FlyerTalk Forums - W Brisbane, Australia [Master Thread]

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Stayed 5 nights recently on points, overall a pretty good experience. Upgrade to fantastic suite via chat a day before my arrival. I arrived late at night and found the doors to be locked and not even a valet around. There was a call button which got a visit from a host saying they had already checked in all their guests (guess they forgot about me). Was upstairs and checked in quickly by a different host, I choose breakfast as my welcome amenity and was given 4 drink chits as well as invite to the "feelin fine time" happy hour.

Was assigned room 2807, which has great views and is nice and large. There was a welcome note from GM and some pastries on a W Brisbane themed framed poster (a little odd). AC in the room worked GREAT. Was down to 15.5 C at some points (I love it cold).

Breakfast was served in the Three Ducks restaurant. I found the breakfast to be pretty good for a buffet outside of Asia. But there was a distinct lack of non-western/Australian dishes. The ones that were there were not all that great (noodles, congee). Also of note, you're not able to get a bloody mary/mimosa with breakfast as they're not licensed until 1030a (when breakfast ends).

As for F&B outlets and experience, WET was open and served drinks all day. It got a little busy some afternoons with locals (there's a lounge type area away from the pool), they had a DJ on the weekends. The living room bar had a great set of bartenders who were fun to chat with and made great cocktails, along with some fun characters in the form of other guests. From Sun-Thurs, feeling fine time occurs as well from 6-8. This is for Platinum and above members, and offers small 1 bite snacks (usually something on a chip), and house drinks (beer and wine). In theory, the bartender would pick a cocktail to offer as well, but I was asked what I wanted and was given whatever I wanted.

Hotel is walkable to lots of restaurants and bars, and offers the hotel car typical with most W's. However, each time I went to ask to use it, it was a bit dramatic. I asked in the app, but that was met with "go see them", then each time I did, they were "too busy". Just a little odd.

Overall a great stay at this property, would recommend it for sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jxd (Post 34053943)

https://concreteplayground.com/brisb...x-toy-mini-bar

Really, marriott?

Probably not Marriott - probably W Brisbane.

And, FWIW, Hyatt/Thompson's Gild Hall in NYC offers guests analogous kits/devices/options in the mini bar area as well:
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...18cea514a9.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c402a7cda8.jpg

Note that the menu above priced the adult toys at $30 and the intimacy kit at $12.

David

Quote:

Originally Posted by nevansm (Post 32057831)

Overall a great stay at this property, would recommend it for sure.

Adding kudos for this property from my stay a few weeks ago.

Even though W's are usually not the most practical for our family travel, we booked this W because we could use a combination of my wife's Amex FHR annual benefit, a free night certificate from my account, and then potentially using SNAs for one of the rooms x 2 nights. I communicated with the reservations folks ahead of time because I also needed connecting rooms -- and then on top of that really wanted a river view. Had asked what room I could request via SNA that had a river view and connecting options? The hotel was very responsive and shared that only the Marvelous Suites had connecting options with a river view. So that is what I requested for the SNA for the reservation from my account (which was a free night + 1 paid night for the entry Wonderful room).

My SNAs did clear at 5 days out -- but when I went to re-confirm the connecting rooms via email, apparently they had some water damage to the Marvelous Suite(s) with connecting rooms options. So we were upgraded to a Wow Suite which did not have the two bed connecting room option we originally were after -- only an interconnecting Spectacular King room - but our kids could make that work. We arrived at the hotel at 6 AM after our flight from LA and were able to get into the Wow Suite and watch the sun come up over Brisbane. We were certainly Wowed right from the start of our stay (apologies for the pun but I think that is actually the correct word to describe that suite).

That said about our hard product experience, the staff we encountered is really why I want to make this positive post. Several folks -- from the woman who checked us in at 6 AM to the waitress at Three Ducks our first morning to the guy working the Wet Deck by the pool went out of their way to talk to us and offer suggestions about our time in Brisbane. At the pool they said they had just re stuffed the floating bean bags (see picture in samwise6222's post) and offered my kids smores if they would go and jump on every single one of them and help smooth out the stuffing. Doubting this really needed to be done but it was perfect for them/appreciated by me. The GM even found us that first morning and spent time chatting with us and asking if there was anything else they could do to improve our stay? I cannot even tell you the last time I saw the GM of a property I was staying at unless I was seeking them out for an issue. We did not make many requests and the ones we did were small, but anything we needed was taken care of immediately and I have no doubt we could have made more complex asks if needed.

The Wow suite includes a bottle of champagne and my wife received some sort of bloody Mary drink in the second room (either for her gold status or FHR). There was also the invitation to the evening drinks and snacks downstairs. Unfortunately we are not big drinkers so all this was lost on us, but for many I think this would really enhance the stay.

Location of the property is perfect for being a tourist in Brisbane. There was also a really great market one block over from early morning on Wednesday that had every kind of food or sweet you might want to try in Australia.

If I ever make it back to Brisbane there is no doubt this is where I will stay.

Any other recent stays? Weighing up a five night stay in Brisbane on points and looking at the W, Westin and Marriott. Thanks :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radiation Station (Post 34843844)

Any other recent stays? Weighing up a five night stay in Brisbane on points and looking at the W, Westin and Marriott. Thanks :)

I think we're similar based on our cross-posts in the UK Hotel threads so I'd stick with the Westin and Marriott over the W. I've stayed at all of them and didn't really enjoy all the "Schoolies" screaming up and down the W hotel in Brisbane over the holidays. ;)

W Brisbane = Possibly Best Hotel in City

Introduction We stayed at W Brisbane and found this hotel to be very solid, and in fact above average compared to other Ws where we have stayed before. Far from being mostly a party hotel, this is a proper luxury hotel with excellent hardware in addition to being more interesting than traditional and boring hotels - this is what a W should be and I can highly recommend it. Room We proactively received an upgrade as Bonvoy Ambassador Elite to the third category of suites (fantastic suite) which was quite spacious 80 sqm (double shower!) with nice views of the river from our high floor. It is often difficult to ascertain whether upgrades are different for Platinum/Titanium vs Ambassador but when we get a premium suite we highly appreciate it and might be a hint that guests who are first-timers at the hotel without Ambassador status might not get this room type. Service The service was very good before our stay and during our stay; they prepared a nice welcome and koala gift for our daughter who was visiting Australia for the first time and it became the 40th country she visited in her life!We also rented a car during our stay and the hotel arranged everything for us, they could even use my credit card on file at the hotel for payment with Hertz and arranged for them to bring the car to the hotel and I could simply return the car to the hotel front entrance and they took care of the rest. Dining In the morning, breakfast was perhaps not at the level of what we can find in Asia or the Middle East, but it was not far behind. For example, they had imaginative healthy choices such as maple glazed pumpkins and charred broccoli with jalapenos and mint. One small criticism is about the specialty coffee machine. Some hotels include regular coffee as part of the breakfast but some special drinks require an extra charge. I donâ€™t like this practice but I can understand it for non-luxury hotels. At luxury hotels this is more questionable however and it can give a feeling of nickel & diming to guests. At W Brisbane it was somewhat in the middle: it was one free per guest, but any extra would be charged, so not as stingy as some hotels but still not sure itâ€™s worth making staff have that conversation with guests.Guests Platinum and above have happy hour which include proper cocktails at the bar, and not some low-end stuff often found in lounges. They also served a few small appetizers. Wifi Wifi worked very well with speed of over 100 Mbps. Overall Overall there is a lot to like about this hotel and given the local competition I think W is hard to beat. I also considered Westin but the price was not materially different for my dates so it seems W is the better option.

Love this hotel! First timer here and spent 2 nights in March 2023.

Outstanding hotel located on the river in a great part of Brisbane (that is being redeveloped).

Was upgraded to a FANTASTIC suite on the top floor (Marriott LTE here), which was stunning. Large, separate living area and fridge/counter; 2nd bathroom. Great views of the river, Convention Center, Wheel of Brisbane.

The bed was reliably comfortable (W Hotels) and the automated blackout blinds made the room fully dark for a great sleep.

Bathroom was beautiful with great shower pressure and amenities / products.

Air Conditioning was great. Really loved the room a lot.

GYM: The hotel gym is excellent - wasn't crowded and had brand new equipment and outdoor views. Used it twice and loved it.

POOL: No real sun coverage, but the (mostly) indoor pool is immaculate, with friendly staff to serve you drinks and food.

BREAKFAST: I added breakfast as my welcome amenity and WOW - it's a spectacular breakfast buffet, with made-to-order eggs/omelets and barista coffee. I especially enjoyed the cold brew coffee, breakfast smoothies, and tasty bacon / sausages. A+ for the breakfast alone!

I would definitely stay here again. Highly recommended!

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c82cc65a45.jpg
Bed
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...99b2b8f9d7.jpg
Bathroom entry
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ec2dd89539.jpg
Bathtub
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...9a51efc5be.jpg
Living Room
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d1b33b98b8.jpg
Bed
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3a273120ac.jpg
Welcome Cocktail (Dirty Martini)
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b217318bee.jpg
Vanity Mirror
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...552169bb68.jpg
Gym
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0d7f49ab53.jpg
Breakfast 1
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...cb414b3638.jpg
Breakfast 2
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...89e6f92956.jpg
Omelette

Three blue ducks shutting down at the W brisbane in June 2023

I have been looking at booking a stay at the W brisbane in the next couple of months and I came across an article stating that the three blue ducks is leaving the W brisbane and:“W Brisbane will run a produce-focused restaurant from June onwards, doing breakfast, lunch and dinner, with more details about what's to come for Three Blue Ducks' old space set to be announced in the near future.”

Last time I stayed at the W brisbane they weren’t offering a buffet. It was limited to in room dining (covid). So I was keen to try out the three blue ducks during my next stay. Seems that may not be the case now :/

I figured I’d post this to FT to give a heads up, if you’re planning a trip after June.

cheers

Quote:

Originally Posted by itinerantur (Post 35132381)

So the three blue ducks is considered a third party restaurant so you couldn't charge the bill to the room (for points) or use the amex FHR credits there. And that is the only in-house restaurant at the hotel. There's like a lounge and bar but from my recollection they don't serve any dinner. So the only use of the amex FHR credits was either room service or the spa. Hopefully the new restaurant would be an 'in-house' restaurant and not a third party one.

https://www.thelexbrisbane.com/

The Lex will be taking over Three Blue Ducks from 15 June onwards.

Looks like it'll be an in house restaurant so fingers crossed the amex FHR credits will be usable there!

https://concreteplayground.com/brisb...lex-w-brisbane

I thought the W Brisbane was a nice hotel, but there were enough odd quirks that left me feeling a bit annoyed / perplexed by the end of the stay. Perhaps, I'm being overly picky as I would return to this property. Here are my pros, cons, and photos:

Pros:

Upgraded to a Fantastic Suite the evening before arrival but downgraded slightly to a Marvelous Suite upon check-in at 2 PM - these are the same room on different floors so it doesn't really matter - still a nice suite upgrade
Bed is generally nice - a few qualms about the pillows and covers, but the mattress was plush
Shower pressure was great from the angled wand head - note there are two rainfalls and two wands
Views towards the South side and the river were fantastic
Lights and curtains easy to control with many panels around the room
Service was quite friendly, especially at check-in and from the porter that brought up my luggage who told me about the city
Offered late checkout - no issue with 3 PM
Feeling Fine Hour offered to Elites only on Sunday-Thursday from 6-7 PM but includes classic cocktails - I asked for something fruity and got a tasty pineapple martini - some small canapes also served (pork belly, beef tartare) but I'm not that adventurous
Breakfast was quite good - despite missing pancakes or waffles
- Omelet was tasty
- Massive croissants
- Really good chocolate cake
- Super yummy hashbrowns
- Very good barista mochas and lattes
- Actual crispy bacon - I could hear the Star Spangled Banner
The location was nice for walking along the river

Neutral:

In-room welcome gift was wine, a bunch of fruit, and some cheese - the gorgonzola was quite good, but that's about all that sounded good from that assortment - looking for desserts ;-)
Bed covers could be thicker to match other W properties
Living room space seemed a bit sparse, and the furniture could be more comfortable for sitting and lounging

Funny (not a real con):

I don't like bugs - not sure why a hotel would place bug decals on the elevators

Cons:

Housekeeping came in twice (different people) about 10 minutes after check in to attempt to clean my room - the 2nd lady kind of barged in after one quick knock
If both sides of the double shower were turned on, it did not seem like the drain could handle that amount of water flow - since there was no ledge between the floor and shower floor, the water flooded out onto the bath mat I had placed
The mineral water that was placed as the room's complimentary water was absolutely horrid - I have never tasted water so disgusting and not refreshing - I had to bring cups of water from the gym to take my vitamins, etc.
The pillows were either too flat or too lumpy - placing two flat pillows together seemed to be too tall, but one was a bit too flat
The "soap stand?" on a pedestal was quite wobbly
The climate control seemed to not be very responsive if responsive at all - never really heard anything - often found myself either too cold or too warm (so something had to be happening over time)

I am planning a trip for my family to Brisbane at the end of the year (daughter will be 5 years old by then). I would prefer to stay in town, because we are planning to go to the temporary(?) amusement experience being opened up for Bluey that is between the city and the airport (I.e. being out on the coast will be a bit out of the ways). Given it does not seem like there is a spectacular option that stands out in central Brisbane, I am debating between the W and the Westin. Do folks have any thoughts on whether one would be better than the other? The W seems to be a little better, but the only thing giving me pause is some of the references above to a younger crowd being present - in my older (middle) age, I would rather not be surrounded by a bunch of young twenty-something’s getting smashed at the pool bar while I try to swim around with my daughter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsiFighter37 (Post 36315671)

I thought the Westin was more comfortable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsiFighter37 (Post 36315671)

110% I would choose the Westin with your demographics and preferences.