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Esmeralda Resort and Westin Hotel #215810
01/27/2020 09:32 PM
01/27/2020 09:32 PM
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 11
California
R
RMG Offline OP
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RMG  Offline OP
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 11
California
Can anyone give me their opinion of the Esmeralda Resort please.

Also, any update on the Westin property and when they plan on reopening, if at all.

Thank you.


Robert
SXM Sponsors
Re: Esmeralda Resort and Westin Hotel [Re: RMG] #215867
01/28/2020 11:36 AM
01/28/2020 11:36 AM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 95
US
J
jborosara Offline
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 95
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We have a reservation at Esmeralda in 23 days but who is counting?

Re: Esmeralda Resort and Westin Hotel [Re: RMG] #216169
01/31/2020 05:32 AM
01/31/2020 05:32 AM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,989
Westchester /NYC
Colour1 Offline
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Colour1  Offline
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Westchester /NYC
The work at Westin is so slow. Mostly in part that it is so difficult to get supplies to the island!! Wife worked for corp headquarters in Stanford CT. We loved it there!!!


Sand Gravity, got to love it!
Re: Esmeralda Resort and Westin Hotel [Re: RMG] #216180
01/31/2020 08:37 AM
01/31/2020 08:37 AM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 437
Virginia
S
seascape Offline
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Virginia
We stayed at Esmeralda the first week in January. They have repaired all but one cottage, I believe. I don't know if you can request a certain room but ours was in the cottage furthest from the beach. Our room was outdated with a college sized refrigerator and the coffee maker that they advertise is merely a pot to heat water. Each cottage has 3 rooms with a small pool that is shared. You are able to enjoy free chairs at 3 different beach locations.
Breakfast is included with fruit, pastries, juices and coffee. Their restaurant, L'Astrobe, is located around a pool in the middle of the resort. We had dinner there which was delicious and the service was great.

I might consider staying there again if I could stay closer to the beach. It's fairly pricey so I would have to think hard about it.


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Re: Esmeralda Resort and Westin Hotel [Re: Colour1] #216208
01/31/2020 10:11 AM
01/31/2020 10:11 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
David--Believe what you want about the Westin, but if they WANTED to get it repaired ASAP, they would.

Regarding Esmeralda, I know when Jim Ruos used to handle it, you could definitely request specific rooms. I assume you can do that when you make the reservation yourself.


Carol Hill
Re: Esmeralda Resort and Westin Hotel [Re: Colour1] #216217
01/31/2020 10:32 AM
01/31/2020 10:32 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,560
St Maarten
BillandElaine Offline
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BillandElaine  Offline
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St Maarten
Originally Posted by Colour1
The work at Westin is so slow. Mostly in part that it is so difficult to get supplies to the island!! Wife worked for corp headquarters in Stanford CT. We loved it there!!!


It is not difficult at all to get supplies here. You order, you pay, you ship.


Elaine
*********************************
God Bless the broken road....
Re: Esmeralda Resort and Westin Hotel [Re: RMG] #216291
02/01/2020 12:00 AM
02/01/2020 12:00 AM
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 35
D
dm25vac Offline
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We have stayed there several times with almost all of the bookings done by Jim Ruos. He would usually get us a room in one of the units behind Astrolabe which we found to be quiet and more secluded. Also close to the beach.

We will probably book it again on our next trip. Hope that helps!

Re: Esmeralda Resort and Westin Hotel [Re: RMG] #216390
02/02/2020 06:00 AM
02/02/2020 06:00 AM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,989
Westchester /NYC
Colour1 Offline
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Colour1  Offline
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Westchester /NYC
My information about getting supplies is from TWO major business owners . This is the information I have gathered!!! You can order anything, that doesn't mean it's going to arrive on time, or at all! Anyone had TSA go through your luggage to go shopping??? You don't think this happens on the docks too????

Last edited by Colour1; 02/02/2020 06:01 AM.

Sand Gravity, got to love it!
Re: Esmeralda Resort and Westin Hotel [Re: Colour1] #216398
02/02/2020 09:32 AM
02/02/2020 09:32 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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David--I recognize that on SXM, it's not like going around the corner to the local Home Depot, but there is something else altogether going on at the Westin. Not to mention the fact that we are now 2.5 years post Irma.


Carol Hill
Re: Esmeralda Resort and Westin Hotel [Re: Carol_Hill] #216406
02/02/2020 09:47 AM
02/02/2020 09:47 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
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ruralcarrier  Offline
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Ohio
Correct. Kind of like with another t/s on the island, way behind others in getting back open and not all due to lack of supplies.


J.D.
Re: Esmeralda Resort and Westin Hotel [Re: Colour1] #216425
02/02/2020 11:39 AM
02/02/2020 11:39 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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SXMScubaman  Offline
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Auburn, WA
" Anyone had TSA go through your luggage to go shopping"
Happened to us.

Re: Esmeralda Resort and Westin Hotel [Re: seascape] #216467
02/03/2020 02:42 AM
02/03/2020 02:42 AM
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 11
California
R
RMG Offline OP
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RMG  Offline OP
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California
Thank you


Robert
Re: Esmeralda Resort and Westin Hotel [Re: Colour1] #216565
02/04/2020 09:31 AM
02/04/2020 09:31 AM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,359
a little right of center
2
2fingers Offline
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a little right of center
Didn't seem to have "supply" issues years ago when it was built.


"It's 5 o'clock somewhere!"

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Re: Esmeralda Resort and Westin Hotel [Re: 2fingers] #216592
02/04/2020 11:56 AM
02/04/2020 11:56 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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Auburn, WA
Originally Posted by 2fingers
Didn't seem to have "supply" issues years ago when it was built.

I would think with after Irma there is a much larger drain on supplies than before and when it was build.

Re: Esmeralda Resort and Westin Hotel [Re: Carol_Hill] #216669
02/05/2020 08:45 AM
02/05/2020 08:45 AM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,989
Westchester /NYC
Colour1 Offline
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Colour1  Offline
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Westchester /NYC
The other major problem was at the time of Irma, Starwood hotels was bought out by Marriott. Lots of unanswered questions about the property. IMHO. Had Starwood not sold, it would have been up and running to it's fullest!!


Sand Gravity, got to love it!
Re: Esmeralda Resort and Westin Hotel [Re: Colour1] #216679
02/05/2020 10:04 AM
02/05/2020 10:04 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
Yes, there continue to be a lot of rumors that the Westin will be re-branded and my feeling is that this is the reason why there is nothing going on there.


Carol Hill
Re: Esmeralda Resort and Westin Hotel [Re: Carol_Hill] #216917
02/07/2020 01:29 PM
02/07/2020 01:29 PM
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 53
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ricardop Offline
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Many properties have rebuilt already and some are in the process of completing e.g. Royal Palm, Flamingo, Alegria (now Morgan), new Adonis, new Secrets on the French side just to name a few. Not sure accessibility to supplies can be a reason.

Re: Esmeralda Resort and Westin Hotel [Re: RMG] #216946
02/07/2020 05:34 PM
02/07/2020 05:34 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 396
US
Pete Offline
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Pete  Offline
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Don't believe that the Westin was actually owned by Starwood, so that's not really an excuse either.

Re: Esmeralda Resort and Westin Hotel [Re: Pete] #216971
02/08/2020 08:21 AM
02/08/2020 08:21 AM
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,408
Yonkers, NY
fabila Offline
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Yonkers, NY
It was a franchise hotel under the Starwood brand. Before the Marriott bought Starwood the portfolio of owned hotels worldwide was quite small and that was by design. The company was tasked with disposing all owned hotels as the new philopshy was there was more money in managing, leasing or franchising. I worked at corporate headquarters.


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