Westin Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands [Master Thread]
Aug 4, 2018, 6:38 am
#271
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: FL, USA
Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriot Gold
Posts: 1,666
Dude.... BOOK IT AND DONT LOOK BACK! I was there in December and loved it. I just booked another 5 nights on points for November and may book another 5 for April for the hell of it.
Yea the resort fee is steep but there is some value there with free yoga and paddle boarding in the AM. The plat breakfast is awesome too. I think for $7 you can buy up to the full buffet, which is incredible.
One word if advice... at all restaurants, they include gratuity on the bill. It took me 3 nights to realize I was tipping like 40% on my meals. Hahah
Yea the resort fee is steep but there is some value there with free yoga and paddle boarding in the AM. The plat breakfast is awesome too. I think for $7 you can buy up to the full buffet, which is incredible.
One word if advice... at all restaurants, they include gratuity on the bill. It took me 3 nights to realize I was tipping like 40% on my meals. Hahah
Aug 5, 2018, 12:07 am
#272
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
Dude.... BOOK IT AND DONT LOOK BACK! I was there in December and loved it. I just booked another 5 nights on points for November and may book another 5 for April for the hell of it.
Yea the resort fee is steep but there is some value there with free yoga and paddle boarding in the AM. The plat breakfast is awesome too. I think for $7 you can buy up to the full buffet, which is incredible.
One word if advice... at all restaurants, they include gratuity on the bill. It took me 3 nights to realize I was tipping like 40% on my meals. Hahah
Yea the resort fee is steep but there is some value there with free yoga and paddle boarding in the AM. The plat breakfast is awesome too. I think for $7 you can buy up to the full buffet, which is incredible.
One word if advice... at all restaurants, they include gratuity on the bill. It took me 3 nights to realize I was tipping like 40% on my meals. Hahah
My experience was quite different - I actually didn't like the resort at all - too crowded, fees that were to cover towels, etc. useless as towel people just stood around never offering to help, etc. For me it was a highly overpriced, crowded, experience with few redeeming features. YMMV
(Went as a lifetime plat and had to get cust service involved to get them to pay attention to the then required "alternative amenity" for plats when charging the (IMO outrageous resort fee), concierge was unhelpful, etc.)
Aug 5, 2018, 10:50 am
#273
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: columbus,ohio, USA
Posts: 103
So I am thinking of doing a 4 night stay here in April, wanted to take advantage of my SPG points and I transferred a good chunk of my Marriott points over to SPG to be able to book a 4 night stay here before the price jumps. Mainly thinking for a couple days of scuba diving since i see there is an outfit right at the resort. I am going to start reading thru this thread but have read the last couple pages. It seems like this is a good deal at 12k points, the nights I am looking at are $700 a piece (yikes!!) Are there other deals on the island that might be better. Hadn't even considered traveling to GC until the whole points program merging and this came out as one of the hotels to book before the rise in points. advise, thoughts, etc.... just wanted to get an opinion from people who might have been there. Worth it?
The Westin pts/resort fee will by far be the best bang for your buck on GC
JMHO
Aug 6, 2018, 6:19 am
#274
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 122
This resort is one of my favorites despite the high fee. Rooms have ben completely refurbished and it sits on a world class beach. GC is expensive in general but well worth every penny to me. The hotel at a cat 5 with 5th night free is a complete steal and everyone considering this place should book before it goes up. Places like this make me sad to see the SPG program destroyed by Marriott.
Oct 1, 2018, 11:24 am
#275
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 22
What is the cheapest way to upgrade to a suite at this property as a Marriott platinum elite? We booked a partial ocean view with points prior to the merger. Travelling with our 2 kids next march and could really use extra space. Thanks!
Nov 28, 2018, 7:42 am
#277
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 22
Nov 28, 2018, 8:03 am
#278
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 122
I wouldn't bank on an upgrade, a lot will depend on how full the resort is and if there are Plats and such. Stayed twice as a Gold and first year no upgrade. Second year I did get one but I emailed the hotel in advance requesting a better view.
Nov 28, 2018, 8:54 am
#279
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: EDI/GLA
Programs: DL 2 MM Unobtainum | UA 1.1MM Gold | MR Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 2,267
My experience was quite different - I actually didn't like the resort at all - too crowded, fees that were to cover towels, etc. useless as towel people just stood around never offering to help, etc. For me it was a highly overpriced, crowded, experience with few redeeming features. YMMV
(Went as a lifetime plat and had to get cust service involved to get them to pay attention to the then required "alternative amenity" for plats when charging the (IMO outrageous resort fee), concierge was unhelpful, etc.)
(Went as a lifetime plat and had to get cust service involved to get them to pay attention to the then required "alternative amenity" for plats when charging the (IMO outrageous resort fee), concierge was unhelpful, etc.)
Nov 28, 2018, 10:19 am
#280
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
It was a few years ago so I'm not sure I remember but I think it was on the order of $10 food credit/day (when fee was $45 for no value that I wouldn't get with status). Nothing like a benefit that would weigh evenly with the new cost - but as I said this was after a massive effort (they kept denying anything was necessary) and I'm sure that things are different now - esp post merger.
Nov 29, 2018, 12:40 pm
#281
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Greensboro, NC, USA
Posts: 100
We stayed there In July on points, 5th night free. We are not usually beach people but GC and this resort were great. Nice beach, great snorkeling just in front of the adjacent Governer's House. Good restaurants on the property and even better nearby. The resort fee is steep, but heck, GC is expensive all around. We had a very nice room. Yes, it's crowded (or busy) but not unreasonably so given the size of the property.
Nov 29, 2018, 2:12 pm
#282
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: BDL, BOS
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, AA EXP, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 625
I’m booked on points mid mid-December and have requested SNAs to be used. I’m Platinum Premiere. What’s the likelihood of the SNAs working — or would I have been better off saving them for another property if I would have been automatically upgraded anyways?
Dec 11, 2018, 7:31 am
#283
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 22
What’s going on with the availability at this hotel? It looks like rooms disappeared over night. It also says this hotel is not accepting points reservations. Are they waiting to reopen availability until the new year?
i have an existing reservation on points and was checking the availability of rooms regularly to see if there was a chance of an upgrade at checkin for a plat.
i have an existing reservation on points and was checking the availability of rooms regularly to see if there was a chance of an upgrade at checkin for a plat.
Dec 11, 2018, 7:55 am
#284
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
I do believe that right now the way the online tool tells you that the hotel has run out of award rooms for a particular date is "the hotel is not accepting points reservations". But if you try other dates that do still have award room inventory, you will see that they do still take awards.
Dec 11, 2018, 10:35 am
#285
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 236
I just got back from the hotel on a points stay the first week of December. I booked the stay before the points increase, so it was only 12k SPG points per night (60k for 6 nights), and it only allowed booking an island view room. Turns out that was an eastern view of the parking lot. Hotel showed completely full the first night, so no upgrade was available and was told the "Gold/Diamond Ambassador" would contact the next day about a possible upgrade for the remainder of the stay. Heard nothing by noon the next day, so I stopped by the front desk and was told the Ambassador was out. Stopped back a couple of hours later, and the front desk clerk was very helpful in showing me three rooms that were available for the remainder of my stay - they were all first floor beach-facing rooms. Not much of a view, but extremely convenient to just walk out directly to the pool/beach. FWIW, I'm just a lowly Gold, but I'm not sure that made much difference. Had a great stay with perfect weather. Available to answer any questions.
