6 Things The Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills Does Better Than Other Hotels

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.If you follow me on Instagram, you know I was pretty effusive about my recent stay at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills. TPG Contributor Benji Stawski had already given us a first look of the property and I was intrigued. LA has a lot of luxury hotels, but few are modern and none seem to check off all my boxes. In the Waldorf, could Los Angeles finally have a luxury hotel in a convenient location where you could earn and redeem points? I had to try the property out for myself to see.

I found my lucky charm.. a points hotel in LA with good service, design, location, rooms and views ? A post shared by Brian Kelly (@briankelly) on May 17, 2018 at 4:30pm PDT

Rooms certainly don’t come cheap at the Waldorf. A standard room goes for upwards of $700 per night and starts at 95,000 Hilton Honors points per night — though award nights are hard to come by at that level, and you’ll likely have to shell out much more. I booked using my Amex Business Centurion card, and thus missed out on getting upgraded to a suite, even though I have Diamond status with Hilton (though I likely would have if this property was SPG or Marriott). I did, however, get bumped up upon booking to a King Deluxe Room with Terrace, which was the same as the standard room, but on a higher floor.I booked using Amex Centurion so I could get the following benefits:Noon check-in (if available)Room upgrade upon booking, when available (I got upgraded on this stay, as mentioned above)Daily breakfast for two (capped at $45 per person)Complimentary Wi-Fi4:00pm check-out time (guaranteed)A choice between a free one-way airport transfer for two people or a $200 resort credit for incidentals (I chose the $200 and used it towards the cost of a spa treatment)While there are so many choices for luxury hotels in Beverly Hills like the Peninsula, there aren’t many luxury options at which you can use or earn points, so I was looking forward to checking out the property. Here are all the reasons I’m obsessed with the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills — other LA hotels, take note!The hotel uses technology to save timeFrom the moment I arrived, I was asked if I wanted to have the ability to text requests or questions to hotel staff. I said yes — and I couldn’t have been happier with my choice. During my stay, I simply sent a text in order to arrange a massage at the spa — super convenient and easy. And then, when I was heading down to the spa, housekeeping informed me — via text — that my privacy light was on and asked if they could enter the room to clean it. I was so glad they did, because I had forgotten to shut the privacy light off when I left my room.I replied back to give them the go-ahead, and came back to a freshly cleaned room after my massage, despite my mistake of leaving the privacy light on. I can’t count how many times I’ve come back to a non-cleaned room because I’d forgotten to take the “Do Not Disturb” sign off the door — so annoying! However, that problem is remedied at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills — thanks to texting.I also ordered room service from the in-room iPad. I honestly love not having to interact with people when ordering room service, and I really think that every hotel in the world should have this feature — even at the Peninsula Hong Kong, you can only place breakfast orders with the in-room iPads. Get with the program, luxury hotels.Outdoor space, balconies and viewsThe hotel is situated in a great spot in Beverly Hills — it’s not too far from LAX Airport and right down the street from a SoulCycle studio. It stands higher than the Peninsula, which you can look down (literally, and possibly figuratively) on from the balconies. In fact, all rooms have balconies — having outdoor space for all guests is a fantastic perk, plus the views are expansive. Considering LA has great weather year-round, you could take advantage of the balcony in December, July or any time in between.Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.Rooms can be beautiful and functionalThe rooms were beautifully designed, and I could tell that there was an emphasis on function as well, as there were outlets everywhere (essential for any modern hotel). The linens were soft and luxurious (granted, my initials weren’t embroidered on the pillowcases like the Peninsula, but I survived), and the mattress itself was very comfortable. The bathrooms were gorgeous and the shower passed the TPG shower test!

My new favorite hotel in LA is… @waldorfbevhills?! Gorgeous property with luxe rooms, amazing food, technology where you can TEXT for anything from room service to spa appointments, chic rooftop pool, amazing linens, big rooms with balconies, passes the TPG shower test AND Hilton points? I think it’s a game changer. Has anyone else stayed here? Your thoughts? A post shared by Brian Kelly (@briankelly) on May 16, 2018 at 7:54pm PDT

The rooftop is way coolThe rooftop pool deck has incredible views and is large enough for guests — it didn’t seem to be overcrowded like the Andaz always is. I only wish I’d had more time to relax up there — next time, I’d consider renting a cabana with friends. Prices start at $400 per day Monday through Thursday and $500 per day Friday through Sunday. They come with La Prairie sunscreen, Voss water, soft drinks, Wi-Fi, a flat screen television and a fruit bowl.A fresh take on wellness and cuisineI was happy to notice that there were many healthy food options in addition to the on-property restaurant, Jean Georges. Food wasn’t cheap, but it was delicious, and I’ll happily splurge when I know I’m getting quality. Many room service menus don’t have a lot of healthy options, but the Waldorf Astoria did.The massage at the La Prairie spa was a wonderful experience — the treatment rooms come with heated massage tables that are more like mini-beds which are perfect for maximum comfort.You can use and earn pointsYou can use or earn points at this hotel, which may be the best part of all. You can also book through the American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts program and still earn Hilton points! Like I mentioned above, redemptions aren’t cheap (a standard room will run you at least 95,000 points per night), but it’s better than not being able to use or earn points at all, and if you’re an elite member, you’ll receive your benefits at this property.Overall ImpressionAlthough my stay was near-perfect, there are some downsides, including a so-so gym, steep prices (in both cash and points) and the inability to get upgraded to a suite, even though I’m a Diamond member. Compared to other properties, though, the Waldorf provides a much nicer experience overall, and, like I’ve mentioned before, it’s fairly unique in the area since there aren’t many properties nearby of this caliber at which you can spend and earn points.The Beverly Hilton doesn’t even come close.Check out the below photo for my hot takes on all of the top properties in the LA area. I’ve heard good things about The Jeremy and the Beverly Hills Hotel, and it’ll be interesting if the new EDITION stacks up. Follow my account and the official Points Guy account on Instagram for more comparisons such as this one.To sum it all up, I’m confident in saying that I think the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills is my new favorite hotel in LA. It seems I’m not alone here, as I’ve gotten lots of feedback on Instagram that makes me think that many TPG readers feel the same. Do you agree?

I found my lucky charm.. a points hotel in LA with good service, design, location, rooms and views ? A post shared by Brian Kelly (@briankelly) on May 17, 2018 at 4:30pm PDT

I found my lucky charm.. a points hotel in LA with good service, design, location, rooms and views ?

A post shared by Brian Kelly (@briankelly) on May 17, 2018 at 4:30pm PDT

A post shared by Brian Kelly (@briankelly) on May 16, 2018 at 7:54pm PDT