I am an avid business traveller currently travelling with family. The Westin St. Francis is a famous, old, classic hotel filled with history and in an impeccable location. The lobby, restaurants, elevators, etc. are impressive indeed. However, the rooms are very small and are sorely lacking in the elegance of the public areas, including a bathroom whose fixtures (and caulking) take me back to the 70's and 80's. The toilet is so loud when it flushes that I didn't want to use it when I got up this morning for fear of waking my children; when I went down to the lobby at 5:45, all of the public bathrooms were locked and no one was available to unlock them. The front desk personnel did absolutely nothing to help me - the janitorial staff were the ones who ultimately got the door unlocked for me around 6:05 (I had to go!!). Also at check in I was told that I was upgraded (I am a Gold Starwood Preferred Planner), but in fact the room I got was the same as that I reserved online. (Note also that they have an interesting bait and switch online hotel rate - $104 is the cheapest rate but it is for a room with no view - this is a large property (1100 rooms) so there are alot of great rooms but also alot of undesirable locations in it; the room I selected is $169). There's nothing more disappointing than a very polite, baldfaced lie from the front desk (or other service personnel) - they are the gatekeepers to the property! Also while I knew about it ahead of time, for those who don't ask - watch out for the $49 valet parking fee! If this property weren't located where it is, it would never get away with this stuff.
One other silly thing - I had to buy a different wi-fi for the lobby than that which I use in the room - in other words, I am paying for wi-fi in the lobby now as a type; then when I go to my room I will have to re-enroll and pay again! Very strange and poor setup by the property.
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