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Newbie Starwood Help!

julienjay

Guest
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Mar 29, 2007
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los angeles
Hello - I bought a 1-bedroom unit at SDO and I have designated it for exchange with II, as suggested by the Sticky. (Thanks for all the information!)

One of the reasons I bought this is to get Starwood priority viewing, and my dream is to go back to Maui at WKORV.

Is it my best bet to put in an ongoing search, and then also keep checking Interval daily (as well as the sightings board)?

Also, what is your opinion of Westin Lagunamar? I have two kids (age 8 and 11) ... is it comparable to WKORV in terms of a family beach vacation? Is that an easier trade?

Thank you so much!
 

DeniseM

Moderator
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Location
Northern, CA
Resorts Owned
WKORV, WKV, SDO, 4-Kauai Beach Villas, Island Park Village (Yellowstone), Hyatt High Sierra, Dolphin's Cove (Anaheim) NEW: 3 Lawa'i Beach Resort!
Hello - I bought a 1-bedroom unit at SDO and I have designated it for exchange with II, as suggested by the Sticky. (Thanks for all the information!)

One of the reasons I bought this is to get Starwood priority viewing, and my dream is to go back to Maui at WKORV.

Is it my best bet to put in an ongoing search, and then also keep checking Interval daily (as well as the sightings board)?
YES!


Also, what is your opinion of Westin Lagunamar? I have two kids (age 8 and 11) ... is it comparable to WKORV in terms of a family beach vacation? Is that an easier trade?

Thank you so much!

I haven't been there, but by all accounts (and the pictures) it is a beautiful resort. Posters have reported that the pool is sometimes cold in the winter, and that the the beach isn't very nice there. It is a VERY easy trade - there is more supply than demand for Mexico. I recommend that you go to the TUG reviews and read the Lagunamar Reviews. (TUG Resort Databases in the red bar at the top of the page.)

Discussions/pictures Lagunamar - https://www.google.com/search?client=gmail&rls=gm&q="lagunamar"site:tugbbs.com&safe=active
 
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cfnobis

TUG Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2011
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10
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Location
Cave Creek, Az.
Resorts Owned
WKORN, WLR, ROYAL SEACLIFF
Just returned from a week at Lagunamar. This is our second trip in two years and my daughter has also been there twice. I was actually surprised on how many children were there this time. I didn't have any young ones with me but the ones that were there appeared to be having a great time. The pool is fantastic and the beach is nice. However, the ocean is pretty rough and I would not recommend it for young kids. Go to Xel Ha instead. We got a great rate through the hotel. There is lots to do there through their kids program and it is very safe. Try it and have a great time!
 

jarta

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Chicago
"Posters have reported that the pool is sometimes cold in the winter, and that the the beach isn't very nice there."

??? The Lagunamar beach was completely rebuilt (hurricane damage) 2 years ago. Now, the Cancun beach is much nicer than the smallish beach at WKORV. It's about 200-300 feet wide in Cancun with whiter and less-gritty sand. However, the surf is usually rougher at Lagunamar than at WKORV.

When Lagunamar was opened 3 years ago, the pool was inadequately heated. That has changed radically.

I was at Lagunamar for 2 weeks this January. The Lagunamar pool was warmer in January than the WKORV pool has been these last 2 weeks.

Both are very nice resorts. But, they are different. WKORV is in the US and it feels like you are in the US. Lagunamar is in Mexico and it feels like you are not in the US.

Service is better at WKORV. Food is cheaper in Mexico. Both places have things to do that are in the vicinity. You need a rental car at WKORV. However, people do not generally rent a car at Lagunamar. They take the public bus that stops right outside the resort. So, they get around less by themselves. ... eom
 

VacationForever

TUG Review Crew
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Somewhere Out There
I love WLR. The pool was nice and warm and the beach is also very nicely kept. I think the sea at WLR (Carribean Sea) is nicer than the water at Kauai/ Maui (Pacific Ocean), with many more shades of blue. If I live in the East Coast I would be visiting WLR every year.
 

susan6103

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Mar 3, 2011
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Location
Edmonton, Canada
We went there last November with little ones (4 & 6 yrs old). We loved the resort. one of the nicest pools and gorgeous beach. A little rough so kids couldn't really play in water.
 

VacationForever

TUG Review Crew
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We went there last November with little ones (4 & 6 yrs old). We loved the resort. one of the nicest pools and gorgeous beach. A little rough so kids couldn't really play in water.

Yep, the most gorgeous pool that I have been to and swam in. Can't beat that pool. Just don't try to swim in the sea.
 

clsmit

TUG Review Crew
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Mar 14, 2008
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Location
Solon, OH (for love not the weather)
Resorts Owned
WSJ, HRA, WKORV, WMH, SBP, WLR
They are both good places for kids but different. Maui has the snorkeling right off the beach, and as others have said, Lagunamar's ocean is often rough. But Lagunamar has a Mayan ruin on the property with iguanas. Very cool for kids that age. Lagunamar has a good kid's program for the days you stay on property -- tie dying, feeding the iguanas, games on the beach, etc. Maui has some of that, but with the pirate ship pool and the calm beach water you don't need as much.

Which feels more familiar depends on what you're used to. We go to New Mexico a lot, so in some ways the local foods in grocery in Cancun are more "normal" than in Hawaii. But if I lived closer to the Pacific the food in Hawaii would seem more familiar.

Your kids will love both!
 
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Mjasp

TUG Member
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Jun 12, 2005
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349
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Location
Florida
Resorts Owned
Sheraton Broadway Plantation
I go to the Caribbean often via cruising, and I've never seen the Caribbean sea rough, does anyone know why it's so rough?

Does anyone who has been there know any other resort names near the Westin?
 

siesta

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I go to the Caribbean often via cruising, and I've never seen the Caribbean sea rough, does anyone know why it's so rough?

Does anyone who has been there know any other resort names near the Westin?
i dont find it rough, the surf is stronger at times, and if you arent a strong swimmer id take caution. But ive seen the surf just as strong other places like Paradise Beach at Atlantis, or on various beaches on hawaiian islands (theres a reason its a surfers haven)
 
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