Mr SY works smack bang in the centre of Brisbane city. Surrounded by innumerable shops, restaurants and bars.
Most Friday nights as he walks past those aforementioned shops, restaurants and bars on his way to the train station to hot foot it back up the highway to home, he laments not being able to take me out in his working ‘hood.
So, when the lovely people at the Hilton HHonors {the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton Worldwide’s 10 distinct hotel brands} program offered me a chance to experience the perks of such a program, I jumped at the chance to have a Date Night in Brisbane.
I was a bit clever about the timing too. See, Mr SY would be at the office all day. Thanks to his wonderful sister, Mr 7 was spending the night with his cousins just down the road, which would then leave me with a whole afternoon to prepare.
And by prepare I mean implement a four-step action plan to take me from hot-and-bothered-coast chick who’s become quite accustomed to wearing minimal makeup and clothes these summer holidays to glam-city-chick. By 5pm.
With just four hours to be Date Night ready, I did a bit of pre-planning before leaving home. Booked some professionals to help me out and did a little online retail research as to possible outfits.
{I did bring a back-up outfit with me from home. Just in case I didn’t find something I loved. Can never be too prepared, Stylers.}
It had been about four years since we’d stayed at the Hilton Brisbane but I’d visited for high tea with Miss SY last December and had remembered just how conveniently it is placed for city shopping. It’s a bit like a beautiful, peaceful oasis perched just above the craziness of the Queen Street Mall below.
What also sets this hotel apart from others in inner-city Brisbane is that while it may be coming up to 26 years old, its original design was that of Harry Seidler {one of the founders of modernist design}.
His concept of bringing light into a large city hotel via the atrium pictured above means that you always feel connected to the outside. Warning though, if you’re not one for heights, don’t look down when you’re in those glass lifts and travelling up to the 24th floor. Just saying.
The original hotel has been progressively renovated since 2005 and the opening of Vintaged Bar last year and the Vintaged Grill the year before that completed the picture. Stock-standard hotel dining and drinking it is not.
But more on that later.
There was the small matter of the prep work to be completed, wasn’t there?
First stop out the lift on to the mall was Country Road. Not for me. No, for Mr SY. A new shirt or three. Something for him to wear that night and distract him from the purchases I was to subsequently make for myself 
Now, to me. That online browsing the day before had led me to Leona Edmiston. I made a beeline for the Queens Plaza boutique, crossing fingers and toes that the two frocks I was keen to try were still available in my size. Bingo … and both on sale.
Next, a quick mani three levels below and onwards and up the Queen Street mall for a makeover at the Illamasqua counter at Myer then back to Elizabeth Street behind the Hilton for a blow dry at the Blow Dry Bar. I was hooked on this concept when travelling in the US last year and am more than a little excited to find it here in Australia too. You can’t beat a $40 blow dry – in and out in 45 minutes. As for the makeup? Great value too. It’s $50 but that’s redeemable on product. I needed more foundation. Sorted and smokey eye ready.
As I swished my hair back towards the Wintergarden shopping centre, which re-opened last year looking all shiny and new and is in the same building as the Hilton, I justified a look-see and purchase at Dinosaur Designs. The frocks I had already purchased had been on sale after all
Mr SY phoned just as I was handing over my card to make the purchase and said he was on his way. Talk about perfect timing. Off to our room, it was.
I got the shopping confession out of the way first. You know, while he was all happy about the easiest commute from work ever.
Yes, the shirts proved to be just the distraction I’d hoped for. He loved the frocks and raised his eyebrows at the bangles purchase, muttering something silly along the lines of don’t I already have plenty of accessories.
Decided to ignore such nonsense, quickly shower and get one of those frocks on. Pronto.
Now, I’d made a dinner booking back at the hotel for 8pm but first Mr SY was keen to take me down Brisbane’s Burnett Lane to sample some of the action in the city’s new-ish laneway bars.
I’m a bar hopper from way back and excelled at choosing a different drink at each of the three we visited: Super Whatnot {young crowd, eclectic decor}, The Survey Co {older crowd, sophisticated urban}, Brew {crowd somewhere in between, hipster factor high}.
We had one more drink stop to make before dinner. And it was a good one. It came with a view, 25 storeys up in the Executive Lounge at the Hilton Brisbane.
As we were offered our choice of drinks and canapes, I realised just what the big deal about being a part of the Hilton HHonors program was all about. Not only can you receive complimentary continental breakfast, access to the Executive Longe {at selected properties}, free wi-fi in your room, express checkout and so much more {check here for details on what the each HHonors Status gets you} but the staff in the lounge go out their way to make you feel super special. To first timers like us but also I overhead them talking to repeat guests as if they were long-lost friends.
Talk about personalise the hotel experience. I could get very used to that.
Dinner at Vintaged did not disappoint. Mr SY was ready for a good steak and boy did they serve up just that. I chose salmon with an eye firmly on the dessert menu. As I am wont to do.
In the interests of keeping this blog PG-rated, we shall skip what happened next. Suffice to say, I do love a hotel bed. Yes, I do …
Especially when you wake up and have to work out exactly what time it is because no children have come in to say good morning.
Got myself up … eventually … frocked up again in other Leona purchase, looked at suitcase full of unworn clothes and noted to self to next time only pack underwear, and went back for a bit more Executive Lounge action for breakfast before checking out.
Have since put Mr SY on notice that he’s to organise at least two of these Date Nights this year.
I’m no relationship expert but I tell you, just one night {and a little retail therapy} can do wonders to keep things, shall we say, zesty.
Special offer
Now is definitely the time to plan ahead for a special weekend away in 2013. If you book a future weekend stay at hotels within the Hilton HHonors portfolio {see below for participating hotels} before February 14, 2013 then rates are up to 40% off with the Any Weekend, Anywhere Sale. Your weekend escape can be at any participating hotels within the Hilton Worldwide portfolio up to December 31, 2013. Book for a special birthday, anniversary or just because. They’re the best kind of escapes.
Participating Hilton Worldwide properties that you can redeem your points on include: Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels& Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations.
WIN
Would you like the chance to get away for one or maybe two nights with your partner {or get away with the girls }? Thought you would. Thanks to the wonderful people at Hilton HHonors, we’re giving away 100,000 Hilton HHonors points to one lucky Styling You reader. HHonors points can be redeemed {and earned} on free nights at Hilton Worldwide properties around the world {see above for list of hotels}, flights, merchandise, experiences and much, much more. Becoming a Hilton HHonors member and building up your points with each stay, you could get to enjoy all the benefits of the Executive Lounge like we did.
Entering is simple. It will be a game of skill and your answer to this question will be judged based on creativity and originality:
Which Hilton Worldwide property would you book into {can be in Australia or overseas too} and what would you do during your stay there?
Entries open on Friday, January 18, 2013 at 8am (AEST) and close on Friday, January 25, 2013 at 8am (AEST). The winner will be notified via email and his or her name published here. Should you win, you will need to join the Hilton HHonors program so your points can be awarded to you.
Membership for HHonors is free, and you can join online by visiting www.HiltonHHonors.com. Earn points with every visit and take advantage of free nights, early check-in/late checkout, express check-in lines and complimentary room upgrades. Check out what you can earn and redeem your points on here.
Coordinated by The Remarkables Group
