The best Hilton hotels are nowhere near as good as the best Hyatt hotels, particularly when you consider the best Park Hyatt hotels. There are some great Waldorf Astoria hotels and some great Hilton hotels, but most Hilton’s don’t usually come close to Park Hyatt in terms of luxury.
Hyatt Hotels tend to be available in all major cities and resort areas, much like Hilton Hotels. Hilton Hotels generally adopted a more generic, modern look with good but not perfect service. Hilton Hotels offer advantages over Hyatt Hotels as they are usually cheaper, which may be a good reason to choose them. Individual luxury Hiltons also offer a great option in locations without a good Hyatt Hotel option.
We often get asked what the best hotel brand is in the world, and for us, it is the Four Seasons. The best Four Seasons hotels are out of this world, although they have the disadvantage of no way of collecting loyalty points as Four Seasons has no loyalty program.
Hyatt stays accrue World of Hyatt points and Hilton stays accrue Hilton Honors points. Both of these loyalty schemes are excellent. It’s worth mentioning that these loyalty benefits are nowhere near as good as the benefits you get by booking your next Four Seasons, Hyatt, or Hilton stay with our luxury travel concierge. If you book with our concierge, you will get free breakfast, prioritized room upgrades, hotel credit, and more, as well as all your usual World of Hyatt or Hilton Honors points during your stay.
We outline how Hyatt Hotels vary in comparison to hotels that fall under the Hilton umbrella below:
1. Style
The style of Hyatt hotels is very brand dependent and individual property dependant. For example, the Park Hyatt Zurich is a stunning, modern, ultra luxurious Park Hyatt located in the heart of Zurich. You are welcomed by a foyer wrapped in black marble, the main lounge is a cozy affair huddled next to an impressive gas fireplace, the bar area is funky and happening, and the restaurant serves excellent food. Rooms here are generous in size and ultra modern with wooden flooring, bathrooms that open up to the bedroom, and a minimalist creamy white decor.
While the Park Hyatt Zurich is undeniably stylish, it is completely different from the Park Hyatt Vienna, which is steeped with history and has unusual rooms designed to fit in with the original building and a pool in the cellar.
If you are looking for the most modern Hyatt brand, Andaz is their young and funky brand, and it competes at a level of luxury and stylishness similar to Hilton’s new Canopy by Hilton brand. We have outlined some of the best Andaz hotels and the best Canopy by Hilton hotels so you can check out the individual hotels within these listings.
The Andaz in London is connected to Liverpool Street station, so it is ideally located for tube access to the rest of London and for the City, but is not in a tourist destination. We find this hotel a little soulless and corporate. Many people love the iPad check-in, but we prefer to check in at a desk. That said, the Andaz in Maui is exceptional, so this ultra-stylish brand can be hit and miss for the luxury traveler.
Grand Hyatts and Hyatt Regency hotels are both quality brands but can offer some disappointingly generic hotels. The Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill is a great Hyatt Regency hotel that absorbs a nice level of British history in the decor of the foyer. It is brilliantly located (much better than the Andaz in London or the new Park Hyatt), but the base rooms here are quite small and ordinary (although we love their Molton Brown toiletries!).
Review: Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill
Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill stands as a distinguished retreat in the heart of London, situated in the upscale neighborhood of Marylebone. Named in honor of the iconic British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, the hotel exudes a blend of timeless elegance and modern sophistication. Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill's location offers convenient access to some of London's most renowned attractions, including Oxford Street, Hyde Park, and the West End theaters. Guests can easily explore the vibrant cityscape and cultural landmarks with nearby transport links.
Hilton hotels tend to offer a classic American style. Even those that are set in historic buildings celebrate their heritage with an American touch. The communal areas of Hilton Hotels are more American than local. Although the rooms can offer wonderful views, once you close the curtains, the decor usually feels like Hilton rather than the destination.
Three Hilton hotels we have visited recently stand out as more unique than your average Hilton. The Hilton Molino Stucky in Venice is steeped in historic features. Prior to its transformation into the Hilton Molino Stucky Hotel, this magnificent edifice stood as one of Europe’s most extensive mills, with origins tracing back to the 1880s. Undergoing a meticulous restoration in the early 2000s, it emerged as the iconic Hilton Molino Stucky Venice, opening its doors to guests in 2007.
While the Hilton Molino Stucky offers contemporary and stylish lodging, its profound historical essence resonates throughout its premises. Authentic wooden beams, revealed brickwork and the warehouse-inspired layout echo Venetian tradition, presenting guests with an unparalleled fusion of heritage and opulence.
Infusing modernity with its historical essence, the hotel showcases original brickwork and beams at every turn, granting guests stunning vistas of the edifice’s exterior. Below, communal spaces flaunt marble flooring and sumptuous sofas, epitomizing elegance and comfort.
The difference between this and a Hyatt hotel is the ambiance, which I would describe as American luxury rather than traditional Venetian charm. While the communal spaces are pleasant, they lack the breathtaking elegance one might expect from a Park Hyatt. The check-in process involves waiting in a queue and receiving a somewhat impersonal welcome.
That said, in Venice, the Hilton is a brilliant choice, particularly when compared to the Hyatt Centric Murano Venice, which is badly located and budget in feel and design.
Review: Hilton Molino Stucky Venice
The Hilton Molino Stucky Venice is a great luxury hotel choice in Venice. In fact, for the room price, it's hard to beat! Book a room at the Hilton Molino Stucky (or any other luxury hotel in the world) via our luxury travel concierge, and you get brilliant extra benefits such as free breakfast for two, resort credit and room upgrade. Venice's magical winding waterways are famous worldwide, with tens of millions of tourists visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site annually.
Another Hilton worth trying is the Hilton on Lake Como. Accommodations around Lake Como can often come with exorbitant price tags, and the quality of rooms in certain purported luxury hotels can be surprisingly subpar. However, the Hilton stands out with its splendid rooms, expansive windows, a rooftop pool, and restaurant. Overall, this hotel proves to be an excellent choice for visitors to Lake Como, and as there is no Hyatt on Lake Como (the nearest is the Park Hyatt Milan), the Hilton is a top choice.
One of the best Hiltons for a family holiday is the Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Maui. We have compared Four Seasons vs. Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort and we will compare the Andaz and the Grand Wailea. Sign up for the luxury travel diary newsletter to receive this kind of comparison in your inbox.
If you’re traveling with kids, the Grand Wailea, which is a Hilton subsidiary, has incredible pools, but this hotel is large and impersonal, with disappointing rooms compared to the Four Seasons next door. The Andaz is a little way up the coast and is much smaller than the Waldorf, with a much more personal service. If you’re traveling with a family, this particular Andaz offers incredible oceanside villas that will make your stay really special. While we love the slides at the Waldorf, overall, we’d stay at the Andaz for the resort’s style and personality. Of course, Four Seasons is our number one choice in the Wailea area, and if your budget can stretch to it, this is a very special hotel and one of the best Four Seasons in Hawaii.
2. Location
Where a Hyatt or Hilton hotel is located is dependent on the individual hotel, and location alone will usually dictate which brand to choose. If you want to stay in Waikiki, no Four Seasons hotels exist. The Hilton Hawaiian Village, which is a Hilton resort, is right on the beach and has loads of facilities. The Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach is on the wrong side of the road from the beach. As we favor direct beach access, we prefer the Hilton here.
In Venice, the Hyatt Centric Murano Venice is badly located, so the Hilton Molino Stucky in Venice is your best choice. In cities where there’s a Park Hyatt and a Hilton hotel, the Park Hyatt will almost always be better located and more luxurious, but you might pick the Hilton as it’s cheaper.
3. Size
Although this is not always the case, Hilton hotels tend to be large, and Hyatt hotels can also be very large. If you are looking for a more boutique feel, pick one of their boutique brands like Canopy by Hilton, Andaz, or Park Hyatt. All of these hotels are usually smaller.
Canopy by Hilton is a lovely Hilton boutique brand and is worth considering if you want a more unique place to stay because of the smaller size of these hotels. Canopy by Hilton Cannes has panoramic views over the Mediterranean from one of the city’s best rooftop terraces, interiors designed by acclaimed designer Ramy Fischer, and a relaxing swimming pool that flows from indoors to outdoors. This hotel’s gorgeous terrace is pictured above.
10 Best Canopy by Hilton Hotels
What are the best Canopy by Hilton Hotels in the world? We have already reviewed the best Hilton beach hotels and resorts and the best Hilton hotels in Europe which include some brilliant Canopy Hotels. Now we review specifically the 10 best Canopy branded Hilton hotels.
4. Grounds
This is completely property dependent. The Andaz Maui has lovely oceanfront grounds with pools trickling down to the Pacific. The Hyatt Regency Waikiki has virtually no grounds. The Hilton Hawaiian Village has such huge grounds that your room may be some way from the beach. Park Hyatt hotels tend to be set in cities, so they usually have less grounds. In Venice, neither the Hyatt or the Hilton have any grounds to speak of, although the Hilton has a rooftop pool and waterfront restaurant, both of which are really nice.
5. Beach
Again, beaches are more property-specific. In Waikiki, pick the Hilton Hawaiian Village over the Hyatt Regency, which is not on the beach. However, in many cases, Hilton or Waldorf Astoria hotels are on the best bit of the beach. Hotels are on the beach. Perhaps an easier differentiator is the rooftop bars. Almost all Canopy by Hilton hotels have a brilliant rooftop bar, making them a top choice if you like a cocktail as the sun sets over whichever city you are visiting.
6. Rooms
Room sizes and quality vary by brand within the umbrella rather than the umbrella brand. Park Hyatt, Conrad, and Waldorf Astoria hotels tend to have large, stylish rooms. At the budget end with Hyatt Centric, Spark by Hilton, Hampton, and Garden Inn, the rooms are much smaller.
7. Food
Both brands offer excellent and not-so-excellent restaurants. You will need to review the specific property to determine whether a particular property has an award-winning restaurant. We love the breakfast and the waterfront restaurants at the Hilton in Venice. All Park Hyatt hotels also offer an excellent breakfast. Again, as you go down the chain towards the budget end, the food offerings become more meager.
8. Family Facilities
Both brands are family-friendly. Some hotels offer pools and beaches, some don’t. We reccomend picking a Hyatt or a Hilton with a pool or a beach if you are holidaying with a young family.
9. Club Lounge
Hyatt Regency and Grand Hyatt hotels tend to have some of the best Hyatt club lounges that you can access if you are a high tier loyalty member or if you have paid for a club room. Park Hyatt hotels don’t tend to offer club lounges.
Under the Hilton brand, Waldorf Astoria hotels and Canopy by Hilton hotels don’t tend to offer club lounges, but Hiltons usually do. We have reviewed the Hilton club lounge in Venice, which is one of the best Hilton club lounges, and it had nice views but was not great and was not nearly as good as the Hyatt club lounges we have experienced. The setting was tiny, and the evening food was limited when compared to a Hyatt, although it was nice to have free drinks on tap throughout the day.
10. Price
Park Hyatt Hotels and Waldorf Astoria Hotels tend to be the most expensive brands in Hyatt and Hilton, respectively. We have reviewed the cheapest Park Hyatt hotels in case you are searching for a bargain. We’ve also reviewed the cheapest Four Seasons in the world too.
Although there are exceptions, Hilton hotels tend to be cheaper than Hyatt hotels as a general rule.
11. Conclusion
Both Park Hyatt and Waldorf Astoria are impressive hotels. We love the youthful and funky Andaz and Canopy by Hilton hotels, which are ideal for the young or young at heart. Grand Hyatts and Hystt Regencys tend to have great club lounges, and Hiltons tend to be the cheaper option, but these overall trends vary hugely by individual destination and hotel. if you need ore advice, our luxury travel concierge agents are here to help and advise.
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