shinbal

Any input on any Starwood properties in Puerto Rico? I'm going in July and would love input on this or any other PR properties you know of. Thanks!

TX Travels

Here's a post on the Westin Rio Mar. I stayed there in november and thought the property was very nice. Club Floor is desirable as the club has food and free beer and wine in the evening and a nice breakfast in the mornings. We were traveling with a large group and the club personnel accomodated us nicely.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum74/HTML/000979.html

Fishbait

Shinbal,

Will be staying at Villas at Rio Mar in two weeks (on a reward stay), stayed at Rio Mar Hotel (club level) a couple years ago.. Rio Mar is a lovely property, but you are kind of isolated there (not like San Juan where you can go to many different restaurants and casinos, but also much quieter with a great beach).. Good access to El Junque Rainforest. If you want to just relax in a resort atmosphere, it is a great place.. I found it limiting on restaurant choices, etc, BUT they have added a lot since I was last there, so we will see!! Have never even seen the villas, but will do a report as soon as we return!

lkuby

I just spent a week at the Westin Rio Mar. As a platinum, I was hoping for an upgrade to a suite, but there were none available. It turns out that the suites (or at least the Jr. Suites) have murphy beds, which are not at all comfortable. Beware: there are no Heavenly Beds to be found! The front desk was only going to upgrade me to a oceanview room, until I requested (very nicely) to be allowed access to the Royal Beach Club Lounge. They finally managed to find me garden-view room on the club floor. The breakfasts, after lunch snacks and softdrinks, appetizers and free wine and beer, and late night desserts were a marvelous benefit.

I prefer the rather isolated location of Westin Rio Mar. It's 10 minutes from the rain forest (hiking opportunities galore; including a beautiful hike to a waterfall, where we swam and at the end of the hike, picked wild reaspberries), 10 minutes from the beach at Luquillo and all the associated seafood shacks, and 20 minutes from the eastern coast (snorkeling trips, visit to the lighthouse, great seafood restaurant named Rosas). We avoided the pricey restaurant scene at the hotel and dined instead at local places, such as Las Vegas Restaurant and Chef Wayne's (a CIA graduate), which is found on a winding road 10 minutes from the hotel.

The hotel does seem to cater to conferences, but I found the staff to be extremely pleasant and helpful. I was delighted to have a beautiful fruit and cheese basket delivered to my room (platinum amenity).

harpster

Nice property, the rates are high along with the taxes. I had a club level room, the room size is the same but you do get all the extras (Snacks & Drinks). Great property to relax. Close to the rain forest.