The Westin Puntacana Resort & Club, Dominican Republic [Master Thread]
Jul 28, 2017, 8:43 am
#106
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Charlotte, NC USA
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott Lifetime / Annual Titanium; Massively Missing Starwood
Posts: 5,339
Has anyone booked or stayed here recently? I'm looking into booking a 5 night trip in January but the cancellation policy is putting me off. For a trip in January, the cancellation policy reads "If you cancel between Fri 28 July 2017 and 4:00 PM hotel time on Thu, 14 Dec 2017, there will be no forfeiture amount. If you cancel after the 4:00PM hotel time on Thur, 14 Dec 2017, the forfeiture amount will be a 21 night stay. There may be additional applicable charges and taxes." Really? Is that normal?
Apr 13, 2018, 7:24 pm
#107
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Gold
Posts: 673
Hi all - any recent updates on this property? Have an upcoming stay but have never stayed in a Caribbean/Mexican resort town. We are primarily in it for the peace/relaxation for a long weekend but wondering what other activities there might be nearby. I saw the Hard Rock online and was planning on gambling one night but then just realized it's ~30 minutes away. Anyone know if there's a casino that's closer? If not, I'm even considering renting a car which is very cheap and since it sounds like we would have to pay $20 each way to the airport, might not be a bad idea to have wheels. FWIW, I can speak and read spanish so not too worried about the roads unless anyone would advise against driving (are they in bad condition?).
Will likely do at least part of a day at the spa, and does anyone have any personal recommendations on excursions or activities?
Also - seems like there won't be any nightlife nearby and the village is more just for some shops and a grocery store?
Will likely do at least part of a day at the spa, and does anyone have any personal recommendations on excursions or activities?
Also - seems like there won't be any nightlife nearby and the village is more just for some shops and a grocery store?
Apr 16, 2018, 4:16 pm
#108
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Gold
Posts: 673
Hi all - any recent updates on this property? Have an upcoming stay but have never stayed in a Caribbean/Mexican resort town. We are primarily in it for the peace/relaxation for a long weekend but wondering what other activities there might be nearby. I saw the Hard Rock online and was planning on gambling one night but then just realized it's ~30 minutes away. Anyone know if there's a casino that's closer? If not, I'm even considering renting a car which is very cheap and since it sounds like we would have to pay $20 each way to the airport, might not be a bad idea to have wheels. FWIW, I can speak and read spanish so not too worried about the roads unless anyone would advise against driving (are they in bad condition?).
Will likely do at least part of a day at the spa, and does anyone have any personal recommendations on excursions or activities?
Also - seems like there won't be any nightlife nearby and the village is more just for some shops and a grocery store?
Will likely do at least part of a day at the spa, and does anyone have any personal recommendations on excursions or activities?
Also - seems like there won't be any nightlife nearby and the village is more just for some shops and a grocery store?
Apr 16, 2018, 4:57 pm
#109
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Liftime Titanium Elite Marriott
Posts: 1,752
We stayed there a few months back. Lifetime plat. Received a suite ocean facing upgrade. The breakfast for plats is the continental and ten bucks more gets you the buffet. The buffet was pretty decent and for some reason we were never charged.
Apr 16, 2018, 6:26 pm
#110
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Gold
Posts: 673
Awesome - thanks! Did you stay at the resort the entire time or did you venture off property? Looking for some recommendations if you have any. I think we'll be content for a few days of relaxation but I'm also more of the adventurous type so I'd like to have a few options even if it means dragging the SO with me.
Apr 16, 2018, 8:48 pm
#111
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Liftime Titanium Elite Marriott
Posts: 1,752
I went a week with my daughter. We didn’t do any activities. We went to the shopping area on the shuttle a few times. The restaurants at the resort grow old quick. If you want to save a few bucks you can take the free airport shuttle to the four points and take the shuttle from four points to the Westin. Save 20 bucks each way.
Apr 16, 2018, 9:27 pm
#112
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: milwaukee
Programs: DL Diamond, HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 241
There is the 4points hotel and shopping mall which can be reached with a free shuttle.
The resort "complex" also includes a nature area. Good for an hour walk. Free shuttle will get you there.
Leaving the "complex" tends to be expensive. Excursions run $75-125.
The hotel does sell various day excursions, zip-lining, etc.
We did a day trip to Santo Domingo for $95/person, which we enjoyed.
I
The resort "complex" also includes a nature area. Good for an hour walk. Free shuttle will get you there.
Leaving the "complex" tends to be expensive. Excursions run $75-125.
The hotel does sell various day excursions, zip-lining, etc.
We did a day trip to Santo Domingo for $95/person, which we enjoyed.
I
Apr 16, 2018, 9:44 pm
#113
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Gold
Posts: 673
I went a week with my daughter. We didn’t do any activities. We went to the shopping area on the shuttle a few times. The restaurants at the resort grow old quick. If you want to save a few bucks you can take the free airport shuttle to the four points and take the shuttle from four points to the Westin. Save 20 bucks each way.
There is the 4points hotel and shopping mall which can be reached with a free shuttle.
The resort "complex" also includes a nature area. Good for an hour walk. Free shuttle will get you there.
Leaving the "complex" tends to be expensive. Excursions run $75-125.
The hotel does sell various day excursions, zip-lining, etc.
We did a day trip to Santo Domingo for $95/person, which we enjoyed.
I
The resort "complex" also includes a nature area. Good for an hour walk. Free shuttle will get you there.
Leaving the "complex" tends to be expensive. Excursions run $75-125.
The hotel does sell various day excursions, zip-lining, etc.
We did a day trip to Santo Domingo for $95/person, which we enjoyed.
I
Re: the food, thanks for confirming my thoughts. I'm not one to willingly eat hotel food for 5 nights (even with different options) so I imagine we might be heading into the village a few times even if just for standard chain restaurant food (which there seems to be quite a few of at the mall).
Will probably bite on an excursion or two but otherwise sounds like lots of beach and relaxing to look forward to.
If anyone has thoughts on how to get to the Hard Rock for a night at the casino, I'd love to hear. Not sure about driving and a taxi seems like it will be insanely expensive given the distance.
Apr 17, 2018, 8:53 am
#114
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: PDX/SDF
Programs: AA ExPlat, Frontier Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15
Stayed here last month for three days on a stopever back to the states.
Its a beautiful property, and I was plat upgraded to a center-view-room with an amazing expansive view of the ocean. The property is gorgeous, and the beachfront restraunt has excellent food; though the breakfast amenity is continental only, and they are not only annoyingly vocal about this, but they layout of the buffet makes it very confusing what is and is not included.
They had regular beachfront entertainment as well as a hotel bar playing dance music nightly, and a local artists market daily as well. The staff were all quite pleasant, and plat status was immediately recognized.
On the negative side, the room they gave me was not cleaned well at all - there were used woman’s underwear in the closet - and they sent a staffer to get them when I mentioned this, not even an apology. It’s $20 taxi minimum to get off the property, and closer to $50 to get to anywhere remotely “local”. And though most may not care... there is no beachside bar for sipping drinks on the sand.
if you just want to sit on a beautiful beach for a few days, especially if you’re spending points, this is a great place to do it. If you want to see any of the local culture... perhaps skip Punta Cana entirely and pick another area of the island.
Its a beautiful property, and I was plat upgraded to a center-view-room with an amazing expansive view of the ocean. The property is gorgeous, and the beachfront restraunt has excellent food; though the breakfast amenity is continental only, and they are not only annoyingly vocal about this, but they layout of the buffet makes it very confusing what is and is not included.
They had regular beachfront entertainment as well as a hotel bar playing dance music nightly, and a local artists market daily as well. The staff were all quite pleasant, and plat status was immediately recognized.
On the negative side, the room they gave me was not cleaned well at all - there were used woman’s underwear in the closet - and they sent a staffer to get them when I mentioned this, not even an apology. It’s $20 taxi minimum to get off the property, and closer to $50 to get to anywhere remotely “local”. And though most may not care... there is no beachside bar for sipping drinks on the sand.
if you just want to sit on a beautiful beach for a few days, especially if you’re spending points, this is a great place to do it. If you want to see any of the local culture... perhaps skip Punta Cana entirely and pick another area of the island.
Jun 4, 2018, 9:15 am
#117
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,482
