The Westin Palo Alto

The four-pearl Westin Palo Alto is situated in a stylish Mediterranean-inspired building with a terra-cotta roof, beige-stucco facade, arched architectural accents, and window-like doors with wrought-iron Juliet balconies. The exterior is well-kept, with five outdoor courtyards with tiled floors, pretty planters, and patio seating with heaters and umbrellas. The inside of the hotel is spacious and sophisticated with a marble-floored lobby, large staircase, and huge armchairs and chaise lounges, all in formal, muted tones such as beige, cream, and chocolate. The lobby bar is hidden away in the back, adjacent to the pool and behind a series of semi-private seating areas. The hotel targets a range of travelers, but is particularly attuned to Stanford-related guests and business travelers accustomed to large, formal hotels. Families will also be comfortable here, with nice extras including an outdoor pool. 

The Westin Palo Alto is located in a suburban downtown area right on El Camino Real, a main thoroughfare that runs from San Jose to San Francisco. Directly across the street is the sprawling green lawns of Stanford University, with University Avenue, a main street in downtown Palo Alto, just around the corner. The train is also in easy walking distance. The hotel is located within Silicon Valley, and about a 20-minute drive will take guests to digital start-ups and tech companies including Apple and Google. The hotel offers valet parking and a paid, self-parking area below the building.- One-minute walk to Stanford University campus

• Seven-minute walk to Caltrain - Palo Alto Station
• Eight-minute walk to University Ave. 
• Eight-minute walk to Town & Country Shopping Center
• 10-minute walk to Stanford Stadium
• 12-minute walk to Stanford Shopping Center
• 14-minute drive to Google headquarters
• 20-minute drive to Apple headquarters
• 25-minute drive to San Jose International Airport
• 35-minute drive to San Francisco International Airport
• 45-minute drive to downtown San Francisco

Guest rooms at this Westin range in size, from Traditional Doubles to the Junior Suite with a gas fireplace and whirlpool tub. Many of the rooms available are large and apartment-like with separate offices or seating areas. Overall, rooms are spacious and feature simple but sophisticated decor in neutral colors. In a Double Full, for example, beige wall-to-wall carpeting meets cream-colored walls and thick beige drapes that cover large windows that may open onto a private balcony. Fresh white bedding and light wood furniture finish off the look. While immaculately clean and well-maintained, the decor can feel a touch sterile. The marble bathrooms are extremely spacious as well, and feature beige-tiled floors and gray accents, plus hairdryers, individual toiletries, bathrobes, bathtubs with grab bars and separate standing showers. Rooms also include a variety of business amenities, such as desks and ergonomic desk chairs, private voicemail, dual-line speaker phones, and data ports. But in-room Wi-Fi costs an extra daily fee. Rooms also include 40-inch flat-screen TVs with cable, iPod docks, individual climate controls, irons and ironing boards, and safes. Coffeemakers serve up Starbucks brew, and mini-fridges give a spot to stash snacks. Housekeeping comes daily, and room service is available 24-hours. While the hotel is fairly quiet, light sleepers should consider rooms higher up that face the pool; rooms that face the CalTrain line tend to be noisier. Some guests find the layout of the hotel to be labyrinth-like, so the directionally challenged may want a room near the elevator.

The hotel’s most unique features are outdoors. The lobby opens up onto a charming courtyard with an outdoor heated pool and small whirlpool. A total of five Mediterranean-style courtyards dot the grounds, and these, in addition to the property’s eight meeting spaces, can host events, banquets, or conferences. The largest room can accommodate 80 people and the hotel offers business amenities, such as audio-visual equipment, as well as catering. The hotel has its own Soleil Restaurant, which is pleasant, though not particularly distinctive, and serves up California-style cuisine, while a small but chic bar offers a range of drinks in the evening. A large buffet breakfast is available in the restaurant daily, but it's not included standard with the room rate. Self-serve coffee is available in the lobby. (The Sheraton next door offers a small Starbucks and a poolside grill, which guests of the Westin can take advantage of.)The fitness area is small but well-maintained with several modern cardio machines, free weights, and exercise balls along with towels and a water station. The hotel also has a business center with free Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is available in common areas, but costs an extra daily fee for use in-room. The hotel is pet-friendly, with dog beds available. The hotel also offers cribs and rollaway beds in addition to a children’s menu in the restaurant. Room service and the front desk are available 24 hours. The hotel also offers laundry and valet service, and a concierge. Valet and self-parking are available but cost an extra daily fee.