Am going to GBI june 10-13 and looking at Westin Our Lucaya vs. Sheraton. Are the two properties next to each other? We are two women in our 40s looking to just relax by the pool or beach get in some spa treatments and have easy access to some decent dining. Does the resort have a casino? Is there much shopping on GBI?

Any comment from folks who are familiar with the two resorts would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Stay at the Westin Breaker's Cay, the highrise on the property. There are three hotels, although one, Lighthouse Pointe, is closed and scheduled to become mostly condos. The two mentioned are part of Westin and the third, Reef Village, is the Sheraton. I recommend Breaker's Cay since there will be far more families with small children at the Sheraton. You'll also then be smack dab in the middle of the resort. If the peace and quiet isn't enough for you at the Westin you can walk five minutes up the resort property and be at the Lighthouse Pointe beach for the most quiet spot at the resort (which has 7 1/2 acres of beach). The Isle of Capri Casino is in the right front of the Sheraton Reef Village but also next to Breaker's Cay with entrances on both sides. Not very large but a nice little casino with great employees. Sense Spa is also located at Lighthouse Pointe and is open. Be aware food at Our Lucaya is extremely expensive. There are some very good restaurants at much more reasonable prices across the street at the Port Lucaya Marketplace and Marina. Our favorite for lunch is The Pub. We consider Luciano's the best on the island for dinner, with Pisces a great place for Italian food. If you don't mind their prices Churchill's Chop House at Our Lucaya is outstanding, as is the Friday/Saturday night seafood buffet at Willy Broadleaf's, located at Breaker's Cay. Make sure you get reservations for the places listed for dinner. Churchill's, Luciano's, Pisces and Willy Broadleaf's are open only for dinner. Think about hitting Billy Joe's Conch Shack, on the beach just over the property line at Reef Village. He's been there over thirty years and while the place doesn't look like much if you want to try local food, called conch, he makes some of the best on the island. The Marketplace across the street also has tons of shops for just about everything you can think of. You can see pictures and trip reports on my amateur website at www.fortunecity.com/oasis/bahia/443.index.htm. Hope this helps. Feel free to email me at home if you have other questions, we've been going to GBI for over 20 years.

Danny

Westin definitely! Sheraton is all families like the above poster mentioned.

The Sheraton will cost less though and we enjoyed it very much. Were not bothered by families, but we did not spend much time in the large pool directly in front of Sheraton, opting for the serpentine pool in front of the Westin (you have full access to all pools and features of the complex).

Comments about the expensive food at Our Lucaya are right on. However, we did find the portions so large at China Grill that we could easily split one of the excellent wraps they serve. Still, the cheaper places to eat are in the marketplace across the street and a very easy little stroll over there. We also found the conch to be excellent at the snack bar at UNEXCO just adjacent to the marketplace. If you will have a car and are exploring the east end of the island a stop at Bishop's Lodge for lunch is a must - that was the best cracked conch I had anywhere.

We enjoyed the Irish Pub in the marketplace for good pub style food at pretty decent prices. La Dolce Vita was very good.

Thanks everyone. THis is a great help.