You had trouble with the Atlantic as well, if I recall correctly, so maybe Luxury Collection isn't your style either. Or is it that *wood just can't do enough to please you?

Seriously, I don't dispute your points about noise in the hotel, but my own experience from several stays at the Westin TS is that it is significantly quieter than other NY hotels that I have stayed in. Not as quiet as the Four Seasons, but also 1/3 the price of the FS. And I did note several construction details designed to minimize noise -- details that many NY buildings do not have. If you criticize the Westin TS for this, the same would apply for 90% of all hotels in NY and it isn't a distinguishing feature. I have no vested interest in the Westin TS but do feel they deserve praise based on my limited experience with them (a few stays over the past 3 months). Whereas this thread makes it seem as one of the worst *woods in NYC instead of one of the best.

Having just returned from a free weekend stay also, let me point out something that I think is ludicrous - the door handle of the sliding bathroom door. From the outside, the door handle is made/positioned for sliding the door open. Inside the bathroom, the door handle is positioned for closing the door only!!! Every time I use the bathroom, I cannot open the door with ease to get out!!! Shouldn't the door handle be made for both opening and closing the door with ease?

.....

We don't like sliding bathroom doors, especially translucent ones. While they look cool, and probably take up less space, the ones at the Westin (and the Ws I've been too) don't lock. I have this, probably unfounded, fear that someone will come in while I'm doing something in there.

Club level...

Aren't club level rooms suppose to be better than normal rooms? Why would they be on a lower floor with an obstructed view?

When we were there, we could have had a club level room, but instead choose a room on a high floor with a view. I don't get why someone would want to have a view of the peep show store across the street and pay more for it.


Construction quality...

It would have been nice if they made the doors close gently instead of slamming shut. Otherwise, we didn't have a problem with street noise on the 40th floor.

I suppose it's to each its own. I'm with Number_6, and I have repeatedly praised the Westin TS in other threads.

The hotel is far from perfect (bathroom door is but one thing), and the Club lounge tip shake down is annoying, but if I get good service, I will tip; and if I have to share a dirty table with others then I won't. Club lounge attendants deserve tips too!

But the Westin TS is better than many other NY properties, Starwood and non-Starwood - it is my "home" in Manhattan, along with the Sheraton Russell.

To those who wow to never come back to this hotel, I say VERY GOOD, since the Westin TS is always sold out anyhow, and if less Plats show up, then my chance of getting the Junior Suite has just gotten better ^

Westin New York Times Square [Master Thread]
 

Hi all -

Just back from using my last few 311 promo nights in NYC, thought I would write a quick update:

We arrived Friday afternoon at 1PM to a very busy lobby - very typical for this hotel from my impression. Dropped the bags with the bell staff and assumed our two rooms wouldn't be ready, but thought we would check.

Louis was staffing the Plat desk and was excellent. One of the best I have dealt with. Both our rooms were ready - 3802 and 3829 - both corner rooms with amazing views of the river and downtown respectively. The rooms were great, not sure if they were the "best available", but they were some of the nicest I have seen! Louis said the hotel has been sold out for 5 weeks straight, so if this is what they do for their Plats, thats pretty damn good. Only flaw was no bottled water in the room, but we stocked up in the lounge, so no worries there. Only thing to watch with the room is that if you have the DND sign on the door, it had a tendancy to get stuck in the lock area, causing the door not to be closed properly (as we found out when a friend came to visit and just walked right in!)

As both rooms were under my name, we were given two keys to the Executive lounge, which is open for breakfast from 7 - 11am and for snacks from 6-8pm ALL WEEKEND! This was a very nice feature for us, as the breakfast was a very nice spread (bagels, croissants, cereal, fresh fruit, starbucks coffee) and the evening fare was even better (a nice pasta dish, cold pasta salads, etc). Bottled water, coke, juice all available.

The concierge staff was quite useful, with maps for the subway, dinner recommendations, and a list of performers at the local comedy clubs - we choice the laugh factory, fun night! - A 3 PM Late checkout for both rooms were accepted without problems, and the bell staff was at the door right at 3 to grab our bags.

Only draw back is if you are looking for a quiet hotel - you are in the wrong a) city b) hotel. There was some sort of cheerleading competition in town, so lots of 10 - 16 year old girls (and crazy chearleading parents) in the lobby and elevators at all times. I personally don't mind the chaos - thats why I come to NYC! - but others may. Times square is busy at all times of the day, so if you are looking for something more quiet, Essex et al might be a better choice.

All and all, amazing stay! Thank you once again *wood! PM me if you have any questions!

T.

Westin New York Times Square [Master Thread]
 

I am reserved for tomorrow and Thursday nights. Can I expect an upgrade? Do I get admission to the Concierge Lounge being a gold? Will I have to pay to use the gym or is the fee waived for gold members?

Availability is as tight as I've ever seen for the coming two weeks (I've been here pretty much weekly last four months), hence upgrades at this property will be probably be tight as well, and fyi, they definitely get their share of plats.

Doubtful you'll get free lounge access ($16/day if inclined to pay), you might talk your way into free gym as the girls there manning the desk are usually very nice.

Thanks for the heads up . . .
 

How would you rate the hotel?

Judging by my experience at Westin Essex House and all the W's as a gold don't expect any special treatment, I got nothing multiple times.

Although I'd reserved and was guaranteed one and was only checking in at 4pm, this Gold was told by the Westin Times Square that there were no non-smoking, king beds left. They could not have cared less about me. I have been treated quite nicely by the W-Tuscany. Their service is marginal but their rooms are big and they've treated me well.

Forget about upgrades. I have stayed there multiple times, and the most they will do for Gold is give you your preference of rooms and late checkout.
The club lounge at this hotel is pretty lousy anyway, so you are not missing much.

The corner rooms are pretty nice, depending on your rate it may not be considered an upgrade. Usually I get a corner room as a Plat in preference over the Club floor. Hotel has an excellent location for transit and is pretty well run, nicer than most in Manhattan in this price range. Schula's has great steak, worth the price.

We stayed there once on our way back from our honeymoon. Our award stay was upgraded to a corner room, as a gold SPG.