We review the best executive club lounges at hotels in the Caribbean. If you want to stay at one of the best luxury hotels in the Caribbean, we suggest you pick one of the best Four Seasons in the Caribbean, but none of these Four Seasons hotels have club lounges, so they are not included in the listing below.
The Caribbean offers a picture-perfect holiday destination of magical islands that bask under tropical sunshine. The region is southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and the North American mainland, east of Central America, and north of South America.
With more than 700 islands, islets, reefs, and cays, popular destinations include the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands, St Lucia, Barbados, Antigua, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy (St Barths), Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Aruba, Curaçao, Saint Maarten, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago. On the mainland, the Caribbean region includes Belize, Nicaragua, Colombia, Cozumel, the Yucatán Peninsula, Margarita Island, and the Guyanas.
I have compiled a list below containing the club lounges available across luxury hotels in the Caribbean. I list the lounges I consider the best on each island. I will be reviewing each of these hotel club lounges in detail so that you know what you’ll get if you book a room with club lounge access or get upgraded to a club lounge for free because of your loyalty status. All in all, there is a pretty limited selection of club lounges across the Caribbean. If you want a club lounge in the sunshine, there is a slightly better choice in Hawaii.
Punta Islita, Autograph Collection, Courtyard San Jose Alajuela, El Mangroove by Autograph Collection, JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa, Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort, Courtyard Escazu San Jose, Courtyard Alajuela San Jose Airport, all in Costa Rica, Port-Au-Prince Marriott on Haiti, Renaissance Resort & Casino on Curacao, Renaissance Carambola Beach Resort & Spa on St. Croix, Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina by Autograph Collection, St. Kitts Marriott Resort & The Royal Beach Casino and Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort on St Thomas, The Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort, are some of the many Marriott hotels in the Caribbean without a club lounge.
1. The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
Discover a beachfront escape in St. Thomas. The redesigned Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas is the perfect place to encounter the beauty of the Virgin Islands in a new light. Be captivated by the turquoise Great Bay and verdant mountain views, endless beaches, and thrilling water sports.
Following a $100 million USD refurbishment, which included a complete redesign of the public spaces, guestrooms and suites, dining venues, and meetings and events space, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas now sports a new white palette with splashes of color inspired by the sea.
Located on 30 acres on the eastern tip of the island, the renovated landscape is filled with tropical plant life. The resort’s 180 guestrooms and suites also have the same, lighter, and brighter palette.
Other property highlights include a remodeled infinity pool and a second pool with a slide for families. A new Sicilian restaurant, Alloro, has been added to the resort’s culinary offerings, serving Sicilian dishes. Additional restaurants include Bleuwater, a fine dining restaurant, Coconut Cove, a beachfront spot with local cuisine, and Sails, located near the pool, which serves light fare and cocktails.
With the glimmering Great Bay just outside, hotel rooms and suites offer island-inspired elegance, spacious layouts, and ocean-view balconies. On the Club Level, guests enjoy the attention of a dedicated concierge and access to the lounge and its exclusive services and locally inspired experiences.
This Club Lounge is probably the best in the Caribbean, with a super swish refurbished interior and an outdoor terrace overlooking the grounds and the sea beyond. Here, you can enjoy drinks and local dishes under the stars. Guests of the Ritz-Carlton club level enjoy:
- An exclusive lounge atmosphere with a beautiful terrace offering views of Great Bay
- A dedicated concierge to assist in making reservations and providing advice
- Breakfast with omelet station
- Midday snacks
- Canapes and cocktails
- Desserts and cordials
- Complimentary selection of wine, beer, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages
2. The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba
The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba is a Rewards Category 8 Marriott Bonvoy hotel. Fiery sunsets and calm, turquoise water are the backdrops of this wonderful hotel. Guests enjoy direct access to a pristine beach and the resort’s adults-only and family pools. The casino offers entertainment around the clock with table games and slot machines. The expansive spa incorporates aloe and other indigenous ingredients into transformative treatments.
This hotel has a tropical beach resort feel and a brilliant Ritz-Carlton Club level with great food and service. The Ritz-Carlton is also the best Marriott in Aruba from the point of view of space, as there’s plenty of space between it and the hotel next door hotel. If you have club lounge access, you can eat all of your meals in the club lounge if you wish, as there are plenty of high-quality food offerings.
Perched on the 7th floor, club-level guests are invited to enjoy beautiful ocean views in a comfortable lounge. Views from the club lounge and club-level guest rooms feature stunning seascapes of the Caribbean Sea and Aruba’s famed sunsets. Toast the sun’s descent with a glass of champagne on your personal balcony or enjoy the club lounge to view an unforgettable performance of day becoming night.
This exclusive lounge on the 7th floor boasts endless culinary and beverage offerings throughout the day. Complimentary food offerings include breakfast, light snacks, hor d’oeuvres & desserts. Also available are superb selections of still and sparkling wines, liqueurs, beers, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages.
3. Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort, Spa and Casino
Hyatt Regency Aruba has a white sand beach to die for and views from every window at the front of the hotel, across the almost luminous azure blue sea. It is so good that we consider it to be one of the best Hyatt hotels in the Caribbean to take a vacation.
The Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino is a 12-acre resort situated right on Palm Beach in Aruba. The beach is superb and very calm and offers every watersport imaginable. Plus, there is a water slide for the kids and restaurants within walking distance.
Rooms here are your standard Hyatt fare with a tropical touch, but the rooms with a balcony overlooking the ocean are the rooms and suites to pick. That said, the standard rooms at this hotel are usually peaceful, with only the parrots to wake you up.
Food in Aruba is relatively pricey, so it may be worth paying in cash or on points for Regency Club Lounge access at this hotel. The free breakfast in the lounge (except salmon, capers, a cheese board, fruit, bread cereal, and one hot egg dish) and filling snacks in the early evening, along with the range of free water, drinks, and snacks in the club during the day usually pays for itself. The food in the lounge is better than most Hyatt club lounges on American soil, and the view from the lounge down to the pools and beach is very special.
The luxurious ZoiA Spa features experiences for purification and detoxification inspired by Aruba’s red mud and seaweeds. Four restaurants offer something for everyone; Sunday brunch at Ruinas del Mar is a must. Grab a hand-rolled cigar at the casino and shake the dice and your hips to live music. The hotel also has a casino with slots and table games open from 12:00 pm – 4:00 am for adults 18 and up.
This Award Category 6 World of Hyatt hotel requires just 25,000 points per night. If you are paying for your stay, book the rest of your stay at the Hyatt Regency Aruba with our luxury travel concierge for all our free benefits as well as your usual World Of Hyatt points and status benefits.
4. Presidente InterContinental Cozumel Resort & Spa
Cozumel, a mostly undeveloped Mexican island in the Caribbean Sea, is a popular cruise ship port of call famed for its scuba diving. The InterContinental Presidente Cozumel Resort & Spa hotel lies on a palm-fringed Caribbean island amid one of the world’s largest coral reef systems: the “Arrecifes de Cozumel” marine park. Guests can relax on the white sands, gaze out into the azure blue, swim in the beachside infinity pool, or unwind in the serene spa. The cheapest room rates start at around $229 USD per night.
If you are looking for a beautiful InterContinental Resort near America with a dreamy beach, the Presidente InterContinental Cozumel Resort & Spa is probably your best choice.
The hotel offers 218 well-appointed guest rooms and suites, all thoughtfully designed to blend modern elements with classic Mexican accents, lush tropical gardens, a half-mile of private, white sandy beach, and stunning Caribbean Sea views.
Hotel facilities include a 24-hour business center and the acclaimed Scuba Du dive center, offering reef diving and snorkeling trips with expert instructors. The hotel spa combines Mayan and Oriental ancestral traditions with indigenous fruits and spices in an atmosphere of tranquility. The spa offers a variety of unique therapies and massages with revitalizing treatments that will benefit the body and soul.
In terms of dining, guests can savor gourmet Mexican, authentic Italian, or contemporary Mediterranean cuisine in one of the hotel’s four destinations for delicious cuisine and drinks.
5. Secrets Aura Cozumel
Secrets Aura Cozumel is a secluded, luxurious adults-only resort and is definitely one of the best all-inclusive hotels in Cozumel. While all-inclusive hotels like this offer ‘Unlimited-Luxury’ with extras like complimentary non-motorized water sports, complimentary green fees at local golf courses, a private concierge, unlimited premium drinks, gourmet dining at a choice of restaurants, and Wi-Fi, what you may not know is that there is also an exclusive Preferred Club at these hotels.
This executive club level offers daily continental breakfast service, afternoon hor d’oeuvres tastings, incredible desserts and high-end liquors from the restaurants and bars, extra concierge services, and excellent views from your Preferred Club room. These rooms also have an upgraded mini-bar service and upgraded bathroom amenities.
On the Caribbean, Mexico’s Riviera Maya resort strip is bookended by two popular destinations: Cancún, with its high-rise hotels and nightlife, and, down the coast, quieter Tulum, a rare seaside example of the Mayan ruins found throughout the peninsula’s interior.
6. The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun
Resting on the tip of the exotic Yucatan peninsula is The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun, a AAA Five Diamond resort and offers the best club lounge in Cancun. This Rewards Category 6 luxury resort offers an enticing stretch of white sand beach, indulgent amenities such as the full-service Ritz-Carlton Spa and award-winning restaurants, and the intrigue of the ancient Mayan sites nearby. Recreational facilities include a 1200-foot sand beach, two sculpted outdoor pools, an oceanfront whirlpool, two tennis courts, and a Fitness Center.
The resort has 363 guestrooms, including 50 suites, all with ocean views and private balconies or terraces. Each resort’s guestroom and suite is a sanctuary of comfort featuring sweeping ocean views and a wealth of welcome amenities. For families with infants, specially designed rooms offer all the comforts of a home nursery, including a crib, a changing table, and a menu of baby essentials that can be ordered before arrival.
Guestroom amenities include Egyptian cotton linen and duvet covers, television with international cable, CD Player, individual air conditioning controls, fully stocked refreshment cabinet, multi-line telephones with data ports and voice mail, high speed, Wi-Fi Internet access, in-room safe, marble bath with double vanities and separate tub and shower, plush terry bathrobes and more.
Whether sampling Five Diamond cuisine, dining al fresco under the stars, or attending a tequila tasting session featuring the finest and most exclusive varieties, guests of The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun, will experience innovative cuisine with unparalleled service.
The Ritz-Carlton Club Level provides guests with the highest level of personal service with five complimentary food presentations daily. It is worth noting Platinum and elite Marriott Bonvoy members don’t get free lounge access. Everyone who uses this lounge has paid for a club room.
Often referred to as a hotel within a hotel, this oasis offers a dedicated concierge in a well-appointed, relaxed lounge environment. The Club Level food includes breakfast, light snacks, hor d’ouvres, beverages, and sweets.
Beyond the food, there is also a selection of wines, liqueurs, beers, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages available, complimentary wireless, in-room internet access, and two garments pressed daily.
This lounge is super smart, with double-height ceilings and intricately carved wall features. The whole lounge is designed in browns and olives with lots of wood and thick chunky marble. The meals are excellent and filling, you will not be disappointed, and you will leave full (with food and alcohol if you want).
7. JW Marriott Resort & Spa Cancun
JW Marriott Resort & Spa Cancun is a Rewards Category 6 Marriott Bonvoy hotel with upscale amenities including spacious, sand-toned accommodations and on-site dining. Explore the historic Mayan ruins and experience the area’s lively clubs and bars. Relax in the family-friendly freeform pools or adult-only infinity pools, or work out at the fitness center, featuring cardio equipment and free weights. The beach here is white sand with a glorious blue sea. Wonderful! There’s an indoor pool and arcade-style game machines for rainy days for the kids.
Be aware of the extra charges at this hotel. Private cabanas cost $250 USD a day, and you can reserve lounge chairs with prime ocean views for $180 USD a day. Ouch! Reports suggest that you are also meant to tip the staff for the free drinks in the club lounge.
The JW Marriott, like The Ritz-Carlton and other big hotels in Cancun, is in the Hotel Zone, around half an hour by car from Cancun Airport (CUN). The JW Marriott is around a kilometer south of The Ritz-Carlton. The foyer is beautiful, with lots of marble and pillars along with colossal flower arrangements.
The Club and Club level rooms have been renovated. Club rooms are modern with tiled floors, pine headboards with Mayan patterning, and blue and tan hues bringing the beach inside. Bathrooms are large and stylish, with nice rough stone tiling on the walls and Aromatherapy amenities.
The look of the lounge is equally appealing, with the same tan and blue hues and beautiful windows looking out towards the ocean. This is a lovely and stylish place to hang out.
Inspired by the great pyramid of Kukulcán, the executive club lounge labeled Club 91 is an exclusive haven of luxury. Located on the 14th and 12th floors of the JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa, Club 91 guests experience exclusive privileges and a lavish array of world-class amenities.
Is this JW Marriott “Club 91” Lounge worth paying the extra for (usually around $20 USD per person per room)? This is a common question as Platinum and elite Marriott Bonvoy members don’t get free lounge access. Like the process at Ritz-Carlton hotels, even elites need to pay for access. They say: “A rate with Club 91 access must be booked to take advantage of Club 91 benefits. It is not included in the Reward Member benefits.”
There are mixed thoughts on whether this lounge is worth paying for. If you have club lounge access, you get free breakfast, evening snacks, and alcoholic drinks. Throughout the day, you have snacks and soft drinks. If you like a few evening alcoholic drinks, then yes, the lounge is probably worth paying for as you get free breakfast, free evening nibbles, and those valuable free drinks. If you only drink soft drinks, this lounge may not be as valuable to you as the hotel is in an area that feels safe, with plenty of local restaurants in the area that offer excellent value for money, so you may prefer to do this.
If you do decide to book into the lounge, expect five decent food events daily and an open bar from 6:00 – 10:00 pm with rotating hot dishes as well as cold cuts, cheeses, smoked salmon, veggies, and this kind of thing.
8. InterContinental Presidente Cancun Resort
InterContinental Presidente Cancun Resort is set on a picture-perfect beach. The whole family can laze the day away beside the pool, get active with water sports, or discover Mayan culture.
While the pools here are relatively small, the beach is spectacular, with loads of beach loungers set out on a very soft white sand beach. Palms dot the sand, and the beach is clean of unsightly seaweed.
When the sun goes down, Cancun comes alive with sophisticated nightspots under swaying palm trees. You can dine at the hotel at the beachfront El Caribeño restaurant or sip our signature cocktails with the sea breeze in your hair at the Deck Bar.
How does the hotel compare to the Ritz-Carlton? It’s not quite as good, but close enough.
The InterContinental Cancun club lounge is available exclusively for Club InterContinental guests, a haven to work, relax or recharge. This is an extra-cost lounge. However loyal you are, you won’t get access to this lounge without paying for a Club Room. The lounge includes private check-in, with a complimentary welcome drink, buffet breakfast with eggs cooked your way, afternoon tea with freshly made sweet and savory delights, and evening drinks & canapés.
You can see what we have experienced in terms of food and drink at the club lounge at InterContinental O2 in London and the club lounge at InterContinental Park Lane which will give you an idea of what to expect. This InterContinental club lounge will undoubtedly be one of the best, with a substantial hot and cold buffet and a la carte breakfast and evening canapes and alcoholic drinks.
9. The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan
The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan, is a Marriott Bonvoy Rewards Category 7 Marriott hotel which is located on a two-mile stretch of golden-sand beach in Isla Verde, minutes from historic Old San Juan. The warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean caress this pristine beachfront property in Isla Verde.
The resort features 416 rooms and suites, including The Ritz-Carlton Club Level with exclusive culinary and beverage offerings throughout the day; five restaurants, including BLT Steak and Il Mulino New York, as well as the recently unveiled speakeasy; a world-class spa and fitness center; 24-hour in-room dining; a swimming pool overlooking the beach; a vibrant casino; and a Ritz-Kids program. Puerto Rico’s most popular attractions are also easily accessible in the cosmopolitan culture and nightlife of San Juan.
A highlight is The Ritz-Carlton Club® Level club lounge, ideally located on the ninth floor with azure views of the Atlantic Ocean and the hotel’s lush gardens. A “hotel within a hotel,” the Club Level combines privacy, comfort, and exclusivity with the personalized service and attention to detail that are the hallmarks of The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan, making it the ideal place to conduct business, plan a family outing or simply unwind.
The welcoming lounge offers complimentary food and beverage presentations, including continental breakfast, light lunch, hor d’ouvres, cordials, and sweets, which may be enjoyed on the exclusive balcony with spectacular ocean views.
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