The Westin Bonaventure is located on South Figueroa Street and walking distance from businesses and the convention center in the downtown Los Angeles area. I landed in Los Angeles from my 5 hour flight in Delta’s 777 flat-bed Business Elite seat and took a taxi to the Westin for about $45-$50 all in.
The hotel is a Starwood category 5 which requires 12,000 to 16,000 points depending on season. Instead of shelling out that many Starpoints for a one night room, one could pay the going rate, which I’ve found to be as low as $145 for a weeknight. So the points option is a lesser value given my valuation of Starpoints.
I’m a Starwood Preferred Guest Platinum member (and Gold Member for life) thanks in part due earning a few extra elite qualifying nights using my Starwood Preferred Guest card from American Express. One of the best benefits of having Starwood Platinum status is complimentary upgrades. Since Starwood rolled out Platinum confirmed upgrades for members who stay more than 50 nights a year, the complimentary upgrades have been a little harder to come by, but not at the Westin Bonaventure in my experience.
Tower Suite Room
The Starwood Preferred Guest check-in line was empty and I was quickly processed for an early check-in into a Tower Suite. The Tower Suites have a half bath off the living room, a sleeper sofa and a nice living room with working space near the window.
The bedroom has the Westin Heavenly bed which is usually a nice bed.
Bottom Line
The Westin Bonaventure in downtown Los Angeles treats their Platinum members well. They upgraded me to a Tower Suite without prompting. After a great one night stay, I headed back to the LAX airport to catch another Delta 777 back to Atlanta. Unlike, my confirmed upgrade on the outbound Delta 777 flight, an upgrade on the return would be determined at the gate. The upgrade list was showing 3 seats available and I was number 3 with still several hours prior to departure.
Sign up for Email || Follow Us On Twitter || Like Us On Facebook || Hotel Offer Page ||AirlineOffer Page || Flexible Offer Page || Tips & Tricks
This content is not provided or commissioned by American Express. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of American Express, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. This site may be compensated through American Express Affiliate Program.
About The Weekly Flyer
The Weekly Flyer writes about travel from a business traveler perspective. He travels the world every week accumulating points and miles along the way.
Sign up for Email || Twitter || Facebook |
Hotel Offers || Airline Offers || Bank Offers || Cash Back Offers
This hotel is woefully tired. Upgrade policy is generous, but that doesn’t trump the weak quality.
I stayed here back in 2008 when I moved there for school. I scored a Priceline Name Your Own Price rate of $90, but the room was terrible. Right next to the elevator, the noise kept me up all night. The whole place was dingy even though it supposedly had undergone a renovation. Still, it’s location is decent. The F-dash bus runs through this area and takes you all around downtown for $0.25.
You could also take the FlyAway bus from LAX to Union Station. Its $14 RT and from there a quick Metro ride to the hotel.
You have to include pictures of that iconic concrete lobby!
I stayed here once, never will again. I got to the room and the bed looked like a child had been jumping on it, the comforter was thrown over the lamp on the side table.
They moved us and “upgraded” us, yes, but the bathroom was so small I could barely move around in it. Really disappointed for such a well known hotel.