Is Hilton Diamond (until March 2025) worth a 3 night mattress run?

[ThriceForgiven]

I have until the end of this month to complete a status challenge with Hilton which would grant me Diamond until March 2025. I have 3 remaining nights left, and no real opportunity to stay at any Hilton (all travel already booked).

Having read various contradicting opinions about the value of Hilton Diamond, I know there is some point at which it begins to make sense (and I know it varies per person) and just looking to get a feel for what the number is. Two main questions:

1) I see a ‘cheap’ Hilton for about £60/night which would result in £180 for the 3 nights. Only downside is it is about 1.5h from my home by train, and I really don’t want to stay there. Is £180 too hefty?

2) What’s the success rates with online check-in and checkout for some properties? I’m tempted to try 1-night stays in any massively cheap Hilton I could find (globally) to see if this could work. Has anyone tried it here?

Any input greatly appreciated…

[Aston100]

I’ve booked stays for other people (had to email the hotel to clear it with them though).
Could that work for you?

And in regards to value, free breakfast and (where available) lounge access for 2 people could easily be worth more than £180 over the next couple of years I would have thought.

[can2]

Yes.

[Rob]

They would get free breakfast as Gold, so the driver is only a) lounge access and b) non-guaranteed better upgrades and non-guaranteed late check out.

You’d get it until end Feb 2025, so 20 months.

2,000 bonus points per stay with the current promo to factor in too.

Shame the latest Amex cashback deal just ended.

[Guernsey Globetrotter]

If you do the mattress run don’t forget to check out Rob’s guide here:
https://www.headforpoints.com/2023/04/22/how-to-do-a-hotel-mattress-run-2/

[ThriceForgiven]

Aston100 wrote:

I’ve booked stays for other people (had to email the hotel to clear it with them though).
Could that work for you?

And in regards to value, free breakfast and (where available) lounge access for 2 people could easily be worth more than £180 over the next couple of years I would have thought.

I don’t think I follow ‘booking the stays for other people’ angle. I need 3 nights on my account – are you saying I could book someone on my account (Gold, and possibly availing myself of a preferential Corporate Rate) and have someone else other than me checking into the hotel (once cleared with the hotel) and this would also count?

[WillPS]

ThriceForgiven wrote:

Aston100 wrote:

I’ve booked stays for other people (had to email the hotel to clear it with them though).
Could that work for you?

And in regards to value, free breakfast and (where available) lounge access for 2 people could easily be worth more than £180 over the next couple of years I would have thought.

I don’t think I follow ‘booking the stays for other people’ angle. I need 3 nights on my account – are you saying I could book someone on my account (Gold, and possibly availing myself of a preferential Corporate Rate) and have someone else other than me checking into the hotel (once cleared with the hotel) and this would also count?

You book the room. Add one of the guests actually staying as second guest. Advise in notes that second guest will check in first.

Make sure it’s someone you trust so you don’t end up with a huge tab to pay off, obviously.

[Richard Peters]

In a word: yes!

[John]

If you are booking for someone else it needs to be in a country where no ID is required for check in, or the hotel needs to agree the account holder won’t show up

Digital key won’t work if someone needs to present ID at the front desk

[ThriceForgiven]

John wrote:

If you are booking for someone else it needs to be in a country where no ID is required for check in, or the hotel needs to agree the account holder won’t show up

Digital key won’t work if someone needs to present ID at the front desk

Very good point…any pointers on which countries require ID for check in? The folks over at FT aren’t the most forthcoming when it comes to this…