Best:  W Montreal
Loved everything about it.

Worst: W on Lex
Wheatgrass agent zero, was old and tired, tiny rooms--lobby is very cool though.

The "Best" category doesn't automatically default to the W Maldives? Not that I've been there, but I sure wish it.

The Good: I think these three are all pretty good and up to W snuff. The W Westwood used to be not much better than its former life as a nursing home but they have made improvements and its pretty cool there. W San Diego is very scenestery but full of cool stuff and I thought service was good, tho not great. I have a fond place in my heart for the W Union Square. I used to stay overnight there with friends even tho I lived in NYC. So this place can do no wrong for me. The Bad: Any of the other W Hotels in New York. Those are just boring, blah and totally pointless.

W Hotel Mexico City.  A horrifying 2 weeks that had my blood boiling day after day.  It came down to a "strongly worded email" sent to the GM of the hotel in MC, with the head of PR for W Hotels and the President, Ross Klein, CC'd on the email.  Ross responded instantly, trying to make the wrongs right, which was much appreciated.  While their management tactics were appreciated, I think next time I'll stay next door at the Marriott.

Best: W Times Square  - Hip "lounge, great dance club (on the right nights), plus a view of the times square light show that makes you feel like you're in a sci-fi show.

Worst: W Silicon Valley -  A W in the burbs? It's barely in the Silicon Valley and feels much more like a "Lucky 8"  Hotel from 1973, but without the fun hippie pool parties.

I was very sad when Starwood sold the W Woolloomooloo in Sydney.  It is right on the water, close to downtown, the lobby/bar/restaurant areas were very cool, and the rooms were large and quite nice, also with good views.  The hotel is still around, but I just can't get Starwood points there anymore...

The W in Seoul is very very funky and one of the trendiest places in town for both out-of-towners and locals.  The red and white rooms have almost a space age feel to them and the rooms facing the river have pretty impressive views (when the weather permits).

Best in NY is the W Union Square. Get drunk in NYC, crash at the W and wake up with the peanut butter pancakes at Olives.
The worst is the W NY on Lex. Its the 1st so it has the most wear but the rooms are sooo tiny.

W Montreal would be a great hotel in any chain. I would go back in a minute. The service was friendly and top notch, the room was huge and cool, the bar and the restuarant were fun with good service, food and drink.

I've worked in hotels for 20 years so I'm a very demanding customer. If they can please me, they can take care of anyone.

my review and photos are can be found here:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g155032-d497207-r6185489-W_Montreal-Montreal_Quebec.html

The best W is the W-Westwood in Los Angeles.  It has spacious rooms (most of them over 500 sq. feet), great lobby/bar/pool area, and great customer sevice.  Also, just great for people watching.

The worst is the W-Atlanta @ Perimeter.  It is uninspiring, the rooms are small, and it looks very dated, since it was one of the first, if not the first, W hotels opened.

@PKOPUS28: Close but no Kewpie doll. The W-Atlanta @ Perimeter used to be a Guest Quarters all suite hotel. That would be why it feels like it's a different hotel.

There's hope though, as there's a new W going up in Atlanta, in that gray area between downtown proper and "Midtown". I couldn't find it on the W website, although they've got announcements going out to 2009. The sign on the construction site says there will be 76 residences (aka condos) on site as well, priced from 500's to over 2 million.

Yes, I heard the W is coming with two Atlanta hotels, so those should be much better.  Plus, since they will be in town, that will fit the typical aesthetic of a W hotel, much more then the W-Perimeter, which is located close to a suburban mall and office park area...I visit Atlanta quite a bit (in-laws and college friends), so I'm sure I will be staying at one of the new ones when they open.

Well I'm going to have to say that I really can't judge a W experience on one stay, because it really doesn't give everyone the best accuracy to make decisions about a W, especially if you are dealing with service, because Mary could be having an "outstanding" day behind the desk, while tomorrow John relieves Mary and he's all pissed with family issues.  

So my opinions will be based on decor and overall experience minus the service unless it was exceptional service.  

W Atlanta, didn't stay, but my parents did and took pictures.  They stayed in the "best" suite they had and took pictures.  I was embarassed to see the kitchenette and how archaic the faucet and cabinets looked.  The bathtub looked like it came out of a Ramada Inn.  The decor was very simple, plan and very un-W like.  The hotel looks like it still has potential to be remodeled further, but it almost seems unfinished.  Yeah, the lobby and bars are great, but you need the rooms to match the W-ness.

W Montreal.... wow.... everything is great about this hotel except for one small little thing.  The Mega room is the exact same thing as a double-bed spectacular.  So why did spend an additional $60/night for the Mega?  Because I didn't know this secret at the time.  Apparently, these some hotels have secrets about how some rooms are virtually the same room but considered a different rate because of the floor I guess.  I've stayed at the W Montreal twice and had excellent service both times and the rooms are cool as shit and have everything up-to-date on trendiness.  Wear and tear is at a minimum.

W San Diego, great rooms, love the colors, but still one thing.... the rooms are a little inconsistent.... half the wonderful rooms have Motel 6 bathtubs while the other half have nicely tiled walk-in showers.  However, the corner room is f-ing awesome.

W Chicago Lakeshore.  You don't want people to know that this is a converted hotel.  Well you can tell.  It's got a lot of wear-n-tear.  Because of the wear-n-tear we had a problem with an extra person sleeping on the pull out couch that was missing half the springs.  

W New York- Lex.... people complain about this hotel, but I'm ok with it.  Yes, it IS the first W ever so I'll let the wear-n-tear pass (but should be addressed to stop getting this complaint over and over again) I was able to stay in a 1-bedroom suite with out-of-towners on points and getting the suite for additional 1,000 points!  So the whole weekend i used 22,000 on a W suite with a balcony!!!  oh the days when New York Ws were Cat 4s.....   On the balcony note....I'm huge on outdoor spaces and this is one of few Ws in New York that have balconies....and they are awesome!  

W French Quarter - Again, i'm obsessed with balconies and I had my parents stay in a caridge house with 2 balconies!!! (one in the back and one in front).  This is probably one the most "laid back" Ws I've stayed even being near Bourbon street.  Very cozy and decor is great!

Best:
W Montreal
W NO French Quarter
W Dallas (brand spanking new)

Worst:
W Atlanta
W Chicago Lakshore

Did you stay at W NO French Quarter pre or post Katrina?  

Worst: Sydney Woolloomooloo -- the rooms were small and unexceptional, the service was way too far up itself. Good location, though; taking a water taxi to dinner is fun.

Best: Honolulu Diamond Head -- Memorable dining and drinks, good views, friendly and down-to-earth staff (for a W). Rooms were unexceptional, though; too obviously a condo conversion.

Pre Katrina (April 2005)

The new W Hotel in Atlanta mentioned above is the W Atlanta Downtown Hotel & Residences. It's under construction now and will open in December 2008. The condos will deliver in January 2009.

Here's the Web site:
http://wresidencesatlanta.com/

The hotel will have a heliport on top, too.