Marriott resorts in the Caribbean area
 

Has anyone stayed at any of the Marriott resorts in the Caribbean region? We want to make the best use of a 714 10-day cert. and most of the resorts in that area are in category 6. We don't have time to fly all the way to Europe and are looking for a warm, sunny place. We have two teenage boys. We are looking to go at spring break of 2002, so that counts Cancun out, doesn't it? Thanks.

Marriottmillionaire....no longer. Turned in all those points for air miles.

Marriottmillionaire,
What are the exact dates that you are looking for? Spring break varies from city to city. The Marriott hotels will only book 50 weeks out. Both the JW Marriott and Casa Magna Marriott in Cancun are available for award travel over the mid- February break, as well as from late March through early April, which I believe coincides more with your requested dates. Both of those properties are known to be wonderful.
Althouh I have not personally stayed at the Nassau, Bahamas Marriott I did stay at the Radisson next door, and the comments from Marriott guests were far less than flattering (food terrible, hotel in need of updating, no real beach, etc).
Do a search here for previous remarks about the St. Thomas location, if interested. Many have reported on it before.
If you are intersted in the April dates, now would certainly be the best time for you to book.

I would go for Cancun.

Flyerwife is correct about the Nassau Marriott. We stayed there last May for 4 nights. Conditions were bad enough that I wrote a complaint letter (after complaining to the manager). Problems with service in the restaurant, quality of food, cleanliness of our room upon check-in and after daily cleaning, trash on the back stairs down to the pool/beach area, etc. I'm guessing that the issues were not isolated, because I received four certificates for free nights w/ breakfast at any Marriotts. Our stay reminded us very much of the Bermuda Marriott, two months before it was closed – permanently.

We stay at the San Juan Marriott for a night or two each year and generally like it. But the beach isn't great - too much shade in the morning. And the location isn't great either. A number of nearby restaurants, but not much else of note. Still, with a rental car for a few days and use of taxis and public transportation the rest of the time, there are a lot of nearby things to see and do.

I can’t say much about St. Thomas. There is a lot of ship/boat traffic in front of the hotel. Great setting on the other side of the hill from the cruise ship dock. A short cab ride to downtown. We have been to the hotel, but haven’t stayed there.

We have had the best service at the Cancun Casa Magna (three separate stays) of all the Marriotts we have stayed at. We have not stayed at the adjacent JW. Although the JW is currently undergoing renovation, that should be finished by the time of your trip. The only negative is that these two hotels are not within walking distance of the restaurant and entertainment centers. But taxis are plentiful and inexpensive. You really don't need a car.

I've stayed at the Renaissance Grand Beach resort on St. Thomas...and it was wonderful...do a search on it...I believe there are many comments.

Thank you so much for your comments. Cancun would be my first choice. It's just that we are concerned about the college crowds in Cancun. Our time of travel will be the thrid week in March. Do you think we will have a problem with "wild" goings on?

Oh don't worry...if you want wild....Cancun is the mecca...that's why I don't like it...very commercial and touristy...it appeals to those who haven't been to that many places though.

[This message has been edited by IM4Travel (edited 05-05-2001).]

Marriottmillionaire,
Although your dates will fall at a busy Spring break time, I wouldn't be overly obsessive about the rowdy crowds. I think that the 2 Marriott hotels in Cancun are expensive enough to ward off most of the college crowd. Also, those properties don't tend to attach themselves to any packages or deals which would more likely be sought out by packs of ambitious vacationing students.
That will not, of course, mean they won't be on your plane flight, but that is the trade off for going on Spring break.
As far as Cancun's appeal, I firmly believe that each traveler is unique and has different criteria as to what they want to do on their precious time off. Most people going to Cancun know that it is a tourist area and are not expecting to have a secluded beach to themselves. Taking into account that Marriottmillionaire is from Denver and looking to take 2 teenagers to a warm climate for Spring break, Cancun seems a perfect choice for him on this trip. I don't think the choice of Cancun has anything to do with a persons previous travel experience, more with the type of activities you want at that time. I would imagine that it's a good thing that we all don't like to take exactly the same vacation as everyone else year after year, or we'd all be going to the same place,and imagine what havoc that would bring!

This time last year I stayed at the Marriott Curacao - It had just converted from a Sonesta.

Nice rooms with an ocean view, great pool complex and an excellent dive academy and sports rental place.

The dowside is that you are in Curacao - I actually like it, but it is one of the more industrial Carribean islands.

I will have to beg to differ with Flyerwife's opinion regarding Cancun...it is agreed that it's very commercial, touristy and full of young adults. The differing opinion begins here...I firmly believe that as one becomes a more "seasoned" traveler..one desires to experience more of the local culture whenever they travel. Cancun is not anything like real Mexico...it is extremely built up with the hotels ..."Americanized" eating establishments and ..in my opinion...just a place for Americans to party...I have been to multiple cities throughout Mexico and find Cancun to be the least "Real Mexico" out there.

My favorites are Cancun, Aruba and St. Thomas. It really depends on what you are looking for.

I thought the people on Aruba were the nicest, it had Casino's and is out of the hurricane belt, but the island itself is not beautiful and is windy. Cancun has beautiful beaches and plenty of activities, but has so many hotels and very Americanized. St. Thomas is the prettiest, but less night life than Cancun.

Yet when I'm on St John, I acyually would often go to St Thomas for the nightlife1 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

No one has mentioned the Marriott in Grand Cayman as an alternative and there isn't much on the board as far as comments about the hotel. Is the property not as nice as others in the Caribbean?

It's very nice, IMHO, but so is the Hyatt! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

We're also looking into Marriott resorts, but for an August vacation using a 7 day award cert (713). I have tentatively booked Aruba because the other Carribean resorts (and Costa Rica) will be in rainy season. I've read that Aruba doesn't have a rainy season. Does anyone know of other nice Marriott resorts for that time of year?

What IS the rainy season in Costa Rica? I was thinking that would be a good choice. Has anyone been there?
Suzanne