Lounge Access - a Hilton Club

[Eric B]

Are you “max”ed with those trade-ups or still Legacy?

We are in HGV Max.

 

[JohnPaul]

You can make a meal of warmed over microwave quality food? I was at W 57th and the lounge was nothing special. We were able to check it out to see if lounge access was worth buying a contract there. I found nothing but garbage wine and warmed over microwave food. Definitely not worth the price of a Bhc contract. The Alaska lounge at JFK was far superior. Maybe the District is better?

We get it. You weren't impressed. Perhaps your comparison to an airline lounge is part of it since one doesn't typically spend a lot of time at a given lounge. The other is that you couldn't possible experience the benefits of the lounge by just sneaking in and glancing at the food and wine.

While I wouldn't remotely agree with your characterization of the food it is indeed not Michelin star quality nor is it NY Michelin star prices. I'll come back to the food in a minute but it isn't the main attraction of the lounge.

The space, the staff and the other guests are what makes the lounge so special.

Having a great outdoor space is one aspect. A second is the ability to be able to go somewhere besides your room if you need to work or just have more space. The lounge is open from 7am to 10 pm and you can pop in any time for a soda, a cup of coffeee or a latte and some quiet.

The staff is amazing. Super friendly and helpful. The manager, Doria, has been there since the beginning. Unfortunately, now that she is over the lounges in The Quin, The Central AND W 57th St we don't get to see her as much. I have always said that if all she did was to schmooze the guests she would be worth every penny they pay her. She makes everyone feel like a long lost friend that she can't wait to catch up with.

The other guests. People love visiting with each other and discussing the plays, museums or other aspects of NYC they are enjoying. You become friends with many of the people you see over and over and learn their backgrounds and history. Even people we have only met once or twice have left a mark on us.

Back to the food. At $6 a pop at Starbucks by comparison, we drink $36 - $48 a day just in lattes at no additional cost. How much would breakfast, even of the dismal quality you perceive, be each day in Manhattan.

So....the lounge is not for you and you don't understand the appeal. That's fine. Obviously, people see things about the lounge that you don't.

 

[TolmiePeak]

We get it. You weren't impressed. Perhaps your comparison to an airline lounge is part of it since one doesn't typically spend a lot of time at a given lounge. The other is that you couldn't possible experience the benefits of the lounge by just sneaking in and glancing at the food and wine.

While I wouldn't remotely agree with your characterization of the food it is indeed not Michelin star quality nor is it NY Michelin star prices. I'll come back to the food in a minute but it isn't the main attraction of the lounge.

The space, the staff and the other guests are what makes the lounge so special.

Having a great outdoor space is one aspect. A second is the ability to be able to go somewhere besides your room if you need to work or just have more space. The lounge is open from 7am to 10 pm and you can pop in for a soda, a cup of coffeee or a latte and some quiet any time.

The staff is amazing. Super friendly and helpful. The manager, Doria, has been there since the beginning. Unfortunately, now that she is over the lounges in for The Quin, The Central AND W 57th St we don't get to see her as much. I have always said that if all she did was to schmooze the guests she would be worth every penny they pay her. She makes everyone feel like a long lost friend that she can't wait to catch up with.

The other guests. People love visiting with each other and discussing the plays, museums or other aspects of NYC they are enjoying. You become friends with many of the people you see over and over and learn their backgrounds and history. Even people we have only met once or twice have left a mark on us.

Back to the food. At $6 a pop at Starbucks by comparison, we drink $36 - $48 a day just in lattes at no additional cost. How much would breakfast, even of the dismal quality you perceive, be each day in Manhattan.

So....the lounge is not for you and you don't understand the appeal. That's fine. Obviously, people see things about the lounge that you don't.

Agreed. The staff and chatting with other guests are the highlights here. Well put.


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[CalGalTraveler]

Well said @JohnPaul! The W57 staff has been there for years and it makes all the difference in the experience. They know owners by name and seek them out to say hello. Doria is fantastic. A member of the front desk staff hugged me last time I visited ( and we don't visit very often!) The other front desk staff and the doormen know us and follow up on requests. The lounge food is fine, I've seen fresh guac, sushi, fresh pasta, fresh veggies, fajitas. What more do you need? They don't have a formal kitchen but the food is delivered directly from a local restaurant.

This is an experience and a second home.

 

[letsgobobby]

Your right that the Alaska Lounges are nothing special. That is hoe little regard I had for the owners lounge at W 57th.

seattle N lounge is nice, sometimes good.

I do like Chase BOS JFK and HKG and will be in LAS PHX and possibly PHL this year to check those out.

But I also like W57th. I'm not trying to make a "meal" but rather a substantial snack between lunch and a late dinner. And I really enjoy the breakfasts - nothing better after a run in the park. Still have room to grab an even better bagel before lunch

 

[h2oflyboy]

Y’all are stuck on the east coast lounges - I’ve stayed in the GI, GQ Penthouses in the HHV. The staff are very nice at the GI, but I felt we were being pointed out at the GW with all their hidden rules! I have seen mostly an Asian clientele in these lounges and they’ve been coming to Hawaii since forever - the Pandemic is the only reason I have stayed there as much as I have. The hostess made shire to point out ALL of the rules with taking food back to your room.

I standing picking up 2 pieces of bread and a man walked around me reached to 4 pieces of bread in front of me and then slammed 2 pieces of bread into the toaster. Before he got to the other 2 toaster openings - I kinda made a disappointing noise - to which he realized, YES going around me was definitely rude and he “allowed” me to use the toaster for my 2 slices.

But back to the Hostess… You can take breakfast back to your room but you need to take paper plates! AND NO you can not take back the happy hour food to your room, you must consume it there. Maybe I’m over sensitive, but clearly… there rules were not spelled out at checkin.

Never once did the GI hostess tell us we were breaking “the rules” But then again… maybe we didn’t. BOTH lounges are PH lounges and not OL - they are very small and like someone posted earlier - The airline lounges are much better.

We had to pull teeth to get a 2nd water pitcher ! When we left the GW to stay at the GI we took said water pitcher with us.

I have stayed at LIberty in Charleston and I have never seen anyone entering/leaving the OL. Nor have I seen anyone sitting inside it - leaving me to wonder if it is open yet?

Okay, here are a few memorable ones (with many dip chip lounges in-between!):

I like SJC Priority Pass. They serve eggs and bring it to you.
SFO United Polaris offers sit down restaurant style meals. Must have a Polaris ticket so usually international.
There was one at Calgary, I cannot remember what airline (Air Canada?) or PP but it had a great food and drink selection.
Emirates business class lounge at JFK.

I miss the restaurant benefit of PP. Those were really great value.

Since I am a UA 1K - I had to comment my 2 cents on the PLs.

I had a 2 hour connection in SFO on my way to CDG. The walk was :15 minutes and finding a seat was challenging but I located a 2 good ones on the lower floor - well one good one. The first had no power, and the USB didn’t work either. Thankfully the 2nd choice had both electricity and a good USB connection. Then I decided to walk to the restaurant - this lounge is way too long - where there was a :45 minutes wait - and the buffet looked like WILD ANIMALS had attacked their prey. By the time I would be seated, boarding would have started.

I went back to my cozy downstairs seat with my glass of champagne and decided, “I would eat on the airplane” If we are comparing notes, The IAD PL is the only lounge UA built from scratch - ALL the other PLs were UC, or FCL (LAX) before their rebirth. The furniture in the EWR PL was inherited from the old UC; it was worn out at the beginning. I could run down each lounge - but what’s the point. IAD is the best PL in the system - layout, electric outlets, and USB connections.

Just read DEN is up to 22 International destinations and It’s got more flights than any other hub - Where’s their PL? Rumor is the East B terminal lounge is closing for a refurbishment - Which I thought it just underwent 2 years ago. I’m guessing this might be a good location for a PL??