Westin Crystal City, VA (was Sheraton) [Master Thread]
May 7, 2017, 3:05 pm
#46
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SJC
Programs: Does it matter any more?
Posts: 2,149
What are your priorities during the stay itself? Crystal City is literally next to DCA and much closer to Georgetown than Alexandria. My sense is that the Westin rooms will be much nicer (i.e., less worn) than those at the Sheraton, but there really aren't any suites at the Westin. You're right though that Old Town is way more interesting than CC.
- Avoid renting a car (Metro or Uber in that order, I don't mind walking if its outside of 1100-1900 local time when I expect the sun/humidity will be high)
- Get to the property from Georgetown and to DCA the next day
- A quiet comfortable place to work on Monday through 4 pm - multiple online calls/meetings.
- Breakfast
- Some convenient, quick place nearby to grab lunch
- Redeem points
Given the earlier comments about the Sheraton Old Town suites having forced air leading to poor air conditioning, that definitely dings the choice given I'll be working for several hours on Monday.
I will likely cancel my Sheraton Old Town Suites booking in favor of the Westin Crystal City.
May 8, 2017, 9:42 am
#47
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Planet Earth
Programs: SPG, AA, B6. No longer "still CO to me" with account spent down. RIP CO.
Posts: 653
Crystal City hits both of these. Even if you want to pop out at say 1400 to grab lunch the entrance to Crystal City shops is right there & they have AC. Good Stuff Eatery & We the Pizza down toward the other end of the shops, but I'll recommend them.
May 8, 2017, 10:00 am
#48
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SJC
Programs: Does it matter any more?
Posts: 2,149
Its now boiling down to either this place or the Marriott Crystal Gateway across the road. The Marriott Crystal GW gets me breakfast as an SPG gold.
w.r.t points, the Westin CC is 10000 while the Marriott C GW is 30000, with points transferring 1:3 from SPG to Marriott - the point spend is the same, making it a non-factor.
May 8, 2017, 10:13 am
#49
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,103
Indeed,looking at the map, it does. Thank you for the input.
Its now boiling down to either this place or the Marriott Crystal Gateway across the road. The Marriott Crystal GW gets me breakfast as an SPG gold.
w.r.t points, the Westin CC is 10000 while the Marriott C GW is 30000, with points transferring 1:3 from SPG to Marriott - the point spend is the same, making it a non-factor.
Its now boiling down to either this place or the Marriott Crystal Gateway across the road. The Marriott Crystal GW gets me breakfast as an SPG gold.
w.r.t points, the Westin CC is 10000 while the Marriott C GW is 30000, with points transferring 1:3 from SPG to Marriott - the point spend is the same, making it a non-factor.
It sounds like either the Westin or the M-GW would work for you, but if free brekkie is one of your factors that would tip it to the Marriott GW.
Cheers.
May 8, 2017, 10:21 am
#50
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SJC
Programs: Does it matter any more?
Posts: 2,149
May 8, 2017, 10:21 am
#51
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 498
Yeah, unless you need the SPG night from staying at the Westin for qualifying purposes, the Marriott might be better. I'm also not a huge fan of the Crystal Drive restaurants -- my office is right across the street. The Marriott also puts you in closer walking distance of better restaurants in Pentagon City, as well as Whole Foods and Costco.
May 8, 2017, 10:31 am
#52
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SJC
Programs: Does it matter any more?
Posts: 2,149
Yeah, unless you need the SPG night from staying at the Westin for qualifying purposes, the Marriott might be better. I'm also not a huge fan of the Crystal Drive restaurants -- my office is right across the street. The Marriott also puts you in closer walking distance of better restaurants in Pentagon City, as well as Whole Foods and Costco.
May 8, 2017, 12:15 pm
#53
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Planet Earth
Programs: SPG, AA, B6. No longer "still CO to me" with account spent down. RIP CO.
Posts: 653
Indeed,looking at the map, it does. Thank you for the input.
Its now boiling down to either this place or the Marriott Crystal Gateway across the road. The Marriott Crystal GW gets me breakfast as an SPG gold.
w.r.t points, the Westin CC is 10000 while the Marriott C GW is 30000, with points transferring 1:3 from SPG to Marriott - the point spend is the same, making it a non-factor.
Its now boiling down to either this place or the Marriott Crystal Gateway across the road. The Marriott Crystal GW gets me breakfast as an SPG gold.
w.r.t points, the Westin CC is 10000 while the Marriott C GW is 30000, with points transferring 1:3 from SPG to Marriott - the point spend is the same, making it a non-factor.
May 10, 2017, 11:09 am
#54
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,103
AA Trout posted in the Marriott forum re: both Westin & Gateway, but also had some good information re: area, etc. Info in this post/link:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28293205-post256.html
Cheers.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28293205-post256.html
Cheers.
Dec 9, 2017, 9:46 pm
#56
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: New England
Programs: UA 1P, Hyatt Diamond, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,502
The platinum breakfast is a $16 voucher, which covers the continental breakfast. I took the points instead since there are plenty of restaurants in the crystal city shops nearby.
Dec 10, 2017, 10:54 am
#57
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: GVA
Programs: BA Silver (OW Sapphire), A3 Gold (*G), Bonvoy LTTE, HHonors Diamond, LeClubAccor Silver, UA Silver
Posts: 1,777
IIRC, it's only a $2 upcharge to the American breakfast which is very nice. I guess if it's only 1 guest starting for 1 night it might make sense to go to Au Bon Pain instead.
Last edited by RafKa; Dec 11, 2017 at 12:59 pm Reason: typo
Dec 11, 2017, 8:22 am
#58
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819
Dec 16, 2017, 2:28 pm
#59
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Planet Earth
Programs: SPG, AA, B6. No longer "still CO to me" with account spent down. RIP CO.
Posts: 653
I'm torn. I bounce between this and the Hilton when I stay in Crystal City. I'll be down for the Cherry Blossom 10 miler in April and this one is way higher than every other CC hotel that weekend. Any recent upgrades that make it worth it? Last stay was early summer and there wasn't anything by then. Honestly thinking of the Embassy Suites which is marginally further from the Metro but nearly $200 cheaper over a three night stay. I love the hotel but just don't see the value
Dec 18, 2017, 11:21 am
#60
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Join Date: Jul 2002
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Posts: 33,857
I'm torn. I bounce between this and the Hilton when I stay in Crystal City. I'll be down for the Cherry Blossom 10 miler in April and this one is way higher than every other CC hotel that weekend. Any recent upgrades that make it worth it? Last stay was early summer and there wasn't anything by then. Honestly thinking of the Embassy Suites which is marginally further from the Metro but nearly $200 cheaper over a three night stay. I love the hotel but just don't see the value