- lsktravelz@gmail.com
Can I get an upgrade? Have you ever requested an upgrade at your hotel when you check in? Almost every time I make a reservation, I receive an email offer from Hilton asking if I want to upgrade my room. I find the offers interesting because I have Diamond Status. The Hilton Honors website states that if a better room is available, you will be awarded that room, up to a 1-bedroom suite. I never pay for an upgrade.
I found a Southwest nonstop round-trip flight to Louisville, Kentucky for $200 over the Memorial Day weekend. However, I used a flight credit ($61) to reduce the fare to $138. Of course, I took advantage of two fare drops that reduced the cost of this flight to $79. Remember, if you find a lower fare on Southwest, you can rebook the flight and receive a credit. Check fares early and often.
Although I travel to Kentucky often, I rotate my stays between the Embassy Suites and the Hilton Garden Inn (HGI) near Fourth Street Live. Both hotels offer a shuttle to and from the airport. The Embassy Suites offers complimentary breakfast, but you will pay for breakfast at HGI. There is a Manager’s Reception with light snacks and complimentary beer, wine, and spirits at the Embassy Suites. Do not expect a Manager’s Reception at HGI. As a Hilton Honors Diamond Member, I receive a daily food and beverage Credit at HGI. The rooftop view at the HGI is a plus.
As I mentioned, I maximize my loyalty to Hilton. For this two-night stay, I used Hilton Honors points and cash. I redeemed 58,000 points and paid $210. Did I receive an upgrade? One week before my stay, I received an email from Embassy Suites about an upgrade to my room. Even though the offer ($34) for a Corner Suite was enticing, I did not respond. The day before check-in, I received a notification about digital check-in. In hindsight, I should have selected Room 328 because breakfast and the reception were on the 3rd floor. It would have been convenient to get to both spaces with a room on the same floor. Keep that in mind if you book here. Yes, I received an upgrade to a higher floor (Room 649) with a partial city view.
Here is my list of things to do over the weekend in Louisville.
Luckily, I checked my flight before I headed to the airport. It was going to be a two-hour delay. There were no snacks or beverages for this 48-minute flight. I receive two drink coupons (A-List Preferred) on every flight. When I landed, I waited for the hotel shuttle for 90 minutes. I sent a message to Embassy Suites on X. I received 10,000 Hilton Honors points and an apology from the manager, but the Valet Manager never contacted me. Of course, I did not let these incidents spoil my trip. Pack your patience if you call for the 3rd party hotel shuttle service.
I saved $332 on the flight and accommodations. Meals were free except for a snack at Brendon’s and Gordon Biersch Brewery. If I had to pay for breakfast and dinner, I could have easily spent $100. The hotel shuttle to and from the airport was complimentary. If I had taken a rideshare, I would have paid $50 round-trip. 
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