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The Westin Providence
Rating Details »
1 W Exchange St
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 598-8000
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 598-8000
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10 reviews for The Westin Providence
This has been one of my worst Westin experiences - it was really run more like a disorganized Sheraton! We were in Providence for Memorial Day Weekend, not realizing it was also graduation weekend. Called SPG Plat Concierge and they said they could get us 2 rooms for 3 nights - no problem! We drove up to the hotel to check out the rooms and the front desk guy called Chris showed us two very nice rooms and said we could reserve them, but would have to call back Plat. So we did and the next moment they say no rooms available. They speak with property manager and still the same response. We ask to speak with Chris at the hotel and no one knows who Chris is!?
Well okay, so we manage to get rooms for one night. Now they tell us Friday night that we can get one room for Sat, but not two. They tell us in the morning they can get us two king rooms, just no doubles, but please call Plat to do the actual booking. Next moment, Plat says GM says nothing available and they have no idea who Jeann is!?
This place isn't as nice or ornate as other Westins. Their housekeeping is simply terrible - they hadn't replaced the shower gel et al since the last guest... there was no soap either. Asked for toothpaste, and took them 1 hour to bring it!
And they have no concierge desk and their front desk people apparently aren't from the area and know nothing!!!
Avoid this place if possible. Weston should pull their name from this hotel as quickly as possible. To Start our experience it was like total ciaos/confusion in the parking area with no one in charge, when I finally got out of my car (15 minutes in a line of cars ) to ask what was going on, I was told by the Valet "to park the car myself if i had a problem" We then checked into our room, which seemed to go smoothly except they offerd no information about the hotel or area, But to our surprise 20 minutes later they checked someone else into our room.
Our room and especially the bathroom did not seem to have been cleaned very well. They do not restock the mini bars fully, but did try and charge me to for 2 additional items. (We had taken a breakfast bar and water and charged us for 4 things so check your bill) They advertise that they have fresh coffee in the lobby, except both days we tried to get it , it was empty and when we mentioned this to the front desk they where literally like "oh well" ..There where some pretty angry coffee drinker down there.
In a nut shell, do not stay at this property!! It is really expensive and they have no idea what service is. They simply just do not get it,nor do they care.
After reading the reviews i asked for my room to be in the East tower and everything turned out fantastic.
The room was very clean, the bed was amazing and the overall location of the hotel couldnt be any better.
I would stay here again and i would reccomend The Westin!
I was skeptical at first. I had some serious issues with the room they placed me in initially. Make sure that if you book here that you are in the more modern East Tower, and NOT the older section of the hotel on the WEST END. That is very important.
After expressing my concerns to Mark L at the front desk he took care of everything and moved me into a much better room in the East Tower. Props to Mark L!! The corner kings in the east tower are great rooms. the bathrooms are gigantic. i would absolutely go back.
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I've stayed here twice. It's no-frills but I give it four stars b/c I Priceline-d it last time and it's definitely worth $90/night.
Don't stay here. Under any circumstance. For posterities sake, the following chronicles document the stay of an unlucky business traveler booked at the Westin Providence.
Sun, Feb 15, 5:00Pm - An MD88 touches down in PVD, I'm dehydrated, hungry, and exhausted. thank goodness the Westin Providence is a quick drive from the airport!!
Sun, Feb 15, 5:45PM - I checkin to the Westin Providence, and am given a decent upgrade by the front desk - so far, so good! I ask about local seafood, and the nice lady running the front desk gives me on foot directions to Hemenway's.
Sun, Feb 15, 8:15PM - My dinner at Hemenway's was so delicious, I decide to recognize my new friend at the front desk for her recommendation - I ask for the chocolate cake in a togo box, to gift to the front desk.
Sun, Feb 15, 9:00PM - My friend is no longer at the front desk :( not knowing her name, I decide to keep her cake fresh in my minibar.
Mon, Feb 16, 5:30AM - I wake up, workout at the 'capital club', and return to my room to get ready for work, downing the only bottle of propel in the minibar.
Mon, Feb 16, 7:00PM - I return to my room, the propel hasn't been replaced, housekeeping actually left me the empty bottle.
Tue, Feb 17, 6:45AM - After the gym, I indulge in some tap water from the bathroom, which I hope is sanitary.
Wed, Feb 18, 7:30AM - No time to work out, I make some coffee (yes, with tap water) and respond to emails. the machine is broken and it spills hot coffee all over the desk - I manage to dry off the bottom of my laptop and clean the desk to the best of my ability before leaving for my client.
Wed, Feb 18, 6:00PM - I return to my room, which reeks of coffee, apparently housekeeping didn't notice the overflow, I cleanup by myself with a towel and hot water.
Wed, Feb 18, 6:30PM - It is snowing heavily in Providence, though I'd really like to take in some night life. I check the closet and the drawers for an umbrella, not finding one, I call "Service Express".
ASHLEY: "Service Express! This is Ashley!"
TIM: "Hello! Is there an Umbrella hidden in my room?"
ASHLEY: "I'm sorry sir, but our rooms do not have umbrellas."
TIM: "Do you have any umbrellas downstairs for guests?"
ASHLEY: "I think so! Want me to check?"
TIM: "Yes please!"
ASHLEY: "We have one left!"
TIM: "Awesome!! could you please save it for me? I'll be down in 10 minutes!!"
Thinking that Ashley is my new best friend in this city, I retrieve the chocolate cake from my fridge, and run it down to the front desk on my way out for the evening.
Front Desk guy: "Umbrellas?? Sorry, we're out"
TIM: "ehhh. Ashley said you had one left?"
Front Desk guy: "Yeah, like I said, we don't have any"
TIM: "oh, ok - well, give this chocolate cake to Ashley?"
**Awkward**
Valet guy (feeling bad for me): "Sir, can I get you a car service this evening?"
TIM (leaving the hotel on foot): "That's OK, I can walk, I was just hoping to have an umbrella."
Valet guy: "You can have mine - it is in my car in the ramp, I'll be back in 5 minutes?"
TIM (feeling guilty): "You really don't need to do that. What's the story on this car service?"
Valet guy: "Complimentary sir!" *pointing to a nice black sedan**
Driver: where to sir?
TIM: *recites name of club*
**Streets pass**
Driver: "OK! here we are!"
**Tim tips driver $5 and gets out of the car**
..
**Tim searchers for and doesn't find destination on the street**
..
**Consulting his blackberry, Tim finds that he is 5 blocks from his intended destination. Tim walks to the club**
..
**a few hours pass, and Tim needs to get home, so he calls the hotel**
ASHLEY: "Service Express! This is Ashley!"
TIM: "Oh, thank goodness!! Ashley this is Tim, I sent you some cake this evening?"
ASHLEY: "Oh yes, thanks! What can I do for you?"
TIM: "I was wondering if you're still operating a blackcar service?"
ASHLEY: "I'm afraid that's over, I can send you a cab though?"
TIM: "Yes Please!! I'm at *name of club*"
ASHLEY: "I'll get someone on the way!"
.
**20 minutes pass**
.
**The snow has turned to sleet, which Tim walks through to get to the hotel**
Thu, Feb 19, 12:20AM - Tim arrives at the Westin Providence, soaking wet. The tie he was wearing is actually ruined.
Thu, Feb 19, 12:45AM - Tim calls the SPG platinum line and cancels 7 separate 5 night stays, priced at $247/night. the Westin Providence has just lost $8,600 in revenue.
Fri, Feb 20, 7:20AM - As he's packing, Tim does a quick check to verify that he hasn't left anything. under the couch he finds a strange leather device. He picks it up to examine it, and quickly drops it when he realizes it's a mouth gag - that's right. a BDSM device, from a previous guest, was left in his room. He washes his hands 3 times.
In closing, this was probably my worst stay at a Starwood affiliated property EVER. And I've spent 3 weeks at a Sheraton in eastern Europe. The fact that this hotel is branded as a Starwood property, a westin no less! is an embarrassment to the entire brand!!
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I agree with the previous reviewers that this place is not up to typical Westin standards. I've stayed here many times over the past several years, and have noticed a significant decline in both the upkeep of the hotel (the first time I stayed here I thought it was very new and well-maintained; I stayed last night and it looked tired and in need of a renovation) and the service. Some of the staff (not all -- it is a hit or miss type of place, and in fairness some people were very nice and helpful) seem extremely disinterested in their jobs and, more particularly, in you as the guest. I was surprised that there was no casual dining option (the pub in the hotel, which I recall being fairly good, seems to be out of business), and there was no place in the hotel to get a drink after 10pm other than the minibar or room service. That's just ridiculous for a full-service hotel.
While some Westins remain very nice, the brand is clearly deteriorating as Starwood seems to focus most of its attention on rolling out its Aloft brand and opening new W properties. There used to be a clear gap between Westin and Sheraton, but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. I am very brand loyal (my airline allegiences are so rigid as to have been a subject of ridicule), and have been a total Starwood junkie for years -- I'm a platinum preferred, and never saw any reason to question loyalty to the Westin brand -- but I am finding that most of the Westins I've stayed at recently simply aren't that nice, and I find myself looking at other hotel chains. I almost stayed at the Biltmore in Providence this trip (while it looks like sort of a grand old dump, it's a lot closer to my client's office, and has a Starbuck's on the property, which is good if, like me, you find hotel room coffee makers to be vaguely disgusting), and next time I am almost sure that I will. There are certain Westins I really like (Boston Back Bay, Washington Grand), but this experience in Providence has left me wondering how long they will remain as nice as they have been and, more fundamentally, whether Westins are worth the money.
i usually like westins, but not this one so much...
the front desk agent, sarah was so rude. the room was dusty, and the lack of hospitality was intolerable. i would never stay at this westin again.
I usually like Westin hotels the staff is always so friendly and helpful. This Westin does not have the same standards of others I have stayed in. I stayed for 2 nights and the only time I meet a pleasant staff members was the bellman who brought my bags up to my room for me. Room service was harsh and hurried me though my order. The food was fine, prices were about average of most Westin's. I had to send my hot sandwich back because it was not even warm. This hotel being attached to the mall was not a good thing. In the evening hours many kids are running through the walk away to the hotel. The pool area and fitness center are below standard for this chain of hotel.
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For one of the top two hotels in Providence as rated by Frommers and Orbitz, this place is sure missing something.
Maybe it is the lack of an adequate swimming pool, or the awkwardness of people using the hotel lobby as a walkway out of the adjacent Providence Place Mall... but something about this place doesn't seem quite right.
I haven't seen many other guests here despite the fact that there were no suites available. This is good because compared to the people running around at Disney World, I get some peace and quiet.
The room itself is quite nice, very clean with modern furnishings that are not quite the W hotel but definitely above the typical Holiday Inn/Hilton. The bed is comfortable, completely living up to the "Heavenly Bed" marketing campaign. The bathroom is decent, though the bathtub isn't as big as the one offered by the Hotel Providence and is quite shallow. The shower pressure is excellent and the amenities are classy. I am glad to say that we didn't experience any plumbing problems.
The room service is excellent, though not worth the 20-30 dollar price per entree and 10 dollar dessert fee.
I do not feel cheated, however because I was able to stay at $130 a night thanks to http://hotwire.com. Good luck to you who decide to visit Providence, and may you be offered an excellent rate as well !
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