Review: W Nashville

I recently spent a few days in Nashville with my brother, dad, and uncle to attend a Tennessee Titans football game. We picked Nashville because it’s a city the four of us have always wanted to visit, and also because of the easy direct flight from Vancouver (YVR) on WestJet. This also presented a good opportunity to use a WestJet Companion Voucher, making it a convenient choice for a long weekend getaway.

There are over 30 Marriott-branded properties in the metro Nashville area, with nearly every brand – ranging from economy to luxury – having a presence in the city. We selected W Nashville mainly because of its prime location and our favorable impressions of the brand from previous stays at other W hotels. Opened in 2020, W Nashville is among the newer additions to the brand.

Here’s what you can look forward to during a stay at W Nashville.

Booking & Check-in

Since our trip to Nashville coincided with a holiday weekend in both Canada and the U.S., hotel prices were heavily inflated. Fortunately, I managed to secure a few nights at a favorable industry rate, which helped us save some money during our stay. However, Nashville is a major tourist hotspot, and the hotel prices reflect this popularity. No matter when you visit, you can expect accommodation prices to remain consistently high year-round.

Similar to Las Vegas, hotel prices in Nashville can rise sharply on weekends and moderate on weekdays, with prices ranging from as low as US$350 to upwards of US$800 per night. On weekends when the Titans have a home game or a major musical act is performing, prices can become quite exorbitant. This was the situation we encountered during our stay, which is simply an unavoidable reality of being in Nashville on busy weekends.

Nightly rates on points bookings at W Nashville are completely outrageous, in my opinion. While this is a perfectly acceptable hotel, commanding 100,000-plus points on many nights for a hotel such as this is absurd. This situation highlights the current state of the Marriott program and its frequent instances of punitive dynamic pricing. 

The redemption rates seem entirely disconnected from the cash prices, and I can’t quite understand how this discrepancy can occur. That said, I strongly recommend taking the time to carefully consider other options before redeeming points at this property.

While I wouldn’t necessarily suggest this property as the best option for redeeming a Marriott Bonvoy 85,000-point Free Night Award, there are many nights priced near or below 85,000 points, making it a viable choice during periods of surging prices. 

You can obtain a Marriott Bonvoy 85,000-point Free Night Award by holding the U.S.-issued American Express Bonvoy Brilliant Card, which also offers the benefit of no foreign transaction fees.

American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card (US)
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American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card (US)

The American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card (US) offers cardholders complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, an annual $300 restaurant credit, an annual free night, 25 elite qualifying night credits annually, and Priority Pass Select membership.

Check out our American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card (US) review for more details.

BONUS
95,000 Marriott Bonvoy
MINSPEND
$6,000
NET VALUE
$205+
ANNUAL FEE
$650
FOREX FEES
No
EXPIRY

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As one of the latest additions to the W hotel brand, the brand appears to have slightly shifted its focus away from the eccentric flair that has defined the brand in the past, opting instead for a more approachable aesthetic.

The moment we stepped into the lobby; it was clear that the atmosphere had changed. Around a decade ago, W Hotels were the epitome of trendy and cool. However, this once-vibrant, fun vibe now feels outdated at many of its older locations. The brand seems to be stuck in a state of limbo, searching for a refreshed identity.

At W Nashville, the typical loud, thumping music isn’t blaring in the lobby. While neon colors are still present, they’re noticeably toned down. The furniture and common spaces reflect a focus on providing a premium experience, prioritizing quality over being different merely for the sake of it. Even though I’m not in the brand’s target demographic anymore, I really appreciate its new direction.

The brand still carries the vibrant youthful energy that first made it famous—perfectly appropriate for a city like Nashville. However, it now feels more refined and easygoing, appealing to a broader audience.

Nashville, famously known as “Music City,” is reflected throughout the hotel’s lobby, which incorporates the city’s rich musical history. One standout feature is a cozy, private welcome den where hotel guests can listen to vintage records and explore books on Nashville’s history in music recording.

The remainder of the lobby features lounge-style seating arranged as a gathering area for the lobby bar, coffee shop, and nearby ground-floor restaurants.

Check-in was completed quickly and efficiently. The hotel offers Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite members and above a welcome gift of 1,000 points or a daily credit for breakfast each morning. I selected the daily breakfast credit.

I want to commend W Nashville for its excellent recognition of elite members. Typically, I don’t expect much from North American properties, but I was pleasantly surprised. Despite it being a sold out, busy weekend, I felt the hotel did its best to accommodate elite members where possible. We were proactively upgraded from a standard Wonderful 2 Queen room to a Fabulous 2 Queen room. While this was a very minor upgrade in room-type, it was still a nice gesture and appreciated.

Furthermore, the front desk agent promptly approved my request for a 4 PM late checkout without any hesitation.

During check-in, the agent informed us about the daily destination fee of US$27 plus tax, which would be added to our room charge each day. I know I’m not alone when I say I despise these types of fees, I also accept that they are just a reality of staying at a higher-end hotel in a major market like Nashville.

That said, the daily destination fee at W Nashville is among the least offensive I’ve come across, both in terms of cost and the ease of recouping value from it.

The destination fee includes the following:

  • A daily $27 food and beverage credit per room, redeemable at any hotel dining outlet
  • Enhanced internet
  • Daily tour tickets for two guests at Nashville Barrel Company

I would assign no value to the enhanced internet and daily tour tickets. Premium internet is already included for Marriott Bonvoy Elite members, and even if you stay multiple days, you’re likely to use the tour tickets only once. At most, you might recover the $27 spent on food and beverages, but with the inflated prices you’ll encounter at the hotel, the most probable outcome will result in spending even more than the $27 credit each day. 

As with all of these types of credits, they are “use them or lose them,” which means you cannot roll them over to accumulate from one day to the next.

Location

W Nashville is in the perfect location for visiting Nashville, especially if you don’t mind getting around on foot. The hotel is situated in the center of the trendy and upscale The Gulch neighborhood. 

The Gulch neighborhood is bustling with restaurants, bars, and shops, all just a short walking distance from the hotel. A quick 15-minute stroll will take you to the wild party scene of Lower Broadway street, where you’ll find the famous celebrity bars and live music venues that Nashville is renowned for. In the heart of the Lower Broadway district is Bridgestone Arena, while Nissan Stadium is located just outside of the downtown area, across the river.

Nashville’s Lower Broadway street on a Friday Night

Nashville International Airport (BNA) is situated just a short distance from the city center. We took an Uber to and from W Nashville, which cost $25 for the 20-minute journey.

Parking

Only valet parking is available at W Nashville. Rates begin at $29 for a stay of up to two hours, with a maximum overnight charge of $65. All prices are subject to tax.

Room – Fabulous 2 Queen Room

Our Fabulous 2 Queen was rather understated, lacking in some of the usual bold design elements you’d typically find at other W properties. Aside from the eye-catching art piece above the bed, the room was furnished mostly in dark earthy and wood tones.

Each side of the bed includes a floating nightstand. Positioned between the beds is a shared table equipped with central lighting controls and a few power outlets.

On the wall opposite the beds is a multipurpose work desk and some built-in drawers and a luggage storage area. Above the desk hangs a large, wall-mounted flat-screen TV.

Beside the desk area is the in-room minibar and refrigerator along with some provided glassware and a small bottle of wine.

The minibar includes an assortment of snacks, and directly below is the mini fridge. As expected, snack prices are steep. For instance, the bag of M&M’s was priced at $10.

The room features large floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the space with natural light. Unfortunately, since our room faced West, we didn’t have a view of downtown Nashville’s impressive skyline.

As you move back toward the entrance of the room, you’ll see the closet area on one side, with the bathroom directly across from it. In the closet are two bathrobes and a pair of slippers.

Next to the closet was a Lavazza coffee maker including a selection of coffee pods. Aquafina water is complimentary for Marriott Bonvoy elite members, while Fiji water is available for $8.

The bathroom features a single vanity mirror equipped with built-in LED lighting. It includes a bathtub and shower combination that has both an adjustable wall-mounted shower head and an overhead rainfall fixture.

Bath products are provided by Davines, which is standard across all W hotel locations.

Completing the bathroom is the toilet along with some shelving for extra towels.

Overall, the guest rooms at W Nashville are clean, comfortable, and modern, consistent with what one would expect at an upscale brand such as W Hotels.

However, nothing about our room evokes a sense of luxury that one would expect from a supposed luxury-tier brand like W Hotels. This is one of my primary critiques of the W brand, the inconsistency between the quality of each property is far too large, especially at properties in the U.S.

I would have liked to see more of the visual elements and signature pops of color the W brand is known for incorporated into the room design, as the general aesthetic felt a bit too uninspired to me.

I may be nitpicking, but I’ve traveled enough to know what to expect at a luxury hotel. For a hotel charging between $400 and $800 per night for this room—and often requiring well over 100,000 points per night across much of its award calendar—flimsy and cheap shower curtains in the bathroom and largely derivative decor simply don’t fit the standard. For these prices everything needs to be amazing—but it’s not. 

Some of us at Frugal Flyer have enjoyed truly exceptional stays at W Hotels in places like Koh Samui, Maldives, and Dubai. Yet, our room at W Nashville could have easily been mistaken for any standard room at a run-of-the-mill Marriott or Sheraton. In short, the rooms at W Nashville don’t live up to the luxury label.

Restaurants & Bars

W Nashville has two bars and two restaurants, as well as a grab & go coffee shop in the lobby. We were quite busy during our time in Nashville and already had pre-arranged dinner reservations elsewhere, so the only occasion we ate at the hotel was for breakfast

The Restaurant at W Nashville – Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Complimentary Breakfast 

The Restaurant at W Nashville is a relaxed American eatery offering all-day dining, where Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite members can utilize their daily breakfast benefit. Once seated, our server explained that the daily breakfast benefit provided a $70 credit per room toward the breakfast bill.

Although I’m not a fan of these types of credits, as they rarely cover the full cost of breakfast, we were both surprised by the $70 amount and agreed it was quite generous. Alas, my pessimism was confirmed when we received the bill. More on this later.

The restaurant features a spacious outdoor patio with ample seating options, as well as a variety of indoor seating arrangements, including booths, standard tables, and high-top tables.

We were handed the menu and told we could order anything we like, and the $70 credit would be automatically applied to our bill. 

My brother and I each ordered one item from the menu along with a coffee and shared a large bowl of fruit. 

We both thought breakfast was excellent, particularly the fruit bowl. It had a great variety of fresh-tasting fruit.

However, our spirits were somewhat dampened when the bill for breakfast arrived. At no time were we informed of a mandatory 20% service charge that would be applied to our bill. This undisclosed service charge was the equivalent of adding another entrée to our bill. Once the service charge and taxes were factored in, what we expected to be a reasonable breakfast totaled $110, leaving us to cover the remaining $40 balance.

In retrospect, I probably should have been expecting something like this, but it definitely left us with a sour taste in our mouth following what we thought was a great breakfast. This situation perfectly illustrates why I rarely travel within North America; Marriott properties in Europe and Asia rarely engage in these kinds of “gotcha” fees, and in many cases, the practice is outright banned.

Proof

Proof is the hotel’s rooftop bar offering panoramic views of downtown Nashville. Cocktails start at $16, which is more or less in line with what you should expect at a place such as this. Even though we weren’t eating or drinking, the staff were happy to just let us lounge up here for a while and enjoy the views.

You can view the menu for Proof here

Living Room Bar & Barista Parlor 

On the ground level, you’ll find the hotel’s Living Room Bar and Barista Parlor.

The Living Room Bar offers a laid-back atmosphere, serving bespoke cocktails, whiskey tastings, and light bites, with live music performances every evening.

Barista Parlor is the in-house coffee shop, offering handcrafted specialty coffees and a selection of grab-and-go breakfast items.

Carne Mare

W Nashville features a high-end Italian chophouse called Carne Mare, which we didn’t have the opportunity to try. It’s widely praised as one of the top restaurants in the city, but with so many incredible dining options in Nashville, we simply couldn’t fit them all in.

You can find more information about Carne Mare here.

Facilities

Fitness Center

The fitness center at W Nashville is very modern and has a wide selection of free weights, strength machines, and cardio equipment.

The fitness center is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

Directly outside the fitness center is an outdoor lawn, where morning yoga classes are held. In the afternoon, the space can be used for outdoor party games.

Pool

The outdoor swimming pool is located on the same level as the fitness center. This large, corner-shaped pool neatly wraps around the edge of the building.

Plenty of daybeds and loungers line both sides of the pool, ensuring ample seating was always available during our visits.

Private cabanas are available for rent on a daily basis, accommodating up to 10 hotel guests. Each cabana includes amenities such as complimentary bottled water, snacks, and a dedicated host for your convenience.

Conclusion

Overall, we had an acceptable stay at W Nashville, despite a few minor hiccups. The property is fresh, modern, and ideally situated—close enough to downtown to enjoy the action, yet far enough to escape the noisy crowds. The rooms feel quite basic and don’t entirely match the luxury brand image, but they are clean and suitable enough for a weekend getaway. The rooftop bar, fitness center, and pool are standout amenities that carry most of the property’s appeal.

The mandatory 20% service charge on what was supposed to be a complimentary breakfast definitely caught us off-guard. While this is a relatively minor issue in the grand scheme of things, it was still somewhat frustrating. Additionally, when considering all the taxes, the nightly destination fee, and the room rate, the overall value proposition of the property can be highly questionable. I’d consider returning to W Nashville, but only under the ideal set of circumstances.

Jeff Jamieson

Jeff Jamieson

Contributor at Frugal Flyer
Jeff stepped into the ring of points and miles in 2018, this was during his first trip to Italy where he had only just dipped his toe into what was possible with loyalty programs. After eating pizza twice a day for two weeks straight and taking in all that Tuscany of Rome had to offer he knew he was hooked on “la dolce vita” of points and miles. Always fascinated with aviation, Jeff obtained his Private Pilot’s License in 2006. Now he fuels his affection for travel and aviation by seeking out new strategies while building upon existing opportunities along with the help of his close circle of fellow travel enthusiasts.

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BONUS
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MINSPEND
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NET VALUE
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ANNUAL FEE
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FOREX FEES
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EXPIRY
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