4 January 2012
When going with kids to even a very nice hotel for New Year’s Eve, there’s
always the risk of ending up next to a bunch of rowdy partiers. Such was the
case for our New Year’s Eve stay. However, the difference here was that the
Westin dealt with problem quickly (within 10 minutes of a phone call to the
front desk) and effectively (no more noise). According to Josh, the very
professional gentleman who handled our check-in and check-out process, the
Westin takes customer noise and disturbance complaints very seriously. Based on
my experience, he is correct.
In summary, our stay at the Westin was completely enjoyable and fun. Some of the
notes that follow may sound like nitpicking, but if you can benefit from them,
that’s the point.
Review Westin
Hotel Bellevue
4 January 2012
With four people staying in one room with two double beds, Josh suggested the
Westin’s Double Deluxe room – a double deluxe room has 50 more square feet of
space than a traditional room, with two oversized double beds – which gave us
ample room for a roll away so our two sons (ages 13 and 11) did not have to
sleep in the same bed. The bathroom was absolutely huge and had really nice
appointments and fixtures (the low flow aerator on the sink faucet was terribly
low flow, to the point of being irritatingly slow). The HVAC in the room was
very touchy with 1 degree changes on the thermostat resulting in very noticeable
temperature changes; I think we ended up at 74 degrees as the best setting. Our
room was on the fourth floor, the same floor as the pool and spa; there was no
noise or issue with that at all. The room also had a small balcony with room to
lounge in better weather. Our room faced south and the view was okay – even from
the low floor, absent the mossy top of the Scan Design store next door. On New
Year’s Eve, there was some street and pedestrian noise from a main
sidewalk/walkway running next to the hotel beneath our room. This might be an
issue in warmer or summer months with an open window. One word of caution – and
I am not sure if it was the remote or my operation of it - but it was very
difficult to block the adult titled movies on the in-room entertainment system –
and to scroll through the movie selection banners, you had to scroll through the
adult titles to get to other movie selections. The kids loved the very large (by
hotel standards) indoor pool which was heated to a comfortable level (not too
warm, not too cold). The workout room is top notch. We did not eat in the hotel
or use the mini bar – which is one of those refrigerator type things that if
anything moves, you are charged for it.
Quite a bit has been made of the parking charges. We did not experience that
over our stay as self-parking was complimentary. Valet parking was somewhere in
the neighborhood of $25/night.
Internet access via a wired connection or Wi-Fi is not complimentary.
Review Westin
Hotel Bellevue
2 January 2012
Accessing the hotel is a bit of a challenge as I believe the hotel can only be
accessed by heading east on NE 8th Street or north on Bellevue Way. If you are
coming to the hotel from 405, get off on NE 4th Street going west and then head
north on Bellevue Way. Don’t get off on NE 8th Street.
The location of the hotel cannot be beat; it’s right in middle and within
walking distance of everything in Bellevue.
I would definitely stay at the Westin Bellevue again with my family or by myself
if I was travelling to the area on business.
Review Westin
Hotel Bellevue
2 January 2012
Nice hotel but not happy with the parking fees or the internet fees. Also, no
Wifi in the rooms. Otherwise, very clean, walls are a little thin, water in the
swimming pool was cloudy and the biggest beef was the check in time is 3:00 PM,
however there was only one staff member on the front desk and no one at the SPG
check in for a bit during peek time. General comment about the Westins, they
advertise a Kids Fun Pck, but they always seem to be out of them. |
