What gives? Don’t tell anyone, but I’m soon to turn 42. Why not celebrate with a great dinner and a night at DC’s fabulous W Hotel? I’m all about it so that’s what we’re going to do to ring in my birthday! I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday night in DC. Who says being off the road for a bit can’t be fun? And yes, you can count on a full review of our stay right here at MJ on Travel.

These are all great enhancements for top tier elites, but I think the changes for SPG Gold members are just as great, especially for entry level status. SPG Gold will now receive a check-in amenity and can choose from 250 bonus points (125 at aLoft, Element, and Sheraton Four Points), complimentary high-speed internet, or a complimentary beverage at the hotel bar. That represents a pretty nice enhancement at the Gold level if you ask me.

Starwood has also introduced a lifetime status benefit. Your loyalty will be rewarded with lifetime Gold status after 250 nights and any 5 years of elite status in the program. With 500 nights and any 10 years of Platinum elite status you will receive lifetime Platinum status. Great news for loyal guests. You can read all about these changes and others here.

In summary, I think these are really terrific enhancements to a perennial favorite hotel loyalty program. I’m especially impressed that Gold members can now have access to complimentary high-speed internet. These changes are a great development for the SPG program. Will these changes finally spur Marriott Rewards to turn things up a notch with their elite program? I certainly hope so.

Click here to do so.

Starwood – Double SPG points on 2-night stays and triple SPG points on 3-night stays. Registration opens tomorrow (1/9). According to this FT thread, the link to register is here. Should work tomorrow.

Marriott – Q1 Megabonus. Varies by account. Go here to see what your offer is. Mine was 1 free night after every second paid stay with a max of 2 free nights.

Hilton – More Points promotion. 1,000 bonus points per night, and a 2-night weekend stay earns 5,000 bonus points. Click here for the terms and registration.

These are the 3 programs I’m likely to use. Feel free to comment to the blog if you are aware of other great promos at these chains and especially others.

Hat tips to Points, Miles & Martinis as well as Loyalty Traveler.

With that out of the way, on to some details regarding my stay.

Getting There

The hotel is accessible by public transportation, but our business needs this week required a rental car. Be advised that parking at the hotel is $37 dollars per night plus tax.

Checking in

Arriving at the hotel just before noon, there were no crowds waiting to check in. I was immediately assisted and within a minute or 2 was on my way to room 2320, a “Fabulous and Cool Corner Room.” Oddly enough, this was the exact same room I was given during my last visit to the hotel in March 2010. Also, the hotel was offering a “green” option of opting out of housekeeping for up to 4 days in exchange for 500 Starpoints per day. I went for that….but for just 1 day!

The Room

Well, the room was unchanged from my last visit. It was fabulous and cool. Touché. Seriously, it was a good room, with a partial bay view. It seemed more spacious that normal rooms because of its location on the corner, which includes a long “hallway” of sorts at the entry then along the windows before you get to the “living” area of the room. I really like this particular style of room, which was equipped with a large LCD TV, chaise lounge, and of course, great W bed. The work area was very large, well lit, and comfortable. I receive complimentary internet access as a Starwood Platinum, otherwise, access is $14.95 for 24 hours. In a change from my prior visit, access is complimentary in the lobby area. Since I was unable to post pictures during my last visit, here are a few shots of the room. My apologies for the lighting in some of the shots.

I really liked the bath at this hotel. It’s not uber-modern like many of the more recent W’s, but the lighting and furnishings were to my liking.

Around the Hotel

The lobby of the typical W is the first thing I talk about at most W’s, and I’m sure this one will be the same and then some when renovations are completed in the spring. The hotel has a video presentation running with artist renditions of the way the lobby area and restaurant will look when done, and I think it’s going to be good. In the meantime, the hotel has established a temporary bar and restaurant offering a limited menu on the second floor. I was also able to get in a couple of good workouts at the hotel’s gym which was well-equipped with cardio and strength training equipment.

I also identified a couple of great spots for dining and imbibing. One, great for watching a game and drinking a beer, and the other (which I try to get to every time I’m in Seattle, is a pretty darn nice spot for great oysters, other seafood, and steaks. The Owl & Thistle, slightly hidden near Pioneer Square is a wonderful spot. Try the Ninkasi IPA with a Reuben! For finer dining, I always seek out The Brooklyn, on 2nd Avenue, between University and Seneca. I like this restaurant a lot, and this visit just reinforced my feelings. Steaks and a Bakers Dozen of oysters really hit the spot!

The Bottom Line

This hotel is a favorite of mine in Seattle and I look forward to visiting again, after the lobby remodel (or “Re Wonder” in W language) is complete. The staff was very pleasant and helpful, and you need not “wonder” whether or not I’ll be back. You bet I will!

As much as I don’t want to travel this week, I’m actually looking forward to sampling Alaska Airlines’ product (coach unfortunately). I’m also looking forward to returning to the W Seattle. I really enjoyed my last stay there, and I’m sure this one will rock too! Though I understand the lobby area is being renovated which is unfortunate as that was one of my favorite parts of the hotel.

In any event, look for a full review of my experiences with Alaska Airlines and the W Seattle this week. Wish me luck!

Getting There

I’m a believer in public transit, and a frequent customer of Atlanta’s MARTA rail, so that was my mode of choice for this trip. The hotel is about 2 blocks from MARTA’s Civic Center rail station. You could also walk to the hotel from the Peachtree station, but be prepared for a longer walk. The hotel is located in what appears to be an area that has had a lot of development cash expended on it. Lots of new buildings.

Checking In

When you enter through the main doors you have a choice of turning right to head to the lobby Living Room bar or left for the welcome desks. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there was something about the lobby that struck me as a little more “cool” than I was used to…..if you can imagine that. In any event, there was no wait to check in and I was ably assisted by a very friendly staff member who did a great job of appearing to be genuinely pleased to welcome me to the hotel. There was the usual discussion about the hotel, Platinum amenities (points baby!), and etc. I also got the best news I’d had in a while. I’d scored a Platinum upgrade to a WOW Suite. It was going to be a good week.

The Room

Well, they don’t call it a “WOW Suite” for nothing, because “wow” was the first thing I said when I walked in. In short, the room was just about damn awesome. Actually, it wasn’t just about ….it just was. And large. A large dining table greets you upon entry and there is a large coat closet to the left of the door. Beyond that is a large living area with 2 sofas and chairs completely surrounded by floor to ceiling windows. My view was oriented north towards Midtown, but it was great.

Passing into the bedroom, I was struck by how dark it was, but after a bit of fumbling I finally figured out how to turn on all the lights! It wasn’t exactly blinding, but at least I could see…..and what I saw, I liked. A chaise lounge was by the door with a great view of the city and the desk area was large. The bedroom was equipped with a 37″ LCD TV (as was the living area). If I had a complaint about the room, it would be that the desk area simply did not have enough light or power outlets. I could live without the outlets, but light…..I need a lot of it to work. Of course, I doubt that most people who book a room like this care! It didn’t help that the weather was overcast for the first few days of my trip so there was no real natural light to help. By the way, there’s wireless internet and I found it to be pretty speedy throughout the week. The comfortable king bed was like all W beds….awesome! I slept great every night of the week. There was plenty of closet and other storage space and a nice laptop safe as well.

And then, there was the bathroom built for 2, complete with large walk-in shower and double vanity. Seriously, the bathroom, while laid out in a long and somewhat narrow way, seemed almost as large as my first apartment.

Around the Hotel

The fitness center, SWEAT, was very nicely equipped with several cardio machines and very nice weight lifting equipment. It was always in use during my visits, but not overly subscribed. It’s on the 16th floor, along with the pool, WET, and the Bliss Spa. The 16th floor also serves as the dividing line between the hotel from ground level to to 16, and private residences from floors 17 and up. There is a nice-looking bar area at WET but it is unused in the cold weather months. I’m going to look forward to staying at the hotel again during pool season.

The big bar scene spot at the hotel is called Drinkshop. I never made it there, but I’m sure it’s pretty typical W cool. The hotel’s restaurant is BLT Steak, and you know I made it there. I’ve always heard good things about BLT Steak, but have never had the opportunity to dine there. I rectified that by heading there for dinner on my first night in the hotel. I enjoyed a nice salad followed by the bone-in ribeye accompanied with cauliflower mashed “potatoes.” I’m sure they didn’t call it that, but that’s what they are! No matter, my meal was just terrific. It’s easy to see why BLT Steak has been mentioned so positively by friends who’ve dined there. BLT was the highlight of my dining for the week. There are a few restaurants very near the hotel, and many more just down Peachtree Street. One night I walked across Centennial Olympic Park all the way to CNN where there are a lot of restaurants as well. There are lots of possibilities, and there’s always the Acura service to drive you if you aren’t in the mood to walk.

I really enjoyed this hotel’s living room lobby bar area as well. Most nights during the week I concluded my evening there with my laptop. Wireless internet is free in the lobby by the way.

The Bottom Line

I thought the hotel was just fantastic. Of the 3 W Hotels in Atlanta, this is the only one that was built from the ground up to be a W. I don’t know if that’s part of the hotel’s appeal to me or not, but I really liked the way the property was designed. Every staff member I came into contact with was beyond friendly, never failing to greet me as I passed by the front desk each morning in search of coffee. The W Atlanta – Downtown gets the MJ on Travel seal of approval. I’ll be back, and if business takes you to downtown Atlanta, don’t hesitate to consider this fabulous hotel.

If hanging out with 6,000 of your new best friends (and 2,500 crew) doesn’t sound like your idea of a good time, be sure to read the blog and see how it goes for me. I’ll be sharing all the details right here, and maybe a quick review of the W Fort Lauderdale before I go too! I’ve had these cruises booked for about a year, and can’t wait to see the ship.

Getting There

I utilize Atlanta’s rail system MARTA very heavily when I’m in Atlanta. The hotel is just a few blocks from the Arts Center MARTA rail, so don’t accidentally exit the train at Midtown MARTA. That’s doable, but definitely a hike. Arts Center MARTA will suit your needs just fine. The fare is $2 dollars one-way and is a flat rate across the system. However, after a solid 10 hour ordeal of getting to Atlanta and losing an entire half-day in the office, I was in no mood to take the train once touching down at Hartsfield-Jackson. I headed straight for the cab line, and immediately departed for the hotel. Traffic wasn’t horrible considering it was rush hour, and I was at the hotel in about 20 minutes. The cab fare is a flat rate from the airport plus a fuel surcharge and airport surcharge. The total came up to $37.50 or so plus a little tip so plan on $40 dollars if you take a cab. I will explore shared ride options for a future visit, but in that case, I’d probably be just as well of taking MARTA rail from a timeliness perspective.

Checking In

The lobby was relatively calm by W standards, but it was only 6pm or so on a Monday evening. I walked right up and was immediately assisted with check in. The desk rep (what do you call a front desk clerk nowadays anyway?) was very polite, thanked me for my Starwood Preferred Guest Platinum loyalty and processed my check in. Usually, I get the standard apology that no suites are available but none of that was mentioned this time. I’d already checked on my acommodations via SPG’s great iPhone app and learned that my booked “Wonderful” room was upgraded to a “Spectacular” room. Frankly, my company rate in Atlanta isn’t exactly top dollar, so I’m just happy when a hotel like this makes it available. That said, I’ve had a couple of really “sweet” suites at this hotel, so it never hurts to hope. Within a minute or 2, I was on my way to my 22nd floor room.

The Room

I was assigned room 2219, a W Spectacular room. The room description described it as a “city view” room, and I suppose if you think of the north end of Midtown and Buckhead in the distance as the city, that’s what it was. When I see “city view” I think downtown, but other than that, the room description was right on. Frankly, the room, like just about everyone I’ve ever had at any W hotel was great. I appreciate those uber-gynormous suites when I get them, but does a guy on a 4-night business trip really need all that? No! Basically, I want a comfortable bed, a television, high-speed internet, and a shower. The W offers that and a helluva lot more with a style that I like.

The work area was large and adequately lit, with both wireless and wired internet. The hotel offers “slow” internet in the room for free, while 24 hours of regular internet access is $14.95 (complimentary for SPG Platinums). There’s also 1 hour of free internet access available in the lobby “Living Room.” The desk chair is comfortable and there’s also a chaise lounge for …well…lounging I suppose. Windows are floor to ceiling and offer plenty of light.

The bathroom was spacious enough, and the design is one that I can only call “trendy.” If you’ve ever stayed at a W, you know what I mean. There’s a closet just outside the bath as well as a dressing area with its own lighting. Not something I used, but I can see where 2 people traveling together would find it helpful in the morning. As usual, I snapped a few photos of the room for your review.

From the Entryway

Chaise Lounge

W King Bed

Work Area

Sitting Area Outside Bath

Bath Vanity

Shower

Around the Hotel

There’s plenty within a short walk of the hotel. All of Midtown, Piedmont Park, and the streets and sidewalks are fine for jogging too. My favorite haunts are merely steps from the hotel, including Shout and TAP Gastropub. Shout has a varied menu of typical American fare, and believe it or not, some really great sushi. TAP is a typical Gastropub, with a shorter menu, but really great food, beer, and wine. Shout has a great rooftop bar in addition to the regular restaurant. TAP is probably my all around favorite, and for the mileage junkies among us, you should know that TAP participates in the Rewards Network program. You won’t lack for things to do right in the hotel. As far as restaurants go, Spice Market has always been phenomenal. I didn’t make it there this visit, but I usually do. And for entertainment, there’s Whiskey Park, and the Living Room, which is great indoors or out on the patio.

The hotel gym, Sweat, is larger than than the one up in Buckhead, but I’ve never waited to use equipment in either gym. I did not visit the pool during this stay, so I have no pictures to share, but I’m sure its up to W standards…afterall, it has a name like Wet. The W Atlanta – Midtown is home to a Bliss Spa as well, so you can book an appointment if you have a stressful day!

Nits and Noids

Nothing troubling. On night one, I turned the TV on to find that the volume was intermittent. A call to Whatever-Whenever had that fixed in about 10 minutes. And way down the list of minor annoyances, the hook…or pull…or whatever you call the thing that you use to pull out the drawers from the desk was missing on one of the drawers. Minor enough that I just remembered it, and forgot to mention it to the hotel. Guess they’ll know now.

The Bottom Line

Another great stay at the W Atlanta – Midtown. This hotel has been my go-to favorite since I started routinely traveling to Atlanta a few years ago, and will continue to be at the top of my list. That said, the Buckhead neighborhood has grown on me and so has the W Atlanta – Buckhead. My next trip to Atlanta is already booked in 3 weeks, and I’ll likely be staying in Buckhead. But make no mistake, if you’re looking for a great Atlanta hotel, and the Midtown district is where you need to be, look no further than the W Atlanta – Midtown. It’s a great scene, a great time, and a great hotel.