Stayed here while in town for a wedding and found the stay overall satisfactory. Despite the great deal I got on Hotwire ($60-something/night), given the other options in town, wouldn't stay here again because of the little add-on fees(pay-wifi, parking fees). I stayed recently at the Residence Inn nearby, much preferred that, and kept comparing the Hilton to it!
The Hilton came up as a 4-star hotel in Hotwire but I would call it more a 3 to 3.5 star establishment.
PROS:
- efficient, friendly staff, quick check-in
- large, nice pool with whirlpool (didn't get to use it, unfortunately)
- free boarding pass printing at the business center
- comfy-looking bar area. Folks were sitting enjoying evening wine/cocktails, and it looked like a nice spot to unwind.
- comfortable beds
- nice-looking lobby and the rooms were renovated not too long ago (don't get scared by the horrible 80s exterior!)
- I stayed during daylight savings & the staff left a note about the time change & set my hotel clock forward for me! Thought that was a nice touch.
CONS:
- not-free wifi
- $16/day parking fee
- as others mentioned, would have to walk through the bar area to get to the pool which is awkward
- no fridge in the room (although they offer it for a $5/day fee or if you get an executive suite)
- tiny bathroom (the hubby and I definitely kept bumping into each other while trying to use the bathroom at the same time)
- The conference/wedding facilities aren't set apart from the main hotel. When I checked in, both a wedding & multiple conferences were taking place, which meant I had trouble getting a parking spot and had to walk through a crowd of wedding guests to get to the back parking lot
- My room was on the airport side, but to be honest, the noise didn't really bother me. Other reviewers mentioned the airport doesn't operate past 10pm. It wasn't a huge "con".
All in all, the optional little extra fees got to me. I hate feeling nickel-and-dimed, and I'd rather go someplace else that has the basics included.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
2 December 2011
Thank you for your feedback regarding your most recent stay at the Hilton Irvine.
The Hilton Irvine prides itself on providing a memorable experience for our guests. We are sorry to hear the extra fees we charge were not a highlight of your stay. The Hilton Irvine has a unique location directly across from John Wayne Airport, which has made it necessary to charge for parking due to the high demand for parking in the area. As well, we do offer complimentary internet for our esteemed Hilton HHonors Gold & Diamond guests. On a positive note, we are happy to hear the service you received from our staff was exceptional and you were able to take advantage of a spectacular deal on Hotwire which provided a great rate.
Thank you for sharing your experience on Trip Advisor and for being our guest. We hope to once again welcome you back to the Hilton Irvine in the future.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC