Hilton Niagara Falls/Fallsview Hotel & Suites {CAN}
Feb 13, 2012, 8:06 pm
#151
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC, AA, UA, BA, Hilton
Posts: 2,907
Saw your question yesterday, but didn't have time to check the website to try to answer your question. Finally got to check it today, and noticed that paid rates, and even reward points needed for this coming weekend are sky high. I checked the brochure we get monthly from the Fallsview Casino, across from the Hilton, to see if there were any big name shows there next weekend to account for the jump in rates, but nothing special on the weekend, LYNYRD SKYNYRD on Thursday and Friday, and the "Band from TV" on Saturday and Sunday, a band which often appears there, so nothing unusual. My only guess, after seeing such a jump in rates for this coming weekend, is that they've got a large group, convention, or similar (lots of tours stay at the Hilton), and most of the hotel is booked up.
We're coming down tomorrow (Valentines Day) for an overnighter, and the same room I booked a week ago for $125 plus tax is showing at well over $200 for the weekend. King Study Jacuzzi Cityview is what I booked, and I've always gotten an upgrade to a fallsview room with jacuzzi on a high floor (HHonors Gold), although it's still in the South Tower, as my wife and I are both smokers, and the newer North Tower is non-smoking. First trip this year, so we'll see if the comped buffet breakfasts for Golds still works, as the new changes for Diamonds has me wondering how us Golds will fare. No exec lounge so we should get breakfasts, even though I've opted for the 1,000 bonus points in the MY Way page, but we've always gotten the comped breakfasts last year on all our stays. Hope nothing's changed on that, but we'll see tomorrow when we get there.
When I looked at the website the points needed for all the rooms started at 109,000, not 50,000 as you mentioned from the call center. Obviously, something is on next weekend to account for no rooms showing at the usual 50,000 points rate.
Might be worth your while to call the hotel and ask the situation for this weekend, and what your chances are for an upgrade as a Diamond booked on a reward. They have an 800 number.
Personally, although we like the hotel and stay there very frequently, I don't think it's worth using over 100,000 per night for a room, unless you really have to be there this weekend. I think rating this Hilton as a cat.7 is a bit too high, and a cat.6 is a more reasonable rating.
bj-21.
We're coming down tomorrow (Valentines Day) for an overnighter, and the same room I booked a week ago for $125 plus tax is showing at well over $200 for the weekend. King Study Jacuzzi Cityview is what I booked, and I've always gotten an upgrade to a fallsview room with jacuzzi on a high floor (HHonors Gold), although it's still in the South Tower, as my wife and I are both smokers, and the newer North Tower is non-smoking. First trip this year, so we'll see if the comped buffet breakfasts for Golds still works, as the new changes for Diamonds has me wondering how us Golds will fare. No exec lounge so we should get breakfasts, even though I've opted for the 1,000 bonus points in the MY Way page, but we've always gotten the comped breakfasts last year on all our stays. Hope nothing's changed on that, but we'll see tomorrow when we get there.
When I looked at the website the points needed for all the rooms started at 109,000, not 50,000 as you mentioned from the call center. Obviously, something is on next weekend to account for no rooms showing at the usual 50,000 points rate.
Might be worth your while to call the hotel and ask the situation for this weekend, and what your chances are for an upgrade as a Diamond booked on a reward. They have an 800 number.
Personally, although we like the hotel and stay there very frequently, I don't think it's worth using over 100,000 per night for a room, unless you really have to be there this weekend. I think rating this Hilton as a cat.7 is a bit too high, and a cat.6 is a more reasonable rating.
bj-21.
Feb 13, 2012, 8:28 pm
#152
Join Date: May 2009
Location: dfw
Programs: exp 4.3mm miles
Posts: 124
I stayed there last summer as hhonors gold. We paid a nice price about $300 us I believe but the view was spectacular and that alone was worth price. We actually had views of both Canadian and US sides of the Falls. Walked to the casino and on return from my 50th floor window got to see marvelous fireworks show. First time I ever looked down on fireworks. Fantastic breakfast which was either free or discounted as honors gold. Buffet with excellent omelette station. The service was excellent and my wife totally enjoyed it. Highly recommend. Cannot compare to other area hotels but would find it hard to believe any others could be better! 5 stars!
Feb 14, 2012, 2:29 am
#153
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Brampton, ON
Programs: HH - Diamond , IHG - Spire, Marriott Platimum Elite, Delta Silver, United Silver
Posts: 10
Saw your question yesterday, but didn't have time to check the website to try to answer your question. Finally got to check it today, and noticed that paid rates, and even reward points needed for this coming weekend are sky high. I checked the brochure we get monthly from the Fallsview Casino, across from the Hilton, to see if there were any big name shows there next weekend to account for the jump in rates, but nothing special on the weekend, LYNYRD SKYNYRD on Thursday and Friday, and the "Band from TV" on Saturday and Sunday, a band which often appears there, so nothing unusual. My only guess, after seeing such a jump in rates for this coming weekend, is that they've got a large group, convention, or similar (lots of tours stay at the Hilton), and most of the hotel is booked up.
We're coming down tomorrow (Valentines Day) for an overnighter, and the same room I booked a week ago for $125 plus tax is showing at well over $200 for the weekend. King Study Jacuzzi Cityview is what I booked, and I've always gotten an upgrade to a fallsview room with jacuzzi on a high floor (HHonors Gold), although it's still in the South Tower, as my wife and I are both smokers, and the newer North Tower is non-smoking. First trip this year, so we'll see if the comped buffet breakfasts for Golds still works, as the new changes for Diamonds has me wondering how us Golds will fare. No exec lounge so we should get breakfasts, even though I've opted for the 1,000 bonus points in the MY Way page, but we've always gotten the comped breakfasts last year on all our stays. Hope nothing's changed on that, but we'll see tomorrow when we get there.
When I looked at the website the points needed for all the rooms started at 109,000, not 50,000 as you mentioned from the call center. Obviously, something is on next weekend to account for no rooms showing at the usual 50,000 points rate.
Might be worth your while to call the hotel and ask the situation for this weekend, and what your chances are for an upgrade as a Diamond booked on a reward. They have an 800 number.
Personally, although we like the hotel and stay there very frequently, I don't think it's worth using over 100,000 per night for a room, unless you really have to be there this weekend. I think rating this Hilton as a cat.7 is a bit too high, and a cat.6 is a more reasonable rating.
bj-21.
We're coming down tomorrow (Valentines Day) for an overnighter, and the same room I booked a week ago for $125 plus tax is showing at well over $200 for the weekend. King Study Jacuzzi Cityview is what I booked, and I've always gotten an upgrade to a fallsview room with jacuzzi on a high floor (HHonors Gold), although it's still in the South Tower, as my wife and I are both smokers, and the newer North Tower is non-smoking. First trip this year, so we'll see if the comped buffet breakfasts for Golds still works, as the new changes for Diamonds has me wondering how us Golds will fare. No exec lounge so we should get breakfasts, even though I've opted for the 1,000 bonus points in the MY Way page, but we've always gotten the comped breakfasts last year on all our stays. Hope nothing's changed on that, but we'll see tomorrow when we get there.
When I looked at the website the points needed for all the rooms started at 109,000, not 50,000 as you mentioned from the call center. Obviously, something is on next weekend to account for no rooms showing at the usual 50,000 points rate.
Might be worth your while to call the hotel and ask the situation for this weekend, and what your chances are for an upgrade as a Diamond booked on a reward. They have an 800 number.
Personally, although we like the hotel and stay there very frequently, I don't think it's worth using over 100,000 per night for a room, unless you really have to be there this weekend. I think rating this Hilton as a cat.7 is a bit too high, and a cat.6 is a more reasonable rating.
bj-21.
Feb 14, 2012, 2:51 am
#154
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Makati City, Philippines
Programs: Delta Skymiles DM, CX GO, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 1,361
I stayed there last summer as hhonors gold. We paid a nice price about $300 us I believe but the view was spectacular and that alone was worth price. We actually had views of both Canadian and US sides of the Falls. Walked to the casino and on return from my 50th floor window got to see marvelous fireworks show. First time I ever looked down on fireworks. Fantastic breakfast which was either free or discounted as honors gold. Buffet with excellent omelette station. The service was excellent and my wife totally enjoyed it. Highly recommend. Cannot compare to other area hotels but would find it hard to believe any others could be better! 5 stars!
Feb 16, 2012, 4:51 pm
#155
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC, AA, UA, BA, Hilton
Posts: 2,907
Back yesterday afternoon from our overnighter at the Hilton on Valentines Day. Checkin was quick with no lineup on our arrival just before three in the afternoon. Upgraded to a fallsview suite in the South Tower, 29th floor jacuzzi room. Checkin packet contained a small card with internet access password, but I had to remind the young lady checking us in that we should get the coupon for the comped breakfasts as HHonors Gold. She promptly printed the coupon and off we went to our room. Also received a small box of chocolate truffles for Mrs. bj-21 at the front desk. Nice touch.
At breakfast yesterday morning, we were surprised how crowded the lineup was when we got down there at about 9:50 AM. About a ten minute wait for a table/booth. The Watermark restaurant on the 33rd floor is not open for breakfasts during the winter, so the ground floor restaurant is used, although sometime soon I'm guessing the Watermark may open because of the crowds. Possibly at least on weekends, until the usual seven days a week sometime later in the spring. Food choices are identical in either restaurant for breakfasts, and they had two seperate omelet stations open yesterday to handle the crowds. All the items were hot and freshly made rolls, crossants, and danish, muffins were always kept available, along with waffles, pancakes, several potatoe choices, sausages and bacon, etc.
I had requested a late checkout at noon, which was routinely granted.
Found out the reason for what seemed to be the unusually high rates for this coming weekend. It's "Family Day" in Ontario this Monday, so many people here may be taking a three day trip to Niagara.
Reminder to use the casino garage for parking to save on the valet fees, then cross over the walkway to the Hilton. Walkway is on the fifth level of the garage, so elevator down to that level to cross over. If you haven't been at the casino before, be sure to get a players card. That'll save you on the parking fees at the casino garage. Also, when checking in at the Hilton, use the HHonors line at the right side of the front desk to save time, as they usually recognize and take Honors members quickly no matter how long the lines for regular checkins.
bj-21.
At breakfast yesterday morning, we were surprised how crowded the lineup was when we got down there at about 9:50 AM. About a ten minute wait for a table/booth. The Watermark restaurant on the 33rd floor is not open for breakfasts during the winter, so the ground floor restaurant is used, although sometime soon I'm guessing the Watermark may open because of the crowds. Possibly at least on weekends, until the usual seven days a week sometime later in the spring. Food choices are identical in either restaurant for breakfasts, and they had two seperate omelet stations open yesterday to handle the crowds. All the items were hot and freshly made rolls, crossants, and danish, muffins were always kept available, along with waffles, pancakes, several potatoe choices, sausages and bacon, etc.
I had requested a late checkout at noon, which was routinely granted.
Found out the reason for what seemed to be the unusually high rates for this coming weekend. It's "Family Day" in Ontario this Monday, so many people here may be taking a three day trip to Niagara.
Reminder to use the casino garage for parking to save on the valet fees, then cross over the walkway to the Hilton. Walkway is on the fifth level of the garage, so elevator down to that level to cross over. If you haven't been at the casino before, be sure to get a players card. That'll save you on the parking fees at the casino garage. Also, when checking in at the Hilton, use the HHonors line at the right side of the front desk to save time, as they usually recognize and take Honors members quickly no matter how long the lines for regular checkins.
bj-21.
Apr 18, 2012, 4:50 am
#157
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC, AA, UA, BA, Hilton
Posts: 2,907
Your Gold status will help, but there's no definative answer to your question. Depending on whether you're arriving on a holiday week (July 1 is Canada Day here, and July 4 falls the same week for U.S. travelers, so many people book for much of that week and the next), and during the summer the hotel is packed with tour groups and families. Also, when the casino books big name entertainers into their showroom, the hotels in the area fill quickly and rates jump accordingly. We were there two weeks ago for two days for my wife's birthday, arriving on a Thursday, and since Good Friday was the next day, the checkin was jammed as we'd never seen it, with lines all the way past the first set of elevators to the south tower. Noticed airline bag tags from all over the world waiting in the regular lines, although our Hilton status got us checked in very quickly using the Honors line, and we got our usual requested room. And the breakfast lineups were very long for both restaurants, but they moved fairly quickly. Try to go for breakfast before 9 AM for a better chance of getting seated quickly.
Best advice I can offer is to keep watching the rates for a bit, and you may get some sense of the busier times. Don't know about the "no view" rooms shown on their website at the lowest price, as we book a king studio cityview and usually get upgraded to a fallsview room with jacuzzi. But we try not to book for the busiest times (weekends, holiday weeks, etc.), and that helps, as does our being "regulars" at this property since it's not a long drive for us.
I'd suggest you book a room or suite as close to what you'd want if you couldn't get the upgrade, so as not to be too disappointed if the upgrade doesn't come through, and request an upgrade in the comments section of the website's booking page ("GST RQST UPGRD PER HHONORS GOLD" was suggested by someone on FT a few years ago, and it's worked frequently for us). But remember the upgrade, if any, is not guaranteed. And if you're a smoker, as we are, they won't put you in the newer north tower, which is totally non-smoking. South tower rooms go up to the 32nd floor, the 33rd floor being the Watermark restaurant (super views of the falls) and entrance to the Myst lounge/bar. Still good views of both falls from the south tower if you're on a higher floor with a fallsvew room. North tower is higher, with rooms up to about the 50th floor. Both towers give good views of the falls if you get the fallsview rooms on a high floor, with the casino's hotel tower across the street seperating the view. The smaller middle tower may not let you get a good view of either falls, or at most only one of them from its highest floors.
Hope this helps a bit, good luck.
bj-21.
Best advice I can offer is to keep watching the rates for a bit, and you may get some sense of the busier times. Don't know about the "no view" rooms shown on their website at the lowest price, as we book a king studio cityview and usually get upgraded to a fallsview room with jacuzzi. But we try not to book for the busiest times (weekends, holiday weeks, etc.), and that helps, as does our being "regulars" at this property since it's not a long drive for us.
I'd suggest you book a room or suite as close to what you'd want if you couldn't get the upgrade, so as not to be too disappointed if the upgrade doesn't come through, and request an upgrade in the comments section of the website's booking page ("GST RQST UPGRD PER HHONORS GOLD" was suggested by someone on FT a few years ago, and it's worked frequently for us). But remember the upgrade, if any, is not guaranteed. And if you're a smoker, as we are, they won't put you in the newer north tower, which is totally non-smoking. South tower rooms go up to the 32nd floor, the 33rd floor being the Watermark restaurant (super views of the falls) and entrance to the Myst lounge/bar. Still good views of both falls from the south tower if you're on a higher floor with a fallsvew room. North tower is higher, with rooms up to about the 50th floor. Both towers give good views of the falls if you get the fallsview rooms on a high floor, with the casino's hotel tower across the street seperating the view. The smaller middle tower may not let you get a good view of either falls, or at most only one of them from its highest floors.
Hope this helps a bit, good luck.
bj-21.
Apr 18, 2012, 2:13 pm
#159
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 23
Thanks!
Planning May 10. Not a holiday, I guess.
As a non-smoker hoping for a higher chance in the higher tower.
Will use the casino parking and get a players card.
What else to see there? Any of the tours worth it? I'm there just for a day, but will have plenty of daytime.
Planning May 10. Not a holiday, I guess.
As a non-smoker hoping for a higher chance in the higher tower.
Will use the casino parking and get a players card.
What else to see there? Any of the tours worth it? I'm there just for a day, but will have plenty of daytime.
Apr 18, 2012, 3:24 pm
#160
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: YYZ/DLC
Programs: AP, HHonours Diamond
Posts: 3,722
All you need to do is to play even as little as a dollar a day at the casino with your casino player's club card (free sign up).
It's very convenient too given the covered walkway. However a bit more complicated if you have heavy luggage as the walkway isn't very luggage friendly (steps and all at one end!).
Apr 18, 2012, 4:47 pm
#161
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
Can also park across the street in the casino for free.
All you need to do is to play even as little as a dollar a day at the casino with your casino player's club card (free sign up).
It's very convenient too given the covered walkway. However a bit more complicated if you have heavy luggage as the walkway isn't very luggage friendly (steps and all at one end!).
All you need to do is to play even as little as a dollar a day at the casino with your casino player's club card (free sign up).
It's very convenient too given the covered walkway. However a bit more complicated if you have heavy luggage as the walkway isn't very luggage friendly (steps and all at one end!).
As for other things to do, a brief trip up to Niagara on the Lake is a neat little, low key, trip with nice views, interesting shops and good restaurants.
Apr 18, 2012, 10:22 pm
#162
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC, AA, UA, BA, Hilton
Posts: 2,907
No need to use the steps at the end of the walkway from the casino's parking garage to get to either hotel. The walkway is on level five of the parking garage (usually fills up early in the day) and if you park on any of the higher levels, just take the elevators down to the fifth level and walk across the walkway to the Hilton's mezzanine level and take their elevator down one level to the lobby. If you're staying at the casino's hotel, take the elevator down to the casino level, and the hotel there is off the casino's main entrance lobby. So no dragging your luggage up or down the walkway's steps in either case. This applies only if you're using the parking garage entrance from Fallsview Avenue JUST BEYOND THE MAIN CASINO ENTRANCE, and not the parking entrance on the side of the casino or at the front of the casino.
On entering the garage, the gates will open automatically as you approach them, then a hard left for the up ramps. No card needed then. Upon leaving, you'll need the free casino's players card to open the gates (no charge), or have to pay to leave, which can be $5.00 weekdays and $10.00 for weekends and holidays. Usually attendant at the gates to help if you have problems opening the gate with your players card or voucher from the prepay machines on several floors by the elevators.
Players cards can be gotten from the VIP desk on the left as you enter the casino from the main lobby. Why pay the $25 per night for hotel parking?
Agree that the 30 minute drive along River Road to Niagara-on-the-Lake is an easy way to get to the interesting town for a quick day trip.
bj-21.
On entering the garage, the gates will open automatically as you approach them, then a hard left for the up ramps. No card needed then. Upon leaving, you'll need the free casino's players card to open the gates (no charge), or have to pay to leave, which can be $5.00 weekdays and $10.00 for weekends and holidays. Usually attendant at the gates to help if you have problems opening the gate with your players card or voucher from the prepay machines on several floors by the elevators.
Players cards can be gotten from the VIP desk on the left as you enter the casino from the main lobby. Why pay the $25 per night for hotel parking?
Agree that the 30 minute drive along River Road to Niagara-on-the-Lake is an easy way to get to the interesting town for a quick day trip.
bj-21.
Last edited by blackjack-21; Apr 18, 2012 at 11:39 pm Reason: Clarification.
Apr 19, 2012, 5:03 am
#163
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
No need to use the steps at the end of the walkway from the casino's parking garage to get to either hotel. The walkway is on level five of the parking garage (usually fills up early in the day) and if you park on any of the higher levels, just take the elevators down to the fifth level and walk across the walkway to the Hilton's mezzanine level and take their elevator down one level to the lobby. If you're staying at the casino's hotel, take the elevator down to the casino level, and the hotel there is off the casino's main entrance lobby. So no dragging your luggage up or down the walkway's steps in either case. This applies only if you're using the parking garage entrance from Fallsview Avenue JUST BEYOND THE MAIN CASINO ENTRANCE, and not the parking entrance on the side of the casino or at the front of the casino.
On entering the garage, the gates will open automatically as you approach them, then a hard left for the up ramps. No card needed then. Upon leaving, you'll need the free casino's players card to open the gates (no charge), or have to pay to leave, which can be $5.00 weekdays and $10.00 for weekends and holidays. Usually attendant at the gates to help if you have problems opening the gate with your players card or voucher from the prepay machines on several floors by the elevators.
Players cards can be gotten from the VIP desk on the left as you enter the casino from the main lobby. Why pay the $25 per night for hotel parking?
Agree that the 30 minute drive along River Road to Niagara-on-the-Lake is an easy way to get to the interesting town for a quick day trip.
bj-21.
On entering the garage, the gates will open automatically as you approach them, then a hard left for the up ramps. No card needed then. Upon leaving, you'll need the free casino's players card to open the gates (no charge), or have to pay to leave, which can be $5.00 weekdays and $10.00 for weekends and holidays. Usually attendant at the gates to help if you have problems opening the gate with your players card or voucher from the prepay machines on several floors by the elevators.
Players cards can be gotten from the VIP desk on the left as you enter the casino from the main lobby. Why pay the $25 per night for hotel parking?
Agree that the 30 minute drive along River Road to Niagara-on-the-Lake is an easy way to get to the interesting town for a quick day trip.
bj-21.
I work in the Niagara Falls area twice a year, and I have stayed in the Hilton once. I liked it, but I was put off by the parking, either a charge or the casino inconvenience, and no EL. I have been using the smaller Doubletree and I like it better. Still no EL but parking is close and a bit cheaper. Also, while at the Hilton they had a convention come in that totally took over the facilities, forcing the regular quests to jump through hoops for breakfast and wait in long lines for about everything else. I understand this. It caters to large groups.
I am likely only one of ten people in all of Niagara Falls that is not there to look at the falls. I work down the road a bit and I am a machinery technician. After a long day it is all I can do to walk across the parking lot, much less do the casino hike. If I were there to go to the casino or see the falls, the casino parking would be great. I likely would not leave the lot for days at a time.
May 13, 2012, 10:30 pm
#165
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: UA1K MM, JL JMB SAPPHIRE, Marriott Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,267
I'm only a low-end blue member, so no idea about what diamond will get at this property
