Westin South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, CA [Master Thread]
#121
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,108
Can anyone tell me the difference between the DeLuxe King Rooms and the Executive Rooms? I've reserved an Executive Room because it was larger but, whenever I go to the booking I am asked if I want to upgrrade to a DeLuxe Room. I'm not understanding what the upgrade is.
Exec rooms are larger and situated in corners of building; so more private and potentially quieter.
Deluxe rooms are smaller and don't have the added privacy of corner rooms, yet they're situated on the top few floors of the building.
They're "upgrading" you into a lousier more cramped space on a higher floor, and basically selling what should be their preferred executive rooms with the potential risk of getting shoved into one of the lower level ground floor units, in order to justify inflating the rates on smaller rooms.
Whether one chooses to pony up a bit more bread for a lousier room on a higher floor is a matter of how much one considers the threat of getting stuck two floors above an eight lane intersection at the San Diego Fwy... this is easily avoided by re-categorizing room inventory in a logical way.
#122
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,108
To further confuse matters, there's also the park view category, which is somewhere between executive and dlx in the price structure, and basically just guarantees you aren't facing the noisy 405... the exec rooms could potentially fall under the park view and deluxe categories, but not the other way around. I finally got a helpful rep from the hotel on the horn just now and he recommended to always book an exec room and request a higher floor, so I'm sticking with that.
#124
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,108
Anyone that's stayed at Marriotts in Newport Beach can you offer a quick comparison in terms of hard product, room size, layout and comfort? I could care less about amenities or service at these type of hotels but would like to know how this compares to the Marriott Newport Beach Hotel & Spa or Newport Bayview. It's a bit more expensive but I'll gladly take it if it makes for a nicer stay.
#125
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
Anyone that's stayed at Marriotts in Newport Beach can you offer a quick comparison in terms of hard product, room size, layout and comfort? I could care less about amenities or service at these type of hotels but would like to know how this compares to the Marriott Newport Beach Hotel & Spa or Newport Bayview. It's a bit more expensive but I'll gladly take it if it makes for a nicer stay.
I also think the Westin is a bit nicer overall as a property—smaller hotel, less confusing layout than the Marriott Newport Beach, much nicer restaurant, and a great location across from South Coast Plaza. I think room sizes aren’t terribly efferent across the properties, but I can’t say for sure. I’d put the Newport Beach Marriott in Fashion Island next, as its rooms can be a bit dated, but it’s still a nice, clean Marriott. The Marriott Bayview is woefully dated in comparison and really doesn’t have nice views nor is it close to as much as the others.
You pay a bit more for the Westin likely also because South Coast Plaza is the very premium mall. Fashion Island is nice, but South Coast Plaza is top drawer. So that may push you one way or the other. If you like the Fashion Island location better, you may be better off staying at the Marriott. If you like the South Coast Plaza location (which also has excellent freeway access and is extremely close to SNA), then the Westin is your better choice.
Hope that helps.
You also can consider the Avenue of the Arts Tribute Portfolio Hotel just a few blocks away. It’s a pretty cool place, too.
Last edited by bhrubin; Dec 1, 2017 at 11:02 pm
#126
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,108
As a local who has visited friends and colleagues in all three hotels many times in just this most recent year, I think the Westin has by far the most modern and refreshed rooms overall and the nicer restaurant. (Ive also stayed overnight here and very much like the hotel.)
I also think the Westin is a bit nicer overall as a propertysmaller hotel, less confusing layout than the Marriott Newport Beach, much nicer restaurant, and a great location across from South Coast Plaza. I think room sizes arent terribly efferent across the properties, but I cant say for sure. Id put the Newport Beach Marriott in Fashion Island next, as its rooms can be a bit dated, but its still a nice, clean Marriott. The Marriott Bayview is woefully dated in comparison and really doesnt have nice views nor is it close to as much as the others,
You pay a bit more for the Westin likely also because South Coast Plaza is the very premium mall. Fashion Island is nice, but South Coast Plaza is top drawer. So that may push you one way or the other. If you like the Fashion Island location better, you may be better off staying at the Marriott. If you like the South Coast Plaza location (which also has excellent freeway access and is extremely close to SNA), then the Westin is your better choice.
Hopw that helps.
You also can consider the Avenue of the Arts Tribute Portfolio Hotel just a few blocks away. Its a pretty cool place, too.
I also think the Westin is a bit nicer overall as a propertysmaller hotel, less confusing layout than the Marriott Newport Beach, much nicer restaurant, and a great location across from South Coast Plaza. I think room sizes arent terribly efferent across the properties, but I cant say for sure. Id put the Newport Beach Marriott in Fashion Island next, as its rooms can be a bit dated, but its still a nice, clean Marriott. The Marriott Bayview is woefully dated in comparison and really doesnt have nice views nor is it close to as much as the others,
You pay a bit more for the Westin likely also because South Coast Plaza is the very premium mall. Fashion Island is nice, but South Coast Plaza is top drawer. So that may push you one way or the other. If you like the Fashion Island location better, you may be better off staying at the Marriott. If you like the South Coast Plaza location (which also has excellent freeway access and is extremely close to SNA), then the Westin is your better choice.
Hopw that helps.
You also can consider the Avenue of the Arts Tribute Portfolio Hotel just a few blocks away. Its a pretty cool place, too.
I'm going to book alternate nights with my acct and my wife's in order to bank the bonus 1K 'Explore More' promo points currently offered. Marriott's running a promo for free cat. 1-5 nights which seemed like a good deal but there's not a single property I see myself redeeming that stay for in the next 6 months. The Westin is better situated to where we'll be spending most of our time anyhow.
Thanks again for helping to sway my decision!
#128
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 731
We recently stayed here for 4 nights and the rooms are very nice and it's a quiet hotel so we enjoyed that. The breakfast for Plats is a $12 credit so you can use that towards breakfast or get the continental which is covered. We liked the close walk to South Coast Plaza and did some holiday shopping. It's a pleasant place to stay if you're in the area and are looking for a Starwood.
#129
#130
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: FRA
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 147
So Im currently staying here for 3 nights.
Overall a solid choice and Im definitely a fan of the location.
Platinum status got me one of those deluxe rooms on the highest (16th) floor. Nothing extraordinary, but solid Westin standard. I actively asked about suites but its true that they have few and hotel was actually fully booked on the website.
Staff is extremely friendly, from doorman over restaurant waiters to reception staff.
Regarding platinum breakfast: I suggest spending your vouchers at the inhouse Starbucks. Staying as a couple, you get 24$ credit which gets you an ok selection for breakfast. We also tried the continental breakfast at the restaurant which was good quality, but overall underwhelming a bit (see photo), also really lacking protein (how about some scrambled eggs?). Prices at the restaurant were outrageous in my opinion.
Overall a solid choice and Im definitely a fan of the location.
Platinum status got me one of those deluxe rooms on the highest (16th) floor. Nothing extraordinary, but solid Westin standard. I actively asked about suites but its true that they have few and hotel was actually fully booked on the website.
Staff is extremely friendly, from doorman over restaurant waiters to reception staff.
Regarding platinum breakfast: I suggest spending your vouchers at the inhouse Starbucks. Staying as a couple, you get 24$ credit which gets you an ok selection for breakfast. We also tried the continental breakfast at the restaurant which was good quality, but overall underwhelming a bit (see photo), also really lacking protein (how about some scrambled eggs?). Prices at the restaurant were outrageous in my opinion.
Last edited by flockavelliFT; Mar 21, 2018 at 4:01 pm
#131
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,268
I would probably just get Din Tai Fun to go for any in room meal other than breakfast if staying there.
#132
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: check swarm
Programs: DL DM & 2MM, SPG/Bonvoid LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, $tarbucks Titanium
Posts: 14,393
That Starbucks is crazy expensive too. I recently stayed and thought for once I'd try the voucher and it basically got me a latte, yogurt and 1/3 of a banana.
FWIW: there is a real Starbucks in the mall just inside the entrance as you cross the bridge from the Westin, not a far walk.
FWIW: there is a real Starbucks in the mall just inside the entrance as you cross the bridge from the Westin, not a far walk.
So Im currently staying here for 3 nights.
Overall a solid choice and Im definitely a fan of the location.
Platinum status got me one of those deluxe rooms on the highest (16th) floor. Nothing extraordinary, but solid Westin standard. I actively asked about suites but its true that they have few and hotel was actually fully booked on the website.
Staff is extremely friendly, from doorman over restaurant waiters to reception staff.
Regarding platinum breakfast: I suggest spending your vouchers at the inhouse Starbucks. Staying as a couple, you get 24$ credit which gets you an ok selection for breakfast. We also tried the continental breakfast at the restaurant which was good quality, but overall underwhelming a bit (see photo), also really lacking protein (how about some scrambled eggs?). Prices at the restaurant were outrageous in my opinion.
Overall a solid choice and Im definitely a fan of the location.
Platinum status got me one of those deluxe rooms on the highest (16th) floor. Nothing extraordinary, but solid Westin standard. I actively asked about suites but its true that they have few and hotel was actually fully booked on the website.
Staff is extremely friendly, from doorman over restaurant waiters to reception staff.
Regarding platinum breakfast: I suggest spending your vouchers at the inhouse Starbucks. Staying as a couple, you get 24$ credit which gets you an ok selection for breakfast. We also tried the continental breakfast at the restaurant which was good quality, but overall underwhelming a bit (see photo), also really lacking protein (how about some scrambled eggs?). Prices at the restaurant were outrageous in my opinion.
#134
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: check swarm
Programs: DL DM & 2MM, SPG/Bonvoid LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, $tarbucks Titanium
Posts: 14,393
Stayed back in August: property was open, but many services shut down. Pool was open, but by appointment only.
Since the Marriott takeover, this property seems to be taking advantage of the lower standards and offerings for elites (no bottled water, no Ambassador treats, upgrades to the non-Freeway side). They have also pretty much stopped offering the shoping package with the SCP mall next door, hence my stays have dropped off dramatically here.
Since the Marriott takeover, this property seems to be taking advantage of the lower standards and offerings for elites (no bottled water, no Ambassador treats, upgrades to the non-Freeway side). They have also pretty much stopped offering the shoping package with the SCP mall next door, hence my stays have dropped off dramatically here.
#135
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: On a plane or a beach
Programs: Yes
Posts: 3,116
Stayed back in August: property was open, but many services shut down. Pool was open, but by appointment only.
Since the Marriott takeover, this property seems to be taking advantage of the lower standards and offerings for elites (no bottled water, no Ambassador treats, upgrades to the non-Freeway side). They have also pretty much stopped offering the shoping package with the SCP mall next door, hence my stays have dropped off dramatically here.
Since the Marriott takeover, this property seems to be taking advantage of the lower standards and offerings for elites (no bottled water, no Ambassador treats, upgrades to the non-Freeway side). They have also pretty much stopped offering the shoping package with the SCP mall next door, hence my stays have dropped off dramatically here.
This is one of my favorite properties in SoCal. If you have a problem with a stay, contact the FD. They are helpful!