At which Hilton hotels you are not due an upgrade (even if you have status)
One of my faults is definitely that I never read the fine print before clicking "accept" at [...]
One of my shortcomings is definitely that I never read the fine print before I click "accept" actually my strategy, if I am interested in a product/service, is to tick "I do not consent" to every possible apostille.
In this article:
Since I believe this syndrome is common to many, I decided to write this article because the topic of the upgrade in the hotel is always hot.
Hilton Honors the Benefits of Gold and Diamond Status
Hilton Honors is, always, the best hotel loyalty program for us Italians. I say this on the basis of my experience, and the basis of this reasoning is the fact that Of all the statuses, it is the easiest to achieve and/or maintain and simultaneously The most rewarding one.
The best bonuses
When I travel there are four major benefits that I am interested in and tend to exploit, and in that order they are:
- Free breakfast
- Late Check-out Guaranteed
- Lounge access
- Guaranteed upgrade
With the Gold Hilton level I have both breakfast, although in the U.S. it has long been turned into a credit to use at will (ed. which does not cover the cost of the service at all) and upgrades (if there is availability) although given the ease of obtaining status with Hilton Honors it is always a jackpot and in the U.S. a pipe dream.
The issue of promotion to a better room is very much felt, I receive at least one email/message a week from readers complaining about the lack of benefits or about the way they are provided. With Hilton it is good to remember that it is NEVER garanto, but always subject to availability.
I will be honest for me, 9 times out of 10, it is not of that much importance. Sure if you go to the Maldives And you will be forced to live in your sanctuary then I hope so, but increasingly in Hilton the upgrade is nothing more than a room on a high floor or so.
Which Hilton hotels are not required to upgrade
What few people know is that in the T&Cs it says in black and white that some insignias in the Hilton portfolio are not even required to do so, and this applies to both Gold and Diamond guests. The list includes 9 brands:
- Embassy Suites
- Hampton Inn
- Hilton Garden Inn
- Hilton Grand Vacations
- Homewood Suites
- Home2 Suites
- Motto
- Spark
- Tru
In many cases these signs do not have true upper chambers and, as written above, the best room is simply the one furthest from the elevator or with some kind of view from the window-in short, not a presidential suite. Without considering that are all hotels in the lowest and cheapest category, so it is fair not to expect the offer of a Waldorf Astoria.
If, on the other hand, you stay in premium brands such as Conrad, Waldorf Astoria and LXR, my advice is to take advantage of (both with and without status) Hilton Impresario giving away double points, benefits and even free nights.
My experience with upgrades with Hilton
Many of these signs are not present in Italy, in fact let's say they are almost all in the U.S., Personally though I think I always received some kind of upgrade when I have stayed at these facilities, little stuff, but the classic phrase "Thank you for your loyalty, we have upgraded you..." is
I often get offers to do paid upgrades, which I never do, very less than the post-pandemic period instead I get the automatic upgrade email. Upgrade, however, which is then done directly at check-in. My advice is to wait and see what fate bestows always remembering that a lot depends on how many guests are in the hotel.
In many hotels precisely to avoid discussion the arrival ranking is shown, which, I remind you, is not a ranking of how many elites are in the hotel, but only those arriving that day. So before asking for an upgrade like Gold Hilton think how many Diamond and Diamond forever may be arriving or already in the hotel that day.