GT tested
THE WESTIN CAPE CORAL RESORT AT MARINA VILLAGE
PHOTOS: © THE WESTIN CAPE CORAL RESORT AT MARINA VILLAGE
Reviewed by Kimberly Krol
Arrival/Check-In: My check-in experience was a bit comical. I arrived at the expansive property and was quickly helped by a friendly front desk attendant. I appreciated the offer of a water or soda, and I agreed to forego housekeeping for a food and beverage voucher, knowing I’d use that in just a little bit when I ordered a room service lunch. Guests can also receive loyalty points for opting out of the cleaning service. The true comedy began when I made my way to my first guestroom. Upon entering, I noticed it looked a bit used, with an unmade bed, towels crumpled on the floor and dirty glasses.Thankfully, it was uninhabited at that moment! I went back to the lobby to let them know that room hadn’t been cleaned. New key, new guestroom, and I was on my way. Not so fast — my keycards were not working. Third time was the charm, especially since the front desk attendant escorted me to the guestroom to make sure everything worked properly. Each time, they were apologetic for the inconveniences, and the positive attitude and friendliness helped make an annoying situation a bit less irritating. Guest Quarters: My guestroom was spacious, and I enjoyed having what felt like endless space to sprawl. It was the equivalent of a one-bedroom apartment in most major cities. At the entrance, a full kitchen sits immediately to the right. An opening with a bar-like counter overlooks the dining and living room, straight ahead of the entrance. I used the large, six-person dining table as my desk during my visit. A deck spanned the length of the room, with access from both
the living room and the bedroom. The comfortable king-sized bed, flanked by two nightstands, sat across from a dresser with a flat-screen television on top. Between the bedroom and the bathroom were a small sink area and a large closet. I used this space mostly to get ready, as I could watch television and have easy access to the luggage and clothes stored in the closet. The bathroom was also generous in size, with a separate water closet, a stall shower, a sink with adequate counter space and a stacked washer/dryer combo inside a small closet. Services/Amenities: Families will appreciate the Westin Family Kids Club Discovery Room and the other activities associated with the Westin Family program. The on-site fitness center is open 24 hours, and there’s also a spa. The heated resort pool offers views over the Caloosahatchee River and Gulf of Mexico. In addition to room service, the property offers Marker 92 Waterfront Bar & Bistro and the Nauti Mermaid Dockside Bar & Grill. It currently boasts more than 15,000 square feet of function space, with a new conference center slated to open this year. The resort, situated at Marina Village, also lies near the housing of Tarpon Point and the Tarpon Point Marina. From the hotel, a variety of shops — from a shoe store to a candy store — are within walking distance, as is Pinchers, a local seafood chain.
TOP TAKEAWAYS:
◆ Even in the conference facilities, WiFi and cell service were spotty. I heard several other conference attendees complain as well. ◆ For a day tour to Cabbage Key, the conveniently located resort’s dock area meant I could walk outside and be on board my boat for the day within minutes. ◆ From room service to the conference buffets to a closing dinner, each meal I enjoyed at The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village was tasty and fresh. THE WESTIN CAPE CORAL RESORT AT MARINA VILLAGE 5951 Silver King Blvd. Cape Coral, FL 33914 tel 239 541 5000 westin.marriott.com
SEPTEMBER 2018
globaltravelerusa.com
17
