Hilton Tips

[obscuranox.livejournal.com]

Hi all,

I read through all the recent tips posted and they were great. I've been to DragonCon the last 4 years and this is my first time staying at a host hotel. Can anyone tell me any tips about the Hilton? I read through some guides I found but anything else would be greatly appreciated. Is there a fridge included? Can I bring a mini cooler/fridge? What else should I know?

Thanks all... see you soon :)

Comments

[jasongpace.livejournal.com]

A fridge is not included. In fact, if you signed up for their free Hilton Honors program, you should get an email that for the low low price of $130 they will guarantee you get a fridge and even fill it with 12 20oz sodas (from a list of 4 or 5 different kinds). For $140, they'll fill it with Red Bull.

If you don't pay for one, or don't have a specific medical need, that you should have told them about when you reserved the room, you probably won't get a fridge. You can probably bring one. I usually just bring a big beach cooler and fill it with ice from the ice machine on my floor, refill as needed.

[obscuranox.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info!

[encarmencita.livejournal.com]

May I say that is brilliant marketing on the Hilton's part, even if it's ridiculously expensive, it's convenient enough for some people that they won't shy at the price.

[neovenom.livejournal.com]

I've stayed there the past 4 years, and every time I've requested a fridge at check in (Thursday afternoon or so), I've always gotten one. However, they do charge you for it, something in the $10-20 per night range. So this year I'm just bringing my own. Overall it's a quiet hotel but good proximity to the Marriott. Staff is pretty helpful, gym and pool are open during con. And their Hilton Honors is worth it because after a few night's stay, you've already gained enough points to get nights for about half price. In fact, I got Wednesday night added on for $50!

[obscuranox.livejournal.com]

You know this is Ivana, right? :D :D :D Maybe I should have messaged you in the first place, totally forgot you stayed there.

[roxybisquaint.livejournal.com]

I stay at the Hilton every year. I like it because it's right in the thick of things, but at night, it's not as crazy as the Marriott.

Rooms
- The rooms are typical Hilton rooms (nice, but nothing special). They each have a safe that can hold a couple laptops (it's in the closet), but there's no fridge unless you got an upgraded room. I don't know if the hotel would object to you bringing a mini fridge. If it's against their policy and you wanted to bring it anyway, just don't let cleaning service into the room and I'm sure it'd be fine ;)
- If you want wifi in your room, they charge like $15/day per device. There's free wifi in the lounges, though.

Noise
- If you want quiet, request a room away from the elevators. The worst room location to get is on the pool side near the elevators. That glass elevator on the outside of the building is incredibly loud and can ruin your sleep (I'm speaking from experience!).

Elevators
- If you stay on a low floor (I think 10 is the lowest room level), you won't have to wait long for an elevator to stop, but you might be waiting a while for one that still has room on it. Your best bet is to get one the first one you can fit on, even if it's going up. Hence the motto, "you have to go up to go down."
- If you stay on a high floor, the wait for an elevator is much longer, but it'll usually have plenty of space on it.
- If you're at lobby level and just need to get up to level 2, avoid the elevators and use the escalator near the cafe.

Routing
You might already know this stuff, but I'll mention it just in case.
- The walkway to the Marriott is on level 2.
- The best path from the Hilton to the Peachtree Center food court is: Go out the corner door (past the escalator) and cross John Portman Blvd. Go into the parking garage about a third of the way up the block. There's an elevator to your left as soon as you walk in. Take that up to the walkway level (it's marked on the buttons). That walkway will take you straight into the food area of Peachtree Center.

Misc
- There's karaoke on Saturday night on the lobby level (in the lounge area near the check-in desk).
- If you're not leaving the con as soon as you check-out of the hotel, they'll hold your bags for you. The suitcase drop off area is just past the check-in desk. There's no charge for that, just tipping.

Have fun!

[obscuranox.livejournal.com]

This is all very helpful. Thanks for taking the time to type out this info!

Do you happen to know if we can leave our cars past noon on Monday (checkout)? Is it allowed? I understand they will charge us $21 again probably past noon, but should I actually move my car because my parking is no longer valid.. or?

[roxybisquaint.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I don't know about the parking because we fly in for Dragon Con.

[obscuranox.livejournal.com]

No problem, thank you anyway!

[shanola22.livejournal.com]

I have left my car in the parking garage until late on Monday and it wasn't a problem. Ask for late check-out on Monday and you should be fine.

I'm not sure which level rooms actually begin, but I have stayed on the 5th and 8th in the past. There are solid floors across the middle every five levels or so, so it is not as open as the Hyatt or Marriott, which makes it a quieter hotel.

It can't hurt to ask for a fridge when you get there, but there is a charge per night for one and this year, I think its around $25 or so. The staff is very friendly and helpful, but then I find that to be true of most places, if I am friendly first. The first year I stayed in the Hilton, some of the staff were dressed as characters from Wizard of Oz and greeting people at the front entrance. They even had Toto, if I recall correctly. Most of the hotel employees have heard stories about DC and are eager to see what all the fuss is about. I hope they enjoy their crazy weekend!

Elevators are...well they are typical elevators at DC, so always allow time for that. I have on two different occasions found a completely empty elevator on a Saturday. I was almost afraid to get in it.LOL The first year I stayed there, I got off the elevator to let someone on who was in a wheelchair. I had to search to find the stairs, so you may want to scope those out when you first get there. Regardless, be prepared to be patient.

Last year, the habit trail from the Hilton to the Marriott was almost impassable on Saturday. They have moved the Walk of Fame this year, so it may not be a problem, but if it is, I will go outside to cross the street. I'm not usually claustrophobic, but that afternoon crossing was...stressful.

If you cross from the Marriott to the Hilton, and you are not heading to your room, consider going to the left instead of the right. The elevators are on the right and the people waiting on an elevator can cause a bottleneck there.

Above all, be courteous and be patient and you will have a great time!

[obscuranox.livejournal.com]

You paid extra for Monday parking then, right? As in - $21 for the day? Just checking!

Thanks for all the info.

[shanola22.livejournal.com]

Yes, I paid for parking for the Monday.

[jarissa.livejournal.com]

Bring Your Own Fridge Myth confirmed! We have brought our own mini-fridge on multiple DragonCon trips to that Hilton. Not only did no one mind, but the Bellhop helped us find a good spot to set it up. He plugged it in as soon as it was in place, then opened it to check that it was getting power (yay the little light is on!), then asked if we'd like directions to the nearest grocery store via MARTA.

Liquor is a problem. The hotel is required by law to chare a "corking fee" if a citizen brings in their own liquor.

Cooking devices (hot plates, George Foreman style grills, panini makers, et cetera) are a problem. The Fire Marshal gets downright exasperated.

A hypothetical "Madame Farceuse, creation of Adam Hargreaves" might have gotten around the above problems on more than one occasion by keeping the contraband, and cleaning materials for them, always stored away in a padlocked small suitcase when not in use. I, of course, would never recommend any such behavior.

Bringing along a multi-plug with a built-in surge protector is not only not a problem, it's a better idea than remembering to pack the toothpaste!

[obscuranox.livejournal.com]

Thanks! That's good to know about the fridge and alcohol, haha. I need to remember to bring the multi-plug for sure.

[raidingparty.livejournal.com]

Also possible to cook things with an iron.