Originally Posted by DAYflier

I haven't been on FT much lately...are the SPG lurkers still lurking?

Originally Posted by DAYflier

Just checked in yesterday. To help Bungvoy elites who have an upcoming stay here, the property honors the upgrade policy in a "funny" way.

4.3.c ii. of the Bungvoy T&Cs provides, at pertinent part, "Platinum Elite Members and above receive a complimentary upgrade to the best available room subject to availability for the entire length of stay at the time of check-in." (emphasis mine)

My wife and I (traveling with our 3 young children) booked into the Club 91 level (the food spread, by the way, has been lovely so far). When we inquired about an upgrade, we were assured we'd been provided one. But the upgrade we were given was a room with an "enhanced" view with balcony. I'll represent to you that every room in this joint has a great view with balcony...there are no "lagoon" or "garden" view rooms.

On the Bungvoy app, they were still selling parlor suites (they call it the "Caribbean Suite" - it's a bedroom with a separate living area). My wife went through at least two levels of management at the front desk to be upgraded in accordance with the unambiguous terms of the program. The best they would do to upgrade us to one of the available Caribbean Suites with an up-charge of about $500 for the entire stay. I spoke to Marriott CSR (I'm on vacation, so I thought I'd waste my time). She apparently called the property and then got back onto the line and advocated on behalf of the property. You see, the property only makes "available" enhanced view rooms as an upgrade for elites. This seems like a not-so-sneaky away around giving elites a complimentary upgrade -- especially when they claimed they would have given us the suite if we had applied SNAs in advance. If it's "available" for purposes of a SNA, then it should be available for a complimentary upgrade.

Sweaty, tired, and ready to get our vacation started, we begrudgingly took the $500 up-charge and moved into the suite. But this is another nail in the coffin for Marriott's and my relationship. They have to get these properties under control.

So, moral of the story, this property *does not* honor the upgrade T&Cs -- be aware if you have a stay planned here. Doing it over, I would have bought three interconnecting rooms for less money at the Westin Resort & Spa (or just moved over to the Hyatt Ziva and not had a bad taste in my mouth).

Originally Posted by kgkg

For lounge access, which one is stricter on the number of people to get access, JW or Marriott? I am a Titanium member, but need to bring my mother with my wife plus kids to stay in a room. Thank you!

Originally Posted by Smiley90

This property doesn't have a lounge eligible for status-based access, so... the JW is about infinite-% more strict

If you buy a lounge-eligible room, I believe it charges past the first 2 people in a room, something like 100USD/day+

Originally Posted by kgkg

Thank you so much! They only offer continental breakfast for an elite member + 1 in restaurants, right?

Originally Posted by Smiley90

That's the rule, correct - you might want to contact the property to ask how much breakfast for an additional child is, but the buffet price on the website is 28USD/adult

edit: here you go, from the rate rules:

"

• Club 91 is not a Concierge Floor, nor an Executive Level. A
• rate with Club 91 access must be booked in order to take
• advantage of Club 91 benefits.
• *Rate for 2 adults and 2 children under 5 years old
• *Children from 6 to 12 years old pay 75 USD plus taxes daily
• *Guests from 13 to 17 years old pay 100 USD plus taxes daily
• *Guests older than 18 years pay 125 USD plus taxes daily"

Originally Posted by Smiley90

That's the rule, correct - you might want to contact the property to ask how much breakfast for an additional child is, but the buffet price on the website is 28USD/adult

edit: here you go, from the rate rules - seems like 1 room gives access to club for 2 adults & 2 children, so you'd probably have to pay extra for your mom/wife if you book a club91 room

"

• Club 91 is not a Concierge Floor, nor an Executive Level. A
• rate with Club 91 access must be booked in order to take
• advantage of Club 91 benefits.
• *Rate for 2 adults and 2 children under 5 years old
• *Children from 6 to 12 years old pay 75 USD plus taxes daily
• *Guests from 13 to 17 years old pay 100 USD plus taxes daily
• *Guests older than 18 years pay 125 USD plus taxes daily"

Originally Posted by ecgz88

this hotel don't charge any resort fees for points stay, right? somehow I remember there's a review said they charge $20+ fees every day, but I can't find that review anymore and from their website I don't see fees, and can't find a hotel email I can ask

haven't decide which one to book J.W. or Westin for same 50K points, did Westin have Lounge then I can bring kids for breakfast?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by jerry305

I stayed on points as well.
My experience was paying about US $7 in fees, per night, for 5 nights.
I confirmed that with Marriott, prior to leaving for Mexico. I recommend you do the same.

There was no other resort fee, user fee, or other bulls___.

Here was what my confirmation said:
Number of rooms 1 Room
Guests per room 2 Adults
Total for Stay (all rooms) 7.00 USD

A word about folios:
Whenever I have a cruise or resort stay, and I know I'm gonna rack up a lot of in-room charges, I always go to the front desk to ask for an interim folio, to avoid surprises at checkout.
The interim folio the JW Marriott gave me included a very large administrative charge every night. I asked the staff what the heck that was, and they said something like "that's a charge for all guests". I did not react well to that... it was thousands of pesos.
Turns out it was their internal billing rate for the room, and it shows up on the folio during the stay, and then someone has to remove it, and somehow I was supposed to know that.


If I could have, mid-stay, I would've moved to the Marriott next door rather than stay at the JW Marriott.

Originally Posted by jerry305

When I asked for an interim folio, front desk offered me the "courtesy" of billing my stay in US $ instead of MXN.
No thank you, I'll stick with MXN, I said.

I asked them to calculate how much my folio at that point would be in US $.
The hotel's "conversion" rate to US $ was 12% higher than market exchange rate.

Originally Posted by Smiley90

Here now, no suite upgrade but I didn't see any available for purchase on the website either so they might just be full. I don't mind much, the view from our room is amazing as it is and right next to lounge on the top floor.

Welcome amenity was either CONTINENTAL breakfast for two in the restaurant, points or F&B amenity, we went for a bottle of wine & cheese & crackers.

Also two glasses of champagne upon welcome.