Is the Hilton worth it?

[Luv2Phuket]

2 minutes ago, TravellingBrit said:

I've only stayed at the Amethyst on my previous (and my next couple as well) but as I have a big pile of Hilton points I'll be using the Hilton at some point - not got enough points to cover a full stay which is the only reason I haven't stayed there yet, I expect I'll probably end up there next year or the year after.

As much as I like it, the Pattaya Hilton is often a poor "value" using Hilton points.

If you value Hilton points at .5 cents per point ("cpp"), you're going to struggle to get great value, given that it usually goes for 60,000 HH points per night, which discounts to 240,000 for 5 nights with 5th night free (so 48,000 per night there).

48,000 x .5 cpp = a cash rate of $240 or almost 7,500 baht per night.

I've made that booking in the past a number of times, but it's not a great return on the HH points.

[CaribbeanDelight]

If you feel something is overpriced, don't do it. 

Chances are you're going to be nitpicking things to justify it in the end when you stay there. 

It's similar to paying 1500 ST and 2000/3000 ST. 

If you aren't comfortable with ti, don't consider it.

[smokeshow]

In my opinion, it's not worth it if you're paying full price, but because I have the Amex Aspire and I get $200 in resort credit, I always book 1 night for free. It's much easier to get upgraded if you're there in low season and there for 1 night. I got upgraded to the executive suite. Unfortunately, I didn't have any hoes to enjoy it with in the hot tub. The executive suite sucks balls. The AC is not strong enough to cool the room down and it stays warm forever even if you close off the slide doors to the bathroom. 

There are benefits to staying at Hilton if you have status. You get Lounge Access for free drinks, snacks, water. Free daily breakfast. It is in the BEST location in Pattaya because it's attached to Central, even if it is just marginally better than say Somerset which is across the street. You can go to Central without having to leave the comfort of AC.
 

[Speakbottle]

Interesting topic for me since I spent so many nights at the Hilton in the past few years. Well over 100. I have Aspire and Diamond. I always stayed in a suite for cash, because points there never made sense vs some Conrad’s in North America I like to stay at. If you can get a good redemption, the status/card is equivalent to about 20% off for me (34 points per dollar and .5 to 1 cent redemption value).

To cut to the chase, I don't think I'll stay there ever again even if they slash prices by 30%. I got sick of it and started seeing flaws. Once I started staying elsewhere, I haven't looked back. Just a few things I didn't see in the thread in no particular order:

- The location is overrated. I didn't come here to shop at H&M and eat in a food court. If I'm in Pattaya for three weeks, I want to go to central 2 or 3 times. But I want to go to Soi 6 and WS almost every day. And it's not near either. It's split between the two. If you're a buakaho man, or whatever, it's not near that either. It's not far, but not much is out the door other than the mall and some shitty BR bars. The commute to all these things is not bad, but I'd rather be right near something I love and came to Pattaya for.  If it were connected to XS, then I'd be impressed.
- The pool is freezing and gets shady early.
- The bell staff can get annoying.
- The food in the lounge is quite bad.
- It's a big hotel, a lot of things feel impersonal and mass-produced.
- The balcony and hot tub are overrated, and I don't really miss them. Some great times. But sex in water sucks IMO. If I spend a lot of time out there, I get bites or hives or something. The noise from central and nearby bars makes it very unpleasant many nights of the year.
- Rooms are due for a refresh, IMO.

Anyway, I'll end the rant there. This is all subjective. But these are my thoughts at this point. There are some really good things about it as well as others have said. But I've moved on. 

@davetherave3311 I think paying cash for Thai 1st is one of the worst ways to spend money that I can think of. And I never fly economy. But up to you!

Edited January 25 by Speakbottle

[davetherave3311]

56 minutes ago, Speakbottle said:

The location is overrated. I didn't come here to shop at H&M and eat in a food court. If I'm in Pattaya for three weeks, I want to go to central 2 or 3 times. But I want to go to Soi 6 and WS almost every day. And it's not near either. It's split between the two. If you're a buakaho man, or whatever, it's not near that either.

@davetherave3311 I think paying cash for Thai 1st is one of the worst ways to spend money that I can think of. And I never fly economy. But up to you!

Disagree on location being bad.

I stay next to Hilton, one of the main reasons is the location and the fact it is in the middle of Soi6 and WS. And its literally a 5 min walk to Buakhao and LK via Soi Honey or Myst/Treetown.

Step on 2nd Road to catch the baht bus to Soi6, 10 mins max. Then catch a Baht bus from Soi6 on Beach Rd back to hotel to freshen up. Then straight to WS. Zero messing about. Both pick up drop off spots are on your doorstep, Hilton or Page10. 

Getting a gal from WS to ur hotel is quick. Straight down 2nd. 1 road. Free flowing traffic. Its fast. No time wasted. Easy. Direct. 

If you want to get to everywhere as quick as possible, its literally the BEST area to stay. Saying u go to WS and Soi6 every day and then complain the Hilton is directly halfway between them actually makes no logical sense at all. 

As for the first class flight being a waste of money; you could very well be right. Ill never know unless I try. 

[Luv2Phuket]

Tend to agree with @davetherave3311 on the location - it's not ideal for any of the areas, but it is fairly convenient to all.

Personally, I think the Avani has the best location in Pattaya - walk to LK Metro or WS; catch a baht bus to Soi 6 or WS (if you don't want to walk) with entrances/exits on both Beach Road and Second Road.  I haven't been in Royal Garden Plaza in quite a while, but the Hilton's connection to Central vs Avani's connection to it is an advantage to Hilton, IMHO.

Avani pool kicks the shit outta that ice bucket at the Hilton (again, IMHO).  I stopped using the pool years ago, because it was consistently freezing cold.  Not cold, FREEZING cold.  There's a reason people are swimming in wetsuits!  555

Different strokes for different folks, but I love the connection to Central and pop in there quite a bit.  I think you're undercutting it a little too much by singling out H&M and the food court (I don't frequent either).  The grocery store in the basement has solid foreign food selections (cheaper can certainly be found, but I'll pay for the convenience); it's nice to have easy access to ATMs and the pharmacies; and I'm a big fan of Japanese curry and enjoy what they serve at On the Table, so I'm there at least once a trip.  It's also nice to have the (albeit absurdly busy) AIS store there.

After a falling out with the InterContinental, I was at the Hilton for 18 nights in December, with side trips to Phuket and the Andaz in Na Jomtien mixed in.  I'd guess I was in Central at least 6-8 of those days.

[CBNewbie]

6 hours ago, Speakbottle said:

Interesting topic for me since I spent so many nights at the Hilton in the past few years. Well over 100. I have Aspire and Diamond. I always stayed in a suite for cash, because points there never made sense vs some Conrad’s in North America I like to stay at. If you can get a good redemption, the status/card is equivalent to about 20% off for me (34 points per dollar and .5 to 1 cent redemption value).

To cut to the chase, I don't think I'll stay there ever again even if they slash prices by 30%. I got sick of it and started seeing flaws. Once I started staying elsewhere, I haven't looked back. Just a few things I didn't see in the thread in no particular order:

- The location is overrated. I didn't come here to shop at H&M and eat in a food court. If I'm in Pattaya for three weeks, I want to go to central 2 or 3 times. But I want to go to Soi 6 and WS almost every day. And it's not near either. It's split between the two. If you're a buakaho man, or whatever, it's not near that either. It's not far, but not much is out the door other than the mall and some shitty BR bars. The commute to all these things is not bad, but I'd rather be right near something I love and came to Pattaya for.  If it were connected to XS, then I'd be impressed.
- The pool is freezing and gets shady early.
- The bell staff can get annoying.
- The food in the lounge is quite bad.
- It's a big hotel, a lot of things feel impersonal and mass-produced.
- The balcony and hot tub are overrated, and I don't really miss them. Some great times. But sex in water sucks IMO. If I spend a lot of time out there, I get bites or hives or something. The noise from central and nearby bars makes it very unpleasant many nights of the year.
- Rooms are due for a refresh, IMO.

Anyway, I'll end the rant there. This is all subjective. But these are my thoughts at this point. There are some really good things about it as well as others have said. But I've moved on. 

@davetherave3311 I think paying cash for Thai 1st is one of the worst ways to spend money that I can think of. And I never fly economy. But up to you!

Interesting to hear, where do you tend to stay? I quite like the location as I visit Central Mall and Soi 6 daily. Soi 7 for me is a great spot and I generally like to stay in multiple hotels when I’m in town to have a different experience. 

[Speakbottle]

I do think there are many good things about the Hilton. It's not a bad hotel. The mall connection is helpful, especially in the hot season or rain. I love the backdoor entrance through the mall for girls, but it does close pretty early. If it's important to you, they don't need ID and don't care how many you bring up at the time. There is some good food in the mall. The location is not bad by any means. I just said it's overrated. I hear almost everyone saying it's the best location in Pattaya and that's why it’s premium. I don't think that's the case. The pricing got really out of whack with the rest of the city, so that's primarily what got me trying out other places.

@davetherave3311 You could consider JAL or ANA as they still invest in 1st. I would only do it on points. It's $15 to $20k from the US to BKK. But you get what you pay for. There are a few others I've never tried. For the most part, business is the new first. I expect Thai is one of the weakest because they are on the record that they're ending it, and it's not a great airline.

Edited January 25 by Speakbottle

[TravellingBrit]

17 hours ago, Luv2Phuket said:

As much as I like it, the Pattaya Hilton is often a poor "value" using Hilton points.

If you value Hilton points at .5 cents per point ("cpp"), you're going to struggle to get great value, given that it usually goes for 60,000 HH points per night, which discounts to 240,000 for 5 nights with 5th night free (so 48,000 per night there).

48,000 x .5 cpp = a cash rate of $240 or almost 7,500 baht per night.

I've made that booking in the past a number of times, but it's not a great return on the HH points.

Thing is I don't have any other options really for using HH points (one reason why I have so many of them) so better to use for something rather than simply let them build up for nothing.

[Buster12]

I got a standard room at Melia for just under 2300 baht a night whereas the same dates for Hilton were 8600ish for their standard rooms. 

Can't justify that price and I can't help but think of diminishing returns compared to some of the other 5 star options.