Hotel Review: Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)
As it often happens, my flight was delayed on a recent work trip and I became stranded in Detroit, MI. While searching for an option to stay a night in the metro area, I found one of the nearest options to be a Westin, located literally inside DTW. There were cheaper properties such as Four Points off-site, but the inconvenience of taking an Uber or shuttle to and from the airport was not worth saving a few bucks. Westin Hotels always seemed less approachable to me since the brand targets older, more mature audiences, but I’m overall glad I stayed at the Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW).
The Westin at DTW is conveniently located inside the airport, making it the easiest trek possible for beleaguered travelers on work trips or experiencing flight reschedules.
What Card(s) Should You Use to Book?
I earn tons of Marriott Bonvoy points by using my American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card. It is currently offering a sign-up bonus of 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend $3,000 within your first 3 months of card membership. It earns 6X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar when you book directly with Marriott, 3X points on restaurants and flights booked directly with airlines, and 2X on all other purchases. Paired with Marriott’s promotions and AMEX offers, it opens doors to endless points-earning opportunities.
The Bonvoy Brilliant comes with great benefits that can substantially offset its annual fee. Photo credit: www.americanexpress.com
The Bonvoy Brilliant does come with a hefty $450 annual fee but offers tons of perks to significantly offset its costs. The card features the following benefits:
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, the mid-tier status offered in Marriott’s member ecosystem
$300 Marriott Bonvoy statement credit that can be applied towards your room rate
$100 property credit when booked directly with Marriott and staying a minimum of two nights at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis properties
1 free night certificate, redeemable for properties worth up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
Access to Priority Pass lounges
15 Elite night credits that can prove helpful for chasing Bonvoy status
Even if you don’t stay at Marriott properties often, this card is still a must-have in my opinion. It’s a true example of a keeper card that offers benefits that outweigh the annual fee.
If you’d like to apply for the American Express Bonvoy Brilliant Card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! http://refer.amex.us/EDWARSwdXp?xl=cp01
I have another Marriott Bonvoy credit card: the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Business Card. It is currently offering a sign-up bonus of 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend $3,000 within your first 3 months of card membership. It earns 6X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar when you book directly with Marriott, 4X points on dining, U.S. shipping purchases, U.S. wireless telephone services, and at U.S. gas stations. All other purchases earn 2X points.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business Card is the only Marriott business card on the market. Photo credit: www.americanexpress.com
The Bonvoy Business Card’s annual fee is $125 and offers decent benefits to justify the cost:
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, the low-tier status offered in Marriott’s member ecosystem
One free night certificate, redeemable for properties worth up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
15 Elite Night Credits that will help you achieve a higher Bonvoy status
As you can see the card’s benefits are less substantial than the ones from the Bonvoy Brilliant Card, but it is a great long-term keeper card due to its annual free night certificate perk. Furthermore, it is absolutely necessary if you want to chase a higher Marriott Bonvoy status because it is the only Marriott business card that is on the market and will grant you an additional 15 Elite Night Credits. Lastly, even though it is a business credit card, it is very likely that you could get it approved. Check out my article on how to apply for a business credit card as a sole proprietor.
If you’d like to apply for the American Express Bonvoy Business Card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! http://refer.amex.us/EDWARSi04o?xl=cp01
Lobby & Check-In Review
While the property was inside DTW, finding the hotel entrance was not as easy as I had imagined. I had to ask a few TSA officers before finally arriving at the tiny, secluded entrance by the Delta check-in gates.
The unassuming hotel entrance is located by the far end of the Delta check-in gates.
Even after walking through the entrance, I had to continue a few minutes to reach the actual check-in desk, with no apparent signs or directions of where I was supposed to go. When I finally arrived at the lobby, a beautiful atrium greeted me; there was a massive art installation hanging from the ceiling, and below the artwork, a small, zen-like pond added serenity to the atmosphere.
The peaceful atrium was a pleasant escape from the airport hustle and bustle; the openness made the area more spacious, airy, and serene.
There were plenty of seating options available in the lobby. My only pet peeve was that most tables were low side tables, primarily for lounging purposes as opposed to workspaces.
The lobby contained a beautiful seating area, complemented by greens that further lifted the atmosphere.
Although a tiny open business center was located in the corner of the lobby, I wish there were more workstations for business travelers needing a printer or desktop on the go.
The tiny work/print station was the only area offering high tables in the lobby.
The hotel restaurant, Reflections, was located on the other side of the lobby. The restaurant provided classic American dishes, bar bites, as well as breakfast items in the morning. At this moment, they were only doing dine-in and room service.
I opted in for room service for my meals since the dining area in the restaurant was crowded.
The check-in process was smooth and painless, despite the surprisingly long line at 10 pm. I was upgraded from an atrium view to a runway view King bed, which offered far more privacy without other visitors looking into your room; I appreciated the upgrade to provide a more relaxing experience, thanks to my Titanium Elite status.
The check-in experience was flawless and the representative attentive to detail.
Bedroom Review
My room was located on the fifth floor. I still have mixed feelings about the layout and decor; it was overall pleasant and clean, but the aesthetic quality was comparable to a newly renovated room at a Courtyard property. In the center of the room was a comfortable king bed.
My bed was comfortable, but the highlight was the cozy, heavy comforter.
The headboard was wrapped in leather and had two reading lights on each side. The USB ports and outlets were built into the headboard, which was ergonomic but also problematic for couples because they were only accessible on one side.
The headboard outlets were a neat addition but only present on one side, making it difficult for couples to share without a tangle of wires across the bed.
Fortunately, I was alone and could charge all of my devices without difficulty. What I really loved about the bed was its comforter, mainly how heavy it was. Those who have slept under trendy, weighted blankets know how soothing and relaxing they can be for a good night’s rest. The comforter was definitely heavier than those I’ve used even at other Marriott properties and I slept like a log that evening. To the right of the bed was a small, stiff love seat with two stackable end tables, handy for eating or working.
The loveseat was uncomfortable, but came in handy when I used it with the mobile table to take care of last-minute work emails.
The window behind the couch overlooked the runway. I was slightly worried my stay would be disrupted by roaring plane turbines or runway crew, but to my pleasant surprise, I didn’t hear any noise.
My room overlooked a portion of the DTW runway, but remained quiet despite the turmoil outside.
The work desk was relatively small and space was already occupied by the TV and lamp. The TV was on the smaller side, and a traditional drip coffee machine was next to it. Since this was a Westin property, I expected something a little more upscale like espresso or K-cup machine to befit the higher-tier brand, so this was slightly disappointing.
I was surprised and disappointed to see a plain old drip coffee machine that would be available in any lower or mid-tier Marriott property.
The mini-fridge in the cabinet below the coffee machine was non-operational. It was plugged in, but my bottled water stayed warm long after I threw it in the mini-fridge. I’m sure I could’ve gotten it fixed had I contacted the front desk, but I didn’t want to bother after checking in so late and was ready for bed.
Bathroom Review
The bathroom was well-lit and clean with beautiful ivory marble walls and flooring. The shower head was the rainfall-type that I preferred, but unfortunately, the water pressure was weak. In addition, the water temperature didn’t rise as high as I wanted it to be.
The rainfall shower style was nice, but the water pressure was too low to properly enjoy it.
The amenities were by Heavenly by Westin Spa. While they emphasized white tea aloe as the main ingredient, I didn’t find them very moisturizing.
While the packaging was satisfactory, I didn’t enjoy the amenity product quality itself.
The silver lining was the luscious bath towels. They were thick, soft, absorbent, and made me forget my underwhelming shower experience.
The marble walls were high-quality and felt luxurious, but the highlight was the soft, cozy bath towels.
Room Service Review
Since all the restaurants at DTW were closed for the day, I ordered a late-night dinner from the hotel restaurant, Reflections. The prices were quite high, especially for the entrees, so I opted for a smoked chicken wings app and spinach salad.
The entrees are quite expensive, but appetizers are reasonably priced.
The restaurant also serves breakfast in the morning.
Due to COVID-19, the restaurant only offered dine-in and room service, the latter automatically adding a $3 “delivery fee.” Reflections allowed guests to use a QR code to order contactless through the in-room menu. My food was delivered in 30 minutes, and to be honest, I didn’t have high hopes for it; generally speaking, hotel room service cuisine is neither outstanding nor memorable. However, I’m glad Reflections proved me wrong because I was genuinely impressed with their wings.
The photos (and takeout boxes) don’t do justice of showing how delicious the meal was. I highly recommend the wings if you ever get a chance to dine or order from Reflections!
The BBQ sauce was delicious and the meat was succulent and cooked perfectly. After dinner, I went to the second floor to use the fitness center.
Gym Review
Another person was working out in the gym so I didn’t get an opportunity to take photos. The gym was rather small given the size of the hotel. However, it had all the cardio machines, basic weightlifting essentials, and a Peloton machine. My only critique is that I can see merit in adding another Peloton to allow some of Westin’s target demographics, including business colleagues and middle to older-aged couples, to cycle together. The gym had various kettlebells and standard dumbbells to stay toned while on the go. In the corner was an all-in-one strength machine to accommodate other exercise needs, suitable for the limited gym space.
Summary
The Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport was the most convenient lodging option available if you needed to stay a night near the airport; the property was literally connected to the airport! The hotel offered a dedicated TSA line, so you could check out 15 minutes before boarding and remain on time. Due to its convenience and upscale brand division, the cost was higher than neighboring options such as Fairfield or Courtyard, but I believe the premium was well worth the money. My upgraded king room wasn’t perfect: The fridge didn’t work, and the shower pressure was lacking. On the other hand, the weighted comforter was cozy and the bath towels were extremely soft and absorbent. In addition, the food from the hotel restaurant, Reflections, was delicious and much better than a typical bar or room service normally offered by properties. If you need to spend a night near DTW, check out the Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Its ideal location will save you time and you’ll be able to plan your travel much more comfortably and seamlessly.
