William Kofahl

Review of Westin DTW

Avoid this hotel at all cost until the ongoing ren...

Avoid this hotel at all cost until the ongoing renovations are finished!

I started traveling in earnest 15 years ago when I joined a large multinational. Over that period of time I have visited 50 countries and racked up over 3 million frequent flyer miles.

During that time, I have never written an online review of any service provided to me. I didn't review the hotel in Vietnam that came with a lizard in the room or the hotel in India that included backed up sewage.

But today, in Detroit, I've met my boiling point with a the DTW Westin. When I made my reservation, it was clear to me that the hotel was undergoing a remodel. OK I've stayed in hotels being renovated, before and have survived.

Not today! I arrive to find a completely inattentive bellboy desk that was much more interested in talking to each other then greeting the guests. After wandering a maze of poorly marked temporary and dark hallways with out being offered any assistance with my baggage, I stumbled on the reception desk.

I got my room key and requested some assistance to get my bags up to the room. When after five minutes, no one showed up to help me, I decided to walk back through the maze to find my room. After passing an onslaught of disgustingly dusty tables, stained carpet and ripped wallpaper I successfully found my room.

Only to find, surprise, a dusty room with an inoperable window blind.

Because my flight schedule forced me to skip lunch, I decided to wander down back to the lobby to find the restaurant.

Instead of finding the restaurant/lounge I expected, I stumbled across a sad, clearly temporary set up of 1980s uncomfortable furniture arranged in a configuration much like a former communist, post catastrophe waiting room.

Because I'm an optimist, and had read some of the earlier reviews, I ordered one of the 'brick oven' pizzas. What arrived at my table instead was a pizza that was completely burnt around the edges, with a doughie middle surrounded by soggy pieces of melted cheese.

After sending it back to the kitchen, I finished my beer and went to bed.

Look I love Westin Hotels! I'm sure this hotel was once great, and it will be again. But until the renovations are complete avoid this place like the plague.