Good Evening From The Executive Lounge Gatwick Hilton

We had a nightmare drive up from South Wales due to an accident closing the M4 beteen junction 20 & 22 which added an hour to our journey.
Hotel check in was was very good. We were given a room in the new wing.
We did the twlight check in and a very pleasant and friendly young lady who gave us directions to the fast track and a short cut to the clubhouse. We are on a refit travelling LGW to CUN. I was able to request our seats 48 hours prior to the flight opening ( 24A&C in the bubble ).
In the Hilton executive lounge and now on my fouth glass of sparkling wine and all seams alright with the world! y)

Glad you finally arrived safe, had a good check-in and are starting the holiday in a manner that it has to continue ^)
Have a great time

Hi ScubaRoo
Unfortunately I have have sinus problems and am claustrophobic so am unable to scuba drive but Mr Daffodil is able to and enjoys scuba driving.

have a great holiday

Have a great time

Enjoy Cancun and have a great flight. y)

Enjoy your holiday and of course the flight,hoping to go to cancun myself one day,heard great things about it.
Blacky

Just out of curiosity, what exactly would I need to do in terms of hilton stays to qualify for baubles like lounge access? I suspect this is a very noddy question, but I've never affiliated myself to any hotel chain in the past, so have very little experience of programs like HHonours (right now I opt to collect virgin miles on my occasional stays).

Might be in a position where staying at Hiltons more regularly is a prospect (specifically the one in Belfast), and thinking that maybe some status with them might be worth having, provided it doesn't require hundreds of nights to be built up... I'm generally at the LGW one a few times a year as well on pre-holiday stays.

Hi ratechaser
You can use the lounge by staying in an executive room, or holding Gold or Diamond status (Gold after 36 nights, Diamond after 60 nights). Also if you have a Platinum or Centurion Amex card you get automatic gold or diamond status with Hilton plus elite status at many other hotel chains.

Hi ratechaser
You can use the lounge by staying in an executive room, or holding Gold or Diamond status (Gold after 36 nights, Diamond after 60 nights).

Not quite.

Gold gives you lounge access if you are upgraded to an Executive Room. Diamond gives you access regardless.

Status can be earned by stays, nights or points earned. For the full skinny

http://hhonors3.hilton.com/en/explore/b ... index.html

Read an email this morning about this... what a coincidence.

As of 1st January 2013, requirements for renewal in 2014 are that Gold can be achieved through 20 stays, 40 nights or by attaining 75,000 base points. Diamond is 30 stays, 60 nights or 120,000 base points.. Looks like they are looking to cull the herd a little.

I personally don't favour any particular hotels around the globe. I just stay either where I am told to n( or wherever is closest and best value for money for the level of hotel I am looking for.

For me it is all about the mileage that I can spend travelling around the world to spend hardly any time in the room y)

Thank you all. 60 nights is a bit much for me I think, I'd end up having to religiously stay at Hiltons wherever I travel. There are other benefits I know, just not sure it's worth the trade of giving up staying in hotels that I know I enjoy and are also in my company policy, e.g. Trump Soho in NY, The Merchant in Belfast, or the Mandarin in HK (where I'm currently typing this from). Probably explains why I'm something of a novice with hotel programs...

RC

There is nothing to loose by joining any hotel (or other type) of reward scheme. They are usually free, I have a whole deck of them some used more than others!
With many there is a choice of points or miles (sometimes both) also the possibility of recognition in the form of a free newspaper, bottle of water etc or eventually upgrades and free stays. No point in ignoring them! y) y)

Thank you all. 60 nights is a bit much for me I think, I'd end up having to religiously stay at Hiltons wherever I travel. There are other benefits I know, just not sure it's worth the trade of giving up staying in hotels that I know I enjoy and are also in my company policy, e.g. Trump Soho in NY, The Merchant in Belfast, or the Mandarin in HK (where I'm currently typing this from). Probably explains why I'm something of a novice with hotel programs...

Now that makes me jealous.... Hilton is about the top of the tree in terms of quality on our travel policy, and even then it isn't the best of that set that we're allowed to use.