The hotel renovation is nearly complete. They rooms are now quite nice and have been updated with modern furniture, LCD TVs, etc. They did less with the bathrooms, but they didn't need as much upgrading to begin with. The front desk and small reading / coffee room off the lobby area is quite nice and moderinzed as well---a very different look for this hotel. The only negative, IMO, is the flow from the lobby right into the renovated restaurant. It makes the lobby noise pretty significant and appears as if it would be an odd dining experience having dinner while you watched people check in 15 feet away. Overall, a good renovation with the lobby/restaurant combo as a drawback.
I was just here last week and really liked the renovation. The decor has a more modern feel that was very nice.
As for the reading room off the lobby, it actually opens into the bar, not the main restaurant, and has a very interesting fireplace separating the reading area from the bar. The restaurant is still behind the bar and around the corner, so we never heard any noise at all from the lobby area.
We enjoyed our stay and the staff was great as usual.
Location: Westchester, NY AA P/3MM, DL SM/MM, STW PLT
Posts: 5,493
Stayed at the Westin this past Monday (Auggie 8th); checked out Tuesday morning. Valet was quick and efficient throughout the short stay ($33.00 per day). Check-in was simple and was upgraded to a corner king room on the 11th floor, offered Platinum amenity, etc. The renovation of the hotel was generally nicely done, although it would have been even nicer had the elevators been replaced (a wish, not a reality, as it's typically far too expensive).
The renovation of the room was well done, and it felt very open given the abundance of windows. I particularly liked the bathroom, as you just don't get natural light in hotel bathrooms all that often, and it was spacious to boot. All in all, a solid stay.
Last edited by wigstheone; Aug 11, 11 at 1:00 pm..
Just got back from a 4 day/3 night stay using cash and points. The hotel offered a regular room, and a corner room for the same price. All the windows in the corner room + the bathroom windows were a real plus.
Free street parking overnight. Move your car by 8:00am or feed the meter using a credit card.
Since the hotel offered computers in the lobby, I left mine home. Big mistake. The Westin has 4 Ipad computers built into a counter adjacent to the lounge. Since I don't have an Ipod, I found it a real pain typing on the screen. These computers at times worked on circa 1996 performance levels. I did have a couple of other issues which were dealt with quickly by the GM.
The bathroom is oversized, and had a hugh walk-in rainfall showerhead. My wife was pleased.
Check out Mother's for breakfast. It's a 10 minute walk. If you have a car, check out Helsers on Alberta. It's a 10 - 15 minute drive.
Our 2 big meals were at Paley's on NW 23rd ($9- $10 cab ride), and The Heathman (10 minute walk).
The front desk staff and the doorman were great.
We booked The Westin because C&P were available. If this option isn't available, and since The Nines and The Westin are both 10,000 point properties, I'd choose The Nines. We asked to take a look at their most basic room. It was . I think it's what you'd call a boutique hotel.
The Nines is a half block from the light rail that comes from the airport (40 minutes and $2.10). The Westin is a block further away. Both properties = great location.
__________________ All these years to build a brand, and only 14 months to destroy it. If you guessed United Airlines, you're correct.
I have an upcoming stay at this hotel and was wondering if any one who stayed there this year can comment on it. I understand this hotel does not have a club lounge, so how is Plat breakfast benefit being implemented? Are there any specific rooms I should ask for? I am in a studio suite. Can anyone recommend cheap parking places near by? Thanks.
Stayed there last week. Waited over 15 minutes in a line to check in with one person manning the front desk at 5:00pm on a weekday. Rooms look better since the renovation, but the hotel seems tired to me. I prefer the Nines when I am in Portland.
I stayed there recently and my only complaint was the slow check-in. Renovated rooms were great, staff friendly and it's in a conveneient location in the downtown core. Check out the food vendor trucks in the nearby park -unique food to be found there and it appears the locals flock there for lunch.
Just completed my stay and I like the hotel in general but their plat benefits are so-so. I booked a studio suite which is their second highest room category behind a Penthouse Suite. So a week before the checkin date I email their general manager requesting a refrigerator and a microwave and an upgrade to Penthouse Suite if possible. No one from the hotel acknowledged the email let alone provide a response or contact me. Strike 1. At the checkin I was told they don't provide microwave's but would provide me a refrigerator and on inquiry was told that the Penthouse Suite is occupied and will not be available until the day I checkout. As we go in to the room we were told the last available refrigerator is also taken. Major strike 2 since I specifically requested this to keep food for my toddler. I chose the breakfast as platinum amenity and we have 2 adults, a teenager and a toddler. We were given breakfast vouchers and was told it will cover $13.50 per person up to two people, so a total of $27 (only if there are 2 parties at the table, otherwise its only $13.50). However unless you order One toast and One Juice or One Bagel and One Juice, all other entries cost more than $13.50 if you add a juice/tea/coffee etc to the entree. So overall a very poorly executed breakfast option which deserves a strike 3. On the last day morning, I requested a 4PM late checkout which was honored but my key got disabled when I got back to the hotel around 2PM. I went to the counter and they gave me a new one, which doesn't work again. This combined with expensive parking gives it a Strike.
Now the hotel itself is nice but the studio suite is smaller than I anticipated. It has a pullout sofabed so it worked out well. The bathroom was nice but the amenities are the std westin amenitoes same as in regular rooms. Nothing special for a suite. Location is the best for this hotel. Just across the hotel there are ton of food trucks that provide tasty food on the cheap. There are parking options nearby for about $15 or so and is much cheaper than the $35 that the hotel charges.
Over all the hotel itself is nice and the location is great but their platinum recognition sucks. So if you just want a decent room in a great location, this is a good hotel, but it is not worth the price they charge if you expect elite recognition and associated benefits. Hope it helps
I did have a couple of other issues which were dealt with quickly by the GM. 
. I think it's what you'd call a boutique hotel. 
