W Hollywood, spending a fortune to sleep (badly) in the heart of L.A. amid junkies, homelessness and sadness

Since my first visit to LA back in 2000, I have not changed my opinion about the "City of Angels," in fact, year after year it has become a certainty: I do not like this city.

I'm convinced that the movies are to blame, we grew up with the dream of LA.. I am part of the Berverly Hills 90210 and Melrose Place generation. People like me who grew up watching Berverly Hills cop, Pretty Woman and Baywatch fell in love with A city that no longer exists, or perhaps never existed.

In reality, this city has pleasant sights, but the problem is the size, the traffic and above all the degradation that by now has reached even the most touristy areas, the ones you have always dreamed of visiting, the ones like the walk of fame, Santa Monica, and the Chinese Theatre where the world's most precious statuettes are handed out every year, no area is saved from decay.

Reservation

Needing to spend a few days working in LA, I decided to stay at two of the most iconic Hilton and Marriott properties. I chose the W because of its location, in downtown Hollywood Boulvard, as I moved to Downtown at the brand new Conrad For the other part of my stay.

February is also low season in LA, before the awards season and away from the mass tourist season, but the W Hotel still remains a 5-star property and among the most exclusive in the Marriott family.

I stayed one night only, at a cost of $337, I also could have used bonvoy points, but the number of points required was disproportionate since with the same points I can book a night at the Ritz Carlton in the Maldives, and in this world the basic rule is to make the most of the points you have in your wallet.

The most absurd thing is that between occupancy tax, city tax and the absurd destination fee more than 75$ was in taxes and surcharges. Especially the $29 + tax (taxes on taxes, then they say about Italy) destination fee that includes things that in 90% of cases you will never use, as is the case in Las Vegas, New York and the rest of the states, and that Biden failed to eradicate.

Location

As mentioned we are on the Walk of Fame, the entrance to the W is exactly above the Hollywood subway station and in front of the Disney Theatre, a perfect location for those who want to hunt for the stars, but also for those who want to go to Universal Studios, as the subway leads directly to the entrance of the well-known amusement park.

What you need to know is that LA is not NY, the Greater LA area is huge, moving from Sata Monica to Long Beach, from Downtown to Hollywood Hills is like going from Milan to Varese, not like moving from Queens to Times Square, and the subway is not even comparable to New York City's

The hotel

W is the sign designed for the new generation of travelers who are looking for luxury, but not the "serious" luxury that Marriott offers its clients with The Ritz Carlton or St Regis facilities, rather it is designed for those who want luxury, design, a festive mood, and a desire for an "upscale" but nontrivial environment.

In some cases it is the shape of the hotel that becomes as iconic as the W in Barcelona or the one in Sydney, in other cases it is the content that makes the difference rather than the container as in example in Rome or Bangkok. Although the new trend may be the one inaugurated in the crazy Edinburgh hotel.

In other (few) cases, however, the recipe fails due to location and context such as the W Times Square.

Here in Los Angeles probably partially ruining this hotel is the context of a city in ruins, because you can't be a luxury hotel if you have homeless people camped around your facility. If the filth that reigns in the city reaches all the way to the hotel door.

This hotel Is a tower, a construction like many, and in my opinion already in the beginning a W loses some of its strength. Just as Samson loses strength when his hair is cut off, a W loses some of its appeal if it is enclosed in a "normal" structure.

Check-in and the room

I arrived from the Long Beach airport, where I had arrived on a Southwest flight a commute of about 90 minutes, fortunately not too messy in LA traffic.

When I arrived, there was no one at the reception desks, as in the rest of the hotel.

In a W the operations are always informal, here on the other hand I did not feel at all that I was in a hotel of this chain, but in any Marriott. Starting with the fact that Upon arrival in the room I was greeted with a "good morning Michael" instead of my name.

Just go and see reviews of other W Hotels where I stayed to see the difference between this "very normal" room compared to the others where I stayed. In fact A room worse than a lot of other hotels even of lower category.

The special feature of this room was the very low bed, almost a futon.

The window with a non-view of the wall of the neighboring high-rise building, a real disaster.

Reminding me that I was staying in a W Hotel and not just any AC Hotel were the gadgets (for sale) and the minibar stocked with every product (as expensive as a barrel of oil in late 2022)

The bathroom was also "in the norm" nothing transcendental and nothing that conveyed the WOW effect expected of such a facility.

To get an idea of the costs, just look at the room service charge.

The hotel

In a W hotel, it is the design that captures the attention of guests and in this hotel the heart is all in the huge bar opposite the reception area. A staircase leading to the upper floor surrounding a spectacular chandelier over 5 meters high. A true work of art.

Just too bad that day and night the space was deserted and sad.

There is a rooftop pool on the roof of the hotel, which is definitely a perfect location for parties in high season.

Of course in mid-February it is chilly even in LA, so no guests, although the pool was perfectly equipped and hospitable.

There is also a gymnasium, which as you may have learned from reading TFC, I attend only for review photos.

There are artworks and desing elements around the hotel, but I could not identify the soul of this W Hotel Holliwood.

From the pool you can see the famous HOLLYWOOD sign very well, but that doesn't mean it's close, like everything else in LA.

Breakfast

If the morning is any indication, I can say that the second clue was the ultimate proof that this W Hollywood would not get a passing grade in my final evaluation.

Virtually deserted breakfast room and more than 30 minutes to be served. There is no buffet, but it is an upscale Diner where those with free breakfast with status can choose from a dedicated menu.

I opted for one of the "Signature" dishes. , that is, one of those that identify the restaurant and convince the guest to return and return to enjoy them again.

Too bad my "eggs benedict" were firm and not baveuse as in the rest of the world and to my question if it was their recipe the answer was "no, sorry but the chef is on his first week on the job." The stuff of a two-star guesthouse in Nicaragua, not a five-star hotel in LA.

In conclusion

A real disappointment, a hotel to avoid like the plague unless there is an OS reboot, or a downgrade to an ALoft price or less. Oh I forgot the (bitter) cherry on the check-out a single attendant and over 10 guests in line. NEVER AGAIN.

• Bonvoy