The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas Review

On a recent trip to Hawaii, we stayed at six different hotels and got a nice taste of what each one had offer. But out of all of the properties, the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas was our favorite hotel we stayed at.

It offers the perfect laid-back vibe along with some beautiful views from spacious balconies. Plus, it’s just an overall gorgeous setting.

In this article, I’ll break down everything you need to know before heading to this resort.

Booking

On a recent 10 night trip to Hawaii we spent a large portion of the trip tracking down all of the Jurassic Park filming locations.

This meant that we would be focusing a lot on the island of Kauai since that is where most of the filming went down.

We would be doing a lot of hotel hopping at hotels like Marriott’s Kauai Beach Club so we wanted to have at least one stay where we would stay three nights and the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort seemed like a perfect spot.

We booked the hotel for 50,000 Marriott points per night and with rates going well over $500 per night that amounted to over one cent point for Marriott which is always a great deal in my book.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Location Overview: Princeville

Princeville is located on the north side of the island of Kauai and about a 45 minute drive from the airport (LIH). It’s a beautiful and scenic area full of condominiums, golf courses, and resorts but it still feels pretty rustic and remote.

It’s perfect for exploring the north part of the island (Queen’s Bath, Kilauea Lighthouse, Limahuli Garden, etc.) but less ideal if you want to spend a lot of time in places like Waimea Canyon State Park or Allerton Garden.

You’ve got a few local places to eat nearby like Saenz Ohana Breakfast and The Spot North Shore Kauai. Also, if you need to head to the market there is the Foodland Princeville very close by (5 minutes by car).

If you head a little bit more west to Hanalei you’ll also find eatery hotspots like Kalypso Island Bar & Grill, Holey Grail Donuts, and others. Those places are about 10 minutes away.

The closest beach to the Westin Princeville that you can walk to is Wyllie’s Beach but you have to do a little bit of work to get there. The trail head is near the front of the hotel next to the golf course.

It’s a short but pretty steep hike to the beach. Very doable just be prepared for a steep walk on the way back.

Related: Luau Kalamaku Review (Kilohana Plantation, Kauai)

Hike to Wyllie’s Beach.
Wyllie's Beach
Wyllie’s Beach.

Check-in

We arrived after check in time so we were not able to request early check-in although it probably would not have mattered anyway.

This is a resort where Marriott status is not honored so even as a Titanium Elite member, I would not be entitled to benefits like early check in, late check out, free breakfast, and upgrades.

That’s honestly the only knock I would have against this property is that as an elite member you miss out on your benefits.

Okay, I guess one more slight knock would be the parking situation since it’s hard to find parking near your villa.

There’s a double-decker parking garage out front and also some side parking lots but we always struggled to find a spot in the side parking lots. It’s still not a very long walk to the villas so not a huge deal.

After we checked in, we made our way to our villa and I was pretty impressed by how well kept the premises were. Also, every staff member we encountered was very friendly.

Related: Doing A Doors-Off Helicopter Tour in Kauai, Hawaii? (Read This First)

Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas

We made our way up the elevator to the third floor and headed down to the end of the building where our room was.

Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas

The villa was not the biggest but still a beautiful room and more than enough space for our needs.

Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas room

As you would expect at the Westin, the bedding was top notch.

Check out: Hawaiian Airlines First Class Guide

There’s a small sofa, ottoman, and some chairs and a table to utilize if you end up going the in-room dining route like we did.

You also have a large flatscreen TV with a Bose stereo system.

The room comes equipped with a nice kitchen so you can always head to the nearby market and pick up some groceries to make your own meals.

You’ll find a medium sized refrigerator, full-size microwave, electric stove top, small sink, and appliances like coffee maker, blender, etc. They also have glasses, plates, and other dishes you might need.

Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas kitchen
Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas kitchen

The room also comes with its own stackable washer and dryer which is super convenient.

Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas washer and dryer

In the closet, you’ll find the safe, iron and iron board, robes, extra bedding, and even a vacuum cleaner.

I really like the open and spacious bathroom.

Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas bathroom

The shower comes with a waterfall shower head and is pretty spacious. You’ll also appreciate the soft and plush Westin towels.

Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas bathroom

The bathroom had an enclosed toilet for added privacy.

Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas bathroom

The whirlpool tub was definitely a highlight of the room. You can swing open the panels so that your view opens up and looks out from your balcony. I found the panels a little bit tricky to work with, though. (It helped to pull from the very bottom to get them to open.)

Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas bathroom
Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas bathroom
Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas bathroom

As for the balcony, we were in love with the views from the third floor. We were at the end of the building and so we had a great view of the coast as well as the interior of the property. You’ll hear a lot of birds in the morning and of course roosters will be everywhere!

Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas balcony view
Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas balcony view
Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas balcony view

The property

The resort property as a whole is really a beautiful place that is very well-kept. Take a stroll in the evening through the torch-lit paths and enjoy the cool, breezy evenings.

Dining

Dining is a bit limited as there is really only one restaurant at the resort: Nanea Restaurant & Bar. They have both indoor and outdoor dining but we just ordered to-go every time.

They have a variety of American cuisine and we were pretty happy with the food we ordered which included things like burgers, chicken tenders, etc. The sides like macaroni salad and rice weren’t bad either.

Just be aware that this place does close at 7 pm which makes things a little bit tough for dinner.

Also, we arrived around 6:15 pm the first night for dinner and this place was absolutely swamped.

It took us a very long time to even place an order at the bar and so I do think the hotel needs to do a better job of providing servers for the bar/restaurant. It was actually kind of ridiculous.

There’s also the Princeville Market.

This is a good stop for snacks and also a place that you might be hitting up for breakfast as they do serve Starbucks coffee and they have breakfast sandwiches.

From what I could gather, it’s mostly just heated-up items so it’s enough to get you by but nothing extraordinary.

It opens up at 6:30 am.

Here’s a look at some of your options. I will say that the muffins were on point and croissants weren’t too bad. Just don’t get your hopes too high.

Pools

You’ll find three pool areas around the property including one that is an adult only pool.

The main pool is the one pictured above which is found in the middle of the resort. Nearby the main pool, there’s also a more kid friendly pool with a slide.

Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas kids pool
Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas kids pool

Here’s a look at the adult only pool which is where are you can also find hot tubs. It’s more tucked away in the back of the resort between building two and three.

Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas pool

Heading out to the pool areas around sunrise can make for a pretty spectacular way to start your day. I especially liked the infinity pool, which is between building six and seven. Just take a look at these sunrise views yourself!

Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas infinity pool sunrise
Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas infinity pool sunrise
Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas infinity pool sunrise
Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas infinity pool sunrise

In the middle of the property there’s a nice lawn area where you can go on a relaxing stroll especially around sunrise or sunset.

If you’re in the mood to throw something on the grill there are several grill stations to choose from.

Gym

The fitness center is very nice and it’s in a spacious and well-lit room.

Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas gym

They have plenty of equipment in the gym so you should be able to have great workouts.

Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas gym
Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas gym

Some of the cardio machines lining the windows have some impressive views looking out to the ocean, overlooking the pool.

It’s always a shame when a great view goes to waste and I love that this resort did NOT let that happen with the gym.

Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas gym
Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas gym

I was also a bit surprised to see that the gym had both a sauna and steam room.

Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas sauna
Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas steam room

Final word

Out of the six hotels we stayed at on this trip to Hawaii, this hotel was by far my favorite. It’s just a very relaxing vibe at the resort and while the dining options are a bit limited, I just loved the premises and our view from the balcony. I’d definitely recommend this resort to anyone staying in Kauai.

Westin Riverwalk San Antonio Review

If you’re planning a trip to the San Antonio Riverwalk you have tons of different hotel options and it can be an overwhelming process to narrow them down.

But if you’re looking for a four-star luxury property that won’t require you to break the bank, the Westin Riverwalk San Antonio is a super solid choice.

In this review article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about the Westin Riverwalk San Antonio.

Booking

We had a family meet up in San Antonio around Christmas time and decided that staying at the Westin Riverwalk San Antonio would be a perfect two night stay.

We paid cash for the booking but utilized suite night awards which ended up getting us a nice corner suite.

In addition to that, Titanium Elite status gave us free breakfast at the property which added even more value to this stay and made it a great option.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Westin Riverwalk San Antonio lobby Christmas

Location overview: San Antonio Riverwalk

The Westin Riverwalk San Antonio is located right in the heart of the San Antonio Riverwalk aka tourist central.

It’s only about a seven minute walk to the Alamo and very close to all of the other major Riverwalk tourist attractions.

The property is also located directly on the Riverwalk, although you need to take some stairs or an elevator down to that level to exit out that way.

Check-in

Check-in was a very smooth process and I was immediately impressed with the beautiful hotel lobby.

I heard that NBA players sometimes stay at this hotel when they play the Spurs which I think says a lot about the level of luxury offered by the property.

Westin Riverwalk San Antonio lobby Christmas
Westin Riverwalk San Antonio lobby Christmas
Westin Riverwalk San Antonio lobby Christmas

If you have a little bit of extra time, you may want to check out the second level which is where a lot of the conference rooms are located. On your way up, you’ll pass through a beautiful staircase with a 19th century rod-iron chandelier.

At one point, I thought I heard one of the tour boats on the river mention that the Westin has items on display from an old castle or palace which wouldn’t surprise me given how elaborate some of the fixtures are.

Westin Riverwalk San Antonio staircase

The room

The corner suite we were upgraded to was a very beautiful and spacious suite. I loved the oversized double doors separating the living room from the bedroom.

The workstation fits right between these two doors and the living room TV is actually embedded in the wall.

Westin Riverwalk San Antonio corner suite

The sitting area is pretty spacious and we were able to request a rollaway bed for my nephew without much hassle which was great. (The sofa does not convert to a bed.)

Westin Riverwalk San Antonio corner suite
Westin Riverwalk San Antonio corner suite

Both the sitting area and the bedroom have their own balcony.

We were positioned a few floors above the pool which gave us a nice view of the pool but a mostly obstructed view of the river.

Westin Riverwalk San Antonio corner suite river view balcony
Westin Riverwalk San Antonio corner suite river view

Inside the room, you have a nice and soft king bed. As expected at the Westin, the bedding was extremely comfortable.

Westin Riverwalk San Antonio corner suite

On each side of the bed you can find outlets and USB ports for easy charging.

Related: Should You Use USB Ports In Hotel Rooms? (Stay Away!?)

In front of the bed, there’s a dresser with a large TV monitor hanging above it.

Westin Riverwalk San Antonio corner suite

Overall, I had little complaints about the bedroom other than the temperature and the view.

While the living room stayed nice and cool, the bedroom was a bit too warm and there really was nothing we could do about that unfortunately.

The only other thing that was slightly disappointing about the room was the lack of a river view.

It looks like the river views are much better for rooms that are not above the pool since the terrace for the pool cuts into the river view.

So if you really want a great view of the river you might want to ask to not be put in one of those rooms.

Westin Riverwalk San Antonio corner suite river view

Near the bathroom was a large counter with the coffee maker, a mini-fridge, hotel safe, and a couple of bottles of water.

Related: Are Hotel Coffee Makers Safe & Clean? (YIKES!)

As for the bathroom, it was huge (and glorious).

The sink area had two sinks, two large mirrors, and a beauty mirror.

Westin Riverwalk San Antonio corner suite bathroom

There’s a large tub perfect for relaxing in and complete with a roll of soft Westin Heavenly towels.

There is an enclosed area for the toilet which is great for privacy.

The shower is also pretty spacious and comes with a dual shower head and pre-filled, wall dispensary soaps.

Westin Riverwalk San Antonio corner suite bathroom

And of course there is the Westin double needle stitching spa robe.

Westin spa robe

Pool

The hotel has a nice pool area but the somewhat Alamo-shaped pool is pretty small for such a big hotel, in my opinion. I guess if the pool wasn’t deep enough for you you could always take a dip in the river? Just kidding — don’t do that.

Westin Riverwalk San Antonio pool

Despite its small size, it’s still a pretty terrace area with greenery, fountains, and a lot of seats to lounge in.

There’s even a bar on the deck but it wasn’t open while we were there, probably because it was so dang cold.

Westin Riverwalk San Antonio pool

I would try to avoid the rooms that are right next to the pool. Not only would you have no view of the river but you would also have to deal with the noise from the pool, which was even kind of loud where we were.

Westin Riverwalk San Antonio pool

I’m almost positive the pool is heated as it was pretty cold during our stay and people were still hanging out in the pool.

Fitness center

The Westin Riverwalk San Antonio also has a pretty solid fitness center. You’ll find plenty of treadmills and other cardio equipment like ellipticals. You’ll have a view out to the pool area on some of the cardio machines which is nice.

Westin Riverwalk San Antonio gym
Westin Riverwalk San Antonio gym
Westin Riverwalk San Antonio gym

Breakfast

You’ll find breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant were they will have a buffet set up.

As mentioned, with Titanium Elite status, we were offered two free breakfasts every morning for a total of four free breakfasts.

They issued us individual certificates which was nice because it allowed us to use three of them one morning so that my nephew could get a taste of the Westin breakfast life.

Overall, I was pretty impressed with the breakfast. It wasn’t quite the best Westin breakfast I ever had. Some things like the pastries could’ve been a little bit better in my opinion.

But the buffet still had a great selection of foods with fresh fruits, berries, and even biscuits and gravy. So overall, I would still say it was a quality breakfast.

The servers at breakfast were also on point, just like they were everywhere else.

if you’re wondering what the breakfast spread looked like, check out the photos below.

Westin Riverwalk San Antonio breakfast
Westin Riverwalk San Antonio breakfast
Westin Riverwalk San Antonio breakfast
Westin Riverwalk San Antonio breakfast
Westin Riverwalk San Antonio breakfast
Westin Riverwalk San Antonio breakfast
Westin Riverwalk San Antonio breakfast
Westin Riverwalk San Antonio breakfast
Westin Riverwalk San Antonio breakfast
Westin Riverwalk San Antonio breakfast
Westin Riverwalk San Antonio breakfast
Westin Riverwalk San Antonio breakfast
Westin Riverwalk San Antonio breakfast

Restaurant: Zocca Cuisine D’Italia

We were looking for a good place to grab dinner on the Riverwalk but this was a weekend just a week before Christmas and it was absolutely packed everywhere.

It seemed like every restaurant had at least an hour wait and we were just too hungry (and cold) to sit around for that.

So we thought it would be a good idea to try out the hotel’s restaurant, Zocca Cuisine D’Italia, for dinner.

I’m really glad that we decided to give it a shot because the restaurant at the hotel was absolutely amazing.

We tried a few different dishes like their pizza, fried ravioli, and some other dishes and they were all on point. While we chose to eat inside, I do believe you can eat out on the river if you would like.

Zocca Cuisine D'Italia
Zocca Cuisine D'Italia

The hotel also has a grab and go café called Cafecito but we were not able to try it out.

Final word

Overall, this was a fantastic stay in San Antonio!

I loved the room that we were upgraded to and while we did not have a great view of the river, it was still a beautiful and spacious suite.

The service was tremendous throughout the stay including when we grabbed breakfast which just made the hotel stay that much more special.

I would absolutely recommend this hotel for anyone looking for a luxurious stay without breaking the bank.

Westin Downtown Houston Review [2021]

If you have an upcoming stay in Downtown Houston and are looking for a nice luxury property to stay at you may want to seriously consider the Westin Downtown Houston. The hotel has a great staff, facilities, and is conveniently located to several quality restaurants and attractions. In this article, I’ll cover everything about the hotel from my recent stay and give you a sense of what to expect if you end up booking with the Westin Downtown Houston.

Booking the Westin Downtown Houston

On a recent trip back to Texas, we decided to stay one night in downtown — our former place of residence before we moved to Arizona. I initially thought about using two free night certificates for this booking as the room rates were going for a little over $200 per night for two nights (with taxes).

However, we started to plan out a fall trip with a couple of nights in DC and I quickly saw that I could get close to $500 in value per night with the free night certificates and we decided to just stay one night in downtown Houston so I ended up just paying cash.

I paid $175 for one night and used a suite night award and received confirmation that we were being bumped up to the corner suite, which was going for about $275 a night.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Location overview

The Westin Downtown Houston is in a fantastic location for downtown Houston.

Specifically, it is great if you plan on being on the east side of downtown where you can find attractions like Minute Maid Park, the George R Brown Convention Center, Discovery Green, and others. If you are headed to Houston for an Astros game this is one of the best hotels. There are also a lot of great nearby restaurants including Vic and Anthony’s, Osso, and many others.

The hotel is also located just a block away from the Marriott Marquis. If you need to head to the other side of downtown, it is only about a 10 minute walk to get there.

Check-in (early check-in granted)

Check in went very smoothly and from the moment we arrived the staff was great. They were very conversational at check-in and allowed us to check in a bit early at noon, perhaps due to my Platinum Status.

The level of service throughout the entire stay was about as good as you could expect and I would put it on par with my experience at the St. Regis Houston.

For example, there was one time where my key card was not working and I went downstairs to get it resolved. Due to the key card malfunctioning, I actually thought I was trapped in the elevator for a short while so (as someone who is quite claustrophobic) I probably looked a little on edge as I approached the front desk.

A manager then came across me and was on it very promptly and very apologetic about the situation. The way he handled it was reminiscent of the way I would expect a top luxury hotel to handle it and it really stuck out to me as great service.

Anyway, the hotel lobby is beautiful and houses a restaurant and bar. As you make your way through the lobby you’ll no doubt notice the luxury hotel scent pumping through the venue. It was definitely one of my favorites.

The room (King Corner Suite)

We checked in around noon and made our way up to the sixth floor into our King Corner Suite. I’m not sure about the square footage but this was a very spacious suite.

As soon as you enter the room, there is a large and wide entry way area with a full-length mirror and two-door closet. (By the door there are controls for the main fan and light in the bedroom which was a little confusing to me at first because I did not see them and I was searching for a way to turn the lights off for wayyy too long.)

The large windows make it easy to allow in all the natural light you need for a well-lit bedroom.

The views from the six floor are pretty nice. We used to live on the 23rd floor in Houston so being six stories up does not feel quite as good of a vantage point as I’m used to but there were still some cool views of Minute Maid Park.

There is a nice desk with an ergonomic office chair located directly by one of the windows so you can get some work done with a nice little view behind you. The desk does come equipped with a power outlet but my MacBook power adapter would not fit so I had to use the wall outlet nearby.

Like most Westin properties I have stayed at, the bedding was exceptionally comfortable. There were outlets on both sides of the bed along with the lamps and an alarm clock.

There was a nice sofa and seating area just to the right of the bed.

The room came equipped with a coffee maker and coffee bags and teabags. There is also a small mini fridge located underneath the TV.

Just like the rest of the suite, the bathroom is also nice and spacious. Something interesting about the bathroom is that it comes with two showers — a standup shower and also a bath with shower head. The standup shower was a little bit small in terms of a couple’s shower but the water pressure and temperature were on point.

One thing I like is that the bathroom came stocked with extra towels. We must’ve had about five towels for a one night stay. With the gym visit and walking around in humid downtown Houston multiple showers were needed so I really liked that they honored my preference of extra towels.

Tip: Be sure to utilize the ultra-soft bath robe!

They had shampoo and conditioner but no body wash so you had to use the bar soap.

Gym

There is no pool at this Westin property but there is a nice gym that is located in the basement. I was able to get down there for a workout and had the gym to myself. You’ll find a full arrangement of cardio equipment, free weights, and some nice machines down there as well as a water machine and dry and wet towels.

Dining facilities

The hotel is home to the Ball Park Café which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can also get late night snacks from them up to midnight. I was not able to give them a try during my stay but I did see them serving up some burgers that looked pretty good. (There is also the Ball Park Bar.)

If you need coffee or some other type of morning snacks you can also stop by the coffee bar (Bean and Bread) which is found right in front of the elevators.

Final word

I really can’t say enough positive things about this stay. Throughout my time living in Houston I wanted to stay at this hotel but just never got around to it. It definitely exceeded expectations in terms of the facilities and especially the service. I would gladly return to this hotel and recommend it to anybody looking to stay in the area.

Related Hotel Review Articles:

Review of the Westin Cape Town, South Africa

The Westin Cape Town is a solid hotel that is centrally located in gorgeous Cape Town so that you can easily walk or drive to places like the City Centre or V&A Waterfront in 10 minutes or less. It offers some seriously spacious rooms and a very fulfilling and well-rounded breakfast so you can get your day started right. In addition to that, it offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains that you can catch at breakfast or as you enjoy the pool and gym on the top floor. I give this hotel a solid 5 stars and here’s why. 

Check-in

As soon as you arrive under the large entryway, your baggage will be taken care of for you and you’ll be escorted to the check-in desk, where there’s a separate line for gold and platinum members.

The Westin Cape Town
The Lobby.

The lobby is nice and open and I’m not sure if it was just for security purposes or what, but there were many staff/security members standing around at the different corners of the lobby at all times. They were all friendly so it’s not like their presence was an issue but I just wasn’t used to seeing so many secret service look-a-likes posted up in a hotel lobby.

Oh and watch out for the benches pictured below… if you dare to sit on one, make sure you take your seat in the middle — I definitely almost flipped one over. :/

The Westin Cape Town
Lobby entryway.

Just down the elevators, there’s a pretty large gift shop that also sells a number of snacks. I bought a few packs of “local candy” and tried some biltong but I’m sorry to say it was not very good. Not sure if it was just the brand or what, but I’d stick to the other snacks in the gift shop. 

The Westin Cape Town
The gift shop.

Each floor has sliding glass doors separating the hallways from the elevator lobbies. You’ll need to swipe your room key each time to get through.

Westin Cape Town
Elevator lobby.

This was really the only complaint I had with the hotel. Our key card did not read very well on the card reader, so sometimes it would take 6 to 7 swipes just to access the hallway and it was a bit of a PIA. The cards worked fine on our hotel room doors, though. 

Westin Cape Town
The card readers aren’t always very nice.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

The room

Our Deluxe room (which we were upgraded to) had a pretty basic and modern design but it was extremely spacious and it honestly felt like a suite because we had so much room. The rooms come with glass panel floor to ceiling windows that essentially form an entire wall so brilliant natural light keeps the rooms nice and bright. However, if you’re on the side facing the sun, you may want to keep your blackout curtains closed because the sun can quickly heat up your room even with the AC cranked up.

The Westin Cape Town
Bright and simple hotel room design.

In the cabinets, you’ll find a safe, coffee maker, glassware, ice buckets, and some other little random items. There’s also a fully loaded mini-fridge with treats and drinks but not much room for your own storage.

The Westin Cape Town
Mini-fridge comes stocked but not with a lot of room.

The king size bed was ultra-comfy. You can get a sense of the size of a room by seeing how small the king size bed looks in relation to the room.

The Westin Cape Town
Spacious room with huge windows.

Again, the room’s design is pretty simple but nicely done.

The Westin Cape Town
The Westin Cape Town king room.

I enjoyed lounging on the curvy red chaise lounge chair, which is a great spot to relax and charge your phone/device since the outlets are right beside it.

The Westin Cape Town
Very comfy chaise lounge chair.

Because the room is so spacious, the tv is very far away. Since we pretty much never watch tv this wasn’t much of an issue but if you like to sit close to the screen, you’re going to have to pull up a chair or just get used to being so far away.

The Westin Cape Town
A lot of room between you and the tv screen.

Everyday we received two complimentary water bottles.

The Westin Cape Town
Complimentary water bottles were delivered every day.
The Westin Cape Town

Unfortunately, I didn’t get the great view I wanted of Table Mountain and instead got a somewhat restricted view due to the huge convention center located beneath us. While this was a slight bummer, the view we had of Cape Town and surrounding mountains at breakfast each morning more than made up for it.

Along with a spacious room, came a big walk-in closet. No matter how much luggage you bring with you, I guarantee you will not be able to fill up this closet!

The Westin Cape Town
Huge closet.

The bathroom is pretty big as well. It comes with two sinks, a  bath tub, and privacy glass doors for the toilet and shower.

The Westin Cape Town
Bathroom.

I think one of my favorite features of the room was the heated tiles in the bathroom. Just flick the switch below and the tiles heat to a very comfortable warmness level that’s an added comfort in the morning.

The Westin Cape Town
One of the best features of the room.

Some parts of the bathroom came decorated with some African art pieces, adding a nice cultural touch to the feel of the room. 

The Westin Cape Town
Toilet.
The Westin Cape Town
Bathtub.

And the shower is pretty huge, easily fitting two people. 

The Westin Cape Town
Large shower.
The Westin Cape Town
Double shower head.

Breakfast

Complimentary breakfasts — even at luxury hotels — can sometimes be a bit hit or miss. I’ve had breakfasts from Holiday Inns that have outdone breakfasts at InterContinental hotels — true story. But at the Westin Cape Town, the breakfast was legit and definitely one of the highlights of this hotel stay.

Each morning, we enjoyed a well-rounded breakfast that was tasty and plentiful and got us ready to start our day. If you’re like me and prefer to load up on calories in the morning before setting out for a long day, this breakfast is absolutely perfect.

We preferred to arrive at the lounge at 6am, right when it opened and we were seated at the corner table, where we watched the sunrise each morning and the city slowly come to life. By the second day at the hotel, the staff knew us by name and led us to “our table” each following morning. 

Westin Cape Town
Breakfast area at the Westin Cape Town.
The Westin Cape Town

The breakfast is like a buffet. You can create your own buffet plate from the options that are set out on the counters and then you can also choose a hot dish like eggs or crepes from the menu as well.

There’s something for everyone at this breakfast, If you have a sweet tooth early in the morning and need a little sugar to get you jump started there’s plenty of that there.

The Westin Cape Town
Plenty of sugary goodness for the morning time.

If you’re like Brad and can enjoy sushi for breakfast or other seafood dishes you’ll find them there as well.

The Westin Cape Town
Seafood and sushi for breakfast (no for me).
Westin Cape Town
Sushi.

Cold-cuts and cheeses are also an option.

The Westin Cape Town
Cold-cuts for breakfast.

And there’s plenty of fresh-fruit. They also had yogurts, granola, cereals, and other basic breakfast foods you’d expect to find.

The Westin Cape Town
I personally loved the mixed-fruit bowl.

And the muffins, rolls, and croissants were great as well.

The Westin Cape Town
Amazing muffins (make sure to try the blueberry ones!)

I’m not much of a coffee drinker at all but their cappuccino was on-point and extremely tasty.

The Westin Cape Town
Delicious cappuccino.

You can also choose from an array of fruit juices, such as guava juice or apple juice and even strawberry juice.

The Westin Cape Town
Fresh juices for breakfast.

For my hot dish, I went with the crepes, which came loaded with banana, Nutella, and I think some kind of butterscotch or peanut butter (I can’t seem to remember). They were very sweet but I enjoyed them.

The Westin Cape Town
Crepes.

The eggs and bacon were delicious as well.

The Westin Cape Town
Eggs and bacon at the Westin Cape Town.

And here’s the view we were able to dine to each morning. From the left you see Table Mountain, in the middle Lion’s Head, and to the right, Signal Hill. It was a sight to see each morning, especially as the sun lit up the cliffs and hill sides. Definitely worth becoming an early riser.

The Westin Cape Town
Morning view at breakfast.

From 5pm to 7pm, the lounge opens up for happy hour, where complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks are served in the same place where breakfast is served. Half of the lounge also opens up as the restaurant so if you want to eat a full meal you can still do that.

The Westin Cape Town
Hors d’oeuvres and champagne.

The hors d’oeuvres were fresh and tasty, especially these cucumber slices.

The Westin Cape Town
Fresh cucumber slices.
Westin Cape Town
More hors d’oeuvres.

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Service

All around the service at this hotel is outstanding. The staff does a great job of deciphering your travel purpose (business or pleasure) and I feel treats you accordingly (in a good way). For example, I could tell they let the business travelers be a little more to themselves and for us they were a bit more chatty. I’m always worried when I book a business-oriented hotel if it’s going to dampen the experience when I’m traveling for pleasure but that was definitely not the case. Out of every hotel I’ve stayed at in recent memory, the service here had to be among the best.

Gym and Pools

The gym is found on the top floor in a long room that runs along the wall of windows. There’s plenty of equipment in the gym so that you should be able to get a real work out.

The Westin Cape Town
A great gym with a great view.
The Westin Cape Town
Free weights.

The hotel has two pools. One is a “splash pool,” located outside on the second floor. It’s a bit small but it had a few lounge chairs out by it so if you wanted to catch some sun, I guess it wouldn’t be a bad spot to do that at.

The Westin Cape Town
The outdoor splash pool.

The main pool is located on the top floor through the entrance for the spa. It’s a small pool but has a beautiful view looking out the windows. There seemed to always be at least one person enjoying the pool during our stay so I had to get this photo before the sun even rose.

The Westin Cape Town
The pool on the top floor.

Right beside it is a hot tub in the corner.

The Westin Cape Town
Hot tub with a corner view.

I didn’t try out the spa services but they did look tempting. Below is one of the spa rooms or at least a waiting area for them.

Westin Cape Town
Spa entry.

I did sneak a peak at the sauna. Someone was in there when I took this pic so I had to be a little covert, so you can only see a part of the bench inside. 

Westin Cape Town
The sauna.

I checked out the steam room as well. 

Westin Cape Town
Just remember to keep your clothes on if you try these out. 😉

Location

Overall, I loved the location for a few reasons. It’s only a 10-12 minute walk to the the City Centre where you can check out Greenmarket Square. It’s a 5-minute drive or 15 to 20-minute walk to the V&A Waterfront and even getting to Table Mountain is pretty quick and easy in car. While there’s not as many restaurants surrounding the hotel as you’d find in City Centre or the V&A Waterfront, everything is still reasonably accessible from the hotel. 

The Westin Cape Town
Sunrise over City Centre.

Also, in case you’re wondering, I never felt unsafe walking around during the day time but beware of beggars around Greenmarket Square who might harass you. They get particularly bad around closing so try to avoid that time and conceal your camera if possible.  

One thing to consider, there’s only like 5 hotels in Cape Town from the major award programs so if you’re planning on booking with points your options are very limited. For 10,000 SPG points a night, I thought the value we got out of this hotel was superb, especially considering the free valet parking and amazing breakfasts and lounge access. If you’re headed to Cape Town and want to book a hotel with points, then I highly recommend the Westin Cape Town.

Westin Cape Town, South Africa FAQ

How many points are needed for a free stay at Westin Cape Town, South Africa?

Prices may vary based on the type of room and season but you can find standard room redemptions for as low as 35,000 points.

What restaurants are at Westin Cape Town, South Africa?

You can find the following restaurants:

Louis B’s Bar and Lounge
Thirty7 Showkitchen
Raleigh’s Bar
Westin Club

How far away is Westin Cape Town, South Africa from Cape Town International Airport?

The hotel is approximately 16 minutes from Cape Town International Airport by car.

How much does an Uber cost from Cape Town International Airport to Westin Cape Town, South Africa?

You can find Uber rates from Cape Town International Airport to Westin Cape Town, South Africa for as low as $13.

What time is the pool open?

The pool is open from 6 AM to 10 PM.

What time is the gym open?

The gym is open from 6 AM to 10 PM.

What is the phone number for Westin Cape Town, South Africa?

The phone number for Westin Cape Town, South Africa is +27214129999.