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| - This is a nice enough Westin--nothing really special, but it's well maintained, and the staff is helpful and courteous. A few points of note: They do a decent job of making compact fluorescent room lamps blend in nicely with the decor--the rooms don't seem as harshly lit as most. Like many Westins, the bathrooms in the guest rooms are very attractive. They're well designed, appointed, and stocked. And this may be the only hotel I've visited in Vegas that actually puts a coffee pot in your room--no forced run to the lobby Starbucks (which of course it has) for coffee in the morning. They also have a computer in the lobby that you can use--at no cost--for printing (boarding passes, etc.).
Now the bad: For a hotel that likely gets a lot of business travelers, there's not one outlet in the room that's easily accessible without crawling on the floor. Nowadays people need a place to charge their mobile devices. How about a desk or lamp outlet SOMEWHERE...? Also, they tack an additional "services" fee on your bill for each night of your stay, and on top of that, the fee itself is taxed. A sign in the lobby explains that this is for the amenities [you'd expect at a hotel like this], including the pool/spa, etc. I call bulls***. It's a cost of doing business, and it should be included in the room price, not hidden in a surprise line item that's tacked onto your bill. Reminded me of my phone bill with all of the fees the carriers don't want to include in their price.
And finally: The major drawback to this hotel is its location. It's not too far from the Strip, but it requires some walking. If you use the monorail to get around Vegas (and if you don't, WHY don't you?), the signage and announcements indicate that the Flamingo stop is closest to the Westin. They lie. It's not. The Flamingo station may be physically located closest to this hotel, but you must walk all the way out and through the Flamingo casino, to the Strip, to get out--all in the opposite direction from the hotel. Lesson: The Bally's stop is really the closest. Get off at Bally's, walk through the shopping arcade, and exit at the sports book. The Westin is across the street and just a short walk down the street.
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