I've gotten large suites at both. . no club at the Westin. Sheraton has a club with breakfast and I believe is just completing renovation.

Westin has soft beds, had stiff noisy sheets at the Sheraton. I like the Sheraton when I'm traveling with my kids and the Westin when just my husband & myself.

Thanks!

almost forgot. . .i've got pix from multiple stays at both properties here:

http://mystarwoodstays.shutterfly.com/

just look for Westin Seattle and Sheraton Seattle (never been to the W since I always hear horrible reviews)

Stayed here last night and I think the Westin is our favorite. They have never let me down. I know others feel it's old & not the greatest reviews come out but the staff has always been very friendly and helpful with upgrades.

I'm sure the hotel was fairly quiet on Monday night as most people wrapped up their Memorial weekend by the end of the day. We took an extra day off to see the Seattle Mariners Game. On a C&P stay, with our kids, we were upgraded to a junior suite with 2 rooms! 38th floor with great views.

Very nice, yes a bit older feel but beds area excellent. No sure why but I always seem to get noisy stiff sheets at the Sheraton. We've never had any problems at the Westin and our kids even loved it. the was our first time with kids here, usually stay at the Sheraton when we have our boys with us because they llike the roof top pool. . .well the LOVED the Westin pool and the sun even came out and "mom & dad" could sit outside and enjoy the sun while the kids swam. We were sad to only have 1 night here but I'm sure we'll be going back.

Thanks again Westin Seattle! You're our #1 choice for Seattle

Staying at the Westin tonight on a weekend trip to Seattle. Was at the W last night and would say I am quite disappointed with the Westin. At check-in I was told I would be getting my 500 point amenity, but no mention of other options. I got put in a standard room, although on a high floor, but no view. Room is relatively small and very dated. Had to request robes and found out the use of a DVD player was $25. I had asked about the DVD player before booking and was told it could be requested but was not told of a $25 fee. There is no club lounge. If I had not gotten a good rate match plus 2K points, through BRG, I would be extremely disappointed. I would put on my bottom 10 SPG list.

Unfortunate they do not fix that hotel stayed there about 2 years ago
And it was the worst starwood stay I could remember

Staying here from tomorrow until Thursday morning. Looking forward to reviewing this property, I had a choice between this and the W Seattle, but settled on the Westin as the pricing was better. With that said, I keep reading mixed reviews...seems as if you either love this property, or think it's dated and in need of a major upgrade.

A great stay!
 

Intro and Check-in

A bit late on this review, but the last month and a half has just been so busy and I like to spend a fair bit of time on my reviews. I was in Seattle from October 25th until the 28th on a business trip and decided to look up Starwood hotels in the area before making an informed decision on where to stay. The Westin Bellevue was an option, but since it was fully booked I focused on the W Seattle and the Westin Seattle. Both hotels had mostly good reviews, and were relatively close to one another. I settled on the Westin Seattle as the last Westin I stayed at (The Westin Oaks) was not exactly one of the better hotels I've stayed at this year and I like giving brands a second look. I've always had a great stay at the W (see other reviews), but it was also about $60 more per night so the Westin made sense on the economic side as well. Going back to my Westin Oaks comment, it wasn't a bad stay...it was just obvious that it was an older hotel that was undergoing a much needed renovation, and therefore not exactly the best option. In the future though, once renovations are done who knows? Maybe I'll have changed my mind on that particular property.

Now, back to the Westin Seattle. I originally reserved a Deluxe Room, and upon check-in I was informed by the very pleasant check-in agent that I had been upgraded to a Luxury Suite. The Suite was the Rainier Suite, and she had informed me of the room details along with hotel amenities, along with a few tips on morning coffee spots (it was around midnight that I checked-in so I was ready to doze off and wake up to some Seattle Coffee). One thing to note, when you arrive at the hotel you go up the escalators to the first level where the lobby is...just a minor detail. :)

The Room & Features

I took the elevator up to the 40th floor (fast elevators as well) and entered the Rainier Suite. This was easily the biggest hotel room I had ever been in...now I actually didn't realize this at first until I opened the door that lead to the magical staircase that took me down to the living room, dining area, kitchen, wet bar and...yeah, so it was pretty big. The first thing I noted was all furniture being in great condition, I had actually read previous reviews mentioning that this hotel was in need of a renovation...now, I have seen images of some newer Westin hotels so maybe I can try and see that point of view, however I would still disagree. There were some elements which I felt were missing, but in the end the rooms are in great condition and very comfortable. This was really a very pleasant upgrade, the room itself was just massive and when I invited a couple colleagues of mine for a quick drink they were left stunned at how huge it was. It's basically one of the Penthouse suites, and in impeccable condition. My only one very slight issue would have to be the angle the TV in the master bedroom was at. In the end, it really wasn't a major issue as all other positives pretty much make you forget about that one thing that can be perceived as a negative. Plus there was a TV downstairs in the living room anyways. :)

http://i52.tinypic.com/330r780.jpg
The Master bedroom with the unusual TV angle. The bed was very comfortable!

http://i51.tinypic.com/2rqhjyb.jpg
Desk area looking towards the staircase.

http://i53.tinypic.com/2myw16v.jpg
Walking down the staircase, looking towards the living room and eating area

http://i54.tinypic.com/2gt7uzc.jpg
Sitting area downstairs

http://i53.tinypic.com/2diet5i.jpg
Dining area...or it could just be a meeting table

http://i56.tinypic.com/69lw89.jpg
The Staircase leading up to the Master Bedroom

Location & Convenience

The location of the hotel is close to the Westlake center and within walking distance of most points in Downtown Seattle. The Space Needle is visible but you would need to take a taxi or the monorail down there. I actually took a taxi from Sea-Tac to the hotel, and this cost me about $55 including tip. When I arrived at the hotel, I was informed that when checking-out and heading to the airport...that I should take the light rail as this opened up within the last 30 days and there is a stop near the hotel. The cost of the trip from the hotel to the airport was $2.50, so as you can imagine...I was a bit disappointed with spending $55 knowing that it could have only been $2.50. Thank God for company expenses right? I would encourage one to take the light-rail though, especially those not on a company trip and are in Seattle for leisure...it will save you a ton. The trip to the airport from downtown is approximately 30-35 minutes as there are some stops in between. Overall though, very comfortable and the stop being close to the hotel make it convenient.

Coffee chains are all over the place as you can imagine. There is a 5th Avenue Cafe in the hotel, I grabbed a cup from here the following morning. A Tully's exists right across from the hotel, Starbucks are scattered all over the place along with Seattle's Best Coffee (which I found to be better than Tully's and Starbucks) along with some of the smaller names one wouldn't recognize. A Bartell drug store is right across from the hotel as well, so if you need to grab some necessary supplies for your stay you can pretty much find it all at the Bartell's. Westlake Center is close to the hotel and shopping is fairly good in the area.

Pike's Place is about a 10-15 minute walk, depending on your pace. This is one of the sights in Seattle and one that everyone should try and see. Lots of small restaurants, and quite possibly the freshest seafood on the pacific coast. This actually applies to all of Seattle, the seafood here is just fresh. The Farmer's Market was a bit interesting, and I enjoyed stopping here. All within a 10-15 minute walk from the hotel.

Staff and Customer Service

When staying at the Westin Oaks in Houston, one of the negative experiences I had was with the staff. Check-in was not so bad, but it often seemed as if the front desk staff was inexperienced. Upon checking-out there was no one up front either, so I was eager to see how the Westin Seattle would be like. Not to my surprise, it was the complete opposite. Checking-in was very smooth and the girl that helped me check-in was extremely helpful as was the rest of the staff that I encountered. Concierge gave me some great tips on dining spots (Lola is a great Mediterranean restaurant within walking distance), and checking-out was a breeze. Every staff member I encountered met me with a smile, and did everything they could to help me.

Final Thoughts

Two weeks prior to this Seattle trip I was in Houston and stayed at my first Westin hotel. Although it wasn't a bad stay, it left much to be desired but I went with my best judgement and gave Westin a second chance in Seattle. The difference was night and day, everything at the Westin Seattle was just much better, and I had a very comfortable stay. I did get a room upgrade, and easily one of the best upgrades I've ever experienced but I know that the property itself is in great condition and I was not disappointed in any way shape or form (I'm going to ignore that TV angle...I wasn't in the room too much to enjoy the TV anyways). The hotel has one restaurant in the Coldwater Bar & Grill which I did not get to visit, but the 5th Avenue Cafe serves up some good coffee and snacks and the property itself has pretty much everything that you need. Most of the guests appeared to be staying here on business, as I noticed a lot of business meetings taking place in the lobby sitting areas so it's a busy hotel...which is never a bad thing. Surely people must be coming here for good reasons. The staff was very pleasant to deal with, the location was great and the next time I'm in Seattle on business or leisure I'll be sure to stay here again. :) ^^^^

http://i52.tinypic.com/2jbpf6g.jpg
Oh yeah, the view from the 40th floor. One of the highlights of this trip. :)

Fireworks
 

I am a platinum member, and staying at Westin Seattle on NYE. Those who stay frequently, what is the best room type/direction to have a view of the space needle for fireworks?

I can play the platinum lotto, but I got an email offering upgrades to higher floors for $10 to $50. Might be worth it. But the three options don't clarify which direction.

Deluxe City
Deluxe Water
Grand View

Phoned the hotel and keep getting put through to a call centre/concierge who doesn't know the hotel.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

I'd upgrade to the Grand View, and specifically ask to be in the North tower with a north-western view, either at check in, or via email before hand

Have you considered Sheraton Seattle? I thought Sheraton has a club with breakfast but not Westin Seattle?

Quickie review from last week's stay.

Pro: great location, updated room (no upgrade, no SPG status yet), the usual flat-screen TV and bedding, which I thought was too heavy and hot so I stripped off the weighty duvet every night. Comfy bed as usual. For a regular room it was big and comfy. You can tell it's an older place from certain cues but overall it's in good shape.

Con: NOISY. This is the only high-rise I've ever stayed at where I could hear the guests above me stomping around in the morning and performing their elimination rituals. Ugh. Nobody wants to hear another guest taking a big loud dump. Ear plugs took care of the noise past my first night, but I shouldn't have needed them in the first place. You can also hear the elevators quite plainly as all the rooms are clustered around the elevator core, at least in the South tower. The view wasn't anything special. I was on the 26th floor.

Breakfast was disappointing, no actual sit-down restaurant, just the cafe where you queue to place your order then it's delivered to your table. Not what I would consider Westin-level service. One night it was snowing hard so I ate at the Coldwater Bar n Grill near the south tower, and it was actually really good; look for the happy-hour dinner specials and it's pretty reasonable.

Despite this I would give it another chance because of the location and transit options. The Sound Transit light rail is a block up towards Pine and it's only $2.50 to SEA, though it is a good 35-40 minute ride. The SLUT (South Lake Union Trolley!) stop is across the street from the south tower, down the escalator, and this was perfect for getting me to my customer's place a bit north of downtown. I loved not needing a car. There is also frequent and comprehensive bus service. Buy an ORCA card at SEA and load it with like $20 and you can use it on all local transit except the monorail. Don't forget to tap the card at the reader before boarding the light rail or else it's a $140 fine or something. Tap on exit if you are transferring or doing a return trip within 5 hours, and there's no extra charge. There are no ORCA readers on the SLUTs so merely possessing the card is proof of payment, though I felt kind of like a stowaway. Oh and you pay/tap when you get OFF the bus, unlike every other bus I've ever used. Thanks for loudly clearing that up, Mr #70 driver. Jerk. :rolleyes:

The Pike Place market is a 10-minute walk (watch the fish tossers) and there's no shortage of interesting restaurants. The Alibi Room in the market, if you can find it, is an awesome little bar. Try the cucumber fizz cocktail. My favorite restaurant was the Palace Kitchen which is only two blocks away on 5th Ave.

I just returned from a trip to Seattle. I stayed at both the Sheraton and the Westin. I really enjoyed my stay at the Westin. I had a deluxe view room on the 39th floor in the north tower. Had a great view of Puget sound and the space needle. While the rooms could use some updating, as others have mentioned, everything was very clean and comfortable and the room was quite large.

I found the staff to be very professional and friendly. The lobby bar was very nice, and the apps were very tasty. Check-in was great. They have a separate room for Gold and Platinum members to check-in, a very nice touch.

There is a 24 hour drug store right across the street so you can stock up on water and snacks and save some cash instead of hitting the mini bar at 2am when the munchies set in. There are always a line of cabs waiting at all hours of the day and the bell staff was very professional and knowledgeable about giving out tips on where to go for food and drinks.


The Sheraton was a total dump, but I'll post details in that properties thread. The Westin is easily worth the extra $50 a night.

btw, If going to the airport have the concierge make a reservation with the airport shuttle van for you. It comes every 30 mins and it costs $15 instead of the $45 for a taxi.

You're going to have to explain that one - many (including myself) think the Sheraton is actually a lot nicer than the Westin. On my trip there last year, I checked out of the Westin a night early and moved to the Sheraton (much happier).

Westin Seattle - Avoid it
 

Two words for you if you are considering this hotel... STAY AWAY. Westin should be ashamed to call this property one of its own. I can excuse the fact the facilities are a bit tired and "shop worn" but I can't excuse the poor service, the "we-don't care-attitude" -- even when using the Starwood Preferred counter -- and the "tell baby no-no" approach to just about everything. The whole place feels hostile toward its guests. Seriously..,. when was the last time you had a mini bar that warned you that removing items may result in unintended charges because it's all sensor controlled.... and that's just the start of an overall bad attitude toward guests. How about room service that institutes both a $4 service fee and a 20 percent fee, both of which are specifically listed on the menu as NOT A GRATUITY. In other words, an $8 piece of cheese cake turns into a $15 piece of cheese cake -- AND THAT'S BEFORE THE GRATUITY. If the fees aren't a gratuity, then just tell me you're charging $15 for a slice of frozen cheesecake cause that's what you're doing. The only good thing about the site is the location. The pool is dated, closes at 11. We were there four days and every day housekeeping managed to forget to give us enough towels, or replace robes or restock the coffee bar, well you get the idea.... We had come from the Empress in Victoria, Canada where the service was impeccable and the rooms were amazing and an overall 15 on a scale of 10. The Westin Seattle should be called the Westin Six, as in Motel Six.