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The Westin Palo Alto
Rating Details »
675 El Camino Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 321-4422
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 321-4422
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21 reviews for The Westin Palo Alto
I was here last week for 3 nights, and I'm back a week later for a 5 night stay. I've been really happy staying at this Westin hotel. Most of the staff is incredibly accommodating, competent and pleasant. The valet parking is reasonably priced at $15/day, and if you book your stay very last minute, you're likely to get a really good rate (I stayed here last week for $110/night!).
What I love most about this Westin is the bathrooms! They're ginormous, have separate standing showers and big, big tubs (I've taken a great bath here nearly every night of my stay). The showers have two heads with good water pressure each, and the bathroom has a huge mirror that's blindingly bright, but it's great for putting on makeup in the morning.
The only quirk I've noticed is the configuration of the media storage in the rooms in relation to the beds. During both stays, in both rooms, the armoire and bed have been placed adjacent to each other, making it difficult to watch TV from bed...but that's just a minor complaint, esp. since I'm mostly on my laptop.
And one last upgrade I'd recommend to them: beef up the wireless throughout the hotel. During both stays, my internet connection's been quite slow, and fixing that would go a long way since I'm guessing the hotel gets a ton of business travelers who expect better in Silicon Valley.
For $200 a night, I would've thought this place was more amazing. I wasn't impressed by the bed, the room, or the bathroom. It feels kind of small for a Westin. It is however very conveniently located to a lot of food places and Stanford, so can't really complain. There was plenty of parking but the design of the exit/entrance is a bit.. lacking.
I stay here quite often when I have business at Stanford. This is a beautiful boutique-ish hotel.. The rooms are comfortable and trendy. The suite has a very nice fireplace........The lobby is very trendy and modern....... Stanford is right across the street.
The service is outstanding........what's not to like.
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Well, I wouldn't say this was a perfect experience, but the Westin is pretty darn nice.
The decor is very respectable. It all seems new and is not cheesy at all.
In the room, there was an amazing bed. Apparently it's "heavenly" or something, so it actually gives you a good nights sleep...amazing. Also, I'm completely addicted to down pillows, so having those on the bed was a major plus. Oh, let's not forget the high-thread-count on the linens...yeah, I noticed.
The bathrooms were really nice as well. Dual shower heads in the shower and a separate detached bath tub. Very nice. The marble floors and granite counters make you feel you're getting your money's worth.
They get docked a star for the following three reasons. Firstly, charging for parking. You don't think they could work that in to the room cost? I hate feeling nickeled and dimed...that what this does.
Secondly, the incredibly confusing winding hallways. I think they could have figured out a way to make it more direct...seriously. I was always incredibly disoriented after making 7 rights and 9 lefts to get to my room.
Finally, the pool is too tiny to be enjoyed. If you want to get splashed by other people's kids, or sunbathe on some stranger's lap, then go ahead, but I need a little space.
I'd be back, I guess, if I have something going on and got a good deal.
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The Westin is far and above a more classy hotel than the Sheraton next door. The Sheraton does not have as good of a floor plan and is closer to the transit/train station = more public foot traffic.
The property is within walking distance of Stanford (but I wouldn't recommend it unless you are into walking/running), a shopping center, and downtown Palo Alto.
Pros
1. If you are a Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) , then you get extra little considerations like complimentary water (that otherwise would be $5), a twice cleaned room, mints on pillow in evening, and less annoying room placement.
2. Wake-up calls are not always accurate. E.g. I asked for a 6AM call and received a 6:30AM call and then three minutes later another delayed automated message just in case I fell back to sleep.
3. Free Starbucks coffee and biscotti or fruit in the AM.
4. Standard parking is $10 and valet service is $15, but comes with fast service, free chilled bottle water, and anything else you request (the nicer your car is the better your service will be).
5. Best sleep i've had in months.
Cons
1. Iron is complete GARBAGE - it's the cheapo-$20 Sunbeam kind that they sell at the grocery store (thankfully, my ironing board wasn't squealy)
2. You have to request that your room does not get cleaned when it is not dirty or else all of the towels that have been used (even if they're not on the floor) will be collected and washed and the room scrubbed from top to bottom.
3. You have to request upon arrival (or through Service Express operators) to not have USA delivered to your room - otherwise it comes every morning.
4. Though I read the instructions and set the alarm clock correctly, I never seemed to hear the annunciation and subsequently slept heavenly - an excuse my boss did not accept.
5. Receptionists do not do a good job at welcoming the guests and explaining what the property and local area have to offer. I was unaware of the Free Business Center and Exercise room until halfway through my stay. Also, I was not aware of the first-come-first-served towncar ride to the mall or Stanford weekday AMs.
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Get this pube outta my bed, yo. Yuck. Pube on my pillow before I even got in the bed, yuck!
This hotel is very windy (not windy like Chicago, wine-dy) and you will feel like you're walking around and around in circles as you try and find your room. Some of the rooms face an empty parking lot, which makes you feel like you're in a weird hip hop movie and someone is going to get shot while running in the dirt while you're some nerdy white guy in your room.
Saving this place from 2 stars (for the price, not that it's ghetto, because it's generally nice) is the TWO HEADED SHOWER. That thing is awesome.
Overpriced for what it is though overall.
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I love Westins but I just don't like this one. The building feels crammed right next to the Sheraton next store and all the hallways, stairs, and open areas inside feel uncomfortably angled or crowded. I had a meeting here in the conference rooms upstairs and it was just okay. I didn't stay here so maybe seeing the rooms would change my mind.
Bottom line: Westins I love, but you i don't. The Four Seasons Palo Alto it definitely ain't.
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I loved this hotel (and I travel A LOT). I had a courtyard room with a sliding glass door. Right outside my door was a fountain (consisting of pebbles and overflowing jugs) and a quiet patio with tables and chairs. The indoor/outdoor experience was incredibly refreshing. The other side of the hotel had a similar setup with rooms facing a beautiful swimming pool and spa. (I didn't have a chance to use it, but it looked awesome.)
I had dinner and a drink in the lounge. Both were quite nice, as was the *free* wireless in the lobby. (Why pay the $10 for an in-room connection when you can get it in any of the hotel's common areas for free?)
The only reason that the hotel didn't get a five-stars review is that I had a very long, circuitous walk from the parking garage to my room...without any help with my luggage. (Luckily, I did not break any fingernails during this rugged expedition.)
FYI...
Room: $150
Parking: $10
Dinner: $16
Wine: $8
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I requested wedding banquet information from this hotel two months ago and didn't receive a packet via email until February of this year. They emailed me stating that my wedding party was too small to accomodate a ceremony and reception (I had about 40 guests) Today I find out that one of my co-workers will be having her ceremony and wedding at this hotel with 50 guests. She told me that they gave her a good wedding package: about $5000 whereas they quoted me more than that when they emailed me.
I left a message for the banquet manager with my complaint. Oh well, their loss.
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I have been to couple of shindigs here.
First was a party my friends sister had for her boyfriend. It was on the second floor and they transformed the meeting rooms into a poker and black jack wonderland. Karaoke, open bar and the service was great.
Second stayed here with my girl over new years. We got a firplace suite and the room was spectacular. Nice bed nice jaccuzzi and I would love to come and stay here again....
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I'm here for a few days for work, staying here for a training event at the corporate campus. The staff, including the valet guy Joe, is really friendly, and the hotel is conveniently located near Stanford, University Avenue, and the train station. Great if you're here for any of that.
The hotel is oddly shaped and organized. The lobby, which sports a fireplace, is comfy enough, but the elongated series of nested H's of rooms makes for a disconcerting walk to your room if you have to cover any distance.
Once you're in your room, it's great. Standard Westin, class act all the way. The windows/doors don't open much, so you can't really step out on the mini grill balcony. Otherwise, $10/day wifi, big beds, and a TV. Don't need much else!
I stayed here 2 nights last weekend, then had to move next door to the Sheraton for another 2 nights. I loved the Westin! It was new and clean with pretty white bedding. The bathroom was large with a separate bathtub and walk in shower. We really didn't want to leave.
But we had to move to the Sheraton, which I couldn't wait to get out of!
Westin is a great place, you can walk to the Stanford shopping center and University ave. Convenient and new! Would stay here again.
I'm going to give them 5 stars because they were sooooo great! I got married nearby and was looking for a place to have my rehearsal dinner. We ended up with a private room, which was perfect!! They were very open and accommodating with our requests and their rates were reasonable for a sit down dinner with 40 people. They gave me a great deal for a Friday night banquet (with passed appetizers, drinks, dinner and dessert), worked within my budget and I couldn't have been happier! My guests were delighted, the food was yummy, and having a private banquet room made the event perfect! I'd definitely recommend them for a rehearsal dinner -- they were ALWAYS prompt in their communication and we got exactly what we were promised.
As far as my stay goes, we were pleased with that as well. I stayed in a suite the night before my wedding and the room was gorgeous. When we went to check out the hotel, they were extremely friendly and helpful. We couldn't have asked for more! *Note that they are a business hotel, so the rates on the weekend are lower** The room was pricey - BUT we got exactly what we wanted, so we are happy.
We'd love to go back there anytime!
Tucked away in a spacious Fireplace Suite I was in heaven. Literally, in a heavenly king-sized bed.
I was very pleased with my New Year's Eve stay here in the p.a. The hotel was nice, the staff friendly. I mean they sent chocolate-covered strawberries to the room because we had to wait a little extra while we checked-in. Hey, no problem! Honestly, the staff at the front-desk was so pleasant that I didn't mind waiting.
This is the type of place I will come back to.
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What a fabulous hotel! I stayed here recently for a friend's wedding and was extremely pleased with my stay. The decor is beautiful (in particular, I compared it with the Hyatt Santa Clara, where i also stayed recently, and which has much more dated decor), and their Heavenly beds are, yes, heavenly. I normally hate hotel beds, but I slept like a baby at the Westin (though that could've been due to the copious number of gin and tonics I had at the wedding reception). The rooms are sizeable, and the bathrooms are *amazing*. The shower has dual heads, and the bathtub is detached, like some sort of class-ay master bath or what have you. My only complaint (and reason for the one star deduction) was that it took about 10 minutes for the water in the shower to warm up to a suitable temperature. However, my friends who stayed in a different room had no problem with their shower, so it was probably just the pipes in my room.
The pool area, as others have mentioned, is quite small, so don't expect to get your lap swimming in. I didn't go for a dip, but my friends did enjoy the hot tub. We also liked the nearby bar/lounge area, where we spent a significant amount of time lying around on couches and chatting.
The location of the hotel is prime -- just a few minutes walk from the Caltrain, downtown Palo Alto, and a huge upscale mall. It was super easy to grab some local eats -- and for my friend to buy slacks when he realized that he forgot to bring his suit! (The mall was so close that he managed to run there, buy pants, and make it to the wedding ceremony before anyone else showed up.)
Runners will be happy to know that Westin has teamed up with Runner's World to provide a map of trails around some of their hotel locations. The front desk gave me a small playing card-sized map of 3-mile and 5-mile trails circling Stanford University, which I happily used for my Saturday morning long run. I had a great run and a great weekend, and I'd definitely stay here the next time I have reason to be in the peninsula area.
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Nice hotel. Their layout is like a mace though and you can get lost on your way to the room.
Their bathrooms are awesome though. Huge, with separate tub and glass enclosed shower. The room itself is adequately large. Nice beds and furniture too. Good desk and chair. Internet is $10 extra as usuall. I think all large chains are implementing this kind of policy now to increase their profit margin. Bastards! On the other hand, I didn't really pay for the room, so who cares. Self-parking is another $10 per day.
I never really knew this hotel was there until I had to spend a night in it. It's kind of tucked away which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
You can expect the typical Westin experience (in America that is - it's a different world in Asia): comfy bed, nice shower, clean fixtures, better furniture, etc... The staff was welcoming and service minded. Would definitely stay here again.
stayed here when my parents were visiting me. I have to say that it's a nice hotel but not really worth the money you pay for a night's stay. But what can I say, you can't really be picky with such few 4-5 star hotels in the area.
The Westin's Bed is called "Heavenly" and IT IS!!! After a rough week at work, sleeping on the heavenly bed....makes you forget about everything! waking up can be such a hard thing to do. Great location -- right across the Stanford shopping plaza, and Stanford University. Hard to get to this hotel from the freeways. (i mean, 280 North/South, 101 North/South) The downside of this hotel??? Parking can be quite confusing....do valet....
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I stayed at the Westin last summer while I was having some work done to my house. Actually, my reservation was for the Sheraton next door but by the time I checked in at midnight I had been upgraded to the Westin. I was travelling with my dog and they treated her like a queen. A heavenly dog bed was delivered to the room along with a bowl and placemat. The room had a nice patio door leading to a courtyard with a row of fountains. Doggy was more than happy to nap on the divine Heavenly bed (the king sized one...no dog bed for her baby) while a soft breeze floated in through the patio door and the sound of the fountains lulled her into a sound sleep.
In fact, this hotel cost me some cash since the patio door made me so happy I ended up calling my contractor and having a window in my master bedroom knocked out and replaced with a patio door. So now I sit in my master, complete with Westin white tea potpourri (available at Nordstrom) and enjoy the breeze and the sound of my new outdoor fountain. Sigh of contentment.
The room service I had was delivered promptly and the food was tasty but nothing spectacular.
The only downside is the quite simply bizarre hotel floorplan. Like other reviewers, one of the first thing you notice is the strange hall layout. Thank goodness my trusty pup was there to guide me through the maze. It's one heck of a walk if you are juggling a laptop bag, handbag and a leash with a dog that is pulling you in excitement to see what's around the next corner (and by gosh there are a lot of corners in this place).
Would totally stay there again and was thrilled with the upgrade after walking through the Sheraton and feeling like I stepped into a Gidget movie circa 1960.
I didn't have a very good experience at this hotel, though it was probably in part because we were staying in Palo Alto and I'm not a very big fan. No less, the hotel made up for it by comping our room and breakfast for two days. It's a cute hotel but doesn't have a very big pool and wasn't nearly as nice as other Westins I've stayed in. It does have good breakfast in the hotel restaurant in the morning. It's also walking distance to downtown Palo Alto, etc.
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