TravelinSperry

Hotel parking is expensive - and there is NO street parking anywhere nearby. I looked. It was quite annoying (which is why hotel parking is very expensive).

KENNECTED

I'm going to disagree as I and friends have parked near the Westin (and W) on many occasions. The parking is hard to come by as people are parking and going to the beach or there is permit parking for residents. However, there is street parking available if you can find it.

TravelinSperry

Fair point. I'm a bit lazy and don't like driving all around looking for parking when I can be at the pool Still, I always hate when resorts in isolated places know the difficulty of parking in the area (as you said, its hard to come by) and then charge guests a lot since they're captive.

KENNECTED

Cool!

But the Westin (or W) is not in an isolated location. To be clear the parking is hard to come by on Weekends (Fri - Sat - (Early)Sun & Holidays) because people are going to the beach, so the metered and public parking lots fill up early and fast. But Sunday thru Thursday, I found street parking easily accessible.

dhammer53

What about restrictions on overnight parking?

nologic

What is the Platinum breakfast benefit?

KENNECTED

I don't recall, maybe its listed in the breakfast wiki? Have you check that? Although I have to say, the breakfast was pretty cheap, so maybe it's worth paying for it and getting the points?

tmarie

I think it was free continental and they allowed you to pay the difference for other breakfast options.

writerguyfl

I'm a Fort Lauderdale resident. All of the city lots and street parking in the beach area are enforced 24 hours/day. The maximum hours you can do at once is 4 hours. The rate is $1.25/hour.

Unless you plan on waking up every four hours, I wouldn't recommend street parking.

dhammer53

William,

If this property had a lounge, wouldn't I get breakfast in the lounge + free internet?

Pa Kettle

Those are Platinum member benefits and you said that you had Gold status. With Gold status, you can choose free internet as your welcome amenity rather than 500 Starpoints or a welcome beverage.

dhammer53

As confirmed, parking is $28 + tax.

If you're interested in overnight parking for $15 read on.
Pull out of the hotel and make a right (south) on A1A. There's a very small motel just past the Westin on the right side. They charge $15 overnight, and you can lock your car. If they don't have any spaces available, continue the drive south on A1A for a couple of minutes. Pass the Ritz and Marriott. There's a self parking lot on the left. You have to enter your plate (tag) number into the meter. Cost is $15 per 24 hours, and you can park for multiple days. I'd guess that's a 15 - 20 minute walk back to the hotel. That may or may not be important to you, but $15 x 2, 3, or 4 can save you some bucks vs $29.

Our room overlooked the pool/ocean. Nice size bathroom.
They sent up a bottle of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries for our anniversary. ^

Minor issue... they wouldn't let you sit at an empty chaise poolside if there was still a towel on it. The poolboy said that even after people leave, and checks are settled, they save the seats for 30 minutes. In my entire life, I never heard of anything so dumb. When I leave the pool, I leave the pool. They don't even tell you that they're saving your chaise for you when you leave. What a dumb policy.

They're still working in the pool area, but it's not an issue off-peak. The bridge to the beach is a 1 minute walk. Here's my advice for finding a shady spot... park yourself near a palm tree. If you want to sit under an umbrella, you're going to pay for it. They'll charge you even if you sit in the 'wake' of an open umbrella (that someone else has open).

It's little things like this, and the 30 minute chair rule that can make a normal person

dh

travellingcari

Can you tell me a little more about settling the check and the pool work. As of my last stay, there was no fee for the chaises by the pool and towel service other than tip. Is there now one? Also, what's the work you mention? I don't see it on the hotel's site
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin...nId=1002902099

Thanks!

Still debating between here & Westin Diplomat

dhammer53

Chaises and towels at the pool are free. There are no umbrellas at the pool. If you go to the beach and want to sit under an umbrella, it's going to cost you. Don't ask me how much. FYI, pick up towels poolside before heading to the beach.

By settling the check, I was referring to the bar tab.

All of the pool work, which is out of the way and off to one side, is scheduled to be completed by end of November 2013. They're adding several cabanas.

Getting a bite to eat

You can wait forever for a waitress, and even longer for your breakfast to come at Shula's. There's nothing worse than a long wait for service, especially when you're hungry. We waited a long time the first morning, and 50 minutes the next. I asked the waitress how many chefs were in the kitchen. When she replied 3... Good God!

The following 2 mornings, we went to the Starbucks in the lobby of the south tower. You can also walk 5 - 15 minutes south of the hotel to a shopping/restaurant/bar area. You won't go hungry.

Overall, a charming staff. A bit overwhelmed sometimes, but charming. I'd go back here in a minute.

dh

travellingcari

Here now. Able to check in early because hotel empty. Got upgraded to partial ocean view (x49 in north tower) but overall front desk staff below normal standards. Issue ( telling me they didn't offer what was in my package) resolved with DM to SPG folks on twitter while out running errands. Think there's a lot of new staff.

Pool renos done and new cabanas are nice. However beach walk elevators out of service. Non issue for me but could be for disabled visitors. Spa appears to be closed for renovations.

Aside from quick walk to shopping area, 50 cent 7-10m trolley ride to galleria on Sunrise which has typical mall stores and Publix across street. Will give new sushi place a go but more likely to pick up Beach Place takeout today.

More tk