Review : The Westin Brisbane | Marriott Bonvoy

After visiting Bali with our family, we stayed in two Brisbane hotels: The Westin Brisbane and the Four Points by Sheraton Brisbane.

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The hotel is located less than 20 minutes from Brisbane International Airport in the business district. You only have to look at the hotel’s glass facade to concede this. However, the area is somewhat quiet, not the same vivacity as the business district of Sydney.

Less known than Sydney, the city of Brisbane, in the state of Queensland, is the 3rd most populated city in Australia after Sydney and Melbourne, with about 2.5 million inhabitants. It was built along the Brisbane River. There is a peaceful atmosphere. There is a botanical garden, museums, galleries and beaches.

In 2021, the city was chosen to host the 2032 Summer Olympics. It’s a good reason to visit it.

The hotel is within walking distance of the Botanical Gardens, QUT Art Museum, and Brisbane City Hall and faces the South Bank area, where there is a wealth of activities, such as the Queensland Maritime Museum and the Brisbane Wheel.

The lobby is bright and chic. The reception area is organized circularly, with two gray stone counters and wood panels behind the reception area. Because of our loyalty, we have obtained an upgrade to a suite with a king bed.

We will access our suite by the elevators on the side.

We were happy to get a suite with the kids. We were on the 11th floor; it was spacious and nicely decorated. We had a living room separate from the bedroom with a large window. The decoration and furnishings were modern, combined with comfortable and relaxing facilities.

The children took a break on television while Jean-Maximilien, already in work mode, was already answering questions from the community group.

The blue and golden beige tones were also a nice aspect. The sizeable beige headboard dressed the room, and the natural light was present again.

We had a terrace but enjoying it was not really interesting. Work was in progress when we came outside, facing our building. The soundproofing was still good, as we were not disturbed once the doors were closed.

In this beautiful room size, we found a desk, and a flat-screen television on the wall, for example. Only drawback, the vis-à-vis with the other buildings: problem solved with the curtains.

A plate of 3 chocolates was waiting for us as a welcome gift in the room. Too bad we were 4. 🙂 The coffee corner (a De’Longhi Nespresso machine) and the refrigerator were well stocked.

The bathroom adjacent to the bedroom had a stone shower and bathtub, plus two sinks on a countertop. It also communicated with the dressing room on the other side. I really liked the chic style of the bathroom, which complemented the bedroom very well. There was even a Dyson hair dryer.

The hotel focuses on quality and comfort. The only problem is the single-use containers (Elemis and Heavenly Spa brand) that I would have preferred in large format, but perhaps that has changed since we came.

We tried the service in the dining room on the 1st floor for breakfast. Thanks to its large windows, a bright room with beautiful surrounding nature.

The choice at the buffet was varied, as you can see in the pictures with hot and cold dishes. A pancake maker was even available. However, I doubt that the maple syrup was the real thing.

Because of our Titanium status, we could enjoy access to the Westin Club on the 3rd floor. This one offers beverages and refreshments throughout the day from 6:30 am to 9 pm on weekdays and 7 am to 9 pm on weekends.

The space is ample; it can accommodate a lot of people. A coffee machine was available at all times. Also, there was a refrigerator with refreshments, including alcohol.

Breakfast is also served. We were able to enjoy it with the children as well as a service of appetizers in the evening from 5 pm. The presentation of the dishes was neat, and the food was delicious.

The buffet in the lounge attracts people. During rush hour, it’s busier and more challenging to serve yourself without waiting.

Please note: children under 12 years of age are only allowed in until 6:00 pm and must be accompanied by an adult. Of course, we respected this rule; a Club official came to our table to remind us.

This Club service is a real advantage for travelling families. It allowed us to save on food costs at the restaurant, which is not negligible in a destination like Australia, where prices rise quickly. Moreover, the buffet formula allows you to go at your children’s pace without waiting for long minutes for the dishes to arrive, like in a restaurant.

The pool is located on the 2nd-floor like the fitness room.

Surprisingly, the pool is outside. One guesses the space when one is in the street. The Westin Brisbane has designed a bold architectural design, and installed green spaces to break up the urban image of the hotel.

We cannot neglect the surroundings vis-à-vis of the other buildings on the pool. However, this didn’t really bother us personally, but it may hold many back.

Also, being in a busy center and with the construction across the street, we found the place noisy and not relaxing. The kids still had a great time; the pool had several ways to get into the water, shallow areas with loungers in the water and excellent outdoor facilities.

Note the presence of a bar with a seat in the water. When we passed by, it was not open. Finally, the fitness room overlooks the pool.

The fitness room was well-equipped with cardio equipment, towels and water bottles.

The Westin Brisbane hotel mainly targets business people; the staff seems less used to seeing families, and we made sure our kids were well-behaved at the Club. My feeling was that we felt more guarded (maybe I’m wrong); however, it is very convenient given its location, and these facilities are very appreciable.

If you too are planning a trip to Australia, I suggest you read our other hotel reviews and guides that will help you save money with our tips: