Originally Posted by
High Technology
The lounge in the Westin isn't my favorite, and I think the W is much more of an experience than just another nice US Westin, so I prefer the W for sure. I stayed 5 or 6 times between 2018-early 2020, each time for 3+ nights for business trips. The rooms were recently renovated in 2019 or so so they're much more tasteful now than the ultra-hip W of years' past, though if I were younger I might have hit the lounge one evening (it's for the Under 40 crowd, especially on weekends).
I have enjoyed the breakfast in the dining room at the W far more than some extra points had I stayed in a hotel with a lounge (it's my favorite Marriott breakfast in the US, by far). It's always been order anything you want from an interesting menu, no questions asked (I've never abused it, just a main, maybe a side/fruit and juice/coffee). Here's the
Menu, and I highly recommend the Bread Pudding French Toast, and have had every one of the Specialties except for the Eggs Benedict (I'm not a fan of hollandaise), and even the oatmeal was a cut above.
Stayed at the W last week, and the breakfast was a very strict $25 credit per person. I had to pay the overage but did not press it. The W is probably the nicer property, but you have a much better chance of getting a good view at the Westin (my room at the W on the 15th floor (top hotel floor) had a mostly obstructed view of the ugly brick building across the street). Also, note the W's annoying lack of elevators - there are only 2, and one was broken during check-out time, which made for terrible waits and crowding (we stopped at all 15 floors on the way down).
I haven't been to the Westin since pre-COVID, and I didn't have status. However, I really appreciated that they upgraded me to a River View room on the 35th floor because I was checking in early. The view was great, and I don't remember anything wrong with the room besides some noise issues (which also happens significantly at the W - people talking in the hallways, dogs barking, etc).