Lyssa D.
Yelp
So, the W has been quite interesting. I've never stayed at a W before, and I'm not sure if this W is unique or if my experience speaks more to the overall culture. My cutie travels a lot, which means we have a lot of travel points. So I was able to get room on points.
I called in several weeks ago to get a room for a girlfriend and I, we had an event in the city and wanted to stay over afterwards, rather than catch a late ferry and just go home. When I reserved the room, I let them know my husband wasn't staying with me, it would be me and a girlfriend. They supposedly added my name to the reservation. My phone number and name are attached to my husbands Marriott rewards, as I often use the points without him, when meeting up with friends or traveling alone somewhere. Our last name is the same, our address is the same, and his name is on my military ID. Basically, I have multiple forms of info that show I'm attached to this man.
Second, I checked in on the mobile app the day before I arrived. The app is attached to his account, so clearly, he would know if someone were using his points for a room.
Ok, fast forward to check in. I was told that without him, or a photo ID of him, they couldn't check me in. Really? Nope, because I might be stealing his points. They asked me to step to the side so a manager could call my husband and confirm that I was allowed to use the room. My cutie was staying in anther hotel somewhere else. I called him to ask him to text me his id, and to please take the call from the W, and give me permission to have the room, we laughed.
I told the manager that I was disappointed by this treatment, I was told, "Sorry, but we have to make sure to protect our patrons" and repeatedly said to me, "Stranger things have happened." like repeatedly. I was given my room after they spoke to my husband, but it seemed ridiculous given all the indicators that I was in fact his wife. I didn't get an apology, but was told again, protect patrons, stranger things have happened, blah blah. I'd never experienced that sort of vigilance at any of the other hotels I've visited around the world, using his points, when he was elsewhere.
And while I wasn't expecting a genuine sorry, I wasn't even told thank you for choosing the W, I was instead told, your room was *FREE. Which he capitalized on my key envelope. I guess to make sure I understood.
*Did I mention that my husband travels a shit ton, that we often don't see each other and he works his ass off. He has earned every point he's gotten. We've been married 20 years and I am half of why we work as a couple, regardless of all the travel. The room wasn't "free" it was earned, by both of us I might add.
The next thing was how confusing the lobby set up was, if you enter on 4th, where the big entrance appears to be, you will have to schlep your bags up a flight of stairs. You need to enter off Seneca. On Seneca there is a double door that looks like a normal door and not a main entrance. It is just odd.
I was given a nice room on the 24th floor. When we got to the room I requested more shampoo, lotion, conditioner, due to two women sharing the products. Sure thing, well bring them up shortly. Never happened.
My girlfriend and I had a great time at our event. But honestly, I was less than impressed by the W experience. I won't come back to the Seattle W. I might try another one in another city, I don't know. But stranger things have happened.