4-star Westin San Diego for Upscale Travel in CA
Downtown Hotel is Great for Luxury, Business, and Family Vacations
Jan 8, 2009
San Diego, being an interesting and demographically diverse city, appeals to all sorts of travelers; business travelers, families on vacations with young children, couples and luxury vacation seekers all have terrific times in this part of Southern California. And, all sorts of travelers would be pleased with the Westin San Diego. This 4-star hotel is in downtown San Diego, but practically borders the more desirable Gaslamp Quarter. As a result, it's a more affordable upscale hotel to stay in, while still in walking distance of all the great restaurants, interesting stores, and general liveliness of Gaslamp.
The Positives about The Westin San Diego
- The Westin San Diego is a AAA four diamond hotel: This is immediately evident as the lobby is modern, clean, and grand. The check-in staff and concierge were more helpful to Luxury Travel than the welcoming staff at most equivalent hotels. In fact, the concierge proved so knowledgeable, helpful and friendly that he was sought out for recommendations several times.
- The rooms are large, clean, and modern in style, with the clean lines of that architectural style. This means plenty of room to move around in, without feeling crowded.
- Many rooms and suites are adjoining; useful for luxury family vacations. The room to spread out feels terrific. There are views of the San Diego Bay, albeit somewhat obstructed by buildings closer to the harbor.
- Westin has the most soft, wonderful linens, bedding, and towels of any 4-star hotel. The Heavenly brand deserves its name; Luxury Travel has stayed at 5-star resorts with less plush bedding. The Westin Heavenly robe feels wonderful after a relaxing shower, too.
- The lap pool and fitness room are very well maintained, as befits a high-end hotel.
- The location is not only adjacent to Gaslamp Quarter, it's also very close to Little Italy and a fun, popular brewhouse, the Karl Strauss Brewery & Grill.
- The on-site restaurant staff takes great care of children. Kids' menus are on the back of Etch-a-Sketches, and there is a basket of little toys and stuffed animals by the door for a "parting gift." The child-friendly aspects of this hotel are important; what with the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, the USS Midway and nearby LegoLand, San Diego has a lot to offer families on vacation.
- More on the restaurant; the breakfast buffet is all you can eat (as is usual), with a well-rounded variety of tasty options. The chef who makes omelettes to order is proficient and fast - the omelettes are popular!
- For business travelers, this Westin really shines. The conference rooms are wired with the latest tech capability, and come in a few configurations. It's a great way to add some luxury to a business meeting or work conference.
The Negatives about The Westin San Diego
- The Westin San Diego is near enough to a train station and San Diego Bay that light sleepers may be disturbed by the accordant toots and whistles. In this case, requesting an interior-facing room is a viable alternative to a Bay View room.
- Parking in the neighborhood is expensive, and some tourists may not feel comfortable parking on the street and then walking to the hotel late at night. For these travelers, the pricey valet may seem the only option.
- The restaurant isn't open for dinner. Room service, and dinner in the lobby bar area, are the only hotel dining options at night.
The Westin brand is known for its relatively large hotels and resorts; this is no boutique brand. As a result, there's the danger of large chain hotels feeling interchangeable. This is certainly not the case with the Westin San Diego. It is a 4-star hotel with 5-star service, and an exemplary model for the brand. Luxury Travel would definitely stay there again.
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