Quick Westin Lagunamar Update from the Balcony

[dioxide45]

I thought I would drop a quick update. We are just two days into our stay and the resort is great as usual. The lobby area is completely renovated from our last trip though the rooms are all the same. They've renamed the Mexican Fiesta to just be Taco Party (I hear the music from there now out on the balcony). Here are the theme nights at Oceano or around the resort.

Monday - Chef's Table - $1200mxn
Tuesday - Taco Party- $750mxn
Thursday - Steak Night- $800mxn, + Lobster $1300mxn
Friday - Tequila Tasting- $800 mxn
Saturday - Mayan Night- $750 mxn

Happy Hour at Viento and Duna isn't as good as what it was in the past. It is now only 30% off drinks vs. the previous 50% off. Now it is off select drinks (mainly cocktails) where in the past where I recall it was just a set menu of cocktails and beers. Overall seems to be better than most happy hours at the many resorts we've been to. It sure beats $1-$2 off drinks that we've seen.

There is a new Lobby Bar in building 400 which I haven't stopped by to take a look. Open in the evening from 6pm to 11pm. Edited to add. This Lobby Bar is just a temorary cart they wheel in and setup a bar area in the sales gallery welcome area. I walked through around 7pm and there was a bartender and one other person. I don't see this being something that sticks around long.

Owner discount is still 20% off food at the restaurants. This can actually make eating at the resort somewhat affordable even compared to the casual places at La Isla. No discount at Tierra Market.

La Isla has changed a lot as reported here in the past. All the restaurants along the waterfront marina area are closed except Taco Y Tequila which now seems to have two locations. I suspect the one on the waterfront will close soon. Only La Pizzaria moved over to the, newish?, section of La Isla. Mr Pappa's, and Hooters are still in the main section but look much smaller than in the past. Marina Retaurant is also over in that other section where you have to walk through what they call the "color walk". A real pain to get to if you have strollers or wheelchair. This also means if you walk along the waterfront marina area where those restaurants used to be there are a lot of people hawking trying to get you to look at the menu for the Marian Restaurant. Very annoying. There are also a lot more aggressive tour operators trying to do anything to get your attention. I am more the, I know your not chatting to be friendly so GTFA. Just keep walking... La Isla also seems much busier now than any other time we've ever came. I've never seen huge crowds line up before outside the Aquarium at La Isla.

It has also been quite windy here. They've had the umbrellas closed around the pool yesterday and today. Pool loungers pool side are all taken early in the AM. I need to go and scope that out better tomorrow morning before our owner update. They tried to pitch us 25K Bonvoy or $150 resort credit for 75 minutes. We held out for 30K Bonvoy for 90 minutes. I know actual time spent wouldn't really change regardless of which we went with. 30K isn't great but better than the 20K they offered us here three years ago.

 

[timsi]

I thought I would drop a quick update. We are just two days into our stay and the resort is great as usual. The lobby area is completely renovated from our last trip though the rooms are all the same. They've renamed the Mexican Fiesta to just be Taco Party (I hear the music from there now out on the balcony). Here are the theme nights at Oceano or around the resort.

Monday - Chef's Table - $1200mxn
Tuesday - Taco Party- $750mxn
Thursday - Steak Night- $800mxn, + Lobster $1300mxn
Friday - Tequila Tasting- $800 mxn
Saturday - Mayan Night- $750 mxn

Happy Hour at Viento and Duna isn't as good as what it was in the past. It is now only 30% off drinks vs. the previous 50% off. Now it is off select drinks (mainly cocktails) where in the past where I recall it was just a set menu of cocktails and beers. Overall seems to be better than most happy hours at the many resorts we've been to. It sure beats $1-$2 off drinks that we've seen.

There is a new Lobby Bar in building 400 which I haven't stopped by to take a look. Open in the evening from 6pm to 11pm. Edited to add. This Lobby Bar is just a temorary cart they wheel in and setup a bar area in the sales gallery welcome area. I walked through around 7pm and there was a bartender and one other person. I don't see this being something that sticks around long.

Owner discount is still 20% off food at the restaurants. This can actually make eating at the resort somewhat affordable even compared to the casual places at La Isla. No discount at Tierra Market.

La Isla has changed a lot as reported here in the past. All the restaurants along the waterfront marina area are closed except Taco Y Tequila which now seems to have two locations. I suspect the one on the waterfront will close soon. Only La Pizzaria moved over to the, newish?, section of La Isla. Mr Pappa's, and Hooters are still in the main section but look much smaller than in the past. Marina Retaurant is also over in that other section where you have to walk through what they call the "color walk". A real pain to get to if you have strollers or wheelchair. This also means if you walk along the waterfront marina area where those restaurants used to be there are a lot of people hawking trying to get you to look at the menu for the Marian Restaurant. Very annoying. There are also a lot more aggressive tour operators trying to do anything to get your attention. I am more the, I know your not chatting to be friendly so GTFA. Just keep walking... La Isla also seems much busier now than any other time we've ever came. I've never seen huge crowds line up before outside the Aquarium at La Isla.

It has also been quite windy here. They've had the umbrellas closed around the pool yesterday and today. Pool loungers pool side are all taken early in the AM. I need to go and scope that out better tomorrow morning before our owner update. They tried to pitch us 25K Bonvoy or $150 resort credit for 75 minutes. We held out for 30K Bonvoy for 90 minutes. I know actual time spent wouldn't really change regardless of which we went with. 30K isn't great but better than the 20K they offered us here three years ago.

Keep in mind that between your Bonvoy status, a premium card, and the owner's discount, the combined value—once you factor in the point yields—is an effective 35% off menu prices. For instance, the buffet breakfast is 400 pesos (roughly $23 USD), but once you apply the points and the owner's discount, the effective cost drops to about $16 tax in, which is extremely competitive. Given how much prices have climbed in the hotel zone lately an how much you pay for breakfast in the US, it’s actually a very decent deal. My only gripe is that Oceano feels a bit lackluster; the decor is bland and the dinner menu is uninspired, so I’m not particularly excited about eating dinner there. However, for breakfast or a quick lunch, the options at the resort are perfectly fine.

 

[gritmuncher]

Keep in mind that between your Bonvoy status, a premium card, and the owner's discount, the combined value—once you factor in the point yields—is an effective 35% off menu prices. For instance, the buffet breakfast is 400 pesos (roughly $23 USD), but once you apply the points and the owner's discount, the effective cost drops to about $16 tax in, which is extremely competitive. Given how much prices have climbed in the hotel zone lately an how much you pay for breakfast in the US, it’s actually a very decent deal. My only gripe is that Oceano feels a bit lackluster; the decor is bland and the dinner menu is uninspired, so I’m not particularly excited about eating dinner there. However, for breakfast or a quick lunch, the options at the resort are perfectly fine.

tell me more how you get 35% off? I know I get 20% off for owners. Do I get any for Gold Bonvoy status? What premium card are you talking about? I usually pay the final bill with the Bonvoy Amex card and get 6x points, but is that really a discount?

 

[gritmuncher]

Note that the prices of the restaurants have gone up but compared to NY and Philly prices, they still are excellent value, especially with the service you get in Cancun. We never eat dinner at Oceano; rather enjoy the great restaurants of Cancun. Just heard Beluga closed which made us sad.

 

[dioxide45]

tell me more how you get 35% off? I know I get 20% off for owners. Do I get any for Gold Bonvoy status? What premium card are you talking about? I usually pay the final bill with the Bonvoy Amex card and get 6x points, but is that really a discount?

When you check out you get the 6x on Amex or Chase but you also get 10-17.5 points based on Bonvoy status. They are using the cash value of those Bonvoy points along with the 20% owner discount to get to a theoretical 35%. I wouldn't consider the Bonovy points as a discount.

 

[dioxide45]

Note that the prices of the restaurants have gone up but compared to NY and Philly prices, they still are excellent value, especially with the service you get in Cancun. We never eat dinner at Oceano; rather enjoy the great restaurants of Cancun. Just heard Beluga closed which made us sad.

It really depends on the restaurants. I also find most restaurants in Cancun are there to get you in and out while extracting as much money as possible. Take Cambalache. Our meal for two with soda only was over $180.