How I Got a Room at New York Hilton for Super Bowl Weekend 2014 for $150 a Night (without using points!)
Every Hilton room in New York is currently blocked off for Super Bowl weekend 2014, but I luckily got one and at a good price! For $400 including tax, I got two nights at the Hilton Grand Vacation Club timeshare property above New York Hilton in Midtown.
The package includes:
- two nights at Hilton Club New York
- $100 Hilton certificate for future use
- 25,000 Hilton HHonors points.
There is a small catch, though, where I need to spend two hours at a timeshare presentation, but that’s a small price to pay and will increase my travel knowledge.
The same room costs $510 + tax a night for a fully prepaid rate in early December. I can’t imagine how astronomical the rates will be for Super Bowl weekend! W Hoboken is charging $699 a night for a 3 night minimum stay!
An unexpected offer from Hilton Grand Vacations Club timeshares
A few days ago, I had to call Hilton reservations. This is probably the first time I am actually talking to reservations in about a year. I usually call the Diamond desk to book an award, if I can’t do it online. I mention this because my small sample size doesn’t give me any data on how often this offer comes up.
At the end of my call, I was asked whether I want to hear a good discounted offer. I would receive 500 points for listening. I figured I am already on the phone so why not. It turned out to be a pitch to visit a Hilton Grand Vacation Club property at a discount, which includes a 2 hour timeshare presentation.
The offer: Hilton Grand Vacation Club has timeshare properties in Las Vegas, New York, Hawaii, Orlando, Myrtle Beach, among others where they are attempting to sell timeshares. The offer sells a vacation packages at one of these locations for a specified number of nights, which you then have 12 months to use. The package comes with a $100 ‘Free Night on us’ Hilton rebate certificate for future use at Hilton stays. If you choose your dates within 45 days, you get an additional $50 discount. I only got the package offers asked about Hawaii, Orlando and New York.
The prices after the discounts were (not including tax):
- 3 nights at Hilton Grand Vacations Club at SeaWorld in Orlando for $149 (this sounds like a good rate especially with a Hilton $100 credit. You’re essentially paying about $70 for 3 nights at Orlando SeaWorld, but I have no interest in visiting Orlando anytime soon. Maybe MommyPoints will be interested)
- 6 nights in Hawaii Hilton Waikoloa Village or Hilton Waikiki Beach for $699
- 2 nights at New York Hilton, Hilton Club New York or West 57th Street by Hilton Club for $349. These are all located in Midtown super close to Central Park.
My accidental negotiation
Apparently, I can sometimes be a bit difficult without intending to. This turned out to be a good negotiation tactic, in this case. When I heard the properties for New York, I asked for the category for New York Hilton. This question turned out to be more difficult than I originally thought. The conversation:
Agent: Around 50,000 points
Me: That doesn’t sound right. Rates should be seasonal. Can you tell me the category?
(hold)
Agent: They want to know why you want to know this information.
Me: So I can compare relative value of the hotel.
(hold)
Agent: Category 6 or 7
(Aside: Seriously, how can there be an “or” in that sentence).
Me: It’s ok. I will look it up myself. Oh, it’s category 9. Btw, did you know there was a recent change where there are now 10 Hilton Reward Hotel categories?
Agent: I was actually not aware of that.
In fairness, she is a Hilton Grand Vacations Club timeshare vacation package salesperson and not a reservations person. That’s no problem. I just wish she just told me to look up the info myself to start with. I was sweet and diplomatic all along, but apparently this caused enough instability in the pitch that I was offered an additional 15,000 Hilton points with the deal!
Lesson learned: Apparently… if you ask “difficult” questions, you get better offers.
Booking Super Bowl Weekend 2014
I then asked about checking availability dates. I was going to check a few dates (New Year’s, July 4th, Memorial Day), but I started with Super Bowl weekend next year: Saturday, Feb 1 to Monday, Feb 3, 2014. It was available! A room in New York over Super Bowl weekend for under $200 a night! I’ll take it!
When she read me the terms, she said I will need to attend the timeshare presentation on my second day. That would be Super Bowl Sunday. I sort of didn’t like that and thought there is no harm in asking to go another day. She put me on hold. When she came back, she said she can’t guarantee I can go another day, but she will offer me 25,000 Hilton points instead of 15,000. And I will also be getting the $100 certificate. More proof being slightly difficult helps!
I live in New York a few blocks from the property so I don’t mind walking over for a few hours. But that rate for that hotel that weekend is ridiculous! I can’t imagine I won’t have someone who wants to be in NY that weekend and I just locked in a room far far below market value!
Summary
- Hilton Grand Vacation Club offers multi-night vacation packages in cities like Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Hawaii and New York.
- These packages may be a way to lock in low rates at properties over expensive periods.
- While every room at a Hilton in New York is blocked off over Super Bowl Weekend 2014, rooms are available through the Hilton Grand Vacations Club package at New York Hilton, Hilton Club New York or West 57th Street by Hilton Club for $349 + tax for two nights.
- The packages come with a $100 Hilton credit toward future use and, with some negotiation, additional perks.
Other posts you may like:
Two Nights for One at Melia Hotels All Year Birthday Promotion and a Spain Vacation Vide
Priceline Hotel Bidding: Trick to Find out the Secret Lowest Price Without Paying
For more hotel deals and strategies, head over to my Hotel Tips and Tricks page
@TMP, Very nice scoring! We will visit NYC for the very first time in a few weeks. I booked at the Hilton Garden Inn located at the Union Square. In addition to the tourist places to see, may I ask if you have any tips for us? Thanks.
That’s super exciting! Union Square is a very convenient location. Lots of subways converging in that area. I live here so I don’t know much of what entertainment goes on so I can just give a few suggestions of things I generally do:
Central Park is my favorite place in the city, though that’s also touristy, but it’s a must see. It’s just amazing to have this oasis in the middle of such a bustling city. If you walk around, you’ll probably see a lot of familiar scenery from movies and TV shows. If you do go to Central Park, the Met Museum of Art is on 5th and I believe 80th. The view from the roof gives you a panoramic view of the city. Their entrance, I believe, is a suggested donation so you can pay what you’re comfortable with. The line at the Met is super long.
Depending on where you’re from and when you’re visiting, you may want to stop by Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, where they have nice cherry blossom trees provided they are still in bloom when you go. These trees aren’t around everywhere and they are beautiful when in bloom. But it is in another bourough so not as easy to get to as everything in Manhattan.
If you are interested in seeing an opera, weekday rush tickets can be a good deal. They start selling 2 hours before performance for $20 each. https://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/rush/index.aspx and you can check/call before if any are available. I don’t usually buy these as they start selling them too early, but I do enter the weekend drawing every week for $25 orchestra seats for that weekend’s performances. Tickets are very limited for weekend drawings, but a good deal. There are similar rush tickets for Broadway shows, but I am not as familiar with those.
I have found some good deals on Travelzoo local deals for New York. Bars, lounges, restaurants, shows. Worth a look. Tends to be better than Groupon and LivingSocial in this location. http://www.travelzoo.com/local-deals/New-York-City/deals. Today, I am going to a brunch for three at the Kimberly Hotel Rooftop Upstairs Lounge with a voucher I got for $50.
The Highline is also a good alternate to Central Park for a nice walk along the city.
I hope you have a great time in New York!
@TMP, Thanks so much for those recommendations. We will definitely check out the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and the MET. We will be in NYC next Thursday, and hopefully, the storm/weather would be gone by then. I am also looking at the option of booking the one-day tour (7 – 9 hours) to see all the “tourist places.” Thanks again.
Don’t believe anything the rep says unless you have it in writing. I used to do this all the time and never had a problem. Last go around in Orlando was a horrible experience. The reps promised more than the stated offer and insisted to take the whole time allotment even though I told him we won’t bite and did not want to waste his time (always worked before!). Then a tragicomedy ensued trying to get the points…I gave up and do not give up easily. No more Hitlon time share presentations for me. So beware. Hope your experience is different!
Thanks for the words of caution! I am always super suspicious and get everything in writing; 25,000 points and 2 hours max :) But even if I have to spend two hours there, that’s fine and I’ve already resigned myself to that… after all, I won’t even be on vacation and it’s a 5 minute walk for me!
Here are my data points for being passed to the Hilton Grand Vacation Club desk. I called to reserve Hilton Tokyo for 2 nights and I got passed to the Hilton Grand Vacation Club desk after making my reservation. A week later, I booked 2 nights at Tallahassee Double Tree Hilton ($75 per night)…I did not get passed to Hilton Grand Vacation Desk. A week later, I booked 1 night at the Hilton Frankfurt and I got passed to the Vacation Desk. I don’t know if it means anything…but that was my experience.
Hi,
I was googling timeshare promotions and found your site, wonderful resources and great travel ideas. I want to that deal in Orlando. I have young children so that would be perfect for us! I hope you enjoy tour trips. It seems like you lead a wonderful life.
Victoria Pressley
http://www.facebook.com/victoriapressleyauthor
hmmm… I guess I don’t understand why you would need a NYC hotel room for Superbowl Sunday if you live just a few blocks from the property. You are already there! I would have picked the Hawaii deal! Just sayin.
On another note, I was presented with the same offer from Hilton GVC, and yes, if you ask ANY question or challenge them, they just keep making the pot sweeter. I don’t think that is something that requires skill… its part of their normal process. Its a psychological game in which they want to make EVERY prospect believe that they have earned something more special than anyone else. Everyone gets the same “extras” – it has nothing to do with negotiation tactics.
In summary, I will say that if you travel often, you can take advantage of some REALLY good offers and discounts, but you have to be VERY careful to read and follow all of the terms and conditions. There are many loopholes in these offers and its very easy to disqualify yourself from eligibility without realizing it.