mendy7511

Wow, signed up just to reply to my post!

mendy7511

I suppose if you already went through the trouble of signing up to Flyertalk to defend your hotel, maybe you can respond to my other 2 concerns with the hotel.

1. weird rate changes outlined in another thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/21285558-post1158.html
2. The amenities listed on your site (and in the room) include an in-room spa. when I tried to book a treatment, I was told "we don't offer this at the hotel, you will have to look off site".

Looking forward to your comments.

MightyTravels

Here's my review:

http://www.mightytravels.com/1323275...ch_la_area.php

I just spent one night at this property. Long Beach is part of LA County but actually feels more like Orange County.

I had a good stay there but the location is too remote for me so I wouldn't come back again unless I'd have business in the immediate vicinity.

Pros:

- immaculate, renovated rooms & suites, I really liked my executive room

- friendly staff, all interaction with the staff was on par and staff seemed knowledgeable

- good rates ($100) for a weekday in L.A. in rather busy fall season

Cons:

- sloooow Wifi, I hate hotels with slow Wifi and this hotel throttled it at 0.6 Mbit which is slower than your 3G cell phone connection, why are we Platinum when Wifi is unusable?

- Long Beach is not really close to anything in LA

- really mediocre breakfast even for US standards, with just coffee and pastries as Platinum amenity

- there is no lounge for Platinums

- overall almost no Platinum recognition

sky_priority

I agree with the last two posters Mendy and Mighty about the almost-nil recognition of platinum status at Westin Long Beach. The breakfast option, for example, boiled down to a waiter at breakfast telling me to eat 'anything cold' from the full buffet - which amounted to fruit, bread, and sweet yogurt.

Beware of the rate changes after booking. This has been mentioned many times in this thread. For me, my rate increased from $97 base without taxes nightly to $120 without taxes upon confirmation). It was a "favor" at the front desk to change it back to the rate I booked.

Lastly, the hotel will try to upcharge you as much as possible. First, my internet charges were not waived even though I am platinum. I had to call the front desk to have this updated. Second, my laundry charges came back higher than what was listed on the laundry sheet. Isn't $12 enough to wash a pair of pants? How can you stand to further increase these already inflated prices? Not only is it even less of a value, it is either incompetent or dishonest. Three of my items were overcharged, and I had to call to have the charges adjusted. I almost didn't look at the laundry receipts, and I feel sorry for those who didn't look at their charges as they were almost certainly overcharged (about $1 dollar per item).

The manager called me and was cordial, but did not offer anything whatsoever other than 'we are looking into it.' Of course, I know I am not the first to have these problems (read the earlier posts on this thread). I assume that this has 'been looked into' before and obviously the problems persist.

Dishonest or incompetent? Hard to say, but neither is in line with the majority of Westins that offer excellent customer service, and are upfront with not only correcting their mistakes but doing something extra for their best customers.

KENNECTED

I'm going to assume that others also assumed and didn't call CS to report the issues at this property.

Are you going to contact CCS?

fieldeng

I stayed here last week (as a Platinum) based on limited choices for where I needed to be. I looked at the Sheraton Cerritos and just flipped a coin. Based on the earlier reviews, I was thinking it wouldn't be so good of a place.

On the contrary actually, as I had a lovely stay. I looked at MightyTravels review and my room was twice that size.

Parking is $18 daily with in and out. It was pretty ample and I found it convenient.

Checkin & Platinum recognition:
When I checked in, they recognized my status and went looking for a suite. They didn't have one for my entire stay and the view wasn't that great so I opted out of the suite and took a partial Queen Mary View King room on the 15th floor instead. Because they offered the suite for part of my stay, I didn't consider this to be a "upgrade failure".

In addition, they asked me what I'd like as a Check in amenity. They said because they don't offer a lounge that they'd give me double platinum amenity points instead which I took. I also took advantage of "Green choice". Both the double Plat amenity and Green points posted last night. This hotel is also part of the "double starwood points promotion" so I earned that as well. All and all for a 4 night stay, I earned nearly 7,000 starpoints

The staff deserve major kudos for their hospitality. They were super friendly and welcoming.

Internet: It was available via wifi and plenty fast. Fast enough to stream youtube without hiccups. I never had an issue here. It was stable and quick.

Room: Immaculate and renovated. Reminded me a bunch of the Westin Toronto Downtown which I love.

I liked it so much I plan to stay here next week to requalify for Starwood Platinum.

The lone negative is the A/C doesn't get that cold.

I agree this place isn't very close to LA but it's close enough to anything remotely decent in Long Beach as far as restaurants and bars are concerned so it's imminently walkable (Beechwood BBQ & Congregation Ale House are good choices). To me that is a major bonus because I don't need to get out and brave LA traffic at night when I'm hungry and want to visit a restaurant.

I recommend this place.

fieldeng

I stayed a 2nd week which requalified me for Platinum. Overall, the same experience as previous except the front desk clerk didn't bother checking for any upgrades.

JackE

There's an easy test for that. Do they ever get it wrong to their disadvantage?

SAN 1K

We just had a perfectly fine stay here this past weekend. Platinum upgrade (pre-arranged) to a xx47 room which is the open-concept suite on the south end that others have mentioned. A junior suite really. Only 1 TV. Some view if the water. I think the references in the old posts to Queen Mary views are out of date as some tall buildings have been built since then. I think only a few rooms on the north end up high would have Queen Mary views now.
We really enjoyed the area. Queen Mary. The Aquarium. Shops on 1st Street just south of the hotel including some nice little boutiques.
Yes the pool is small but it was never crowded. Nice and warm and a hot spa.
Called for sheets for the sofa bed and they offered to make it up, which was nice. The entire hotel seemed very clean and well maintained to me with just a few exceptions (like the railing around the pool deck).
We didn't eat in the hotel.
Used the westin workout gear. Had a nice run southbound along the ocean to the next pier. 5 miles round trip.
We arrived at the hotel Saturday afternoon and found street parking east of the hotel. Didn't have to pay or move the car on Sunday.
Not a global destination but a fun exploratory getaway.

imgonnafly

if i'm going on a cruise, is it easy to get there form the hotel? can you walk? does the hotel have transportation?

stimpy

No, you'd probably have to take a taxi. I'm assuming your boat docks at San Pedro?

thor17

Any know how large the in-room safes are? Can I fit a 15" laptop and a DSLR?

BigE

Has anyone applied a suite upgrade at this hotel? If so, what did you get? Is it just the "junior suite" or the bi-level suite?

I realize that people are mostly reporting getting upgrades to the junior suite, but I couldn't tell whether that was using a suite upgrade cert or just a pure freebie.

TravelinSperry

I stayed there 2 weeks ago and received an upgrade to the executive suite as a platinum (didn't use SNAs).

remymartin

From a purely (carless) leisure perspective, is this a decent property?