Review: Hilton Frankfurt Airport

Lucky, they gave you the same room I had when I stayed there in April, ha! I agree the view was not great, but they mentioned I could have asked for a room with a view of the airport. The evening spread seemed a bit better when I was there...they might have downgraded it recently or something.

Great review - thanks Ben. I was torn between Hilton, 50k points (Diamond) and Sheraton, 5k points + $75 (Gold) for an overnight in Jan (in around 5pm, out 7am the following morning).

I'll stick with my Hilton reservation after reading your review.

That looks nice. I have stayed at the Sheraton several times--the most recently in May 2013. I am an SPG Gold. We got nothing in the way of amenities, club access, room upgrade, etc. And the room was very tired looking with beat-up furniture. I'll definitely look at the Hilton next time.

Lucky, thanks for the detailed report! I was intrigued by the separation of the Mid East crew. Do you think it was a status thing, or a gender thing? Or, I suppose it could have been just an availability thing.....

My family and stayed at the Sheraton in Sept. 2013 as Gold. Upgraded both of our rooms. Rooms we were in were in great shape. Ultimately, we spent most of the time in the City before our early morning departure from Frankfurt. So being close to the train into the city was important. Also it was how we arrived at the airport as we came in by train from Paris.

"Yes, of course you have been upgraded" You doubted our German efficiency? 😉

@ Denise. I agree. In the past, when SPG Gold, i've stayed at the Sheraton FRA because of the convenient location and always received some drab looking room at the end of a long corridor. That all changed when i stayed there this spring - Great lounge, nice modern room etc.
Hilton in Europe treat their Golds much better than SPG their mid-tier elites. I walked from the Sheraton through the Squaire to the Hilton properties and it will add 12-15 minutes each way from the terminal.

In my above post, I should have said that everything changed for the better when i became Platinum with SPG.

@ Mairi -- Has nothing to do with gender but rather rank. At Middle Eastern airlines pilots and pursers have much better contracts than cabin crew. For example, for a major Middle Eastern airline I have friends at, pursers get their own apartment while cabin crew have roommates.

@ Denise -- Great point, I should've made a distinction between the renovated and non-renovated rooms at the Sheraton. The non-renovated rooms are pretty awful indeed, and I wouldn't stay in them regardless of status if I could avoid it.

@Lucky, interesting that you opted to spend 50,000 points rather than pay 179 Euros. My husband has 650,000 HHonors points, having never spent any! Sigh.

Anyway, are you saying that you would spend 30,000 points on a room that would otherwise cost you $187 plus tax? Do you know if when spending points do you need to pay hotel taxes or is everything included? Thanks.

The HGI is a decent choice for a short stopover. Cost is significantly less than the Hilton and they both share the same gym. Main difference is the exec lounge. But even then the HGI gives gold/diamonds brekkie in the restaurant which is better than the hilton lounges spread.

Have to agree with Tom. I have stayed at the HGI several times and seeing these pictures I don't think Hilton is worth it. The value of HGI is much higher relative to what I pay.

I have seen the same ME crew around the hotels and I hear that airline likes airport hotels. It's much more difficult for cabin crew to leave the hotel(to go clubbing or meet unrelated males) that way even if HGI isn't isolated in any way.

We stayed there last summer after it opened and it is pretty nice overall. Gym was packed when we were there and lounge had similar food offerings (mediocre) and was unfortunately taken over by three loud businessmen who proceeded to pretty well empty the liquor cabinet! We were facing the airport and views were not that good - very distant across the Sheraton etc. - so you didn't miss much. I found the best aspect of the hotel was actually watching the planes landing on 25R (the new north runway), as they fly directly over the Squaire on approach.

Have to agree with some other posters. Stayed twice at the hilton and once at the HGI. For a one night stay the HGI is good enough and the more economical choice.

Also not sure how it was at your stay but the gym was hot as hell when I worked out in the afternoon once.

Location works well if you come in late by train and leave next morning by plane (like I did the last times).

Ben - what's the "closest" hotel to the LH FCT; and/or are both Hiltons are within walking distance?

@ Simon -- The Sheraton is the closest hotel to the FCT, and maybe a 10 minute walk. The Hilton is also walkable, though an extra 10-15 minutes.

Thanks Ben - I switched from Hilton to Sheraton; an extra 15 mins in the FCT!! I plan to arrive 5.30am, as I have a flight to ZRH at 8.50am (connecting to LAX on LX F).

I will score a tarmac transfer to my LX flight FRA-ZRH correct?

@ Denise - FWIW, club/lounge access is only for SPG Platinums / HHonoros Diamond. Golds (either with Starwood or with Hilton) don't get that.

Hi Lucky,

I have a similar flight, flying LH business NAP-FRA on May 10th in the evening and then flying LH first FRA-YYZ on the 11th in the afternoon. Would be within the 24hrs period so still considered a connection,... Do you have any idea if LH would hold the bags overnight and allow me into the FCL in FRA on the 10th?

When you arrived into FRA from brussels, did you try getting into the FCL? I know you've previously mentioned it has to be the same day, but I've also heard from a few that a 24hrs rule cam also apply.

Thanks for any tips,
Matthew 🙂

@ Matthew -- They won't hold your bags overnight unfortunately, and I wouldn't want to do that anyway since there's a high chance of it getting lost. You can only use the FCL/FCT same day as your international first class flight. Sometimes they'll accidentally let people in previous day if they're connecting to international first class, though they're not supposed to.

Enjoy your trip!

I stayed at FRA HGI last month and HGI seems like a better deal. The HGI rooms look to be about the same size and have almost the same furniture.

I found it strange the breakfast looked worst than HGI also. HGI had the same things + Ruhr Ei (scrambled eggs) + omelettes (or eggs to order) + american style make your own waffle.