Four Seasons Westlake Village
Jun 28, 2007, 6:52 pm
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: FLL -> Where The Boyars Are
Programs: AA EXP 1.7 M, Hilton Gold, Hertz 5*, AARP Sophomore, 14-time Croix de Candlestick
Posts: 18,669
Were you at the hotel's spa, or at the Wellness facility? The latter, which conducts multi-day, extensive (and expensive) medical tests, is what I understand to the the unique lure here (based, IIRC, on the health-related concerns of the property's wealthy developer, David Murdoch).
Dec 13, 2009, 8:03 pm
#32
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: SPG Plat, HH Gold, United MP Premier, Alaska Air, BA, Qantas, ANZ
Posts: 11,038
Just got back from a few days at the FS Westlake Village. For getaways I like the St. Regis brand and go to Westins throughout the year for business, mixing in a few Hiltons and InterContinentals.
This does remind me of a business-type destination, as others have posted, but I really liked the fitness and spa areas. I spent time in the sauna which is appointed with pretty shaving, facial, and other treatments (all included).
The food is good, but for the money you can find better restaurants in the neighborhood (I liked "The Grill" which is like a Ruth's Chris). There must have been a shift change or something because one of our room service orders really got screwed up. I didn't say anything but I figured something should have been comped there.
We only went there because it is in Ventura County, and did not want to drive far or fly. This area could use some nice hotels.
This does remind me of a business-type destination, as others have posted, but I really liked the fitness and spa areas. I spent time in the sauna which is appointed with pretty shaving, facial, and other treatments (all included).
The food is good, but for the money you can find better restaurants in the neighborhood (I liked "The Grill" which is like a Ruth's Chris). There must have been a shift change or something because one of our room service orders really got screwed up. I didn't say anything but I figured something should have been comped there.
We only went there because it is in Ventura County, and did not want to drive far or fly. This area could use some nice hotels.
Dec 31, 2009, 12:21 am
#33
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,854
Also just spent three nights there, lured in by the 3rd night free offer, which at this hotel, according to one desk clerk, will run through Sept 2010. Booked a suite which required (a) one night's advance deposit and (b) a three day cancellation notice -- neither of which are applicable to regular rooms. Was upgraded from the booked "executive suite" to a 1br suite.
The room was nice. I liked the manmade waterfall which made an otherwise boring view into something decent.
There is a very well-equipped gym and an indoor pool (apparently as well as an outdoor one, which I never happened to find).
My package included breakfasts and one lunch. Definitely order any included food through room service, NOT through the lobby lounge -- the only place open for breakfast and lunch. The one time we tried the lobby lounge, the service was abysmal even though it was almost empty. Furthermore, the manager didn't seem to care when I talked to him about our problems.
Food quality in general is nothing special.
Maid service and room service staff were good. The gym attendant and doormen were less attentive.
Complimentary bottled water is still not provided. Three small pieces of fruit on a rectangular plate were delivered as an arrival amenity. They were clones, plate and all, of the amenity I received at the FS NYC -- maybe this is a chain-wide thing now? Not very impressive.
The hotel now charges $16 a day for parking and $13 a day for internet. So in addition to taxes, plan on your rate being $40 a day higher than quoted.
I would return IF the price point justified it, as it currently does if you can take advantage of the "3rd night free" promotion.
The room was nice. I liked the manmade waterfall which made an otherwise boring view into something decent.
There is a very well-equipped gym and an indoor pool (apparently as well as an outdoor one, which I never happened to find).
My package included breakfasts and one lunch. Definitely order any included food through room service, NOT through the lobby lounge -- the only place open for breakfast and lunch. The one time we tried the lobby lounge, the service was abysmal even though it was almost empty. Furthermore, the manager didn't seem to care when I talked to him about our problems.
Food quality in general is nothing special.
Maid service and room service staff were good. The gym attendant and doormen were less attentive.
Complimentary bottled water is still not provided. Three small pieces of fruit on a rectangular plate were delivered as an arrival amenity. They were clones, plate and all, of the amenity I received at the FS NYC -- maybe this is a chain-wide thing now? Not very impressive.
The hotel now charges $16 a day for parking and $13 a day for internet. So in addition to taxes, plan on your rate being $40 a day higher than quoted.
I would return IF the price point justified it, as it currently does if you can take advantage of the "3rd night free" promotion.
Dec 31, 2009, 2:58 am
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Dec 31, 2009, 8:57 am
#35
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: YVR
Programs: Hilton*D, Marriott*LG, Hyatt*G
Posts: 6,268
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...enities-7.html
Sorry to hear of service problems in the Lobby Lounge -- I think it is worth following up with the GM.
I have found the complimentary bottle(s) of water to be very inconsistent across FS hotels with a many properties forgetting or neglecting to offer this despite this being a clear request on my profile.
Dec 31, 2009, 11:04 am
#36
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: So. California
Programs: UA, SPG
Posts: 1,385
Hmmmm.......I just had a look at the website and it does not appear that this hotel has an "executive suite" or a Four Seasons Room category. I am guessing you booked a superior 1 bedroom suite and got a deluxe 1 bedroom suite upgrade?
Dec 31, 2009, 12:01 pm
#37
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,854
Probably, I booked the lowest level suite. Sorry about the terminology.
Dec 31, 2009, 12:03 pm
#38
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,854
It was reported by MarshKing that Preferred Partner bookings (and it sounds like yours was PP) in Executive Suites or higher should include in addition complimentary in-room internet access.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...enities-7.html
Sorry to hear of service problems in the Lobby Lounge -- I think it is worth following up with the GM.
I have found the complimentary bottle(s) of water to be very inconsistent across FS hotels with a many properties forgetting or neglecting to offer this despite this being a clear request on my profile.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...enities-7.html
Sorry to hear of service problems in the Lobby Lounge -- I think it is worth following up with the GM.
I have found the complimentary bottle(s) of water to be very inconsistent across FS hotels with a many properties forgetting or neglecting to offer this despite this being a clear request on my profile.
I have or had a FS profile somewhere but forget how to find it and certainly the hotel didn't know about it. They also didn't know how to deliver a morning paper, which I found strange since, following what stimpy pointed out above, is also something a Holiday Inn can do. Maybe we are supposed to lower our expectations in a luxury hotel?
Dec 31, 2009, 1:33 pm
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Not luxury hotels, just Four Seasons. At least I lower my expectations on FS stays when it comes to certain business class amenities that I receive at most chain hotels. Other luxury hotels don't have this problem. Just Four Seasons.
Jan 1, 2010, 12:18 pm
#40
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Canada
Programs: Virtuoso TA, Four Seasons Pref Partner, Rosewood Elite TA, Ritz Carlton STARS TA
Posts: 4,737
Jan 3, 2010, 10:58 am
#42
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Canada
Programs: Virtuoso TA, Four Seasons Pref Partner, Rosewood Elite TA, Ritz Carlton STARS TA
Posts: 4,737
Is free water some sort of promised perk? I don't get why you are asking for it for free and feeling it is inconsistent when it doesn't arrive FOC. I believe if you took the word free out of the request you would find it that water would appear in your room and on your folio very consistently!
FS gives a lot of freebies here and there that a Holiday Inn never would or could...
FS gives a lot of freebies here and there that a Holiday Inn never would or could...
Jan 3, 2010, 11:22 am
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
I was obviously joking about the Holiday Inn being luxury, even if they give me free water. However your comment is intriguing. I can't think of anything a FS gives away for free? They nickle and dime you on every little thing.
Jan 3, 2010, 6:39 pm
#44
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,854
I've never gotten anything for free at a FS either, except a recent bad experience at the FS NYC -- they didn't charge extra for that.
Did get freebies, mostly unsolicited room upgrades, back when I could use the corporate rate of a large investment bank -- and that rate was way cheaper than anything I can get on my own. So maybe the less you pay at FS, the more you get?
Did get freebies, mostly unsolicited room upgrades, back when I could use the corporate rate of a large investment bank -- and that rate was way cheaper than anything I can get on my own. So maybe the less you pay at FS, the more you get?
Jan 3, 2010, 7:40 pm
#45
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Tucson, AZ
Programs: Marriott LTT, Hilton Dia, Hyatt Expl, Avis Pres, Hertz Pres, National EE, AA Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 871
When looking at the 'Rates and reservations' section of most (all?) Four Seasons properties, you'll find a list some of freebies.
For example:
The Four Seasons, Jackson Hole offers free s'mores in the winter months.
The Four Seasons, Scottsdale offers poolside frozen fruit and other iced treats.
Or, a more direct way of finding these is to check out www.fourseasons.com/________/value/ -- put the property into the blank.
Examples:
http://www.fourseasons.com/westlakevillage/value/
http://www.fourseasons.com/scottsdale/value/
http://www.fourseasons.com/amman/value/
For example:
The Four Seasons, Jackson Hole offers free s'mores in the winter months.
The Four Seasons, Scottsdale offers poolside frozen fruit and other iced treats.
Or, a more direct way of finding these is to check out www.fourseasons.com/________/value/ -- put the property into the blank.
Examples:
http://www.fourseasons.com/westlakevillage/value/
http://www.fourseasons.com/scottsdale/value/
http://www.fourseasons.com/amman/value/
Last edited by MarshKing; Jan 3, 2010 at 7:56 pm Reason: Added the .../value sites