The Westin Nashville

"Just blocks from Ryman Auditorium and the Country Music Hall of Fame and adjacent to Music City Center, the 27-story Westin Nashville is a winner for both leisure and business travelers looking to be in the heart of the action. Even the smallest of the 456 rooms are larger—and slightly more expensive—than others you’ll find downtown, and the decór is cool and modern, with crisp white linens on the Heavenly beds and textured headboards embellished with cowboy-chic belt buckles. While there is a spa and full fitness center on site, runners and joggers might prefer to hit the pavement on a three- or five-mile run curated by athletic brand New Balance; the hotel will also deliver new sneakers and gear to your room if you forget your own (for a fee, of course). Once you’ve worked up an appetite, the hotel’s Oak Steakhouse serves prime cuts alongside seasonal specialties (buttermilk fried quail, proscuitto-wrapped trout), with most ingredients sourced from local Tennessee farms."

"How did it strike you on arrival?On the outside, the Westin looks like a cold tower; inside, there's personality to be found in the lobby's fancy crystal chandeliers and trendy leather seating. Nice. What’s the crowd like?Given that it's within walking distance to the ginormous Music City Center, the Westin Nashville gets a fair share of visitors who are in town for a convention or trade show. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.At just over 400 square feet, entry-level rooms are bigger than other downtown stays. Though the earth-toned walls and floral-patterned carpets are clean and fine, you could argue the hotel looks like it could exist anywhere. If you've got a couple grand to drop on a luxury suite, however, the 2,000-square-foot rooms are Nashville rock star-worthy in their grandeur. How about the little things, like minibar, or shower goodies. Any of that find its way into your suitcase?The minibar has a Keurig with complimentary coffee in addition to gourmet snacks, beer, and wine available for purchase. Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.The walk-in shower may be the best part of each guest room—unless, of course, yours also has a clawfoot tub. Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?Wi-Fi costs $11.95 a day. Room service: Worth it?There are three on-site restaurants, including the acclaimed Oak Steakhouse, and room service is available 24/7 (as is the Westin Sleep Well Menu). Plates range from $8 to $32. Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.The 6,000-square-foot Rhapsody Spa is a gorgeously designed space (soothing natural materials and earth toned walls) that includes nine treatment rooms and a full-service salon. What was most memorable—or heartbreaking—about your stay?That it was too cold to have a cocktail on the L27 rooftop lounge. It offers one of the best views in the city, and bonus: There's a pool and Jacuzzi. Bottom line: worth it, and why?Location, location, location: Music City Center, Bridgestone Arena, Nissan Stadium, and the Broadway bars and honky tonks are all a short distance away." - Kristin Luna

"In the 1990s, after data from Westin Hotels & Resorts suggested travelers were tired and uncomfortable after leaving his hotels, Barry Sternlicht, former chairman and CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, had mattress manufacturers around the world send in their products. Employees spent time testing the many beds before finally settling on a Simmons model that was transformed into a ten-layer mattress with 13 inches of extra padding in the form of comfy pillowtop, a just-firm-enough-feel, and soft, bright white bedding. Drop your bags in any Westin hotel room today—minutes from the buzz of Nashville’s Broadway bars or steps off of Venice’s Grand Canal—and you’ll find the result: the Heavenly bed."