Review: The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico | Marriott Bonvoy

After an excellent 2-night stay at the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino – San Juan, which gave us the opportunity to discover San Juan’s old town, we’re now back at the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino – San Juan. The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort hotel in Puerto Rico,.

All the details about booking and the number of points used are in the article presenting this trip.

60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points/night may seem high… but by way of comparison, the public rate per night exceeds US$1,500, taxes and fees included!

This hotel is located on the east side of the island, about 40 minutes from old San Juan and 25-30 minutes from the International Airport.

We used an Uber to get there, and here we are at the outer gate of the complex: only hotel residents can enter here.

These green places immediately enchant us.

As soon as we arrive, we’re greeted by several hotel staff who will take care of our luggage and direct us to the lobby.

We pass through the main entrance between two pools.

Every evening at 6pm, the children can feed the fish…while the adults enjoy a glass of Champagne, a daily tradition in every St. Moritz. Regis from all over the world.

The huge front door opens automatically as we pass, giving us a glimpse of the ocean on the other side of the main building.

Entering on the left are 2 check-in desks, which form the reception area.

The concierge service is also located here.

Our reservation with the points was for a 2-bed queen size room (being accompanied by our two children) overlooking the garden. Before arrival, I found out via the Marriott Bonvoy app that we had been upgraded.

I’m informed on arrival that my Platinum Premier Elite (now Titanium Elite) status has enabled me to be upgraded to the same room type but on the oceanfront.

I decided to “push my luck” by asking if a suite would be available, as it would be much more comfortable with children “to have more room”.

The receptionist informs me that I’ll have to wait an hour to get it, as the cleaning couldn’t be done due to a late check-out (it was 4pm at the time). We decide to wait… by the pool.

Shortly after 7 pm, we will reach our room, where our luggage will have been installed.

Our suite will be 412, in Casa Atlantico, in the immediate vicinity of the main building.

Platinum and Titanium members enjoy attractive benefits at this hotel:

• A room upgrade
• a late departure at 4 p.m.
• a welcome gift
• breakfast buffet every day for 2 people (children under 6 are free)

And believe me, it’s nice to have free breakfasts every day! Tipping is also included.

An entrance room separates the 2 suites, 411 and 412.

The hotel was completely renovated following Hurricane Maria in September 2017, and just reopened at the end of 2018. So the rooms are brand new!

As you enter the lobby, you’ll find the mini-bar/coffee machine area. We’ll be asking for a microwave to be brought in for evening feedings.

On the left, the living room opens onto a terrace.

This is where our children will sleep, on the sofa bed.

Between the lounge and the bedroom, a vestibule with a chest of drawers.

This includes a large dressing room.

Right away when you enter this room, you get a feeling of serenity, probably because of the colours chosen!

All the materials chosen are high-end.

It’s all in the details, like the little slippers for us and our children at the foot of the bed or the bottle of water on the bedside table, dropped off every evening by room service.

On the table in our room are the welcome gifts for us… and our children.

There’s also a list of daily activities to do with them.

There was a slight delay in the allocation of our room due to a delay in cleaning… and obviously the “Butler” took this seriously! A few minutes after we arrived in the room, we received a very nice welcome gift for us (champagne and cheeses) and for our children (milk and biscuit)!

A very good attention from the The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort hotel in Puerto Rico, ! Well done!

The bathroom is very large.

Comprising a room for shower AND bath, entirely tiled… in which our children will have a great time splashing about!

Here too, we appreciate the quality of the materials and products supplied.

Our suite opens directly onto the garden, facing the ocean.

A table and a large lounge chair are present on this terrace to enjoy the lush vegetation!

Breakfast is served on the outdoor terrace of the Seagrapes restaurant.

It features an excellent buffet (you can also order at the table).

A cook also prepares omelettes or eggs the way you like:

We will spend our days by the pool or on the beach.

The Seagrapes restaurant is in charge of serving us, and here are the dinner menus:

Paros is an upscale Greek restaurant located on the first floor of the main building.

During the day, the tables offer a magnificent view of the ocean.

We’ll dine there once, on the eve of our departure, while the nanny service looks after Alexandra.

Our choice of dishes:

• Royal Plateau
• D.I.Y Gyro for sir
• Lobster Rice for Madam

Everything was absolutely delicious (but if I had it to do over again, I wouldn’t necessarily have chosen the “D.I.Y Gyro” and Madame’s dish (Lobster Rice) was gigantic:

The hotel bar is beautifully decorated.

Every night at 6 p.m., The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort hotel in Puerto Rico, – like all The St. Louis hotels Regis around the world – a champagne-sabering ceremony takes place on the bar’s terrace, facing the ocean.

A perfect moment to relax! Hotel guests are invited to enjoy a glass of champagne, at the hotel’s expense.

The entire complex of The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort hotel in Puerto Rico, between the Golf and the beach. To get to the different areas, you’ll need to take a few pleasant daytime strolls through the vegetation:

Only in the evening!

Many swimming pools are interconnected.

We greatly appreciated this design, which allows everyone to isolate themselves in different spaces.

For parents, there’s a “beach” size pool where children can play under parental supervision.

It will allow our daughter, Alexandra, to pose!

All along the pool, “cabanas” are available free of charge. Some will be reserved for an event.

It’s really nice for parents of very young children like us who still need to take naps: these areas are ventilated and shaded, allowing parents to stay close by… in the sun!

But beware… an iguana “roams” and is an exotic attraction for children!…

The beach The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort hotel in Puerto Rico, is exceptional! It is cleaned every night to leave pristine sand.

It stretches for several kilometers, and everyone can find a place to relax!

Many hammocks are arranged between the palm trees.

Near the beach, a playground for children… including a petanque court! But our kids will prefer to play in the sand!

Opposite the Iridium spa is the Gym.

All The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort hotel in Puerto Rico, have free access to the Facilities at the Iridium Spa.

Here are the different facilities:

As we were busy with our children, we were unfortunately unable to make the most of it…

I thank Christina for The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort hotel in Puerto Rico, for showing me around.

Unfortunately… the Kids Club was not yet open during our stay. This one is accessible for a fee (hour/half day/day), to children over four years old.

At the entrance to the complex, near the golf course, you’ll find the “Boathouse” water park. You can be taken there by cart.

An inflatable structure is placed on the lake for children:

Our bike ride made me want to take up golf again: it’s magnificent!

An exceptional stay in this resort The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort hotel in Puerto Rico,.

This stay certainly has a high cost in points. However, we were able to maximize the benefit of the fifth night free with Marriott Bonvoy points: so instead of costing 300,000 points for 5 nights, this stay will have cost us 240,000 points, or a cost of 48,000 points per night!

To get these points, read on!

There are two main methods to earn Marriott Bonvoy points through credit cards:

• Directly: with Marriott Bonvoy credit cards
• Indirectly: by transferring Membership Rewards from American Express

You can earn Marriott Bonvoy points directly with the two Marriott Bonvoy credit cards:

• Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card
• Marriott Bonvoy^® Business American Express^®* Card

These two card s each offer a excellent welcome bonus. And, for each of your expenses, you can earn Marriott Bonvoy points.

Besides, upon renewal, with each of these cards, you get an annual reward night certificate.

Marriott Bonvoy points can be earned indirectly via American Express Membership Rewards by transferring points via American Express Membership Rewards credit cards.

These cards each offer a nice welcome bonus. You can transfer Membership Rewards Points to Marriott Bonvoy at the rate of 1:1.2. That means that by transferring 50,000 Membership Rewards points, you will earn 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points!

Our favorite card here is the American Express Cobalt^® Card: you can earn up to 5 points per dollar (that’s 6 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar) on everyday purchases how groceries, restaurants or convenience stores.