helvetic

You didn't mention which of the two hotels you stayed at.

travelista

Westin Bonaventure

flyerbjorn

I spent a week at the Sheraton a while back and just spent another week at the Westin Bonaventure.

As an SPG platinum, I prefer the Westin. Nice pool area, much better (platinum) breakfast. I got a suite upgrade at the Westin, but no room upgrade at the Sheraton. And if you need a car, there is an Enterprise rental across the street.

365RoadWarrior

Quick history: 8-10 years ago, I was pretty-much living here. I lost my local client. Then, with the Marriott acquisition, I pulled back on SPG stays, 100 to around 35-40 nights/year.

I split the past two weeks between the Bonaventure and the Sheraton Downtown. No reason the Bonaventure should "remember me", but, by god, they treated me very well (resulting in four future reservations). They did recognize me as a return guest, and spared me the long explanation of how to use the elevators and such.

As (almost) always, I had a nice suite in my preferred tower (Green, with the fitness center). Full breakfast was the Welcome Amenity, instead of the Continental, which was "standard" for a while. And that full breakfast offered broccoli, squash and other things I like, but rarely see. (I did not get points and breakfast as a "double" Welcome Amenity", like travelista apparently did, but I don't care about points anyway.) The fitness center was as good as it's been at the Bonaventure, with a few "spinning" bikes to ease the historical crowding at peak times. To-the-door delivery of USA Today, with WSJ available at the bell desk and restaurant.

The Sheraton was fine. It's still got the "new" feel, but the slow elevators - how can they be so slow at 3:00AM? - drive me nuts. After the Marriott deal, given the paucity
of affordable DTLA Marriott options, the lounge has gotten uncomfortably busy. The fitness center is still great, with views and regularly upgraded/refreshed equipment.
USA Today, WSJ and LA Times all available in the lounge, so a small "edge" to the Sheraton there.

clarkef

They are both solid hotels. I prefer the Bonaventure for several reasons

• Safer area
• Easier freeway access
• 98% chance of a suite upgrade
• Better Views
• Platinum breakfast in restaurant

And as a previous poster stated, if you have a tall vehicle, parking becomes a challenge, although not impossible in the hotel garage

tcook052

Safer area for the Bonaventure? How so as the hotels are only a half mile apart.

As a lowly non-SPG status guest I'm comparing these two hotels for a weekend award stay next Summer and noted how much higher the Sheraton is rated compared to the Westin so is the pool and room views at Bonaventure enough to still give it the edge without all the elite perks?

flyerbjorn

As a low status guest, I'd say both the Westin and the Sheraton are about the same. The Sheraton has more restaurants in the neighbourhood.

mahasamatman

Have you never been to L.A.? Two blocks is enough in L.A. to go from safe to shady to downright dangerous.

tcook052

Yes, I have which but not for a while which is why I was curious to hear more from previous poster as 'unsafe neighborhood' is not something that pops up in reviews for the Sheraton which is #6 on TA..