Arizona Biltmore Waldorf Astoria Resort Review

The Arizona Biltmore is a Hilton Waldorf Astoria Resort property located in Phoenix, Arizona that delivers on many levels.

The hotel has a lot to offer in terms of its history, dining, and amenities, and it can be a perfect getaway for both couples and families.

Below, I’ll take a thorough look at this property and I’ll share with you everything you need to know before you arrive.

Arizona Biltmore Overview

Coming off a mega $70 million renovation in 2021, the Arizona Biltmore is chock-full of history and home to quality dining and luxurious and fun amenities.

Its architectural roots stem from the 1920s when it was designed by Albert Chase McArthur who received guidance from his mentor Frank Lloyd Wright, arguably the most famous American architect of all time.

Since then, it’s been a magnet for notable guests.

Every US president has stayed at the Arizona Biltmore since Hoover such as LBJ and JFK and it’s also where Ronald Reagen and Nancy Reagan honeymooned after their wedding. (Their favorite cottage was “Cottage I.”)

Related: Hotel Paso Del Norte, Autograph Collection Review

Arizona Biltmore picture collage of presidents

Hollywood celebrities like Marilyn Monroe have relaxed by the pool and actors like Clark Gable navigated secret passageways from hidden speakeasies during Prohibition.

It was at one of the bars at the hotel where the Tequila Sunrise was born and still to this day you can enjoy quality upscale drinks and dining in a setting that takes you back to Hollywood’s golden age.

Here, thrill seekers can get their fix on a 65 foot drop water slide and pool lovers can hang out by the water 24 hours a day. With unique spa features and top-notch fitness facilities, it’s truly an all-around notable resort.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Arizona Biltmore front grounds

Location

The resort is located in the Biltmore Area which is an upscale area in north Phoenix, roughly between Glendale and Scottsdale. It’s about 15 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).

While the resort offers some good dining options, nearby you can find upscale restaurants like Wrigley Mansion & Geordie’s. Just down the road on E. Camelback Rd. you can also check out Zinburger, Hillstone Restaurant, and Keegan’s Grill.

If you’re looking for outdoor activities there’s plenty to do in the nearby vicinity.

The Arizona Canal Path runs directly in front of the property so if you are a runner you have an awesome trail near the front door of the property.

Arizona Biltmore Canal path
Arizona Biltmore path along canal
The trail that runs along the canal.

The hotel is also just minutes away from Piestewa Peak, which is a short but strenuous hike that’s popular with Phoenix hikers. The exact specs are 2.1 miles out and back with elevation gain of 1,148 feet. At night, you might be able to see hiker headlamps making their way up and down the mountain.

Arizona Biltmore grounds with mountain
Piestewa Peak looming in the distance.

Booking

We booked our first night through the Amex FHR program which was a great choice because there was a special promotional deal offering an additional $250 in property credits.

Utilizing the $200 FHR credit on the Platinum Card, this meant the out-of-pocket was only around $130 for night #1 and we were able to take advantage of the following dining credits:

  • $60 FHR breakfast credit
  • $50 Diamond food and beverage credit
  • $100 FHR Property food and beverage credit
  • $250 FHR Promotional Property credit
  • Two Diamond free drink coupons up to $25 in value each

All of that was just for the first night so we had approximately $500 to spend in food and beverage credits in 24 hours.

For the second night, we used one of our free night certificate issued from the Hilton Aspire. Our upgraded room total ended up coming out to around $488 with all taxes and fees so that was pretty good value for the free night certificate.

If you have the $250 resort credit with the Amex Hilton Aspire, you can use that to cover any overages including the resort fee.

Arizona Biltmore check-in FHR papers

Parking and Check-in

Arriving at the hotel via car is a little bit confusing because of the one-way traffic that runs through the entryway of the property.

Depending on how you arrive, you may have to cross the canal and then cross back over to pull up in front of the property. They have signs posted to help you out but it can confuse you/your GPS.

You can choose to use valet parking or utilize the self parking garage which is a little bit cheaper. We decided to use the self parking since we had plans to be out and about during the day.

Also, I believe the valet cars are left parked outside which I didn’t really care for considering how hot it was.

Related: Are Phoenix Resorts in Summer Worth it? (Here’s How to Survive)

Arizona Biltmore lobby

The drawback to the self parking option is that the garage is located on the far side of the property.

It’s not that bad of a walk but during the peak of summer the walk gets a little old.

To cut down on the temperature exposure, we would walk through the conference center and ballroom areas which allowed us to take advantage of AC a little bit longer (more on those buildings later on).

Arizona Biltmore breezeway

The check-in process was a little bit rocky.

I’ve found that combining a paid reservation with a free night is sometimes problematic and that turned out to be the case here.

Initially, our room was ready when we arrived but when we needed to combine reservations that meant we did not have a room immediately available for us for both nights. (We had previously called and linked the reservations hoping to avoid this outcome.)

We were okay to wait but that wait ended up lasting until around 5 PM which is one hour after check-in.

Arizona Biltmore front desk

Eventually, I spoke with someone who was able to switch us to a different room but it’s been extremely rare to be delayed one-hour past check-in time in my hotel experiences, especially in off-peak season.

On the bright side, the lobby area is interesting to check out and you can easily get to any of the bars or restaurants if you need to wait.

I also really liked the hotel’s luxury scent with notes of bergamot, jasmine, and vanilla which you can buy if you really are into it.

I’ll also point out that the service was top-notch throughout this stay so this hiccup was not the norm.

The front desk staff was exceptional, the waiting staff at the bars and restaurants were usually very good, and we were always greeted with a smile by other staff members.

Arizona Biltmore lobby

After check-in, I was excited that they upgraded both nights of our stay although the upgrade was not that special if I’m being real.

We were upgraded to a Valley Wing room with a fire pit but the fire pit is not exactly the most attractive amenity when the temperature is already above 113°.

I honestly would’ve preferred to stay in a normal balcony and perhaps have a little bit of a view.

Anyway, when you are ready to go to your room, you can head through the ramp with the guest room sign pictured below so that you can wheel your bags into the courtyard.

Arizona Biltmore lobby

Room

Because we were traveling with my brother-in-law, we decided to book a room with two queens. Overall, it was a pretty standard room but I did not have any real complaints other than it being a little bit warm for my liking.

Arizona Biltmore guest room

As soon as you enter, you’ll notice the counter with the coffee maker, mugs, and glasses. They provide you with two short water bottles which is not nearly enough if visiting in the summer.

In fact, if you’re visiting during the peak of summer when temperatures get extreme, I would advise you to purchase a 24 pack of water bottles and load up your mini-fridge as soon as you get there. Then, be sure to crank the cool setting up somewhere around five or six to ensure that you have cold water to cool you down.

Arizona Biltmore guest room coffee bar
Arizona Biltmore guest room coffee bar
Arizona Biltmore guest room ice bucket and water
Arizona Biltmore guest room refrigerator

As for the room furniture, there’s a seat in the corner with a small side table.

Arizona Biltmore guest room chair

I loved the look of the large TV set into the wall. Very modern and clean.

Arizona Biltmore guest room TV

The beds were comfortable with bedding that was of luxury hotel quality.

Arizona Biltmore guest room queen beds

The branded Waldorf Astoria duvet covers were a nice touch, although we were sleeping with sheets due to the warm temperature of the room.

Arizona Biltmore guest room queen bed

The nightstand between the beds had two outlets and one USB port within easy reach (for one side of the bed).

Arizona Biltmore guest room power outlet and USB

There’s a large lamp on the nightstand with a small switch at the bottom that can be easily missed so look out for that. Then on either side of the lamp you’ll have the phone and the alarm clock.

Arizona Biltmore guest room telephone and TV remote
Arizona Biltmore guest room alarm clock

The room features a beautiful workstation that can also function as your in-room dining table. I loved the look and feel of the table along with the desk lamp. It also has two power outlets and a USB port for easy charging.

The only thing I didn’t care for is that it was really easy to knock my shin into the desk when trying to get comfortable. This led to a couple of random outbursts during Zoom calls for me that I could’ve done without.

Arizona Biltmore guest room desk work area

You’ll also find a phone and a small stationary notepad with a pen.

Arizona Biltmore guest room desk work area

In the closet, you’ll find a hotel safe and two robes along with additional bedding.

Arizona Biltmore guest room closet with safe
Arizona Biltmore guest room bath robes

You’ll also have an iron and iron board.

Arizona Biltmore guest room ironing board

The bathroom is somewhat basic but pretty spacious and modern enough.

Arizona Biltmore guest room bathroom

I really liked having the double sinks and plenty of counter space.

Arizona Biltmore guest room bathroom

The shower, which reflected an obvious influence from the hotel’s cubism theme, was very spacious and came with quality body wash and conditioner from Salvatore Ferragamo. Meanwhile, the shampoo came from Gilchrist & Soames.

Arizona Biltmore guest room shower
Arizona Biltmore guest room toiletries

On the bathroom counter, you could find both body moisturizer and hand sanitizer. Q-tips and cotton balls along with a shower cap can be found in the small canister.

Arizona Biltmore guest room toiletries
Arizona Biltmore guest room toiletries
Arizona Biltmore guest room soap

The outdoor patio is semi-private with two chairs, a small table, and the main feature of the fire pit.

I think I would have enjoyed turning on the fire pit on one of those cool desert evenings but with the heat radiating from all of the concrete throughout the night, there was little to no appeal of firing up that fire pit.

Arizona Biltmore guest room balcony with fire pit

The views from the ground level are pretty limited.

Arizona Biltmore guest room balcony with view of courtyard
Arizona Biltmore guest room view of courtyard

Here’s what the patio looked like looking back towards the room. You’ll notice that one of the seats was missing an ottoman and I wasn’t sure if that was intentional or not.

Arizona Biltmore guest room balcony with fire pit

So overall the room was nice but did not really stand out in any major way. I was hoping that with a combination of being Hilton Diamond and booking through FHR, I could’ve secured a better upgrade but oh well….

With that said, the other elements of the hotel stay stood out enough to still make this a special stay so I don’t think coming here is all about the room — it’s more about the overall property experience.

Dining

I’d recommend you check out my detailed review of all of the dining options (with recommendations) but I’ll give you a brief overview of our dining experience below.

I was a huge fan of the breakfast at McArthur’s and especially the lemon cream cheese pancakes. They also served up a tasty chicken sandwich that had a nice kick and fish tacos that were bursting with flavor.

Breakfast at Arizona Biltmore McArthurs restaurant and bar

At Renata’s, the Chilean sea bass and New York steak were very good. Pretty much cooked to perfection. Just make sure you make reservations to these restaurants if visiting during busy times.

Housemade Salsa Flight at Arizona Biltmore Renatas Hearth
Roasted Chilean Seabass at Arizona Biltmore Renatas Hearth
Prime New York Strip at Arizona Biltmore Renatas Hearth

If you’re in the mood for drink presentation that has a bit of flair consider ordering the Los Muertos.

Los Muertos cocktail at Arizona Biltmore Renatas Hearth
Click to be amazed.

For the bar experience you’ll be hitting up either The Wright Bar or The Spire Bar.

The Wright Bar is a small yet beautiful bar that will take you back to Hollywood’s golden age.

You might want to give the Tequila Sunrise a shot since it was invented at that bar in the late 1930s by bartender Gene Sulit and is considered the hotel’s signature cocktail.

Arizona Biltmore The Wright Bar

If seating is cramped by the bar just find a nice place to relax in the lounge area adjacent to the bar.

Drinks and menu at Arizona Biltmore The Wright Bar
The original Tequila Sunrise.

The Spire Bar is a cool outdoor area with mood lighting, cozy fire pits, and large TVs, perfect for watching a game. It sort of feels like the nucleus of the resort and is definitely worth a night visit even if you don’t drink alcohol.

Arizona Biltmore Spire Bar at night
Arizona Biltmore Spire Bar mood lighting
Margarita pizza at Arizona Biltmore Spire Bar

You also have the option of booking a room with access to the Citrus Club or simply upgrading to get access.

Because we were on a two night stay I knew we would not have enough time to take advantage of that club while also eating at all the various restaurants so we did not bother with it.

It does look like an interesting way to enhance your stay though.

Pools

The Arizona Biltmore is home to a total of six pools which include:

  • The Paradise Pool (with The Twist slide)
  • Saguaro Pool (Adult’s only)
  • Catalina Pool
  • Ocatilla Pool
  • Bougainvillea Pool
  • Terrace Court Pool

I’d recommend checking out my detailed review of the pools but I’ll give you a brief overview below.

The Paradise Pool is what I would consider to be the main pool of the resort. It’s the biggest and most family friendly pool and it’s home to air conditioned cabanas for rent, a swim-up bar, restaurant, and The Twist slide which is a lot of fun.

The Twist slide is basically a tower with three different slides.

Arizona Biltmore Paradise Pool with The Twist slide

Two of the slides are meant to be racing corkscrew slides where two people can perfectly time their entry into the slide for a twisting race to the bottom.

Arizona Biltmore The Twist slide

The third slide is the 65 foot drop slide which was a bit more intense than I imagined it would be but a fun little thrill to enjoy. If you and your family like water parks and slides you’ll really like this pool.

Arizona Biltmore drop slide

Then there is the adults only Saguaro Pool which has more of a luxury vibe.

Like the Paradise Pool, it is open 24 hours and it’s a place where you can buy food and drinks when lounging around the pool. Cabanas are also available for rent.

Arizona Biltmore Saguaro pool

The hotel also has four additional pools which all are located among the different villas. These pools are on the smaller side and can offer a quieter experience if you are dealing with crowds.

Out of all of the secondary pools for you to check out, I’d recommend the Catalina Pool. It’s where Marilyn Monroe was often seen sunbathing and is supposedly where Irving Berlin wrote the famous “White Christmas” song.

Pretty cool to have so much history attached to one of the smaller, less visited pools.

Arizona Biltmore Catalina pool

The resort premises

Some resorts are just made for wandering around and exploring and this is definitely one of them.

As you stroll through the property you’ll come across well-kept gardens like those found in the garden wing.

You’ll no doubt notice the Frank Lloyd Wright “Sprite” figurines which were made in 1914 and originally placed in the Midway Gardens in Chicago.

After World War II, the statues were all but abandoned and eventually they were restored and were introduced to the Arizona Biltmore Hotel gardens in 1985. Some of the originals were given to the property but I think others are reproductions.

Arizona Biltmore Garden
Arizona Biltmore cactus garden
Arizona Biltmore grounds with chairs

You can also find beautiful courtyards located among the villas along with stylish cottages, and as mentioned above, secluded pool areas.

Arizona Biltmore cottage court
Arizona Biltmore cottage

I really liked exploring the almost Hogwarts-esque corridors of the conference center (where you can find a FedEx station). Some of the ballrooms look really good too.

Arizona Biltmore conference center
Arizona Biltmore ballroom
Arizona Biltmore conference center lobby

At many places in the resort you’ll notice the “Biltmore blocks” which are the blocks with the interesting geometric patterns that resemble Optimus Prime’s face. These were made on-site from sand found in the desert which makes them all the more intriguing.

Arizona Biltmore entryway water feature

Be sure to pop a quick visit to the Aztec Room which was the original ballroom of the Biltmore. Its 18-karat gold-leaf ceiling and 1929 copper beams were the product of Frank Lloyd Wright.

The Gold Room, home to the second largest gold gilded ceiling in the world, is also a sight to see.

(Obviously, you want to make sure these rooms are not being occupied when you pop in for a view.)

Arizona Biltmore Aztec room

And take a moment to admire Wright’s stained glass window entitled “Saguaro Forms and Cactus Flowers” that was designed for a magazine cover for Liberty Magazine in 1926. The piece was later fabricated by Taliesin students and then added to the hotel in 1973.

Arizona Biltmore stained glass window

If you’re in the mood for tracking down some interesting history consider looking for the History Room on the third floor.

It’s in this room above the fireplace where you can find a key that was dropped on the hotel’s roof at the time of opening on February 23, 1929.

Arizona Biltmore key
Photo via Wiki.

If that’s not enough for you, check out the Mystery room.

Located on the second floor it was in this room where, during the days of Prohibition, a speakeasy could be found behind a revolving bookcase. Only the guests that knew the secret password were allowed in.

They even placed a spotlight on top of the hotel to alert the guests if police were coming in. If that happened, the guest could utilize secret passageways to get out of the room undiscovered.

It’s said that actors Clark Gable and Carole Lombard would stay in room 1201 (the Clark Gable room) which was right next door to the Mystery Room and connected by a secret passageway.

Arizona Biltmore Mystery room

The entire resort premises is a pretty large campus and if you are trying to make sense of the different wings and villas you can break them down to the following.

The different wings where you will find guestrooms include:

  • The main building
  • Garden wing
  • Paradise wing
  • Valley wing
  • Ocatilla wing
  • Terrace Court

The different villas include:

  • Fountain Court villas
  • Catalina villas
  • Saguaro villas
  • Bougainvillea Villas
  • Golf view villas

And finally, there are the cottages located on the northwest side of the property. There are in total 11 cottages and they are named by letters A through L.

Fitness facilities

The hotel has a fantastic fitness center with lots of equipment and room.

Arizona Biltmore fitness center weight machines

There’s a very wide range of dumbbells and a few benches for you to get different workouts done. They also have a good rack of curling bars with both straight and curved bars.

Arizona Biltmore fitness center free weights

They have an entire row of treadmills and also a stairmaster, climber, recumbent bikes, and ellipticals. You’ll also find a lot of the basic machines you would find at your local gym.

Arizona Biltmore fitness center treadmills
Arizona Biltmore fitness center

I was pretty impressed with their large station that was equipped with punching bag, monkey bars, and other types of workout stations.

Arizona Biltmore fitness center equipment

They also had a few Peloton bikes and various other forms of equipment.

Arizona Biltmore fitness center Peloton bike

If you are into tennis or pickleball they have courts located on the east side of the property.

Arizona Biltmore tennis or pickleball court
Arizona Biltmore tennis or pickleball court

Tierra Luna Spa

The Tierra Luna Spa experience is “inspired by the connection between the desert and the cosmos.” At the spa you can find an outdoor hot tub, plunge pool, steam room, and both outdoor and indoor treatments.

This is also where you can find the new outdoor Sol Garden where “the earth and sun connect” allowing you to experience tranquility and transcendence.

You can check out the spa menu here but be prepared to cough up some cash for these treatments.

Arizona Biltmore Tierra Luna Spa

Shopping

There is a gift shop located on the west side of the Spire Bar area.

They have all sorts of different types of items and souvenirs including many that are themed with the hotel, such as Sprite statues, Biltmore block keychains, and even chessboards.

Arizona Biltmore gift shop
Arizona Biltmore gift shop

At the gift shop you can also pick up snacks if you happen to have a craving for anything.

Arizona Biltmore gift shop

On the other side is the Biltmore Shops. Here you can buy some higher-end, designer clothing and any apparel you would need on a warm day by the pool.

Arizona Biltmore shops

Final word

The Arizona Biltmore Waldorf Astoria is an impressive resort.

Even though I was not blown away by my room or my upgrade, I thought that the property had a lot to offer in terms of the history, dining, pools, and overall mystique of the hotel.

It can cater to both romantic getaways and also family resort trips making it a good fit for travelers of all walks of life. Visiting here during peak summer temperatures did have its challenges but it’s still doable.

If you can utilize benefits from your American Express cards, you can really make out like a bandit with value.

What is the Hilton Cancellation Policy? (Flexible, Non-refundable) [2022]

It’s aways important to know what the cancellation policy is before you book a hotel room. But with all of the variations, recent changes, and different room rates, it’s not always easy to keep track of the cancellation policies for these hotels.

In this article, I’ll explain what the Hilton cancellation policy is and show you how to check what the cancellation terms and conditions are for your stay, whether you’ve booked flexible or non-refundable stays. I’ll also show you a special loophole for advanced purchase stays that can help you avoid losing lots of cash when you need to cancel.

What is the Hilton cancellation policy?

Hilton will generally require you to cancel hotel bookings 48 to 72 hours before check-in but it depends on the type of room rate that you booked and the locations of the hotel.

Also, some rates such as the advanced purchase rates are not refundable and can’t be cancelled (though there are some workarounds for that).

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

2017 Hilton cancellation policy changes

In the past, you could cancel your booking so long as you did it 24 hours before check-in time. But in 2017, Hilton followed suit from Marriott and changed their policy requiring cancellations to be made 48 to 72 hours before check-in.

3/2020 Coronavirus update from Hilton: “All reservations – even those described as non-cancellable (“Advanced Purchase”) – that are scheduled for arrival before April 30, 2020 can be changed or cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival.” 

Different cancellation policies

Not every Hilton property or Hilton brand follows the same guidelines — you can find properties that require cancellations further out than 72 hours and some that still allow for 24 hour cancellations.

The cut-off for cancelling also depends on what type of room rate that you book.

For flexible rates and Honors discount rates, you’ll often find the 48 to 72 hour limit. But for the semi-flex rates, you’ll sometimes have to cancel before five days before check in.

So the key to finding out what the cancellation policy is for your booking is to check the details of your booking. When you’re selecting your room type, you’ll see the cancellation terms.

Notice in the image below you can see the 48 hour (2 day) policy for the flexible rate and the Honors discount. Then, there’s the 4 day limit for the Honors Discount Semi-flex. And finally, there’s also the Honors discount advance purchase that offers no ability to cancel.

Hilton cancellation examples

Be aware that some hotels, especially resorts, will sometimes have some cancellation restrictions that are very far out.

For example, there is the Kings’ Land by Hilton Grand Vacations in Hawaii — notice it has a 30 day cancellation policy! Even if you book with points, you’ll likely still be subject to the 30 day cancellation policy.

Hilton cancellation examples

If you cancel a flexible fare after the cut-off time, you’ll probably be charged the cost of the first night of your reservation (including taxes and fees). If you booked with points, you’ll likely lose the points for the first night of the stay.

My recommendation if you find yourself in this situation is to try to re-book your stay for sometime in the next month. Then after your stay has been pushed out, simply cancel the booking outside of the 24 or 48 hour window.

Resorts are known for having cancellation deadlines far out from your stay.

What time do you have to cancel Hilton stays by?

To find out more about the cancellation policy, such as the time you have to cancel by, simply click on the links with the name of the rate as seen in the photo below.

You then might be able to see the exact time of the cancellation deadline in a pop-up window. In this case, it tells the exact time and date for the free cancellation.

hilton cancellation

You should note that the time for cancelling is in local hotel time.

Also, the cancellation time can be different for different hotels. Some (like in the case below) set the time just before midnight but others might set it just before noon. Always double check the exact time.

If you’re booking a non-refundable rate, you’ll be able to see the details related to payment so you can know whether they are going to charge your credit card immediately or later.

Note that sometimes pre-paid rates don’t actually charge your card at the time of booking for whatever reason.

Hilton cancellation policy for points

As shown above, the cancellation policy for hotels booked with points will depend on the property. Typically, it will be that 48 hour to 72 hour window but as shown above it could be as much as 30 days.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Hilton advances purchase cancellations (non-refundable loophole)

Hilton advance purchase rates are not refundable and you will be responsible for the entire stay. However, they do have a nice loophole-like exception that can end up helping you.

If you have a booking in the United States, Mexico, or the Caribbean you may be able to cancel your advance purchase room so long as you re-book a new advance purchase rate room anywhere in the Hilton portfolio inside the US, Mexico, or Caribbean.

There will be either a $50 or $25 fee, depending on the hotel that you originally booked but if it means saving hundreds of dollars who wouldn’t pay that fee?

If you want to take advantage of this loophole you need to call their “advance purchase department” to process your request no less than three days prior to your scheduled check-in date. Their number is: (800) 236-7113 or (972) 726-3361.

Here are what the terms and conditions state

Modification of Reservation: Price quoted applies to exact date(s)/nights/stay booked. Modifications to your reservation (including but not limited to name changes, date changes, etc.) are not permitted.

However, for bookings in the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean, a request to cancel an existing Advance Purchase/Non-Refundable reservation and book a new reservation may be permitted if at the time you are requesting a change to your reservation, you book a new Advance Purchase/Non Refundable reservation at any hotel in the Hilton portfolio located in the United States, Mexico or the Caribbean, subject to availability.

Upon receipt of full payment for the new reservation, Hilton will issue a refund for the cancelled reservation, less a service fee. It may take up to four (4) weeks for the refund to be reflected on your credit card. For stays originally booked at the Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, Hilton, Embassy Suites or Doubletree brand hotels, the service fee is $50.00 and for stays originally booked at a Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton, Homewood Suites and Home2 Suites, the service fee is $25.00.

For a cancellation and rebooking to be considered, you must call our Advance Purchase Department to request a change to your reservation at (800) 236-7113 or (972) 726-3361 no less than three days prior to your scheduled check-in date.

Getting cancellation fees waived

If there is some sort of natural disaster such as a hurricane you can expect Hilton to work with you and be reasonable when it comes to cancelling even non-refundable fares. But if you’re cancelling because of an event like a wedding being cancelled, that’s typically not a good enough reason to cancel without penalty.

For weather related issues, I recommend calling into the property first to see how they are handling things with all of their guests rather then trying to work backwards

However, if you just screwed up and you need to cancel a non-refundable rate or you need to cancel after the cut-off time, then you may want to contact Hilton Honors.

If you have elite status with Hilton such as Diamond status then I recommend that you call up the Diamond desk and try to reason with Hilton.

They usually handle these type of things on a case-by-case basis but if you have a legitimate reason for cancelling, Hilton might be willing to make a “one-time exception” for you and allow you to cancel without penalty.

Final word

The cancellation policy for Hilton properties can differ based on how the hotel ownership decides to implement their cancellation policies. Generally, you can expect to see cancellation policies for 48 to 72 hours but it’s possible they could be shorter or longer depending on the location and the rate that you booked. And if you book a rate that is not refundable, you might be able to still save yourself some money by re-booking your room subject to the terms above.

3 Easy Routes to Elite Status With Hotel Credit Cards

Advertiser Disclosure: UponArriving has partnered with affiliate partners and may receive a commission from card issuers. UponArriving does not display all credit card offers and affiliate relationships may impact how offers are presented. Amex Disclosure: Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

You don’t have to spend a lot of nights in a hotel in order to earn meaningful hotel elite status.

In fact, sometimes you don’t have to spend any time.

Below, I’ll show you how to use some credit cards to fast track your way to meaningful elite levels.

These are levels that will provide you with real value like better upgrades, free breakfast, and even lounge access.

Strategy overview

For each of the three elite programs below the optimal strategy is to:

  • Take advantage of automatic elite night credits (Marriott, Hyatt)
  • Utilize spend bonuses for elite night credits/free night certificates (Hyatt, Marriott)
  • Use points and free night certificates to help cover qualifying nights (All)
  • Fall back on automatic elite status offered by the card (Hilton, Hyatt)

Generally, I don’t think that the huge spend bonuses to earn elite status are worth it for hotel cards.

For example, spending $35,000 for Marriott Gold is not something I’d recommend pursuing on its own.

Too much spend, too little benefits.

But the spend bonuses to earn elite night credits can often come in handy, especially if it means racking up an additional free night and milestone benefits. See Hyatt.

Hotel Paso Del Norte, Autograph Collection Review

Marriott

The Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card will hook you up with 15 elite night credits upon approval and 1 Elite night credit for each $5,000 you spend.

Those 15 elite night credits will stack with the 15 elite night credits offered by the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card.

This means that you could start off each year with 30 elite nights which puts you only 20 nights short of Marriott Platinum status.

(These 15 elite night credits post within 60 days of account opening.)

Platinum is the first Marriott elite status that actually has value to me because you can get free breakfast and lounge access.

These Marriott cards also offer you free nights (redemption level up to 35,000 points) after your account anniversary so you can always use them to help you get even closer to status levels in the future.

Once you get to 50 nights, you can select an annual choice benefit of 5 elite night credits which will put you only 20 nights away from Titanium status.

That’s the second highest elite level with Marriott.

I’m still debating whether or not I want to chase Titanium status again, since so far it has been a little bit of a let down.

But some people do find it worth it and enjoy the perks that come with it like 48-hour guarantee availability and United Silver status.

NEW REVIEW: The Laura Hotel Downtown Houston – Autograph Collection

Hilton

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card comes with Hilton Gold status but you can also get Hilton Gold with the Platinum Card® from American Express (enrollment required).

Gold is good enough for free breakfast ($10 to $25 dining credit in the US) and the occasional lounge access (assuming you get upgraded to a room on an executive floor).

So you don’t have to actually stay at any Hilton property to get some solid elite benefits.

Of course, if you want to go straight to the top of the food chain you can always get the The Amex® Hilton Aspire Card which gives you automatic Diamond status.

Because it’s so easy to achieve Hilton status with credit cards it does feel watered down compared to others.

That can make things a little tough when trying to get upgrades or late check-out but it doesn’t have an effect on some of the benefits like getting your dining credits.

I mean, who cares if 99% of the other guests are also “elite” if it still means you’re getting a free breakfast?

All information about the The Amex® Hilton Aspire Card has been collected independently by UponArriving.

Arizona Biltmore Waldorf Astoria Resort Review

World of Hyatt

The World of Hyatt Credit Card will start you off with Hyatt Discoverist status.

Yes, it’s the bottom of the totem pole but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the status with an upgrade here and there and consistent late check out.

Here are the current elite requirements:

StatusNightsBase Points
Discoverist 1025,000
Explorist3050,000
Globalist 60100,000

Where the World of Hyatt Credit Card will really help you with elite status is that it offers 5 qualifying night credits every year.

That puts you 25 nights away from Explorist.

Once you get to 30 nights needed for Explorist you could have 4 Club Lounge Access Awards stashed away via milestone awards.

You can also earn 2 additional qualifying night credits towards your next tier status every time you spend $5,000 on the World of Hyatt Credit Card.

So even with the modest annual spend of $15,000, you could be only 19 nights away from Explorist (plus you’d have an additional free night).

But right now, the real play with Hyatt it is to get the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card currently offering 60,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months.

The reason this offer is so special right now is that if you apply before October 6, 2022, you also get 2 Tier-Qualifying Night Credits for each night you stay from 8/23/22 through 12/31/22.

That means you could basically cut the elite requirements in half.

Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach Review

Final word

As you can see, you don’t have to spend months in a hotel to earn meaningful hotel elite status.

Even spending 20 to 25 nights in a hotel a year can qualify you for elite levels offering valuable perks.

With the help of free night certificates and earned welcome bonuses that often means that you only have to come out of pocket for about 15 to 20 nights per program.

And if you factor in points earned along the way, that’s probably shaving off a few more nights, depending on your spend and redemptions.

So it’s very feasible for some people to pursue middle and upper level elite statuses with multiple hotel programs by utilizing credit card benefits in a strategic way.

Advertiser Disclosure: UponArriving has partnered with affiliate partners and may receive a commission from card issuers. UponArriving does not display all credit card offers and affiliate relationships may impact how offers are presented. 

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analysis & recommendations are UponArriving’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. 

Amex Disclosure: Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Hilton Honors Gold Benefits Explained (Upgrades, Breakfast, Etc.) [2022]

Hilton Honors Gold Status offers some decent benefits like dining credits, bonus earnings, and even room upgrades but a lot of people might wonder whether or not it’s worth it to pursue obtaining Gold Status and if the perks will benefit their travels.

Here’s a look at all of the different Hilton Gold benefits and some insight to help you decide if it’s something you might benefit from.

 I’ll also show you how to obtain Gold status with certain credit cards and status challenges. 

What are the Hilton Gold Benefits?

The main Hilton Gold benefits are:

  • 80% bonus on base points
  • Daily Food & Beverage Credit for two (at some properties)
  • Upgrades (subject to availability)
  • Lounge access (when upgraded to lounge level rooms)
  • Late check-out (subject to availability)

I’ll discuss each of these in more detail below. 

Photo of a Hilton entrance at a hotel lobby
Hilton Gold is one of the best mid-tier statuses.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

How to get Hilton Honors Gold status

You can achieve Honors Gold Status the hard way or the easy way. 

The hard way: hotel stays

The hard way to earn Gold is by physically staying in Hilton properties.

Frequent business travelers aside, it may be difficult for the average traveler to achieve status with stays.

You’d have to meet the following criteria in a calendar year:

  • 20 stays in a calendar year, or
  • 40 nights in a calendar year, or
  • 75,000 Honors Base Points

During the 2022 calendar year, Hilton Honors Gold will be awarded with 14 stays, 28 nights or 52,500 Base Points earned during in a calendar year.

The easy way: credit cards

I highly recommend utilizing credit cards to obtain Hilton Honors Gold Status because it’s really easy to do.

The credit cards that will offer you automatic Gold Honors status are the following:

Platinum Card from American Express

The Amex Platinum Card comes with a lot of benefits in addition to Gold status include:

Hilton Honors Surpass Card

The Hilton Honors Surpass Card comes with a lot of benefits in addition to Gold status which include:

  • 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
  • 6X Hilton Honors Bonus Points at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. restaurants, and U.S. gas stations
  • 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on all other eligible purchases
  • 10 free priority pass lounge passes
  • One Weekend Night Reward at a hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio after spending $15,000 in purchases in a calendar year
  • No foreign transaction fees

Earning 12X on Hilton purchases is a big deal.

If you value Hilton points around half a cent per point, that’s like getting back 6% on your Hilton purchases which is competitive or even better than some of the most premium credit cards.

Also, the free night certificate offered by this card is one of the best because you can use it at even the most expensive Hilton brands which could go for close to $1,000 per night or more!

Status matches and challenges

You can also utilize status matches and challenges to earn Hilton Honors Gold status.

These typically require you to have a certain level of status with another hotel loyalty program (IHG, Marriott, Hyatt, etc.) and maybe proof that you’ve stayed with that hotel in the past year.

After you show that, you’ll often be matched with a corresponding level of Hilton Honors status.

For example, IHG Platinum status can earn you Hilton Honors Diamond status.

Sometimes you’ll be able to keep that status without doing anything but other times you’ll need to book some Hilton stays in order to retain the status.

For example, you might need to complete seven or eight stays to hold on to your status.

Related: Which American Express Hilton Card is Best for You?

Hilton Gold benefits
Hilton Cabana Miami Beach.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

The Hilton Honors Gold benefits

80% elite status bonus

  • With Gold elite status, you automatically receive a 80% bonus on all the Honors Base Points you earn.

This is a decent benefit but given the weak value of Honors points, it’s not exactly as strong as you might have first imagined. 

All Hilton Honors members will earn 10 points per dollar spent at Hilton properties. So with this 80% bonus, you will be earning 18 points per dollar spent.

Compared to other major hotel loyalty programs, this 80% bonus for mid-tier status amounts to a ~7% return based on a point valuation of .4 cents per point which is below Marriott, IHG, and Hyatt.

With a more generous valuation of .5 or .6 cents per point, however, the return value is much more competitive.

Still, extra points are always nice and Hilton runs many lucrative promotions that make earning Honors points probably easier than any other program (like when they offered triple the points to Hilton Honors Diamond members, allowing for returns of 16% or more).

Arizona Biltmore Waldorf Astoria Resort Review

Daily Food & Beverage Credit ($10 to $25)

As a Gold member, you can receive a Daily Food & Beverage Credit as a MyWay Benefit. 

The amount of the Daily Food & Beverage Credit will depend on the type of brand you’re staying at and your location but you will be granted a credit for you and one additional guest.

For example, you’ll receive a Daily Food & Beverage Credit of $25 at Conrad Hotels & Resorts in the U.S but you can get a free breakfast at international Conrad locations.

At DoubleTree by Hilton, you’ll receive a Daily Food & Beverage Credit of $15 in the U.S. ($18 in select markets).

Here’s a breakdown of the Food & Beverage Credit amounts:

At hotels that have an Executive Lounge that offers complimentary breakfast, Gold members upgraded to Executive Lounge access will not receive the Daily F&B Credit.

However, these hotels will still provide the Daily F&B Credit to Gold members NOT upgraded to Executive Lounge access.

Keep in mind that many hotels usually offer complimentary breakfasts to all guests, such as Homewood Suites, Hampton Inns, etc.

Related Reading: What Hotels Have Free Breakfast?

Hilton Gold benefits
Hilton Honors breakfast, one of the top Hilton Gold benefits.

Upgrades

Hilton states that with Gold Status, you’re eligible for upgrades at the following hotels:

  • Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts
  • Conrad Hotels & Resorts
  • Canopy by Hilton
  • Signia by Hilton
  • Hilton Hotels & Resorts
  • Curio Collection by Hilton
  • DoubleTree by Hilton
  • Tapestry Collection by Hilton properties

Although the terms and conditions only explicitly reference the hotels above, you’re not limited to just these hotels for upgrades.

I’ve stayed in Hilton hotels not on this list that have given me upgrades specifically because of my Gold Status.

So while Hilton doesn’t list them on their website, I believe you should always inquire about upgrades if you have Gold Status.

Here’s what the terms and conditions have to say about Hilton Gold upgrades: 

Gold Hilton Honors Members may be upgraded to preferred rooms up to Executive Floor room types.  Preferred rooms may also include those not on the Executive Floor but conferring Executive Lounge access, the next-best available room types, rooms with desirable views or amenities or other rooms identified as “preferred” by the hotel and may vary within each brand.

They exclude:

executive suites, villas, specialty accommodations/floors/towers, and “Club” accommodation types

Although a suite upgrade could happen I would not expect that.

More likely, you might get bumped up to a higher floor or a room with a better view.

One thing I will say is to not assume that your upgrade will automatically happen when you check in.

If you are really interested in maximizing your upgrade odds, you should definitely inquire with the agent at check in to see if they have any available upgrades for you as a Hilton Gold member.

Most of my best upgrades have happened upon me requesting them.

Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort Review

Executive Floor Lounge Access Policy

While Diamond Members are granted access to the executive lounges, Gold Members are only given these privileges when they “receive a room upgrade to the Executive Floor or an upgrade to a room type that confers Executive Floor Lounge access benefits.”

However, you’ll still be able to get your dining credit in many of the hotels, so I wouldn’t stress too much over the lack of lounge access.

In fact, sometimes the breakfast offered in the lounge isn’t even on the same level as the breakfast offered by the restaurant (where you can use your credit).

Thus, for many people, having breakfast comped is enough to satisfy them and lounge access isn’t a deal breaker.

Gold status can sometimes get you lounge access.

Late check-out?

One of the biggest let downs has to be late check out.

Hilton does not offer guaranteed late check out up to 2PM or 4PM like some other programs do. In fact, many times I have only been given late checkout until about 1 PM.

In the past, they listed late check out as an official benefit but as of September 2022, I can’t find any mention of it in the main pages for benefits or terms and conditions.

However, one page does mention:

“Late check-out must be requested and is subject to availability.”

So you can still get it when you request it but it is not guaranteed.

Related reading: Ultimate Late Check-Out Guide for Hotel Stays

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Phoenix Review

The basic Hilton Honors benefits

Two valuable Hilton Honors benefits are the fifth night free and complimentary internet.

These benefits are also offered to Hilton Honors Silver Members, but I wanted to cover these two since they can be pretty valuable. 

5th night free

Silver, Gold and Diamond elite members will receive every 5th night free on Standard Room Reward stays of 5 nights or more.

The way that the fifth night free works is that Hilton takes an average of each night based on the total number of points required for the stay.

They then average the amount of points needed per night and subtract that amount from the total number of points required for the booking.

Utilizing the fifth free night is how to capture ridiculous value with your Hilton points.

We once used the fifth night free at the all inclusive Hilton Playa del Carmen and we came out with over $3,500 worth of free travel on that trip. It was pretty fantastic.

You can read more about how the free night is calculated here.

With this benefit you have to think about if your particular travel style will benefit from this perk.

I know a lot of travelers (myself included) who rarely, if ever, stay in the same location for more than four nights when they travel. If you fall into that category then you obviously should value this perk accordingly. 

Complimentary internet

Silver, Gold and Diamond elite members will receive complimentary in-room and lobby Standard Internet access during stays at:

  • Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts
  • LXR Hotels & Resorts
  • Conrad Hotels and Resorts
  • Canopy by Hilton
  • Signia by Hilton
  • Hilton
  • Curio Collection by Hilton
  • DoubleTree by Hilton
  • Tapestry Collection by Hilton
  • Embassy Suites by Hilton
  • Hilton Garden Inn
  • and Hilton Grand Vacations

This is yet another nice perk but it’s offered to Silver Status holders so you’re not getting anything exclusive internet-wise by being a Gold Member.

If you make your way to Diamond Status, the difference is that you’re given premium internet in the lobby and your room.

In my experience, the difference in speed varies hotel to hotel and for most purposes the complimentary standard internet has been sufficient for me. 

Hilton Honors Gold FAQ

What is the easiest way to earn Hilton Gold?

The easiest way to earn Hilton Gold is with a credit card. You can get automatic Hilton Gold status with the following credit cards:

Platinum Card from American Express
Hilton Honors Surpass Card

How many nights are needed to earn Hilton Gold?

Gold status requires 40 nights in a calendar year.

Alternatively, you can earn it with 20 stays in a calendar year or by earning 75,000 base points in a calendar year.

What are the main Hilton Gold benefits?

80% bonus on base points
Daily Food & Beverage Credit for two
Upgrades (subject to availability)
Lounge access (when upgraded to lounge level rooms)
Late check-out

Do you get free breakfast with Hilton Gold?

You can get a Daily Food & Beverage Credit for two which you can use for breakfast.

Do you get lounge access with Hilton Gold?

You only get lounge access if you are upgraded to a room that offers lounge access.

What Hilton hotels offer upgrades to Gold members?

Hilton states that you are eligible for upgrades at the following hotels:

Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts
Conrad Hotels & Resorts
Canopy by Hilton
Signia by Hilton
Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Curio Collection by Hilton
DoubleTree by Hilton
Tapestry Collection by Hilton properties

Can you get upgraded to a suite with Gold status?

Typically, an upgrade is just to a preferred room but it is possible that you could be upgraded to a suite. If you would like upgrades to suites then you might want to consider going for Hilton Diamond status.

How many bonus points do I earn with Gold status?

You will earn an 80% bonus on base points which means that you will earn an extra eight points per dollar spent.

Do I get late check out with Gold status?

Hilton offers late check out but it is not guaranteed up to 2 PM or 4 PM like other programs. Often, your late check out will be given up to 1 PM but you can always request for later.

Final Word

Hilton Gold benefits can consist of solid perks like food and dining credits and potential upgrades (in addition to all of the other basic benefits). I like how easy it is to obtain the status and to maintain it over time and so it is one of my favorite middle-tier statuses.

Hilton Honors Diamond Benefits Guide (Upgrades, Lounge Access, etc.) [2022]

With Hilton Honors Diamond status becoming increasingly easier to obtain, many travelers are wondering what exactly are the Hilton Diamond benefits and whether or not it’s worth it to pursue this top-tier Hilton status.

This article will take an insightful look into the benefits of Hilton Honors Diamond status like room upgrades, lounge access, breakfast, and several others. 

I’ll also show you the various ways that you can earn Diamond status.

What is Hilton Honors Diamond status?

Hilton Honors Diamond status is the top-tier status offered by Hilton Honors that provides solid perks like free breakfast, lounge access, and upgrades to suites.

How do I earn Hilton Honors Diamond status?

There are a few ways to earn Hilton Honors Diamond status.

Earn it with hotel stays

The first way to earn Hilton Honors Diamond status is to earn it the old-fashioned way by physically staying at Hilton hotels.

You can earn Diamond status this way be accumulating:

  • 30 stays or
  • 60 nights or
  • 120,000 base points

That’s a lot of stays and nights, so unless you’re a frequent business traveler or living in hotels, it may not be realistic for you.

A far easier method is to earn Diamond status with a credit card or to obtain Hilton Honors Gold status through credit cards and then work your way up to Diamond status or just utilize a status match.

Credit cards

Hilton Honors Surpass Card

The Hilton Honors Surpass Card comes with a lot of benefits like:

  • 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio worldwide
  • 6X Hilton Honors Bonus Points at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. restaurants, and U.S. gas stations
  • 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on all other eligible purchases
  • 10 free Priority Pass lounge passes
  • One Weekend Night Reward at a hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio after spending $15,000 in purchases in a calendar year
  • No foreign transaction fees

The Hilton Honors Surpass Card is an awesome hotel card for people who don’t want to shell out a lot of dough for a high annual fee but still want some solid hotel perks. 

Earning 12X on Hilton purchases is a big deal.

If you value Hilton points around half a cent per point, that’s like getting back 6% on your Hilton purchases which is competitive with some of the most premium credit cards.

Also, the free night certificate offered by this card is one of the best because you can use it at even the most expensive properties which could go for close to $1,000 per night or more! 

You can also earn Diamond status by putting $40,000 in spend during a calendar year on your card.

Hilton Aspire

Hilton Aspire Bonus

You can get automatic Hilton Honors Diamond status with the American Express Hilton Aspire.

The Aspire is one of the most loaded premium cards in terms of benefits.

Here’s a look at everything the Hilton Aspire card has to offer:

  • 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio worldwide
  • 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies and at U.S. restaurants
  • 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases
  • Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status
  • One weekend night at any hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio (upon opening account and on account anniversary)
  • Weekend night after spending $60,000 on the card within a calendar year
  • Unlimited Priority Pass membership
  • $250 airline incidental fee statement credit
  • $250 Hilton resort statement credit
  • $100 on property credit at Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts when booking the exclusive Aspire Card package
  • $450 Annual Fee 

Tip: Get the free credit card app WalletFlo to help you optimize your credit cards with smart automation!

Credit cards + status challenge

You can get automatic Hilton Honors Gold status by getting approved for the following credit cards:

  • Platinum Card from American Express
  • Hilton Honors Surpass card

Once you have Hilton Honors Gold status, you can inquire about a “status challenge.”

These challenges involve you staying a certain number of nights within a specified time period to earn status.

For example, Hilton once offered me a challenge to stay 16 nights to earn Diamond status (versus the additional 20 nights I would’ve needed).

Related: Top Hotel Credit Cards for Optimal Rewards

Status matches

You can also utilize “status matches” to earn Hilton Honors Diamond status.

These typically require you to have a certain level of status with another hotel loyalty program and proof that you’ve stayed with that hotel in the past year.

After you show that, you’ll be matched with a corresponding level of Hilton Honors status.

For example, IHG Platinum status could get you Hilton Honors Diamond status. 

Sometimes you’ll be able to keep that status without doing anything further but other times you’ll need to book some Hilton stays in order to retain the status.

Status challenges are shortcuts to elite status.

What are the Hilton Honors Diamond Benefits?

The main Hilton Diamond benefits are:

  • 100% bonus on base points
  • Daily Food & Beverage Credit
  • Lounge Access 
  • Upgrades (subject to availability)
  • Premium internet
  • 48-hour room guarantee
  • Late check-out
  • Diamond status extension
  • Elite gifting

I will go into detail about these benefits below.

100% bonus on base points

With Diamond elite status, you automatically receive a 100% bonus on all the Honors Base Points you earn.

You will automatically earn 10X base points per dollar spent on most Hilton stays so this 100% bonus amounts to 20X total points per dollar spent.

At a WalletFlo valuation of .52 cents per point, this amounts to a 10.4% return which is pretty good. If you’re using the Aspire, you’ll earn an additional 14X which comes out to a total of 17% back

However, Hilton runs so many lucrative promotions that you can sometimes double this return which is very compelling.

In fact, I have seen instances where Hilton members can get 30% or more back in value for their stays!

Daily Food & Beverage Credit

As a Diamond member, you can receive a Daily Food & Beverage Credit as a MyWay Benefit.

Basically, if you’re staying in the US you can expect a credit you can use towards breakfast and if you are staying at an international property you can get a free breakfast. 

Whether you get a credit or a free breakfast it should be offered to you plus one guest.

The amount of the Daily Food & Beverage Credit will depend on the type of brand you’re staying at.

For example, you’ll receive a credit of $25 at Conrad Hotels & Resorts in the U.S but at DoubleTree by Hilton, you’ll receive a credit of $15 in the U.S. ($18 in select markets).

Here’s a breakdown of the Food & Beverage Credit amounts:

Daily Food & Beverage Credit prices

Keep in mind that many hotels usually offer complimentary breakfasts to all guests, such as Homewood Suites, Hampton Inns, etc.

Related Reading: What Hotels Have Free Breakfast?

Executive lounge access

Diamond members also receive access to the Executive Lounge regardless of room type booked (Gold members must be bumped up to an Executive level floor).

Lounges give you a nice spot to relax, get complimentary drinks and snacks, enjoy hors d’oeuvres in the evening, and it’s often the place where you’ll receive a breakfast.

Lounges can differ quite a bit in terms of luxury offered but I’ve enjoyed some very nice Hilton Executive Lounges at some properties.

At hotels that have an Executive Lounge that offers complimentary breakfast, Diamond members will not receive the Daily F&B Credit.

Executive lounge at the Hilton Americas in Houston, Texas.

Upgrades

Some people knock on the Hilton Diamond benefits because they don’t always have a good experience with receiving upgrades.

They either don’t happen enough, occur inconsistently, or just don’t live up to expectations.

I’ve personally had decent luck with upgrades as a Hilton Diamond member, so I’ve been mostly pleased.

My one complaint is that I’ve always had to request an upgrade rather than being offered one.

Also, unlike some other programs like Marriott or Hyatt where you can use certificates to get upgrades to better rooms, Hilton does not offer that.

Below are the official Hilton Honors terms regarding upgrades for Hilton Honors Diamond members.

Properties offering upgrades

  • Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts
  • Conrad Hotels & Resorts
  • Canopy by Hilton
  • Hilton Hotels & Resorts
  • Curio – A Collection by Hilton
  • DoubleTree by Hilton
  • Tapestry Collection

Suites?

Diamond Hilton Honors Members will receive upgrades to preferred rooms, based on availability at the time of arrival.

Upgrades for Diamond members may include upgrades up to “junior”, “standard” or “one-bedroom” suites.

Upgrades may also be rooms with desirable views, corner rooms, rooms on high floors, rooms with special amenities or rooms on Executive Floors Upgrades.

Excluded upgrades

Upgrades exclude executive suites, villas and specialty accommodations (which may include, but not limited to, “Vista” and “Villa” accommodation types), subject to the discretion of the hotel.

Group reservations and certain rates are not eligible for suite accommodations and may not be eligible for complimentary upgrades.

All upgrades are granted on a space-available basis for the entire stay, as determined at the time of arrival.

Preferred rooms are identified by each individual property and may vary within each brand.

Upgrades will be given only for one room for the member, regardless of additional rooms the member may have purchased at or after the time of booking.

Properties NOT offering upgrades

The following Hilton brands do not offer complimentary upgrades:

  • Embassy Suites
  • Hilton Garden Inn
  • Hampton by Hilton
  • Tru by Hilton
  • Homewood Suites by Hilton
  • Home2 Suites by Hilton
  • Hilton Grand Vacations.

Complimentary Premium internet

Diamond members will be offered complimentary in-room and lobby premium internet access, during stays at.

  • Waldorf Astori Hotels & Resorts
  • Conrad Hotels & Resorts
  • Canopy by Hilton
  • Curio – A Collection by Hilton
  • Hilton Hotels & Resorts
  • DoubleTree by Hilton
  • Tapestry Collection by Hilton
  • Embassy Suites Hotels
  • Tru by Hilton
  • Hilton Garden Inn
  • Hampton by Hilton
  • Homewood Suites by Hilton
  • Home2 Suites by Hilton
  • Hilton Grand Vacations

Premium speed internet may not be available at all hotels.

Free internet is offered to Silver and Gold status holders but Diamond members are given premium internet in the lobby and your room.

In my experience, the difference in speed varies hotel to hotel and for most purposes, the complimentary standard internet has been sufficient for me though I always appreciate the faster wifi when it’s available.

48-hour room guarantee

You are guaranteed a room when you make a reservation at least 48 hours prior to your arrival.

This is an invaluable benefit for those who travel to big events that often have hotels sold out for those time slots months or weeks in advance.

If you’re a business traveller who gets sent out to events or just busy areas at the last minute, this benefit can be one of the most valuable to you.

Late check-out

Late check-out with Hilton isn’t as strong as with other brands.

Often times I’ve only been given late check out until about 1pm or 2pm if I’m lucky. Meanwhile, other brands have guaranteed late check out until 4pm.

Related: Ultimate Late Check-Out Guide for Hotel Stays

Diamond status extension

Eligible Diamond members can choose to extend their status for an additional year beyond the expiration date, one-time, for any reason.

Available when you have been a Diamond Member for 3 years and stayed 250 lifetime nights or earned 500,000 Base Points.

Points earned via bonuses, promotions and/or co-branded credit cards do not count towards meeting the Diamond Status Extension criteria.

You can read more about Hilton Diamond extension here.

Elite gifting

If you hit 60 nights in the calendar year, you can gift Gold status to any member, and if you hit 100 nights then that gift is upgraded to Diamond!

Milestone Bonuses

Earn 10,000 Bonus Points every 10 nights after you’ve stayed 30 nights in a calendar year.

5th night free

You will receive every 5th night free on standard room reward stays of five nights or more. Silver, Gold and Diamond elite members all get this benefit, so it’s not exactly exclusive — just a nice perk you should be aware of.

Utilizing the fifth free night is how to capture ridiculous value with your Hilton points.

We once used the fifth night free at the all-inclusive Hilton Playa del Carmen and we came out with over $3,500 worth of free travel on that trip. It was pretty fantastic.

You can read more about how the free night is calculated here.

Tip: Save on Hilton stays with Hilton MVP!

Other perks

.Almost all of the the other Hilton Diamond benefits are the same as Gold:

  • Guaranteed Discount: A discounted, changeable & refundable rate is exclusively available for Hilton Honors members.
  • Digital Check-In: choose your room, and customize your stay from your mobile device up to 24 hours in advance.
  • Quick reservations and check-ins based on your room preferences
  • Express check-out
  • 2nd Guest stays free
  • Complimentary access to fitness centers and health clubs
  • Two complimentary bottles of water per stay

Hotel-specific benefits

There are also select benefits at different Hilton properties you can take advantage of.

Many of these benefits are the same to what is offered to Gold status members but there are some differences.

Members with Diamond status receive all member benefits:

Waldorf Astoria™ Hotels & Resorts

  • Space-available upgrade to a preferred room
  • 1,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per stay
  • Daily Food & Beverage Credit (U.S. hotels only) or Continental Breakfast (non-U.S. hotels)

Conrad® Hotels & Resorts, Curio – A Collection by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton™ and Tapestry Collection by Hilton™

  • Space-available upgrade to a preferred room
  • 1,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per stay
  • Daily Food & Beverage Credit (U.S. hotels only) or Continental Breakfast (non-U.S. hotels)Executive Floor Lounge Access (available at select properties)

Canopy™ by Hilton

  • Space-available upgrade to a preferred room
  • 1,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per stay
  • Daily Food & Beverage Credit (U.S. hotels only) or Continental Breakfast (non-U.S. hotels)

Embassy Suites Hotels™

  • 1,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per stay or three snack/refreshment choices per stay

Hilton Garden Inn™

  • 750 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per stay or a Daily Food & Beverage Credit (U.S. hotels only) or Continental Breakfast (non-U.S. hotels)

Hampton by Hilton™

  • 250 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per stay or choice of snack and non-alcoholic beverage

Tru by Hilton™

  • 250 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per stay or choice of snack and 2 bottles of water per stay

Homewood Suites by Hilton™

  • 250 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per stay or two bottles of water and sweet snack per stay

Home2 Suites by Hilton™

  • 100 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per stay or choice of snack and bottled water per stay

Hilton Grand Vacations™

  • 2,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points per stay

The Maldives also offers special benefits.

Hilton Honors Diamond FAQ

What are the main Hilton Diamond benefits?

100% bonus on base points
Daily Food & Beverage Credit
Lounge Access 
Upgrades (subject to availability)
Premium internet
48-hour room guarantee
Diamond status extension
Late check-out

What is the difference between Hilton Gold and Diamond?

The biggest differences are that Hilton Diamond offers guaranteed lounge access, upgrades to suites, and premium internet. Both offer Daily Food & Beverage Credits.

Does Hilton Diamond get you upgrades to suites?

Yes, Hilton Diamond will sometimes get you upgraded to suites (usually lower level suites).

Can you get Hilton Diamond with a credit card?

Yes, you can get instant Hilton Diamond status with the Hilton Aspire.

Do I get free breakfast with Hilton Diamond?

You will get a Daily Food & Beverage Credit you can use on breakfast with Hilton Diamond status.

Can you do a status challenge to Hilton Diamond?

Yes, Hilton may offer a challenge to stay 16 nights to earn Diamond status.

Final Word

In the end, the most notable Hilton Diamond benefits are Executive Lounge access, premium internet, and better upgrades. Hilton Diamond status can also be a real life-saver when you’re in need of a hotel room on short notice.

However, it’s not clear that the benefits outweigh those of Hilton Honors Gold, as most people likely will only be in need of complimentary internet and a breakfast — two Hilton Diamond benefits that Gold status already provides.

Still, for those interested in better upgrades, lounge access, and special treatment at places like the Maldives, Diamond could be worth pursuing, especially if you can obtain a status match.  

Arizona Biltmore Dining Options (Recommendations & Prices) (Waldorf Astoria)

The Arizona Biltmore Waldorf Astoria is one of the premier resorts in Phoenix. It boasts a lot of history, fun pool areas, and quality dining options for you to choose from.

In this article, I’ll walk you through all of the different dining options at the Arizona Biltmore. I’ll give you some insight into the menu and prices and also provide you with some suggestions that we really enjoyed.

Arizona Biltmore Dining overview

You’ll find many dining options at the Arizona Biltmore including:

  • McArthur’s
  • Renata’s Hearth
  • The Wright Bar
  • The Spire Bar
  • Saguaro Pool
  • Paradise Pool
  • The Cafe
  • In-room Dining

Below, I’ll talk about what each of these has to offer.

Related: Full Arizona Biltmore Waldorf Astoria Resort Review

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

McArthur’s

This restaurant once went by the name of Frank and Albert’s but is now called McArthur’s (named in honor of Albert Chase McArthur, the hotel’s architect).

Arizona Biltmore McArthurs restaurant and bar.

It’s a restaurant with a cool vibe and is home to a bar along with a pool table, shuffleboard, and foosball table. Large flatscreen TVs also aren’t hard to find.

Arizona Biltmore McArthurs restaurant and bar inside pool table.
Arizona Biltmore McArthurs restaurant and bar.

They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, and during our stay we tried them for both breakfast and lunch.

Breakfast did not disappoint at all.

I would highly, highly recommend you to try out their lemon cream pancakes with blueberry compote. The lemon flavor is subtle and paired nicely with the compote. Warm maple syrup is provided but use it sparingly (or not at all).

Related: Tips for Planning Your Dining When Traveling

Lemon cream cheese pancakes at Arizona Biltmore McArthurs restaurant and bar.

It’s an amazing breakfast dish and if you want something savory consider going with a classic like eggs Benedict which also lived up to expectations. It came with a choice of a hash brown slab or seasonal fruit.

Tip: If ordering for two, ask them to split up the pancakes and savory dish so that you can each have your own plate of each dish.

Breakfast at Arizona Biltmore McArthurs restaurant and bar

On another morning we tried the breakfast sandwich and the Belgian waffle, which came loaded with freshly cut strawberries, whipped cream, and a drizzling of Nutella.

I felt Day 2 breakfast options were pretty good but not quite as good as what we chose the first day.

Belgian waffle at Arizona Biltmore McArthurs restaurant and bar.
Eggs Benedict at Arizona Biltmore McArthurs restaurant and bar.

Brad also decided to give the loopy milk a try which was essentially a twist on a white Russian but in a gnarly saguaro glass dressed in nothing other than Fruity Pebbles. It hits light with only a hint of vodka balanced out with a bit of creaminess and Fruity Pebble sweetness.

They also offered other cocktails with breakfast including mimosas and bloody Marys.

Loopy Cereal Milk at Arizona Biltmore McArthurs restaurant and bar.

If you’re curious about prices here is a look at some of the prices:

  • Greek Yogurt & Berries – $17
  • Bakery Basket – $18
  • Belgian Waffle – $18
  • Lemon Cream Cheese Pancakes – $19
  • Classic Breakfast – $18
  • Biltmore Benedict – $23
  • Breakfast Sandwich – $19
  • Smoked Salmon & Bagel – $26
  • Huevos Rancheros – $24
  • Loopy Cereal Milk – $18

You can find the full menu here.

For lunch, we went with the Nashville style chicken sandwich and the fish tacos. Both of these meals were very enjoyable.

The juicy chicken sandwich was fresh with a nice spicy kick and came with crispy, well-seasoned fries. Think of it as a gourmet Popeyes chicken sandwich. Very mouthwatering.

Nashville Style Chicken Sandwich at Arizona Biltmore McArthurs restaurant and bar.
Nashville Style Chicken Sandwich at Arizona Biltmore McArthurs restaurant and bar.

The fish tacos were bursting with flavor and fresh cilantro goodness. They are on the smaller and lighter side so if you have a larger appetite you might want to supplement these with an appetizer or go with something heavier.

Ensenada Fish Tacos at Arizona Biltmore McArthurs restaurant and bar.

After the smashing success of our lunch entrées we decided it would be worth giving desert a try. We definitely made the right decision because the chocolate cookie skillet with ice cream was a major hit. The cookie was perfect: warm with a crisp outside and chewy center. Doesn’t get much better than that.

Chocolate Cookie Skillet at Arizona Biltmore McArthurs restaurant and bar.

If you’re curious about prices here is a look at some of the prices:

Starters

  • Spinach Cream Dip – $18
  • Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail – $24
  • Parmesan Fries – $20

Hot Sandwiches

  • Grilled Cheese – $19
  • Impossible Burger – $25
  • The Big BLT – $21
  • Nashville Style Chicken Sandwich – $24

Entrees

  • Lobster Mac & Cheese – $38
  • Steak Frites – $58
  • Ensenada Fish Tacos – $25

You can find the full menu here.

Renata’s Hearth

Renata’s Hearth is an upscale and Old World Latin eatery with a smoky focus.

The first thing you need to know about eating at Renata’s Hearth is that you might want to make reservations.

We showed up around 6:45 PM on a Tuesday evening in non-peak times (during the summer) expecting that we would be able to just walk in and get a table. But there was a small wait.

Arizona Biltmore Renatas Hearth.

They do take your number and will text you when your table is ready. It was kind of perfect because it gave us some time to check out other areas of the resort without the fear of missing our name being called.

I could imagine that things pick up a lot during peak season so I would consider making a reservation for dinner. Reservations can also be made for McArthurs.

Arizona Biltmore Renatas Hearth.
Arizona Biltmore Renatas Hearth.
Arizona Biltmore Renatas Hearth.

After making our way past the guacamole and Spanish charcuterie cart, the craft cocktail cart, and the beautiful hanging lanterns, we were seated at a table tucked away at the end of the restaurant.

We started off with the flight of salsa that offered totopos, chicharrones, smoked cashew salsa, salsa verde, Renata’s pico, salsa roja, and San Marzano salsa.

It was the perfect starter at a restaurant like this and I loved the smoky undertones in some of the flavors. The chicharrones also stood out, light and crunchy with a little bit of tang.

Housemade Salsa Flight at Arizona Biltmore Renatas Hearth

We definitely wanted to try out the Los Muertos cocktail which is a margarita served with serrano-infused reposado tequila, activated charcoal, agave, lime juice, black lava salt, and smoke. It came with a lot of smokiness and a heck of a presentation, too.

Los Muertos cocktail at Arizona Biltmore Renatas Hearth
Los Muertos cocktail at Arizona Biltmore Renatas Hearth.
Los Muertos cocktail at Arizona Biltmore Renatas Hearth.

For our main dishes, we ordered the Chilean Seabass and the Prime New York Strip

The Seabass was fluffy and buttery and did not disappoint. The fish had a near perfect balance of crispiness on top with tenderness on the inside. It was easily one of the best entrées I’ve had at a hotel restaurant in quite a while.

Roasted Chilean Seabass at Arizona Biltmore Renatas Hearth

Meanwhile the pre-cut New York strip was paired with salsa verde and perfectly cooked. The steak, finished off with a light sprinkling of flaky salt, just melted in the mouth.

Overall, the dinner items were extremely pleasing and we felt great about our dinner selections.

Prime New York Strip at Arizona Biltmore Renatas Hearth

If you’re curious about prices here is a look at some of the prices:

Starters

  • Guacamole – $16
  • Spanish Cured Meats & Cheeses – $32
  • Homemade Salsa Flight – $19

Entrees

  • Steelhead Trout – $34
  • Chile Relleno – $26
  • Roasted Chilean Seabass – $44
  • Prime New York Strip – $58

For The Table

  • Mesquite-Smoked Whole Jidori Chicken – $55
  • Tomahawk – $120
  • Crispy Slow Cooked Pork Belly Roast – $46

You can find the full menu here.

Later on, we decided to order dessert from the restaurant and pick it up instead of ordering from room service. We went with the churros and the chocolate cake.

The churros were warm and tasty, especially with the cream sauce that came along side.

Churros from Arizona Biltmore Renatas Hearth.

On the other hand, the chocolate cake was pretty underwhelming. It’s one of those “chocolate cakes” that have only the faintest hint of chocolate in them. Not really the best selection for chocolate lovers.

Chocolate cake from Arizona Biltmore Renatas Hearth.

The Wright Bar

The Wright Bar is one of the iconic features of the hotel and just a beautiful bar.

The bar itself is a bit small and so it likely gets very crowded during peak times. But there is lounge seating in the adjacent area in the lobby and also outside so you can probably easily find a place to sit.

The servers in these areas were very attentive so it was not hard to put an order in.

Arizona Biltmore The Wright Bar

Here’s a look at the extended seating area which is where we decided to hang out for a while.

Arizona Biltmore The Wright Bar.
Arizona Biltmore The Wright Bar menu.

Since this bar is known for inventing the Tequila Sunrise ordering one from here was a must. These are old school Tequila Sunrises, though. They hit harder and are more straight to the point than more modern iterations.

Drinks and menu at Arizona Biltmore The Wright Bar

You can find the full menu here.

Spire Bar

The other main attraction when it comes to drinking and eating venues here is the Spire Bar, located in the center of the resort. You can almost feel yourself getting pulled towards the Spire Bar as you make your way through the hotel premises.

Arizona Biltmore Spire Bar.

The name is inspired by the 30 foot spire that stands next to the bar and pays tribute to Wright’s legacy via scallop-patterned mosaics. Look at it lit up brilliantly below.

Arizona Biltmore Spire Bar at night.

This outdoor bar has a cool vibe with lots of blue mood lighting, water features, cozy fire pits, and plenty of open lounge seating. The bartenders were also very nice and attentive as well.

Arizona Biltmore Spire Bar at night
Arizona Biltmore Spire Bar mood lighting

This would be a great place to catch a game with the large TVs hanging from the center of the bar as if you were in an arena. Good views are offered for everyone.

Arizona Biltmore Spire Bar.

Brad ordered up a Pink Eldorado cocktail and if you like grapefruit juice this is your drink.

Pink Eldorado drink at Arizona Biltmore Spire Bar.

I was feeling a little bit crazy so I ordered up a mocktail called the Tiki Take Away. If you like ginger, it’s the perfect alternative to the more ginger-intense Mule drink and strikes a good balance thanks to the addition of lime juice and cool coconut water.

Tiki Take Away drink at Arizona Biltmore Spire Bar.

We were curious as to how good the bar food would be so we decided to order a margarita pizza for dinner from the Spire Bar. It was a tasty pizza on the lighter side with a satisfying crunchy crust. Perfect for folding or rolling up your slice.

Margarita pizza at Arizona Biltmore Spire Bar

You can find the full menu here.

The Saguaro Pool

We didn’t get a chance to try out the food or drinks at the Saguaro Pool but here is the menu that you can choose from.

Related: Arizona Biltmore Pools Review (Crazy Slide!)

Arizona Biltmore Saguaro pool.

Paradise pool

The paradise pool also will offer a selection of food and drink and you can find the menu here.

Arizona Biltmore Paradise pool.

In-room dining (room service)

Although we did not try the in-room dining, below are the menus with prices.

Arizona Biltmore In-Room dining menu.
Arizona Biltmore In-Room dining menu.

Final word

It’s honestly kind of rare to have dining at a 4-star hotel meet your expectations at every corner and every meal.

But that’s exactly what happened during our stay at the Arizona Biltmore.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner all delivered on a high level and so did all of the drinks and cocktails.

So if you’re looking for a resort that will deliver a quality dining experience, I doubt you will be let down by the Arizona Biltmore.

Arizona Biltmore Pools Review (Crazy Slide!) [2022]

The Arizona Biltmore Waldorf Astoria by Hilton is a fun and historic resort located in Phoenix, Arizona.

In addition to its history, it’s known for housing several pools including one special pool that houses a large, winding waterslide fittingly known as the “The Twist.”

In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the Arizona Biltmore pools including what to expect, your food and drink options, and how you can go about renting things like cabanas.

Arizona Biltmore Pools overview

The Arizona Biltmore is home to a total of six pools which include:

  • The Paradise Pool (with The Twist slide)
  • Saguaro Pool (Adult’s only)
  • Catalina Pool
  • Ocatilla Pool
  • Bougainvillea Pool
  • Terrace Court Pool

I’ll provide more detail about each of these pools below and give you some insight into visiting them even if you are not a hotel guest.

Related: Full Arizona Biltmore Waldorf Astoria Resort Review

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

The main Arizona Biltmore pools

Although there are a total of six pools here, the main pools that people visit are the: Paradise Pool (with The Twist slide) and Saguaro Pool (Adult’s only). That’s because these are the two larger pools that are also more equipped with things like cabanas and food and drink options.

Let’s take a look up with these pools have to offer.

The Paradise Pool and The Twist slide

The main pool of the resort is the family-oriented Paradise Pool.

The pool is open 24 hours a day and features temperature controlled water, food and drink services, a splash pad, swim up bar, hot tub, and even air conditioned cabanas for rent.

There’s also a shop near the entrance where you can purchase things like hats, sunglasses, and take care of things like extra towels.

Arizona Biltmore Paradise Pool
The entrance to the Paradise Pool.
Arizona Biltmore Paradise Pool

It’s a pretty large and wide pool area lined with pool chairs and umbrellas, which will allow you to get some reprieve from the sun. (Each chair has a towel already on it so you don’t have to bring your room towel with you to the pool.)

In total there are three adjacent pools that make up the Paradise Pool, with one of those being a small splash pool.

You can see some of the private cabana suites in the middle of the image below.

The prices for renting these can differ based on the day of the week or season but for a weekend in the summer you would be paying $500 for one of the smaller cabanas that suit up to six people and $750 for one of the larger suite cabanas that suit up to 10 people. Non-hotel guests may be paying up to $1,000 for the larger suite.

The larger air-conditioned cabanas come equipped with a restroom, shower, pool attendant, and complimentary items like snacks, water bottles, and a fruit plate.

Arizona Biltmore Paradise Pool

Here’s an aerial image of the Paradise Pool pool area with a good look of the swim up bar on the bottom left.

Arizona Biltmore Paradise Pool
Arizona Biltmore Paradise Pool

If you want to order food or drinks you can also do this at the restaurant and bar that is located poolside. Food and drinks are available 11 AM to 4 PM on weekdays and 11 AM to 5 PM on weekends. You can check out the menu here.

Arizona Biltmore Paradise Pool

If you head towards the back of the pool, that’s where you’ll find the entrance to the waterslide known as “The Twist.”

I don’t think I’ve seen any hotel with a legit 6-story waterslide like this so this is definitely a unique attraction that adds a lot of value to this resort, especially for families with kids.

Tip: If you think you will be into the slide, consider booking a poolside room which lets you out only steps away from the slide.

Arizona Biltmore slide the twist

If you want to ride the slide you simply head to this back area when the slide is open which should be 10 AM to 4 PM weekdays and 10 AM to 6 PM on weekends.

You’ll need to abide by the rules of the slide which basically state that you just can’t bring any loose items up there with you.

For example, they state no watches, jewelry, and if you have eyeglasses they need to be attached with some type of head strap.

Therefore, I would keep all of your valuables in your room unless you have someone that can watch over them while you enjoy the slide.

Arizona Biltmore slide the twist

You’ll take the spiral stairs up to one of two slide decks. There are some mister fans to help cool you down on the way up but on a really hot day your feet might still get a little toasted so walk quickly.

Arizona Biltmore slide the twist

The lower slide deck is a dual competition slide where two people can compete by trying to beat the other person down since the two slides mirror each other. You’ll simply wait in line and then once you see the light go green, that means you are good to go down the 45-foot slide.

Arizona Biltmore racing slide the twist

Be sure to use the steel bar to give yourself a good boost so that you catch some speed.

This is a relatively tame slide so I think it’s a good option even for people who are a little bit weary about a high flying waterslide.

But you definitely spend some time corkscrewing so if you are prone to dizziness get ready to feel a little bit wobbly when you finish. I certainly developed a case of the spins after a few rides.

Arizona Biltmore slide the twist

The second slide, which is a 65-foot drop slide, is about two stories higher.

Once you’re up there, you actually have some pretty good views of the resort and some of the surrounding mountains, which can take your mind off the fact that you’re about to go virtually free falling down an enclosed wet tube.

This is a drop slide which is something that I had never tried until my stay at the hotel. Whenever it is your turn you will step into a pod that closes and then an anxiety-inducing countdown will begin.

Arizona Biltmore slide the twist drop

Once you hit “one,” the floor will give out beneath you and you will drop nearly vertical into the 65 foot slide. This thing is fast and a whole lot of fun — but the drop is a little bit intense. While kids certainly will have fun on this, this is also suited for adults as well.

Arizona Biltmore slide the twist

Although the slide closes at night it does look pretty cool lit up. During the winter months, when the sunsets earlier in the day you might be able to ride this with the lights on when visiting on the weekend.

Arizona Biltmore slide the twist night

Here’s a look at the walk-up up poolside rooms near the slide and the splash pool. There’s a little fountain area with water that shoots from saguaros near these rooms, making these rooms a good selection for families with small children.

Arizona Biltmore Paradise Pool

The Saguaro pool

The Saguaro Pool is the adults only pool that is meant for people 21 and up. It’s located in the middle of the resort behind the open field next to the Spire Bar. You really can’t miss it.

The pool is open 24 hours and is temperature regulated, staying around 82°.

Compared to the Paradise Pool, this pool is much smaller and narrower but has more of a luxurious feel to it. It was hardly ever busy during our stay but that almost certainly had to do with the temperatures soaring close to 115°.

Arizona Biltmore Saguaro Pool

A large 140-year-old Saguaro cactus, known as Lloyd, stands guard over the Saguaro Pool, which I assume is where the pool gets its name from.

Arizona Biltmore Saguaro Pool

I liked that they had umbrellas set up near the steps of the Saguaro Pool so that you can get a little bit of relief from the sun even when in the water. As for the pool depth, you’re looking at about 3 feet to 3 1/2 feet.

Arizona Biltmore Saguaro Pool

The cabanas, complete with TVs and chaise lounge chairs, looked pretty tempting.

They also had mister fans to help cool you down, a mini-fridge, and a private safe which could really come in handy when securing your valuables. Renting one of these also comes with the complimentary fruit plate and bottled water.

These cabanas are made to suit up to six people. Expect to pay about $500 to rent these for a weekend day. Non-hotel guests may have to pay $750.

Arizona Biltmore Saguaro Pool  cabana

You can also rent day beds for two people that you can see in the photo below on the far side of the pool.

The price to rent these is about $250 for a summer weekend day but those prices may drop to about $150 for a weekday, although I’m not sure if that price only applies to non-guests.

Arizona Biltmore Saguaro Pool

You can also find a bar and poolside dining at this pool as well.

Not many hotel pools are open 24 hours so that was a nice surprise. Considering how hot it gets in Phoenix in the summer, this also allows you to enjoy the pool without worrying about getting cooked.

I also really liked the vibe of the Saguaro Pool at night. With the mood lighting and fountains gently pouring in the water, it was very relaxing. And I dare say that with a little bit of breeze, it even got a little cool while hanging out in the pool, despite triple digit temperatures.

Arizona Biltmore Saguaro Pool  night

They have a pretty spacious hot tub tucked away in the corner of the pool area.

Arizona Biltmore Saguaro Pool  hottub

The secondary pools

The Arizona Biltmore has four smaller pool areas located throughout the property. Fewer people visit these pools so some of them can be a lot quieter and more laid-back than the two larger pools shown above.

These smaller pools are tucked away inside of select villa areas. We tried to access a couple of these to check them out but our key card did not give us access through the gate so we assumed these were private pools.

But later whenever we checked with the front desk they told us that any guest could have access to those pools so I think there was just an issue with our key card. Oh well.

The pools that you may want to check out include:

  • Catalina Pool (a personal favorite of Marilyn Monroe)
  • Ocatilla Pool
  • Bougainvillea Pool
  • Terrace Court Pool
Catalina Pool. Image via Arizona Biltmore.

Visiting the pool without being a hotel guest

If you want to visit the pools at the Arizona Biltmore you can do so even if you are not a hotel guest. You can head to ResortPass and purchase different types of day passes that will give you access to the pools. You can also use that platform to reserve things like cabanas and daybeds.

The website does a really good job of outlining everything included in your booking. For example, if you booked the Saguaro Pool Daybed, which starts at $150 you could have the option of getting:

  • Cushioned daybed for up to 2 people
  • Outdoor adults-only pool kept at 82-84 degrees
  • Towel service
  • Personal pool attendant
  • Poolside food and drink service from Saguaro Pool bar
  • Access to resort retail and dining, including The Biltmore Shops, Spire Bar, Wright Bar, Renata’s Hearth, and McArthur’s Restaurant & Bar
  • Live DJ entertainment Fridays and Saturdays through Labor Day weekend
  • Complimentary chef’s daily fruit selection plate
  • Complimentary water
  • Complimentary wifi
  • Complimentary valet parking

Based on what the hotel told me, it seems that non-guests will have to pay more for the rentals which makes sense. The price increase varies based on the product and timing but you could be paying a couple hundred dollars more than a hotel guest.

Final word

The pools at this resort are definitely a major highlight of the property.

I think when it comes to families, this resort has a lot to offer because of the many different pools and especially the mega waterslide.

The fact that these pools are open 24 hours a day is also a major plus especially if you visit during the summer when temperatures can reach 115°.

If you think you will be spending a lot of time in the pool I would highly consider a poolside room so that you can have a quick and easy access to the pool without having to store your belongings far away in your hotel room.

The Hilton Doubletree Cookie: The Ultimate Sweet Guide [2022]

There are a few things better in life than releasing your inner fat kid and biting into a fresh chocolate chip cookie upon arrival at a hotel.

And for decades, the Hilton Doubletree has been allowing guests to do just that.

But when did this tradition of serving up chocolate chip cookies begin and how exactly can you partake in this tasty tradition?

In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about the famous Hilton Doubletree chocolate chip cookie.

What are the Hilton Doubletree cookies?

The type of cookie served up by the Hilton Doubletree is a freshly baked walnut and chocolate chip cookie and these are given away for free to each hotel guest. These are “real deal” warm cookies that are nice and thick with each having an average of 20 chocolate chips.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

When did the tradition begin?

The first ever DoubleTree hotel opened up in Scottsdale, Arizona, back in 1969, on the grounds of Scottsdale Fashion Square and the second property opened up in Tucson, Arizona, in 1974.

The latter — DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tucson Reid Park — is still operational today, making it the oldest operating DoubleTree in the world.

The DoubleTree brand did not join Hilton until late 1999 when Hilton Hotels Corporation acquired Promus Hotel Corporation but they had already started serving up those cookies in the 1980s.

When the cookies first came out, they were designated for VIP guests but the cookies were not always consistent.

Then, in 1986, they developed their secret recipe and that allowed every hotel to serve up a universally consistent cookie to the common folk.

Since then, the cookie has gained a lot of notoriety with one of its most impressive accomplishments being that it was the first ever food baked in space. One can only imagine how heavenly that space station smelled….

Also impressive is the sheer number that go out every year. More than 30 million of these cookies are consumed every year!

And who oversees all of this cookie distribution?

Well, Doubletree has officially appointed a Chief Cookie Officer, which some have called the sweetest job in the world.

Hilton Doubletree cookies

How can you get a free DoubleTree cookie?

Whenever you check into a Hilton DoubleTree hotel, a front desk agent should hand you a cookie or ask you (non-sarcastically) if you want a cookie. (You should definitely say yes.)

The cookies are usually inside of some type of wrapper or bag so that you can take them to your hotel room and devour them in private.

Some properties have, on occasion, failed to have any of these cookies ready for guests. (Like many things this is usually blamed on the pandemic.)

Related Reviews:

Hilton Doubletree cookies

Tip: Sometimes on national chocolate chip cookie day the hotels give away free cookies to the public so you don’t even need a reservation to receive a free cookie on those days!

Can you order Hilton DoubleTree cookies online?

If you don’t have any plans of staying at a Hilton DoubleTree anytime soon you can still partake in the sweet goodness of these cookies by ordering them online.

You can purchase a tin of these cookies which will contain six individual cookies for approximately $15.

Standard shipping is about seven dollars (depending where you live) but you can get expedited shipping for up to $40. They also can even ship internationally.

Hilton Doubletree cookie tin

Is there a Hilton DoubleTree cookie recipe?

For decades the Hilton DoubleTree cookie recipe was a secret. But that all changed in 2020 when Hilton decided to release the recipe to the public.

Presumably, this was prompted by the pandemic which caused a lot of people to remain home and miss out on the cookies.

You can find the recipe to make these at home below.

Ingredients

  • ½ pound butter, softened (2 sticks)
  • ¾ cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 ¼ cups flour
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Pinch cinnamon
  • 1 3/4 cups chopped walnuts 
  • 2 2/3 cups Nestle Tollhouse semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

  1. Cream butter, sugar and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes.
  2. Add eggs, vanilla and lemon juice, blending with mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, then medium speed for about 2 minutes, or until light and fluffy, scraping down bowl.
  3. With mixer on low speed, add flour, oats, baking soda, salt and cinnamon, blending for about 45 seconds. Don’t overmix.
  4. Remove bowl from mixer and stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.
  5. Portion dough with a scoop (about 3 tablespoons) onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper about 2 inches apart.
  6. Preheat oven to 300°F. Bake for 20 to 23 minutes, or until edges are golden brown and center is still soft.
  7. Remove from oven and cool on baking sheet for about 1 hour.

Cook’s Note

You can freeze the unbaked cookies, and there’s no need to thaw. Preheat oven to 300°F and place frozen cookies on parchment paper-lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake until edges are golden brown and center is still soft.

I think it’s worth pointing out that I don’t believe every DoubleTree serves up the exact same type of cookie.

It’s not always easy to compare food items you eat so far apart but I could have sworn that on a few occasions I’ve received a cookie that differed in taste, size, and composition compared to other experiences. For example, sometimes the oats or walnuts are less prominent.

So just keep in mind that the recipe and/or baking method may not always be 100% consistent.

Recipe courtesy Hilton.

Hilton DoubleTree cookie FAQ

How many calories are in a Hilton DoubleTree cookie?

According to the creators of the cookies, there are 190 calories in each cookie.

What are the ingredients in the Hilton DoubleTree cookies?

According to the creators of the cookies, here are the ingredients:

Semi-sweet chocolate (sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter, milk fat, soy lecithin, natural flavors), enriched flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononotrate, riboflavin, folic acid), butter (pasteurized cream, salt), walnuts, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, rolled oats, contains less than 2% of each of the following: water, baking soda, salt, propylene glycol, cinnamon, natural and artificial flavors, lemon juice concentrate, sodium bisulfite preservative, caramel color, sodium benzoate preservative, lemon oil

Do the Hilton DoubleTree cookies contain nuts?

Yes, the chocolate chip cookies contain walnuts.

How many cookies can you get at the Hilton DoubleTree?

Typically, the standard policy is to offer one free cookie to each guest. However, some check-in agents may be more generous and allow you to receive more cookies if you request them.

Do you need elite status to receive a free chocolate chip cookie?

No, you do not have to have elite status with Hilton to receive a free cookie.

Does the Hilton DoubleTree still give away free cookies?

Yes, you’ll be happy to know that they still give these away for free (even during covid times).

Final word

There’s a reason why the Hilton DoubleTree chocolate chip cookie tradition has been around for decades. The cookies are delicious and there’s nothing better than getting greeted with one of these after a long day on the road.

Even if you’re not able to partake in one of these at a hotel, you can still order them online or if you have the baking skills, you can even make them in your kitchen.

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Phoenix Review

If you’re looking for a decent airport hotel near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) you may want to consider the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Phoenix.

And even if you are not needing to be close to the airport, this property just might be a great base location for visiting Phoenix and the surrounding area.

In this review, I’ll take a close look at the hotel and tell you everything you need to know to prepare for your stay.

Location: PHX

The DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Phoenix is located just outside of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).

If you have your own vehicle it should only take you about five minutes to get to one of the parking garages at the airport. Like you would expect at a good airport hotel, there is also a 24-hour PHX airport shuttle.

The other great thing about this hotel is it is like a 10 minute straight shot on E Van Buren St into Downtown Phoenix. It’s also really close to Tempe and Arizona State University and not far from Mesa or Scottsdale. So this is definitely an airport hotel that you can use to easily explore the surrounding Phoenix metro area.

But I would be careful in the immediate surrounding area. Like some other airport hotels, there may be some sketchy parts in the immediate vicinity around the airport.

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Phoenix exterior

Check in

We arrived around sunset so we did not need to utilize early check in but the check in process went very smoothly.

hotel lobby

One thing I always look forward to at DoubleTrees is the famous chocolate chip cookie. It’s almost impossible to turn this thing down!

Related: The Hilton Doubletree Cookie: The Ultimate Sweet Guide

Doubletree chocolate chip cookie

We were assigned a room on the sixth floor which is the top level of this hotel. These are known as “Business Class suite rooms” and I believe we were upgraded to one because of our Hilton Diamond status.

There are a couple of different elevators you can use to get up and because it was a little bit dark we struggled to find one of them.

But once we made our way up on the sixth floor it was a really beautiful sight.

Watching the glow from the sunset out over the city and the mountains is one of my favorite things about the desert and we caught it just in time.

I have not seen many DoubleTree hotels with exterior hallway layouts but in this case it was nice because of the cool breeze hitting in the evening. On a hot summer day though I’m not sure I would be so happy with it.

Related: Do You Have to Check Out of Your Hotel?

View of the sunset from sixth floor
View of the sunset from sixth floor

From the top, we had a good look at the pool area, which for an airport hotel is actually a pretty big area complete with a hot tub. This airport hotel definitely has some resort vibes going on, which is why it is a good fit for people who don’t just need proximity to the airport.

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Phoenix pool

Here’s a look at the pool area in the daytime to give you a different view.

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Phoenix pool

The suite

The business class suite was pretty spacious and overall a pretty quality room. Remember, this is an all-suite hotel so everyone will be provided with a suite.

My only complaints were that there was a bad scent and some of the furniture was a little bit stained.

In terms of the scent there was a faint almost cigarette-type odor I picked up as soon as II entered.

And you’ll see what I’m talking about with the stains…. Those factors, combined with the dated appearance of the hotel, knocked it down a notch for me although it still was not that bad.

In one corner of the living area you have an L sofa with an oval coffee table.

And on the other side of the room you have a large flatscreen TV.

Near that you have a workstation with an ergonomic chair and phone.

Behind the workstation is the small kitchenette area with a small sink, microwave, coffee maker, and mini fridge. It’s kind of an odd layout to have a workstation so close to a kitchen area but I guess it works.

Related: Are Hotel Coffee Makers Safe & Clean? (YIKES!)

The bed was pretty comfy and I did not have any complaints.

On each side of the bed there will be a nightstand with two power outlets and two USB ports.

The outlets don’t really blend in with the furniture piece at all but I don’t mind that since it makes it even easier to locate the outlets. You also have standard nightstand features like an alarm clock, phone, and lamp.

Related: Should You Use USB Ports In Hotel Rooms? (Stay Away!?)

There is another pretty good size TV in the bedroom.

Here is the stained cushion I was referring to earlier. It’s not that bad considering this cushion is meant to be utilized for luggage bags but it’s still nothing you ever want to see.

And again, combined with the unpleasant scent, this just knocked my enjoyment of the stay down a peg or two.

The bathroom was quite nice and featured a large and decorative mirror. Counter space for the sink was a bit limited but still doable. Also, the quarters for the toilet were a bit cramped.

They provided EST bathroom amenities, which is a collection “created with luxurious resorts, boutiques, and high-end hotel establishments (hence, EST!) in mind.” I found them to be pretty high-quality and it was kind of a surprise that they would be used at a three-star airport hotel. But again, it makes sense given the resort style approach of this hotel.

The hotel features a very nice fitness center with a beautiful blow up of Monument Valley on the wall. You’ll find a good number of cardio stations including treadmill’s, recumbent bike, etc.

They also have a nice set up for free weights.

We decided to try out the bar and restaurant “Brix” since we had some time to kill in the evening and had worked up a bit of an appetite.

We each ordered sandwiches which were actually not bad. The service was really good as well making this a worthwhile meal.

Final word

I enjoyed our short stay at the Hilton Doubletree.

It had a much different vibe from other Doubletree hotels (which was both good and bad) but I really appreciated the views from the sixth floor, especially around sunset.

The location made arriving at the airport for an early flight the next day very easy and I would say that this could be a good property even for people who don’t need to close proximity to the airport.

The only thing is they need to work on the condition of the rooms in order to deliver an experience more in line with what you would expect at a Doubletree.

How to Get 50X on Hilton Stays Right Now (Q3 Promo)

Advertiser Disclosure: UponArriving has partnered with affiliate partners and may receive a commission from card issuers. UponArriving does not display all credit card offers and affiliate relationships may impact how offers are presented. Amex Disclosure: Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Hilton is always offering tempting promotions and the latest promotion called “More Nights, More Points” offers you yet another opportunity to earn big.

The promo

From May 2, 2022 through September 5, 2022, Hilton Honors members will earn Double Bonus Points for stays of up to two nights and Triple Bonus Points for stays of three nights or more.

This is a pretty solid hotel promotion especially if you can combine earnings with a co-branded Hilton card like the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. (More on the potential earnings below.) 

Registration Link 

You’ll need to register for the promo which you can do right here.

By the way, you can find promos like this in the WalletFlo app. Just check the promos section and search your favorite hotel brand for the latest deals!

Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort Review

Your potential earnings

Let’s take a look at how lucrative this promo can be.

Assume you make a four night stay at a hotel costing $100 per night.

You will learn the following points:

  • 10X Points per USD x $100 x 4 Nights = 4,000 Base Points
  • 20X Points per USD x $100 x 4 Nights = 8,000 Bonus Points

That’s a total of 30X but things can get much more lucrative.

Now let’s say you have one of the most popular Hilton credit cards the: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.

The Hilton Surpass currently comes with a great bonus that allows you to earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in the first 3 months.

Offer no longer available.

But it also provides you with 12X on Hilton and instant Hilton Gold status which will bump up your earnings a lot. (Terms apply.)

If you made the same four night booking for a hotel costing $100 per night you would earn the following points:

  • 10X Points per USD x $100 x 4 Nights = 4,000 Base Points
  • 20X Points per USD x $100 x 4 Nights = 8,000 Bonus Points
  • 12X Points per USD x $100 x 4 Nights = 4,800 Surpass Bonus Points
  • 8X Points per USD x $100 x 4 Nights = 3,200 Gold status Bonus Points

That’s a total of 50X on your hotel spend!

If you value Hilton points at .5 cents per point that comes out to 25% back. Not bad at all. Learn how to apply for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.

Hilton Fort Worth Review (Historical JFK Hotel)

If you have the more premium Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card those earnings can climb a little higher.

The same four night booking for a hotel costing $100 per night you would earn the following points:

  • 10X Points per USD x $100 x 4 Nights = 4,000 Base Points
  • 20X Points per USD x $100 x 4 Nights = 8,000 Bonus Points
  • 14X Points per USD x $100 x 4 Nights = 4,800 Aspire Bonus Points
  • 10X Points per USD x $100 x 4 Nights = 3,200 Diamond status Bonus Points

That’s a total of 54X on your hotel spend!

All information about the Aspire has been collected independently by UponArriving.

Final word

As is often the case, the new Hilton promo allows you to stack earnings to a high degree. This promotion could be a great way to earn tons of Hilton points on your summer travels.

If you plan on spending your points at more expensive Hilton properties then your cash back on this promo code get you over 30% back if you have the right credit card.

Don’t forget to check out the promos tab in the WalletFlo app for more deals and savings!

Advertiser Disclosure: UponArriving has partnered with affiliate partners and may receive a commission from card issuers. UponArriving does not display all credit card offers and affiliate relationships may impact how offers are presented. 

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analysis & recommendations are UponArriving’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. 

Amex Disclosure: Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

1 2 3 9