Honolulu Travel Forum

I booked my room (Hilton Resort and Spa) through a travel agent, I am not sure what room or view I have, should I expect to be in the cheapest room available? Will my Travel Agent know what view/room? Should I ask for an upgrade? I want a great view and a really nice room. Does the hotel automatically upgrade once I arrive? Let me know, I want this to be the best vacation ever--since I am taking my mom on HER dream vacation; she is 71 years old and has wanted to go to Hawaii since she was a young girl. Thanks

Your Travel Agent should certainly know what grade of room you are booked in to. If not you should ask for a full description and any other options available.Then decide if you need to upgrade. I hope your mother ( and you) has a wonderful time and that her dreams come true.I did a similar thing with my mother when she was quite ill. She loved it so much she took me back the following year and continued to talk about it for the remainder of her life.

Two years ago, we stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. I'm assuming that is where you are staying at. It's a huge complex and a very nice hotel. If you want to guarantee a great view, I suggest you have that arranged in advance. Depending on when you are going, the place may be completely booked. Well, it was when we were there. I was greatly disappointed with the accomodations that my daughter and her friends had at a cheaper hotel. So, I tried to get them a room at the Hilton - none available. There is plenty of opportunity to get a room with a view but I would make sure if you want an ocean view. Have fun!

I don't understand why you didn't a) tell the travel agent what you wanted in the first place (normally there is a range of rooms and prices in the brochure), and b) ask the travel agent rather than the general travelling public what has been booked in your name! If you wanted something specific, you should have asked for it - why would the hotel "automatically" upgrade you? It was for you to specify what you wanted, although of course if you don't mind paying the difference and there is a better room available, they should move you.
I'm not sure which Hilton you mean anyway, is it the Hawaiian Village?

You can find an exhaustive amount of info about the Hilton Waikoloa Village on www.flyertalk.com. Go to "Miles and Points" and them click on the Hilton HHonors forum and the thread on the HWV is presently on Page 3. The different Towers are compared and even rooms are described.

Hawaii hotels are crying for business so your travel agent should be able to get you a good room. Hilton is a popular hotel on the beach. I suggest you see "The Society of Seven" or "The Society of Seven LV" at an Outrigger Hotel. You can easily get information after you arrive at the Hilton. Travel agent can tell you the type of room, but not the room number as it's assigned at check in. Even if you check in and don't care for the room just go back to the front desk and ask how much it is for an upgrade. Like I said...they have lots of room. You can join the Hilton Awards Program right now on you computer for "instant recognition."

Call the hotel directly. Have them look up your reservation. Ask if the room has a view or not. You can also request for a room on a high floor (better view). You may have to pay more for an ocean view room though.

Hey !! I too think you should call the Waikiki Hawaiian Hilton and find out what your room status really is ...... Here is the phone number ....1-808-949-4321
Aloha !!!!! : )

Like many of the others have said, I recommend contacting the front office manager directly. If an upgraded room is THAT important to you, book it in advance rather than taking a chance to see if you might get it at check-in and be disappointed later.....the hotel may be sold out of the upgraded room by that time.


Tip when checking in any hotel: front desk clerks are constantly being bombarded with demanding terms such as "high floor, ocean view etc" before they even get a chance to greet the you......this will turn them right off and they will give you what you booked. Sounds very fair.

Why don't you try finding out how much the upgrade for the stay costs and tip them 20% of the upgrade fee if they upgrade you complimentary. Example:If the upgrade for the entire stay is worth $200, $40 gratuity is really not that much.

I do this all the time and works if the upgrade is available. I keep the cash folded under my credit card and if it's available, I tell them to keep the cash. WIN-WIN situation for both parties....plus, they usually throw in few extras and they remember you.

All good replies, but I am assuming you are referring to the Hilton in Honolulu (Waikiki) and not the one in Waikoloa (on the Big Island).

Call the hotel directly at the number given. Don't go through central reservations. Tell them how special this trip is, and how this is your Mom's dream vacation. They will likely take care of you. Ask how much the upgrade will be. Yes, they are begging for clients, so be nice, be thankful, and make them your best friend. If there is a special treat from your home state or country (sorry, I didn't look where you were from), it wouldn't hurt to offer a little thank you gift to the reservation clerks if they come through with your upgrade. Again, don't wait until you arrive, because they may not have the nicest rooms available. (The hotel may close certain floors or even towers if there aren't enough people to fill them.)

The Hilton is a large complex with several towers. The Rainbow tower is the closest to the ocean and would afford you the best views. The Kalia tower is the newest but the farthest from the ocean (don't stay there). Just explain to the reservationist how your Mom always wanted to wake up to a view of the ocean and possibly Diamond Head.

Enjoy your trip!

Pat Paton, the person who asked this question on June 12th, does not appear to have logged in again at all since posting it.
We must assume the problem was resolved.
Would have been nice if she had let us know.