Hilton London Paddington {GBR}
Sep 14, 2017, 4:14 am
#121
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: KUO
Programs: HH Diam, AY/AX/KQ/IHG/VISA Plat, SK/Bonvoy/Melia/Strawberry Gold, Radisson Prem, PP Prest
Posts: 2,266
Checked in again 7 PM last night. This time "executive desk" was closed and there was a considerable queue to the main check in. Received the room I had selected in OLCI, and luckily my memory did not fail as the room was quiet and in good shape. What surprised me was the mention of the clerk that since I had OLCIed, there was no option for an upgrade. Se went on explaining that they process the upgrades in the morning hours around 8 to 10 AM for each stay, but only for those who do not OLCI. I think this does not follow the Hilton policies in general. This practice should perhaps be conveyed to higher level - but where?
Sep 14, 2017, 4:50 am
#122
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: norwich, uk
Programs: hhonors diamond
Posts: 5,397
Checked in again 7 PM last night. This time "executive desk" was closed and there was a considerable queue to the main check in. Received the room I had selected in OLCI, and luckily my memory did not fail as the room was quiet and in good shape. What surprised me was the mention of the clerk that since I had OLCIed, there was no option for an upgrade. Se went on explaining that they process the upgrades in the morning hours around 8 to 10 AM for each stay, but only for those who do not OLCI. I think this does not follow the Hilton policies in general. This practice should perhaps be conveyed to higher level - but where?
Oct 4, 2017, 1:08 pm
#123
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: BA Gold, HHonors Diamond, IHG Platinum, Senior Railcard & Bus Pass
Posts: 987
My first stay at this hotel - on a Hilton Visa Card free night. No room upgrade on check-in and my non-smoking room smells of cigarette smoke, but the room itself is nice enough, the windows open a few inches for some fresh air and the view from the room is lovely! Some great fish tempura in the Tower lounge - shame there are no chips and mushy peas to go with it.
Apologies for the quality of the photo. Taken with my iphone, nervously hand-held out of the window.
Apologies for the quality of the photo. Taken with my iphone, nervously hand-held out of the window.
Last edited by WickedStepMother; Oct 5, 2017 at 12:52 am
Oct 5, 2017, 11:19 am
#124
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: If only I knew
Programs: Several of my own making in which I was recently fast-tracked to super-duper-über-elite status
Posts: 1,074
My first stay at this hotel - on a Hilton Visa Card free night. No room upgrade on check-in and my non-smoking room smells of cigarette smoke, but the room itself is nice enough, the windows open a few inches for some fresh air and the view from the room is lovely! Some great fish tempura in the Tower lounge - shame there are no chips and mushy peas to go with it.
Apologies for the quality of the photo. Taken with my iphone, nervously hand-held out of the window.
Apologies for the quality of the photo. Taken with my iphone, nervously hand-held out of the window.
Oct 7, 2017, 8:03 am
#125
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: BA Gold, HHonors Diamond, IHG Platinum, Senior Railcard & Bus Pass
Posts: 987
The trainee member staff of who checked me in at the desk outside the ground floor lounge said I could use the Tower lounge when I asked her about it.
So when I found it (after a long trek) I was surprised my key card wouldn't work at the door. Someone let me in and I spent a pleasant couple of hours in an almost empty lounge.
It was only afterwards that I found out I shouldn't have been in there.
Nov 25, 2017, 6:36 am
#126
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,162
Had a quick one-night stay here last night. Booked only about an hour before I arrived so I hadn't been upgraded, but at check-in they upgraded me to a Tower room, including access to the Tower Lounge.
Getting to the Tower rooms is a bit of a hike (elevator up to level 2, then walk through the older part of the hotel past the 2nd floor rooms, then down a few stairs, then through a glass door and you finally come to the tower elevators!)
The room itself was a great size for a standard room, despite being what appeared to be the smallest room on the floor (based on the floor map on the door).
Went to the Tower lounge at about 4pm and there were only 2 other people in there. There clearly had been food, but other than 2 scone-like things and some biscuits there was nothing left. Went back briefly a bit after 6pm and they had some basic canapes, but nothing all that impressive (Thai fish cakes done by someone that seemingly didn't know where Thailand is, let alone knowing how they make fish cakes. Beef skewers, etc). Also checked the Executive lounge a few minutes later and it had the same food - only difference was that it was packed with barely a free table where the Tower Lounge had 1 other person.
Left before breakfast started, so I can't comment on that. From checkout at the front desk to standing on the platform for the Heathrow Express was no more than 3 minutes, and less than 20 minutes later I was at LHR.
All up a good stay in what for me was a very convenient location - to the extent that I think I've found my new LHR "airport" hotel.
Getting to the Tower rooms is a bit of a hike (elevator up to level 2, then walk through the older part of the hotel past the 2nd floor rooms, then down a few stairs, then through a glass door and you finally come to the tower elevators!)
The room itself was a great size for a standard room, despite being what appeared to be the smallest room on the floor (based on the floor map on the door).
Went to the Tower lounge at about 4pm and there were only 2 other people in there. There clearly had been food, but other than 2 scone-like things and some biscuits there was nothing left. Went back briefly a bit after 6pm and they had some basic canapes, but nothing all that impressive (Thai fish cakes done by someone that seemingly didn't know where Thailand is, let alone knowing how they make fish cakes. Beef skewers, etc). Also checked the Executive lounge a few minutes later and it had the same food - only difference was that it was packed with barely a free table where the Tower Lounge had 1 other person.
Left before breakfast started, so I can't comment on that. From checkout at the front desk to standing on the platform for the Heathrow Express was no more than 3 minutes, and less than 20 minutes later I was at LHR.
All up a good stay in what for me was a very convenient location - to the extent that I think I've found my new LHR "airport" hotel.
Nov 25, 2017, 12:07 pm
#127
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: norwich, uk
Programs: hhonors diamond
Posts: 5,397
Had a quick one-night stay here last night. Booked only about an hour before I arrived so I hadn't been upgraded, but at check-in they upgraded me to a Tower room, including access to the Tower Lounge.
Getting to the Tower rooms is a bit of a hike (elevator up to level 2, then walk through the older part of the hotel past the 2nd floor rooms, then down a few stairs, then through a glass door and you finally come to the tower elevators!)
The room itself was a great size for a standard room, despite being what appeared to be the smallest room on the floor (based on the floor map on the door).
Went to the Tower lounge at about 4pm and there were only 2 other people in there. There clearly had been food, but other than 2 scone-like things and some biscuits there was nothing left. Went back briefly a bit after 6pm and they had some basic canapes, but nothing all that impressive (Thai fish cakes done by someone that seemingly didn't know where Thailand is, let alone knowing how they make fish cakes. Beef skewers, etc). Also checked the Executive lounge a few minutes later and it had the same food - only difference was that it was packed with barely a free table where the Tower Lounge had 1 other person.
Left before breakfast started, so I can't comment on that. From checkout at the front desk to standing on the platform for the Heathrow Express was no more than 3 minutes, and less than 20 minutes later I was at LHR.
All up a good stay in what for me was a very convenient location - to the extent that I think I've found my new LHR "airport" hotel.
Getting to the Tower rooms is a bit of a hike (elevator up to level 2, then walk through the older part of the hotel past the 2nd floor rooms, then down a few stairs, then through a glass door and you finally come to the tower elevators!)
The room itself was a great size for a standard room, despite being what appeared to be the smallest room on the floor (based on the floor map on the door).
Went to the Tower lounge at about 4pm and there were only 2 other people in there. There clearly had been food, but other than 2 scone-like things and some biscuits there was nothing left. Went back briefly a bit after 6pm and they had some basic canapes, but nothing all that impressive (Thai fish cakes done by someone that seemingly didn't know where Thailand is, let alone knowing how they make fish cakes. Beef skewers, etc). Also checked the Executive lounge a few minutes later and it had the same food - only difference was that it was packed with barely a free table where the Tower Lounge had 1 other person.
Left before breakfast started, so I can't comment on that. From checkout at the front desk to standing on the platform for the Heathrow Express was no more than 3 minutes, and less than 20 minutes later I was at LHR.
All up a good stay in what for me was a very convenient location - to the extent that I think I've found my new LHR "airport" hotel.
Dec 26, 2017, 6:09 am
#128
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
Returning to this property for the first time in years. I booked a Saturday night stay (easy access to the HEX next morning), and wondering what are the chances of getting upgraded to the Tower rooms, and/or have access to check out the Tower Lounge as a DIA?
Dec 26, 2017, 7:20 am
#129
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: KUO
Programs: HH Diam, AY/AX/KQ/IHG/VISA Plat, SK/Bonvoy/Melia/Strawberry Gold, Radisson Prem, PP Prest
Posts: 2,266
None unless you pay extra.
Dec 26, 2017, 7:46 am
#130
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
Sounds like "none" is exactly accurate, but I'll take it that "rare" is the norm 
(for some reason multi-quoting is not working for me, but I've copied the text from docbert just above:
"Had a quick one-night stay here last night. Booked only about an hour before I arrived so I hadn't been upgraded, but at check-in they upgraded me to a Tower room, including access to the Tower Lounge.
(for some reason multi-quoting is not working for me, but I've copied the text from docbert just above:
"Had a quick one-night stay here last night. Booked only about an hour before I arrived so I hadn't been upgraded, but at check-in they upgraded me to a Tower room, including access to the Tower Lounge.
Dec 30, 2018, 6:21 am
#135
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Gulf Coast
Programs: Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond; National Car Rental Executive Elite
Posts: 2,323
Had a brief stay over the holidays.
The room wasn’t ready when we arrived, but the bellman offered to hold our bags for us while we explored the area. There was no acknowledgment of Diamond status or explanation of diamond benefits.
We we had a terrace suite on the top floor. The room was nicely appointed and the sleep quality was great. On the downside, only a dozen TV channels were offered and only three of them worked reliably. The terrace had wonderful views, but the cool weather limited our time outdoors.
We visited the Executive Lounge several times. This was the highlight of our visit. The food and drink selections were excellent. The staff was very kind and very hard working. However, the lounge was packed with people non-stop. This is an unfortunate consequence of Hilton giving Diamond status to essentially anyone who wants it.
The biggest issue we had was with the service team. Requests from housekeeping (additional towels) took 45 minutes to be fulfilled. Additionally, we were rudely awoken at 830am by housekeeping asking if they could clean the room. This is wholly unacceptable.
Overall, this was a fine stay. The property was a bit overvalued with the points redemption rate. The EL is above average, but the rest of the property and service team lacks the refinement of a Hilton in a busy city center.
The room wasn’t ready when we arrived, but the bellman offered to hold our bags for us while we explored the area. There was no acknowledgment of Diamond status or explanation of diamond benefits.
We we had a terrace suite on the top floor. The room was nicely appointed and the sleep quality was great. On the downside, only a dozen TV channels were offered and only three of them worked reliably. The terrace had wonderful views, but the cool weather limited our time outdoors.
We visited the Executive Lounge several times. This was the highlight of our visit. The food and drink selections were excellent. The staff was very kind and very hard working. However, the lounge was packed with people non-stop. This is an unfortunate consequence of Hilton giving Diamond status to essentially anyone who wants it.
The biggest issue we had was with the service team. Requests from housekeeping (additional towels) took 45 minutes to be fulfilled. Additionally, we were rudely awoken at 830am by housekeeping asking if they could clean the room. This is wholly unacceptable.
Overall, this was a fine stay. The property was a bit overvalued with the points redemption rate. The EL is above average, but the rest of the property and service team lacks the refinement of a Hilton in a busy city center.