Hotel Review: Westin San Francisco Airport

I had a dinner in San Jose and an early flight out of San Francisco International Airport (SFO) the next morning. I decided to stay at the Westin San Francisco Airport due to its proximity to the airport and good price. The hotel is dated. A lot of it looks like it has not been redesigned in many years. That said, the staff were friendly and it was kept clean.

Anthony’s Take: The Westin San Francisco Airport gets the job done if you need to stay near the airport. I wanted to try the Grand Hyatt, but rates were astronomical for the date that I needed to be there. The hotel is convenient and there is a shuttle. I took Uber because I did not want to wait, but it is an option.

Booking

I booked 1 King Bed, Traditional Guest Room on a “Member Flexible Rate.” It was $299 per night including taxes and fees. Marriott did away with award charts a few years ago, but redemptions for a standard room can be had for between 45,000 and 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points.

Transportation to/from the Hotel

I took an Uber Comfort from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to the hotel and back the next day to head home. The ride there took around seven minutes (it’s around 2.7 miles) and cost $21. Departing, the ride was a little shorter and cost $19.

Location

The hotel is located very close to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). It has palm trees and water views across the street from the hotel. You need a car or to take rideshare rides as there is nothing within walking distance.

There is seating throughout the lobby level.

This included several smaller seating areas.

The seats were empty during most of my stay.

I like that there are separate segmented rooms throughout.

Check-In

I arrived at the hotel around 2:30 PM. The check-in desk was to the left of the entrance. My room was ready. I asked if any upgrades were available and was informed that I was upgraded to a Premium, Deluxe Guest room, 1 King, Bay View. There were suites for sale, but the check-in agent said I would need to wait until after 4:00 PM for one. I couldn’t do that, so I took the room. He then asked if I needed a late checkout and I declined as I was out the door the next morning around 7:00 AM. I chose points as my welcome amenity for being Titanium Elite as I would not have time for breakfast as usual. I had my keys printed a moment later.

The hotel is dated and this became more apparent on the floors with guest rooms. While it was clean, the furnishings are old and showing signs of wear and tear. The elevator lobby has pretty ugly wallpaper and unflattering lighting.

There was seating by the elevators.

The hallways feel like they’re stuck in the early 1990s.

Premium, Deluxe Guest room, 1 King, Bay View (775)

There are 418 rooms and suites at the hotel.

The room opened with the bathroom to the right. It was also dated and small. It contained a toilet, vanity with a single sink, and shower/tub combo (which I don’t like).

The vanity had a good amount of counter space.

A bar of Westin’s White Tea soap and a bottle of body lotion were on the counter.

The toilet was pretty tightly packed between the tub and vanity.

The shower/tub combo did not have great water pressure or temperature.

Bottles of White Tea conditioner, shampoo, and body wash were mounted on the wall.

A full-length mirror was on the wall across from the bathroom.

The closet near the door held a luggage rack, safe, iron, and ironing board.

The bedroom area was spacious and held a king-sized bed, nightstands, a chair and table, dresser, as well as a desk.

The TV was across from the bed on top of a dresser.

A desk was next to the dresser.

A coffeemaker, coffee, condiments, tea, and bottled water were on the desk.

A refrigerator was in the cabinet under the TV.

An ice bucket and glasses were also found underneath.

A chair, table, and ottoman were near the window.

The view looked over the bay.

Public Areas & Amenities

The hotel has a fitness center, a Starbucks, a business center, a pool (pictured above), event space, an ATM, a small market near the front desk, a restaurant, and the seating pictured above.

The fitness center was crowded when I went, so I did not get to take photos.

Here is a photo from the hotel’s website.

The mini-market was located next to reception.

I loved that there was a Starbucks in the lobby.

The ATM was also near the front desk.

A business center in the lobby offered guests access to a computer and printer.

There are 10 event rooms with the largest able to accommodate up to 584 guests.

Overall Impression:

The Westin San Francisco Airport was what I needed (something close to the airport). It’s not near anything, but the airport. That’s okay if you have an early flight. I found the service and experience pleasant. I would stay again for the right price.

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 every year after my card renewal month that I can redeem at any Marriott hotel with a redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points. Learn more. For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, please visit here. Terms apply.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

(Pool and Fitness Center Image Credits: Marriott.)