Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Discontinued Programs/Partners > Starwood | Starwood Preferred Guest
Reload this Page >

Westin Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya Resort left Starwood 6/30/09 (Master Thread)

Westin Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya Resort left Starwood 6/30/09 (Master Thread)

 
Old Apr 21, 2003, 3:58 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Chicago
Posts: 15
Arrow Westin Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya Resort left Starwood 6/30/09 (Master Thread)

Stayed at the Westin last month on an award stay. The person checking us in had never even heard of Platinum status. She had to go get a manager to find out.

Our room was ocean view, I payed extra points to guarantee this (11,000 instead of 10,000 per night). The room was on the third floor and very noisy because of a large convention that was there. The elevators were packed (had to wait 5 minutes each time), and the Club Lounge was like a private party for everyone attending the convention, not even an extra place to sit. We asked to move to Lighthouse Point or the Lanai Suites, they seemed quieter. I was told they were no rooms available, but the manager would call back each day with an updated status. Needless to say, I never heard back from them.

The pool and beach area are wonderful. Good snorkeling right off of the beach at Lighthouse Point. Flags on the lounge chairs to signal when you are ready for another cool drink. We were not impressed with the food, but there seemed to be better restaurants right across the street.

Not sure about NYC, but we flew direct to Grand Bahama Island from Baltimore.

ChocaholicFlier is offline  
Old Jun 10, 2003, 7:41 pm
  #2  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: AA Plat / UA NOTHING / Alaska 75K / Hyatt Diamond / SPG LT Plat / Marriott Gold / Priority Club Plat / Hertz Pres
Posts: 24,684
Westin Lucaya Casino?

Doing some research for an upcoming trip in mid Sept and noticed on the Our Lucaya website (not spg.com) that the Westin's casino is opening 1.soon and 2. in 2003. Anybody have a more specific idea of an opening date? William?

Any advice on upgrade help for a Plat here. Wait til I arrive and sweet talk or can I email a couple of days ahead of time? Staying on a decent AAA rate. Thanks in advance for help.
fireworksboy is offline  
Old Jun 10, 2003, 9:06 pm
  #3  
JSD
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: SYD
Programs: QF P1/LTG; AA 1MM; UA 1MM
Posts: 899
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by fireworksboy:
Doing some research for an upcoming trip in mid Sept and noticed on the Our Lucaya website (not spg.com) that the Westin's casino is opening 1.soon and 2. in 2003. Anybody have a more specific idea of an opening date? William?

Any advice on upgrade help for a Plat here. Wait til I arrive and sweet talk or can I email a couple of days ahead of time? Staying on a decent AAA rate. Thanks in advance for help.
</font>

Was there last weekend and there is no sign of it opening anytime soon. However, the other casino on the island is only a 15 minute / US$11 taxi ride away. I will attest that they are quite willing to take your money.


JSD is offline  
Old Jun 11, 2003, 6:33 am
  #4  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: AA Plat / UA NOTHING / Alaska 75K / Hyatt Diamond / SPG LT Plat / Marriott Gold / Priority Club Plat / Hertz Pres
Posts: 24,684
Thanks JSD! Any good news on the recognition of being a Plat? I've got three rooms with prime ocean views reserved. Two in Breakers Cay and one in Lighthouse Pointe? Where was yours and were you happy? Any report would be most appreciated. Thanks
fireworksboy is offline  
Old Jun 11, 2003, 7:09 am
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Georgia
Programs: DL, US
Posts: 707
I was there at the beginning of the month. I was originally booked on a dirt cheap USAirways (198 for 3 nights) special for the Sheraton. I was upgraded to an ocean view room in Breakers Cay as a Gold.
dknn is offline  
Old Jun 11, 2003, 8:03 am
  #6  
JSD
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: SYD
Programs: QF P1/LTG; AA 1MM; UA 1MM
Posts: 899
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by fireworksboy:
Thanks JSD! Any good news on the recognition of being a Plat? I've got three rooms with prime ocean views reserved. Two in Breakers Cay and one in Lighthouse Pointe? Where was yours and were you happy? Any report would be most appreciated. Thanks </font>
I was upgraded to a nice oceanfront 1BR suite in the Breakers Cay building. Living room, kitchette with microwave and refridgerator. Double-length balcony. Bose waveradio with CD player. Large bathroom with separate tub and shower. I was quite pleased with it.

The Breakers Cay building is a newish high-rise (10 stories or so). The rooms are very new and nice. Lighthouse Point is on the other side of the property (5-10 min walk) and appears to be a bit older. In between are the Lanai Suites, which are two-story bungalow-style suites. These appear to be super bonus if you can swing them. They have the added bonus of being poolside, for easy access to/from the pool. They all appeared to have balconys/porches.

One more note - there are two pools on the Westin property - the main "serpentine" pool in front of the Breakers Cay building and another smaller "infinity" pool over by Lighthouse Pointe and Lanai Suites. If you are looking for peace and quiet, I would recommend that you spend your time at the latter.

JSD is offline  
Old Jul 26, 2003, 4:36 pm
  #7  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: AA Plat / UA NOTHING / Alaska 75K / Hyatt Diamond / SPG LT Plat / Marriott Gold / Priority Club Plat / Hertz Pres
Posts: 24,684
Rumors are that the casino will finally open in August. Looks to be true as they are bringing in people from the states to train and hire casino workers. Just rumors though as I read them on other message boards. Anyone confirm?
fireworksboy is offline  
Old Aug 29, 2003, 7:34 am
  #8  
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Belmont, VA USA
Programs: Marriott Gold, HH Gold, AA Gold, UA3P, DL proletariat, proud Costco Executive member
Posts: 717
We were there two weeks ago, and no movement was seen toward the casino opening. I did see one directional sign indicating casino, though the building in which it is supposedly going to open was dark and vacant. No one could give me any information about it when I was there. Sorry!
L1011toHNL is offline  
Old Nov 24, 2003, 9:29 am
  #9  
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: From: PWM
Programs: United GS, Fairmont Platinum,SPG LTPlat, Hilton Diamond, MarriottGold..like the rest of the world
Posts: 4,401
We were just there last month. What a great time. A most impressive property that is exceptionally well run. Staff is amazingly attentive and helpful -- no kidding. We found the club lounge staff to be among the most professional and gracious that we've encountered.

-Plat u/g to Suites
As a plat member myself, I found this property to do a model job of plat recognition at the very professional front desk. We were in a two room suite with mini kitchen, Bose Wave, 2 decks. Very nice indeed.
-Anyone know how many suites they have?
In the main building(Breakers Cay, I'd guess 20 to 25, there are more at Lighthouse Point.
-How is the beach/sand/water
We're not beach fanatics, but it looked great. We walked the beach in front a few times and plenty of folks were in the water having a great time.
-How is the pool? In a word, fabulous. So was the adjacent Sheraton's. (60 second walk).
-Is this resort ok for kids? Heavens, yes.
sbtinme is offline  
Old Nov 24, 2003, 12:19 pm
  #10  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: AA Plat / UA NOTHING / Alaska 75K / Hyatt Diamond / SPG LT Plat / Marriott Gold / Priority Club Plat / Hertz Pres
Posts: 24,684
If you can. call ahead to try and assure that your bed and smoking preferences are available. I had a problem even though the hotel was not full. Kids are best at the Sheraton which is really one big compound of both hotels. Pools were the best I've seen anywhere. Plat recognition was good outside of the fact that my room preferences couldn't be accomodated. Overall great facility and would go back in a minute. Maybe January
fireworksboy is offline  
Old Nov 24, 2003, 3:27 pm
  #11  
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: From: PWM
Programs: United GS, Fairmont Platinum,SPG LTPlat, Hilton Diamond, MarriottGold..like the rest of the world
Posts: 4,401
Fireworksboy is right that the Sheraton's pool is more kid-appropriate that the Westin's. The Sheraton pool has a winding corkscrew enclosed waterslide and a huge pool with games and volleyball, etc, etc, etc. The Westin pools are nearly empty and surrounded by scads of adults quietly reading or having drinks.

It is very important to know that these two hotels are all part of the same complex and are easily walked to in a matter of 2 or 3 minutes. For all intents, you could imagine that it is all the SAME hotel. So, if you really far prefer the Westin Bed to the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper, for example, stay at the Westin and then walk your 4 year old over to the Sheraton pool the next day. Everybody does it.

My last point of distinction b/t the two hotels is that the Westin Club Lounge on the top floor of Breakers Cay was really a major added plus for our stay. The attendants were exceptional as was the quality of the food and drink. We were very impressed. I do not know if the Sheraton has an equivalent. If you're a Plat, that might make a difference.....
sbtinme is offline  
Old Nov 24, 2003, 3:29 pm
  #12  
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: From: PWM
Programs: United GS, Fairmont Platinum,SPG LTPlat, Hilton Diamond, MarriottGold..like the rest of the world
Posts: 4,401
Fireworksboy is right that the Sheraton's pool is more kid-appropriate that the Westin's. The Sheraton pool has a winding corkscrew enclosed waterslide and a huge pool with games and volleyball, etc, etc, etc. The Westin pools are nearly empty and surrounded by scads of adults quietly reading or having drinks.

It is very important to know that these two hotels are all part of the same complex and are easily walked to in a matter of 2 or 3 minutes. For all intents, you could imagine that it is all the SAME hotel. So, if you really far prefer the Westin Bed to the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper, for example, stay at the Westin and then walk your 4 year old over to the Sheraton pool the next day. Everybody does it.

My last point of distinction b/t the two hotels is that the Westin Club Lounge on the top floor of Breakers Cay was really a major added plus for our stay. The attendants were exceptional as was the quality of the food and drink. We were very impressed. I do not know if the Sheraton has an equivalent. If you're a Plat, that might make a difference.....
sbtinme is offline  
Old Nov 24, 2003, 3:56 pm
  #13  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: AA Plat / UA NOTHING / Alaska 75K / Hyatt Diamond / SPG LT Plat / Marriott Gold / Priority Club Plat / Hertz Pres
Posts: 24,684
I should've confirmed that the Club Level Plat Club is super sweet and staff in the Club was awesome!! Tasty treats and free internet too!
fireworksboy is offline  
Old Dec 17, 2003, 2:48 pm
  #14  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 108
Westin Our Lucaya

I was told by reservations that the Our Lucaya Westin and Sheraton charge $30 extra per person for any people in the room over 2. Anyone have experience getting around this? I was thinking of just booking a room for 2 people and trying to slip the third person by. When fiddling with reservations online, they do increase in price by $30 when adding the 3 person to the count. Except for a 21 day advance purchase rate at the Sheraton, that one stays the same regardless. Unfortunately we want to stay at the Westin. Any insight to the matter would be appreciated, thanks!

Oh, I also read about the $8/person per day extra charge, what's the deal with that?
wahoo99 is offline  
Old Jan 26, 2004, 2:12 pm
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Pottstown, PA, USA
Programs: Starwood Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 4
My wife and I stayed there in December and were dissapointed with the quality of the property and especially the service. Check-in took 30 min and out non-smoking room smelled like there had just been a poker game held there. I was moved to a suite after I complained. I'm not entirely sure why I didn't get the suite right away since I'm platinum.

The buffet at the hotel is expensive but has good variety although you should go there long before closing time because they seem to stop restocking food and about 1 hour prior to closing time.

Both the steak and Italian restaurants are good although very overpriced, even for a resort.

The new casino on the property is clean and nice. Some of the dealers are just learning but it is a good place to spend a few evenings.

A 15% gratuity is added to all food and drinks everywhere on the island and this is reflected in the poor service. I have never felt as unliked as I did by the people of Grand Bahama. Most island natives from other destinations have been friendly or at least done a much better job of pretending.

The shops across the street are somewhat acceptible and the bazarr downtown is horrible.

The bright spot of my time on Grand Bahama was scuba diving with the people from Xanadu dive shop. They had friendly people who were very professional and knowledgable.

Go to Aruba!
mschaaxp is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.