The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico [Master Thread]
Sep 26, 2011, 11:57 am
#151
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: US Chair | SPG Life/Plat | Nat'l Exec Elite
Posts: 48
I have 5 nights booked for next month.... and was about to buy flights. After reading through recent posts I'm not sure this would be a good destination (eg: bad service, no plat recognition, etc).
Hmmm.... decisions, decisions.
Hmmm.... decisions, decisions.
Sep 26, 2011, 1:42 pm
#153
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Posts: 1,002
I was fortunate to stay here this summer and I really had a great time. I was only there 2 nights, came in late in the evening from Atlanta. We rented a car ( which I would recommend over parking) and drove here. We were upgraded to a nice ocean suite as SPG Platinum.
The lake house and lake is nice and we went kayaking there. The pools are very nice as well as the beach. If you have Free Resort Nights, I would highly recommend it. Fern for breakfast was great every morning.
If on the fence, I would say go for it!
The lake house and lake is nice and we went kayaking there. The pools are very nice as well as the beach. If you have Free Resort Nights, I would highly recommend it. Fern for breakfast was great every morning.
If on the fence, I would say go for it!
Sep 26, 2011, 2:15 pm
#154
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,644
This hotel is awful and not worth the money or points. The service is definitely not up to par. Multiple phone calls to get towels or simple requests. Staff were rude to my family.
The prices for food are insane and the food is nothing special. We drove to Old San Juan a few times for dinner.
The W Vieques is much better as are the Conquistador and the Ritz and El San Juan in San Juan. Save your money/points and go elsewhere!
Zero platinum recognition when I arrived, had to haggle for a slight upgrade.
The prices for food are insane and the food is nothing special. We drove to Old San Juan a few times for dinner.
The W Vieques is much better as are the Conquistador and the Ritz and El San Juan in San Juan. Save your money/points and go elsewhere!
Zero platinum recognition when I arrived, had to haggle for a slight upgrade.
But service is definitely, um, "different." Everything operates more slowly and multiple requests were common for us.
Mike
Sep 26, 2011, 2:25 pm
#155
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,310
I hate to say it, however it appears this hotel is booked solid for the FRN's which means no rooms are available to use the FRN.
I'd be VERY wary of listening to the recent negative posts. It could very well be those who haven't been able to redeem and are hoping to get you to cancel so they can get your room.
I'd be VERY wary of listening to the recent negative posts. It could very well be those who haven't been able to redeem and are hoping to get you to cancel so they can get your room.
Last edited by Jesperss; Sep 26, 2011 at 11:53 pm
Sep 26, 2011, 2:38 pm
#156
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Los Angeles & Orange County, CA
Programs: Wouldn't you like to know?!
Posts: 23,822
Service was great when I stayed there. We requested the butler to come to our suite to make us some mojitos and he was there within a couple of minutes (although it could be because we tipped him well for the requests we made 
). Other hotel staff was also super friendly. Everyone said hello as they walked by us at the resort grounds and even a few of them referred me by name.
I ordered room service and the food arrived promptly. I thought the room service prices were reasonable, especially for a St Regis. I order room service regularly, particularly at Ws, and I found the prices to be lower than many metropolitan Ws.
Check in/out staff was also friendly, and valet brought up my car and had it waiting for me at the entrance without me even having to ask. I guess they were observing when I was at the check out desk.
Some folks forget that high food prices are to be expected at a high end secluded resort. I do, however, have a problem with their $60 per night resort fee plus an additional charge for parking. That's just ridiculous.
). Other hotel staff was also super friendly. Everyone said hello as they walked by us at the resort grounds and even a few of them referred me by name.I ordered room service and the food arrived promptly. I thought the room service prices were reasonable, especially for a St Regis. I order room service regularly, particularly at Ws, and I found the prices to be lower than many metropolitan Ws.
Check in/out staff was also friendly, and valet brought up my car and had it waiting for me at the entrance without me even having to ask. I guess they were observing when I was at the check out desk.
Some folks forget that high food prices are to be expected at a high end secluded resort. I do, however, have a problem with their $60 per night resort fee plus an additional charge for parking. That's just ridiculous.
Sep 26, 2011, 9:56 pm
#157
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 905
let me revise. one specific person was rude. not everyone. most people were very pleasant though didnt do things without being asked many many times...
Sep 27, 2011, 10:24 am
#158
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,644
I hate to say it, however it appears this hotel is booked solid for the FRN's which means no rooms are available to use the FRN.
I'd be VERY wary of listening to the recent negative posts. It could very well be those who haven't been able to redeem and are hoping to get you to cancel so they can get your room.
I'd be VERY wary of listening to the recent negative posts. It could very well be those who haven't been able to redeem and are hoping to get you to cancel so they can get your room.
Mike
Sep 27, 2011, 10:59 am
#159
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,310
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/17159504-post18.html
I have been unable to find standard rooms for any weekend the rest of the year. Makes me think this is either quite a popular weekend destination or that the St Regis Bahia Beach doesnt have a lot of standard rooms. Either way, very disappointing as I was hoping to get some use out of the free resort promo.
And if you're assuming that my comment about people writing bad reviews in order for people to cancel is a joke, you have to remember that this is the same forum where people are threatening to sue for not getting 83k miles for a $3 purchase. I wouldn't anything past some of the people here.
Last edited by Jesperss; Sep 27, 2011 at 11:04 am
Sep 27, 2011, 1:56 pm
#160
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: SPG Platinum, HHonors Gold, AAdvantage nothing, Milage Plus nothing
Posts: 49
FRN availability
I assume that this is a popular weekend destination in November/December. My wife and I had 3 FRN to use and there was no availability in December weekends (up to the 21st of course) so we are going Sunday-Wednesday instead. That was available so there are at least a few rooms at this location that qualify as standard.
Despite all the mixed reviews we are still excited to go and are heeding the advice to rent a car so we can hit Old San Juan and the grocery store.
Despite all the mixed reviews we are still excited to go and are heeding the advice to rent a car so we can hit Old San Juan and the grocery store.
Sep 27, 2011, 5:28 pm
#161
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: MR-Amb, Hyatt-Globalist, AA-EXP
Posts: 1,744
I totally agree with the commments re: service. Everyone was SUPER nice, but the service was unbelievably slow. Our room wasn't ready until 5pm when we checked in and it wasn't cleaned until 5pm or later each day and that was only after calling. Coffee in the morning took 45 minutes to an hour and the servers on the beach and the pool only come by once or twice an hour.
That said, this place is totally worth some FRNs and I would not advise someone to cancel based on the slow service. The rooms were fabulous and resort itself is extemely nice. Now, if I were paying the $1000/night for the suite I was in, I would have been very dissappointed.
That said, this place is totally worth some FRNs and I would not advise someone to cancel based on the slow service. The rooms were fabulous and resort itself is extemely nice. Now, if I were paying the $1000/night for the suite I was in, I would have been very dissappointed.
Sep 27, 2011, 6:13 pm
#162
Moderator: CommunityBuzz!, OMNI, OMNI/PR, and OMNI/Games & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: ORD (MDW stinks)
Programs: UAMM, AAMM & ExPlat, Marriott lifetime Plat, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 23,506
I had a conversation with the gm when I stayed at this resort & he stated they were trying to hire younger/eager workers who haven't been mired in the traditional Puerto Rican method of service (slow & have to ask many times), sounds like that the property's approach isn't working too well.
Sep 28, 2011, 11:10 am
#163
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,644
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/17159504-post18.html
And if you're assuming that my comment about people writing bad reviews in order for people to cancel is a joke, you have to remember that this is the same forum where people are threatening to sue for not getting 83k miles for a $3 purchase. I wouldn't anything past some of the people here.
And if you're assuming that my comment about people writing bad reviews in order for people to cancel is a joke, you have to remember that this is the same forum where people are threatening to sue for not getting 83k miles for a $3 purchase. I wouldn't anything past some of the people here.
I've heard some weird conspiracy theories, but that tops the cake.
Mike
Sep 29, 2011, 1:49 pm
#164
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 246
Car Rental at the Resort question
We are traveling there next week and I am trying to decide whether to rent a car or not. We will probably only need one 2 days. One for a trip to San Juan and another day for touring the rain forest.
Somewhere I saw where rentals could be arranged while at the resort. Does anyone know if this is correct and what the cost is. With the taxi and valet fees I don't see any need to incur these charges when we could probably arrange our schedule so that we could do the Old San Juan and Rain Forest trips on back to back days thus only incurring one valet fee and 2 days car rental plus of course the round trip to the airport.
Somewhere I saw where rentals could be arranged while at the resort. Does anyone know if this is correct and what the cost is. With the taxi and valet fees I don't see any need to incur these charges when we could probably arrange our schedule so that we could do the Old San Juan and Rain Forest trips on back to back days thus only incurring one valet fee and 2 days car rental plus of course the round trip to the airport.
Sep 29, 2011, 2:36 pm
#165
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: SPG Platinum, United Premier Gold
Posts: 37
rent a car. i was able to get a hotwire rate of ~$18 per day. can't go wrong at that price.
We are traveling there next week and I am trying to decide whether to rent a car or not. We will probably only need one 2 days. One for a trip to San Juan and another day for touring the rain forest.
Somewhere I saw where rentals could be arranged while at the resort. Does anyone know if this is correct and what the cost is. With the taxi and valet fees I don't see any need to incur these charges when we could probably arrange our schedule so that we could do the Old San Juan and Rain Forest trips on back to back days thus only incurring one valet fee and 2 days car rental plus of course the round trip to the airport.
Somewhere I saw where rentals could be arranged while at the resort. Does anyone know if this is correct and what the cost is. With the taxi and valet fees I don't see any need to incur these charges when we could probably arrange our schedule so that we could do the Old San Juan and Rain Forest trips on back to back days thus only incurring one valet fee and 2 days car rental plus of course the round trip to the airport.