The Westin Las Vegas (formerly Westin Casuarina), NV [Master Thread]
Feb 7, 2008, 7:07 pm
#1
Commander Catcop
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Posts: 10,259
The Westin Las Vegas (formerly Westin Casuarina), NV [Master Thread]
I returned to the Westin Casuarina this past weekend. I booked it right after I nabbed a ticket to the great singer George Strait (King George to his fans.)
Did not know it was Super Bowl weekend until it got pointed out to me in multiple e-mails!
Anyway, the hotel was mostly quiet when I came to check in about 4pm (after a fab lunch at the purrfect In and Out with Host Sunnyhere, DebUA1K and her husband Marc and daughter Cynthia and special guest Spiff!
I was "welcomed back" and reminded that I could have checked in at the special "Starwood Preferred Guest" area right behind me. I told them I was not elite but they said I am still an SPG. Nice.
My room was not ready when I got there and the nice front desk person asked if I could wait about a half hour. The room was ready after I checked back in 20 minutes and got a nice apology.
Did not expect any upgrade since I have aluminum status.
But to my surprise got the 12th floor (don't think it was an SPG floor but I was impressed.) Nice view of the Bellagio and otehr hotels and of course the great bed.
The casino was barely busy and the hotel looked quiet. I had a Sam Adams at the bar after George's show and there were two groups of parties. I sat alone but teh staff was attentive and friendly.
Checkout via TV went without a hitch. There is a computer by teh Front Desk area where you can print out your boarding pass and check e-mail. Think it was a steep $5 for 30 minutes. If I have one minor complaint maybe have a computer set up for FREE printing of boarding passes. If you want internet then charge. (there is a FREE boarding pass printer/computer at the Sheraton EWR where I stayed the night before.)
I did not stay for their Superbowl party and instead watched much of teh game at Planet HOllywood. The company there was priceless. I did not get excited over the hotel. Dining wise I was very happy there at PH. A great buffet place (Spice Mill) with a great variety of cuisine. Another thing I liked was the Duck Soup I had at some restaurant I can't recall, complete with a Newcastle..
But I digress.
PH was less expensive that weekend than Westin C. But Westin C, and I said this before, is a nice quiet and cozy hotel off the bright lights and noise of the strip. Sometimes I like a little quiet and sanity and step out of the spotlight.
One more bonus... from the Westin C I can walk to the monorail in about two to five minutes and get around much of the strip. The Westin's not so out of the way as it may appear.
I may try PH sometime but I like this Westin and would come back.
mod/
Earlier thread can be found here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...er-thread.html
/mod
Did not know it was Super Bowl weekend until it got pointed out to me in multiple e-mails!
Anyway, the hotel was mostly quiet when I came to check in about 4pm (after a fab lunch at the purrfect In and Out with Host Sunnyhere, DebUA1K and her husband Marc and daughter Cynthia and special guest Spiff!
I was "welcomed back" and reminded that I could have checked in at the special "Starwood Preferred Guest" area right behind me. I told them I was not elite but they said I am still an SPG. Nice.
My room was not ready when I got there and the nice front desk person asked if I could wait about a half hour. The room was ready after I checked back in 20 minutes and got a nice apology.
Did not expect any upgrade since I have aluminum status.
But to my surprise got the 12th floor (don't think it was an SPG floor but I was impressed.) Nice view of the Bellagio and otehr hotels and of course the great bed. The casino was barely busy and the hotel looked quiet. I had a Sam Adams at the bar after George's show and there were two groups of parties. I sat alone but teh staff was attentive and friendly.
Checkout via TV went without a hitch. There is a computer by teh Front Desk area where you can print out your boarding pass and check e-mail. Think it was a steep $5 for 30 minutes. If I have one minor complaint maybe have a computer set up for FREE printing of boarding passes. If you want internet then charge. (there is a FREE boarding pass printer/computer at the Sheraton EWR where I stayed the night before.)
I did not stay for their Superbowl party and instead watched much of teh game at Planet HOllywood. The company there was priceless. I did not get excited over the hotel. Dining wise I was very happy there at PH. A great buffet place (Spice Mill) with a great variety of cuisine. Another thing I liked was the Duck Soup I had at some restaurant I can't recall, complete with a Newcastle..
But I digress.
PH was less expensive that weekend than Westin C. But Westin C, and I said this before, is a nice quiet and cozy hotel off the bright lights and noise of the strip. Sometimes I like a little quiet and sanity and step out of the spotlight.
One more bonus... from the Westin C I can walk to the monorail in about two to five minutes and get around much of the strip. The Westin's not so out of the way as it may appear.
I may try PH sometime but I like this Westin and would come back.
mod/
Earlier thread can be found here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...er-thread.html
/mod
Last edited by SanDiego1K; Nov 17, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Feb 7, 2008, 7:58 pm
#2
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I hope ya'll are enjoying your $10/night "resort fee". Based on the hotels lies about it and that its another franchise from Columbia Sucks Corp, I won't be staying there again.
Feb 8, 2008, 7:44 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 272
I just stayed at the Westin last weekend too! I went to a trade show at the LVCC. As a Plat I got upgraded to the 15th floor. Nothing special. I also used the lounge where they had wine and beer from 5:30 to 7:30 along with a few light snacks.
The hotel is a nice downtown hotel. Not a resort by any stretch of the imagination. I was staying on points and when I got the bill there was a $10/day + tax resort charge. I went to the SPG desk and asked them about it. They took the charge off without too much resistance. They claim it isn't really a resort fee, but rather access to the pool and spa lus free local phone calls. I pointed out that the hotel is not a resort, and that none of the hotels/resorts on the actual strip (Mirage, Cearsar's, etc.) have a separate resort fee. I also didn't use any of the stated benefits. The lady just took the charge off without argument.
For a points stay it was OK. If you're going to Las Vegas for the gambling and action it is not as nice and is a couple of blocks from the strip. It wouldn't be my first choice on a paid stay but would take it if the rate was significantly lower than elsewhere (I'm not much into the strip scene, though).
The hotel is a nice downtown hotel. Not a resort by any stretch of the imagination. I was staying on points and when I got the bill there was a $10/day + tax resort charge. I went to the SPG desk and asked them about it. They took the charge off without too much resistance. They claim it isn't really a resort fee, but rather access to the pool and spa lus free local phone calls. I pointed out that the hotel is not a resort, and that none of the hotels/resorts on the actual strip (Mirage, Cearsar's, etc.) have a separate resort fee. I also didn't use any of the stated benefits. The lady just took the charge off without argument.
For a points stay it was OK. If you're going to Las Vegas for the gambling and action it is not as nice and is a couple of blocks from the strip. It wouldn't be my first choice on a paid stay but would take it if the rate was significantly lower than elsewhere (I'm not much into the strip scene, though).
Feb 8, 2008, 8:26 am
#4
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Lounge??
Feb 8, 2008, 9:29 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Pasadena,Ca.,US.
Programs: AA, Delta, United, SPG plat, Hyatt dia
Posts: 7,140
I just stayed at the Westin last weekend too! I went to a trade show at the LVCC. As a Plat I got upgraded to the 15th floor. Nothing special. I also used the lounge where they had wine and beer from 5:30 to 7:30 along with a few light snacks.
The hotel is a nice downtown hotel. Not a resort by any stretch of the imagination. I was staying on points and when I got the bill there was a $10/day + tax resort charge. I went to the SPG desk and asked them about it. They took the charge off without too much resistance. They claim it isn't really a resort fee, but rather access to the pool and spa lus free local phone calls. I pointed out that the hotel is not a resort, and that none of the hotels/resorts on the actual strip (Mirage, Cearsar's, etc.) have a separate resort fee. I also didn't use any of the stated benefits. The lady just took the charge off without argument.
For a points stay it was OK. If you're going to Las Vegas for the gambling and action it is not as nice and is a couple of blocks from the strip. It wouldn't be my first choice on a paid stay but would take it if the rate was significantly lower than elsewhere (I'm not much into the strip scene, though).
The hotel is a nice downtown hotel. Not a resort by any stretch of the imagination. I was staying on points and when I got the bill there was a $10/day + tax resort charge. I went to the SPG desk and asked them about it. They took the charge off without too much resistance. They claim it isn't really a resort fee, but rather access to the pool and spa lus free local phone calls. I pointed out that the hotel is not a resort, and that none of the hotels/resorts on the actual strip (Mirage, Cearsar's, etc.) have a separate resort fee. I also didn't use any of the stated benefits. The lady just took the charge off without argument.
For a points stay it was OK. If you're going to Las Vegas for the gambling and action it is not as nice and is a couple of blocks from the strip. It wouldn't be my first choice on a paid stay but would take it if the rate was significantly lower than elsewhere (I'm not much into the strip scene, though).
Feb 8, 2008, 10:17 am
#6
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Far from it, actually. 
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Feb 8, 2008, 12:27 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 272
It's a room right by their restaurant, more or less straight in from the front door. They have a large TV and some sofas and chairs. The food consisted of a few veggies with a dip, some chips and they also had something that looked like pizza but was gone and not replenished in just a few minutes. They had signs near the elevators that invited people to "unwind" there. The beverages included soft drinks, bottled water, beer, a merlot and a chardonnay.
Feb 8, 2008, 1:34 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: WAS
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 214
I hope ya'll are enjoying your $10/night "resort fee". Based on the hotels lies about it and that its another franchise from Columbia Sucks Corp, I won't be staying there again.
Having experienced the very non-resort like features of this property (strange garbage smells on the top floor, eerily quiet casino and lobby, smaller-than-average rooms) last month, I guess I'm not that surprised...
Feb 8, 2008, 1:57 pm
#9
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It's a room right by their restaurant, more or less straight in from the front door. They have a large TV and some sofas and chairs. The food consisted of a few veggies with a dip, some chips and they also had something that looked like pizza but was gone and not replenished in just a few minutes. They had signs near the elevators that invited people to "unwind" there. The beverages included soft drinks, bottled water, beer, a merlot and a chardonnay.
Feb 8, 2008, 2:07 pm
#10
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It's not an executive/club/platinum lounge. I remember a discussion a while back that this wasn't a published lounge. Apparently, they have the unwind evening ritual set up at that lounge now.
Feb 8, 2008, 2:22 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 272
I don't know who is entitled to go into the lounge, but the doors are wide open and I never had to identify myself to anyone, I just walked in. In the afternoon there were some water bottles and apples laying around until they brought the beer and wine glasses for the 5:30 to 7:30 "ritual". No breakfast in the morning.
Now that I think of it, it was probably open to everyone since they had signs by the elevators mentioning "unwind". I guess all guests were welcome to participate.
I would have probably preferred the 12th floor view that "SPG Aluminum" Catman mentions above, that looked towards the strip, than my 15th floor Platinum Upgrade view on the opposite end of the building that looked at an empty area across the street.
Now that I think of it, it was probably open to everyone since they had signs by the elevators mentioning "unwind". I guess all guests were welcome to participate.
I would have probably preferred the 12th floor view that "SPG Aluminum" Catman mentions above, that looked towards the strip, than my 15th floor Platinum Upgrade view on the opposite end of the building that looked at an empty area across the street.
Last edited by emuyshondt; Feb 8, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Feb 8, 2008, 3:56 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Pasadena,Ca.,US.
Programs: AA, Delta, United, SPG plat, Hyatt dia
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Starwood Lurker wrote
"Far from it, actually. "
That is good news William-good luck on this and please keep us posted.
If it helps-I refuse to stay at this property till they lift this stupid,unjustified,"resort fee" Small loss I am sure-but I am not alone in this.
"Far from it, actually. "
That is good news William-good luck on this and please keep us posted.
If it helps-I refuse to stay at this property till they lift this stupid,unjustified,"resort fee" Small loss I am sure-but I am not alone in this.
Feb 8, 2008, 4:18 pm
#13
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I wanted to clear that up IMMEDIATELY because I would hate for someone to think this property has an EXECUTIVE CLUB lounge, book then come here and complain.
Feb 9, 2008, 12:03 am
#14
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It appears that the owners of the LV Westin, Columbia Sussex, are being investigated by the NV Nevada Gaming Control Board.... 
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008...-investigated/
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008...-investigated/
Feb 9, 2008, 12:08 am
#15
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Anyway when I was in LV I spent the Saturday night there. Personally I wouldn't go back because upgrades are non existent and only to "SPG" floor. Both the check in and check out were chaotic.
