Thursday, February 15, 2018

What is a Boutique Hotel? We Stayed at The West Wing in Tampa to Find Out!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.



I have heard the term 'boutique hotel' before, but had no idea what that meant. Ever the curious traveler, we booked The West Wing Boutique Hotel in Tampa, FL. to see what exactly how the word 'boutique' would add to our experience. Spoiler Alert: Our stay was fabulous!





A boutique hotel, as far as I can tell from our stay at The West Wing in Tampa, has nice little touches all throughout, that really do distinguish it from a traditional hotel. Our first little treat had a name. Yes, a name. 😍 Please meet 'Wes.' This cute little relay robot was sitting in the hallway when we arrived. He is happy to bring you anything you want or need, directly to your room. 


Of course the novelty alone meant we had to try it. I ordered some extra shampoo and body wash (they had citrus scents for both that smelled so lovely), and a few towels. For some reason, I was under the impression that you only get towels every few days in a boutique hotel. In fact, I thought your room was only cleaned once every few days. Both were misconceptions, because I received clean towels daily, and the room was cleaned each day as well. Everything didn't fit the first time around, so Wes brought one delivery and then came back with the remaining towel and washcloths. :)  The phone rings when Wes arrives, to let you know he's at your door.  


There he goes, back to to his station in the front lobby. If you look very carefully you can see a person at the end of the hallway, that person had kids...and you talk about squealing and being happy??? They were delighted to have Wes coming their way. Have to say, I was pretty fond of the little fella too. We miss you already, Wes!


Bottles of water and an ice bucket greeted us as we walked in the room. So did these lovely countertops!! I really liked that extra touch...it was nice not to have a little luxury while away from home. In fact, the whole kitchen was just lovely!


The appliances were stainless steel and the bar sat four people. 


The Keurig had complimentary Starbucks pods accompanying it.


The kitchen had dishes in case you wanted to cook on the electric portable stove.


It also had silverware and a couple of pans. Everything you'd need for dining in. There was room service too, that delivered from the restaurant in the hotel directly next door. If you wanted to dine out, TGIFridays was attached to the building. If you wanted to venture away from the hotel, there were many selections for places to eat (any type of food you might want in fact) within short driving distance, and there was a grocery store close enough to walk to, if desired.


We had a full trip planned when we went, but the 'places to go' book on the counter was still appreciated. We got some great ideas for planning our next trip to the area.


The living room had a unique feel with the couch, and easily moveable low chairs with a table. The long work area you see in the background would have been awesome if I'd have brought any work along (which I intentionally didn't). You can see an air unit in the living room and a flat screen TV. They had both of those things in the bedroom too. I loved the dual cooling units. My daughter likes things c.o.l.d. and her mother (that would be me), does not. Nada. Uh-uh, nope, no way. :) 


Soft, plush robes and slippers were in the closet if you wanted to use them, as was an ironing board, iron and safe.


The bathroom was huge and had big frost-designed glass doors that opened up into the bedroom.


Those beds!! They were super sturdy and comfy and had THE best puffy soft covers on them. If you look carefully you can see there was also a mini couch in the room as well. 


The toiletries were citrus-scented which was awesome since oranges always smell so good to me.


The blowdryer was in a cloth bag. 😊


There was no bathtub, which was fine by me, I never use them in hotels anyway, but there was a large glass shower with a huge showerhead. The water pressure and water temps were perfect.  


The complimentary breakfast had hot and cold items. Each day they served up something new.


Sausages, scrambled eggs...


and potatoes comprised the heated menu items one of the days we were there. 


 If you wanted a lighter meal, there was fruit, yogurt, bagels, muffins, instant oatmeal, etc. My son who RARELY eats a big breakfast went all out, as you can see in the photo above. He ate almost all of it too. The difference between the West Wing Boutique hotel and a non-boutique is that there was a little dining room, with a hostess to help you if you needed anything. It had a feel far more like a restaurant than any other hotel breakfast I have had before.


The lobby was welcoming with a long couch for relaxing or waiting the rest of your party to show up. Behind a privacy wall there, was a small business center. My daughter printed her concert tickets (our primary reason for being in town) on the computer/printer. It was convenient. 


The on-site gym had all that you see in a traditional hotel with some great additions. There were mats, weighted basketballs, oversized balance balls, stretch bands and a vertical weight machine.


While it's not always a necessity to work out while you're in a hotel, if it's a part of your daily routine, you miss it if you don't keep that schedule. In that case, having a well-equipped gym is always a big plus while you are away from home. This one was sparkling clean and a pleasure to use.



The Zen Garden was thoughtfully made, with all elements you would expect in such a garden considered. 


I imagine having an inside room on the hotel, overlooking the garden would be a nice experience! Here you can see a fall of water gently cascading into a pool. It lit up at night, as did the rest of the Zen Garden, making for a lovely visual experience any time you wished to visit.

Note to those wishing to do business, the hotel does have ample conference space available for use!
Although we did not need such a benefit on this trip, it is good to know for future reference, in case business takes us to the area. The location of this hotel is ideal for both personal and business travel because you are literally close to everything! We visited an aquarium, a zoo, and an amusement park while there, and all were within just a few minutes of the hotel. It is also a short drive to the port where you can see the big cruise ships docked and waiting to travel (they are magnificent!).

So there you have it. Our experience at the West Wing Boutique Hotel in Tampa, Florida was a huge success. Meeting all of the expectations you look for in a traditional hotel, and adding to them with lovely touches, such as the relay robot, the upgrades in the room (frosted glass, gorgeous countertops, extra comfortable bedding, plus robes, etc.) and the beautiful Zen Garden made for a wonderful first time boutique hotel visit. In the future, I will include 'boutique hotels' in my future room search values (something I never did before), and when we return to Tampa (hopefully for a cruise!!) we will be happy to book the West Wing in an instant! You can learn more about this lovely boutique hotel by visiting the website. You can also follow them on Facebook and/or Instagram.

61 comments:

  1. What a lovely place to stay. I love the granite. Very nice touch. Love Wes too, he's a hard worker.

    That breakfast looks wonderful. I love it when they have breakfast too.

    Your son is most handsome.

    Have a fabulous day. ♥

    ReplyDelete
  2. Meeting and surpassing your expectations! What an amazing place!! Wes!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a lovely hotel! I have never heard of them before, but now I am itching for a stay of my own. And, we could all use a little Wes in our lives, am I right?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Definitely, yes. A fella who doesn't mind a 'honey-do' list!! ha! I love it. :)

      Delete
  4. Wow, what a charming place to stay. I'll have to visit sometime. I'd like to meet Wes!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow!
    This place looks absolutely amazing, and WES!! I'd adore him what a novel yet really useful idea

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a cool place to stay. I would have to try Wes out as well. So neat.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have done any research into boutique hotels yet, but from your experience it seems like a very viable option for our travel needs. I think that the amenities are just as good as some of the regular hotels.

    ReplyDelete
  8. What an amazing place! I absolutely adore that roaming bin. The future is now, people!

    ReplyDelete
  9. West Wing is exactly the kind of place I love to stay when we travel. I love all the amenities, and I REALLY love how cozy the entire vibe is.

    ReplyDelete
  10. The boutique hotel experience is like a hotel but seems a tad better and this one has everything I would need when I am away. I loved the little robot and I am sure all my kids would too.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sure sounds like a great spot indeed. Always nice to have a gym on hand and a little spot where zen can take place. Having lots nearby is a perk too.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I lived in Tampa 36 years ago and loved it. Your hotel sure was something. Living room, kitchen, air, Keurig, dishes, pans wow! My son in law would definitely like the gym he must work out every day. As for Wes that is the cutest, most convenient robot I have ever seen. I want to stay there!

    ReplyDelete
  13. how adorable is this place! Tampa in general is the cutest city. I am staying at my first boutique hotel in a couple weeks in Jamaica and this has made me even more excited. It looks like they really took care of you and care about customer service. Awesome place!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have visited Tampa many times and have never thought to stay in a boutique hotel. I definitely will now! The zen garden is beautiful and the entire hotel looks soooo calming and comfy.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow that really looks like a great place to stay! Looks like I'll be planning a trip to Tampa soon! This place looks fabulous

    ReplyDelete
  16. I had never heard of a boutique hotel before. I think I need to have a Wes in my life as well! Do you think I could train him to do dishes for me?

    ~Mary
    Jingle Jangle Jungle

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't think he and water would mix well. We all have our flaws. ;) The thought was a good one though. :)

      Delete
  17. Every single detail makes your stay in this hotel better. I love that little robot that gets things that you need. Also, the room is perfect! The zen garden is a nice place to go to after a stressful day of exploring!

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a great hotel spot in Tampa. I love staying in boutique hotels, so much more intimate.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Rosey - how interesting and no wonder you enjoyed the visit. Definitely worth the visit ... but fun with the robot ... cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love boutique hotels! They offer such a unique place to stay that often have some amenities bigger brand hotels don't.

    XOXO
    Elizabeth

    http://www.akeenesenseofstyle.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Looks like a great hotel! I love that huge shower.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wow! What an amazing hotel! Love those fun features!! Really cool!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh this boutique hotel looks awesome, I love the idea of the robot, how handy is that! Looks like you really enjoyed it :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. If I were to visit Tampa I would love to stay here. Looks like a great hotel to stay with.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wow! This place looks amazing! I would love that Zen garden and Wes? How cool is that? Being one who appreciates the little touches like the ones you pointed out here, I think my next stay may be in one of these kinds of places.

    ReplyDelete
  26. That is such a nice boutique hotel. I love the Zen garden. I would sit there, close my eyes and listen to the trickling of the water. How relaxing! I would love to try Wes too. That is the coolest feature of this hotel!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I love boutique hotels. Now what is even cuter is the robot Wes now that is hotel innovation I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I am always a fan of boutique hotels. They tend to have such a fun atmosphere!

    ReplyDelete
  29. This looks like a great place to stay! I love the little robot helper. (I would have to try that out too!)

    ReplyDelete
  30. The West Wing in Tampa looks nice! I would trade for that bagel and bacon. Yummy!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I've never been to a boutique hotel, but this one looks pretty nice! Having Wes is pretty cool too!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Looks like you had a wonderful time! :) I didn't know the difference between a traditional and a boutique hotel as well, thanks for the info! :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. This hotel looks awesome! I love showers like that and the food looks amazing too.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I've stayed at a boutique hotel once and it was super cute! Makes me want to book one for Spring for my daughters bday at the beach.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I would want to stay at this boutique hotel just to see what Wes can do. I've always loved boutique hotels. They have such modern charm. I'm really impressed by all the amenities and room perks The West Wing has.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Wow! Now there is a fancy hotel indeed.
    I love how it's done and wouldn't mind staying awhile there also!
    Wes is quite the new thing!

    ReplyDelete
  37. I stayed at a boutique hotel in Tokyo. It was amazing and so chic

    ReplyDelete
  38. What a great looking hotel. I would totally stay there!

    ReplyDelete
  39. I had heard of boutique hotels before but never stayed at one. This one looks so chic and amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  40. i love the robot! my friend went to a hotel recently and a robot served him too lol.
    Another friend went to a restaurant and got served by a robot waitress!

    ReplyDelete
  41. We love boutique hotels. We have found that they usually offer something away from the norm. Not just a bed and shower, but a little luxury you can't get somewhere else.

    ReplyDelete
  42. This is such a nice hotel. I love how luxurious the rooms are and all of the amenities that are available to guests.

    ReplyDelete
  43. I would not have know what a boutique hotel was either. It does look like they had some pretty amazing touches there. And I love the fact that you had a Keurig. That is too awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  44. wow! Boutique hotels look awesome, I would love to stay in one!
    I like the robot,my kids would enjoy seeing that. Ill be on the look out for a boutique hotel

    ReplyDelete
  45. I need 'Wes' in my house. He would be pretty useful while I am working and I don't want to get up, lol. Thanks for sharing, I'm glads you had a nice time.

    ReplyDelete
  46. We love staying at boutique hotels. So much personality can be found. It looks like you found a great option for the Tampa area.

    ReplyDelete
  47. I love staying at small stylish hotels like this because the hotel staff are more friendly and accommodating. The West Wing Boutique Hotel looks like a really nice one for a vacation in Tampa.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Oh wow! I've never stayed in a hotel this nice before! Love all the little extras. Especially, Wes the robot. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  49. What a beautiful hotel and I want a Wes in my house too lol I love the little extras that make your stay that much better

    ReplyDelete
  50. I always wondered what a boutique hotel is. Thanks for sorting that out for me. You seem to have found a good spot for staying. Great post!

    ReplyDelete
  51. My husband would certainly like the buffet and food! I would be happy with the lovely atmosphere!

    ReplyDelete
  52. That Zen Garden! I don't think I can say anything else! It looks... yep...
    And the robot laundry pickup. I need that, well assuming it washes, dries, folds, hangs up, and puts away. haha

    ReplyDelete
  53. I prefer boutique hotels. This looks super clean and cozy. The breakfast looks amazing. I will totally consider this when we venture to the west coast (from Orlando).

    ReplyDelete
  54. This is so cool! I've never heard of a boutique hotel before, and now I know this is what I would want!!!

    ReplyDelete
  55. I have heard of boutique hotel but had no idea what that meant until now. I really like this. So nice to have a large shower to use. I will have to include this in my search for hotels in the future. Thanks for a great review.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Looks amazing. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  57. What a beautiful place!

    ReplyDelete

Your comment is awaiting moderation. Thank you for your visit!