Messages

1

On The Road / Re: Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem

« on: November 06, 2018, 02:50:00 PM »

Our WAJ Shabbos mode was turned off on Shabbos by the maid, which is a massive problem as you can't even exit the room after that. All of the lights were changed also.
It's nice that they have it of course, but I wish the cleaning staff was trained on that.

Wow, that's horrible!

They have shabbos mode on rooms but it's very glitchy and minyanim there is hit or miss at least on reg shabbos not sure about you tov.

Interesting, so I guess I'm still curious about my bolded question below in regards to WAJ service.  I've never stayed at the King David, Citadel, Orient, kosher hotel in Europe or fancy Pesach program to compare but...

All totally true but after I went there the first time, I couldn't believe that I'd never seen anyone gushing on here about their beautiful JEWISH service touches on top of their normal hotel service that I think count for a lot...the shabbat mode on all the lights, the pre-ripped toilet paper (with a lovely cover that says "Shabbat" on it), Ashkenazi and Sephardic minyanim on Chagim and Shabbat, DAILY minyanim during Chol HaMoed, etc.  Never mind that we are all staying there for free, is there any other hotel in Israel, or the world for that matter, (and I'm not trying to be obnoxious but am truly asking) that offers the level of total hotel room, food and service experience that the WAJ offers a frum Jew?

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On The Road / Re: Hilton Master Thread

« on: November 06, 2018, 02:42:13 PM »

Amazon gc. Will use for resale merchandise on black friday.

Amazing and I hope you make a ton of money! 

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On The Road / Re: Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem

« on: November 06, 2018, 02:41:00 PM »

Thats obviously not true. Ive had great service at the Ritz in Herzliyah and the setai in Upper Galilee

Does the Ritz have rooms on Shabbat mode and other service touches for observant Jews that the WAJ has?  I'm planning to go there next Sukkot so I'd love to know.  I was pleasantly surprised by some of the services that offered over Chol HaMoed Sukkot at the Hilton TA (daily minyanim, etc.).

I'd venture to guess, for many of the people staying there, the only other 5* hotel they've stayed at is the St Regis Bal Harbour. So they dont have the expectations that you have.

I've stayed at Conrad Maldives and Koh Samui and many other out of this world service hotels and although the WAJ definitely doesn't have the same level of anticipatory service as those two, I still find the total package incredible.

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On The Road / Re: Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem

« on: November 06, 2018, 02:32:56 PM »

It's a great hotel by Israeli service standards. Full stop.
It is not up to par with 5 star hotels in other countries.

All totally true but after I went there the first time, I couldn't believe that I'd never seen anyone gushing on here about their beautiful JEWISH service touches on top of their normal hotel service that I think count for a lot...the shabbat mode on all the lights, the pre-ripped toilet paper (with a lovely cover that says "Shabbat" on it), Ashkenazi and Sephardic minyanim on Chagim and Shabbat, DAILY minyanim during Chol HaMoed, etc.  Never mind that we are all staying there for free, is there any other hotel in Israel, or the world for that matter, (and I'm not trying to be obnoxious but am truly asking) that offers the level of total hotel room, food and service experience that the WAJ offers a frum Jew? 

5

On The Road / Re: Hilton Master Thread

« on: November 06, 2018, 01:39:41 PM »

I cashed out 1.2mm points via this glitch. Didnt sell so no risk of a shut down. I can earn them back very quickly with 6x at grocery stores if i want to but honestly what you describe makes a lot if sense only in the context of a persons overall financial situation.

Like I said, I like to use them for stays (and yes I have the kind of job, time and otherwise ability to travel like this) but wow that's kind of cool too...so just curious,  what did you do exactly to spend 1.2 MILLION points on this glitch?  Get 6k in Amazon gift cards, that you will now sell or you'll just use them to buy all the food, clothing, etc. for your family for the foreseeable future or how else were you able to spend so many points on Amazon so quickly?

I gotta say, I'm constantly amazed at all the cool and creative forms of DDF capitalism!! 

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On The Road / Re: Hilton Master Thread

« on: November 04, 2018, 12:16:41 AM »

https://auction.hiltonhonors.com/iSynApp/auctionDisplay.action?auctionId=2486676&pgmode1=catpage&pgcust1=&pgmode3=livebid&&qt%5B0%5D.type=fieldmatch&qt%5B0%5D.name=*&qt%5B0%5D.value1=*

Current Conrad Bora Bora package available for anyone interested.

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On The Road / Re: Hilton Master Thread

« on: November 04, 2018, 12:13:17 AM »

CASH!

People with millions of points often don’t want to get their accounts shut down by selling them. I also earn and burn millions of HHonors points but have a blast in the process. I was at the Conrad Koh Samui over midwinter break, just came from WAJ for Sukkot, going to the Grand Wailea in Maui over Chanukah and have booked for the Boca Beach Club for Pesach. HHonors has by far the best earning capacity and kills SPG (and now Marriott) for value when you factor in how many ppd earned and great redemption opportunities.

8

On The Road / Re: Hilton Master Thread

« on: November 04, 2018, 12:03:01 AM »

Lucky you I have a few million Hilton points, would have been nice if I caught it on time to unload some at this rate.

You should check out some of their amazing auctions. I think there is one still going for a killer package in an OWV at the Conrad Bora Bora.  And why unload them at half a cent? You can get almost a penny a point at the Boca Beach Club, WA Beverly Hills, Conrad Maldives, easily .75 point at WAJ, Hilton TA, Conrad Koh Samui and lots of others!

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Destination Guides And Trip Planning / Re: Hong Kong Master Thread

« on: November 01, 2018, 11:35:12 PM »

thanks
that is also nice but expensive

We stayed at The Royal Garden for about 1/3 of the cost of Shangrila and it was about half a block away. I have pictures and wrote about it in my TR.  I was very happy with the hotel and location.

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Destination Guides And Trip Planning / Re: Colorado Master Thread

« on: October 21, 2018, 11:20:31 PM »

Just a PSA, A-basin and one other place (can’t remember the name) are already open for the ski season

11

On The Road / Re: Jaffa Tel Aviv - Master Thread

« on: October 21, 2018, 11:16:20 PM »

I didn't even realize hotels in Israel were allowed to serve non-kosher.

As a meeting planner, I always assumed that the hotels there are often kosher so they don’t miss out on big meeting and events where even a few of the attendees want kosher food or government meetings.

"This is a huge plus to those who don't keep kosher, since it means that all services are available on saturday. It may seem trivial. But try staying in a hotel limited room service on Friday night and Saturday and no fresh coffee or made to order dishes in breakfast and you'll agree it's a huge deal."

Maybe one day this will change...

I was really upset when I saw this place wasn’t kosher but now I can see how this could actually be a huge advantage wooing the large business clientele in Tel Aviv. I’m always amazed at how well the Hilton caters to such a diverse crowd. They get so many Chinese businessmen that they serve Chinese breakfast options. Even over Sukkot when I’d say it was over 60-70% orthodox guests at the TA Hilton (had Sephardic and Ashkenazi daily minyanim and they were both packed), there were still a good number of Asian and American businesmen in the lounge. I don’t think they have an executive lounge at this hotel but if they are competitive with their elite perks, I could see the appeal of a place like this for a non-Jewish businessman looking to stay at chain hotel in Israel.

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Destination Guides And Trip Planning / Re: Maldives Master Thread

« on: October 21, 2018, 10:40:57 PM »

Just confirm it's ok before checkin. Feel free to pm for tips.

Usually not a problem.

@Dan Private pools are great for frum couples. Not as special for other people imo.

+1 private pools don’t have nearly the added value for people that aren’t frum.

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On The Road / Re: Ritz-Carlton Herzliya (AKA Ritzaliya) Master Thread

« on: October 18, 2018, 10:55:52 PM »

I was there choel homed this year. Half of the sukkah was dairy and half was meat. The meat half was not herbert samual just the room service menu. Friday night the meal is in the sukkah.

Thank you for the detailed info!

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Trip Reports / Re: Marriot Newport Coast Villas (Cat 8) & the New Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills!

« on: October 15, 2018, 11:16:50 PM »

Side note,
Has anyone had luck with Hilton opening up points availability?
I booked 5 nights at the WA Beverly Hills (using points) and am waiting for more points to post in order to book a second room.
However, the points availability has disappeared   
I am Hilton diamond.

A few times I've see availability in their "accessible rooms" but I think you have to click that you are willing to take one of those rooms in order to see them.  I only realized this when I was seeing a room online but not in the app (I guess because of the way I had put my settings for the website).  Anyway, worth a try!

15

Just Shmooze / Re: Absent DDFers

« on: October 15, 2018, 11:11:50 PM »

You have the right guy?

I think so, maybe he didn't write TRs, maybe just went everywhere and had tons of good info and now doesn't post at all? 

@Marco Polo

yes

He took the money and ran. 

LOL