holland

We're planning a vacation and after staying at the Westin St. Louis, my wife is basing our destination on the availability of the Heavenly Bed, of all things. She'd like to visit New Orleans, but they only have W's, not Westin. Do the W's have the same Heavenly Bed as the Westins?

PMASON

W Hotels have their own version of Westin's Heavenly Bed (not referred to by that name). The beds, in my opinion, are actually as comfortable, if not more comfortable than the Heavenly Bed. The atmosphere of W's is quite different, however.

I stayed at the W on Poydras Street this summer. It was very nice and right next to Harrah's casino. The other W is in the French Quarter.

You should have a great time either way!

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AA Platinum, Delta Gold, Starwood Platinum, Fairmont President's Club Gold, Hyatt Diamond

[This message has been edited by PMASON (edited 01-04-2003).]

holland

How is the atmosphere between the W's and Westin different? I've never stayed in a W before. Better than the heavenly bed? Could it be? She'll be THRILLED!

PremEx

I belive it's called the "W Signature Bed."

LIH Prem

The Westin brand is a traditional hi-end luxury chain (hi end, but below the luxury collection), modern but classic furnishings, etc, plus the heavenly bath/shower. Westin, compared to W is traditional and plush.

W is utlra-hip with very in-style ultra modern furnishings .. lots of square shapes in the room, hip-looking built-in-to-the-wall nightstands, cd player/clock radio, not as "plush" as Westin. The employees, for example, wear all-black. The W style is probably considered to be very "in" right now. It's intended to be more of a boutique brand than Westin.

In any event, if the beds are the primary factor, I'm sure you will be pleased with the W signature bed.

-David

JDR Tahoe

I lake the W bed better, although very similar...Enjoy New Orleans.

AZ Travels the World

Your wife will have no problem whatsoever with the W Signature Bed. You may have a problem with them, though, as once she experiences one, you may be hearing "We can go anywhere you want on vacation, honey, as long as there is a W there."

Compared to Westin, there are a lot fewer and they are typically quite a bit more expensive.

cxn

i prefer the w bed over the westin beds. so in order

w
westin

everyone else.... the beds at the st. regis was nice but i dont think it was of any standard style.

Christian

PMASON

W's cater to a younger, more hip clientele. I personally like the concept, some people are completely turned off by it. For instance, at the W on Poydras in New Orleans, disco music can be heard in the lobby and in the elevators 24 hours a day. There are lots of lighted tea candles everywhere. A peer at work who doesn't like the W concept describes the atmosphere as "Pottery Barn gone wild". Again, many people love the concept. Just check out the W site on the starwood website...it gives you a great feel for what the hotels are like.

If you want to know more information, send me an email. Although I haven't stayed at the W in the French Quarter, I have been inside the lobby (if that helps).

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AA Platinum, Delta Gold, Starwood Platinum, Fairmont President's Club Gold, Hyatt Diamond

FourFourSeven

Check out this link for a funny Dave Berry column that I'm pretty sure is about one of the W hotels in New York (it sure sounds like the W Court I spent every week for three months in). He's exaggerating, of course.

Anyway, I consider myself about equal in non-hipness to Dave Berry (have young kids, don't wear black, preferring khaki and button-down shirts), but I still love W hotels. They're fun and quirky, but still professional. And the staff has been uniformly fantastic and friendly at all W's I've stayed at. In the last 18 months, I've probably had 35 W visits, 15 Westin visits, and 10 Sheraton. If I have a choice, I always pick the W.

Back to your question, the beds, in my opinion, are several notches above the Westin bed. We recently bought a bed at home, and I strongly considered the W bed. My wife convinced me I didn't want more reminders of being on the road...

AZ Travels the World

Thanks for the Dave Barry link. Very funny. I'm with you -- I bet it's a W. My money's on Court or Union Square.

LAOCA

Both beds are two of the best in the business in my opinion.

holland

We just got back, and other than a few minor hicups, the trip was great. The W bed wasn't nearly as comfortable as the Westin Heavenly Bed, though it did have a (thin) feather bed on top and a down comforter.

One thing that surprised me though was that it cost me $20 less to park my car at the W than it did to rent the thing for the entire week. The parking here is OUTRAGEOUS!

fly co to see the yanks

hmmm...i think they are every bit as comfortable.

cxn

I would say the W beds are much better then the Westin beds.

Christian