Westin Palo Alto, CA [Master Thread]
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 30
Westin Palo Alto, CA [Master Thread]
I recently stayed at the Westin Palo Alto after acquiring a Starwood Amex that gave me complimentary Preferred Plus status and was disappointed with Starwood's communication system all around. First, I called the hotel directly on the day that I was to arrive to confirm late check-in and they told me they had a smoking room for me, in spite of the fact that my profile says I'm a non-smoker. When I told them taht I had a profile filled out with SPG, they told me that the recod did not automatically list my preferences, in spite of them being able to find my preferences after searching. Secondly, I told them I was a Preferred Plus and was hoping for an upgrade. They told me that I was upgraded to a "Preferred Room". When I asked them how it differed from a traditional room, they admitted that all the suites were occupied, so that an upgrade in this intsance would consist of a room with nicer bathrobes and a nicer brand of shampoos, soaps and toiletries. When I got to the hotel, they again told me the room was a "Preferred Room" but when I saw the room, it was just a standard. When I told the front desk about it, they brought up the higher-end Westin Molten Brown brand toiletries in a plastic bag, but told me that I would have to request it every day rather than housekeeping automatically cleaming my room with the correct features. What's the point of being a Preferred Plus guest when you have to manage every detail of your experience on your own?
#2
Join Date: May 2002
Location: SNA
Programs: STARS/LUMINOUS, PRIVE, FSPP, STARS, MO FAN Club, PEN Club, Bellini Club
Posts: 2,612
As far as I understand it, Preferred Plau memebers are not entitled to any sort of upgrades, other than preferred rooms. Isn't this reserved for Gold or Platinum? Can't just anyone become a Prefrred Plus member since it doesn not require any stays.
#3
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1K 2MM / Marriott LTP
Posts: 5,071
Starwood Lurker addressed the benefits of Preferred Plus and Corporate Preferred in this thread.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum74/HTML/005576.html
Indeed there is no mention of upgrades to suites other than Preferred rooms.
Mack2897, if this is your first experience with SPG, please give them a chance. They treat their elites very well sometimes even beyond the call of duty. I don't know if you've noticed him yet, but Starwood Lurker is a valuable asset to the Starwood board here on FT and he's here to assist you if you have any problems.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum74/HTML/005576.html
Indeed there is no mention of upgrades to suites other than Preferred rooms.
Mack2897, if this is your first experience with SPG, please give them a chance. They treat their elites very well sometimes even beyond the call of duty. I don't know if you've noticed him yet, but Starwood Lurker is a valuable asset to the Starwood board here on FT and he's here to assist you if you have any problems.
#4
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,299
It's a nice property, if there's a bad room there, I've never seen it .. you can occaisionally find relatively inexpensive weekend rates here, if your stay extends over a weekend night. Sometimes the weekend rates are applicable on Thursday night if you also stay Friday night. The Sheraton next door is much cheaper, but it's also not nearly as nice as the Westin.
-David
-David
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 30
I was wondering if the computers and management at the Westin Palo Alto and Sheraton Palo Alto are linked (the properties are right next to each other). I need to travel to Palo Alto pretty often and would like to switch back and forth between the two based on pricing and was wondering if each of the hotels would know that I am a frequent guest. Thanks.
#6
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mack2897:
I was wondering if the computers and management at the Westin Palo Alto and Sheraton Palo Alto are linked (the properties are right next to each other). I need to travel to Palo Alto pretty often and would like to switch back and forth between the two based on pricing and was wondering if each of the hotels would know that I am a frequent guest. Thanks.</font>
I was wondering if the computers and management at the Westin Palo Alto and Sheraton Palo Alto are linked (the properties are right next to each other). I need to travel to Palo Alto pretty often and would like to switch back and forth between the two based on pricing and was wondering if each of the hotels would know that I am a frequent guest. Thanks.</font>
Sincerely,
William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services
[email protected]
#8
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
The database lists John C. Turner as the GM for this property. The hotel phone number is 650-324-4422 and the only published email address is for the reservations department at [email protected].
Sincerely,
William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services
[email protected]
Sincerely,
William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services
[email protected]
#9
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,299
Westin Palo Alto, CA [Master Thread]
I always check if I can find a rate at the Westin Palo Alto within my companies guidelines. I usually can't, and end up staying one night at the sister Sheraton next door to the Westin, but I was able to book refundable/cancellable one night rates at $139 for Thursday night stays in Feb and March.
Consider this a heads up. $139 is a great rate for this property.
-David
Consider this a heads up. $139 is a great rate for this property.
-David
#10
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Boulder, CO, USA
Programs: UA 1K MM; SPG Platinum; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 329
Originally Posted by LIH Prem
I always check if I can find a rate at the Westin Palo Alto within my companies guidelines. I usually can't, and end up staying one night at the sister Sheraton next door to the Westin, but I was able to book refundable/cancellable one night rates at $139 for Thursday night stays in Feb and March.
Consider this a heads up. $139 is a great rate for this property.
-David
Consider this a heads up. $139 is a great rate for this property.
-David
#11
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,299
Hands down no contest, the Westin is the one. It's very new, nicely appointed, nicely furnished large size rooms with the heavenly beds, big bathrooms, etc. They have some suites, but they are all non-smoking. They have a couple of suites on the ground level floor which have sliding doors that open to a small courtyard. If you're a smoker looking for an upgrade you can try for one of those rooms. I had a fireplace ground level suite one time. It was very nice. Gas fireplace .. flick the switch on and you have a nice fire. But even the regular rooms are great at this property.
The Sheraton is an older property. It does have the updated bedding. The Sheraton eliminated smoking rooms when they did their last soft upgrade. If you're a smoker, you can ask for a patio room or a balcony room. The only plus there is the club level lounge.
Both properties have excellent staff and good service. Both have pools/ The properties are literally right next to each other .. in fact they share the same parking lot.
-David
The Sheraton is an older property. It does have the updated bedding. The Sheraton eliminated smoking rooms when they did their last soft upgrade. If you're a smoker, you can ask for a patio room or a balcony room. The only plus there is the club level lounge.
Both properties have excellent staff and good service. Both have pools/ The properties are literally right next to each other .. in fact they share the same parking lot.
-David
Last edited by LIH Prem; Mar 1, 2005 at 3:18 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: Bonvoy Amb; AA EXP
Posts: 1,136
I would agree that the Westin is much nicer.
That rate of $139 is awesome. I am trying to book in May and the best rate I can find is like $269. In order to get an extra stay over two nights, I am staying way the **** over in Newark at the W.
That rate of $139 is awesome. I am trying to book in May and the best rate I can find is like $269. In order to get an extra stay over two nights, I am staying way the **** over in Newark at the W.
#13
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, DL PM, Bonvoy Titanium (Plat Life), HH G, Amtrak, B6, MR
Posts: 1,530
Without a doubt the Westin. It also has an underground garage vs. outdoor parking at the Sheraton. I don't think I've stayed at the Sheraton once since the Westin opened.
The nicest rooms at the Westin are either the fireplace suites that LIH Prem referred to (those also have a whirlpool tub and a shower for two, at least the one I stayed in did) or the "tower suites" which are at the corners of the hotel and have a huge outdoor patio. They're quite a hike to get to from the elevator, but well worth the walk, I think.
The nicest rooms at the Westin are either the fireplace suites that LIH Prem referred to (those also have a whirlpool tub and a shower for two, at least the one I stayed in did) or the "tower suites" which are at the corners of the hotel and have a huge outdoor patio. They're quite a hike to get to from the elevator, but well worth the walk, I think.
#14
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,350
These are great rates for what is definitely the preferable of the two hotels.
I even got these significantly lower rates at the Westin P/A to come up with the buy 2 get the third night free promo (free nights worldwide link that's been up on SPG for a while now http://www.starwoodhotels.com/promot...promoCode=X3M). So you can bring this property down to about $100 a night for three nights. That's a great deal, considering i have just one night booked there next week and the best rate i can find is $260.
I even got these significantly lower rates at the Westin P/A to come up with the buy 2 get the third night free promo (free nights worldwide link that's been up on SPG for a while now http://www.starwoodhotels.com/promot...promoCode=X3M). So you can bring this property down to about $100 a night for three nights. That's a great deal, considering i have just one night booked there next week and the best rate i can find is $260.
#15
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: Bonvoy Amb; AA EXP
Posts: 1,136
I stay at the Westin 6-10 times per year, if they aren't sold out when I am in Palo Alto.
On my last two stays I have received suite upgrades, once to a fireplace suite.(very nice) and once to a guest office suite (not bad, except the TV doesn't quite face the bed so unless you are an albatross, you can't really change channels lying down).
On the second of two recent stays, I was informed that I was being upgraded to a tower suite but that my room would take a few minutes to finish cleaning (I was told the room number). An hour later I was finally given my room keys to find that it was actually a guest office. Not bad, but for the hour back I would have taken a regular room instead. I was really looking forward to a tower suite so that I could claim a presence in all known room types at the hotel. It's the little things that make me happy
Matt
On my last two stays I have received suite upgrades, once to a fireplace suite.(very nice) and once to a guest office suite (not bad, except the TV doesn't quite face the bed so unless you are an albatross, you can't really change channels lying down).
On the second of two recent stays, I was informed that I was being upgraded to a tower suite but that my room would take a few minutes to finish cleaning (I was told the room number). An hour later I was finally given my room keys to find that it was actually a guest office. Not bad, but for the hour back I would have taken a regular room instead. I was really looking forward to a tower suite so that I could claim a presence in all known room types at the hotel. It's the little things that make me happy
Matt