The Westin Nova Scotian — Hotel in Halifax

Older hotel in a great location with some modern renos and additions to cater to their clients. Their main entrance is beautiful. There's a bar and restaurant to your left when you walk in and lots of seating on the right. At least 20 spots to sit are available on nice cushioned bench seating. There is room separators that are made of tall planters. Keeps the space open yet also seperate. The lighting in the main area and eating area are beautiful and eye catching as well. Only two elevators, think only two was needed when first built but now more are needed to accommodate the size and amount of rooms. Hope they have that being looked at as the wait time can be a bit long. Especially when my room key did not work so I had to go back down and get it recoded. Due to worn carpet, door did not close after me when I entered my hotel room. Make sure you check your door so as to keep yourself safe. Once inside there is no light switch so the small hallway is dark. Used to be a switch as there is now a panel covering what once was there. Room isn't big but it does have all you need for a hotel room and the ceiling is high so it makes the space feel big. Desk is a nice size to spead out and do work. Corner chair was comfortable and loved that I had a place to put my feet up. Bed was comfortable and with nice side tables and lamps. Next to the bed was a Westin Sleep Well Lavender Balm. This was a totally unexpected addition. The closet is easily four feet deep with an ironing board, iron, luggage rack and a full length mirror with lots of hangers. Closet door does not stay open though so when you walk in to hang up your clothes, the door closes on you. Can catch you off guard so beware, lol. Could easily stow many bags in here though with the all the space. The entertainment unit has a safe, ice bucket and stemless wine glasses under on the left. Unde on the right is a small but not too small fridge and single coffee maker on the top. Though I never turned on the TV, it's a nice size and just off centered to the bed. My room was on the second floor and my view, well wasn't a view. Highly recommend getting a room further up if possible so as to see the water. The bathroom is where you see the meeting of old and new. Firstly, the door has a frosted panel. You can not see right into the bathroom but you can see shadows through it, keep that in mind. Toilet is quite low to the ground, can see those with knee issues or back issues having a problem getting up and down. There is no assist handle but probably should have one. The counter space is limited and as there is only one hook on the wall and up high, was a little tall to hang my toiletries bag. The mirror was the whole wall and they added a lit mirror on top of the wall mirror. This lit mirror was amazing for doing my nightly and morning routine. They also have a double sided mirror for makeup and such. The supplied products are all White Tea scented and I loved them! They are a nice mix of soft citrus with sandlewood and jasmine. I think a great unisex scent that most would like. Plus, the scent is soo light that some may not even notice it at all. They offer full size bottles attached to the wall in the shower of Shampoo, Conditioner and Body Wash but just a small size bottle of Body Cream. Would love to see a full sized bottle of the Body Cream available as that is what I use the most for my body and everytime after I wash my hands. They also offer a complimentary robe which I totally wore after a busy night by the water. It's very comfortable and I highly recommend you use it while staying here to treat yourself. The ceiling had some wear and tear, discoloration and repairs needed. This is where you can also see the age of the hotel. The coffee in my room was very good, though the insert did not fit the machine I just put the packet in the holder. This hotel has much to offer and with it's location being right by the water, it's a nice property that I look forward to...

I t’s a three star hotel, with four star features. Caveat - I’m a Marriott Lifetime Platinum member with over 672 lifetime nights and 15 years as platinum elite. So I very sparingly give negative reviews because I believe in the brand; I hope someone reads this and actions it.

Pros: front desk staff is excellent location the lobby bar (Seaport Social) is awesome. I would come back just for that. Try the Reuben sandwich!

Cons:

No executive lounge? Or I wasn’t made aware that there was one.

There was a planned power outage (fine). But nobody tells you that there wouldn’t be any breakfast. So, a four star hotel, in the downtown business district, which has a planned power outage can’t provide some fruit, or cold sandwiches for take away on a MONDAY MORNING? Instead I was told to have a seat, then someone came over and told me breakfast wasn’t available that morning. What was the point of telling me to sit down. Brilliant. I guess their solution was “…who cares.. these people can order room service if they want.” It’s just lazy and a lack of empathy for the customer. I was visibly annoyed when I left and walked a mile to find a small cafe.

I stayed on the 11th floor and the rooms were clean. Some issues with the rooms: a) the mattresses are really soft. Maybe too soft. I suppose this is a matter of preference. The bathroom was a joke. I was half expecting a bottle opener and a razor blade slot drilled onto the counter. How cheap are the owners of this hotel? It was a bath-fitter tub, with ANCIENT faucets and retro-fitted water saving shower heads. Water saving shower heads in a hotel? It’s insane. The bathrooms need to be torn up and redone. What kind of builder allows that sloppy caulking, tiling, and paint job? How cheap are the owners of this hotel that they did not hire a proper contractor? A tv or radio in the bathroom would have been nice. I’ve seen Japanese love motels in Okinawa that had nicer bathtubs. The toilet looked like it was pulled from a Navy Submarine. Very nice TV, Netflix would have been a treat but whatever.

Lighting in the room sucks. I couldn’t find the light switches… so I ended up stubbing my toes running to the lamp each time.

So where is the minibar? I understand that every room doesn’t need or use the minibar. But, wouldn’t it make sense for someone in an upgraded room to have a minibar?? I mean a nice bag of kettle cooked chips, with a cold Coca Cola would have been great.

6.I did not know this hotel was pet friendly. I don’t have a problem with this per se, but it’s annoying to see people just casually strolling around taking up 75% of the lobby because Fido needs a walk. Not what I expect from the Westin brand. Dog people become entitled rather easily. Literally the first thing that I thought - why is there a full sized dog in the lobby? Can’t they put it in a crate until they get to their room?

There is no charm. I was thrilled to stay in another of Canada’s Great Railway Hotels. But, like all things Canadian - it wasn’t done right. The building is majestic, manicured and has a rich history. I was hoping for some continuity throughout. Think of the Raffles Hotel in Singapore, Wilcox in South Carolina, Peabody, Savoy, etc. They tie everything into their history and it’s such an experience. The interior decor, while nice, isn’t in tune with what the hotel’s history is. But again, this was in Canada. Seems people don’t really have a passion for their own history. The most charming thing on the inside was the Canada Post Mailbox by the...

A MOULD-INFESTED DUMP. UNFIT TO BE PART OF THE WESTIN CHAIN.

From the moment I entered the building, my 'allergy alert' told me there was something off about this place. Sure enough, my instincts proved to be correct. Check in went fairly smoothly, however it was all downhill after that. Our room up on the third floor had no water for nearly an entire day, something we were notified about during our check-in. OK. I understand it's not the most modern facility and is probably a little tired, however being unable to flush your toilet is a bit much. Next thing I noticed was this distinct 'musty' smell prevalent throughout the facility, which, having spent many years in construction, was indicative of mould. Pool elevator should be condemned--and so should the entire pool area for that matter. Absolutely ZERO privacy in changeroom except for two stalls. Shower area setup is bizarre. No lockers or anything to lock up or guard your possessions. Leaky sinks and slippery floors... Dinner at the Seaport Social Restaurant was acceptable as was breakfast. I didn't care for the breakfast sausage patty however, and my son said his $16 french toast (all of a whopping 3 slices) was ice cold. TV menu slow to access and doesn't display any information except the channel. On-Demand movies will set you back another $25, or just stream them for free??? Never used room service and there appeared to be only ONE lady cleaning my entire floor--who likewise seemed overwhelmed and exhausted and gave me a confused look when I simply asked for an extra bottle of water. Carpet is completely tearing away from the floor in the stairway, which is an obvious tripping hazard and absolutely unacceptable in even the most basic of hotels.

For a facility which charges $300+/night, my three-day stay was a complete BUST. Nobody was tipped either. I couldn't even find extra water for my wife, only to be pointed towards the vending machine down the musty hallway which dispensed water at $2.50/bottle. In fact, nobody seemed to go out of their way whatsoever to ensure my needs were met or that I was a satisfied guest. I will say the young valet driver was cheerful and helpful, however the other young bell boys seemed condescending and appeared to be mocking other guests? I witnessed/saw this first hand. Two young skinny lads in their late teens/early 20's perhaps.

In summary, Westin International should spare themselves any further embarrassment and immediately drop this hotel from its reputable brand as it's so comically BAD. I've stayed at tiny little Roadside Inn's which offered better...