Staying at the W Saturday night

Pretty exciting. Had an opportunity I couldn%26#39;t pass up. I must say I have felt strange recommending people stay there with no first-hand knowledge other than a walk-through and a visit to Prohibition and the lounge bar on the ground floor. I should have plenty of notes and pics for a review.

Staying at the W Saturday night

I can see her from my balcony, and I remember going up to the observation deck pre-W and enjoying the view.

I%26#39;ve heard the rooms can be small, and things are all dark / black colours.

I think if you are staying there, you can go up to the observation deck and museum for free.

Let me know if they have any ammenities there? I don%26#39;t think there%26#39;s a spa / pool / workout room ?

Let us know what you think? Might you get a high floor ?

Staying at the W Saturday night

Definately take some pictures. I did end up booking there for my big event. I called this week to talk with the front desk about my proposal, etc. They were very helpful and actually upgraded me to a Suite for our stay later this month, Shhh.....

One thing that has bothered me is that finding full-view photos of the rooms is like pulling teeth. All of their pictures are of detail shots or a shot of the bed. If I were choosing between hotels as a visitor I might be turned off by that. I wouldn%26#39;t want too much left to the imagination if I were paying that kind of rate.

But I%26#39;m going in with an open mind. The occasion is a group of friends getting together to ';celebrate'; a friend%26#39;s upcoming wedding. ';Bachelor party'; might suggest something a little juvenile. But because of our numbers, we will have a suite and a few rooms. So I%26#39;ll get a view of both.

Naturally, I%26#39;ll provide as much info as I can and a few sacred photos if I remember my camera. And I think I%26#39;ll be looking for meter parking on 9th maybe a few blocks away.

Definitely will do the observation deck -- charge or not. I like good views.

Hey Lucky Dog77,

I%26#39;ll be sure to let you know what I find. So far so good on the service angle from our end too. We got upgraded because we booked enough rooms and a staffer there promised to ';take care of us'; at the bar (Prohibition -- 27th floor, not the Living Room, ground floor).

Sounds as if a big group is seen as a valuable commodity for the hotel as is being treated accordingly ... so far.

I agree on the photos. The description was good of the Suite, but only very magazine type photos showing little relevance. I%26#39;ll be excited to see your review with photos.

Okay, since we%26#39;re on the topic of W, I have to ask (and forgive me if this question seems really dumb, but it came up with friends the other day). Was the whole Foshay Tower converted to the hotel (other than the observation deck), or is there still some offices in the building? Thanks for help...

They converted the whole thing.

For awhile, before thoughts of hotel, there was a plan for the top 1/2 to be condos, the rest offices. Then Starwood decided to really invest in Minneapolis. We got a Westin, Aloft, W, and the Ivy, in like two years.

The Trib had a good article about the conversion. The hotel wanted the roof of the main building to be turned into roof-top deck, but the historic preservationists wouldn%26#39;t allow it.

Thanks!

Well, how was it? Inquiring minds want to know!

Well, I%26#39;m back. Couldn%26#39;t post yesterday. Easter ya know.

I posted a review but it won%26#39;t be put up for a few days. I have about 6 photos included. Here%26#39;s the text of my review:

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I had the chance to stay at the W (double room but spent most of the time in a friend%26#39;s Fantastic Suite) for a party to celebrate a friend%26#39;s upcoming wedding. We pooled money for the suite. The arrangements were smooth and they upgraded us for booking other rooms. They took care of a lot of things for us, even reserving an area at the 27th-floor bar, Prohibition. I thought the staff was excellent.

But the rooms I think are overpriced. They%26#39;re stylish -- but small. The bathrooms are very nice,. The beds are comfortable. But the dark-interior style coupled with the smallish rooms left me feeling a bit cramped.

The suite was larger, of course. And had a great view from the 26th floor. But I thought it was a strange space. A small space with a bathroom and an ice machine as you enter the room, then a long corridor around the corner with a bar and entertainment area (additional minibar, TV, couch, business area, then a separate doorway to the bedroom (iPod dock and separate TV) and a separate door to the bathroom (which I thought was the highlight of the suite -- very nice).

Overall I expected more from the price and all the buzz. But it was a very stylish place but like so many hotels built into an existing space, I don%26#39;t think they could have done what they would have liked to to create ideal living spaces.

And for those who haven%26#39;t been -- try to main-level bar (Living Room) and the 27th-floor bar Prohibition. Very beautiful places. And not overpriced as you might guess judging from the look of it. A cocktail will run you $6-$7 -- which is a good price in an upscale bar in this town. Many places like that charge you for the decor.