Starwood Preferred Guest - Westin Las Vegas - Hotel Reviews

I have started this thread for people to post reviews of the Westin Las Vegas based on their stay there. I understand that there is another thread open, but that one has already reached several pages and basically contains information about pre opening issues (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum74/HTML/008395.html)

I’ll start the thread off with information about my stay and would ask that you add information about yours to give people a single place to get information about the hotel.

The hotel officially welcomed their first guest on Nov 6. I was told that this was part of a “quiet opening” of floors 3 through 6 (only). I arrived on November 9.

When I arrived at 3:00 PM, I was told that they did not have any rooms available for me and that I should check back about 4:00 PM. Until more floors are open, you could see some delays if you are looking for an early check in. FYI - Official check in time is 3:00 PM.

I did check back later as requested and was assigned a room on the 6th floor. The check in process was quick and efficient and they did acknowledge my SPG status – Gold. If you are Platinum, I wouldn’t expect a suite upgrade anytime soon as I was told that the suites – only 10 of them - are on the uppers floors which are not open yet. More on this later.

Arriving at my room my first thought was – could it be any smaller. The standard rooms are very, very narrow and small especially for Las Vegas standards. You can do far better at many other strip hotels. How narrow you ask? It was only about 13 feet wide and with the King Heavenly bed and dresser on opposite walls facing each other; you only had about 3 feet between the bed and dresser.

The room was clean, except for the closet which was still filthy with construction dust, and the outside of the windows which were caked with dust and dirt leaving a limited view. The bathroom was large and clean. They did have the Heavenly shower installed. However, I had a significant problem with low water pressure in the shower and alternating temperatures between cold and scalding hot.

There was a nice sized desk in the room with high speed internet, provided by Cox Communications, available. The cost was $9.99 for 24 hours from the time you signed up. There was also a small end table and chair.

I was told that the 16th and 17th floor will have some larger rooms, but they couldn’t tell me what that meant or when they would be available.

Here are some other observations about the hotel.

They do have a show at the Hotel. It’s David Brenner. Cost was $50.00 per person. (when I was there)

The casino is very small with a decent variety of slot machines but only a few tables. No sports book and no place for one that I could see.

The gym is on the second floor and it was “open” at no charge. When I was there the machines were in place but the room was not complete. It was also very dirty.

The pool area is also on the second floor – outside. It was not open yet. It looks like there will be a small pool and even smaller whirlpool.

I didn’t see any area for spa services – maybe that is coming later.

There is one restaurant – upscale Las Vegas prices of $23 - $35 per entree. No sign of other options. There is also a good sized bar area.

The gift shop and Starbucks is not open yet.

As for the construction – it started at 6:00 AM on Monday and 7:00 AM on Tuesday. Lots of hammering and sawing. There are lots of signs of activity around the hotel. I’m told that all of the rooms will not be open until January 2004.

Finally, and this is the most important point. The Westin is not on the strip. It’s on Flamingo about 0.7 miles from the strip. It’s not a bad walk if the weather is nice, but I would not want to do it in the heat of the summer or in the rain. There is no cover.

Also, there was no cab stand at the hotel yet. They have to call for one which takes some time. When they do arrive they are not cheap given the heavy traffic in the area. For example, it was $6.00 to go from the Westin to the Mirage each way. It doesn’t sound like much, but the trips (and tips) do add up.

There will be a monorail station about a block from the hotel sometime in 2004 that will run from the MGM to the Sands once complete. It will go Downtown much later.

Setting aside the construction I asked myself if I would return. The answer is no. The rooms are too small and services too limited. Plus it is just too far from the strip.

just came back from a stay at the Westin and actually can't write a better desciption of the entire situation than the above post. The people were very nice from the maids to the front staff, apologising profusely for the construction yet there it was - not ready for prime time yet.

Would I stay again when complete? Pluses are it is small and it doesn't take 10 minutes to get from your room to the door (a great plus in Vegas), friendly, nice beds and shower, easily traversed casino area. Minuses are 10 minute walk from the strip without cover, small rooms, no sports book and no football on the bar TV or any public area (hey, it's Vegas baby). Not a bad place for a small buisness meeting but not as great for a vacation.

Thanks for this although its a little depressing.Im due there on December 10 for 2 nights.Its my first time in Vegas and maybe the last (I live in Europe and have 2 dead days between meetings in Costa Rica and California)so wanted the full fledged experience.Am now thinking of changing.Any advice on the best bet for under $150 per night(for once Im paying for my own room)

Poncho - no need to be depressed. I want to add that I have been offered compensation for the noise of construction and have been told it will be done soon. Pool was to open this week. The front staff offered another visit on the house in the future (I was up quite a bit at 6 am) and a free buffet (which was very good). I can't say enough about how nice the staff was.
That said - if this was a buisness meeting I would stay at the Westin if promised the construction was done, if it is a one and only visit from Europe for a big, Vegas style extravaganza then just go for one of the big themed casinos. Paris, Monte Carlo, Ballys, Luxor, etc. all have cheap December midweek rates (less than 125) with good spa packages (an great bit of fun that will add to your trip - the vegas spas are very nice). I just got an email about Luxor and Ceasers having early december spa pass specials.
If you go to Disneyland you like to see Mickey at breakfast, and when in Vegas you should get the full blast of action and noise each time you go downstairs. It's great for 2 days (but not too much longer!)

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ponchodiaz:
Thanks for this although its a little depressing.Im due there on December 10 for 2 nights.Its my first time in Vegas and maybe the last (I live in Europe and have 2 dead days between meetings in Costa Rica and California)so wanted the full fledged experience.Am now thinking of changing.Any advice on the best bet for under $150 per night(for once Im paying for my own room)</font>


If this is your first trip to Las Vegas, I would not stay at the Westin, then. I've seen the hotel and it looks like it will be nice when they work the above mentioned bugs out, but for a true Las Vegas experience, you need to experience a hotel like the Mirage, the Bellagio, the MGM Grand, The Manadalay Bay, The Four Seasons, The Rio, Treasure Island, or a few others. Skip the points you would earn and stay at one of these hotels.

The Bellagio currently has a promotional lake view room on sale this winter at $139USD.

See http://www.bellagio.com/promos/blasts/nov03_c139/index.html

The Bellagio is truely a Las Vegas experience and one of only 2 hotels in Las Vegas to receive the Five Diamond rating from AAA (the Four Season's is the other). My last stay was at the Bellagio, but I've stayed at all the others I listed as well.

Thats it Ive decided.I will reserve somewhere else and then wait right up to the last minute to decide depending on what comes up on here about the Westin.

In alll honesty it should be a no brainer but having spent every hotel night this year at Starwoods it almost seems like cheating on your wife to go elsewhere.But there again it is Vegas so if you are going to cheat....

With all floors not being open, are they still sending reservation to the Luxor? I have a Priceline reservation over New Years Eve and am kind of worried. Priceline was offering refunds for some when other rooms were not available.

Thanks!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by MaxBialyBroadway:
With all floors not being open, are they still sending reservation to the Luxor? I have a Priceline reservation over New Years Eve and am kind of worried. Priceline was offering refunds for some when other rooms were not available.

Thanks!</font>


I was told that they are planning to honor all reservations within the hotel. Does this mean that you couldn't be walked ? No. Situations will come up here as they do with any hotel.

Steves Can you please advise when you get your "compensation"? I was promised a couple of items a month and one-half ago. Nothing yet. Thanks

I just spent the past two nights here. Overall, my experience was just fine. No big issues.

I was the first person to stay in my room on the 9th floor; they had just opened up to the 9th. There are 7 more floors to go.

Progress on the hotel is the same as been reported.

I found the hotel staff to be terrific -- very willing to do whateve they could do, as quickly as possible to deal with whatever came up. For Vegas, that level of service and positive attitude was refreshing.

I concur that the rooms are small -- as in New York small. And given the limited number of suites (not yet open) it's not likely to become one of the Platinum members favorites for upgrades.

I also concur that it's also not convenient to the strip. 10+ minute walk to Bally's or the Flamingo, which are the closest strip hotels. This weekend it was pretty nice so the walk was no big deal but come summer -- forget it (as far as I'm concerned).

For those of you with reservations coming up soon, I wouldn't worry. Unless you want to use the spa or can't live with out your Starbucks latte, you should be just fine.

Poncho,

I would hate for you to go to Vegas for the first time and stay at the Westin. I have never seen it, but judging from location, you will miss out on the "true experience".

Seriously, stay on the strip. If you were going for a return visit and knew ahead of time where and what you wanted to do, then the Westin might be fine. But baby, the first time there you gotta be in the center of it all.

And here goes the official *wood view:

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., [NYSE: HOT] , welcomes its first Westin hotel to Sin City - The Westin Casuarina Las Vegas. The Westin Casuarina Las Vegas is conveniently located on Flamingo Road, just steps away from the heart of the famous Las Vegas Strip and within walking distance to all the attractions the city has to offer.

The new Westin property stands where the former Maxim hotel stood. The property and casino are owned and operated by Columbia Sussex, which operates more than 50 full-service properties in the U.S. and overseas.


A massive $75 million renovation and upgrade over the past year has transformed the hotel into a contemporary architectural and design-conscious property that complements the Westin brand and its design sensibility. The completely refurbished 17-story, 825-room property reflects Westin brand standards in the lobby, guestrooms, meeting space and public areas. A 200-seat showroom will showcase entertainer David Brenner for a 44-week engagement.

"The Westin Casuarina Las Vegas is a unique and valuable addition to this city," said Sue Brush, senior vice president, Westin Hotels & Resorts, North America. "We have created an understated but luxurious residential environment that is appealing to those looking for something different in Las Vegas. In a city of mega hotels and overwhelming casinos, The Westin Casuarina is a refreshing change of pace. It retains a more intimate and upscale feel in the casino, lounge and other public spaces that allows guests to experience Las Vegas in a new way."

The Westin Casuarina Las Vegas and The Casuarina Casino are conveniently located one mile from the Las Vegas Convention Center, Sands Convention Center and Mandalay Bay Convention Center and only 1.5 miles from McCarran Airport.

The hotel offers 825 guestrooms, including four two-bedroom suites and six one-bedroom suites. Each room offers modern luxury with crisp white bedding, dark woods, an earthtone palette of colors and the signature all-white Westin Heavenly Bed(R), as well as local architectural and botanical photography. Every guestroom is also equipped with the Westin Heavenly Bath(R), which includes a dual showerhead, curved shower curtain rod, oversized bath towels, and deluxe spa amenities. Room rates start at $139/weekday, $189/weekend, $499/one-bedroom suite, $699/two-bedroom suite.

The hotel features five contiguous meeting rooms with 15,000 square feet of meeting space including a 3,600 square-foot ballroom and two private boardrooms. Dark wood paneling, linen fabrics and specialty veneers give the rooms a sophisticated and modern feel. Starwood Turbo Net high-speed Internet access is available in all meeting rooms.

The 200-seat Silver Peak Grill Restaurant is open 24 hours a day featuring an a la carte menu and buffet menu with an emphasis on Californian cuisine. A private dining area can be utilized for private parties and functions, and room service is available to every guest around the clock.

The Casuarina Casino is modeled after the upscale and luxurious environment of European casinos, with an intimate design atypical of most Las Vegas casinos. The Casino Lounge is an oasis amidst the action from where it sits on a raised platform, serving as an entrance to the casino from the reception area. A translucent screen gives lounge visitors a haven where they can enjoy the full bar and oversized seating while looking out on the casino floor action. The 20,000 square-foot casino features 350 slot machines and ten table games.

Guest services include Westin's Service Express(R), a program that revolutionizes the way guest services are provided. Through Service Express, guests dial only one number on their in-room telephone to make all service requests. This "one call does it all" concept improves the timeliness and quality of services provided to guests

Hello All -

Here are some more reviews.

Click Me (http://pub210.ezboard.com/fpricelineandexpediabiddingfrm113.showMessage?topi cID=253.topic)

[This message has been edited by whesung (edited Nov 20, 2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by AAEXP:
And here goes the official *wood view:

. . . The Westin Casuarina Las Vegas is conveniently located on Flamingo Road, JUST STEPS AWAY from the heart of the famous Las Vegas Strip. . .
</font>


"Just Steps Away" http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

About 1,714 steps, to be precise.

(Figuring .71 miles = 1,143 meters and 1.5 leisurely steps to a meter. Your mileage may vary. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif )


[This message has been edited by AZ Travels the World (edited Nov 20, 2003).]

Location's ok.

It is very close to the strip. The good news is it doesn't take long to get off the property like so many of the strip hotels. The main entrance is right on the road.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Room rates start at $139/weekday, $189/weekend,...</font>

Unless my eyes are playing tricks on me, I'm seeing $48/night rates at westin.com for a number of dates in December, including the WEEKENDS of 12/12 and 12/19.

They must really be hurting.

Actually I posted the same question here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum74/HTML/008826.html

Think I'll stick with my $124 incl breakfast--just checked for my one night, Sat 12/6 and am getting Promotional Rates of $218, AAA rates of $184 and my corporate discount rate of $189!!--This despite the websites note of rates starting at $119 for my specified date.
(PS--I use NO room or smoking preference)

mauld, I'm getting $119 non-refundable for 12/6 on westin.com.

All of the dates where I found $48 rates last night are now showing well over $100. Hmmm, looks like I undercovered a rate glitch that was magically corrected when someone from Starwood saw it...

[This message has been edited by Sheryl (edited Nov 21, 2003).]

I stayed there for two nights last weekend.

I was on the 10th floor-- about as far up as you could go without hitting construction.

With the exception of random fire alarms that went off during the day, a few construction workers in the elevators, construction curtains hiding the coffeeshop/Starbucks construction, and some missing gym equipment, the hotel does seem good to go.

The staff was always pleasant, but they're not particularly adept at their jobs yet. It took several minutes to get a replacement key, and on check-out I was charged a room rate for a room on Starpoints-- that had to be sorted out by phone later. The concierge had no idea where to send us for brunch on Sunday (we wanted something off the strip). So, they're well meaning but not too proficient.

The rooms are pretty standard -- I felt like I could have been in a Westin anywhere. The gym was nice -- several TVs, good treadmills, free weights.

The hotel's location is great. It's about a five- or seven-minute walk to the strip, and at night that can be a sort of sketchy walk. Still, it's a great way to escape some of the hubbub of the strip if you're ready for a bit of peace and quiet. And, the small casino in the lobby has a fairly intimate feel to it (you become familiar with the dealers, unlike at the megaresorts).

Given that this is Vegas and there are always deals to be had, I doubt I'd use Starpoints for it again-- would rather find a great rate.

Still, all in all, a good property still working out some kinks.

Just got back from a week in Vegas. I split my trip to use up some free rooms from Marriott, so I stayed in the Westin for 3 nights, then a separate stay for 1 night.

The second time was OK (Sunday night) but my first Tues-Friday trip was a very noisy stay. The sound of drills all day long; jazz-piano player near the lobby who thought the keyboard was a set of drums; and outside construction (back of the hotel) that filtered through the window.

Each of my two checkouts involved blatant overcharges. The first one for a phone call not made; the second for a rate that was $30+tax higher than agreed to. It took about five minutes (!!) to straighten that out.

On the plus side, I turned a dollar into $50 at the Wheel of Fortune slot. (Or, depending on how you look at it, one wheelstop away from $300, or one wheelstop away from $0).

Friendly staff and a 24-hour restaurant that was fast, friendly, good and reasonable. The casino was small but well-staffed. Even in the morning, there were a lot of dealers waiting for their first customer.

I would stay there again in a few months or so, but I regret staying there last week. If you do have a stay there coming up, at least get a room facing the front (Flamingo Blvd).

I just booked via spg.com for a mid Dec stay. I got the incredible rate of $48/nt from Thursday to Sunday. I hope they will be finishing up with contruction soon.

didnt stay there when in town last week needed Hilton stays to remain Diamond, but did stop by and a friend was there for a night.
as many posted the rooms are small yet the beds and showers are the heavenly ones so it makes for it abit. Great TV large screen and liquid crystal so greast pic and a full cable unlike most places in LV.

the pool in the afternoon doesnt get any sun since Ballys blocks it out at least at little after 1 it was.Also small pool and hot tub.

all in all if the price is right and I need stays Ill stay.


*** if in town do stop by and sign up for their players card you get $10 free play on the slots. You cant cash it out but must play it, I did and left with $15 from the winning hands.

I stayed at the Westin Las Vegas last week. I am in Las Vegas very often for business. The whole hotel is only open up to the 10th floor, but the room was great, bigger than I expected from reading the posts here. I paid $45 for the night which was an added bonus. I would definately stay there again. BTW, they recognized my Platinum status right away and I felt they treated me well!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PhxFlyGuy:
I would definately stay there again. BTW, they recognized my Platinum status right away and I felt they treated me well!</font>

Can you or anyone else expand on their treatment of Platinum Guests?

When I arrived to check in, my room had been pre-assigned and they acknowledged that I was a Platinum card holder. They gave me a list of the available amentities and asked me to select my choice.

They also told me that they registered me for the slot club at the hotel. At the moment, after you insert the card and place your first bet, you are given a $10.00 play credit. I am not big on the slots and did not use the card this time, but probably will this week when I am back in Vegas. I travel there for business every week.

Dear Colleagues, A dilemma:

I booked the Westin LV for two-night stay MLK weekend 1/16-17 @ $119 + tax/night.

I received an offer from Caesar's Palace today for two-night stay, same dates @ $129 + tax/night. PLUS, a $25 credit.

All told:
Westin = 259.42
Caesars = 256.22

So a *wood stay and related points vs. strip convenience. Any thoughts? I'm only *wood gold and they have treated me poorly as of late.

Stay at Caesars. The location is better, the rooms are larger and your chance of hearing construction noise at 7A is far lower (the Westin may have resolved the noise issue)

PHLBuddy, TO me, yours is a classic delimna that this Westin is facing all 52 weeks of the year. IMO, Westin loses the delimna unless the "discount delta' is much more compelling. I would never pay a premium for this one over Ceasars. That's pretty much a no-brainer.

Except for spg benefits, this hotel has as many negatives working against it as I can think of (small, off-strip, apparently sparse gaming facilities (judging from comments in this thread), small pool. Geez...what was starwood thinking here ? Last "owner" fizzled. That's ominous. The Las Vegas Hilton is a perfect example of a floundering hotel property that was designed around "business traveler" objectives, versus "entertainment" design objectives. Regarding the LVConvention Center tie-in, as trade show industry sputters, so goes the LV Hilton, and the Westin has no mega-convention facilities to give it an ace in the hole.

Guess my question is - WHAT WILL THIS WESTIN BE KNOWN FOR ?

Here we all are in this thread - some desperately, some not so desperately trying to convince [ourselves] to stay at the LV Westin and give it a chance. But it seems to me starwood didn't give us much to work with here. I think the one strategy that might have worked would have been to make this property ultra-plush, maybe even St Regis-quality (if not flag it St Regis), not unlike what 4Seasons has done, and then go for the "cool" affluent St. Regis types. Make it an ultra-plush botique hotel. OR, maybe even a "W" and then give it some "W" special effects and cross one's fingers. (Except the 4Seasons is plopped right on top of itself a very popular location, not to mention shares the best pool complex in Las Vegas w/ Mandalay Bay, so it practically cannot fail).

THEN - as a St Regis or W, there would be stand-alone, self-sufficient reasons to stay at the "St. Regis/Las Vegas", or maybe "W-LV". Yeah, "W-LV" rings nicely. This would be somewhat like following the strategy of the Hard Rock, which also chose a "way" off strip site, but is playing the botique game to the max and catering to the hip sub30-crowd. THey added a huge pool complex, caught the "buzz" of their target demo group, and apparently are doing super well. Me - I can't stand the place the two times I've visited (never stayed there), but then I don't hit their demographics so I shouldn't be there anyway.

Let me put this another way - I horde starpoints, and love to earn them, and spend them on above my means stays at unique places. THis doesn't even come close and simply lacks appeal. And I'm not a gambler, but I like to be in the mix if I'm there anyway and not have to move around the city in a cab. Maybe the monorail will give this one a good shot of adrenaline. For starwood's sake, I sincerely hope it does well, but my "map recon", ie listening to the buzz of these threads, doesn't even make me want to book it.

Am I missing something here ?

[This message has been edited by ILUVCITIBANK (edited Dec 05, 2003).]

Well, I'm still willing to give it a try. I'll be checking in tomorrow night and luckily I've been watching my res on the Starwood site, and have seen the rates dropping for my stay (from $189 to 147 to 124 with bkfst for 2 to now $48). I just keep cancelling and rebooking at the lower rates. But then again, I'm not a gambler and proximity to the Strip means nothing to me-- I intend to put a dent in the shopping mall this Sat. My judgement will come with how they treat Platinums (which I currently see isn't all that great--but its still new). I agree that they should have made this a W, as it is closer (somewhat) to the Strip than the Hardrock, and given the 'smallness' of the rooms would fall right in line with that product.
Anyone hear anything more about the possible Sheraton purchase of the Alladin or was it the Sahara (???).

[This message has been edited by mauld (edited Dec 05, 2003).]

I have booked at Caesars; Barbara on the phone couldn't be more helpful. She has slotted me for a room with a jacuzzi tub! I'm guessing few such rooms are available @ Westin.

Like many of you, I'll keep checking to see if the rates drop lower (currently for 1/16 weekend, nightly rate is $279, I got mine at $119)

I agree that a W branding could have been fantastic for this property - something dimly-lit, hip, edgy - I'm imagining the W Seattle with gaming in the lobby bar...

My treatment as a Gold was excellent; I could not be happier with the service at the property (aside from their misplacing some outgoing UPS boxes for four days) - everyone was very eager to please.

As for the *wood buyout of the Aladdin, it seems to be progressing. Rumour has a team of *wood execs ensconced on the 6th floor as of a few weeks ago, working out transition and rebranding details.

Eric

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mauld:
. I'll be checking in tomorrow night and luckily I've been watching my res on the Starwood site, and have seen the rates dropping for my stay to now $48.
</font>


Looks like you saved me a few dollars. I'll buy breakfast Sunday morning.

Just a comment about the rooms... if they are NYC-size rooms, as in the Westin on Times Square, I'm fine with that size.

I was at the LV Westin for a second time last night. They recognized that I was a repeat visitor.

The rooms are bigger the many that I have stayed at in NYC.

The hotel is completed through the 12th floor. There are 17 floors, with the best ones on the top floor.

If they treat all platinums like they treat me, they will get repeat business.

Whatever you do, gamble someplace else. I am a regular on many gaming forums including the Las Vegas Advisor.

Quoted from the December issue of Las Vegas Advisor (www.lasvegasadvisor.com):

"The Westin Casuarina opens in one of Las Vegas’ most competitive areas with games that rate among the worst in town."

The Westin has some of the worst video poker in town. Poor paying VP = poor paying slots.

They also deal 6:5 single deck blackjack, which has a house edge that is 800% higher than a true single deck game (1.45% vs. 0.18%).

Sleep there, but gamble elsewhere.

Yes, the video poker paytables are . . . odd. Yes, the single-deck is tight. But the players club points convert 1:1 for Starpoints, the most valuable currency in the known universe, so it does sort of make up for it. I'd rather have a few K *points after an LV trip than MGM Mirage's rather useless points.

Eric

MGM-Mirage's points are redeemable for cash. I'm not sure why that would not be useful. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

QL

MrExecPlat stayed last night at the "bed and breakfast" rate of $124.00. He said the front desk staff was very friendly but they didn't know what that rate included. MrExecPlat asked for and recieved a meal voucher for $30.00. He was also offered a platinum amenity (he took the 500 points).

He got a room on the 10th floor since the suites were unfinished. He said the room was well appointed and clean but "tiny" and "nothing special".

MrExecPlat probably won't stay there again despite the friendliness. He says the hotel isn't "classy" like the Four Seasons (favorite) or Bellagio. He thought it was not meant to compete with the higher end hotels.

Too bad because he goes to Las Vegas often on business.

Hey mauld, thanks for the heads up. We just change our rate for Sunday from $139.00 to $48.00 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

We stayed here (I am writing from the Westin) for $186 last night so I feel better about averaging it all out. Tonight we are staying at Caesar's as that is where our party is tonight.

As for the hotel overall, I don't care a whit about gambling, but I would prefer to be closer to the strip. The rooms are too small for two people to work out together, which is too bad, because we like to work out together in our room when we travel.

The staff is very nice and the manager actually walked us us to check out the gym (which is totally useless to us) and to our room to see if it would work for us. He also offered to get us a meeting room to work out in if we wanted. We have done that in the past when given a hotel room that was just too small.

He did say that there would be little likelihood of upgrades, even when the hotel is finished because they had, for instance last night, 25 platinums in house and there will only be 10 suites in total when the hotel is completed.

Am I the only one who noticed the biggest plus of all--Coffee!!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif This is the first Vegas room I can remember where we got coffee. Is it only we Seattlites who need to be caffine jump-started in the morning? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Will we be back? Well we will be back on Sunday. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif Hope to see some of you then.

Postscript to MrExecPlat's stay at the Westin Casuelas 12/6/03:

My husband said the room had no hot water and the toilet did not work. When he complained upon check out he was told
"we'll file a report".

I'll be calling Starwood Corporate Services on Monday.

-

[This message has been edited by scruffy (edited Dec 15, 2003).]

A quick report on my one night stay. I got to the hotel about 1:30 in the afternoon, and was told, 'sorry no rooms available, come back after 3'. At 4pm when I returned there was a large group checking in, but the lines moved quickly. The only slight snag was when the agent showed me my rate of $179!!, I quickly pulled out my $48 confirmation and she immediately changed it to the much lower rate. I was given room 1214 facing Flamingo Rd and overlooking the pool area. My room was in the dusty sage/mauve and yes while it would be tight for 2, as I was travelling solo, it was fine for me. I loved the heavenly shower, and usual Westin heavenly bed, also the fact that the tv had lots of channels (including the local version of the Weather Channel, yes I did appreciate the coffee with 'real creams' and found the room service menu to be very good. I did ask for a wake up call for 5am which never happened (I awoke about 4:45 anyway), and the noise level was pretty loud on my floor. Not so much party'ers--but just door closings etc. All in all, given the Starwood association and the fact I'm not a gambler, this will be my first choice in LAS when travelling through on business. Although when I'm in town with hubby--its the JW Marriott in Sumerlin.

I agree with mauld. While my first night was at an $99 rate (couldn't cancel), my next stay is at $48 on Monday night.

I was pleased with the hotel and as you can see, I'm headed back. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif
If this hotel were in any city other than LAS, everyone would run to stay here. But because it's in LAS, where room bargains abound, the Westin may cater to those SPG folks serious about their points. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif Now if you can get a $48 rate, I wouldn't complain as tonight I'm staying at the Flamingo (Hilton) for $55. The Flamingo is a dump (not really) compared to the beautifully decorated Westin. Just a short walk to the strip.

Dan

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by QuietLion:
MGM-Mirage's points are redeemable for cash. I'm not sure why that would not be useful.</font>

Cash?!?

Who wants that?

(Not to mention that even the Westin's best VP is way worse than MGM-Mirage's best.)

d

[This message has been edited by Doppy (edited Dec 08, 2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Punki:
Is it only we Seattlites who need to be caffine jump-started in the morning?</font>

No, of course not.

Coffee in the room though? In Vegas, what you're supposed to do is go down to the casino floor and order a cup of coffee with your preferred alcoholic beverage.

d

Just a quick update here.. just got back from the Westin LV. The starbucks opened yesterday. It is very nice....not a coffee stand like in some hotels. The prices were similar to that in a regular starbucks..not trumped up hotel starbucks prices.

I heard very little construction noise....granted I was on the fourth floor.

All in all I found it to be a pleseant stay but probably wouldn't pay a lot more to stay there than what can find at other nearby properties.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by VibeGuy:
Yes, the video poker paytables are . . . odd. Yes, the single-deck is tight. But the players club points convert 1:1 for Starpoints, the most valuable currency in the known universe, so it does sort of make up for it. I'd rather have a few K *points after an LV trip than MGM Mirage's rather useless points.

Eric</font>
At the Westin, how many players club points do you get for blackjack?

Can anybody provide some more information about general earning tables for players club points? This could really make up the worse odds on games/slots...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Renard:
The starbucks opened yesterday. It is very nice....not a coffee stand like in some hotels. The prices were similar to that in a regular starbucks..not trumped up hotel starbucks prices</font>If someone has a chance, could you please check if the Starbucks cafe is a functioning T-Mobile HotSpot?

As of last July, the Starbucks in the Aladin Desert Passage was not wi-fi equiped (although I was able to locate another free-standing Starbucks locations).



[This message has been edited by Non-NonRev (edited Dec 20, 2003).]

I am sorry to say, but don't bother. The hotel looks old and used. The furniture is scratched and dented, the walls are marked, and the elevator looks like someone shot a bb-gun at the doors from the inside. Given, Vegas was dead this week, but the most people I saw in the casino was about 30. That was last night (friday). The beds are not up to normal standards, the carpet had stains in places, but the bathroom was nice. It really looked like it was remodeled or built about 3-4 years ago, not like it opened 2 weeks ago. The suites are still not finished, so don't expect to either buy or get upgraded to one any time soon. And as far as the odds are concerned, I got 10 dollars in free slot play. That was nice of them. $2 machine, 7 pulls later, I went up to my room $4 poorer and with the harsh realization of why I don't gamble. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif It would have been nice to win at least one spin. People are friendly in general. Didn't check on the hotspot at starbucks, but I can say that they were really struggling to get things working there. I took my coffee for there so it wasn't a big deal, but they took 10 minutes to bring me my change because they couldnt get the machine to work correctly. The hotel itself is two blocks from the strip, and a pretty easy walk to the Bellagio, Paris, Aladdin, Flamingo, Ceasars, etc. It's not a terrible location, but it does have a very off-strip feel.

If they ever charge more than $50 for a room at this hotel, it's $2 too much. I wonder if they might have used the Westin name only because there is little chance of using it anywhere else on the strip at this point. Maybe Westin Lake Las Vegas or something. But this is not a Westin. It's barely a Sheraton and I will most certainly not stay again unless there were a rate I couldnt pass up.

I will end with the two more amusing things about the hotel. First, I went to visit friends who live in LV and have been in and out of their fair share of LV casinos and hotels. Needless to say, they were sincerely underwhelmed. Anyway, they looked out my window and the pool was below (which I hadn't even noticed before they pointed it out) and began to laugh at the pool. The strip hotel pools have beaches and cabanas and the whole nine yards. The pool is sad. It looks like a pool at some small motel outside of Barstow. Second, the elevators. There are six, which is nice since there really aren't that many rooms in the grand scheme of things. There are two sets of up and down buttons on each wall, but they control different elevators. They are not interconnected. So when you walk up and hit the button, depending on where you are entering from you are either calling 4 elevators or 2 elevators but never all 6. That is, of course, when they were working. Apparently the friends had the tour of the back end of the joint when the elevators were shut down and they had to use the freight elevator.

Does anyone know the anticipated opening date for the suites? I am a new Platinum planning a trip near the end of January and although the odds would be slim for a suite it would be nice to know if the option will even exist by then.

I just stayed at the Westin Las Vegas.

No acknowledgement of Starwood Platinum Level. No upgrade. No compensatory ammenity. I even incquired at check-in about ammenity points. The girl said that there are no ammenities.

On check-out, I was told I should have received a card.

This place is extremely marginal. The bed was comfortable, but nothing special by Westin standards. If this place is going to survive, it needs to really play toward SPG loyalty, otherwise, the other strip hotels are a lot more fun, and better located of course.

The clientel at this casino was "local" riff-raff. And the casino staff treated everyone like riff-raff... And they received tips accordingly. (zilcho).

If I were Westin, I would dump this concept and move my heavenly beds to a better locations with better staffing... or just stay out of Vegas to protect my good name.

BTW: THERE IS NO LINKAGE BETWEEN THE CASINO PLAYERS CLUB AND SPG! THERE ARE NO SPG POINTS FOR LOSING YOUR SHIRT IN THE CASINO. THE CASINO MANAGERS EVEN DISCOURAGED ME FROM SIGNING UP FOR THE PLAYERS CLUB AS THEIR HOTEL RATE IS $100.

Stayed at this hotel twice in the last week. Found it to be nice and clean. On my 2nd visit I specifically looked for the elevator with bb-dents. On the 8th floor I notice on the opening doors two small holes but nothing that drew my attention. Some of the furniture has distressed leather that goes with the theme. Suites were not open, so no upgrade. Players club stated that at one point they were awarding SPG points but not any longer. When I checked in, they already signed me up for the players club with $10 free play. I won $30 after playing an hour so I cashed out. I don't think you can stay at this property and try to compare it to the strip. At the same token, I don't think they're trying to compete with the strip. To me, anything over $100 is too much.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The little casino in the new Westin Casuarina Hotel and Spa that recently opened in the former Maxim could use a little help from a gambling design professional.

Guests looking for a little upscale relaxation are greeted by a combination of "Beverly Hillbillies" slots and a bunch of penny machines. It doesn't seem like the right cup of tea for the company's loyal customers, who've been enjoying the grandeur of Westin La Paloma in Tucson, Ariz., or the Westin Kaanapali on Maui, Hawaii.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2003/Nov-30-Sun-2003/business/22663563.html </font>

The hotel: Quite nice, especially for the price.

The casino: A joke. Who designed this? Obviously not a person with a successful track record in the Las Vegas market.

Upon arrival at the Westin, I was checked in by a front desk clerk who was luke warm at best. She failed to offer a greeting, but did process me in a fairly quick manner.

I found the room to be quite nice. It is small, but comfortable nonetheless. They really do use the space available wisely. The bathroom layout is quite functional. The fixtures are of a nice quality, with the Heavenly Bath and such. The Heavenly Bed is, well, heavenly. The rooms here are far better than most of the Strip properties except those at the upper end of the spectrum (Mandalay Bay, Bellagio, MGM Grand, Venetian, etc.).

Other service interactions with the staff here were quite poor. There were a couple of exceptions, but I think there is a need for guest service training here.

The casino is awful. The payouts on video poker are a bad joke. The cocktail service is slow. They have a Pai Gow Poker table but it was never open. There are a lot of security guards milling about. One security guard seemed to do nothing but flirt with the woman selling show tickets.

David Brenner's show is excellent. I bought my ticket at the half price ticket place.

The location of this property isn't that bad. It is only about a five minute walk to the strip. You can also make the short walk over to the Ellis Island Casino for the $4.95 steak special. I'll definitely be back to the Westin if they continue offering the $48 rate.

Which way is ellis from westin

Does anyone know the status of the Aladdin changing to the SPg Planet Hollywood Hotel?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by welookgood.com:
Which way is ellis from westin</font>

Ellis Island is just south and east of the Westin-- about half a block over and half a block down. It is on Koval Lane, just south of Flamingo Road.

How is the gym there? Are there free weights. Up to what weight?

How much is high-speed access? Anyone know if the STarbucks is hotspot equipped?

THanks!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by magic168:
How much is high-speed access? Anyone know if the STarbucks is hotspot equipped?

THanks!</font>

$10. It worked but my network connector was defective. I didn't feel like getting it fixed and just jerryrigged it into place.

Would you consider staying here for a rate around $150 per night as long as your company or a client is paying? I have some options for a 1- or 2-night stay early in 2004, and I'd prefer a nice Westin than a typical strip/theme hotel...even if it's The Venetian or other properties in that class. Las Vegas is not my idea of a fun time, so I don't need to experience the "true" strip atmosphere.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Miles Man:
Stayed at this hotel twice in the last week. Found it to be nice and clean. On my 2nd visit I specifically looked for the elevator with bb-dents.</font>

I just completed a one-night stay here and basically agree with the most recent posters' comments that the hotel is in need of a new casino, but the room I had was mostly fine.

The valets are friendly and immediately offered help with luggage if needed. The valet park area is immediately in the front of the hotel, so it won't take long to get your car. I did notice that the valets were nowhere to be found on Sun. morning (1 AM), presumably because the valet lot was full of cars.

As far as I can tell, I didn't get a Gold upgrade, though the hotel was nice enough to let me check in at noon instead of the usual 3 PM time. The lines at the normal registration area were long, presumably with people checking out, but the SPG line was empty. The agent seemed to be new, but she was friendly.

The elevator with the b-b dents is the first one on the right as you approach the elevator area. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

My room on the fifth floor was small, though I thought the bathroom was decently sized. According to the floor plan on the door, the largest room appeared to be the one at the end of the hallway.

I didn't spent much time at the hotel outside of sleeping, but when I gambled it was at other casinos.

As mentioned in other posts, the elevators are annoying, especially at check-out. Being on the fifth floor, the elevators were always full of people by the time they reached your floor and it continued to stop on every floor until reaching the lobby. A number of people resorted to taking the stairs. Checkout was efficient.

Lastly, while I was checking out, another guest stepped up to my agent and asked about a telephone problem on the 16th floor. Apparently the floor had just opened (16 of 17 floors, I assume, are open) and they are dealing with "new floor" issues.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Pietro:
Would you consider staying here for a rate around $150 per night as long as your company or a client is paying? I have some options for a 1- or 2-night stay early in 2004, and I'd prefer a nice Westin than a typical strip/theme hotel...even if it's The Venetian or other properties in that class. Las Vegas is not my idea of a fun time, so I don't need to experience the "true" strip atmosphere.</font>


There is no way that I would pay $150 to stay at this hotel. As I said in my review, the rooms are New York small if not smaller. Even if you don't want the strip experience I would try to stay at the Venetian - every room there is a large suite and you should be able to get a room for $150 if not less if you book in advance.

Las Vegas is a tough market for high priced hotels. Even during conventions (Comdex, 2001 and 2002) there are great deals.

2001 I stayed at Monte Carlo for $50/night. First night I upgraded to a real suite for $50 at the desk.

2002 I stayed at Paris for $59/night.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Pietro:
Would you consider staying here for a rate around $150 per night as long as your company or a client is paying? I have some options for a 1- or 2-night stay early in 2004, and I'd prefer a nice Westin than a typical strip/theme hotel...even if it's The Venetian or other properties in that class. Las Vegas is not my idea of a fun time, so I don't need to experience the "true" strip atmosphere.</font>

In answer to your question, yes I would stay there on a corp rate, but it would be even better if you checked and found a cheaper rate to bill your client (at this hotel). I was originally booked at a corp rate of $179 and ended up paying a discounted rate of $48 for the same room. While yes, it doesn't have a 'true strip atomsphere', I for one am not looking for a 'strip' hotel and find this property suits me just fine. But I will agree, stay away from the slots here, you'll rarely come out ahead.

If its true as the press are saying today that Starwood is taking over Le Meridien estate,and presumably the Venetian as a result,it will be interesting if Starwood junkies migrate to the Venetian desoite the higher price.I certainly would from what Ive read about the Westin so far.

Thanks for the feedback -- I will definitely look for a decent rate. $48 would seem like a great deal even if this Westin is mediocre. Other than a slow week or weekend, how can you score a rate as low as $48? SPG.com is showing $150 and up for the dates I'm considering. It must be a big convention time!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Pietro:
Thanks for the feedback -- I will definitely look for a decent rate. $48 would seem like a great deal even if this Westin is mediocre. Other than a slow week or weekend, how can you score a rate as low as $48? SPG.com is showing $150 and up for the dates I'm considering. It must be a big convention time!</font>

Just keep checking back, look under AAA rates/promotional rates etc. I stayed on a Sat night during the midst of the big western rodeo. A month prior my rate was 179, then I saw a 148, then a 124 (incl breakfast), then a 109 and finally a couple of days before I was scheduled to arrive came the $48. I just kept cancelling & rebooking.
As far as the Venetian goes, I'll stick with the Westin--I did stay at the Venetian last year and it is everything a BIG CONVENTION TYPE LAS VEGAS HOTEL is expected to be, but give me a quieter, less hectic atomosphere anytime. But again, it is 'to each his own' http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Bump - as the other Westin LAS thread was locked.

[This message has been edited by Salty (edited Jan 22, 2004).]

After a recent stay there, I am less than impressed.

- second phoneline & dataport didn't work
- concierge ignored myself and another guest waiting for her assistance
- asking the staff to send a FedEx resulted in a wait of over 30 minutes while they fumbled around
- housekeeping was very poor while I was there-- the most egregious incident was when I came back to my room to find a big, long hair on my pillow

I had a decent two-night stay here last week while in town for a dreaded Las Vegas trade show. LAS is not my idea of a fun destination, so I tried not to let that color my experience at the Westin.

I must admiit that I had low expectations of the property going in, given all the doom-and-gloom posted here. But a phone call in advance of my trip included helpful, professional assistance from one employee, plus my early check-in (10 a.m.) required just a short wait and resulted in an upgrade to a two-room suite on the top floor, which turned out to be very nice.

Since I was in town on business, I wasn't at the hotel much, so I didn't pay attention to certain things. Being in a suite gave me the luxury of spreading out my work one morning while eating breakfast. The suite's living room had a huge plasma flat screen TV mounted on the wall, which
made watching the news and ESPN all the better. (Lots of other channels here too.) This room also included a small wet bar with additional counter space, so that would have been nice had I been in town on vacation or simply spending more time there.

Other positives:
* A very friendly manager who assisted me with my check-in when the lines began to grow. This guy was a pro.
* A small business center near the front desk that was handy a couple of times during my visit.
* A decent restaurant - I had lunch there one day and room-service breakfast the next morning and it was actually pretty good each time.
* A new Westin property with a location close enough to the strip (a quick walk to the Bellagio, Paris, Bally's and other neighboring hotels) but just far enough away to be apart from it all.
* And, of course, the Heavenly Bed and bath.

The negatives (IMO):
* The location is as bad as it is good. The Westin is sits among several seedy looking hotels and restaurants (perhaps my definition of "seedy" is more common in standard Vegas life, where a $4.95 steak-and-eggs platter is considered an attraction). In addition, Flamingo Blvd. is one of the busiest streets in the strip area. The latter makes for long waits when cabs try to pulll out of or into the pick-up/drop-off points.

* The hotel does have kind of an odd feel to it. It seems like a small casino masquerading as an upscale Westin property. It's an oddity - a tough one to describe. Overall it's not as upscale IMO as other Westins, including the new-ish ones in St. Louis or Westminster, Colo. (Denver area).
* The elevators - this has been covered. They really suck, even though there are six of them.
* A month or two after opening, some rooms and public areas are still under construction. This may be near an end, though - a staffer mentioned that a "lounge" (assumably a club lounge?) is being finished and will be open soon. I assume this will be a place to have drinks/snacks and breakfast in the morning.

All in all, it was an OK visit. I would recommend the Westin if you are a devoted Heavenly Bed fan or in need of points/stay credits. But I would think twiice about retuurning, unless I were on a quick biz trip. On a vacation trip to LAS (which is not likely for me) I would opt for another property - perhaps Mandalay Bay or, if I had the money, the Four Seasons - if the Westin's rates are around $135 or higher. I was able to take advantage of a pretty low rate despite the large trade show. For sure, the low rates noted here such as $48 would be a real deal.

Cashed in points for a two night stay when the going rate is $209/night. Feb. 13 looks like a killer weekend for hotel prices. Thanks to the reviews, we'll keep expectations in order.

Perhaps this property can be the very first in a new Starwood brand. It could be the......Four Points by Westin Las Vegas !

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by surffnutt3000:
Perhaps this property can be the very first in a new Starwood brand. It could be the......Four Points by Westin Las Vegas !</font>

heh heh... I just booked this place for five nights over the Feb 13-14 weekend. there is a huge convention in town which is why I'm going. the rate is (ulp) $249 but other than fleabag places that's not out of line. the glam places are full already. I don't really care about the casino either. when I gamble I like the cheap blackjack tables in seedy joints like Binion's anyway http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif mostly I'm staying there because 1) who couldn't use *wood points and 2) Heavenly Bed.

will post a review-let when I get back.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by born sleepy:
when I gamble I like the cheap blackjack tables in seedy joints like Binion's anyway http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif </font>

Binions was closed down a few weeks ago.

Just got back last night from two days in Sin City. Stayed at the Westin. I can't believe how dead on some of the posts were and how off some of them have been.

Good stuff

- The bed
- Staff was friendly
- Room was furnished nicely but it wasn't very big
- I had a corner room so noise was minor
- Craps dealers were very friendly and I enjoyed my gambling experience
- Restaraunt food was good and not as pricey as other Westin's
- Some people might disagree with me, but I liked the location. Close enough to walk to strip and easy to sneak out the back with the cab and miss all the strip traffic

Bad stuff
- I was charged for mini-bar and restaraunt charges that I never had
- I used the one free weekend night award to pay for one of the two nights but I was still charged for both nights
- Received no type of acknowledgement regarding my status - Gold might even be Platinum after some serious rode time in Nov and Dec.


Overall I would give it a letter grade of B.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by VPescado:
Binions was closed down a few weeks ago.</font>

aaaaaaaaaaa!

oh well, I'm sure there's no shortage of seedy low-minimum blackjack joints.

Just returned from my second stay here, and I'm sending some pictures. I was given room 1744 on the top floor. This room was really no different from the other one I had on 9. As I was only there barely 10 hrs (checked in Sat midnight, checked out 10 am Sun), I really didn't care about a suite. I find the rooms to be fine, my water pressure (& temp) was great, and the 'heavenly bed' quite restful. I did notice more people in the casino on Sun am, (not a lot more, but some) and the slots seemed to be a tad bit easier, as a number of people appeared to be winning.
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=xcyf847.7gy8ze13&x=0&y=-ukt19f

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mauld:
Just returned from my second stay here, and I'm sending some pictures. I was given room 1744 on the top floor. This room was really no different from the other one I had on 9. As I was only there barely 10 hrs (checked in Sat midnight, checked out 10 am Sun), I really didn't care about a suite. I find the rooms to be fine, my water pressure (& temp) was great, and the 'heavenly bed' quite restful. I did notice more people in the casino on Sun am, (not a lot more, but some) and the slots seemed to be a tad bit easier, as a number of people appeared to be winning.
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=xcyf847.7gy8ze13&x=0&y=-ukt19f </font>

Thanks for the photos. Really informative.

This hotel was totally lame. I watched the craps table for a few mins. Craps is a lonely game with one player at the table. My friend saw one guy betting pass and dont pass at the same time. The rooms are small. Bathroom tiny by most vegas standards. Location not too good. I was there for business so I didnt care much. Plus it was race week and rooms were tight. Dont waste time or money on this one. One bonus. They gave me 20.00 in free play and I won another 50.00.

I stayed there two weeks ago and was generally unimpressed... service was poor, rooms small, and generally the hotel had a kind of depressing feeling.

There was a good elevator story from a friend of mine after I left the hotel. On Saturday March 6, sometime in the evening, she and her boyfriend were in the elevator going down to the lobby and the elevator got stuck for 45 min. or so. The hotel had NO IDEA this was happening and they had to call the elevator company from the emergency phone inside to come and get the elevator working again. When she checked out the next morning and mentioned the incident, the front office manager had no idea this had happened. They were offered a small food and beverage credit as compensation (as they were checking out!) http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Mauld--thanks so much for the photos

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mauld:

http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=xcyf847.7gy8ze13&x=0&y=-ukt19f </font>

Great photos! I know what to expect tonight http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I'm sorry to hear the elevators are still such a problem. It sounds like a trivial issue, but when they're this bad, it's a major hassle.

Elevators were only somewhat reliable during my visit two months ago, which was about three months after the opening, so it's disappointing to hear the problems still exist.

This hotel is certainly not a major attraction for gamblers and resort seekers, but it's a good option for business travelers or people who just don't want the strip's hustle and bustle. Even then, you would assume the elevators and other basics would work properly.

[This message has been edited by Pietro (edited Mar 19, 2004).]

2 questions:

Can anyone confirm if this property is recognizing SPG Gold status?

Is this Westin providing *extra's* for bookings made via Priceline/Hotwire?

Thanks,
Todd.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by todd-r:
Can anyone confirm if this property is recognizing SPG Gold status? Is this Westin providing *extra's* for bookings made via Priceline/Hotwire?</font>Concerning Gold benefits when staying on a Priceline or a Hotwire stay (quoted from the SPG Terms and Conditions):

5. Effective January 1, 2004, Gold level members are not eligible for any in-hotel benefits when booking through pre-paid channels, such as, but not limited to, priceline.com, expedia.com, hotels.com, hrn.com, hotwire.com, lastminute.com, site59.com, orbitz.com, travelocity.com, cheaptickets.com, quickbook.com, travelweb.com, lodging.com, yahootravel.com, AOL Travel.com, msntravel.com, etc.

We stayed there last weekend and got upgraded to a very nice suite, which was great as we had several associates with us and the suite made a nice gathering place. They also gave us a 4:00 p.m. check-out even though they were sold out.

Hunki stayed there last night but I haven't talked to him since he checked in so I don't know if he got upgraded or not.