Marriott’s Kauai Beach Club Review (Disappointing)
I was really looking forward to our stay at the Marriott’s Kaua’i Beach Club, located on the south part of the island of Kauai. It had everything I thought you need for an amazing Hawaii stay: views, beaches, and a great location.
But out of all of the six hotels that we stayed at on this Hawaii trip, this ended up being by far the worst stay. Check out my full review below to see what went wrong and why I won’t be returning.
Booking
On a recent 10 night trip to Hawaii we spent a large portion of the trip tracking down all of the Jurassic Park filming locations.
This meant that we would be focusing a lot on the island of Kauai since that is where most of the filming went down.
While researching I realized that the crew of Jurassic Park actually stayed at this hotel during filming.
What’s more, this is where they hunkered down whenever the strongest hurricane to ever hit Hawaii in recorded history hit.
Specifically, they would be huddled up in the ballroom which was something we were also able to check out.
So I thought this hotel would be a perfect site to add to our list of places to check out.
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I paid cash for two nights which came out over $1,061.66.
Quick note: I learned that it’s kind of depressing to stay at timeshare properties like this when you have Marriott elite status like Titanium because it essentially means nothing.
No breakfast, late check out, no upgrades, etc.
So if you’re elite and you’ve never stayed at a property like this be ready to feel like you’re losing out on value because you will inevitably feel it.
Location overview: Lihue
The hotel is located in Lihue, directly on Kalapaki Beach which is really cool since you can just walk out the hotel and sit on a Hawaiian beach without having to drive or hike anywhere.
You have to be careful with the water here though because there are some strong riptides that come through.
Interestingly, if you look out from Kalapaki Beach and you see the jetty sticking out that jetty was actually featured in a scene from Jurassic Park.
They used actual storm footage from the hurricane to portray the storm hitting the island in the movie.
Here is the movie still from Jurassic Park. Pretty cool, huh?
Something else that is notable about this property is that it is practically in the backyard of the Lihue Airport (LIH).
If you plan on doing helicopter rides you don’t have to drive far at all to get there which is a major plus.
The city of Lihue has quite a few places that may come in handy like Walmart and there’s also a shopping center (mini-mall) nearby with a Target.
As far as attractions, you have the Kauaʻi Museum nearby and if you want to experience a luau the Lu’au Kalamaku is very close.
If you want to get on the road this is also a good starting off point to get to Waimea Canyon State Park. It’s about an hour away from the hotel but that is much better than the driving time from the north side of the island.
You can also get to the north side of the island in about an hour, which is not bad.
So overall I think this hotel has fantastic location on Kauai.
Check-in
The Marriott check-in desk is pretty far inside the hotel and you have to go through a lobby, down an escalator, through some outdoor corridors, and finally you arrive at the check-in desk.
The woman working the check-in desk was extremely friendly and personable which got me really excited about this property. It’s always a good sign when things start off that way.
Early check-in would not be available which meant that we would need to kill some time.
We did so by heading to the nearby Kuki’i Point Lighthouse (Beacon) area and just explored some of the rocky areas and took in the views. It’s adjacent to a golf course but there is a set of stairs that is open to the public so you can legally access this area.
Finally, we got a message that our room was ready so technically we did get in a little bit early which was nice.
The room
As soon as we got to the room I was immediately disappointed.
It wasn’t really the room (although I will get to that later).
It was the fact that there was really loud construction going on in the room directly across from us and indeed other rooms in the hallway.
I did not recall seeing any message about construction going on at this property and so that led to me contacting the hotel to see what was going on.
It turns out the hotel claimed that there was a warning message and that message read:
Please note – The adjacent The Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort is undergoing renovation. Please anticipate construction noise. Work is expected to continue through March 31, 2022.
This message was extremely misleading because in the context of hotel premises, “adjacent” would suggest a connected tower/building or perhaps a connected wing.
I’ve stayed at a lot of hotel properties, including a lot of co-branded properties.
Every single time I’ve stayed at a co-branded property, the two properties are segregated by different buildings or different wings. But in this case, they actually are located on the same hallway.
A prior email from the hotel indicated that these two properties “share a campus” which again would suggest separate buildings.
What they should’ve said in the email was they “share buildings.”
That would have been 10 times more clear and accurate because campus =/= building.
But that level of transparency would have scared away potential customers like myself….
Also, remember I booked this largely because of the special content piece we were doing on Jurassic Park?
I had called the hotel previously trying to figure out which building the Jurassic Park crew stayed at. Was it the Marriott property or the Royal Sonesta?
During that call, the representative made it sound like the properties were located in different buildings.
So I felt like I had no reason to think that these two properties would be sharing the same hallway.
Surely the hotel would understand, especially with me being Titanium elite?
Uhm, no.
The hotel management could not have cared less despite admitting that I had a valid argument regarding the vague use of the term “adjacent.”
Their response was “Unfortunately we can’t stop construction for you….” Right, because that’s what I was expecting.
It completely turned me off to this hotel.
Lucky for us, for the most part we were out doing things so the construction was not the worst thing.
The thing that rubbed me the wrong way the most was just how management completely dismissed the issue.
Anyway, going back to the review.
Here’s a look at the studio room we booked.
It’s basically a studio apartment and comes with a small kitchen area (no stove).
The closet is where you will find your two pillows along with the iron and iron board. They also have a safe.
I liked that the room came with such a big fridge and a freezer.
There’s a workstation which came with two chairs which was nice for in-room dining, although you are talking about a very tight fit with two seats.
I booked a Murphy bed at this property largely as an experiment. I had never stayed in a hotel offering a Murphy bed and wanted to see what it would be like.
It was not very comfortable and I would not recommend it.
The bed initially only came with two pillows and even after calling in to request a few more, it was still just not a comfortable bed.
I’ll take responsibility for that one though. In retrospect I should’ve known.
The room did have a pretty decent view but from the sixth floor balcony there was only so much of the beach you could see.
The bathroom was a problem.
It was one of those horribly designed bathrooms where you basically have to solve a Rubiks cube every time you want to maneuver around the toilet, shower door, and the bathroom door.
Sometimes you’re almost forced to touch the toilet when you come out of the shower which never feels great.
As far as the hotel premises, I feel like this is one of those properties that you either hate it or love it.
Personally, I thought it was pretty cool having all of the columns throughout the property, but I could see how some people would think it is very dated.
It’s pretty cool that they have hot tubs located underneath these balconies although some of the balconies look down into the center of the hot tub which is just awkward when people are in there. Not sure what the point of that is.
Here are some more shots of the pool area.
Breakfast
We had the opportunity to try out one of the restaurants on site, Kukui’s on Kalapaki Beach, for breakfast and I was very pleased by the food quality.
But just when I thought I was over the “adjacent hotel” issue we asked to put our breakfast on our room and were told that we could not because this restaurant was part of the Royal Sonesta.
So these properties are close enough that they can share a freakin’ hallway but not so close that you can put a meal on your room at a restaurant that you find in a common area? Okay, cool.
When you get there, ask for a seat with a view of the beach because otherwise they will apparently seat you as far away from the beach view as possible.
After breakfast, we took some time to check out the pool area.
They have some cabanas but the view inside them is restricted by a lot of the vegetation. So if you are seated or lying down it’s like you are just looking at a wall of bushes.
They do a good job of keeping up with all of the landscaping on the property, though.
I thought the beach area was pretty nice but watch out for those rip currents. There are no lifeguards.
Here is the view of the harbor that you will have. That view was also used in Jurassic Park movie: The Lost World.
Someone had created a beautiful sand sculpture while we were there which was cool to see.
Here are a few more shots from the beach area.
Before dipping out we checked out the gym which was quite large and fully equipped.
Final word
This hotel has a great location and I really thought the premises were quite beautiful. The staff seemed to be very personable and professional but I can’t say that about the management.
I’ve stayed at and reviewed a lot of hotels over the past decade and this may have been the worst exchange I’ve ever had with management.
I had a valid argument that their description of the construction was vague and misleading and the manager even admitted as much but decided to dismiss the complaint.
For that reason, I can’t ever see myself returning to this property. I got my Jurassic Park fix and was pretty much done.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time credit card rewards/travel expert and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
Ultimate Guide to Cleaning Seashells [2021]
You might be collecting seashells just for fun with your kids, for keepsakes while traveling to amazing beaches, or you might be seeking out some beautiful shells to showcase in your home decor.
Regardless of your motives, you will want to make sure that you take adequate steps to ensure that the seashells you collect are clean and that they look great.
In this article, I will tell you everything you need to know about cleaning seashells.
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Should you collect living shells?
My advice would be generally to avoid collecting living shells.
For one, unless you are very knowledgeable about the different species of living shells in a given area, you will not know what type of impact collecting living shells will have on the local environment.
Even if you are indifferent about killing a simple organism living within a seashell, you could still contribute to disrupting an ecosystem which is something that you don’t want to do.
Moreover, in certain states, if you would like to collect a living shell such as a mollusk, you might need a fishing license.
And collecting other types of living shells may be flat out illegal regardless of what type of license you have.
So unless you are aware of the local Fish and Game regulations and know that you are in compliance with them, you are better off not collecting living shells.
Tip: If you can’t tell whether or not a shell is alive, simply leave it alone in a small tide pool for a while and if it is alive you might see it move or open up.
Cleaning seashells
Assuming that you are allowed to legally collect seashells, here are some steps that you can follow to clean your seashells adequately.
Boiling water method
One of the most popular methods for cleaning seashells is to simply boil them in water.
To do this, simply follow these steps:
Let your seashells soak in water for several days if possible
Place your seashells in a large pot with water at room temperature
Make sure there are a few inches of water above the largest seashell
Bring the water to a rolling boil for approximately five minutes
Carefully remove the shells with tongs or a similar apparatus and let them cool down on a towel
Make sure that you do not drop the seashells into boiling water because that could risk cracking or damaging the seashell!
Also, some shells may crack if you boil them too long or if they are too brittle to begin with.
If you have chosen a live seashell then this boiling method should remove the tissue from the shell, allowing you to more easily clean it.
If there was dead tissue within the shell then that should also be loosened up by the boiling water.
In both cases, use something like a pair of tweezers to remove the objects from the inside of the shell.
The bleach method
Some people prefer to bleach their seashells.
This approach is a bit more aggressive but it can be very effective in removing dirt and other waste materials from your seashells.
With this method, you will mix an appropriate amount of bleach with enough water to fully cover your seashells.
Different people use different amounts of bleach. Some recommend mixing about 1 to 3 tablespoons of bleach per 1 gallon of water into a bucket.
When handling bleach, it can be helpful to wear latex gloves but if you are careful enough you can simply drop the seashells into the bleach water.
You will want to then leave the shells alone for several hours, likely 4 to 8 hours depending on how much work the bleach needs to do to remove any gunk, dirt, etc.
Once the time is up then rinse your shells in clean water and placed them somewhere to dry.
Tip: If the shells have a lot of grooves in them or you are not completely satisfied with the removal of debris, a great solution is to simply use an old toothbrush to scrub away little remnants.
The risk with bleaching is that you could affect the appearance of the shell.
If your shelves have nice colors on them it’s very possible that they could be faded by the bleach. (For lighter colored shells this is less of an issue.)
Also, many shells will have a thin coating on them that will be eaten away by the bleach and that could affect the appearance of the shell.
Note: Some people might recommend to use vinegar for cleaning the shelves but this runs with a high risk of dissolving the shells.
Another option that people try is olive oil but that can stain your shells sometimes.
Rinsing water
The third method that you can use is just to rinse the seashells with water.
This will be the least effective at removing particles that are stuck to the shells but it can be a pretty efficient method for washing away sand and other particles.
For best results, you might want to simply soak the shells in water for several days before attempting to rinse them.
For dirty shells, you will most likely also need to use the toothbrush method to remove the grime.
If you are against using bleach or worried about cracking the shells with boiling water, you can also use toothpaste to clean your shells.
If you choose to go the toothpaste route, it’s best to smear toothpaste on the shell and let it sit for several hours so that it can do its magic. You might even think about leaving it on overnight.
Tip: If you find that there are small barnacles attached to your shells, you can use something like a dental tool or perhaps even a wire brush to remove the barnacles.
Bury your shells
If you have a live shell one method to remove the tissue is by digging a small hole and placing the shell in the soil.
This method will take several weeks or months but after a certain amount of time, small organisms in the soil such as insects or even bacteria can remove all of the tissue in the shell for you.
This method is obviously only for those individuals who have extreme patience and who don’t have an immediate need for cleaning live shells.
Polishing your shells
After you have removed all of the dirt or undesirable waste remnants from your seashells, you might be interested in polishing them up especially if you plan to use them for decoration.
There are multiple ways that you can accomplish this.
One way is to use mineral oil and simply rub on the shelves until you are pleased with how polished they look. Mineral oil is great because it is pretty easy to use and it also can be pretty cheap. It also typically provides a nice natural finish.
Another method that you can go with is using some type of acrylic spray that will give them a nice shine.
Acrylic sprays can leave a glossy finish or a matte finish so it is all up to your preference.
Finally, some people will use clear nail polish or baby oil to give their shows a nice luster once they are finished cleaning them.
I’ve even seen some people who have used coconut oil to give their shells a nice shine.
Whatever route you choose to go with the polish remember that you want to apply as little as possible in the beginning to avoid building up too much on the surface of the shell.
Before you apply your polish, you might want to give the shells a full day to dry to make sure that the polish is applied optimally.
Just don’t leave them in the sun for too long because that could cause the colors to fade if they are subject to strong UV rays.
Tip: When applying your material to the shell you might need to only do one side of the shell per day in order to give it enough time to dry.
Smelly seashells
If your seashells begin to smell bad after several days then chances are there is some type of dead organism or remains of a dead organisms within your shells.
You can use one of the methods above such as the bleaching method or boiling method to remove the dead remnants.
But you can also try other methods such as soaking the shell in water and replacing that water every day in order for the rotting organism to be expelled.
In some cases, you might actually need to shake the shell to loosen up any particles.
If you are dealing with a particularly large shell then you can use a nozzle on something like a hose to hit it with a stream of water that could potentially loosen up whatever is inside.
Final word
As you can tell, the process for cleaning your seashells is pretty straightforward.
First, you need to make sure that you are not illegally picking up seashells or unnecessarily disturbing an ecosystem.
Then you can choose whether you want to use a boiling method or a bleach method to wash off your shells.
If your shells are particularly dirty, you might need to do a little bit of scrubbing with an old toothbrush.
And if you want a polished finish on your seashells then consider using mineral oil or some type of acrylic spray to give them a nice finished look.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time credit card rewards/travel expert and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
Best Marriott Beach Hotels and Resorts [2020]
In every corner of the world, you will find a Marriott beach hotel and resort. However, there are some Marriott beach properties that really stand out. Some might be remote and on a private island while others will have a unique design or theme that makes the property special. Wherever you might be, there is a Marriott beach hotel and resort waiting for you.
In this article, I will go over my favorite, aka best, Marriott beach hotels and resorts from all over the world.
Marriott Bonvoy points categories
On March 5th, 2019 Marriott Bonvoy officially changed to their new award chart ranging from category 1 to category 8. Category 5 is a sweet spot in Bonvoy’s award chart as it can range from business hotels to luxury hotels across the globe. You can easily find an EDITION, Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Luxury Collection, W, and JW Marriott property in category 5. If you want to learn about the best category 5 hotels, check out my article here.
In regards to beach properties, you can easily find any type of category hotel all around the world on the beach. Some will be worth using your points at, while others won’t be worth a second thought.
Here is the Bonvoy award chart for your reference:
Hotel Category
Off Peak (as of September 14)
Standard
Peak (as of September 14)
1
5,000
7,500
10,000
2
10,000
12,500
15,000
3
15,000
17,500
20,000
4
20,000
25,000
30,000
5
30,000
35,000
40,000
6
40,000
50,000
60,000
7
50,000
60,000
70,000
8
70,000
85,000
100,000
As you can see from the table above, off peak and peak seasons are starting September 14, 2019. However you look at it, this could be a good or bad change as it creates inconsistency. So, it’s up to you if you can take advantage of this change.
Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!
Marriott Bonvoy credit cards
There are a total of 4 Marriott Bonvoy cards. Each card comes with different benefits and different annual fees. There are 2 midrange cards, 1 premium card, and one entry-level card. These cards aren’t the best for earning points like other cards, but in most cases, the benefits like the annual free night makes up for the annual fee. Here are my favorite Marriott Bonvoy cards.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
6 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent at any Marriott Bonvoy property.
2 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Annual free night certificate valued up to 35,000 points.
6 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent at any Marriott Bonvoy property.
4 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers & on U.S. purchases for shipping.
2 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Annual free night certificate valued up to 35,000 points.
Spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year for an additional annual free night.
Other cards you might want to consider are the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the American Express Platinum Charge Card. Currently, the Chase Sapphire Preferred has an elevated welcome offer for 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewardsafter spending $4,000 dollars in the first 3 months. You can also transfer any points earned with Chase Ultimate Rewards directly to Marriott at a 1:1 ratio.
Best Marriott Beach Hotels and Resorts
Any list you read on the internet like this will be a little subjective as I or any other author will hold different values to certain amenities, locations, brands, etc. So, please be aware that my list might differ from your own personal preferences. So, I outlined below what I value.
I went through every country on every continent to find the best of the best Marriott beach property. There are many beach properties around the world, but there are a select few that are outstanding for different reasons.
What criteria and values did I use while making this list?
Beach quality – how swimmable a beach is and the sand feel. Private, remote, or secluded beaches are a plus.
Location – unless you want to party, I think a property that is more secluded and away from the strip or other resorts that hold many nature activities are better.
Quality of the rooms and upkeep
Fewer rooms – in my experience, properties that have less than 200 rooms offer far superior service as guests aren’t treated like a number.
To my surprise, my initial list was almost 52 properties out of hundreds. Some properties I have stayed at while some I discovered.
For most beaches, I used previous knowledge, but as I haven’t been to some of these properties or countries I scoured the internet for reviews from verified guests and on forums for both the properties and beaches.
After my few initial lists I am confident on the properties that are in this list.
So, without further ado, here is UponArriving’s Best Marriott Beach Hotels and Resorts.
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
Location: Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives Average price: $1472 USD Category: 8 Opening: 2016 Number of rooms: 77 Hotel website
Vommuli Island areal view
Arguably the most aspirational and best Marriott property is The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort. This property has 6 restaurants and 2 bar/lounges that are offering a variety of bites and drinks, albeit at a steep price tag. However, the steep price tag shouldn’t stop you as this is the ultimate vacation getaway being so intimate, romantic, and secluded.
Overwater Villa at the St. Regis Maldives
A total of 77 villas on the beach or overwater villas that allow you to stay in St. Regis luxury with butlers around the clock. If you stay with status, expect minimal upgrades, but complimentary breakfast for Platinum Elites and higher doesn’t disappoint with free-flowing champagne or other alcoholic drinks in the morning.
Oh, did I mention that the sand, turquoise water, and reef are breathtaking? Well, now I mentioned it if you needed any more motivation.
Beach Villa at the St. Regis Maldives
W Maldives
Location: Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives Average price: $759 USD Category: 8 Opening: 2006 (Renovated: 2018) Number of rooms: 77 Hotel website
W Maldives aerial view
If St. Regis isn’t your style and W branding, you are in luck as W Maldives is still spreading the W look and feel. One obvious comparison to the St. Regis is the pricing, W Maldives is all-around cheaper in price, but comes with only 3 restaurants and 3 bars/lounges compared to the 6 restaurants and 2 bars/lounges at St. Regis Vommuli.
Some prefer W Maldives for the house reef and diving compared to the St. Regis Vommuli. The W Maldives also offers a private island that you can rent for a couple of hours, a whole day, or overnight. Pretty private and unique experience if you ask me.
W Maldives private island
If you stay with status, expect minimal upgrades, but complimentary breakfast for Platinum Elites and higher doesn’t disappoint with free-flowing champagne or other alcoholic drinks in the morning.
W Maldives beach villas
The St. Regis Mauritius Resort
Location: Le Morne Peninsula, Mauritius Average price: $531 USD Category: 7 Opening: 2012 Number of rooms: 172 Hotel website
St. Regis Mauritius aerial view
Mauritius Island is an island that is both not known by many or ignored as it’s somewhat hard for most people to get to. However, Mauritius is beautiful, so beautiful that you could argue that if you’re an island beach lover Mauritius has to be on your list and no place to start then The St. Regis Mauritius is a good place to start.
The St. Regis Mauritius is a lovely category 7 hotel on Mauritius that offers almost everything you can think of when it comes to a beach resort with their beach, property, nature activities, and still easy to get to and from.
St. Regis Mauritius beach villa
While it won’t be as secluded as any Maldives property, St. Regis Mauritius still is secluded enough while not being trapped on an island with expensive transfers.
Platinum Elites and higher will enjoy upgrades along with a nice breakfast spread that you wouldn’t get tired of. Plus, the butlers are always at your service.
St. Regis Mauritius beach
The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort
Location: Bora Bora, French Polynesia Average price: $1160 USD Category: 8 Opening: 2006 Number of rooms: 90 Hotel website
St. Regis Bora Bora aerial view
Bora Bora is not only an island that holds breathtaking views, but it is also South Pacific’s Maldives that some prefer over the Maldives.
The St. Regis Bora Bora gives you front row seats to Bora Bora views of the massive volcano and lagoon that is made of turquoise water all from your beach or overwater bungalow. While there is no house reef like Maldives resorts, it’s a different experience altogether.
St. Regis Bora Bora Overwater Premier Villa
The resort sports a couple of overpriced restaurants that aren’t as good as restaurants at St. Regis Maldives Vommuli. The resort is also plagued by interesting management that is slowly, but surely, renovating the property and villas. I would strongly suggest securing a recently renovated villa for the best experience, but is the St. Regis Bora Bora that bad? No, and it’s still worth a stay as it really is one of the best Marriott beach resort in the world.
Platinum Elites and higher will enjoy upgrades along with a nice breakfast spread that you wouldn’t get tired of. Plus, the butlers are always at your service.
St. Regis Bora Bora beach villa with pool
Le Méridien Bora Bora
Location: Bora Bora, French Polynesia Average price: $789 USD Category: 7 Opening: 1998 (Renovated: 2011) Number of rooms: 98 Hotel website
Le Méridien Aerial view
Comparing Le Méridien and St. Regis Bora Bora, the clear luxury winner is St. Regis, but in terms of value the Le Méridien is much lower in price, same beautiful views, and still has overwater bungalows (even if they are smaller). Plus, you can sometimes find nightly rates during the off-season for around $340, that is a crazy good deal.
Le Méridien premium overwater villa
The property is of course located in Bora Bora so views and beaches along with activities are abundant, just like the St. Regis. If you had to pick one, I would try to change your mind and try both for fun and see the difference in views and grounds.
Platinum Elites and higher can enjoy complimentary breakfast that will fill you up while also getting slightly better recognition for upgrades and other amenities than the St. Regis Bora Bora.
Le Méridien beach villa
Le Méridien Ile des Pins
Location: Isle of Pines, New Caledonia Average price: $380 USD Category: 7 Opening: unknown Number of rooms: 48 Hotel website
Le Méridien Ile des Pins aerial view
Surrounded by a crystal clear turquoise lagoon and a forest, the Le Méridien Ile des Pins is secluded on a tiny island called Ile des Pins. Known for super white sandy beaches and unique for tropical foliage, this property is one anyone shouldn’t pass up.
It’s price reasonably low for its unique location with the addition to the sweet smell of coconut groves.
Le Méridien Ile des Pins bungalow terrace
The property offers rooms or villas, some of which are right on the lagoon with direct access. Rooms are premium, but not luxury. As anything Le Méridien, it is still a unique style that is influenced by the location. You can certainly find elements of luxury in the villas.
Platinum Elites and higher can enjoy a full breakfast buffet with possible upgrades to a villa.
Le Méridien Ile des Pins bungalow beach view
Laluna, Grenada, a Member of Design Hotels
Location: St. George’s, Grenada Average price: $550 USD Category: 7 Opening: unknown Number of rooms: 16 Hotel website
Laluna, Grenada, a Member of Design Hotels exterior
If you want an intimate hotel on the beach in the Caribbean that offers cottages and villas inspired by Balinese and Caribbean design, well Laluna is your place. It is truly special for a rewards program to have this property as it is more like a boutique hotel than a chain hotel.
It’s described as a hidden secret and with only 16 cottages and villas. 16 rooms make this truly an amazing place to visit as the beach will feel like your own beach.
Laluna, Grenada, a Member of Design Hotels beach
As it’s a Design Hotel, elite benefits are non-existent here. No matter what status you have with Marriott, you won’t get anything special except bonus points or the ability to redeem your points at this property.
Laluna, Grenada, a Member of Design Hotels cottage suite
The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico
Location: Rio Grande, Puerto Rico Average price: $509 USD Category: 8 Opening: 2010 Number of rooms: 139 Hotel website
The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico aerial view
The views of the Atlantic Ocean won’t disappoint you at the St. Regis Bahia two miles long private beach resort. This property is yet another secluded resort, but it’s worth it. Upkeep, even after major hurricanes year after year, really is that good. Modern rooms amongst a huge yet somewhat intimate property.
The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico deluxe suite oceanfront
If you want to connect to nature or do action sports, this is your place offering the ocean to the El Yunque National Forest both at your fingertips. The boathouse is being my favorite amenities at the property for all ages.
St. Regis butlers are around 24/7 and will help make your time special in Puerto Rico and elites can expect upgrades and a decent breakfast.
The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico boathouse
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Hotel Escondido, Puerto Escondido, a Member of Design Hotels
Location: Puerto Escondido, Mexico Average price: $394 USD Category: 7 Opening: 2013 Number of rooms: 16 Hotel website
Hotel Escondido, Puerto Escondido, a Member of Design Hotels pool bar
Yet another Design Hotel that only has 16 rooms. I am not complaining as this property is yet again truly unique, but this time it’s an adult-only property located on the Pacific Ocean near the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains.
Known for fishing and surfing, the town of Puerto Escondido is super laid-back. Each bungalow features plunge pools overlooking the desert, cacti, and beach all being a few steps away.
Hotel Escondido, Puerto Escondido, a Member of Design Hotels deluxe room
As it’s a Design Hotel, elite benefits are non-existent here. No matter what status you have with Marriott, you won’t get anything special except bonus points or the ability to redeem your points at this property. At least every bungalow is the same.
Hotel Escondido, Puerto Escondido, a Member of Design Hotels deluxe room
The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort
Location: Punta de Mita, Mexico Average price: $538 USD Category: 8 Opening: 2010 Number of rooms: 120 Hotel website
The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort aerial view
22 acres of beach, the St. Regis Punta Mita Resort is one of the most highly rated St. Regis properties in the world for being great in both service and quality of the resort. It’s massive in size featuring amazing activities that cater to families.
The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort villa
With 120 rooms, the property is breathtaking and offers everything one might want, even a Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. Mexican art and handcrafted furnishings are the inspiration of rooms with the 24/7 butler service ready for your requests.
The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort beach
Kenoa Exclusive Beach Spa & Resort, Barra de Sao Miguel, a Member of Design Hotels
Location: Barra de Sao Miguel, Brazil Average price: $520 USD Category: 8 Opening: 2009 Number of rooms: 23 Hotel website
Kenoa Exclusive Beach Spa & Resort, Barra de Sao Miguel, a Member of Design Hotels aerial
Design Hotels aren’t the best if you hold elite status, but some offer better service and rooms at destinations that are truly unique. The Kenoa Exclusive Beach Spa & Resort seeks to be a private sanctuary. Guests describe the property as attentive to every little detail and the grounds being simple yet perfect.
The sands are golden and a reef ready to be explored. The Kenoa is truly breathtaking, even though it’s so small.
Kenoa Exclusive Beach Spa & Resort, Barra de Sao Miguel, a Member of Design Hotels Marajo villa
This property requires you to book a minimum of 2 nights, plus as an elite, you receive no benefits besides points or the ability to redeem points for your stay.
Kenoa Exclusive Beach Spa & Resort, Barra de Sao Miguel, a Member of Design Hotels pool
The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
Location: Maui, Hawaii Average price: $548 USD Category: 7 Opening: 1992 Number of rooms: 463 Hotel website
The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua aerial
Of course, a Hawaiian property is on this list. While The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua is not my first choice for a beach hotel, it’s certainly the best Marriott beach resort in Hawaii.
As anyone would have guessed, Hawaii is breathtaking and the island culture coupled with nature is the reason why people fall in love with Hawaii. The Ritz Kapalua tries to replicate that, but the downside of this property is the immense size. For me, it’s too big, but I would still stay as it’s still a quality resort with wonderful service and it’s Hawaii.
The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua oceanfront suite
Elites cannot receive many elite benefits here as Ritz-Carlton’s don’t allow elites to have breakfast or club lounge access. However, Titanium Elites and higher do receive suite upgrades when occupancy is low at this property.
The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua aerial
W Koh Samui
Location: Koh Samui, Thailand Average price: $396 USD Category: 8 Opening: 2010 Number of rooms: 74 Hotel website
W Koh Samui aerial
“Tranquil by day. Electric by night.” Those are the words that W Koh Samui goes by and I would have to agree. W Koh Samui is one of the best W branded property. It does everything right, from service to quality of rooms. Plus, it’s not too pushy about the W wannabe vibe.
The views from Koh Samui are some of the best and you can ask anyone about how they will never get tired of the views. The beach is huge offering one to get away from people or be near them. The blue water is just icing on top.
W Koh Samui wow ocean haven
If you stay with status, expect decent upgrades when occupancy is low with complimentary breakfast for Platinum Elites and higher. Restaurants and bars/lounges are wonderful at the W Koh Samui, so go and enjoy them, especially if you’re an elite for Marriott’s food and beverage discount.
W Koh Samui W Lounge
The Library, Koh Samui, a Member of Design Hotels
Location: Koh Samui, Thailand Average price: $380 USD Category: 7 Opening: 2007 Number of rooms: 46 Hotel website
The Library, Koh Samui, a Member of Design Hotels red pool
The Library is not only called The Library for fun but also because it has 1,400 books read for a new reader. This intimate Koh Samui property is themed red throughout, the pool even glows red, and is inspired by both nature and modern life.
The Library, Koh Samui, a Member of Design Hotels library
The combination of the sandy beach with the clean design lines of the property make the resort feel like no other. The views aren’t as nice as the W Koh Samui, but if you prefer a more perfect attentive feeling, The Library should be one of your choices.
As it’s a Design Hotel, elite benefits are non-existent here. No matter what status you have with Marriott, you won’t get anything special except bonus points or the ability to redeem your points at this property.
The Library, Koh Samui, a Member of Design Hotels suite double
JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa
Location: Kien Giang, Vietnam Average price: $276 USD Category: 5 Opening: 2017 Number of rooms: 234 Hotel website
Turquois Suite bathroom at JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa
You may be familiar with the JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa from my best Marriott Bonvoy category 5 properties article, well it deserves another spot for actually being a spectacular beach resort.
Once a university, this newly opened hotel is one of the most beautiful properties. Sitting on Phu Quoc beach in Vietnam, it has both beautiful beaches and renovated rooms along with buildings that date back to the opening of the 19th-century university.
The beach at JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa
Elite recognition is consistent with Platinum Elites and higher getting upgrades to suites like the Turquois Suite shown above. Villas are also available here, and some elites do get upgrades to villas when occupancy is low.
Deluxe Emerald Bay View room at JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa
Honorable mentions
These properties didn’t make the list because of not being part of the Marriott Bonvoy program for earning points and elite credit and/or not open yet.
JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa
Not opened yet, the JW Marriott Maldives is catering to the JW fans with its JW design and experience. While we don’t know much about the particular island it’s on, the atoll it’s part of is still worth a visit as it’s far different from other Marriott properties in the Maldives.
JW Marriott Maldives rendered aerial
Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Ritz-Carlton Reserve is Ritz-Carlton’s solution to compete in the ultra-luxury hotels and resort segment that Aman is in. It’s basically ultra-luxury because of no elite benefits or points allowing them to be in a separate segment.
Being located in Cabo, the Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, is a brand new Reserve property that is pulling out all the stops for an ultra-luxury property. Opening in the coming months, it will be Cabo’s newest ultra-luxury resort.
Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Bvlgari Resort Bali
Being the only property out of the 3 honorable mentions that is open, Bvlgari Resort Bali is the top of the line when it comes to Bali beach hotel and resorts.
Being situated in Uluwatu on a cliff you might think there is no beach. Well at Bvlgari, they have a cable car going directly down to their own private beach.
Bvlgari Resort Bali
Final word
After creating this list, it made me want to visit the beach and try some of these properties I haven’t visited yet. I do hope you also got some inspiration and a better idea of what amazing and unique beach properties Marriott has to offer.
If you have stayed at one of these properties or any other properties not on the list, please feel free to comment below and tell us why you loved about your stay!
This article was originally published by Steve Smith.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time credit card rewards/travel expert and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
The Top Five Best Beaches to Visit in the Algarve, Portugal
Whether you have one week or only a weekend to explore the Algarve, you’ll find that you’ll have plenty of time to see some of the top beaches. On our recent trip to the Algarve we really only had about one full day to get out and explore but I felt like we were able to see many of the top sights there. We’d just spent months living in the cold and cloudy UK and the sun in southern Portugal felt like a warm slice of heaven every day we were there, especially at the beaches. So here’s a breakdown of the top 5 best beaches to visit in the Algarve (the first two destinations aren’t exactly beaches but they are coastal destinations worth your time!).
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1. Farol do Cabo de São Vicente (Cape St. Vincent)
Cape St. Vincent is a stunning sea cliff area where instead of jumping into the water, you’ll just be amazed by the sheer beauty of the landscape. The Greeks and Romans actually believed this place to be sacred for hundreds of years; in fact, the Greeks actually built a temple there that they dedicated to Heracles. It was here that they believed the sun sunk from the sky and marked the edge of their world. It’s a fascinating feeling to look out from these cliffs and imagine that millions of people before you once thought that this marked the outer bounds of their existence….
Dramatic cliffs at Farol do Cabo de São Vicente
This cape was also a place of war, where pirates plundered from Holland and France. More buildings would likely still be standing here but the famous earthquake of 1755 is said to have flattened the area. Still, there’s an interesting lighthouse to check out that was built in 1846.
The Red lighthouse at Farol do Cabo de São Vicente
This was the first place that we stopped at on the edge of the European continent and it was our first glimpse of the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. A heavy layer of grey clouds hovered overhead as we made out way from sunny Albufeira and with the coastal winds picking up, it was pretty cold at this spot so be prepared for winds and bring an outer layer. Also, be careful navigating around the cliff sides, they can be pretty treacherous at times, not to mention high at about 75 meters!
2. Fortaleza de Sagres (Sagres Fortress)
This place is just a few kilometers south from Cape St. Vincent so it’s a must-see if you make it to the area. This is the only destination not 100% free but entrance into the fortress was only €3. This is the place where Prince Henry the Navigator built his famous school of navigation. Some of the most famous and well-respected mariners, astronomers, cartographers, and ship builders convened at this place to construct and learn how to navigate ships during the period known as the Age of Discoveries.
The cliffs just outside of Fortaleza de Sagres
The fortress was originally built back in the 15th century but had to be rebuilt in 1793 after it was destroyed — not by earthquake — but by Sir Francis Drake back in 1587. It’s a cool structure to roam around and ponder the history of some of the greatest explorers of all time. One of the cool sights is the 39 meter wide wind compass that has been partially restored known as the “Wind Rose.”
The Wind Rose at Fortaleza de Sagres
I recommend walking around the trail that follows along the outside of the peninsula where you can stand among the most southwestern point of Europe and look out from the cliffsides. You’ll likely comes across several local fisherman perched out on the edge of these cliffs trying to catch some tasty sea bass.
Paved trail at Fortaleza de Sagres
There’s also really intriguing geology around the area with rocks scattered about that kind of give off an otherworldly feel.
Interesting rocks
Once you make your way back to the entrance of the fortress you can ascend to the top of a mound that sits over the entrance gates and catch a better view of the wind compass and other surroundings.
The outside of the fortress at Fortaleza de Sagres
3. Praia De Dona Ana
After you get your history fix and battle the likely cold windy conditions found on edge of the continent it’s time for you to head back east toward some more laid back beaches. One of the best views in the entire Algarve has to be Praia De Dona Ana!
Praia De Dona Ana
There’s a small parking lot right by the beach that surely is taken up during peak season but at other times of the year will likely still have spots open. From the lookout point, you’ve got great photo opportunities of the clear, blueish-green waters and golden sea stacks.
Praia De Dona Ana
The beach also look irresistible but because temperatures were still a bit cold, we held off from swimming. If you happen to be visiting the Algarve in the summer, especially on the weekend, then you better get here early because this is one of the most busy beaches in the Lagos area.
4. Praia De São Rafael
Praia De São Rafael
We caught this beach right at sunset and it was one of the most relaxing scenes I can recall from my entire stay in Europe. What was also great is that there was nobody around whatsoever. We were able to hop around the lush sea bluffs for over an hour, exploring little crevices in the sides of the cliffs and opting for photos without seeing a soul (other than a few fisherman perched in the distance).
Praia De São Rafael
Praia De São Rafael
Praia De São Rafael
There is a restaurant/bar located right on the beach that looked like fun but we opted to stay perched on the edge of the cliffs in solitude. Climbing around these cliff areas is exciting but again just make sure that you exercise plenty of caution when you attempt this because it’s a pretty long drop all the way down.
5. Benagil Beach, Faro, Portugal
Bengail Beach is a must stop. The beach area is nice and all but the reason that you want to come to this beach is for the awesome sea cave tour that you can embark on! You’ll be darting through grottos and catching glimpses of color-changing seas as you zip through the sea stacks along the shore.
Benagil Beach Sea Cave Tour
The highlight of the boat tour is catching the famous Benagil Sea Cave. Try to allocate about an hour total if you’re planning on doing a tour and check out the link above if you’re interested in finding out more for information on the grotto tour.
Benagil Sea Cave
The “secret beach”
There is a secret beach called Praia do Carvalho (ssshhh…) in the Algarve that is accessible via a cave and it is just west of Benagil Beach. We saw this beach from our boat tour and were not able to actually go down on the beach but it looked like a really cool secluded beach that you could check out!
Remember, we saw all of these top five beaches in one day and still had time to settle down for a bit and enjoy a couple of great meals, so even if you only have one or two days in the Algarve you can still see plenty (just get an early start)!
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time credit card rewards/travel expert and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
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