Westin Lagunamar Review
Introduction Mrs. And I just returned from a 3 night stay. We booked a studio villa on points. As a Gold I was pleasantly surprised to be upgraded to a 1 bedroom at check in. See below for more detail. All in all this is a WONDERFUL property. Check In i was a little surprised that they wanted to photocopy our passports but I did not argue about it. Is this typical outside of the US? I wasn't sure why it was really needed and seemed a little invasive. I have no problem showing ID at check in but it seems to me that a drivers license should suffice? We don't frequently travel internationally so I am somewhat ignorant on this issue.We arrived at 11:30 AM and I was very pleased that we were given an upgraded room (from studio to 1 bedroom) without delay. I had heard that there was minimal status recognition here but they did a nice job acknowledging my status. Also, I would not have expected that type of upgrade as a Gold so it was a very nice surprise. Room We were in a 1st floor, oceanfront 1 bedroom on the south end of the property, near the smaller pool. View was terrific. Room was nicely appointed, attractive furniture, etc. Kitchen fully stocked for those that might want to cook, bathroom was large and had a soaker tub and separate shower. We had some difficulty getting the shower to stay at a comfortable temperature. Too hot, then too cold, then too hot, etc. that was my only real complaint about the room. Service Service was generally very good, staff was friendly and helpful. Dining We ate breakfast daily in Oceano. I thought that the price of the breakfast buffet (about $20) which included one mimosa was extremely reasonable given that we were at a resort. The buffet was extensive, with omelettes, eggs to order, and a nice selection of Mexican food as well. Quality of food was good overall. Our only other "dining" was drinks at the swim up bar. I thought that prices were VERY reasonable for a beach resort, and the 3-4 PM half price happy hour was a terrific deal, about $3 for margarita, daiquiri, etc. beers about $3 all day. Location I thought the location was great. Directly across the street from La Isla mall. Walking distance to a number of good restaurants. Overall This was a fantastic stay. Beautiful room, good service, and we also loved the pool areas and beach. We have been to resorts in Hawaii, Aruba, the Bahamas, and Florida and thought that from a facilities standpoint, this was the nicest property we had been to. I can see why it has been moved to a Category 6. I was lucky enough to book just before it moved up category. If I returned, I would have to give thought to the Westin Cancun given that it is a Category 3. However, the Lagunamar wins out hands down on location.