The Westin Leipzig

The spa and pool area were nice, but the clock there showed the wrong time, and I missed my appointment. The location is great and the city views are amazing, though it felt crowded, impersonal, and not particularly special. Some rooms look dated. Breakfast was packed, with too few staff rushing around; there was no personal greeting, it was hard to find a free table, and I was ignored when I tried to get the buffet refilled. Check-in felt scripted, like someone reading from a screen without authority to connect personally. Even though the Bonvoy App showed my guaranteed double room type was available, they couldn't provide it, and I got two twin beds I hadn't asked for. The lobby and public bathroom looked cluttered and hadn't been cleaned or serviced for a while. The property has a great location and potential, but the execution didn't feel excellent. For me, the value was below average in a competitive local market with newer, modern places at lower prices.

The staff were so friendly, they were the best part of my stay and made me feel like family. The hotel itself feels dated, though, with a retro look that may not have been intentional. Even with Titanium Elite Status, I had to pay extra to use the pool, which felt ironic. I wouldn't return for a shiny spa or modern style, but the people are worth a smile and my three stars.

The location is good, breakfast is decent, and the lobby looks modern. The rooms badly need renovating. In the double room, two single beds were pushed together, and the worn mattresses sagged into a hole in the middle. The TV was tiny, around 27 inches, and there were no sockets or USB ports by the bed. I was lucky to have a 3m cable and plugged it into the bathroom wall. The thermostat did nothing, so I had to open the window to cool the room a little. Parking was only in a large outdoor lot, with no underground or guarded option and plenty of signs warning not to leave anything in the car. The reservation desk was a joke. I called several times to change my booking; first they told me to call another day because the right person wasn't there, then when I called again a few days later they asked me to email. I never got a reply. I arrived at 19, and one person, who was actually really nice, was handling check-in as lots of guests came in. That seemed strange for such a large hotel.

For a hotel of this standing, breakfast could be better. The eggs were poorly served and the bacon was only average, so breakfast felt very ordinary.