited to add: Mrs. Fredd notes that we saw a price list for coffee and tea posted near the machine. We remember it because it seemed rather odd (as well as cheap), especially since we were on an Executive floor and they at least had better coffee and tea available throughout the day.

Cheers,
Fredd

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These points are quite sad. The Hilton BA was one of my favorites. Just another disappointment it looks like. I'll cancel my plans for another trip to BA and return to one of the Spg properties in Rome

We are flying to BA again in 2 weeks and usually stay in the 2 x Sheratons.

How central is the Hilton .. have never considered it before.

Glen

It is in Puerto Madero within walking distance of Caba�a Las Lilas, so it is not particularly central relative to Buenos Aires.

However, when I stayed there, I really had no problem getting around with the Hilton used as a base. I even walked to the Marriott near Florida Street from the Hilton and back.