[jimanddarla]

Hi everybody.

Since there is this delay for us to deal with we decided we could scrape together enough money for a second visit trip!

We booked our flight and hotel - the Westin - through Latin Destinations. We have never stayed at the Westin before. Can you folks who have stayed there give us some advice?

What restaurants and shops are nearby?
Is the department store near?
Should we tell the staff we want the "baby package" when we check in, or call ahead?
Is there a baby lounge?
Are we allowed in the hotel restaurants with Abe?

Any other advicewould be great.

Thanks!

Jim

[CarolynP]

Hi. I didn't stay at the Westin, I stayed at the Radisson, but on my visit trip I walked around the lobby and pool of the Westin and it was very nice. I can tell you there are many restaurants and stores close by. NOt sure if you want to walk the streets with the baby (we didn't). As you walk out of the Westin, take a right and walk about a block down and you will find a restaurant called Los Ranchos. My husband and I loved it. Authentic Guatemalan food. Also, there is Kakoa (sp?) that is about two blocks from the Westin. As you walk out of the hotel, cross the street and walk a few blocks you cannot miss it. There are many stores all along that street (the same street the Radisson is on, not sure of the name). We felt safe walking in that area. Have a great trip.

[letsgo]

We stayed at the Westin twice and loved it! The staff is professional and helpful and most of them speak English. There are several restaurants in the hotel itself, all of them with good food (and all welcome small diners :0), as well as shops and room to walk around. The pool is gorgeous and the waiters there are anxious to assure that everything is "just right".
There is an "adoption floor" which has a baby lounge...we did not stay on that floor, but did request a "Junior Suite", which gave us a bit more room for all of our baby gear. As an added bonus, the room was at the end of the hallway and was nice and quiet! I requested everything ahead of time, but that's just how I am...
The Westin is in a great area with plenty of shops and restaurants in the area and it is safe to walk around...no department store, but there is a mall nearby.
I highly recommend the Westin...we loved it!
Have a great trip!

[TyAva]

We stayed there twice. We were on the "baby floor" both times and the lounge is very nice. When we were there the breakfast buffet was included in the cost of the room - and it was delicious!!! There are several gift type shops in the hotel. And if you ask at the front desk they will deliver any supplies you need from the pharmacy. (Like formula, bottled water, baby food, diapers, etc) I think there was a delivery fee and we tipped too since it was brought right to our room. After our Embassy appointment we did go to some of the shops down the street and got a pizza from the Dominos across the street.

Enjoy your trip!!!

[Sulley]

We just got back from our pick up trip 2 weeks ago and had a great time at the Westin.
1) if you did not already, try and get the room rate with breakfast included it is way cheaper to have it included.
2) you can ask the front desk or concierge to have just about anything delivered to the hotel - baby supplies as the previous poster said and dinner from just about any restaurant
3) we always stayed on the baby floor - because it is close to the baby lounge. We spent a lot of time in the baby lounge just hanging out because our little guy got tired of the room.
4) the pool rocks
5) You can take your children to the different restaurants
When you get there go to the baby room and ask any questions you might have, people are very helpful and glad to share things they learned.

Good luck!

[sferrick]

We have been home a week from our pick up trip and we stayed at the Westin and loved it!!!! NO problems what so ever. The beds are the best, nice room, pretty atmosphere, walking distance to restaurants, shopping and a large outdoor mall (very nice). We ate mostly at the buffet restaurant, but there is also a nice Italian restaurant that is smaller and more intimate, it had wonderful deserts. really nice pool area and helpful staff. My only issue was I had problems with their internet, but that was it. We had a great experience. I think you will be really happy. Honestly, I know you will. you will be with your child. Enjoy, Susie

[michelemk]

We LOVE the Westin. They are always super friendly and helpful. A few random thoughts:
1. If you don't stay on the Floor with the baby lounge (6th floor), just ask for a key to the 6th floor so that you can go to the Baby lounge. Because, without your key, you can't even access the 6th floor.
2. Each time, we just asked for a crib when we checked in. It was brought up within 60 minutes. They also bring a little baby bathtub.
3. Get some ice cream or dessert in Cafe Vienna...yum!
4. Damien and Julio are GREAT and work poolside. Julio speaks English very well and Damien likes to practice his English! Julio makes a killer strawberry daiquiri.
5. The concierge will help you with anything. We used their services to order Pollo Campero and also to order formula from the pharmacy. They are very friendly and helpful.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Michele

[jimanddarla]

Thanks everybody for your responses! We won' leave the Westin with our boy given the current climate.

We can't wait!

[Michelle Smiles]

I stayed at the Westin 4 times and never had any problems. They were always great with our daughter. You can rent a stroller at the front desk for a couple of dollars a day. They will bring a crib to your room upon request. And the restaurants are decent. The Italian restaurant in the Westin is probably the best of the 3 (mushroom risotto - yum). Coffee from Cafe Vienna is yummy. And the breakfast buffet in the main restaurant is very good - we still the miss wonderful coffee, fresh juices and fruits, and yummy black beans.

There is wireless internet but we could only get a signal out by the pool or in the lobby. If you want to use it in your room, buy the $5 cable they put on the mini-bar. There is a cost to access the internet per day but we found that they wouldn't allow both wireless and inroom for the same fee. There is also a business center with computers if you just want quick internet service instead of renting it daily.

We never left the hotel with Sabrina but did venture out individually a couple of times and on our pick up trip. If you ask at the front desk, they can direct you to restaurants - there are several right around it. And if you turn to your left out of the front door of the Westin, cross the main street (which I can't remember the name of), go about a block (if you hit McDonald's you've gone too far) on your right you'll see a small market with some souvenir shopping - more varied than the small shops in the Westin (although we bought several pieces of jade jewelry in the Jade shop at the Westin).