“This hotel is only partially functional. We are staying here currently, and are repeatedly being told by management that various amenities (e.g., Flowrider, Hot Tubs, kids center, activities center, outside sports bar, BBQ pits for cooking, housekeeping, etc.) are “closed due to COVID.” This is nonsensical, as Quintana Roo/Cancun is “green” for COVID restrictions- the least restricted of Mexico’s four tier system. According to the Mexican and local Quintana Roo government resources, these amenities are ok to be open and functional, provided reasonable precautions are taken. The Westin Resort and Spa hotel, contrary to government recommendations and guidelines, repeatedly tells us amenities are “closed due to COVID” and/or “direction from their corporate office.” Prior to arriving at the Westin Resort and Spa this afternoon, we stayed at the Westin Lagunamar for five nights. The Westin Lagunamar is just down the road (about 10 minutes away) and was fully functional; all amenities were open. Masks were required in common areas and I saw the employees doing a phenomenal job of keeping everything clean. I felt very comfortable and safe there. Conversely, the Westin Resort and Spa is run down, empty, and partially closed (although their service/cleaning staff are very kind and welcoming). We were not notified of any of these shut downs and restrictions until we arrived and were checking in. At that point, we had no other option. It’s like a bait and switch routine. Interestingly, they are still charging their normal prices and room rates for a partially inoperable hotel. The service staff have been great. They are all friendly and welcoming. The food at the pool/beach and at the on-site restaurant (Stone and Sea?) is delicious. My son had the NY steak and I had the grilled chicken and grilled veggies. The grilled zucchini was amazing. My brother said he ate the best burrito of his life at the sports bar, and my chicken tacos from the pool/beach bar were fantastic. When the BBQ grills were still inoperable on the last night of our stay, the sports bar staff was awesome and cooked our chicken breasts for us at no charge. While I find the people who work here to be great, the office staff have not been as friendly or accommodating. My brother is a Westin timeshare owner. As an owner, one of the touted benefits is late checkout. We asked several times for a late checkout and each front desk, concierge, and office staff refused, saying late checkout is only available on the “hotel” side of the resort- it’s not available for the suites or studio rooms. SMH. Also- the pictures online look NOTHING like the hotel or grounds now. It’s stunning how beautiful the pictures look online, and not so much in real life. It’s like a cheaper version of what is shown online. The gym looks nothing like the online pictures and is missing half the equipment and machines shown in the pictures. Plus the equipment must have been built in the 80s. It’s very dated and old, barely functional.The room doors are not soft close doors, so it is very noisy. I can hear doors closing down the hallway from inside my room. The bed and linens are not the Westin Heavenly bed. The linens are hard and scratchy and the bed is hard. The towels are the Heavenly brand.We have a strange sewer-like smell coming from the pipes in the bathroom and the shower head is covered with lime scale and rust. Truly, it’s a bait and switch beyond even the closed amenities. I highly recommend going down the beach to the Westin Lagunamar and avoiding the subpar Westin Resort and Spa.”
— Dana Smith