I've been visiting this hotel since it opened (and Le Meridien Cancun closed) and I LOVE it. So when I was there in August, I decided that I'd have my BFF join me for my next trip, which is next weekend. We are going to celebrate not just our birthdays, which we celebrated together as kids as we are only a month apart, but also, the 30th anniversary of our 1st trip to Cancun! #SPGlife

I knew we had gone in 1986 and at the time, we swore up and down that we'd return to Cancun every 5 years. Well, she didn't make it back until 3 years ago and she LOVED Westin Lagunamar. It's a far cry from the resort we stayed at in the 80s! Back then we were young teens with my mom in the next room, and our very 1st minibar, which we hardly touched. The hotel was called The Calinda and was near where the marina is now. Things were SO different then. We had to take a plane to Cozumel and it was one that seated only the 4 of us. To get to Isla Mujeres we had to take a boat tour. But it was such fun and I'm thrilled to be going back exactly 30 years later. Can you imagine arranging a trip and realizing that it had been 30 years to the day, that you'd 1st seen such a beautiful and wonderful place?

So here's my dilemma. If we were going anywhere else, Starwood would make a big deal over our trip. But Lagunamar has limited Starwood Participation. Normally, as both a Lifetime Plat, SPG has made much of the celebrations I've spent with them. From my huge 40th Birthday Bash in Chicago at the Lakeshore W, to our anniversary at Westin Maui, and even the Sheraton DTW bringing my son his 5 year birthday cake before we left for Florida, I've always been surprised and thrilled at the wonderful treatment I have received. Just last May, after a terrible health scare, I took my Bucket List Trip to Greece, and the Hotel Grande Bretagne's welcome made me burst into tears. In addition to the lovely amenities like chocolates and wine, the management had two big Luxury Collection bags waiting, with the most gorgeous suede/leather duffle from the gift shop, with HGB insignia and the tags embossed with our names. At the gift shoppe, the duffles were $350 Euros each! So I have been spoiled.

Back to Westin Lagunamar. I arrive on 9/30 and my BFF since age of 4, arrives on 10/1, which is her actual birthday. Mine is a month later, but we always celebrated them together with parties as kids. I want to celebrate both our birthdays AND the amazing coincidence of it being 30 years to the day of our 1st trip. But being as they are a part of SPG yet NOT a part, I wonder if I'll be able to do much. I was hoping to decorate the suite a bit, but beyond that, I'm stumped. We both need this to be a relaxing trip. She just returned from Europe and I have been very ill again. I wonder if they do celebrate things like that, or if it is something we have to do on our own. I love Westin Lagunamar, but I'll admit, I miss the entire SPG experience there. I miss the early check-ins and the late check-outs, though I was told in August that I certainly could have a late check out. I had a crazy early plane, so I thanked them but couldn't use it. It's always hard to know which properties send the gifts for the celebrations like the champagne or wine or a birthday cake, and which don't.

Has anyone spent a birthday or anniversary or another special occasion there? I've been there so many times that I've lost track, but I don't recall ever seeing any parties going on. As a Lifetime Plat, at the least, I usually get a fruit basket or wine or another gift with note to say "Thanks for being a Lifetime Plat" but NEVER at Westin Lagunamar. And I stay there several times a year. Again, I think it is simply because they're SPG but not SPG, if that makes sense.

I've never had a bad stay here. But this trip I want to be very special. A 30 year anniversary of our 1st trip to Cancun is a huge thing, even bigger than our birthdays! But I do want it to be special because her actual birthday falls on the day she arrives. I had to pay out of pocket for all but one night with the rates higher than I've ever seen them for this time of year. I think the category change affected the rates. So I can't spend a lot. But I'm glad I'm not only flying for a one day meeting and then leaving. As with every trip, I add on days to make it a vacation, too.

I'm always in meetings in the mornings when I am there so I have precious little time to explore. I know she loved Seņor Frogs when we went 3 years ago, maybe that will be enough for her birthday. But if anyone knows them to do special things like spg.life's many recognitions, I'd love to hear it. I tend to stay at the resort unless I go across to La Isla Mall, so I have no idea about fun places to visit for birthdays, etc. Or is there somewhere IN the resort where birthdays are acknowledged? I guess I'm just looking for someone who has an idea or who has celebrated here before. After many years and about 15 visits, I still usually just eat lunch by the pool and make my own toast for breakfast. This will be a challenge.

Thanks in advance, I hope to see some fun advice. A week from tonight, we will be celebrating!