After arriving into town on the United Airlines Island Hopper marathon day, I needed a one night stay at a hotel before my returning flight back to Honolulu. Since I had left my wife behind in Hawaii, I didn’t get the opportunity to check out Guam in the short time that I was there. I ended up at the Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort for a brief thirteen hour stay. I would end up being really surprised with my stay thanks to terrific upgrades and amenities for Marriott Bonvoy Elite Members.

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This post is one chapter on our trip on the United Island Hopper and to Oahu & Kauai, Hawaii, United States. This trip was redeemed through Alaska Mileage Plan, United Airlines Mileage Plus and Marriott Bonvoy. It was further enhanced through Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status. For more information on how this trip was booked, please see our trip introduction here. For other parts of the trip, please see this index.

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Review: Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort, Tamuning, Guam, United States of America.

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Booking the Sheraton Guam:

At the time of my visit, there were two Marriott properties in Guam; the Sheraton LAguna Guam Resort and the Westin Resort Guam. I ended up at the Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort, over the Westin, thanks primarily to the great rate at $159 USD for an base level Oceanview Room, 2 Twin / Single Bed(s).

At the time of my stay, it was a Marriott Bonvoy Category 5 hotel, so I felt that paying cash with the above rate was of better value versus 30,000 Marriot Bonvoy points (at a pre-variable pricing rate). I also considered the Hilton, but the property was wanting around the $350 USD mark for a night, I didn’t have enough Hilton Honors points, and I wasn’t going to be staying in Guam much more than 13 hours.

Getting to the Sheraton Guam:

I picked up a Hertz President’s Club Rental Car from the Guam Agana International Airport. I had a very friendly agent processed my rental and an offer of a staff member to walk me out to the lot. I ended up with a brand new 2020 Mazda 3 with less than 793 miles on the odometer. I drove myself over to the Sheraton resort, which was less than 12 minutes and 5 miles drive. I snapped a little sunset photo from the airport parking lot, as this would be the extent of my sunset in Guam.

The unfortunate part about the Sheraton Guam Resort is that it is a little ways out of the way from what appears to be the main beach area. The drive over seems a little shabby in comparison to Hawaii, although I can’t say for sure whether that’s just Guam itself. It was through a light retail area containing old hotels, some shops that appeared closed up, along with a main through fare of retail space that is no longer favoured.

Arriving to the hotel at about 7 PM, after a short and convenient 12 minute drive from the airport, I self parked the car. The hotel for some reason, possibly Chinese New Year week, was completely sold out.

The hotel parking lot was really full and I ended up at the back of the parking lot next to the employee entrance. I would later learn that the Hilton Hotel was having their Chinese New Year Staff party at the Sheraton maybe they wanted to get away from management?). As a result, the lobby and hotel grounds were a lively area with many people in their twenties and thirties having a great time in one of the convention areas.

I wheeled my way up to the hotel reception and got there without any challenges. There was a slight slope to the reception which is located above ground level but the ramps were perfectly navigate able and without much grade.

Checking into the Sheraton Guam:

After arriving at the check in desk, the check in was friendly and prompt. I was provided a typed letter explaining all the restaurants and room features. The front desk clerk had indicated that I had been upgraded to an Oceanview Suite, courtesy of Marriott Titanium status. I’ve come to take this news as “I’ll believe it when I see it”, but I’d later be blown away by this complimentary upgrade.

I also ended up taking the 1,000 points as the Titanium welcome amenity since the breakfast did not start until 6:30 AM and I needed to be on my way out on my return flight United Airlines Guam – Honolulu well before that.

The room hallways of the Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort are outside and face inwards into a courtyard of the hotel. While this is always appreciated, I found the humidity on Guam to be quite strong. It was a bit of a muggy walk to get to and from the room.

On my way to the room, there was an inflatable fifteen-foot whale beached in the hallway on the fourth floor. I found this particularly amusing since it’s not every day that you see a whale in a hotel hallway. I had a good chuckle about it with one of the other Sheraton staff members who saw me taking a photograph of it.

The Room: An Ocean Suite

True to my hosts’ word at the front reception counter, when I arrived to room #433, it was in fact a terrific ocean facing corner suite. Every now and then, Marriott Bonvoy completely surprises you with an outstanding upgrade. After probably half a year with no suite upgrades, they go and surprise you with one when you need it the least. Actually, it was great to spread out in the room after being in an economy seat all day. The room photos are a little dark, but that’s actually as bright as the room got with all the lights on once the sun went down.

Checking out the room, the property is due for a bit of a renovation. The color scheme is the usual Sheraton browns and reds, which looks a little tired by today’s standardsy. The room had a little wear and tear with a few marks in the carpets.

First off the entry way way was a small dining and living area. There was a flat screen television with a separate Bose speaker that needed an instruction manual to operate.

There was a refreshment center with free Lite Beer, orange juice, 7Up and Pepsi; all free with replacements subject to charge per the welcome letter. There was also a kettle with powdered freeze dried coffee and tea, which I didn’t end up using.

Surprisingly, there was a large wonderful hot tub on the balcony with a view of two oceans. It was just the thing any single guy traveler needs after a 14 hour flight, with his wife on his mind having the time of her life 4,000 miles away. The deck was pretty expansive and had two chairs along with two loungers. Unfortunately, this was the lightest I ever got to see the outdoor space since my stay was through the darkness and the night.

The hotel was kind enough to offer a complimentary bottle of Banfi red wine as a welcome amenity. It’s all too bad that I wasn’t here earlier or spending more time!! I didn’t end up opening it or taking it with me since I was travelling “carry on only”.

The hotel room also had a separate sleeping area. The bed didn’t appear to be the usual Sheraton Sweet Sleeper bed. It was quite firm like many Asian styled beds. I didn’t mind it at all.

The bathroom area was very spacious for one. It offered a separate bath tub and shower area, along with the usual Asian Toto heated toilet seats; which I am not an expert in operating.

Around the Property:

Sheraton Executive Club Lounge:

Having arrived to the property at about 6:50 PM and surprisingly, being away from food most of the day, I wasn’t all too hungry for dinner. I made it up to the Sheraton Club Lounge on the 10th floor. Access to the Sheraton Club Lounge was provided courtesy of Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Level status.

When I got there, I was a bit surprised to see a complimentary open bar for happy hour containing both sprits, Lite beer, and more Banfi red and white wine between 5 – 8 PM since most Sheraton’s in the America’s always have cash bar’s. I guess we are closer to Asia than the United States. For some reason, I was expecting more austere North American treatment.

The lounge was packed with Asian families and children feeding their family in the lounge. The food on offer was quite Asian based; deep fried ribs, sautéed stir fry vegetables, some limp tomatoes and salads. It didn’t appeal to be too much so I just stuck with a Lite Beer to decompress from the day’s travel (noise vibration and harshness) and worked on the trip report a little.

As the lounge closed down at 8PM, I started to look into options for a light dinner. I got distracted by the hotel souvenir shop. Looking through the usual “I Love Guam” coffee cups, I found one that proudly stated “Where America Starts its Day”; a typical slogan for this part of the world. I ended up with some small fridge magnets with plumeria flowers and turtles on them for souvenirs. After shopping, I was a bit behind the curve as most restaurants closed up at 9 PM. Not only did they close at nine, but as I investigated further, they stopped taking orders at around 8:30 PM. I didn’t get a resort map at check in so I wandered the property looking at the various options.

Outdoor Resort Pools:

As I wandered around, the property was in every way a resort. It was large and sprawling over several different areas. It appeared to have been built on a rock outcropping and as a result, had several different levels and layers. The whole place reminded me of a place that you would have thought was really elegant and deluxe when you were 12 years old. It reminded me of the Sheraton’s or the properties that were once over the top in Africa or Asia that are looking a little older for wear by today’s standards. The property had a very large atrium that dominated the space. It also featured a variety of pools, some for swimming some for decoration. In true “K-Pop” style, some of them were blue and purple tinted with neon.

The one thing that the property didn’t seem to have was access to an actual beach with sand on it. Due to it’s location on the top of an ocean point, there isn’t much natural beach around this particular resort.

It was a pretty muggy evening in Guam. The weather was such that condensation was forming on the outside of the windows of most of the air conditioned rooms. I eventually found the Surfside Bar, which was by the pool. It was mostly deserted and there weren’t many eating there. The menu was a cross between Asian delights and an attempt at bar food. Perhaps it was the picture presentation of the menu items but between the humidity and the heat, it didn’t look all too appealing.

I later located the Japanese restaurant which was mostly teppanyaki based. They did have a $25 steak / tonkatsu special that included a small udon, rice, and Japenese appetizer that I unfortunately didn’t get the opportunity to try since they were closed / or in the process of closing when I got there at 8:40 PM (last orders 8:30 PM). I didn’t fancy a $40 buffet dinner at the main restaurant and the lobby bar appeared to be closed or closing. As a result, I ended up bypassing dinner altogether which was surprising since I thought I would be starving after the Island Hopper. I did check out the room service menu but it was mostly larger meals which I wasn’t feeling up for.

I entered up retiring to the room. I contemplated having another glass of beer or cracking open that bottle of wine but decided that fatigue would win me out. Being midnight Hawaiian Standard Time, I would hit the hay just after 9 PM for the night in favour of some much needed sleep. With the knowledge that I’d be up at 4:45 AM for a 5:45 AM hotel departure for my United Airlines Guam – Honolulu flight, the sleep was ever more dear.

The next day, I had a 4:45 AM wake up in order to catch the flight. After a great hot shower with strong water pressure, I checked out of the hotel. In an old school manner, the front desk printed off a paper bill for me and presented in with Japanese flair with a small bow and two hands side by each on the envelope. It was complete darkness and a stark quiet outside when I rolled to the car. It was very much a contrast from the rowdy train of New Year parties of when I had arrived.

The Bottom Line: The Sheraton Guam Laguna Resort

I had a great one night stay at the Sheraton Guam. I wasn’t expecting much more than a bed coming in, but the hotel surprised me with a great suite upgrade and a bottle of wine. The parking was free and the rate was reasonable without any silly resort fees. I might have chosen a nicer and newer property if I was staying with my wife, but for a quick stopover in Guam, this property fit the ticket nicely.

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Editors Note: Since my stay in February 2020, the property was reflagged in May 2022 as the RIGHA Royal Laguna Guam Resort and is no longer affiliated with Marriott Bonvoy.

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If you have overnighted in Guam, what is your go to property ?

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