Comments on: Hilton upgrades in-room coffee http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/07/26/hilton-upgrades-in-room-coffee/ Living the first class life -- at coach prices Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:21:15 +0000 hourly 1 By: Paul McCluskey http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/07/26/hilton-upgrades-in-room-coffee/#comment-24833 Paul McCluskey Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:13:34 +0000 http://upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=232#comment-24833 I just don't believe this qualifies as an upgrade in the coffee availble in the room. The problem with these machines is you can't brew your own. As someone who spends around 150 nights a year on the road, I always travel with a little tub of basket filters, a pound of my "favorite of the moment" grounds and a baggie full of creamer (which does raise a few eyebrows at the security checkpoint, but is surprisingly easily explained). Therefore, as far as I am concerned I always have the BEST in-room coffee as long as the hotel has a "proper" coffee maker. I used to be a Hampton Inn devotee until they got those abysmal "CCV" single serve machines which just produce the most awful excuse for coffee I've ever seen. Now I only stay with them in Braintree, MA where they have a location near my corp HQ. I store a proper machine in the office and use it while I stay in my Hampton. The maids think it's pretty funny, but they are used to it. The bad news for Hilton is that this change in coffee machines will be my sole reason for NOT staying with them any longer. Despite Starwood's decaying Sheraton brand and Hyatt's ludrous overpricing for mostly old hotels, most of their hotels still have real machines in the rooms, as do virtually all the IHG (Holiday Inn) brands. I just don’t believe this qualifies as an upgrade in the coffee availble in the room. The problem with these machines is you can’t brew your own. As someone who spends around 150 nights a year on the road, I always travel with a little tub of basket filters, a pound of my “favorite of the moment” grounds and a baggie full of creamer (which does raise a few eyebrows at the security checkpoint, but is surprisingly easily explained). Therefore, as far as I am concerned I always have the BEST in-room coffee as long as the hotel has a “proper” coffee maker.

I used to be a Hampton Inn devotee until they got those abysmal “CCV” single serve machines which just produce the most awful excuse for coffee I’ve ever seen. Now I only stay with them in Braintree, MA where they have a location near my corp HQ. I store a proper machine in the office and use it while I stay in my Hampton. The maids think it’s pretty funny, but they are used to it.

The bad news for Hilton is that this change in coffee machines will be my sole reason for NOT staying with them any longer. Despite Starwood’s decaying Sheraton brand and Hyatt’s ludrous overpricing for mostly old hotels, most of their hotels still have real machines in the rooms, as do virtually all the IHG (Holiday Inn) brands.

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