helvetic

I've stayed at some amazing Ws, and some dreadful ones. Some generic ones (cookie-cutter), some super custom.

What's everyone's favorites; and if we were to collectively crown a single winner, which would it be?

For me, that's an easy call: the W Amsterdam, which shines in many categories:

- historic building
- modern design
- service
- food & beverage
- unique creative and varied room types
- platinum recognition
- fun party destination

A few others really shine in certain categories:
- W Boston -- great service and recognition
- W HK -- probably the most fun / party hotel in HK. rooftop pool parties? yes please!
- W Guangzhou -- impressive how far they've gone here; everything is grand

Many are well, fine, but nothing to write home about (W SF, W Union Square NYC, W Austin, W Bellevue (cool design, terrible service))

Some are just bad (W New Orleans)

A well executed W though remains my favorite hotel experience. Anyone else have any favorites, would love to explore more of the great ones!


EDIT: this thread spawned a few siblings:
Other threads:
- W: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...favorites.html
- Le Méridien: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...worldwide.html
- St. Regis: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...worldwide.html
- Luxury Collection: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...favorites.html
- Tribute Portfolio: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...favorites.html
- Four Points: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...favorites.html
- Westin: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...favorites.html
- Sheraton: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...favorites.html
- Design Hotels: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...favorites.html
- Aloft: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/star...favorites.html

EuropeanPete

I really didn't like the W Amsterdam. Maybe I should give it another chance.

The best W I've been to is the W Punta Mita resort. In terms of city W's it would probably be the W Doha, or on a good day the W Dubai Habtoor City, with the W Barcelona slightly behind.

helvetic

I tried to stay at the W Doha once, but ended up denied by the Qatar Airways hotel program and ended up spending a really uncomfortable night in the Al Mourjan lounge.

I've heard amazing things about the Punta Mita W… I really need to check it out!

skywalkerLAX

W Taipei
W Hong Kong

Only downside of the TPE property is the outdoor pool (useless in Winter).

MSPeconomist

W Hong Kong.

I sort of like W Union Square because the rooms are relatively big for NYC and it's not one of the black and dark purple caves-like Ws.

I'm also fond on the Minneapolis W because it's in an interesting historic building and even has a small museum about it and roof deck (both free for hotel guests).

itsaboutthejourney

W Amserdam: location, location, location. Love both buildings and their re-use as a W. Excellent breakfast.

W Hong Kong: great location, attention to detail, amazing breakfast and even non-suite rooms have great amenities.

W Foshay Minneapolis: perfect downtown location in a historic building. Prohibition bar on the top floor has a unique design, great views and strong drinks.

W Vieques: mixed bag of service, but a beautiful location. Their airport lounge is fun. (I hear the property is closed from severe damage on Vieques)

UKTraveller4Fun

Its a tricky one and I agree some shine others well are terrible! That said I think the W brand itself can really divide opinion even with people who like the W brand as they are so subjective!

W Punta de Mita is far superior to Vieques away in my opinion

W Bali is amazing, the staff as much as anything!

W South Beach if you get the right suite is stunning, but realise this one will divide opinion but we have always found the staff to be really good!

W Doha was really good after issues at checkin, but the staff were great as was Spice Market. The design of the property is pretty good to!

W Maldives once would have made this list so easily but it has just had to many wrong GM's and not enough investment!


As for the worst well, W NYC, it might be the original but it is the only hotel I have ever sworn never to return to!

generikz

I have an Asian bias on W hotels and recently tried the California ones.

Great
W Bali (just awesome with seaside room and open bathroom)
W Taipei (great breakfast, gym/sauna, outdoor pool turning ice skating during winter)
W Hong Kong (location, great breakfast, rooftop pool)
W Singapore (pool, bars, wonderful escape from Singapore CBD)

Good
W Hollywood (beautiful lobby, live music on week-ends, rooms just OK)
W San Francisco (really nothing special except the location next to SFMoMA)


Looking forward to W Kuala Lumpur and W Shanghai!

Julien

khabah

Now that I think about it, I'm shocked that I've only stayed at four W Hotels ever... but here they are and my thoughts on them:

W Doha: Stayed here many times and this absolutely has to be a poster child for W Hotels. The design is still fresh eight years down the line, the staff are sassy and fantastic, the food is excellent, Plat recognition is faultless and this hotel continues to epitomize the spirit of the W brand. The only negative points I have about W Doha are the fact that smoking is allowed in the Crystal Lounge and at Wahm, and that the pool is frequently closed for private functions... but that aside, this hotel is a hot favorite.

W Minneapolis - The Foshay: Loved this property - the property itself is historic and gorgeous, rooms were great, I got upgraded even as a bottom-of-the-ladder member, staff were extremely friendly and the food was good.

W Chicago - Lakeshore: Stayed here twice because the rates were too good to resist. The renovation has turned this place around and I loved the friendliness of the staff, the design of the hard product itself, the location and the views onto Lake Michigan that I've received both times [during my first stay last summer, I got upgraded to a Marvelous Suite and on the second right before Thanksgiving, I got bumped up to Fabulous Room as the hotel was full].

W London - Leicester Square: While I enjoyed the physical property and interactions with one amazing bellhop, the staff were somewhat lackluster and the property felt more like a giant club than a hotel from the bouncers at the entrance checking your keycards to verify that you're a staying guest to the multiple elevators to the pretentious/scantily-clad crowd... meh.

In order of preference from best to worst:
1. W Doha
2. W Minneapolis - The Foshay / W Chicago - Lakeshore [tie]
3. W London - Leicester Square

Need to squeeze a few more Ws in there now! Looking at Kuala Lumpur, Dubai - The Palm, Shanghai - The Bund and a few stateside for next year...

khabah

raunow

This could quickly develop into a pro/con discussion of the W brand, but personally I like the implementation of the brand and the integration into it's local environment in the following properties (including only those I've tried):

- W Barcelona: Combination of beach/city ambience. Attracts the most beatiful crowd of any W.
- W Washington, DC: Nice use of existing building. Unique location.
- W Union Square, NYC: Nice use of existing building. Unique location.
- W Westwood, LA: Nice location, pool scene and LA vibe.
- W Hong Kong: Amazing roof-top pool and view.
- W South Beach, Miami: Great location and beach/pool scene.
- W Doha: Great service level

Some W's could have been up there based on locations potential, but lack in implementation:
- W Istanbul: Poorly maintained and trained.
- W Bangkok: OK on a global scale, but overshadowed by other SPG options in Bangkok.
- W Times Square, NYC: Has gone downhill a lot since opening.

Other W's are too generic to be interesting, lack the local twist the others have managed to build and could be mistaken for Westins at first glance:
- All 3 W's in Atlanta
- W Dallas
- W Scottsdale
- W San Francisco
- W Hollywood, LA
- W Hoboken, NJ
- W London
- W New York, Downtown

Some W's are underperforming on all parameters, and should not be part of the brand (like W Silicon Valley, that was "demoted" to the Aloft brand):
- W New York
- W New Orleans

Bucket list properties that look interesting, and I'd like to try out include:
- W Verbier, Switzerland
- W Amsterdam
- W Punta Mita, Mexico
- W Shanghai
- W Bali
- W Paris
- W St. Petersburg, Russia

But again W is probably the most dividing brand in the SPG portfolio and before you take advice you'll have to make sure that you share taste with the advisor :-)

Andie007

I've stayed at a lot of W's around the world - but overall, it's the W Hong Kong I love most... just everything is perfect there.

LuisHK

W Taipei converted the pool area into a rink while I was there (I can't remember which year)

It was fun!

3rdworldresident

My experiences.

Great:
W Samui
W Bali
W Verbier
W Barcelona
W Hong Kong
W Taipei

Good:
W Singapore
W Paris - Opera
W New York - Downtown
W London - Leicester Square
W Los Angeles - West Beverly Hills
W St. Petersburg
W Santiago

So So:
W Washington D.C.
W Chicago - Lakeshore (before renovation)
W Bangkok (Note that im bkk resident)

Croupier

W Taipei,
Lost my wallet on the bus from airport, no worries checked me in, upgraded to a suite no credit card, bought me a calming tea.

Upon entering the suite you half expect to see some rock stars partying with groupies :-)

Went for dinner with friends, returned to the hotel for drinks at 11 and they bring my wallet to our table, cash cards all there.

Great customer service.

Next round was on me ;-)

MSPeconomist

I love W Hong Kong, but I'm surprised that folks here are praising its location. It's on top of a modern upscale shopping mall and (the main advantage of the location) the Kowloon station for the airport express train (and there's a subway line nearby).

Otherwise, it seems far from all the interesting neighborhoods and other things Hong Kong has to offer.

I like the rooftop pool, but the views from here aren't as good as the views from some other hotels in Kowloon, such as the RC, Peninsula or Sheraton (assuming for the latter two that you get water facing rooms on a high enough floor). Moreover, the RC dwarfs the W's building and blocks what would otherwise be the best views toward Central.