Is the Hilton Grand Vacations Promotion Worth It? My Honest Review of Elara Las Vegas
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I decided to finally try one of those Hilton Grand Vacations promotions after being offered them many times over the years. In the past, I always declined. The locations never made sense for me. Orlando was too close to home, and places like Hawaii required more planning than I was ready to commit to within a year.
This time was different because Las Vegas was offered. My boyfriend currently lives in Las Vegas, and since we are in a long-distance relationship, it felt like the perfect opportunity to use the promotion while visiting him at the same time.
The deal was simple. Three nights and four days at a Hilton Grand Vacations property in Las Vegas for about $225 total, with the requirement of attending a presentation.
At the time, it sounded like a great deal.
What the Hilton Promo Included
Here is what was offered in my specific promotion:
3 nights and 4 days in Las Vegas
Total cost of about $225
Required attendance at a 90-minute presentation
A $199 credit after attending
A $200 future stay certificate
If everything worked out, the stay would have essentially cost around $25. That is what made it so appealing.
Hilton Elara
Booking Experience and Availability
I purchased the promotion in March and had one year to use it. I tried booking in the summer, but the options were not great. Most of the higher-end hotels were unavailable, and only lower-tier options were consistently open.
I decided to wait and try again in January, which is when I found availability at Hilton Elara. Elara had great reviews and a central Strip location, so I booked from January 27 to January 30.
One thing that frustrated me was that every single step had to happen over the phone. They would not communicate by email. No confirmation links, no digital paper trail. That felt strange to me, but I went along with it. Eventually, everything was set: Elara Hotel, three nights, presentation scheduled for 11:15 a.m. on day two.
Driving up to Hilton Elara
Hilton Elara Hotel Review
The hotel itself was a great experience.
I checked in at 12:30 p.m., well before standard check-in time. The front desk associate Betty was warm and immediately offered me a room on the 32nd floor because I hold Hilton Gold status through my Hilton credit card. Gold members get a room upgrade when one is available, and on this day, one was.
Hilton Elara Room 3206
Beautiful bathroom
Convenient wet bar
Room 3206 was spacious and felt nothing like a standard hotel room. King bed with a comfortable mattress, a sofa, an accent chair, tall windows with a view of the MGM Grand and the airport in the distance. There was a wet bar with an extra sink, a coffee setup, a mini fridge, a microwave, silverware, cups, and even a small dishwasher. The bathroom had a Jacuzzi tub, which I took full advantage of.
The overall layout made the stay feel elevated.
Location: One of the Best Parts
The location of Hilton Elara is a huge advantage. The hotel connects directly to Miracle Mile Shops, the indoor mall at Planet Hollywood, which has a range of restaurants at every price point. We found a sit-down Mexican breakfast for $7 one morning. Seven dollars. For eggs, potatoes, and your choice of meat at an actual restaurant in Las Vegas. That kind of find makes a trip.
Las Vegas Strip
We were directly across from the Bellagio fountains, which I went back to watch multiple times. That never gets old.
Being able to walk everywhere made the trip much more convenient.
Bellagio water fountain show
The Construction Noise and $75 Credit
One afternoon, there was very loud construction noise that made it hard to even hear the TV. I contacted the concierge through text, and they were very responsive. They apologized and offered a $75 credit to use at the bar or Starbucks.
While the service was great, the bar drinks were unfortunately not. The bartender was very nice, but the drinks themselves were not good, and we ended up going somewhere else.
In hindsight, Starbucks would have been a better use of the credit.
Hilton Elara lobby area with a bar and Starbucks
The Sales Presentation Experience
The presentation was scheduled for the second day of my stay at 11:15 am. It took place at another Hilton Grand Vacations location about 4.5 miles away, so we took an Uber to get there on time.
When we arrived, there was a waiting area with snacks, coffee, and drinks, which was a nice touch.
Our host was friendly and easy to talk to, which made a big difference. The group presentation itself only lasted about 20 minutes, much shorter than expected.
Plenty of snacks provided in the lounge area prior to the presentation
After that, we toured a timeshare unit, which was a large three-bedroom condo with a kitchen, living space, and balcony.
When it came time to discuss purchasing, I was honest. I told them I had lost my job about six months earlier and was not in a position to buy anything.
They did try to push slightly at first, but once they understood my situation, they backed off. A sales manager came over, had me sign a form about future eligibility, and that was it.
The entire experience lasted about one hour.
20-minute presentation
Important Update: Why I Did Not Receive the $199 Credit
After I returned home, I realized I had not received the $199 credit or the future stay certificate. I called Hilton Grand Vacations customer service to follow up.
They told me that I did not qualify for the incentive because I was unemployed at the time of the presentation. This was surprising to me.
When I originally purchased the promotion, I did have a full-time job. I lost that job a few months later, before attending the presentation.
During the tour, I was honest about my situation.
According to customer service, because I was unemployed at the time of the presentation, I did not meet the eligibility requirements for the incentive.
I do not recall this requirement being clearly explained during booking or at the presentation. It may have been included somewhere in the broader terms, but it was not emphasized.
It is also worth noting that Hilton promotions vary. Not all offers are the same, and eligibility requirements may differ.
Sample timeshare room in Las Vegas
Was It Still Worth It?
Even without the $199 credit, I still felt that the stay was worth it. $225 for three nights at a spacious hotel in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip is still a solid deal.
The presentation was not stressful, the hotel was great, and the location made the trip easy and enjoyable.
However, if you are considering this type of promotion, I would strongly recommend confirming all eligibility requirements ahead of time, especially regarding employment status.
Convenient Location in the middle of the Strip
Pros and Cons
Pros
Excellent central Strip location
Spacious, elevated room
Walkable to major attractions
Connected to shopping and dining
Affordable stay for Vegas
Friendly staff
Short and low-pressure presentation
Cons
Construction noise during the day
Bar drinks were not good
Sales presentation requires travel
Eligibility requirements not clearly explained
Experience may vary depending on host
Enjoying my hotel room with a view
Final Verdict
For me, this experience was still worth it. The hotel, location, and overall stay made the $225 cost reasonable even without the credit.
That said, this promotion is not for everyone. If you are uncomfortable with sales environments or unsure about eligibility requirements, it may not be the right fit.
If you do decide to try it, go in prepared, ask questions, and make sure you fully understand the terms before booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
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It can be, especially if you get a good hotel and location. Just make sure you understand all the requirements.
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Mine lasted about one hour, but most last 90-120 minutes.
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Yes. If you skip it, you will be charged the full hotel rate.
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In my experience, not really. There was a brief attempt to continue the conversation, but once I clearly said I wasn’t interested, they respected that. However, this can vary depending on your host.
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They did not verify anything during the presentation itself. However, based on my follow-up call, employment status can affect whether you qualify for certain incentives. It’s a good idea to clarify this upfront.
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Yes, but availability is limited. Higher-end or centrally located hotels may not always be available, especially during peak seasons. Flexibility helps.
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Not always. Mine was about 4.5 miles away from Hilton Elara, at HGV on Boulevard Hotel (2650 Las Vegas Blvd South) so we had to take an Uber. It’s something to factor into your schedule.
