I stayed here for 3 nights over Presidents weekend for some r and r. I don't think I can fairly
compare it to Four Seasons hotels in more exotic locations. This is Westlake Village...it's astounding that a Four Seasons would be located there. I wanted to have a nice resort-level
place to stay that was within a 1/2 hour drive of Los Angeles where I live and work. This hotel certainly fit the bill fine for that goal. The staff was attentive and courteous. The room was
well appointed. The Spa was nice, the indoor pool for lap swimming was great, the gym was
terrific, the outdoor pool was small but lovely. Couple of notes on Spa: I had a 80 minute "advanced deep tissue sports theraputic" massage. Given that lengthy title and the description that went along with it that I won't bore you with I was looking for a real, targeted intense, almost surgical deep massage. Nice gal who gave me the massage but it was a
completely aimless novice massage...to illustrate at one point I actually had to convince her that there were muscles in the sides of my neck (which in my case for doing alot of computer work and craning my neck and hunching get extremely tight and knotted). She literally said "I don't think there are muscles there, I think I'd be getting close to some important stuff like I'd be
choking you"...literally the SIDES of my neck....I showed her with my own hands and said "Please trust me, these are absolutely muscles I am requesting that you massage these muscles". Also on that first day while going in the buff throughout the ladies area whirlpool, steam room, locker areas I noticed at least 6 women lounging (robed) in those various areas with their cel phones and tablets in open use. It struck me as odd in this day of taking video and photos and posted them online via such devices that a brand hotel like 4S still allows
such devices in clothing optional areas...seems a liability risk. Next day when I checked in to
spa desk I noticed a "no cel or mobile devices" sign at the desk and mentioned to the desk
clerk what I had seen the day before. She said "Oh...yeah...everybody still uses their cels and
everything in there right? even though it's against the rules....." I was like "yeah...ok no biggie...you guys will end up getting sued by someone someday for that..." As for the food and drink: Onyx was really quite fine for a hotel sushi/Japanese place not a big selection of fish for a sushi afficianado but good quality. The Mercato Italiano "interactive restaurant" on Saturdays was really just an Italian buffet played in the round. It was good quality for an Italian
buffet. I didn't try the Raw Bar on Fridays but it looked good quality. The Fire and Ice deck was chaos...with so many waiters, and maitre d' looking guy and busboys running around but
no rhyme or reason to how people were getting seated for the choice "firepit tables". I waited awhile for one, got seated at one only to find out the firepit didnt work...20 minutes of desperate attempts by well-meaning bellboys it was not going to work....maitre d promised he
would move me to the very next firepit table available.....that never happened he kept forgetting, seating others and then coming over to apologize again and again...crazy....At all bar venues (except for outdoor poolside) it took an incredible amount of time for waitstaff to take your drink orders and deliver....at Fire and Ice I waited almost 30 minutes for a waitress to
come (she kept passing by saying "I'll be right with you" over and over again) and in The Bar I waited 15 minutes when it wasn't that busy...actually pretty quiet. Anyway, for sure it suited nicely for what I was after. Not sure I'd go racing back again to spend $2000 for a three day weekend there...I'd probably drive a couple hours to do it next time.

I'm a big fan of Four Seasons hotels, having visited more than a dozen over the last few years, so it pains me to give this hotel four stars instead of five. Especially because the reduction was not really the fault of Four Seasons Westlake itself - well, I guess actually it was.

First the good, which is just about everything. Perfect service, perfectly clean, perfect luxury without being "in your face" - which is why I love Four Seasons. We had dinner at ONYX, which included one of the best mojitos we've ever had and a fantastic pad thai and sushi. Breakfast was generous and tasty. Rooms were extremely comfortable. Everything you come to expect with Four Seasons. My favorites continue to be Hong Kong, Singapore, and Hualalai, but Westlake is right with them in terms of service and luxury.

Now for the one bad experience. My wife scheduled a mani-pedi, which was listed in the Four Seasons Spa brochure by the bedside. It turns out the salon services are outsourced to a different company, even though they are located inside the Spa. According to my wife, it wasn't up to Four Seasons standard, not even close. The specialist wasn't professional in appearance or demeanor, the area was cluttered, trash was overflowing, and the tools and implements looked like they hadn't been sterilized. In fact, my wife said she'd prefer the cheap place near our house as it is cleaner and potentially safer. Imagine having to worry about safety and hygiene in a Four Seasons.

We brought this experience to the attention of the Four Seasons front desk staff, and in true "real" Four Seasons style they apologized and immediately removed the charge without questioning or arguing. But I told them that my bigger concern was how this contract salon company reflects on the Four Seasons brand. They promised to take action. I hope they do, as aside from this it is yet another exceptional hotel.

This must be my year for staying in nice hotels! We just got back from California with the kids. It was a short visit: Disneyland one day, attend a bat mitzvah the next day, then home the next day. With a hectic schedule, I thought we should stay in a nice hotel. So glad I chose the Four Seasons. It is beautiful! The rooms are so pretty, and the views outside the windows, superb. On our first night, we arrived late and the restaurant was going to close in less than an hour. The front desk offered to let them know we were coming back down and stay open for us. I declined, and we chose to have room service instead! That was probably one of most delicious room service meals we have ever had. We also managed to have a la carte brunch at the lounge on Sunday, as the Sunday buffet was not yet ready. The food was excellent, and the views out of the lounge so pretty, including the hotel's own waterfall at The Lookout. I have to mention the staff which includes front desk, housekeeping, room service, valet and concierge: this is what excellence means. Can you give lessons to other hotels? :) My husband wanted to take the bed home! Sad to say because of our tight schedule, I did not get a chance to try the Spa! The kids also wanted to try the pool and the Teen Room, but we ran out of time. But this just means we have to come back!

From check in to check out nothing beats the service at this Brand. Booked my trip through American Express Platinum Travel and was presented with all of my amenity options when checking in. Had a nice little upgrade to a fountain view room, which was nice but same room size as facing the parking lot i believe. Was only there one night, but the all hour room service (well at least at 4:00AM) when I awoke from EST time and needed coffee was brilliant.

The breakfast service was impeccable as always and delicious. The wait staff never interfering but always paying attention if needed.

I will stay there again on my next trip to the area with no doubt.