Starwood Preferred Guest - Sheraton Four Points Westside, Culver City, CA [Master Thread]

How bad are the rooms at this hotel ?

I have stayed at the Sheraton Gateway LAX and thought it was quite nice. However there is nothing interesting near the Sheraton, and the 4P Culver City is apparently located next to a shopping mall. I have many hours to kill before my international flight back home, and a hotel with a mall next door seems to be an interesting option.

Has anyone stayed there lately ?

Thanks.

How bad are the rooms at this hotel ?

I have stayed at the Sheraton Gateway LAX and thought it was quite nice. However there is nothing interesting near the Sheraton, and the 4P Culver City is apparently located next to a shopping mall. I have many hours to kill before my international flight back home, and a hotel with a mall next door seems to be an interesting option.

Has anyone stayed there lately ?

Thanks.

The Sheraton Gateway is much better than the Culver city Four points.
The whole please looks rundown. As for killing some time, hop on the bus in front of the Sheraton , for $3.00 you can go anywhere in LA all day long on the bus or the train.

Casey.

How bad are the rooms at this hotel ?

I have stayed at the Sheraton Gateway LAX and thought it was quite nice. However there is nothing interesting near the Sheraton, and the 4P Culver City is apparently located next to a shopping mall. I have many hours to kill before my international flight back home, and a hotel with a mall next door seems to be an interesting option.

Has anyone stayed there lately ?

Thanks.

I don't find this to be that bad of a hotel. I have stayed here several times in the last couple of years on mattress runs and really have no complaints. I do think the Four Points, Sheraton and Westin LAX are all nicer hotels though.

A tiny lobby, inadequate elevators if it is full, low budget events (and the attendant little annoyances, noise, rowdiness, etc.) and lackluster rooms taint this place. Also, inadequate (but free) parking. On the other side of the ledger, ahem, it's cheap often, and located well for a lot of LA biz.

I've sworn off it, but relented and stayed twice this last year, but just for a night. It was a hoot, ahem, when they had some VERY low level tryouts for "America's Next Top Model" booked in the meeting rooms. What a crowd that drew....... and not in a good way....

Thanks everyone for the update.

I will be staying at the Sheraton Gateway when I arrive from Asia, and would most probably stay at the 4P Culver City the night before I leave for home. I have a $85 rate at 4P Culver City while the Sheraton Gateway is showing rates of around $200 for the same date. I am not looking to do "hectic" sightseeing before a long flight home, but easy access to a shopping mall where I could walk around in comfort and have my meals is what I am looking for.

I will be arriving from NYC on UA, can someone advise me on how to catch the shuttle to the 4P Culver City. Do I have to call them or is it a scheduled shuttle like the one from Sheraton Gateway ?

Thanks.

It's like a Holiday Inn. Even as Platinum you don't get much of an upgrade. I really don't recall a mall within walking distance, except a strip mall of sorts. You'd be much better off at the Sheraton Delfina in Santa Monica. There you can shop at a much, much better indoor and outdoor mall. It's less than $20 for a taxi in any case.

I will be arriving from NYC on UA, can someone advise me on how to catch the shuttle to the 4P Culver City. Do I have to call them or is it a scheduled shuttle like the one from Sheraton Gateway ?

Thanks.[/QUOTE]

You will have to call them, as they do not have a regular scheduled pick up from LAX.

Casey.

If you want Four Points pricing, I think you are MUCH BETTER OFF at the LAX Four Points. I stayed there 2 weeks ago and it was a perfectly decent place. "Junior suite" platinum upgrade - respectable room. Breakfast buffet worth the $11.95 or thereabouts just for the platter of lox and red tomatoes.

I really don't recall a mall within walking distance, except a strip mall of sorts.

The hotel website indicates that its adjacent to Howard Huges Promenade and Westfield Fox Hills Mall. Is the mall really there ?


If you want Four Points pricing, I think you are MUCH BETTER OFF at the LAX Four Points. I stayed there 2 weeks ago and it was a perfectly decent place. "Junior suite" platinum upgrade - respectable room. Breakfast buffet worth the $11.95 or thereabouts just for the platter of lox and red tomatoes

The 4P LAX looks quite nice.

Is there anything interesting nearby without having to take a cab (My LA cab rides always ended up costing 50%-100% more than what I thought it would cost when drivers refused to take the highways and I havent seen a city with so many traffic lights)

Do they comp breakfast for Plats ?

Thanks

The 4P LAX looks quite nice.

Is there anything interesting nearby without having to take a cab (My LA cab rides always ended up costing 50%-100% more than what I thought it would cost when drivers refused to take the highways and I havent seen a city with so many traffic lights)

Do they comp breakfast for Plats ?

Thanks

No, no no no, no. But if you are staying by the airport and have no burning desire to go far, it was a good place.

I can't keep up with mall names these days, but is definitely not walking distance to the Howard Hughes mall/cinema.

As for taxis taking freeways, it is generally cheaper and faster if they take surface streets in west LA. From LAX to this hotel it is absolutely cheaper on surface streets.

Foxhills mall is just across the street from the main entrance of the hotel.

Casey.

...and lackluster rooms taint this place. Also, inadequate (but free) parking
no longer free parking at 4pts Culver City, it is $5 per night. Far better parking price that the friggin $14 per night for self park at the Westin South Coast Plaza :mad:

Room was tired as is the whole property. I really don't care, bed was comfy and clean, so was the bathroom.

Biggest complaint I have is the toilet paper is located behind you above shoulder level. :eek: Little tough for one to reach. :)

Still is lackluster, still is worn down, only thing is prices are low.

The furnitures look worn especially at the edges but the carpets and upholstery are in decent shape (at least in my room). It was not as bad as I had expected.

The larger rooms face the freeway while the smaller ones face the backyard of a row of shops (Howard Huge Promenade ?) Being a light sleeper I chose not to be upgraded by selecting a smaller room away from the freeway, but since it was a corner room there were some road noise from the side road in the morning (buses/trucks going uphill). Perhaps someone could comment on the noise level in the larger rooms facing the freeway.

There is a Westfield mall (Foxhills Mall) directly across the road from the hotel entrance. Quite a decent mall with plenty of restaurants and a food court, as well as several big name stores. I didnt see any supermarket in the mall but there is a grocery store at the row of shops (Howard Huge Promenade) behind the hotel.

I'm booked for this Wednesday and Thursday and am curious how it is. I've done a search on FT for past threads and got some not-so positive reviews. The SPG website mentions that the lobby and restaraunt is undergoing renovations while the rooms have been completed in June 22. Has any FTer stayed in this property post-room renovation?

any latest news as I read a few years ago that it was a dump.

I have a friend staying there in jan

any latest news as I read a few years ago that it was a dump.

I have a friend staying there in jan

Um....I think they changed their "name" recently to 4pts Los Angeles Westside (makes it sound better doesnt it?)...besides that no clue. 4 Pts LAX is better and only about 5-10 minutes away

Um....I think they changed their "name" recently to 4pts Los Angeles Westside (makes it sound better doesnt it

Righto. See:

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/search/hotel_detail.html?propertyID=1257

"Westside" does sound so much better, doesn't it? Not at all like the mostly nasty neighborhood it actually resides in.

On the plus side (if you're a non-smoker)...it's a 100% Non-Smoking property now (though I'd bet a lot of airline transient guests ignore that rule).

On the minus side...they allow pets up to 50 lbs. Be sure to ask for one of those rooms! ;)

Honestly though...I have no recent experiences there. Just some no-so-memorable past ones that were a little sub-par at the time.

I do have a story of a recent stay by a friend of mine that paid quite a bit extra for a "Stay, Park & Fly" rate there...only to discover that there is no Parking Pass or sticker or recording of their license plate or anything else in their wide-open parking lot. And they could have left their car there for as long as they wanted just skipping the Park & Fly rate and paying the lowest rate they could have snatched.

Same expensive lesson I learned at the Sheraton Houston Interncontinental Hotel. "Don't I need a pass or anything for my dashboard so they don't tow me away?" "Naw. Just park your car anywhere." So glad I paid that extra 90 bucks for the Park & Fly "package." :( I'll know better next time. ;)

I stayed there about a month ago. It wasn't too bad, but I think I'll try another hotel next time; the elevators all seemed to have problems and the posted inspection certificates had all expired.

The neighborhood is not so bad. I'd agree that Fox Hills Mall is disgusting, but the Sepulveda corridor through Culver City is pretty much average, nothing more nothing less.

If it's "budget" one is after, then this may be an option for that reason. Free airport shuttle. One of the less expensive SPG's in the LA area. And, the bus stop across the street (yes, at the mall) can take you to down to Manhattan Beach, etc. for very, very little $$ and no need for a car rental--unless your work or other business takes you elsewhere. If you go there with those "budget" kinds of expectations and all that goes with that, then that's what you'll experience and you may not be terribly disappointed.
Otherwise, I'd look into the airport hotels and see if they're currently really THAT much more than Culver City...if the difference is nominal, I'd say it's worth paying.

Has this hotel been renovated recently?

I just checked in earlier today for a last minute award stay, and was expecting a questionable room based on previous posts. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised as I got a nice two-room suite upgrade, a plate of cookies was waiting in the room and the room itself is clean and looks to be in newer condition. Service from the front desk has been pretty good as well. ^

Has this hotel been renovated recently?

I just checked in earlier today for a last minute award stay, and was expecting a questionable room based on previous posts. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised as I got a nice two-room suite upgrade, a plate of cookies was waiting in the room and the room itself is clean and looks to be in newer condition. Service from the front desk has been pretty good as well. ^


Although this is a hotel which has been on the receiving end of a lot of criticism in the past (most well deserved), things may finally be looking up here. From a review of the website, it seems that there's been a significant recent renovaton of the property. About time. At a Category 2 though my point stays in the area are still going to be at the Gateway, if they have availability .

I just LOVE it ;) when someone starts a thread asking about something and doesnt come back to post what they found themselves, especially here where the OP stayed way before others chimed in.

My apologies as I forgot about this thread itself after making my first of many stays in this property. :o I'm not really great with hotel TRs but I guess I'll give it a shot just to redeem myself. ;)

After making this post back in September, I was able to stay in this property frequently in late 2006 to early this year. Back then, I was required to be down in LA once a week for partial hospitalization in UCLA so I switched off between this one and the Four Points LAX depending on whomever had the lowest rate.

Indeed the hotel is completely renovated with the check-in lobby and restaurant refreshed. Unfortunately, I never had prashok's luck in scoring a suite upgrade (let alone never knew that this location had such suites until now!) in my frequent stays in this hotel but in almost all of them as a Plat, I was upgraded to a "SPG Room" which had a refrigerator and separate table. I never tried Westside out prior to the renovations but the rooms are decently appointed and indeed clean.

The breakfast buffet in the Cabo Cafe is average but at least there's usually a chef around to make omelets on-demand. For those that aren't a fan of the neighboring Fox Hills Mall, one can cross under the 405 underpass and head to the Howard Hughes Center where you can find some nicer choices in dining, a movie theater, and a Borders if you want to grab some Four Comfort Bedtime reading. ;)

There is an airport shuttle, but unfortunately it only operates in the morning and the taxi fare is (IIRC from my Thanksgiving day stay) $15-20ish from the airport so it isn't as convenient when flying out as any of the LAX *woods.

Unfortunately, I never had prashok's luck in scoring a suite upgrade (let alone never knew that this location had such suites until now!) in my frequent stays in this hotel but in almost all of them as a Plat, I was upgraded to a "SPG Room" which had a refrigerator and separate table.

For future reference, the one I had was 704/706 (where 704 is the bedroom and 706 is the living room, separated by a connecting door). ^

I stayed here on June 19. I had trouble checking in the clerk couldn't find me even though I had a confirmation and she had my name. There was an undisclosed problem. I went to the room and walked in on people who were fully occupying the room. Went downstairs. I had to show id again and then I was asked if I was sharing a room. (Hello, no?)

Turns out that the clerk has checked in someone else under my name, confirmation number and cc. The manager called the room and asked the guest their name. (Not me) Had to have the manager reverse everything. Desk clerk was upset, I was more so, manager didn't look at me or apologize. Then I got to the room and the wireless didn't work. I had a 2 night stay but checked out the next morning and went to Courtyard Torrance instead where everything was great.

Commented on the SPG website but I expect nothing will come from it.

Updated June 25, 2007 from the Assistant Guest Services Manager:

I would like to take the opportunity to address your experience at the Four Points by Sheraton LA Westside. Please accept my deepest apology for the inconvenience you experienced during your stay. It is certainly not indicative of the standards we have set in our hotel.

Please be assured that I have addressed your concerns with the appropriate departments and action has been taken to prevent these problems from reoccurring. I will add to your Gold Member account 500 points for your inconvenience. Again, thank you for taking the time to write and share your experience.

Used to be called Four Points Culver City. Pretty mediocre made more so since they no longer have unlimited free parking which used to attract me for my longer trips out of LAX. Unless you particularly need to stay next to the Fox Hills Mall, I'd choose the Westin, the Sheraton or the Four Points at LAX.

They've recently remodeled rooms and public areas. Last couple of visits I was upgraded to a suite (as Plat) which is really two room with a connecting doorway...living room had a plasma tv. Much better than the nearby Radisson (across the 405 fwy).

Put my father there for a couple days last month and just had an employee in town from overseas for three weeks who stayed there (stayed there vs. our regular hotels in Santa Monica to save our department some money). Both said the hotel was fine. Rennovated rooms (which I saw). Easy access in and out of the hotel. Free internet. Automated vending store (i.e. a Zoom system) in the lobby if you need stuff. If you need to be on this side of town, it is nothing fancy, but a decent place to stay for the price.

Stayed there several months ago -- based on previous reviews and it being a last-minute award stay, I had been expecting the worst, but instead I got a nice suite upgrade and a plate of cookies. Overall, for LAX travel I'd still use the Sheraton Gateway because of location, but otherwise I had no complaints with the Four Points. ^

just stayed there this weekend. Worst 4 points property I've stayed at.

First, I'd expect for $10 parking that there'd be a secure parking facility or some private lot that had to be used like those hotels near the airport. No, this is an open lot just like you'd find in any suburban hotel. I suppose they wanted to keep people from using it as a part and fly lot, but you can do that and not charge guest while they stay there. Oh well.

The rooms/hotel themselves seem like they still have some work to do on remodling. There's frayed carpet and a strange musty smell in the entire building. Most of the furniture is still pretty dinged up. The hotel actually feels a little clostrphobic (sp) since the celings aren't very high (at least not on the 8th floor). And the gym is a joke - I've seen better at a days inn.

If you get a room, avoid the freeway side. We actually had to check to make sure the window wasn't open becasue it was so loud. Very had to fall asleep. It didn't help that the pillows were flat and the bed was sagging in the middle. Unfortunatly, all the rooms with two beds are on the freeway side of the building.

We got in at 10pm after a long flight, drove to the hotel and didn't even try to sleep in before the drive home. I have a call into starwood to see if I can get my points back for this stay. If I were paying by credit card, I would have refused to pay - the stay was one of the worst I've had. Stay at the shearaton by the airport. Nicer hotel and nicer room and at the same point class.

I don't see a master thread for this property, so I'll post and updated review in this one.

Recently stayed there, and the hotel was renovated, as stated in other threads. Nothing spectacular, but friendly service, decent 4pts bed and clean.

Parking is still $10 a night. There are no vents in the bathrooms, so it gets quite humid after a hot shower. Also, windows are not really sound proof and wind proof... Can get a bit chilly inside the room at night at this time of year.

It was the cheapest SPG hotel in the LA area during my stay... so no real complaints.

i stayed here way back in 2006 & if i remember correctly it wasn't all that bad....anyone with recent experiences????i'm scheduled to spend a night at this hotel next month....

Just had a recent stay here on points. Upon check-in, I was handed the platinum key pouch with the keys inside another silver pouch that says "You've been upgraded". It's the first time I see the "You've been upgraded" pouch even though I have been platinum for over a year now. In the pouch there was also a coupon for breakfast buffet and another for a dessert at the restaurant on the first floor.

The room itself was pretty decent. I was upgraded to a suite that has two rooms adjacent to each other, one living room, the other a bedroom. I would say this is one of the better four points I've stayed in North America. Will definitely return.

The hotel is very close to LAX, roughly a 10 minute drive and is right off I-405 very easy to find. Parking is $10 for those of you who plan to rent a car. ^