I've been more of a SPG/Marriott person the last few years but needing a Chip & Sign card and no FX, and having a week in Sicily late this year where two Hilton properties (Naxos & Palermo) would be good stays, I decided to get the Hilton Reserve card (bonus that it gave Gold status, too).
So, this is a long wind up to a combo post. Questions on how to work Hilton and a bit of a rant on their website.
I got the Great Getaway promo e-mail today and in clicking through, I say both properties show as (from) ~50GBP. Okay, that's better than I've been seeing before so I go to do a booking and I get the same 71GBP I've seen before. Doesn't seem that there's a Great Getaway to be had in early December (not exactly peak tourist season). Now I realize that promo rates aren't in place at all properties (although these are cited as having them) and for all dates. I haven't tried to scan to see how prevalent the promo rates are but this makes me feel that the inventory behind this promo may be a little weak.
So, I called HHonors to see if maybe there is a good rate but it's not loaded yet. Got through and nada. I ask the agent about points/cash and how do I find out about that. She tells me they field a lot of calls on that and she would be happy to put me through.
Now here's the rant part. This strikes me as a ridiculous system. I mean on SPG, I click on Points/Cash and I know exactly how many points and cash it will take to book a room. How come Hilton's website can't provide this basic functionality?
My questions are:
1) Am I missing something about how to find points/cash bookings?
2) Is my conclusion that Hilton promo inventory is thin valid? consistent or inconsistent with past promos?
3) Is it too far out to expect promo fares in December to be loaded?
Thanks all.
So, this is a long wind up to a combo post. Questions on how to work Hilton and a bit of a rant on their website.
I got the Great Getaway promo e-mail today and in clicking through, I say both properties show as (from) ~50GBP. Okay, that's better than I've been seeing before so I go to do a booking and I get the same 71GBP I've seen before. Doesn't seem that there's a Great Getaway to be had in early December (not exactly peak tourist season). Now I realize that promo rates aren't in place at all properties (although these are cited as having them) and for all dates. I haven't tried to scan to see how prevalent the promo rates are but this makes me feel that the inventory behind this promo may be a little weak.
So, I called HHonors to see if maybe there is a good rate but it's not loaded yet. Got through and nada. I ask the agent about points/cash and how do I find out about that. She tells me they field a lot of calls on that and she would be happy to put me through.
Now here's the rant part. This strikes me as a ridiculous system. I mean on SPG, I click on Points/Cash and I know exactly how many points and cash it will take to book a room. How come Hilton's website can't provide this basic functionality?
My questions are:
1) Am I missing something about how to find points/cash bookings?
2) Is my conclusion that Hilton promo inventory is thin valid? consistent or inconsistent with past promos?
3) Is it too far out to expect promo fares in December to be loaded?
Thanks all.