Reviews & Ratings for The Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites, LA

04/15/10

In a pinch, not bad

by weho333

You'd think after 20 years or so after being open they can mark the elevators better. It's very easy to get lost in here. But the lobby is just so cool, who really cares. The glass elevators are fast and AMAZING. Still a marvel after decades.

Rooms can be small, so don't overpay. Always check Priceline and other sites as they discount here often.

Be warned that parking is very expensive, the same as every other hotel downtown. Parking at an alternate garage nearby and walking a few blocks may save you big bucks if you are here for more than a night.

Fun rooftop restaurant here is a bonus.

• Pros: Cool interior lobby
• Cons: Hard to navigate

04/10/10

Great place for a getaway

by 1road warrior

We were downtown for a business meeting on Friday and decided to make it a mini-getaway and play tourist for the evening and a day. Great fun having dinner in Bonavista Lounge with the revolving restaurant. I think its the only one left in LA. Sunset was great and we had views of the Hollywood sign and the city.

We stayed the night of April 9th and our room had a new flat screen plasma HDTV. The hotel had just changed to all new HD service and we thought the picture and TV service was fine. The operators said that it took some time to get all 1300+ rooms switched out with the new sets. Apparently the staff needed to pull out an old system in each guest room and install new cables before they could flip the switch. The engineer brought up a new remote to our room because service changed the day we got there.

We had a non-smoking king bedded room which was renovated and the room was very comfortable.

The only caution I have if you're coming off the freeway on the 4th street exit ramp, be sure to stay to the right. The exit was packed during rush hour and we ended up going up a ramp onto an upper level road which ran into Hope. It was a bit of a pain in the neck because we had to go zig zag around to get back on another one way street which took us around the block again to get into their valet parking.

• Pros: riding exterior glass evevators & the views
• Cons: one way streets in downtown LA

01/15/10

Needs a Facelift but otherwise quite THE place to stay!

by psboston7

We stayed first weekend of this past December and arrived just before 8:00pm I believe. We were blocked into a renovated room (I had called ahead and made sure of this) but as a lot of the reviews have said the hotel is very outdated every place else.

The renovated room was nice but the flat screen TV had the reception of an old analog... We kept looking for the rabbit ears to adjust =/

Down comforter nice, heavenly bed... heavenly. Here is the thing (I used to work for hotels the majority of my life) there is this trend were the sheets aren't fitted anymore so if you move around to much in bed they come OUT and then you are laying on a bare mattress! Who ever came up with that idea to no longer use fitted sheets with flat sheets you get a big DUH ding-dong sign above the head because it can be rather annoying in the middle of the night. Also keep in mind that not all rooms have been renovated yet.

Also they are using plastic cups in the rooms now not glass... I expect to find plastic wrapped cups at a Motel 6 NOT the Westin Bonaventure. I do understand there was an issue with housekeepers not being sanitary with glassware so I guess to get around that they have decided to go this route... I don't agree.

View was AMAZING! Elevators fast (wasn't a busy weekend) the food court is a hodge-podge of eateries none that we found appetizing. So we trekked out into downtown for lunch. Went up to the Vodka Bar and LA Prime in the evenings had a Fantastic time! Ordered from their 24 hour room service food was delicious and service was consistent on both nights. We will be back but I am hoping that they get a much needed face lift.

Respectfully Reviewed

• Pros: Nice Renovated rooms, Beautiful View
• Cons: Outdated public areas, expensive

11/04/09

great massage and facial

by kurdelicious

Had a great deep tissue/thai massage combo the other day with a collagen facial that I needed for a very long time :) Cool people, relaxing environment... and the maseuse and the esthetician were very professional, not too chatty which made me so happy! :)

11/11/08

Needs a facelift but treated Platinum Members well

by Platx2

We just returned from LA and staying at the Bonaventure. We are double plat with Starwood and were upgraded to side by side suites. Complimentary internet and winetasting in the 35th floor bar. Not sure if that's standard or because we are plat. Nice views, comfy beds, and very quiet. Actually slept VERY well, but I always travel with earplugs anyways. But was quiet enought that I didn't neede them. In definite need of a facelift...I can't stand small tubs in a nice suite! Valet parking is pricey at $42 per day. Staff was quite pleasant. Room service very prompt. Rooms were very clean. Marble in bathroom, but still in need of an overhaul. Would definitely return, but from the other reviews, only if we could get suites again.

• Pros: Nice suites
• Cons: Pricey valet at $42 per day

06/29/08

Bonaventure the Terrible

by bev1

I had the extreme displeasure of staying at the Westin Bonaventure in not so picturesque Downtown Los Angeles. We heard that Downtown LA was going through a rebirth, and after our weekend sentance at this sty, we found it to be more like afterbirth. On the first night, we were placed in a shoebox sized room with an ajoining door on either side. As luck would have it, we were kept awake by one of the most obnoxious couples on earth who decided that 4 am was a good time to start an in depth conversation that covered an array of subjects from marine biology to the mysteries of the universe ( and yes, that's how thin the walls are). We called the concierge to complain after listening to 3 1/2 hour of their psychobabble. We were told that security was going to be notified and they would handle the situation as quickly and professionally as they could. The only hotel staff that arrived to their room quickly was room service! In an effort to make up for the unpleasantness, we were given 2 complementary breakfast buffets. Nothing hits the spot like day old danish and dried out Eggs Benedict, tres gourmet. There was no relief from the mediocrity at the restaurants inside the hotel either. LA Prime was very LA, and not so Prime. Jyokamachi Sushi Bar is outrageously priced for horrible food and terrible service. The only small beacon of hope was the Bonavista Lounge on the 35th floor. Moderately priced drinks and appetizers with a great ambiance and 360 degree view of the city (the lounge rotates even before you start drinking). The cherry on the top of this cow pie sunday,was the $42 valet parking fee. If you ever have the opportunity to stay at this farce of a hotel, just flush $500 down the toilet and stay home, it will be more enjoyable that way.

• Pros: Bonavista Lounge
• Cons: Bonaventure Hotel and almost everything else in it

01/08/08

Like staying in a mall

by sebastien07

I stayed for a weekend in this hotel. Definetly not a four star hotel. The staff are very nice and helpful. The rooms are small and are very dated and in need of a facelift, bedside lamps were falling apart the tub shower area was held together with caulk and veneer was peeling off the TV cabinet. Also there was no ventilation in the Bath/shower. The downstairs lobby is nice till you start exploring the floors above and discover the "mall" style food courts and restaurants. luckily there are some good restaurants within walking distance of the hotel. If you do stay here remember it will cost an additional $42 in parking on top of your room rate. I would not stay here again.

• Pros: Nice staff
• Cons: Rooms and food

11/20/07

Smelly..rundown hotel

by skoles33

Visited this hotel in November 07 .

I was very dissapointed ..This hotel was very rundown and the rooms smelled awful.

We switched rooms and the new room smelled the same.

The rooms are very small with old fixtures and air conditioning that barely works !

I would not reccomend this hotel for anything other then business

• Pros: cant think of any
• Cons: small smelly rooms and expensive valet only parking

10/30/07

NIce Place for What Our Stay Was Intended For

by skelaxin99

My GF and i stayed here on our week long LA vacation and i must say that it was a quite nice stay.

I had read some reviews ahead of time so i was a bit weary of the hotel in general but after staying there for one entire week, i feel that it was well worth it.

Frist of all, it's location is a good one. Not GREAT but good. If you want to explore downtown LA, everything is pretty close. From Olvera Street to the Amtrak station, to the jail, to China Town, it's all withing a few miles away.

The only caveat i have with our entire stay, is the Parking situation. While getting our car took no less than 5 minutes EACH AND EVERY TIME WE NEEDED IT (EVEN ON THE WEEKENDS), the price was a little steep (about 30 bucks a day). However, on the weekends they provided us with bottled water and coffee and while we waited. And the parking area was covered and had plenty of seats to wait on if neeeed.

The rooms were on the smallish side, but we weren't staying there to enjoy the hotel, we stayed there to sleep and shower in betweed sightseening.

The TV was of the older kind although they did have internet access (for a price). We stayed on the 33rd floor and the vies were specactular especially at night.

Room servec kicked major butt and was very prompt.

All the staff was nice and very cordgial offering in one instace to take our picture together in the lobby.

And for all the people that complain about this place it's because it ain't no Roosevelt Hotel. It's mainly for use by the business traveler. So yes the rooms were kinda close to one another and with no frills, but that's the type of hotel it is. The beds were great though!! I would stay here again if i had to. And the way i see it is, if Quantas Airlines uses it for their crews, it must be allright for me!

• Pros: Nice Place Overall, Best for Business Travelers
• Cons: Hotel Parking A Bit Steep

07/20/07

it was a loud stay!!!

by sheesh24

i thought the hotel was beautiful,even though its in downtown la it is a huge hotel and the staff were all nice and helpful, it was confusing getting parking...but my biggest gripe was that the room i had was so close to the room next door that only a wall with a door was between the two rroms, i had a huge suite but the people next door were noisy and i wanted to scream, i didnt sleep the whole night and was too tired to complain....so if someone that works at this hotel reads this maybe you guys could get a remodel or something or ask your guests where they would like to be so they could enjoy their stay, because mine was loud and not very pleasent....

• Pros: beautiful,old hotel...good service
• Cons: rooms are too close to eachother