The Westin Sacramento Riverfront Hotel & Spa

The river view was lovely, and the hotel was close to everything we needed. Our room had a big tub and a fridge, so we could keep food from Scott's Seafood. We also had full body massages at the Spa, which made me feel like a queen. The front desk staff were friendly and quick to answer my questions, and the valets were funny and charming. Parking costs extra, but I felt our car was safe and the service made us feel special. We thanked the manager, who was quite a gentleman. I think his name was Ryan. It was a five star stay, and I was tempted by the lower price for a third night, but I had to head home to Los Angeles.

The tall ceilings, quiet rooms, and poolside music made for a comfortable stay, and I really enjoyed the good sized jacuzzi. There were also different water choices near the front desk, which I appreciated since bottled water in the room cost $10 each. What spoiled it for me was the $52 nightly valet charge, even if you arrived by Uber or didn't use the service. At check-in, staff said they had to charge it regardless. The website didn't make the mandatory fee clear, and I wasn't told about it when booking. I prefer being able to tip valet when I actually use and appreciate the service. Previous reviews suggest the charge has gone up a lot over the past three years. With fees like this, the stay felt transactional instead of guest focused, and I wouldn't return to this Westin Hotels & Resorts location.

We had a very nice Mother's Day brunch, and the valet team stayed pleasant and efficient even while very busy. Orion brought our car around and was really nice. We wanted to tip him but had no cash. He said the ATM that used to be onsite had been removed. That was disappointing. An ATM seems like a simple service to have available, and removing it feels like a mistake.

The spa is on the first floor, Scott’s Seafood is across the courtyard, and the Sacramento River is right there. It made everything convenient and gave the place a peaceful, scenic feel. We had a great stay at the Westin Sacramento. Our room at the back looked out over the river, the soaking tub was large, and the fireplace by the outdoor pool lounge was a lovely touch. A big shout-out to the manager. I saw her training staff overnight and then staying through the day shift with a warm, positive attitude. That kind of dedication really comes through in the service.