Starwood Preferred Guest - Your input welcome: Which Caribbean/Central Am *wood this Labor day weekend?

Parameters:
- 2 adult plats
- Using free weekend nights
- Friday-Monday
- Romantic get-away

Desires:
- Good pool
- Good beach
- Good scuba
- Gambling desired but not critical

Problem:
We've looked at all the hotels and destinations and there is nothing that is particularly calling out to us for any of them specifically.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

If you want to add good food to your list, St. Martin is the best choice. For diving, go with Ocean Explorers and say hi to LeRoy for us. http://www.stmaartendiving.com/

I was at the Westin in St. Maarten a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it. The staff, facilities, and rooms are very nice.

After koko has the chance to get some responses in this thread, I'll likely merge it into this one:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starwood-preferred-guest/831448-starwood-caribbean-master-thread.html

Westin St. John, USVI.

No gambling. But everything else on your list, plus great food.

Cayman also has all these attributes, but like St. Martin and/or Bahamas and/or Aruba, I believe St. John has the others beat hands down in the romance department.

I personally don't think the gambling on the other islands is all that great anyway.

My second choice for romance & gambling would be Puerto Rico, albeit not beachfront.

Cheers,

Hurricane Season! @:-)

Hurricane Season! @:-)
Ya, but you could say the same about Florida, Carolina(s), or Texas, and that never stopped me from visiting those places in early September.

Besides, many Caribbean *wood properties have "hurricane guarantee".

Beside, besides - it's a "romantic" weekend - who's going outside anyway LOL!

Cheers,

I believe St. John has the others beat hands down in the romance department.
That's obviously a matter of opinion, but I strongly disagree. Then again, I'm biased since we started our honeymoon on St. Maarten/St. Martin.

That's obviously a matter of opinion, but I strongly disagree. Then again, I'm biased since we started our honeymoon on St. Maarten/St. Martin.

Fair enough. Last time I was in St. Maarten I spent most of my time on a nude beach. Which really puts a whole new spin on the definition of "romance".

But don't go by me - I started my honeymoon at a Bass Pro Shops!

Cheers,

St. John is gorgeous imo! I vote for that property.

Beach @ Westin St John is only ok - man made, and pales in comparison to other beaches on the island.

Ya, but you could say the same about Florida, Carolina(s), or Texas, and that never stopped me from visiting those places in early September.

Besides, many Caribbean *wood properties have "hurricane guarantee".

Beside, besides - it's a "romantic" weekend - who's going outside anyway LOL!

Cheers,

http://www.hurricaneville.com/all_time_storms.php

Cheers,

NJ

How about the new LeM in Panama City (not Florida) Pictures and details are slim thus far but probably meets all of the above. If not at that hotel, then nearby for sure...

Looks like based on airfares and timing, free weekend night availability and recommendations here, we're going to try the Westin St. Maartin. :D

Will be sure to post a review. ^

How about the new LeM in Panama City (not Florida) Pictures and details are slim thus far but probably meets all of the above. If not at that hotel, then nearby for sure...

I'll be at the LM Panama City over Labor Day, albeit not for a romantic getaway.

This thread caught my eye because I am looking for about the same as the original poster. I am considering St. Maarten and Aruba. Anybody have any recent feedback on the property in Aruba or the location in general? From what I can see, the Starwood property in St. Maarten in seems nicer than the one in Aruba but it does seem more remote. It is a selling point for me that the location in Aruba seems to have a lot of things all in one strip within walking distance of each other.

This thread caught my eye because I am looking for about the same as the original poster. I am considering St. Maarten and Aruba. Anybody have any recent feedback on the property in Aruba or the location in general? From what I can see, the Starwood property in St. Maarten in seems nicer than the one in Aruba but it does seem more remote. It is a selling point for me that the location in Aruba seems to have a lot of things all in one strip within walking distance of each other.Well we didn't look too hard at Aruba. Based on airfares and flight schedule we were focused on Nassau (for the diving), Cayman (for the beach), Cancun (for the Cancun-ness), Puerto Rico (for the ease and choice of flights) or St. Maartin (for the mix).

We found $444 flights to SXM and the property had all 3 days available on free weekend night credits so that pretty much sealed it. Since we're 1ks we'll be slumming it in US coach (although the 'choice' seat access is appreciated), but that's nothing a few rum drinks can't ameliorate...and from your statuses it appears you won't have that problem. ^

Well we didn't look too hard at Aruba. Based on airfares and flight schedule we were focused on Nassau (for the diving), Cayman (for the beach), Cancun (for the Cancun-ness), Puerto Rico (for the ease and choice of flights) or St. Maartin (for the mix).

We found $444 flights to SXM and the property had all 3 days available on free weekend night credits so that pretty much sealed it. Since we're 1ks we'll be slumming it in US coach (although the 'choice' seat access is appreciated), but that's nothing a few rum drinks can't ameliorate...and from your statuses it appears you won't have that problem. ^
Hi Kokonutz,

Interesting, the flights to Aruba are actually cheaper than SXM. SXM is aroud $420, but I can get to Aruba for around $320. We have been to Cancun and Puerto Rico and weren't all that impressed so those weren't really options. I've heard some negative things about Cayman from many over the years so I never really considered there. I did consider St. John a little, but liked the fact that SXM and Aruba had gambling.

By the way, I'll actually be flying American and burning some left over miles I have with them for one of my tickets so I'll be slumming it in coach with you! We are plannig to go the weekend of 9/18. The only thing that makes me a little nervouse about SXM is the hurricane factor.

Hi Kokonutz,

Interesting, the flights to Aruba are actually cheaper than SXM. SXM is aroud $420, but I can get to Aruba for around $320. We have been to Cancun and Puerto Rico and weren't all that impressed so those weren't really options. I've heard some negative things about Cayman from many over the years so I never really considered there. I did consider St. John a little, but liked the fact that SXM and Aruba had gambling.

By the way, I'll actually be flying American and burning some left over miles I have with them for one of my tickets so I'll be slumming it in coach with you! We are planning to go the weekend of 9/18. The only thing that makes me a little nervouse about SXM is the hurricane factor.It's funny, we actually talked about this: on paper Cayman seems like such a great idea...but the lack of gambling or anything else (that doesn't involve a bed) to do at night always ends up crossing it off my/our list too.

Yeah, I did see some reasonable fares to Aruba on AA, but I don't fly on the dAArk side and the * flights were at or north of $600 out of IAD/DCA. But we were actually focused on Nassau and thought we had that done but then one of the nights wouldn't come through on free weekend nights and the Bahama Air codeshare on US that kept coming up at $490 kept reverting to the US fare of nearly $700. SXM was next on the list so when everything came up 7's we were done looking. :)

For some reason the Hurricane thing doesn't phase me at all. Chances seem slim to me, and if it happens, it happens. Not like this is my one trip a year or anything like that. ;)

Did you check Trip Advisor yet? There were lots of thorough reviews on the SXM Westin that helped make me feel good about the decision despite the fact that it appears to not have the greatest reputation in the world among FTers...I assume there are lots of TA data points on the Aruba location as well.

My unbiased opinion would be the Westin Cayman.

Well we didn't look too hard at Aruba. Based on airfares and flight schedule we were focused on Nassau (for the diving), Cayman (for the beach), Cancun (for the Cancun-ness), Puerto Rico (for the ease and choice of flights) or St. Maartin (for the mix).

We found $444 flights to SXM and the property had all 3 days available on free weekend night credits so that pretty much sealed it. Since we're 1ks we'll be slumming it in US coach (although the 'choice' seat access is appreciated), but that's nothing a few rum drinks can't ameliorate...and from your statuses it appears you won't have that problem. ^

kokonutz - when are you planning on going to SXM? I will be there aug 30 to sept 5. JetBlue flies there so while I will be slumming it in coach, at least its JetBlue. Let me know if you hear of any good suggestions for things to do on the island or nearby.

kokonutz - when are you planning on going to SXM? I will be there aug 30 to sept 5. JetBlue flies there so while I will be slumming it in coach, at least its JetBlue. Let me know if you hear of any good suggestions for things to do on the island or nearby.

Labor day weekend...so maybe you can pass that sort of 411 on to me! ^

My unbiased opinion would be the Westin Cayman.lol, from the handle I'd have NEVER guessed! :D ^

Hurricane Season! @:-)

Well it looks like Erika will be clearing out just in time for my arrival.

I do wonder how leemaj is getting on, both in terms of hotel and upgrade as well as the storm!?

Well it looks like Erika will be clearing out just in time for my arrival.

I do wonder how leemaj is getting on, both in terms of hotel and upgrade as well as the storm!?

I got an upgrade to an oceanview suite..its pretty nice. I think that they closed the 1st and 2nd floors to refurbish the rooms so most guests are on the 3rd floor...pretty lucky getting the upgrade.

as for the storm, they say its going to come tomorrow, but who knows..the weather was great today and just finished the pirate buffet out by the pool and no sign of clouds. If it does come, I have Season 1 of Mad Men and a VGA cable to hook my laptop to the 42 inch plasma in the living room of my suite :)

My wife and I put our the same award that you have where our mouth is and chose to stay in St. Johns. My wife is into jewerly, and there is the one and only H Stern outlet in St. Thomas that she wants to visit. We will be staying from 9/18-9/20, so if you are planning to be there, PM me. We found a website that calculates the risk of hurricaines and it came out 1-2%, so we felt compelled to try this property.

I got an upgrade to an oceanview suite..its pretty nice. I think that they closed the 1st and 2nd floors to refurbish the rooms so most guests are on the 3rd floor...pretty lucky getting the upgrade.

as for the storm, they say its going to come tomorrow, but who knows..the weather was great today and just finished the pirate buffet out by the pool and no sign of clouds. If it does come, I have Season 1 of Mad Men and a VGA cable to hook my laptop to the 42 inch plasma in the living room of my suite :)

It appears as though Erika passed within about 90 miles of SXM with winds under 40mph. Hopefully didn't put too much of a dent in your vacation!

Nevertheless, USAir canceled their scheduled CLT-SXM today. :td::( Luckily I'm on it tomorrow! ^:D Although I'm sure it will be packed to the gills. :td::(