(Currently Closed) W Retreat & Spa, Vieques, Puerto Rico [Master Thread]
Jun 28, 2011, 8:49 am
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: IAH
Posts: 13,531
For those that have stayed at this property, what is the crowd like? Is it the stereotypical W guest (young, loud and full of themselves 
) or is it more of a subdued crowd due to the location? I love Ws but normally try to avoid the type of guest they tend to attract.
) or is it more of a subdued crowd due to the location? I love Ws but normally try to avoid the type of guest they tend to attract.
Aug 30, 2011, 9:01 am
#47
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: UA Prem, AA Plt, SPG Plt, HH Gold
Posts: 4
Recent Stays?
I'm headed out to Vieques and St regis Bahia 9/4 - 9/12. Any recent stays at the W? Surprised not to see anything since June. Especially curious about any huricane damage or recent experiences...
Sep 2, 2011, 8:29 am
#48
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro 2MM, HH Diamond, WoH Globalist, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,207
Sep 3, 2011, 4:09 pm
#49
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro 2MM, HH Diamond, WoH Globalist, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,207
We arrived at the W around 8 p.m. last night, and there's no evidence (as far aswe can tell) that a hurricane passed by a little more than a week ago. The only affect from Irene that we know of is that someone who tried to make a reservation for horseback riding was unable to, because a trail had been washed out.
We love the W. I will write a report next week after we return home.
We love the W. I will write a report next week after we return home.
Sep 6, 2011, 3:15 pm
#50
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro 2MM, HH Diamond, WoH Globalist, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,207
We just returned from a three-night stay at the W during Labor Day weekend. I'll start off by saying that Mr. FB and I have never thought of ourselves as the type who would enjoy going someplace and spending most of our time sitting by the pool or the beach, but after this weekend we think we could get used to it!
Getting There
I made reservations in July, using three free nights I earned in the free resort nights promotion. Then we bought plane tickets. Even though we were on separate tickets on different airlines, we were on the same Cape Air flight from SJU-VQS. We were on the last flight of the evening, so scenery was limited.
Arrival
After we collected our bags from the Cessna, we walked through the terminal, turned left, and entered the W Arrivals/Departures Lounge. We were met by Mary who greeted me by name. We were the only W guests arriving on that flight--I guess that's why it was easy to figure out who I was. Mary invited us to relax during the short wait for the van to the hotel. She accompanied us back to the hotel, along with the pilot (who was dropped off at one of the residences at the entrance to the hotel grounds).
Check-In
When we arrived at the hotel, someone took our bags and we went to the desk. Check-in was quick and courteous. We were informed that we had been upgraded to a Spectacular Room with a pool and ocean view. I was asked which Platinum amenity I wanted, and then told that I would also receive a $10/day credit at the Cafe for being a Platinum. This appears the be the extra alternative amenity because of the $60/day resort fee. After check-in, we were given a short tour of the property on our way to Villa 6 and Room 633. My first impression was that the low lighting on the paths around the villas could be a safety hazard, but we got used to it.
The Room
Our room was large:
(Note that photos don't necessarily match with times described. I just want to give everyone an idea of what the places I am describing look like.)
with a beautiful view of the pool and ocean:
and an open-concept bathroom:
The bed was the typically comfortable W bed, and a large papasan chair was the main seating for the room. The flat screen TV received all of the major (and some minor) channels plus HBO. The open-concept bathroom worked better than the one we had at the W Santiago, where both the bath and shower were in the bedroom. In this case, the shower cabin was similar to the one we had at the W Istanbul, just not as colorful. Even though we had rooms on either side and below, we never heard our neighbors.
Food and Drink
With the exception of Saturday lunch, which we had at El Patio in Isabel, we ate all of our meals on property. After arrival on Friday, we had mojitos ($12) and hurricanes ($13) by the fire pit. Mr. FB ordered the BBQ Sliders ($14), and I ordered the Mezze with hummus, tabbouleh, olives, and cucumber tzatziki, accompanied by pita wedges ($13 for three portions and $3 for each additional). The drinks were refreshing and generously spiked, and the food was delicious. The sliders came with slaw, and the Mezze portions were generous. (The tabbouleh was actually a couscous salad, though.) The fire pit was also a great gathering spot:
We got breakfast each morning at the Cafe, partially motivated by the daily credit I received as an alternate amenity. We only visited the Cafe during breakfast hours, so I can't say what was available during other times of the day. However, morning offerings included displays of assorted pastries, bagels, baguettes, and fruit. There was also yogurt with toppings and a display case with fresh fruit and breakfast sandwiches (priced $6 - $8). The breakfast sandwiches were pre-made and warmed on a panini press. Items were served to eat there (which we did on Saturday morning on the patio) or to take away (which we did on Sunday to our room and Monday to Paradise Point). There were also cans of soft drinks and bottles of water ($2), cups of juices ($4 - $6), as well as all sorts of snacks and beverages. The Cafe also does picnic baskets, ranging in price from $38 - $80 or more, depending on your choices. The baskets seemed to be a decent value, considering what they offered and where you were!
We also had drinks and snacks by the pool a few times. The drinks from Wet weren't as strong as the ones from the Living Room. Perhaps it was the melting ice, but they were still refreshing. The chips with mango salsa, guacamole, and some other dip ($13) were OK. The best part was the mango salsa, but there was less of it than the other two items.
We had two other meals at the Living Room: Saturday pre-Bio Bay tour dinner of Mezze with all six portions (including a delicious eggplant caviar/baba ghanouj). For $22, it was a great value that satisfied both of us. We also ate there Sunday evening after sunset while lazing on one of the papasan chairs on the porch between the door and the fire pit:
I had the pizza with chorizo, pesto, and blue cheese ($14) while Mr. FB had chicken wings.
We had Monday lunch at miX on the Beach, the Alain Ducasse restaurant just off the Living Room. We both had the VQS Burger ($18) and drinks. The burger was topped with grilled jalapenos, avocado, gruyere, lettuce and tomato and served with spiced steak fries and ketchup. Another guest had recommended this burger, and we both enjoyed it.
Spa Services
The Spa is located behind the building that houses the Cafe, Sweat (the gym), and Black Beard Sports (and Avis). Mr. FB treated me to a scrub on Sunday afternoon, and he got one as well after me. He also had a facial on Monday morning. Scrubs, facials, and massages start at $80 for 30 minutes. (You can get the entire menu of services from the hotel's website.) We both opted for the Coffee-Con-Coco scrub and were fortunate to have Astrid do the scrubs. The spa rooms are all off a peaceful courtyard:
and nicely appointed:
After the scrub, Astrid excused herself from the room, allowing me to go outside to shower in privacy:
while she returned to the room to prepare it for the application of a soothing moisturizer. By the way, it took a long time to wash away all of those coffee grounds and coconut. No pictures of that!
The 30 minutes was actually more than 40 minutes, and it left me shiny, soft, and relaxed.
The Staff
We didn't encounter any inconsistencies in service among the talent at the W. Everyone, and I mean everyone, made us feel like our satisfaction was their obsession. Mary (mentioned earlier) and Bree (the tall lady who was often at the front desk) especially stood out. I called the front desk with an issue late Saturday (will mention that later), and Mary called me on Sunday afternoon at the room and on my cell phone to see if everything was OK. Bree was always so helpful. Both addressed us by name every time they saw me or Mr. FB. The servers at the Cafe, Wet, the Living Room, and miX were also wonderful, as were others we encountered.
Other Guests
As someone else mentioned, the crowd is mainly 30s - 40s, and there were some older guests. There were only a few families with children. I don't remember seeing any single guests; it was very "couple-y" (to borrow someone else's word). It was a pretty social crowd, and we had lots of nice conversations with other guests. Also, we are always conscious as to whether or not we are the only same-sex couple whenever we visit someplace, and there were at least two other such couples the weekend we were there.
Issues
We only had two issues with our stay. One related to a group of lawyers from San Juan who had a retreat during the weekend. They were pretty boisterous, which was OK for the most part. However, they had a party (with a DJ) by the pool on Saturday evening. I called Whatever, Whenever a little after 11:30 p.m. and asked how much later the party would go. I was told that it would end at midnight. I thought it was a little thoughtless that a property like this would allow a party to go this late with a DJ's banter and loud music. Those of us in Villas 5, 6, 7, and 8 could not escape it, and it broke the peace and quiet of the place. I was a little miffed, but it was a small blip to an otherwise peaceful stay. The follow up calls by Mary the next day showed genuine concern for my happiness, though.
The other issue had to do with a booking mixup for our Bio Bay tour. I called the hotel last Wednesday, two days before our arrival, to arrange the tour. One of the concierges called me back the next day to confirm a 9:00 p.m. tour on Saturday, September 3. He said that the 7:00 p.m. tour was filled, which was fine by us. We figured 9:00 p.m. was better. Saturday morning, we went to the concierge desk to confirm our tour, but he said we were scheduled for the 7:00 p.m. tour. He called Island Adventures to change to the 9:00 p.m. tour. We returned to the room at 5:00 p.m., and we had a message from the concierge reminding us to be in the Living Room at 6:30 p.m. for departure to our 7:00 p.m. tour. I called the concierge, and he explained that the 9:00 p.m. tour had been canceled due to a problem, and that we had been moved to the 7:00 p.m. tour. We boarded our transportation ($20 round trip), which went to Island Adventures via Isabel and Esperanza. We arrived around 7:10 p.m., but folks were still checking in. When I gave the person doing the check-ins my name, she said, "You are scheduled for the 9:00 p.m. tour. Someone from your hotel called this morning to switch you from the 7:00 p.m. tour." I told her that was correct, but that we had been told the 9:00 p.m. tour was canceled and that we were switched back to 7:00 p.m. Bottom line, she did allow us to take the 7:00 p.m. tour, but she made a disparaging comment about the W, which I thought was inappropriate. It's no one's fault (except for Hurricane Irene), but the bay was not as luminescent as usual.
Etc.
Wifi is included in the resort fee, but the signal seemed to be intermittent on my iPad while we were in the room. Mr. FB's MacBook Air had a little better luck from the room, but he said it was slow. Signals were much stronger at the Living Room, which is probably why many people were using their notebooks there. Most of the island, including the W, has 3G coverage. The signal was stronger at the airport.
There are two beaches: W Beach and Whisper Beach (pictured below):
I think Whisper Beach is clothing-optional, but we never saw any clothing-free sunbathers.
Paradise Point, just above Whisper Beach, was our favorite place on the property. The two rocking chairs were the perfect place for us to share a sunset:
and continental breakfast on Monday morning. This is where you can get a five-course tasting menu for $500/couple, including wine. It's also where weddings seem to be set up. Oh, and the view, the breeze, and the sound of the waves make this spot live up to its name!
Villa 1 faces Paradise Point, and along with Villas 2 - 4 are west of the main building. Villas 5 - 8 are east of the main building and face the pools. Other villas are farther to the east and appear to have a different design as well as their own pool:
The airport shuttle leaves every 30 minutes. After checking in with your carrier, you can wait in the W Arrivals/Departures Lounge:
Be aware that there is no TSA security at VQS, so if flying to SJU and connecting to somewhere, allow time to clear security there.
Transportation to other parts of Vieques can be arranged by W staff through vans. We were able to get a van to Isabel on short notice ($15 for the two of us). For the return, we called the driver and he picked us up on the way to take another couple to Playa Caracas (Red Beach). He allowed us to get out and take pictures for a few minutes before returning to the W. He didn't charge us extra for what turned out to be an extensive tour of the island. Next time, we will rent a vehicle for at least one day. I recommend arranging rentals before you arrive on the island, as last-minute bookings this past weekend were not available.
Coolers of water with ice and citrus slices are near the front desk and a few other places on the property. Complimentary coffee, tea, and hot chocolate are available at the Living Room until about noon daily. A complimentary cocktail is available at the evening Sip in the Living Room.
If you want to stock up on supplies, Supermercado Morales in Isabel is the place to do it. You can get 1.5 liter bottles of water for $1.79, snacks, beer (Medalla 6-packs for a little over $5), wine, or anything else. It's not really worth taking the van to Isabel just to shop, but it is worth a stop if you're going there for lunch anyway.
In conclusion, the W Vieques was all we expected and more. We will return. We probably would not pay $600/night, but $350/night or 80K Starpoints for 5 nights is not that much in our opinion.
Getting There
I made reservations in July, using three free nights I earned in the free resort nights promotion. Then we bought plane tickets. Even though we were on separate tickets on different airlines, we were on the same Cape Air flight from SJU-VQS. We were on the last flight of the evening, so scenery was limited.
Arrival
After we collected our bags from the Cessna, we walked through the terminal, turned left, and entered the W Arrivals/Departures Lounge. We were met by Mary who greeted me by name. We were the only W guests arriving on that flight--I guess that's why it was easy to figure out who I was. Mary invited us to relax during the short wait for the van to the hotel. She accompanied us back to the hotel, along with the pilot (who was dropped off at one of the residences at the entrance to the hotel grounds).
Check-In
When we arrived at the hotel, someone took our bags and we went to the desk. Check-in was quick and courteous. We were informed that we had been upgraded to a Spectacular Room with a pool and ocean view. I was asked which Platinum amenity I wanted, and then told that I would also receive a $10/day credit at the Cafe for being a Platinum. This appears the be the extra alternative amenity because of the $60/day resort fee. After check-in, we were given a short tour of the property on our way to Villa 6 and Room 633. My first impression was that the low lighting on the paths around the villas could be a safety hazard, but we got used to it.
The Room
Our room was large:
(Note that photos don't necessarily match with times described. I just want to give everyone an idea of what the places I am describing look like.)
with a beautiful view of the pool and ocean:
and an open-concept bathroom:
The bed was the typically comfortable W bed, and a large papasan chair was the main seating for the room. The flat screen TV received all of the major (and some minor) channels plus HBO. The open-concept bathroom worked better than the one we had at the W Santiago, where both the bath and shower were in the bedroom. In this case, the shower cabin was similar to the one we had at the W Istanbul, just not as colorful. Even though we had rooms on either side and below, we never heard our neighbors.
Food and Drink
With the exception of Saturday lunch, which we had at El Patio in Isabel, we ate all of our meals on property. After arrival on Friday, we had mojitos ($12) and hurricanes ($13) by the fire pit. Mr. FB ordered the BBQ Sliders ($14), and I ordered the Mezze with hummus, tabbouleh, olives, and cucumber tzatziki, accompanied by pita wedges ($13 for three portions and $3 for each additional). The drinks were refreshing and generously spiked, and the food was delicious. The sliders came with slaw, and the Mezze portions were generous. (The tabbouleh was actually a couscous salad, though.) The fire pit was also a great gathering spot:
We got breakfast each morning at the Cafe, partially motivated by the daily credit I received as an alternate amenity. We only visited the Cafe during breakfast hours, so I can't say what was available during other times of the day. However, morning offerings included displays of assorted pastries, bagels, baguettes, and fruit. There was also yogurt with toppings and a display case with fresh fruit and breakfast sandwiches (priced $6 - $8). The breakfast sandwiches were pre-made and warmed on a panini press. Items were served to eat there (which we did on Saturday morning on the patio) or to take away (which we did on Sunday to our room and Monday to Paradise Point). There were also cans of soft drinks and bottles of water ($2), cups of juices ($4 - $6), as well as all sorts of snacks and beverages. The Cafe also does picnic baskets, ranging in price from $38 - $80 or more, depending on your choices. The baskets seemed to be a decent value, considering what they offered and where you were!
We also had drinks and snacks by the pool a few times. The drinks from Wet weren't as strong as the ones from the Living Room. Perhaps it was the melting ice, but they were still refreshing. The chips with mango salsa, guacamole, and some other dip ($13) were OK. The best part was the mango salsa, but there was less of it than the other two items.
We had two other meals at the Living Room: Saturday pre-Bio Bay tour dinner of Mezze with all six portions (including a delicious eggplant caviar/baba ghanouj). For $22, it was a great value that satisfied both of us. We also ate there Sunday evening after sunset while lazing on one of the papasan chairs on the porch between the door and the fire pit:
I had the pizza with chorizo, pesto, and blue cheese ($14) while Mr. FB had chicken wings.
We had Monday lunch at miX on the Beach, the Alain Ducasse restaurant just off the Living Room. We both had the VQS Burger ($18) and drinks. The burger was topped with grilled jalapenos, avocado, gruyere, lettuce and tomato and served with spiced steak fries and ketchup. Another guest had recommended this burger, and we both enjoyed it.
Spa Services
The Spa is located behind the building that houses the Cafe, Sweat (the gym), and Black Beard Sports (and Avis). Mr. FB treated me to a scrub on Sunday afternoon, and he got one as well after me. He also had a facial on Monday morning. Scrubs, facials, and massages start at $80 for 30 minutes. (You can get the entire menu of services from the hotel's website.) We both opted for the Coffee-Con-Coco scrub and were fortunate to have Astrid do the scrubs. The spa rooms are all off a peaceful courtyard:
and nicely appointed:
After the scrub, Astrid excused herself from the room, allowing me to go outside to shower in privacy:
while she returned to the room to prepare it for the application of a soothing moisturizer. By the way, it took a long time to wash away all of those coffee grounds and coconut. No pictures of that!
The 30 minutes was actually more than 40 minutes, and it left me shiny, soft, and relaxed.
The Staff
We didn't encounter any inconsistencies in service among the talent at the W. Everyone, and I mean everyone, made us feel like our satisfaction was their obsession. Mary (mentioned earlier) and Bree (the tall lady who was often at the front desk) especially stood out. I called the front desk with an issue late Saturday (will mention that later), and Mary called me on Sunday afternoon at the room and on my cell phone to see if everything was OK. Bree was always so helpful. Both addressed us by name every time they saw me or Mr. FB. The servers at the Cafe, Wet, the Living Room, and miX were also wonderful, as were others we encountered.
Other Guests
As someone else mentioned, the crowd is mainly 30s - 40s, and there were some older guests. There were only a few families with children. I don't remember seeing any single guests; it was very "couple-y" (to borrow someone else's word). It was a pretty social crowd, and we had lots of nice conversations with other guests. Also, we are always conscious as to whether or not we are the only same-sex couple whenever we visit someplace, and there were at least two other such couples the weekend we were there.
Issues
We only had two issues with our stay. One related to a group of lawyers from San Juan who had a retreat during the weekend. They were pretty boisterous, which was OK for the most part. However, they had a party (with a DJ) by the pool on Saturday evening. I called Whatever, Whenever a little after 11:30 p.m. and asked how much later the party would go. I was told that it would end at midnight. I thought it was a little thoughtless that a property like this would allow a party to go this late with a DJ's banter and loud music. Those of us in Villas 5, 6, 7, and 8 could not escape it, and it broke the peace and quiet of the place. I was a little miffed, but it was a small blip to an otherwise peaceful stay. The follow up calls by Mary the next day showed genuine concern for my happiness, though.
The other issue had to do with a booking mixup for our Bio Bay tour. I called the hotel last Wednesday, two days before our arrival, to arrange the tour. One of the concierges called me back the next day to confirm a 9:00 p.m. tour on Saturday, September 3. He said that the 7:00 p.m. tour was filled, which was fine by us. We figured 9:00 p.m. was better. Saturday morning, we went to the concierge desk to confirm our tour, but he said we were scheduled for the 7:00 p.m. tour. He called Island Adventures to change to the 9:00 p.m. tour. We returned to the room at 5:00 p.m., and we had a message from the concierge reminding us to be in the Living Room at 6:30 p.m. for departure to our 7:00 p.m. tour. I called the concierge, and he explained that the 9:00 p.m. tour had been canceled due to a problem, and that we had been moved to the 7:00 p.m. tour. We boarded our transportation ($20 round trip), which went to Island Adventures via Isabel and Esperanza. We arrived around 7:10 p.m., but folks were still checking in. When I gave the person doing the check-ins my name, she said, "You are scheduled for the 9:00 p.m. tour. Someone from your hotel called this morning to switch you from the 7:00 p.m. tour." I told her that was correct, but that we had been told the 9:00 p.m. tour was canceled and that we were switched back to 7:00 p.m. Bottom line, she did allow us to take the 7:00 p.m. tour, but she made a disparaging comment about the W, which I thought was inappropriate. It's no one's fault (except for Hurricane Irene), but the bay was not as luminescent as usual.
Etc.
Wifi is included in the resort fee, but the signal seemed to be intermittent on my iPad while we were in the room. Mr. FB's MacBook Air had a little better luck from the room, but he said it was slow. Signals were much stronger at the Living Room, which is probably why many people were using their notebooks there. Most of the island, including the W, has 3G coverage. The signal was stronger at the airport.
There are two beaches: W Beach and Whisper Beach (pictured below):
I think Whisper Beach is clothing-optional, but we never saw any clothing-free sunbathers.
Paradise Point, just above Whisper Beach, was our favorite place on the property. The two rocking chairs were the perfect place for us to share a sunset:
and continental breakfast on Monday morning. This is where you can get a five-course tasting menu for $500/couple, including wine. It's also where weddings seem to be set up. Oh, and the view, the breeze, and the sound of the waves make this spot live up to its name!
Villa 1 faces Paradise Point, and along with Villas 2 - 4 are west of the main building. Villas 5 - 8 are east of the main building and face the pools. Other villas are farther to the east and appear to have a different design as well as their own pool:
The airport shuttle leaves every 30 minutes. After checking in with your carrier, you can wait in the W Arrivals/Departures Lounge:
Be aware that there is no TSA security at VQS, so if flying to SJU and connecting to somewhere, allow time to clear security there.
Transportation to other parts of Vieques can be arranged by W staff through vans. We were able to get a van to Isabel on short notice ($15 for the two of us). For the return, we called the driver and he picked us up on the way to take another couple to Playa Caracas (Red Beach). He allowed us to get out and take pictures for a few minutes before returning to the W. He didn't charge us extra for what turned out to be an extensive tour of the island. Next time, we will rent a vehicle for at least one day. I recommend arranging rentals before you arrive on the island, as last-minute bookings this past weekend were not available.
Coolers of water with ice and citrus slices are near the front desk and a few other places on the property. Complimentary coffee, tea, and hot chocolate are available at the Living Room until about noon daily. A complimentary cocktail is available at the evening Sip in the Living Room.
If you want to stock up on supplies, Supermercado Morales in Isabel is the place to do it. You can get 1.5 liter bottles of water for $1.79, snacks, beer (Medalla 6-packs for a little over $5), wine, or anything else. It's not really worth taking the van to Isabel just to shop, but it is worth a stop if you're going there for lunch anyway.
In conclusion, the W Vieques was all we expected and more. We will return. We probably would not pay $600/night, but $350/night or 80K Starpoints for 5 nights is not that much in our opinion.
Oct 21, 2011, 3:22 pm
#52
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: DL:Lifetime Gold: US:CM:SPG:Lifetime Plat:HHonors:Diamond
Posts: 187
Thanks for the report. We have stayed often on the island and thinking of the W now that it is open a couple years. Does anyone know of a contact person at the hotel? email be great. Also noticed on the SPG site a special 800 number for Hotel offers? Is that SPG or the hotel? thanks in advance!
Oct 24, 2011, 3:53 am
#53
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Singapore
Programs: SPG
Posts: 4,002
It should be Starwood CCC.
[email protected]
Thyetus Lee | Social Media Specialist
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd
[email protected]
Thyetus Lee | Social Media Specialist
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd
Oct 24, 2011, 12:57 pm
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: A menace to everything in the sky. Yes. Even birds.
Programs: Eh+ Rapid Rolleyes
Posts: 14,519
Very random question
Am considering visiting the W Vieques in February for a week with the wifey.
Was reading some reviews on TripAdvisor (I know, I know) and came across this gem, which has to go down as one of the most absurd things ever published on the internet. As someone who is a (usually) rationale adult, who has traveled extensively, topless (and even clothing optional) beaches don't phase me. If you know they are there and don't want to partake, it's very easy to avoid them.
I'm just curious, as the W Vieques site makes no mention of Whisper Beach's status on the site can anyone say what the status of it actually is? Is there an actual definition of "European?" Generally in Vegas parlance (I know, I know) "European" pools are topless friendly, but this is something that is very ill-defined.
Also got me thinking, is this the only SPG affiliated property that has (or is very near) a (potential) clothing optional beach on-property? I know the W BCN is on some famously "liberal" beaches and South Beach is South Beach, but these aren't beaches on the property of the hotel. Are there any?
Was reading some reviews on TripAdvisor (I know, I know) and came across this gem, which has to go down as one of the most absurd things ever published on the internet. As someone who is a (usually) rationale adult, who has traveled extensively, topless (and even clothing optional) beaches don't phase me. If you know they are there and don't want to partake, it's very easy to avoid them.
I'm just curious, as the W Vieques site makes no mention of Whisper Beach's status on the site can anyone say what the status of it actually is? Is there an actual definition of "European?" Generally in Vegas parlance (I know, I know) "European" pools are topless friendly, but this is something that is very ill-defined.
Also got me thinking, is this the only SPG affiliated property that has (or is very near) a (potential) clothing optional beach on-property? I know the W BCN is on some famously "liberal" beaches and South Beach is South Beach, but these aren't beaches on the property of the hotel. Are there any?
Nov 9, 2011, 6:26 pm
#56
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: DFW
Posts: 81
FRN 5 Nights in Vieques
I recently cashed in 15 FRN nights for three rooms at the W Vieques for 5 nights. This place is awesome! I totally agree with the trip report above...I think everything the previous poster mentioned was right on the money. Bree checked me in at the front desk and was incredibly helpful during check-in. I was upgraded to a Marvelous room(as a platinum) and my two additional rooms were in the same villa. The hotel also sent chocolate covered strawberries to the room a few minutes after check-in(a nice touch). Our Villa was right next to the plunge pool which meant we were on the quieter side of the property. I will agree that this resort is very couply for the most part. There is a "clothing optional" beach but we never saw anyone undress the entire time we were there. There was a mix of 30-40s/families/late 20s, I wouldn't say this hotel was the typical W crowd. I was offered a 10% discount at the spa as an alternative amenity.
I would visit this property again, my only complaint was the waitstaff in the living room was terrible! I realize sometimes things are slower on an island but the waitstaff we encountered was downright rude and not helpful in the least bit. Also I will say the concierge botched our reservation at the bio bay(booked us as 2 instead of 5). There is also an Avis location attached to the hotel which makes it very convenient to rent a car. I would highly suggest driving yourself to the bio bay tours and the taxis were a rip-off on the island. If you eat off-site one night make sure it is at Next Course...the food was incredible. We went twice in three nights and tried different dishes each time and everything was great. We also tried El Patio but were very unimpressed....service was terrible and food was mediocre. Also if you are looking for something casual try Duffys in Esperanza everything was great and very reasonable.
I am more than happy to answer any other questions just PM me.
I would visit this property again, my only complaint was the waitstaff in the living room was terrible! I realize sometimes things are slower on an island but the waitstaff we encountered was downright rude and not helpful in the least bit. Also I will say the concierge botched our reservation at the bio bay(booked us as 2 instead of 5). There is also an Avis location attached to the hotel which makes it very convenient to rent a car. I would highly suggest driving yourself to the bio bay tours and the taxis were a rip-off on the island. If you eat off-site one night make sure it is at Next Course...the food was incredible. We went twice in three nights and tried different dishes each time and everything was great. We also tried El Patio but were very unimpressed....service was terrible and food was mediocre. Also if you are looking for something casual try Duffys in Esperanza everything was great and very reasonable.
I am more than happy to answer any other questions just PM me.
Nov 16, 2011, 9:23 pm
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: check swarm
Programs: DL DM & 2MM, SPG/Bonvoid LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, $tarbucks Titanium
Posts: 14,404
on their website: http://www.wvieques.com/air-credit
Dec 21, 2011, 12:55 pm
#58
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, AA Plat
Posts: 1,138
We had a mixed stay here over Thanksgiving, although in the end, the positive aspects probably outweighed the negative parts of the stay. We stayed here for 3 nights starting the Saturday before Thanksgiving - one night on FRN and two on a AAA rate. Given that there have been extensive reviews of this property (including the recent one by Flying Buccaneer), I will keep mine brief.
- The property itself is beautiful and we really enjoyed our room with its views. We were assigned to a Fabulous room (I think) in Villa 1, which had great views of Paradise point. I was thankful for not getting one of the rooms near the Pool, as the last thing I wanted was a room with a view of the Pool. Villa 1 was very private and even though the resort was busy, we rarely saw other guests on this side of the property
- The living room area was a great place to have dinner and drinks every night. There is lots of comfortable seating with ample privacy for couples, and the wait staff did an admirable job of attending to all our needs. There arent too many dining options in the resort (the main restaurant has very few, if any, vegetarian options so that was a no-go for us) but the food from the bar was quite decent - except for the pizza, which was terrible. The mezze appetizer was especially good, as was the mozzarella sandwich. Also, the ice-cream sundaes were to die for.
- The hotel has a nice beach but the pebbles in the sand can be quite irksome. We rented a car on one of our days there, and drove to Sun bay, which was spectacular and was everything you normally associate with beaches in the Caribbean - clear water, soft sand, and very private (we were the only ones on the beach for more than an hour in the afternoon).
- The hotel has recently changed its policies regarding the alternate Platinum amenity. I would have much preferred the daily $10 F&B credit to the current offer of 10% off spa services. When I pointed out that the rate we had booked include a 15% discount on the spa services already, the Front desk mentioned they would give us an extra 500 points to make up for it. Worst, when we showed up at the spa for our appointment, they had no record of our arrival and claimed that the nearest therapist would have to catch a ferry to come over to the island!
- As mentioned many times in this thread, the staff are definitely not up to the mark. The Front Desk and the Concierge often gave us conflicting information; Room service orders often had items missing etc. etc.
- I would recommend reserving a car in advance, esp. on busy weekends, if you are planning on exploring the island. Avis has a counter in-house.
It was a pleasant stay overall, and we enjoyed our room and the common areas, and the island itself so much that we didnt let the issues with the staff bother us - it was a good start to our Puerto Rico vacation! Pics below.
Villa 1 from outside
View from room
Room
Common areas/beach
Our favorite spot during the day
- The property itself is beautiful and we really enjoyed our room with its views. We were assigned to a Fabulous room (I think) in Villa 1, which had great views of Paradise point. I was thankful for not getting one of the rooms near the Pool, as the last thing I wanted was a room with a view of the Pool. Villa 1 was very private and even though the resort was busy, we rarely saw other guests on this side of the property
- The living room area was a great place to have dinner and drinks every night. There is lots of comfortable seating with ample privacy for couples, and the wait staff did an admirable job of attending to all our needs. There arent too many dining options in the resort (the main restaurant has very few, if any, vegetarian options so that was a no-go for us) but the food from the bar was quite decent - except for the pizza, which was terrible. The mezze appetizer was especially good, as was the mozzarella sandwich. Also, the ice-cream sundaes were to die for.
- The hotel has a nice beach but the pebbles in the sand can be quite irksome. We rented a car on one of our days there, and drove to Sun bay, which was spectacular and was everything you normally associate with beaches in the Caribbean - clear water, soft sand, and very private (we were the only ones on the beach for more than an hour in the afternoon).
- The hotel has recently changed its policies regarding the alternate Platinum amenity. I would have much preferred the daily $10 F&B credit to the current offer of 10% off spa services. When I pointed out that the rate we had booked include a 15% discount on the spa services already, the Front desk mentioned they would give us an extra 500 points to make up for it. Worst, when we showed up at the spa for our appointment, they had no record of our arrival and claimed that the nearest therapist would have to catch a ferry to come over to the island!
- As mentioned many times in this thread, the staff are definitely not up to the mark. The Front Desk and the Concierge often gave us conflicting information; Room service orders often had items missing etc. etc.
- I would recommend reserving a car in advance, esp. on busy weekends, if you are planning on exploring the island. Avis has a counter in-house.
It was a pleasant stay overall, and we enjoyed our room and the common areas, and the island itself so much that we didnt let the issues with the staff bother us - it was a good start to our Puerto Rico vacation! Pics below.
Villa 1 from outside
View from room
Room
Common areas/beach
Our favorite spot during the day
Dec 26, 2011, 8:40 am
#60
Join Date: Oct 2010
Programs: Jetblue Mosaic, Delta Gold, AAdvantage Gold, Bonvoy Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 54
that spot is nice for reading as well
random notes from visit
1) They only do morning yoga, not evening, and that intermittently. But if you're serious enough to care, there are nice spots on the beach
2) Pirates cove is good shore diving (and snorkeling) if you don't want to pay for boat dives. North shore dive sites have bad visibility in winter
3) MiX food is bad. Living room is better but service is slow. Bar is fun, what you'd expect from a W (if you are <30, otherwise, its obnoxious and over the top, as you would expect from a W)
4) Avis in the rec shop has Jeeps. But island car rental just outside the grounds has slightly cheaper and brand new jeeps (I had 50 miles on the one I rented). Something for the Hertz loyalists to consider
5) Staff/service isn't great. Confirm everything with the concierge, butler etc. Have them read your room # back to you. Its a resort not a business hotel, and the expectations are different
6) Bio bay is great. Electric boat if you are lazy or not comfortable ocean kayaking, otherwise Blue Caribe and Abe do good tours
7) Sol food truck at the entrance to the preserve & beaches is amazing food, for a great price. Th-Sun if the weather is nice. They sell out by 2, open at 11am.
random notes from visit
1) They only do morning yoga, not evening, and that intermittently. But if you're serious enough to care, there are nice spots on the beach
2) Pirates cove is good shore diving (and snorkeling) if you don't want to pay for boat dives. North shore dive sites have bad visibility in winter
3) MiX food is bad. Living room is better but service is slow. Bar is fun, what you'd expect from a W (if you are <30, otherwise, its obnoxious and over the top, as you would expect from a W)
4) Avis in the rec shop has Jeeps. But island car rental just outside the grounds has slightly cheaper and brand new jeeps (I had 50 miles on the one I rented). Something for the Hertz loyalists to consider
5) Staff/service isn't great. Confirm everything with the concierge, butler etc. Have them read your room # back to you. Its a resort not a business hotel, and the expectations are different
6) Bio bay is great. Electric boat if you are lazy or not comfortable ocean kayaking, otherwise Blue Caribe and Abe do good tours
7) Sol food truck at the entrance to the preserve & beaches is amazing food, for a great price. Th-Sun if the weather is nice. They sell out by 2, open at 11am.