Cabo's Starwood Sisters

Westin and Sheraton resorts are unique but feature similar styles and services

According to Richard Anderson, director of marketing for the Westin brand in Mexico, the Westin Resort and Spa, Los Cabos and the nearby Sheraton Hacienda del Mar are "polar opposites." 

An ocean view room at the Westin Los Cabos

"The Westin's design is modern and bold," Anderson notes. "The Sheraton, on the other hand, is more traditional, with a Spanish colonial style."

While Anderson was referring to the contrasting exteriors of the two properties, we found them to be rather similar in other ways, particularly when it comes to stunning ocean views and taking care of guests—e.g., creature comforts, quality service and excellent food. Along these lines, the two hotels, which are both affiliated with Starwood Hotels and Resorts, are very much alike. 

Imperial suites at the Westin have plenty of space for a family, including a living area and large dining table

The approach to the Westin, with its signature giant square arch framing the sea, is a take-your-breath-away experience. All of its 243 rooms (including 17 suites) have ocean views: in whale season (January-March), guests can likely spy the huge creatures from their balconies. The rooms are also equipped with Westin's proprietary Heavenly Bed, much lauded for its comfort.

Insider Secrets

The slightly larger Sheraton (270 rooms, including 31 suites) offers oceanfront or golf course views, from its main building or surrounding villas. Each room features Sheraton's signature Sweet Sleeper beds, plus whirlpool bathtubs. (Note: Some of the villas' ground-floor units have full-length windows through which passers-by can see straight into the rooms; moreover, these and other suites near sidewalks can get quite noisy late at night when the bars let out.) 

Westin Los Cabos' outdoor lounge

Both properties feature multiple swimming pools, along with swim-up bars, for keeping cool and refreshed all day long. Most of the pools—including the Sheraton's infinity pool, along with its adjacent whirlpool hot tub—overlook the beach and surf. (Perhaps this is to compensate for the fact that, inviting as the beaches are, they are more for viewing than for swimming; virtually all year long, the swirling rip tides make the Starwoods' stretches of beaches too dangerous to enter.)

Still, their prime beach locations make both hotels popular choices for destination weddings. Event and wedding planning at Starwood properties has gotten much easier these days, with the chain's new virtual planning tool: a navigable 3-D interface allows Internet users to pick among public spaces and design banquets and functions down to the very last detail, including color schemes, floral centerpieces and more. One click and your preferences and RFP are on their way, with a promise that a quote will be returned in 24 hours. Take the virtual planner for a spin at www.westin.com/virtual or www.sheraton.com/virtual . To introduce the virtual planner, the hotels are offering special incentives for group bookings.

At the Sheraton, groups booking 2008 events before April 30, 2008, will receive a 10 percent discount on all banquet prices. Furthermore, groups booking before the same date, but for any year in the future, will receive double Starpoints, as well as a 10 percent discount on all spa treatments.

The Westin is offering meeting planners and travel agents a signing bonus and a three percent credit off the group master bill for all 2008 events booked before April 30, 2008.

Another prime attraction common to both properties is the existence of a Starwood Spa Collection facility. The Westin's two-story spa and gym with atrium is in keeping with the dramatic style of the property as a whole, while the Sheraton's European-style ground-floor Cactus Spa and Fitness Center has just completed a major renovation. Both spas also offer treatments in cabanas on the beach.

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