Just come back from holiday in Hawaii - thought I would share my experiences of the Hilton properties we stayed at:
Hilton Dulles Airport (Washington)
Had planned on spending one night at the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown DC, but switched at the last minute to the Dulles Airport. Arrived early afternoon and was planning on flying out late morning the following day so we decided it made more sense to stay close to the airport, rather than paying $60+ on taxi fares each way in/out of DC.
As a Diamond member, got an upgrade on to the Exec floor but the Exec Lounge was closed since it was at the weekend. Free breakfast was pretty good, and in a very nice location downstairs in the lobby area.
Shuttles to/from the airport ran every half hour taking 15 mins, leaving the hotel on the hour and half past the hour. From the airport at curb 2H, leaving at 15 and 45 minutes past each hour. I think they stop between just after 1am and 4am.
Hotel staff very friendly, and looked to have a nice indoor and outdoor pool, although we didn't use them. Although not the prettiest hotel in the world, was very functional, friendly and a lot cheaper than staying in DC for one night.
We used the shuttle back to the airport, and caught the 5a bus to Rosslyn, switched to the Metro to get around DC - cost was about $8 one way ($6 on the bus and around $2 on the Metro). Heck of a lot cheaper than taxi.
Hilton Garden Inn at El Segundo (LA)
We had stayed here before and got a room in the University wing, which we got again without any problems. Used to be that Hilton used this area of the hotel for experimenting (I picked up from other comments), but doesn't look like a lots happened over the past 12 months since we were last here.
Still a nice hotel with a nice pool and whirlpool. Pool was full of leaves and branches by the time we got in late at night. Pool and bar/restaurant closes at 10pm. Walk two blocks up the street (left out of the hotel) and you come across Ralph's supermarket (which sells Ben & Jerry's Strawberry Cheesecake), Starbucks and Subway to name but a few.
Hilton Hawaiian Village (HHV) on O'Ahu
We had two stays here on our holiday - 2 nights at the start, and 2 nights at the end. Our first two nights I asked for an upgrade to the Rainbow Tower, and got a room on the 22nd floor which had a great view with balcony. Normal Diamond perks were provided.
Felt overwhelmed by the number of people and how busy it was. Needed to get out early to get a decent sun lounger.
Ate/drank at Tropics which was good, although very expensive as was all the places to eat on site.
The second stay I asked for an upgrade to the Ali'i Tower with a ocean front view, and got 1304, which was brilliant. View was immense, private pool very nice, although there is some work going on here on the whirlpool so the noise isn't too good during the day. The loo in the room was exciting too. Combined auto bidet with varying temperature of loo seat, water and dryer! You need to try it.
Parking was expensive at $27 self park and $33 valet. Annoys me a little that they charge you for spending time at the hotel.
Definitely choose an Ali'i Tower upgrade in future.
Hilton Waikoloa on Big Island
Stayed here twice as well. First time asked for an upgrade to the Ocean Tower with a view of the sunset which was difficult to organize - the staff weren't that helpful but we sorted them in the end. Initially wasn't that impressed with this place, but it grew on us - it wasn't very busy and it was good value for money.
Second stay was for a single night and I asked for an upgrade to the Lagoon Tower with the refurbished rooms which were much better. Overlooking the dolphins was a nice touch, and it felt very homely the second time.
The area around the hotel is beautiful - one of the nicest settings. We tried Lava Lava for dinner one evening which was lovely. Although I don't recommend walking down the road back to the hotel, where there is no lighting - we were lucky there was very little traffic, but I had images of us making the headlines in the papers the following day for all the wrong reasons!
Again expensive for parking your car.
Definitely choose a Lagoon Tower upgrade in future, and I would definitely go back to this hotel even though it has a strong Disney feel/family orientation.
Waldorf Astoria Grand Wailea on Maui
Well I knew not to expect any upgrades here, so I booked a room in the Napua Tower. Cost me an arm and a leg, and got the barest minimum I had paid for. A Napua Tower king bed room with a view of the ocean, well if you squint from room 7041 you can just about see the ocean!
At check in I was informed they had upgraded me to the Napua Tower, even though I had paid for it, and when I asked for a different room with a better view, I was sternly told the Napua Tower was full. Not impressed.
Got a number of free vouchers - free cocktail, $40 off dinner at Lumu Humu. Came across the issue of the service charge being charged for the free dinner in the BOGOF deal, which I complained about and managed to get taken off the bill.
Had to get down for a sun lounger with a parasol by 7:15am, so felt a bit aggrieved with this. However as long as you know the limitations/restrictions then you can work the system.
Free continental breakfast in the Napua Club was poor, but the cocktails in the evening were prepared with a smile and were accompanied by some decent hors d'oeuvres.
No option for self parking here, so valet parking was about $30 per night.
Overall, I wouldn't bother staying here again. Beautiful hotel, but you are stung every which way with this hotel and there's no give and take. I.e. there's minimal consideration to the loyalty shown by its Hilton customers.
Got some further Hilton stays later in the year but looks like I'll only qualify for Gold this year. Any suggestions for easy renewal would be appreciated.
Hilton Dulles Airport (Washington)
Had planned on spending one night at the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown DC, but switched at the last minute to the Dulles Airport. Arrived early afternoon and was planning on flying out late morning the following day so we decided it made more sense to stay close to the airport, rather than paying $60+ on taxi fares each way in/out of DC.
As a Diamond member, got an upgrade on to the Exec floor but the Exec Lounge was closed since it was at the weekend. Free breakfast was pretty good, and in a very nice location downstairs in the lobby area.
Shuttles to/from the airport ran every half hour taking 15 mins, leaving the hotel on the hour and half past the hour. From the airport at curb 2H, leaving at 15 and 45 minutes past each hour. I think they stop between just after 1am and 4am.
Hotel staff very friendly, and looked to have a nice indoor and outdoor pool, although we didn't use them. Although not the prettiest hotel in the world, was very functional, friendly and a lot cheaper than staying in DC for one night.
We used the shuttle back to the airport, and caught the 5a bus to Rosslyn, switched to the Metro to get around DC - cost was about $8 one way ($6 on the bus and around $2 on the Metro). Heck of a lot cheaper than taxi.
Hilton Garden Inn at El Segundo (LA)
We had stayed here before and got a room in the University wing, which we got again without any problems. Used to be that Hilton used this area of the hotel for experimenting (I picked up from other comments), but doesn't look like a lots happened over the past 12 months since we were last here.
Still a nice hotel with a nice pool and whirlpool. Pool was full of leaves and branches by the time we got in late at night. Pool and bar/restaurant closes at 10pm. Walk two blocks up the street (left out of the hotel) and you come across Ralph's supermarket (which sells Ben & Jerry's Strawberry Cheesecake), Starbucks and Subway to name but a few.
Hilton Hawaiian Village (HHV) on O'Ahu
We had two stays here on our holiday - 2 nights at the start, and 2 nights at the end. Our first two nights I asked for an upgrade to the Rainbow Tower, and got a room on the 22nd floor which had a great view with balcony. Normal Diamond perks were provided.
Felt overwhelmed by the number of people and how busy it was. Needed to get out early to get a decent sun lounger.
Ate/drank at Tropics which was good, although very expensive as was all the places to eat on site.
The second stay I asked for an upgrade to the Ali'i Tower with a ocean front view, and got 1304, which was brilliant. View was immense, private pool very nice, although there is some work going on here on the whirlpool so the noise isn't too good during the day. The loo in the room was exciting too. Combined auto bidet with varying temperature of loo seat, water and dryer! You need to try it.
Parking was expensive at $27 self park and $33 valet. Annoys me a little that they charge you for spending time at the hotel.
Definitely choose an Ali'i Tower upgrade in future.
Hilton Waikoloa on Big Island
Stayed here twice as well. First time asked for an upgrade to the Ocean Tower with a view of the sunset which was difficult to organize - the staff weren't that helpful but we sorted them in the end. Initially wasn't that impressed with this place, but it grew on us - it wasn't very busy and it was good value for money.
Second stay was for a single night and I asked for an upgrade to the Lagoon Tower with the refurbished rooms which were much better. Overlooking the dolphins was a nice touch, and it felt very homely the second time.
The area around the hotel is beautiful - one of the nicest settings. We tried Lava Lava for dinner one evening which was lovely. Although I don't recommend walking down the road back to the hotel, where there is no lighting - we were lucky there was very little traffic, but I had images of us making the headlines in the papers the following day for all the wrong reasons!
Again expensive for parking your car.
Definitely choose a Lagoon Tower upgrade in future, and I would definitely go back to this hotel even though it has a strong Disney feel/family orientation.
Waldorf Astoria Grand Wailea on Maui
Well I knew not to expect any upgrades here, so I booked a room in the Napua Tower. Cost me an arm and a leg, and got the barest minimum I had paid for. A Napua Tower king bed room with a view of the ocean, well if you squint from room 7041 you can just about see the ocean!
At check in I was informed they had upgraded me to the Napua Tower, even though I had paid for it, and when I asked for a different room with a better view, I was sternly told the Napua Tower was full. Not impressed.
Got a number of free vouchers - free cocktail, $40 off dinner at Lumu Humu. Came across the issue of the service charge being charged for the free dinner in the BOGOF deal, which I complained about and managed to get taken off the bill.
Had to get down for a sun lounger with a parasol by 7:15am, so felt a bit aggrieved with this. However as long as you know the limitations/restrictions then you can work the system.
Free continental breakfast in the Napua Club was poor, but the cocktails in the evening were prepared with a smile and were accompanied by some decent hors d'oeuvres.
No option for self parking here, so valet parking was about $30 per night.
Overall, I wouldn't bother staying here again. Beautiful hotel, but you are stung every which way with this hotel and there's no give and take. I.e. there's minimal consideration to the loyalty shown by its Hilton customers.
Got some further Hilton stays later in the year but looks like I'll only qualify for Gold this year. Any suggestions for easy renewal would be appreciated.