W Silicon Valley - pre-transition to Aloft Silicon Valley [Master Thread]
Mar 21, 2009, 12:27 am
#151
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Miami, FL, USA
Posts: 4,049
Major problem at W Silicon Valley
They "had some problems" with the high-speed Internet, so they have lowered the speed to 250kbps. They still charge $13. It's bad enough that they claim this to be a "Silicon Valley" hotel when it's not really in Silicon Valley, but not having high speed Internet anymore is a non-starter for me, and I would think for anyone who needs to get any work done while at the Hotel. I called them today (after my stay) to ask when this would be fixed, and the response was that they "have no plans to fix it".
In other news, the first room they gave me had used toilet paper in the commode. They moved me (and promised me 1,000 SPG points).
In other news, the first room they gave me had used toilet paper in the commode. They moved me (and promised me 1,000 SPG points).
Last edited by aviators99; Mar 21, 2009 at 12:36 am
Mar 21, 2009, 12:33 am
#152
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SXSW
Programs: DL Plat; HH Diamond; SPG & Hyatt Plat
Posts: 996
They "had some problems" with the high-speed Internet, so they have lowered the speed to 250kbps. They still charge $13. It's bad enough that they claim this to be a "Silicon Valley" hotel when it's not really in Silicon Valley, but not having high speed Internet anymore is a non-starter for me, and I would think for anyone who needs to get any work done while at the Hotel. I called them today (after my stay) to ask when this would be fixed, and the response was that they "have no plans to fix it".
I stayed in the aloft in Plano, TX (I'll never do aloft again), and this hotel seems like it should really be an aloft (or something in between). I enjoyed my stay at the W SV, but only because I made it so, it's not like a real W, nor is it near anything.
Apr 29, 2009, 9:15 pm
#153
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Buffalo
Programs: SPG, US Air, Virgin America
Posts: 1
W SIlison Valley $79 Book by May 1 for next 2 weekends
Just got an email from the hotel and looks like it's a rate conducive for the Q2SPG promo....
Make A Play Date with W Silicon Valley for a Fab Rate of $79.
Arrive April 30 - May 3, 2009
Arrive May 7 - May 10, 2009
Book by Friday, May 1, 2009. Why wait?
Special Rate - WKYLTO
Make A Play Date with W Silicon Valley for a Fab Rate of $79.
Arrive April 30 - May 3, 2009
Arrive May 7 - May 10, 2009
Book by Friday, May 1, 2009. Why wait?
Special Rate - WKYLTO
Apr 30, 2009, 7:29 am
#154
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: MKE
Programs: AA Exec Platinum, SPG Platinum / Ambassador / Lifetime Gold, Avis FIRST
Posts: 3,293
This hotel is the ....... stepchild of the W brand. Nobody really knows what its purpose is, why it was put there in the first place, and why it's still branded a W.
It's in the middle of a marsh - and not really in Silicon Valley either.
(welcome to FT)
It's in the middle of a marsh - and not really in Silicon Valley either.
(welcome to FT)
Apr 30, 2009, 9:15 am
#155
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SAN / CLD / SNA
Programs: 2mm+ UAL | Lifetime Titanium Marriott | Globalist Hyatt | SpireElite IHG
Posts: 263
So you have a hotel in the middle of nowhere, and, agreed, no reason for it to be a 'W'. It is definitely an oddball. Nothing in walking distance. Not in a City Center. Not a high rise swanky building.
That said, it's actually quite a great little hotel, and I stay there often. It is a 'real' W on the inside, although looks like a Candlewood Suites on the outside. Great beds, great service, excellent bar, etc. Probably best image to have was a precursor to aLoft. They ought to rebrand this one as that.
I stay there a good bit, because it has FREE PARKING (no other W does), you can almost always get a room, and on weekends, it's usually super cheap. Is a good weekend getaway if you're local - stay at get pampered for less than $100 at roughly a 4star hotel.
I'm checking in there Friday night, actually
Apr 30, 2009, 9:25 am
#156
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,519
It was built during a period in the late 90's when Sun was building up campus space on both ends of the 84 & 92 bridges, and folks thought they'd hitch their wagon to that. There are these pockets of bright shiny businesses in areas that are traditionally afterthought spaces of Silicon Valley. When Sun went facedown into the dirt, and many of these businesses seem out of place now. (Fremont/Newark is one of the 'corners' of Silicon Valley).
So you have a hotel in the middle of nowhere, and, agreed, no reason for it to be a 'W'. It is definitely an oddball. Nothing in walking distance. Not in a City Center. Not a high rise swanky building.
That said, it's actually quite a great little hotel, and I stay there often. It is a 'real' W on the inside, although looks like a Candlewood Suites on the outside. Great beds, great service, excellent bar, etc. Probably best image to have was a precursor to aLoft. They ought to rebrand this one as that.
I stay there a good bit, because it has FREE PARKING (no other W does), you can almost always get a room, and on weekends, it's usually super cheap. Is a good weekend getaway if you're local - stay at get pampered for less than $100 at roughly a 4star hotel.
I'm checking in there Friday night, actually
So you have a hotel in the middle of nowhere, and, agreed, no reason for it to be a 'W'. It is definitely an oddball. Nothing in walking distance. Not in a City Center. Not a high rise swanky building.
That said, it's actually quite a great little hotel, and I stay there often. It is a 'real' W on the inside, although looks like a Candlewood Suites on the outside. Great beds, great service, excellent bar, etc. Probably best image to have was a precursor to aLoft. They ought to rebrand this one as that.
I stay there a good bit, because it has FREE PARKING (no other W does), you can almost always get a room, and on weekends, it's usually super cheap. Is a good weekend getaway if you're local - stay at get pampered for less than $100 at roughly a 4star hotel.
I'm checking in there Friday night, actually
I've stayed at this W a few times and its been a great little hotel.
Apr 30, 2009, 11:09 am
#157
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Bay Area
Programs: HH, PC, SPG, MR, GP, US, UA, AA
Posts: 3,466
Just got an email from the hotel and looks like it's a rate conducive for the Q2SPG promo....
Make A Play Date with W Silicon Valley for a Fab Rate of $79.
Arrive April 30 - May 3, 2009
Arrive May 7 - May 10, 2009
Book by Friday, May 1, 2009. Why wait?
Special Rate - WKYLTO
Make A Play Date with W Silicon Valley for a Fab Rate of $79.
Arrive April 30 - May 3, 2009
Arrive May 7 - May 10, 2009
Book by Friday, May 1, 2009. Why wait?
Special Rate - WKYLTO
May 21, 2009, 3:57 pm
#158
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Monterey, CA
Programs: AA Lifetime GLD, SPG Gold, UCLA Alum ('96)
Posts: 540
Meh. Stayed there last night b/c the wife had a talk to give in San Jose. The room was nice (basic suite, no Gold upgrade), but there was a smell of sewer gas coming from the bathroom. We didn't notice it until the middle of the night but it was kind of nasty.
It's in the middle of nowhere, by a swamp, etc. etc. Next time we'll do the Sheraton.
It's in the middle of nowhere, by a swamp, etc. etc. Next time we'll do the Sheraton.
May 21, 2009, 4:28 pm
#159
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: DFW, 3.5 MM, AA EXP, LIFETIME PLATINUM, MARRIOTT LIFETIME PLATINUM, STARWOOD AMBASSADOR 223 NIGHTS, AND LIFETIME GOLD, HILTON DIAMOND, NATIONAL EXECUTIVE ELITE
Posts: 5,847
I did a mattress run at W "Silicon Valley" last week - TV was at least 12 years old.
It was my first stay at a "W", and I was not at all impressed.
It was my first stay at a "W", and I was not at all impressed.
May 21, 2009, 6:08 pm
#160
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Accor Plat, Htz PC, Natl ExEm, other random status
Posts: 2,876
May 22, 2009, 6:46 am
#161
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Monterey, California
Programs: Affiliated with all, participate in some
Posts: 2,188
Meh. Stayed there last night b/c the wife had a talk to give in San Jose. The room was nice (basic suite, no Gold upgrade), but there was a smell of sewer gas coming from the bathroom. We didn't notice it until the middle of the night but it was kind of nasty.
It's in the middle of nowhere, by a swamp, etc. etc. Next time we'll do the Sheraton.
It's in the middle of nowhere, by a swamp, etc. etc. Next time we'll do the Sheraton.
Whether the tide is in or out the location is great for birds and bird songs.
The W Newark is in the middle of a business park and not around much of anything but the wetlands, tech corporations, and residential housing. The San Jose Sheraton is also in a business park and not adjacent to anything but a freeway. I prefer hearing birds over cars on the freeway.
The rooms are larger at the W Newark. The San Jose Sheraton has the advantage of free breakfast and many rooms have balconies.
Jun 29, 2009, 6:20 pm
#162
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 325
We stayed at the W last Saturday night on an $89 rate that included free internet. Unfortunately, the free internet was only good for 4 hours but the 24 hour rate has been lowered to $7.
By the way, there was no coffee pot in the suite but there is free, decent coffee at the bar in the morning.
We would stay here again at that rate. -- Suzanne
By the way, there was no coffee pot in the suite but there is free, decent coffee at the bar in the morning.
We would stay here again at that rate. -- Suzanne
Jun 29, 2009, 6:26 pm
#163
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SQL
Programs: SPG Platinum; Hyatt Platinum; UA 1K
Posts: 3,170
We stayed at the W last Saturday night on an $89 rate that included free internet. Unfortunately, the free internet was only good for 4 hours but the 24 hour rate has been lowered to $7.
By the way, there was no coffee pot in the suite but there is free, decent coffee at the bar in the morning.
We would stay here again at that rate. -- Suzanne
By the way, there was no coffee pot in the suite but there is free, decent coffee at the bar in the morning.
We would stay here again at that rate. -- Suzanne
Jun 29, 2009, 7:18 pm
#164
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BLI
Programs: Alaska Million Mile Flyer, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 3,194
Jun 29, 2009, 7:21 pm
#165
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,311
Starwood made them remove the coffee pots from the rooms, because it wasn't consistent with the W brand.
The coffee in the lobby used to be Illy, but the cups no longer have the Illy brand on them. I don't know if it's still Illy or not, but it is good.
-David
The coffee in the lobby used to be Illy, but the cups no longer have the Illy brand on them. I don't know if it's still Illy or not, but it is good.
-David