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The ‘be my guest’ free night voucher that I mentioned in another post finally arrived in the post. It’s good to be redeemed in any Hilton hotel and resort branded property, but Google suggests these are issued under the brand where the guest experienced the issue, and would therefore be limited to Hilton properties only as it was issued after my complaint about Hilton Birmingham metropole.
So, what is the most expensive single night redemption that’s theoretically possible?
Based in KL but regularly travel to NYC, London, Tokyo etc. it has a long shelf life so I think I can make good use of it.
From a cursory check it would be wasted in hotels in Asia. So far the best value I can find is in London. Bkk, Manila and Singapore would be around £140. Tokyo a bit higher. London looks like I could get >£400 on a good night. I wish I’d received it a week ago because I needed to be in London for one night and ended up at Hilton in reading because it was a personal trip and I wasn’t prepared to pay London prices for what would essentially be a few hours sleep after a day of heavy drinking.
Why waste it on a city hotel as you say you’ll spend just a few hours sleeping. Surely Maldives or any beach resort best option?
What about NYC, hotel prices have been (even more) crazy since the pandemic?
Hilton-only branded. Park Lane, maybe by the time you come it won’t be a dump anymore. How about Paris or Venice during peak.
Sorry, I don’t mean to be the party-pooper but you can only use the voucher if there is reward availability at the hotel — rather than Premium Reward availability. For many premium hotels it is very difficult to find one.
I had my all brand certificate and wanted to use it in Waldorf Amsterdam. It never had any standard room reward availability for my dates at all. So I used it in Paris.Check online for standard reward availability and then call to book.
Surely Conrad Tokyo at peak times is probably quite expensive. Next Easter it’s coming at £800 and standard award is available. There is also Roku Kyoto LXR property which is well over £1000 pretty much most of the year.
If they have to be Hilton only, then there are also quite expensive Hilton properties in French Polynesia.
Most expensive Hilton branded property will be an IT meltdown or pricing error somewhere meaning it’s £10,000+ for that night. Facetious answer but does clarify the point that you should be looking for the best property – not just the most expensive as per your title; obviously the best will likely be near the top of the pricing spectrum – but maybe not at the very top.
If it really is Hilton brand only, no W/A or Conrad or LXR or Curio, that does make things rather trickier.
Reykjavík would inevitably be expensive, I suppose.
Hilton Aruba?
Hilton Rose Hall in Montego bay?I thin I’d be more tempted by either Hilton Malta or the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice. More suitable for a short trip anyway.
If in London, The Waldorf looks nice and I think is a Hilton rather than WA? Just booked it for my birthday next year as it’s nearly £700 that night but had standard reward nights at 80k points.
Waldorf is really clapped out, sorry to say.
The lounge is a disaster zone.
As you’re not using a BMG, but points, try to get a room at the Biltmore. Tbh, any of the newer properties will be more enjoyable because the lounge is so poor.I thin I’d be more tempted by either Hilton Malta or the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice. More suitable for a short trip anyway.
I styed at the Hilton Malta about 40 years ago and it was good then but my standards were different.
We stayed at Stucky Molino about five years ago and it was superb.They evne had their own boat to Piazza San Marco!Waldorf is really clapped out, sorry to say.
The lounge is a disaster zone.
As you’re not using a BMG, but points, try to get a room at the Biltmore. Tbh, any of the newer properties will be more enjoyable because the lounge is so poor.I’ve stayed a few times due to various factors: location, cheap rates due to ongoing refurb work (including on points when it was a LOT less than 80k), and the fact better Hilton properties in Londnon didn’t have availability.
It’s fine if you remember that despite the name it’s a bog standard Hilton and not a Walford Astoria; it’s had a fair bit of refurb work done in the last 2-3 years that has improved things significantly. It is however in no way shape or form ever worth £700 or anything like.
Anna, do yourself a massive favour for a special visit, if you want to spend 80k HH points rather than stretching to the Biltmore then cancel the Waldorf and book the Trafalgar St James. I don’t ever really look at room charts to work out what I got, but either the base rooms are rather good (especially given location) or they’ve upgraded me well every time as a mere gold. If you asked me about fair cash costs I’d say it’s worth at least double the Waldorf.
Yes, Trafalgar is nice, despite the smaller rooms, the breakfast is especially good and you could enjoy a drink on the roofbar. The general ambience is superior. Plus, it’s easier to find a redemption room than at the Biltmore.
Considering you will have a flexible rate no matter where you book, keep checking the Biltmore for the 95k room to show a few days before.
Some good ideas here. It is restricted to Hilton properties only unfortunately. I don’t think I need reward availability though. The only criteria is that it’s good for standard room rate and tax and can’t be used on New Year’s Eve.
Hilton Tokyo is an option but I stay there for work a lot. Even New York hotels look like I’d be getting limited value compared to park lane.
French Polynesian would be great but a bit of a trek. Definitely on the bucket list but not in the next 18 months.
Oh dear, I booked the Waldorf because it does look quite nice on the pictures and it’s very convenient for the theatre! We need one night before using an Ambassador weekend cert at the IC O2; I’m not sure why but prices across the capital are freakishly high for a Thursday night, even in London. Plenty of time to reconsider though, so thanks for the advice.
I’m not sure why but prices across the capital are freakishly high for a Thursday night, even in London.
Thursdays are the new Fridays.
Anna, since it is for a special occasion, it could be worth reconsidering. I liked the Waldorf Hilton when I stayed there a few years ago, also for just one night. I chose it because it because of the pool and the super convenient location. As gold they gave me lounge access, because it was my first stay, and a charming room, but then I don’t mind older style hotels. The lounge wasn’t brilliant, but useful as it meant I had time for breakfast after my early morning swim and before my earlyish appointment nearby. If you are going out to the theatre in the evening anyway, and TSS’s suggested Trafalgar St James isn’t available, perhaps it would be OK for one night?
Just in support of the others, Anna, I’d agree with the Traf. being nicer all round: lovely b-fast area
and the rooftop bar (although the service was a bit rubbish, but hey-ho!). We went to the theatre from
there, and it was only 10 mins. to the Gielgud.
Only stayed once at the Waldorf but many moons ago: b-fast area also lovely (was that the one where they filmed
The Titanic?!) but our room (back then) was a shocker!I think St James had no standard awards on that night but The Westminster does. Plans aren’t final yet. I love old-world glamour and the Waldorf does look like that in the pictures! Current reviews on TA are pretty good apart from the afternoon tea which we wouldn’t be having anyway.
Re Thursdays being the new Fridays – a weekend in a junior suite at the O2 is slightly over £200 pn when we’re staying, but the Thursday is much more expensive. I thought there might be a big event on at the arena but this price differential seems to be replicated all over!
There are plenty of hotels in London with old-world glamour, but I don’t think the Waldorf Hilton is one of them :D. They sell dinners on Groupon.
I’d skip the Westminster, there is no bar, just a restaurant with a very odd atmosphere and from your posts, I think you’d hate it! Rooms are not great, except for a couple of suites and breakfast was the worst I’d ever had in a London Hilton. It was preferable as a DoubleTree. Unless you were planning an early morning meeting with Steve Bray, you were right to choose the Waldorf over the Westminster.
You’ll find rooms will open up at other hotels a few days before. Your redemption should be flexible until 23:59 the day before.
Sorry, I don’t mean to be the party-pooper but you can only use the voucher if there is reward availability at the hotel — rather than Premium Reward availability. For many premium hotels it is very difficult to find one.
I had my all brand certificate and wanted to use it in Waldorf Amsterdam. It never had any standard room reward availability for my dates at all. So I used it in Paris.Check online for standard reward availability and then call to book.
You don’t require award availability to book with these.
That is what makes Be My Guest certificates so valuable. All you need is standard room availability to book on a flexible rate, you just hand in the certificate at the hotel desk on check out. Hilton or the original hotel are then on the hook for full rate booked.
I believe Rob has mentioned these before full details also on LL https://loyaltylobby.com/2022/08/08/reader-question-where-how-to-use-hilton-be-my-guest-certificate/
Player 2 and I had 3 nights of such certificates between us in the past few years and we called Hilton to book.
Waldorf Ams had standard room availability which were offered as Premium Award rooms for point bookings. I couldn’t book them. I called three times.Oh dear, I booked the Waldorf because it does look quite nice on the pictures and it’s very convenient for the theatre! We need one night before using an Ambassador weekend cert at the IC O2; I’m not sure why but prices across the capital are freakishly high for a Thursday night, even in London. Plenty of time to reconsider though, so thanks for the advice.
Don’t touch the Waldorf. Known it personally and through many who’ve stayed. @Savage Squirrel and Hugol0ver have got it bang on.
My favourite of the Hilton branded properties in London is the Hilton Bankside – very clean and modern rooms, much better service than other Hiltons, a nice pool + lounge makes the difference for me. Though there’s no “wow factor” if that’s what you’re looking for.
Is the goal to make Hilton corporate pay as much money as possible to another corporate hotel owner (or if you use it at a directly managed hotel, won’t they be just paying themselves? Hugolover should know), or to maximise the value for yourself?
Agree the Waldorf Hilton is embarrassing.
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