kawoh

Hi, I think the Hilton Brisbane is great. Conrad is overpriced, don't recognise HH benefits. However, their rooms are interesting and historic, and their breakfast are wonderful. The hilton brisbane is all round great value for money. Rooms are fairly priced, the location is in the middle of the mall, parking is reasonable ($12/day), conceirge are efficent, friendly and always helpful with plenty of ideas. The checkin desk staff as stated know HH benefits, i always receive a premade letter for myself. All the checkin staff are friendly, efficient and welcoming. The lobby is great, the buffet is average - they do have an all you can drink wine buffet as well as the meal buffet. They have recently renovated their non exec higher level room called "business rooms" - they look great and smart - I would venture to get one of these having seen one over an exec floor room, but they've always put me on the exec floor. The exec floor rooms are fine for me. The bathrooms are dating a bit but their toiletries are always excellent - including bath crystals. Recognition of HH benefits is good in the rooms - always receive couple waters, chocolates, bottle of wine and some fruits (typically a couple of apples). Water and apples are replaced daily. As a gold, never been upgraded to a suite despite a number of stays - just exec floor and have never had to ask, last stay they were willing to comp upgrade me when i asked but all suites were full. Mark in the exec floor is great, friendly, helpful. None of the staff are pretentious and go seriously out of their way to be nice and helpful. They have food in the lounge throughout the day (pastries, cookies, fruits) and have a full hot breakfast with everything pretty much including salmon, sausages, bacon, mushrooms, yoghurts, etc. All coupled with superb views of the city from the very high level lounge. Evening has a lighter selection with hot foods and small but stylish canapes and plenty of alcohol. Though not stated, I have often brought a number of guests to the lounge (ie 4-6 at a time) and have had them part-take in the drinks and food at no extra charge.

The marriott definitely looks like a newer, nicer property but is in an awkward position between the city and fortitude valley/chinatown - but it's close to pat rafters new (well old now) restaurant and bar/club. If place and cost doesn't bother you - i'd try there.

Dave Marsh

I think I will go for the Sofitel as The Hilton Pictures on their own homepage does not look as nice as the Sofitel and the BED is the most important thing. As I might arrive late so exec room benefits ( I am HHonours Gold) are not that important

Just wondering what restautants are aroudn that area or should I head to the Casino for food?
IS the Chinatown there any decent? (the one in SYD is pretty ordinary)

dannyr

Depends on what you want, really. The buffet at the Sofitel, imho is the best in Brisbane, but it's $$$$. The Casino restaurants I think are over-rated and not really worth their salt.

What type of cuisine do you like ? What's your eating style ?

China Town isn't too bad in Brisbane, and The Valley is a nightclub area so you should have no problems getting a feed. Check out OurBrisbane for a dining guide for the valley. From the mentioned establishments, Garuva would be my pick.

Aisle Seat H

Marriott Brisbane was great when I stayed there, very nice property indeed.

trekkie

there have been occasions where the conrad is cheaper than the hilton. Usually either a sunday or monday night. The Hilton can be a hit or miss with points posting. Sometimes its correctly done, sometimes its not.

But on the whole, these, the sofitel and the marriot are good choices. You can try The novotel, but haven't stayed there before so cant comment but the sofitel is directly on top of the roma street station so if you are like me and always rushing for time, that is a good option. Its also a former sheraton.

cheers

Dave Noble

The Sofitel is atop Central station, the Holiday Inn is attached to Roma Street Station

Dave

NM

I believe the renovations are complete now.
I have never had any problem with any HH benefits at the BNE Hilton. I have always been automatically granted lounge access. The lounge is not huge and can get busy. On one occasion when we arrive at a busy time with my family (all six of us, including 4 kids) we were asked if we minded eating in the Atrium Restaurant and given a voucher for a free bull buffet meal there, which was more convenient for us as they have high-chairs and a bigger selection of kid-friendly foods.

On my last two stays I have booked at Premium Club rates (ie very cheap) and been given a suite and adjoining room on the exec floor - very nice indeed to accommodate the family. On the occasion they cannot provide adjoining rooms on the exec floor (the only adjoining rooms on the exec floor are the suites) they have always provided exec lounge access as well as comp water, fruit, wine and chocolates in the room.