The Westin Portland Harborview

I was in town on a longer work assignment and would recommend this hotel. The room was comfortable, and I slept well each night. Every department met excellent expectations, from the accommodating front desk staff, who went above and beyond, to the friendly people in the coffee shop, especially early in the morning. Breakfast was hot and fresh, with friendly staff and management. There are several places to eat: C2 on the lobby floor has heartier meals and a hard-to-beat happy hour. I recommend the chicken piccata and any of the burgers. For a light snack and crafted cocktails, Top of the East is a must. The staff there were easy to talk to, knew their stuff, and took time to chat about local attractions. You can see all of Portland from up there, and the view was relaxing. I'll be back in Portland this summer and definitely plan to stay here again.

The location was great, with plenty of restaurants nearby. The ground floor had a restaurant and coffee shop, and upstairs there was a restaurant and rooftop bar. The gym was fantastic, with everything you could ask for. This was a very dog-friendly place, and they offered us beds and bowls. Pet rooms are on certain floors, so let them know ahead of time if you're bringing a pet. They give a discount at the parking garage next door, or you can use valet. We picked valet because it was only a few dollars more, and it was really convenient with friendly staff. After this stay, we'll look at Westin hotels in other cities we visit.

Parking is an issue, like it is around most of Portland. There's a garage next door, but paying for it adds another thirty dollars to your stay. Still, it's a really nice historic hotel. I like the higher floors, where you can look out the window, and if you get a really cool room, the view alone is worth it. The rooms are nice, the lobby is large and open, and there's a coffee shop just off it. They have ballrooms, so I assume they hold events there. I've yet to make it to the rooftop bar because I'm always here for work and too tired. In the off season, when I'm traveling for work, I sometimes get a room for seventy-five dollars. That's a win in my book.

The Westin Portland Harborview, at 157 High St, Portland, ME 04101, was the only company involved in our trip that wouldn't offer a refund or accommodation after severe weather canceled our flight. Even a promised callback never came. My wife and I were meant to travel to Maine for a birthday getaway I'd planned for her, but the cancellation was outside our control. I contacted the Westin to explain and ask whether the reservation could be moved or refunded. At first they gave me a small bit of hope that an accommodation might be possible, though they said reimbursement was unlikely. I understood the policy and asked for a further review. They assured me Management would get back to me, but it never did. Later, when my wife called for us, the customer service was harsh, dismissive, and inconsiderate. They offered no solution. The airline, car rental company, and other services were all willing to refund or accommodate us because of the weather, which made the Westin's refusal and lack of basic courtesy even more frustrating. Given what happened and how we were treated, I can't recommend this location. A hospitality brand should show empathy, communicate, and be flexible when guests face things beyond their control. This Westin failed on all three.