• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 30 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 30th anniversary: Happy 30th Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $21,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $21 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    60,000+ subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

[2012] First Trip to Westin Lagunamar

applekor

TUG Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2009
Messages
68
Reaction score
2
Points
368
Location
PA
Resorts Owned
WSJ-VG (3 bd pool phase 1 and phase 3),WSJ-BV (3bd, 2bd loft),WKV,VBC
In building 9

!hola! We are currently in Building 9 on the top (7th) floor, and are very happy with our room and location. Since we read about the wifi being weak, I did bring our own router, but the data transfer is still very slow, even from the land line. It is usable though. The "new" pool is much quieter and there is a bar there. I wasn't aware that they served food at the bar, but I did see people eating there yesterday. The kids aren't as happy with the new pool because it is "boring" though (lol:) ). One thing we are feeling is a bummer is the ocean is just filled with seaweed from the storm. We haven't been able to go in for the whole week. The staff says it happens a few times a year. We have also in the past stayed in building 1 and building 5 and have always been happy with our view.
 
Last edited:

Creative

TUG Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2012
Messages
24
Reaction score
3
Points
213
Location
London
rooms at laguna mar

Hi, We were at the Lagunamr in april 2012 and stayed in room 763 building 7? really lovely views as all those rooms from 763 thru 766 are. we had both the one bed and lock off think the lock off was 764. hope this helps:) great resort although i agree with the poor internet service in rooms.
 

kyfonky

newbie
Joined
Jun 11, 2011
Messages
60
Reaction score
0
Points
0
.........

This is our home resort and we love it. Hope you find some useful information.

I'm thinking in buying Starwood TS, but a resale; I've been at Lagunamar, and except for the beach (some other resorts have a better beach), the resort is great; I would certanly come back again.

Having said that, I'd like to buy a resale in Lagunamar, but as it is not a "mandatory" resort, I know I will not be able to trade into the internal Starwood system, but trhu II only.

I'd like to know any experiencies trading SVO thur II; I know there is a priority for SVO owners (I guess 60 days or something), but also know that it might be tricky the way Starwood releases the inventory.

Also, how much trading poder does a 1BR platinum Westin Lagunamar have? I'm thinking for trading into ski seassons resorts at either SVO or other similar quality resorts (such as Marriott or Hyatt) and Summer Florida beaches or SoCal beaches?

How easy is trading SVO thru II?

Thanks
 

bobpark56

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2008
Messages
1,694
Reaction score
375
Points
444
Location
Gibsonia, PA (just north of Pittsburgh)
Resorts Owned
Westin Lagunamar, Westin Aventuras, Marriott Grande Vista, Sandos Caracol, Festiva, Diamond Resorts (Hawaii Collection)
....The wifi was pretty weak, though that building is as far away from the lobby as you can get, but I brought a little travel router that I picked up for $19 on sale:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833181165
looks like its $31 now, either way, this little thing was easy to pack and worked great, we had multiple cell phones and my tablet hooked up to it and had a great connection while in our room all week, was well worth the price for one week alone, and now i have it to take with me on trips in the future.
....

Thanks for your recommendation about carrying a pocket travel router. I picked one up when CrystalView travel routers popped up on Woot for $21 (a great buy). It works like a charm...once you learn how, as the instructions are confusing.

We are now on the 8th floor of building 2, and the travel router has more than tripled our download speed and done much better than that for upload speeds. Also, we can use both our new MacBook Air and iPad at the same time. I'm now a big fan of travel routers. I just wish more resorts and hotels offered ethernet connections as Lagunamar does.

--bp
 

SMHarman

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2013
Messages
4,171
Reaction score
86
Points
183
Location
NY NY
I was in building 9 on the 6th floor (962) and that has wifi points in the units.
I got 20Mbs down and up from the free wifi!
Friends in 963 found the same.
 

bobpark56

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2008
Messages
1,694
Reaction score
375
Points
444
Location
Gibsonia, PA (just north of Pittsburgh)
Resorts Owned
Westin Lagunamar, Westin Aventuras, Marriott Grande Vista, Sandos Caracol, Festiva, Diamond Resorts (Hawaii Collection)
I was in building 9 on the 6th floor (962) and that has wifi points in the units.
I got 20Mbs down and up from the free wifi!
Friends in 963 found the same.

YMMV...in Building 2, 8th floor, Lagunamar's WiFi is effectively unusable...painful at best. Thank God for my travel router.
--bp
 

SMHarman

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2013
Messages
4,171
Reaction score
86
Points
183
Location
NY NY
YMMV...in Building 2, 8th floor, Lagunamar's WiFi is effectively unusable...painful at best. Thank God for my travel router.
--bp
Here is my speedtest.net result.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_2013-01-09-22-53-25.jpg
    Screenshot_2013-01-09-22-53-25.jpg
    67.5 KB · Views: 43

bobpark56

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2008
Messages
1,694
Reaction score
375
Points
444
Location
Gibsonia, PA (just north of Pittsburgh)
Resorts Owned
Westin Lagunamar, Westin Aventuras, Marriott Grande Vista, Sandos Caracol, Festiva, Diamond Resorts (Hawaii Collection)
Here is my speedtest.net result.

I think that also depends on the time of day. The results you posted are much like ones I observed earlier. But at the moment, I'm down by a factor of 10...though still with a decent ping.
 

bogwarrior

TUG Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2008
Messages
12
Reaction score
0
Points
361
Location
Orange County, CA
Laguna Mar

We just got back from Cancun Laguna Mar and had a great time! We were in room 734 (build 7) 3rd floor and had a 2-bedroom lock-out. Next time we will for sure ask for a higher level room, but the view was still great! It's the Westin, spacious rooms and no real issues. Wi-Fi not strong and came and went, but then again, we were on vacay and enjoyed the pools, which were very warm and the beach. Their were red flags placed on the beach where there were undercurrents, and we just stayed in the yellow flag zone. My 3 and 7 year old enjoyed the sand and warm waters and the Lifeguards brought us beach chairs.

We attended Italian night, it was OK, not worth the $120. The mall across the way has Chilis, Planet Hollywood and Johnny Rockets. The Outback is also walking distance. Bus service was awesome! $4 for the whole family to be dropped off in front of Walmart to grocery shop. Bus pick up/drop off in front of hotel! Lunch at the Westin wasn't priced that bad - HUGE angus cheeseburger with fries $15 (if you are an owner make sure you get your 20% discount card from the concierge). Happy hour from 3-4 pm by the pool, 2-for-1 drinks! Be careful with the tiny ants in the kitchen. We left cereal for the kids and Ritz crackers on the counter-top overnight and the next morning we had a whole bunch of very fast tiny, red ants scurrying away. Highchairs available if you let them know you need one. Little grocery shop in hotel, not great. Had basics but pricey ($7.50 for a small bottle of Ragu). Kids Club was ok. Nice miniature golf area for the whole family. Slide in kids pool area was fun and water was warm. $80 cash if you need to see the on-site doctor- we found out the hard way.

Overall great service and will for sure go back! Oh! We also flew Aer Mexico. CA, Mexico City, Cancun. Great airline! provided free beer and a croissant sandwich snack on the evening route.
 

Mauiwmn

TUG Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
315
Reaction score
43
Points
388
Bogwarrior, thanks for the great update. Will be sure to watch out for the tiny ants. Always a challenge to keep food tightly sealed.
Glad you had a great trip!
 

Quiding

newbie
Joined
Feb 13, 2012
Messages
45
Reaction score
0
Points
66
Location
Gothenburg, Sweden
Hi. I am wondering,we are four adults and one 11year old kid,is it possible to get an extra bed for the kid in a one-bedroom premium that sleeps four ppl?

Thanks!
 

SMHarman

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2013
Messages
4,171
Reaction score
86
Points
183
Location
NY NY
Hi. I am wondering,we are four adults and one 11year old kid,is it possible to get an extra bed for the kid in a one-bedroom premium that sleeps four ppl?

Thanks!
The Starwood site does indicate that would be possible
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/rooms/amenities/popup.html?propertyID=5646
Details
ROOM FEATURES
Heavenly Rollaway Bed (Charge) < What you are asking for.
Work Desk
Individual Climate Control Air-Conditioning
100% Non-Smoking Villas
Bose® Wave® Music System
Sleeper Sofa < Which you know is already there
Furnished Patio or Balcony
Rollaway Bed < and mentions a non heavenly one here!


There is certainly space in there for it.
 

Quiding

newbie
Joined
Feb 13, 2012
Messages
45
Reaction score
0
Points
66
Location
Gothenburg, Sweden
Hi.

It doesn't seems like any building is better than the other just as long as you get a room on a high floor, is this correct?

I am about to book now, 8months out, and just would like a last recommendation what section I should ask for? 700 seems popular :)

Never been to Mexico so this will be interesting but I am going with my wife and her parents and I am doing all the booking and want to do a good impression ;)

Thanks for any input, thanks!
 

djdavid79

TUG Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2010
Messages
168
Reaction score
0
Points
226
Location
SF Bay Area
We just got back and we had 4 lockoffs and a studio all in building 900, floors 4 and 5. It was great, you overlook the smaller pool. Here's a picture of the view from room 953:

 

levatino

TUG Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2009
Messages
497
Reaction score
8
Points
228
Per my converesations.... Starwood will not call it an adult only pool, Rather, a Quiet Pool.

This keeps owners with kids from resentiing paying for a pool they are not allowed to use, while maintaining the idea that pool should remain tranquil.


Paul
 

jarta

TUG Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2008
Messages
2,916
Reaction score
1
Points
273
Location
Chicago
Per my converesations.... Starwood will not call it an adult only pool, Rather, a Quiet Pool.

This keeps owners with kids from resentiing paying for a pool they are not allowed to use, while maintaining the idea that pool should remain tranquil.


Paul

The parents are allowed to use the quiet pool any time they want to. They just shouldn't bring the kids.

Anyway, the quiet pool is much smaller than the family pools. It is not near the Viento restaurant and swim-up bar. There is no volleyball area. There is no slide for the bigger kids. There is no shallow zero-entry pool for toddlers. Why would someone with kids want to go to the quiet pool?

I love the quiet pool at WKV and I'm sure I will like the quiet pool at LMR. Now, if Starwood could only get some of the adults to stop behaving like kids with their self-centered loud and boorish actions like placing 2 sandals, a pair of sunglasses and a tube of suntan lotion on 4 lounges at 8:15 to "use them all day." Then, leave for brunch and return at 11:45 and start their loud yammering on the assumption I am impressed with what they yammer about.

To each their own. Sometimes I like the kids better. Salty
 

djdavid79

TUG Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2010
Messages
168
Reaction score
0
Points
226
Location
SF Bay Area
The parents are allowed to use the quiet pool any time they want to. They just shouldn't bring the kids.

Nothing was mentioned to us about this pool being a quiet pool. It was a bit less active than the other pool, but there were families with children using this pool as well as the other pool the entire week I was there. Both pools do have swim up bars, which was very nice at happy hour. And unlike the infinity pool, there were no activities, which was VERY welcome.

As Jarta said, the people that were loud an disruptive were the adults. The kids were really well behaved.

And speaking of poorly behaving adults, there was a pushing/shoving fight over pool lounges at the infinity pool. A couple left their folded towels on 2 lounges for over 3 hours. When it got busy a couple was looking for 2 seats together and just moved one of the towels to the other side of the one towel. They were still together, just one towel was moved to an open seat on the other side. And now the new people were able to have 2 seats together as well. About 30 minutes later the original couple comes down and starts yelling and screaming about how their privacy was invaded and how these people had no respect for other people's property. There was no personal property, it was just the resort towels, no sunglasses, no flip flops, no book, nothing that was a real issue for why the towel couldn't have been moved. There wasn't even an umbrella at any of the seats. It was nuts, and everyone at the pool was sitting there with their jaws dropped. Especially when the new couple started pushing and shoving. Security showed up really quickly and escorted the original towel people away. This happened on Sunday and they were there the rest of the week. Honestly, I was surprised to see them later that same day. I'm not sure what I thought the resort would have done, but I think EVERYONE staying at the resort knew who they were and what had happened. Nobody went near them the rest of the week. It was probably the most shocking thing I have seen happen at a Starwood resort.
 

Mauiwmn

TUG Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
315
Reaction score
43
Points
388
DJDavid79, thanks for the great photo.

Your story about the towel couple was quite amusing.
 

SMHarman

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2013
Messages
4,171
Reaction score
86
Points
183
Location
NY NY
Anyway, the quiet pool is much smaller than the family pools. It is not near the Viento restaurant and swim-up bar. There is no volleyball area. There is no slide for the bigger kids. There is no shallow zero-entry pool for toddlers. Why would someone with kids want to go to the quiet pool?
My 2yr old loves the 'quiet pool' as she can float in and out of her depth at the beach 'zero entry' edge. Also, she was pretty quiet in there :)
 

levatino

TUG Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2009
Messages
497
Reaction score
8
Points
228
The parents are allowed to use the quiet pool any time they want to. They just shouldn't bring the kids.

Alas, according to my on-site senior staff member, I doubt you will find Starwood, a family oriented timeshare sales company, speaking quite in those terms. But you may know more than me (or him/her)...
 
Last edited:

Ågent99

TUG Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2008
Messages
65
Reaction score
0
Points
216
Location
Bay Area, CA
We (wife, daughter (11), and myself) just got back from Lagunamar and I thought I'd add my two cents about Cancun and the resort in general.

We were in a 1BD premium in room 567 (Building 5, 6th floor). Frankly, I think all the upper level rooms have fantastic views. The buildings were well thought out and situated for views. The beach is awesome...the waves fine even in red zones (of which you mostly have). You can walk for hours up and down the beach it is so long. We had maybe 4 days of clouds and 2 of rain within that and the rest of the time it was sunny.

The internet access is horrible and meager at best. Midnight to early AM is is fine. When you check-in, ask for an Access Point. You will probably be put on a wait list. They will take a 300 pesos (or maybe that was dollars?) deposit...fully-refundable upon return. It is basically a pocket router. Once we got ours, life surfing was back to normal. My Android phone and kid's iPad worked well once this baby was plugged in.

You get free valet parking so use it...very convenient. On that note about car rental, it was the motivation for my post. I am wondering if using taxi and bus would be easier but we usually rent a car. I went through American Express for car rental and got 2 weeks for $160 for a midsize (Chevy Aveo...perfect for the 3 of us and some bags). Quite good, I think. At the Alamo depot in Cancun, they have a placard on the counter that informs you of the legal need for xxx insurance of $14 ($14.27 I think) per day on your rental despite whatever other insurance you have. Amex offers complete coverage of everything under the sun for like $18 so I always reject anything but they were insistent that it was law. The alternative to paying this is that they will take a $2500 deposit (fully refundable? I believe so) so I just took the "cheaper" route and suddenly my $160 car rental more than doubled. I'm thinking I should have done the large deposit but I'm sure they use such a large number to scare you. I guess it worked. I didn't have this issue in Cabo in 2010 when I rented there. Maybe someone can educate me better here.

Exchange rates for dollars into pesos. I'm sure there are TONS of threads on how to get the most foreign currency per dollar. I'll just relate my experience in Cancun. The hotel offers 11.7 pesos per dollar straight up. The gas stations (Pexmex...the only game in town??) will give 11.5. Most other places are 10-11. Even using your credit card, they still rape you and adjust the rate down. In fact, when I filled up for gas, the guy kept swiping my Amex and declining it...same with my Visa (they were both fine...used them for groceries and everywhere else no problem). He basically didn't want me to pay with CC!! I was even told at one gas station that the CC machine was down for an hour. They want you to pay with cash, clearly. They also aren't in any hurry to give you change. When all was said and done with my one fill up, I paid $40 for $32 (according to my CC that was declined) of gas! Ugh.

If I were to go again, I'd search locally here in the states for the best exchange rate...find out what Lagunamar is offering, and bring about $500 worth and use cash everywhere until you are out. The only place where I got a nice exchange rate was at the duty free store at the airport when we were flying back home. I got 13.6 there using my credit card...they even listed the exchange rate on the receipt.

We visited Tulum and Chichen Itza: both were awesome and for both, we had guides that made the experience even better. We drove to Tulum (no problems) but didn't bring enough cash...take at least 500 pesos (~$50). Oh, BRING BUG SPRAY...WE GOT EATEN ALIVE BY MOSQUITOES.

For Chichen Itza, we took a guided tour there. We paid about $300 for the 3 of us: TOTALLY WORTH IT. The company that the Lagunamar uses is excellent. You take a very comfortable bus from Quintana Roo (where Cancun is located) to Yucatan and it is about 2.5-3 hours. You get a reasonable breakfast on the bus. Once at Chichen Itza, the guides take care of getting you tickets/passes/etc. for getting in. It is hot and humid here...VERY HOT AND HUMID. You sweat like crazy...bring water BUT they also provide water for you...much as you want. Our guide was crazy good...he really loved to talk but it was all very interesting. The Mayan civilization is something else...I want to study them now! After the tour of Chichen Itza, we were all tired, sweaty, sticky, and hot as can be. As we headed to the bus, guess what awaited us? Yes, ICE COLD CORONA...much as you wanted. It was the best beer I ever had in my life! :whoopie: I downed a couple...I wasn't driving! They also had water, juice, and soda, which my wife and kid had. After the tour, they took us to a buffet to chow down. The food was included...but not drinks. After the buffet, we were taken to a cenote (sinkhole) for some awesome swimming. After the hot sweltering day at the pyramids, the chilled fresh water of the cenote was heaven. Then we mostly slept for the long but comfortable bus ride back to the resort. We did this on Father's Day...the best father's day I ever had!!!

We tend to not partake in eating out too much. With Costco and Supermarta (Wall Mart grocery store), we just loaded up on groceries and did our own food, used the grills, etc. If you like chips, be careful in picking up what looks like familiar Cheetos or Doritos. It seems they spice everything up there...you should see a little chilli pepper on the bag. Poor me, I had to scarf the Doritos and Cheetos myself since my wife and kid didn't like them. They do have the normal kind...you just have to look for it.

Cancun is a bit confusing driving around in. They have lots of traffic circles which I'm not used to navigating around. They also label the street names differently. I often couldn't figure out which street name went with what street. We got lost a few times. Out on the Hotel Zone, it is easy...there is only one road.

There is A LOT you can do in Cancun: scuba, snorkel, jet ski, parasailing and other places like Xcarta and Xel Ha are large theme type park areas on the coast. Cozumel and Isla Mujeres are islands you can take a ferry to. The pyramids are awesome and more our cup of tea over the other stuff but I'm game for that next time we head out there.

Oh, with our home resort on Maui, we didn't have any issues getting into Lagunamar at the 8 month window but we weren't able to do Harborside. Harborside is next on our list so I suspect I'll need to trade with someone to get in. We'd go back to Cancun in a heartbeat...wonderful beach and tons of things to do.
 
Top