Easy to get, packed with benefits and useful for saving lots of euros: all about Hilton's Gold level
It is often a big mistake to think that staying in a Hilton hotel is more expensive than a [...]
It is often a huge mistake to think that staying in a Hilton hotel is more expensive than staying in a traditional hotel. Hotel chains such as Hilton and Marriott have thousands of hotels in their portfolios spread across dozens of different signs, from the most luxurious to the cheapest.
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In addition, sleeping in a hotel that is part of a chain offers the assurance of staying in a facility that meets a well-defined standard to which all hotels must adhere.
From room cleanliness to room sanitation, mattress quality to the ability to accumulate points and use them to stay for free.
This brief introduction to explain, or to try to convince, those who think that these hotels are "only" for rich and wealthy travelers: this is absolutely not the case.
Hilton's Gold level is, arguably, the best level for the quality of the benefits relative to the ease with which it can be obtained.
The status is included in the American Express Platinum annual fee and in this way You will never lose as long as you remain the owner. However, it is also possible to become Gold, of course, by staying in the group's hotels. For example, thanks to some promotions is super easy to get with just 9 stays.
Here, then, is a 5-point explanation of why, even if you plan only one vacation a year, taking advantage of the status can make your stay better.
#1 The free breakfast
Gold level gives free breakfast In all the group's hotels around the world, less than in America. This advantage results in a savings of at least 10/15 euros per stay For all occupants of the room.
Of all the statuses of the various hotel chains, this is the easiest to get among the ones that give breakfast as a gift, here Because it is my favorite loyalty program.
#2 The Free Upgrades
Upgrades have always been there, But now they have been institutionalized. This is new in recent months: All Diamond and Gold elite status holders will receive room upgrades and will know well before they arrive at the hotel.
Even if he chooses a basic room, therefore, it is possible to end up in a room that also costs twice as much as To the one booked.
#3 Bonus Points
The points that accumulate in the stays can be used to obtain free stays In facilities all over the world. From the Maldives to Sardinia. Hilton Honors members earn 10 points for every dollar spent at the facilities. Depending on the level possessed, however, more points are accumulated; the Gold level gives 80% of the extra points.
The bonus is very generous (18 points for every dollar spent), making it easy to accumulate more points in any stay, regardless of the expense incurred.
#4 Favorable Treatment
Having the status automatically guarantees better treatment at the facility. From dedicated check-in desks that allow you to skip the queue, to reserved areas in facilities such as pools, breakfast tables. Ability to request check-in/out with flexible hours and reserved parking spaces in hotel parking lots.
Some hotels then also offer, depending on status, discounts on services such as dining, SPA and other activities that are conducted within the facility.
Finally, two free bottles of water are offered in the room, depending on where you stay, it is a gift worth as much as 8/10 euros per day.
#5 Sleep in 3 for the price of one
The price of the room does not change whether you stay alone or as a couple. In addition, many hotels have very flexible policies regarding children staying in the same room with their parents. So Always book for 2 even when traveling alone, the price doesn't change anyway.
Of course, it depends a lot on how old the children are. In my case, in the 8 years that I have been traveling with my daughter, I have almost never had to pay for her presence in the hotel. Only in very few cases have we been charged a minimal supplement for the third bed, but We were never charged for breakfast or other extras.
In conclusion
I have written several times that the Honors program is my favorite. For years I was simply Gold and only Since last year I have risen to the Diamond level, the highest in the Hilton Honors program. The only real difference between the two is that with the latter you accumulate more points and it is easier to get upgrades, but otherwise Gold remains the best level on the market today.
The points practically never expire and this allows me to accumulate them: right now I'm at about 700,000. I usually use them to book stays that I could not otherwise afford, such as one of the best resorts in the Maldives. Or, when I necessarily have to go somewhere and the cost of rooms is prohibitive, the use of points saves me hundreds.
