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I had to attend a conference at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center over the weekend and was booked at The Westin Long Beach across the street from it. The hotel is perfectly fine if you’re attending an event there, but it is in need of some updating as the finishes and furniture are showing a bit of wear.
Anthony’s Take: This hotel had everything that I needed for a two-night stay. I was given a minimal upgrade and all of the staff that I interacted with were friendly and efficient. Its location is excellent for convention-goers and it has a pool if you want to hang out during your downtime.
Booking
I was booked in 1 King Bed, Traditional Guest Room on a convention rate of $274 per night plus tax, which is the same as the “Member Flexible” rate. The rate includes a $25 Destination Fee. The hotel can be booked with Marriott Bonvoy® points (31,000-59,000 points per night) with rates varying since Marriott eliminated its award buckets.
Transportation to/from the Hotel
I took an Uber Black from Long Beach Airport (LGB) as no other Uber types were available. It cost around $65 to drive the 6.1 miles and took around 17 minutes. When I left, I was flying out of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and took an Uber Comfort. It cost $55 for the 22.3-mile ride.
Location
This hotel is located directly across the street from the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center and a quick walk to the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier. There you’ll find an aquarium, lots of restaurants, and the Queen Mary.
Check-in
I arrived at the hotel around 3:00 PM and my room was ready. The agent was friendly, but did not tell me anything about the Resort Fee. I did not take advantage of any of its inclusions (shown below). I was asked about an amenity choice and could pick between 1,000 points or breakfast. I chose the points since I would not have time for breakfast. An upgrade was given to a Premium Guest Room, 1 King. As far as I can tell this is just a room on a higher floor. An Executive Suite was showing as available, but the agent said they were sold out. I did not feel like arguing for the benefit and said nothing further. I did not need a late checkout and was given my keys a moment later.
Destination Fee
A daily Destination Fee is assessed for all guests of the hotel. It includes:
- Daily $25 food and beverage credit per room
- Daily Local IPA Beer or Wine tasting for 2 guests at Navy Proof Lobby Bar
- Daily 2 hour bike rentals for 2 guests
- Daily Morning 30-minute Yoga/Stretch Class for 2 guest 7:30 AM Navy Proof Courtyard
- Daily Enhanced Hi-Speed Internet Access
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite, and Ambassador Elite also receive a daily specialty beverage in Bluestone Lane for up to 2 guests
I am not a fan of destination fees as they are nothing more than cash grabs and was a bit annoyed after I left that there even was one since I was not informed.
Water is available for guests near the check-in desk.
There are tons of live plants in the lobby. I loved all of the fresh greenery lining the walls. There is a good amount of seating around the lobby as well.
More seats are found in front of reception.
The guest room elevators are found to the left of the check-in desks. The elevators were pretty speedy and all four were operational.
The elevator lobbies on the individual floors are in need of some refreshing. The carpet looks old.
The hallways also feel dated and while they are clean, they need updating.
Premium Guest Room, 1 King (1514)
There are 469 rooms (including 31 suites) at the hotel.
A closet is found immediately upon entering the room (on the right). A safe, iron, ironing board, hair dryer, and luggage rack were inside.
The bathroom was located next to the closet. It was pretty small and was mostly filled by the vanity. It included a single sink, toilet, and shower/tub combo.
A bar of Westin’s signature White Tea soap was on the vanity.
The bath fixtures need updating. The water pressure was not good and most of the holes in the shower head were clogged.
White Tea toiletries were mounted to the wall in the shower.
The shower handles also looked a bit corroded.
This hook was barely hanging on the wall.
The toilet was pretty close to the tub.
The main part of the room was just past the bathroom. It held a king-sized bed, two night tables, a chair with another table, a desk, and a vanity with TV mounted above it.
The chair next to the bed just took up space.
The vanity was across from the bed and held the refrigerator. It had a TV mounted above it. A complimentary bottle of water was under the TV.
The refrigerator was empty and ready for guest use.
The desk was located next to the vanity.
A coffee maker, coffee, condiments, cups, and an ice bucket were on the desk.
I loved the view from my room.
Public Areas & Amenities
The Westin Long Beach offers the lobby seating shown above, a fitness center, a pool, a small business center, the bar/restaurant (shown above), and a coffee bar in the lobby.
A 24-hour mini market with self checkout is found near the guest elevators.
It had a good selection of beverages, snacks, and sundries.
The pool and fitness center are located on the fifth floor.
The fitness center is small, but had a good assortment of cardio machines and other equipment.
Towels (including some chilled) as well as water were provided.
The business center with two Macs and a printer is next to reception.
Overall Impression: The Westin Long Beach worked well for me based on my having to be in the convention center across the street. The hotel needs refurbishing, but is fine for a night or two if you’re there on business.
Anthony’s Credit Card Pick: When I’m staying at a Marriott hotel, I want to maximize my points earned. My card of choice is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. With it, I earn six Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar spent at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. It also includes up to $300 statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month ) for dining in restaurants worldwide. Plus, a free night award that I can redeem at any Marriott hotel with a redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points. Rates & fees. Terms apply.
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1 comment
Have stayed here. Mediocre hotel with ancient rooms. The undisclosed “Destination Fee” is just incredibly offensive.