Originally Posted by
SometimesFlyer
Just completed a 2 night stay at the Westin Mammoth Lakes. All in all, a pleasant experience during the off season as we are really between the summer crowds and the first snow of the season.
Observations :
- No upgrade as plat. I asked specifically about this and best they will do is a "view" studio room. The occupancy rate was really low (empty pool, garage, restaurant) but they will not open up a 1BR.
- Service all around was good. Valet, front desk and restaurant were excellent. (Suspect because we were one of the only people there.) Housekeeping so-so. Missed coffee refill, little things here and there.
- Room in general was good. Even the studio suite had lots of space for 2. Kitchenette had fridge with icemaker, 2 ring electric stove, dishwasher, microwave, toaster, coffee maker, full dinnerware and silverware, pots and pans, etc. You can really make a complete meal here. Small dinner table for 2 in room. We also had one of the room with the day bed by the window. Nice to chill out overlooking the pool.
- Downside to room was poor temperature control. As described in many previous posts, it was either too hot or cold. For some reason, it cannot seem to "hold" at between 68-72. All night, the system would cycle back and forth, really noisy too.
- Basic gym on 2nd floor. Pool access the same level. 1 pool, 2 jacuzzis. Maybe again because it is off-peak, the maintenance did not seem so on-the-ball. Lots of leaves floating and at bottom of pool.
- Restaurant and lounge had happy hour between 4:30-6:30pm.
- Outside of the hotel, town of Mammoth Lakes was quiet and peaceful. We had a car so ventured around. Hiked near the end of Mary Lake and a bunch of other nearby places. Great weather.
- Restaurants/Cafes in town we really liked include Angel's (Great BBQ and beer selection), Schat's Cafe (Bread to die for, sandwiches).
Not sure when we'll return but perhaps during ski season. The location right off the gondola is nice.
You've hit the nail on the head for this property. Living in SoCal, and an avid snowboarder with MVP passes to Mammoth, I'm here a lot, and tend to blow all my SPG points on the rooms. However, in the times I've stayed in paid rooms, I've yet to receive an upgrade. The hotel is not always 100% full, and with SPG plat/ambassador, you'd think that you would be one of the first to maybe get that 1 bedroom up from the standard.
However, the hotel itself is pretty good. It seems that everyone in the hotel (reception/valet/restaurant) knows my family now, and is always more than accommodating to us, even when on a weekend rush.
I've had various success/failures with the AC/Heating. Maintenance were pretty quick on one occasion that I did call them, but it can be noisy when it turns on, and one of the vents seems to be directed right onto the bed.
I'm not a fan of jacuzzi's, so can't really comment on them on a daily basis, but my wife has commented before that they seem to be a bit under maintained.
Restaurant happy hour should be between 2pm and 5pm during the Winter season. Agree with one poster about the $10 whitebark credit. Seems a bit poor as they will give the same credit regardless of a 2 night stay or a 7 night stay.
The rooms are different sizes because of the shape of the hotel. It pays to ask them for one of the larger ones when booking, and specify if you don't want an accessible bathroom as they don't have bathtubs.
One down side is that the old Concierge, Buck, is no longer at the hotel. He was great for local knowledge, especially if you were up in the Summer looking for hiking trails.