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Four Seasons is on quite the expansion kick at the moment. In late 2024, the company announced plans for the Four Seasons Puerto Rico. This isn’t a new build, but instead, is the rebranding of the existing St. Regis Bahia Beach. I want to provide an update, as this hotel is now bookable under its new branding, so we have lots more details.
In this post:
Basics of the Four Seasons Bahia Beach, Puerto Rico
Four Seasons and Paulson Puerto Rico are partnering to open the Four Seasons Puerto Rico, with an opening scheduled for November 20, 2025. As mentioned above, this represents a rebranding of the St. Regis Bahia Beach.
The Four Seasons Puerto Rico will be nestled on 483 acres of lush landscaping along Bahia Beach. It will feature 193 guest rooms and suites, plus 85 private residences. The resort will offer direct access to two miles of white sand beaches, walking trails, multiple pools, tennis courts, an 18-hole golf course, a destination spa, fitness facilities, and more.
As the hotel transitions from St. Regis to Four Seasons, it’s undergoing a significant renovation of interior spaces. Furthermore, the arrivals experience is being changed, to better showcase views of the ocean from the moment guests arrive. Pools are also being reconfigured, to provide unobstructed views of the ocean, and there will be new cabanas. A steam room and sauna will also be added to the spa facilities.
As far as dining goes, the property will feature 10 different food and beverage outlets, including Paros Restaurant (serving Greek & Mediterranean cuisine), Seagrapes Restaurant (the poolside al fresco restaurant), Beach Club Restaurant (a casual restaurant), El Cocoteros Grill (the golf bar & grill), The Boathouse (featuring snacks throughout the day), a lobby lounge, a sushi bar, and more.
This property is an easy getaway, given that it’s just a 30-minute drive from San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU).
This new property joins Four Seasons’ other Caribbean properties, including in Anguilla, the Bahamas, Nevis, and upcoming properties in Belize and the Dominican Republic.
My take on the “new” Four Seasons Bahia Beach, Puerto Rico
Obviously the rebrand of this luxury Bahia Beach resort is a mixed bag.
On the one hand, many won’t be happy to see a luxury points hotel join a hotel group without a points program, since obviously that limits the ability to earn and redeem points for stays at the property. Luxury hotel prices are through the roof nowadays, so it’s nice when a luxury resort can be booked using points.
On the other hand, it’s good that the property is undergoing a refresh, as it could definitely use a bit of attention at this point. Furthermore, Four Seasons is simply a better hospitality company than Marriott, so this should lead to higher service standards, and more of a focus on guest experience.
It seems pretty clear to me that this rebranding is a function of the owners being unhappy with Marriott, rather than the other way around (given that the owners are investing in the resort). I suspect the owners felt that the market was just too saturated with Marriott properties, especially given Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and thought they’d have better luck with another brand.
Four Seasons Puerto Rico rates & how to book
What are rates like at the Four Seasons Puerto Rico? As you’d expect, luxury resorts that are easily accessible from major cities in the United States have high pricing, especially seasonally, given the number of people looking for warm weather.
Currently, rates seem to be close to $2,000 per night in peak season, pre-tax, so that’s obviously really steep, but also not surprising. It’s always worth keeping an eye out on the hotel’s offers page, as I’m sure there will be some promotions over time.
If you’re going to book this hotel (or any Four Seasons), you absolutely should book through a travel advisor who is affiliated with Four Seasons Preferred Partner. With this program, eligible travel advisors can add value to your stay without it costing you extra. They can add perks like complimentary breakfast (including via in-room dining), a hotel credit, an upgrade subject to availability, and more.
Best of all, Four Seasons Preferred Partner can generally be combined with any rates or promotions you’ll find directly with Four Seasons. For what it’s worth, the upgrades through this program are also prioritized over upgrades through other programs, so you’ll want to use Preferred Partner over a program like Virtuoso or Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts.
Ford and his team are happy to help with Four Seasons Preferred Partner bookings, and can be reached at [email protected].
Bottom line
The Four Seasons Puerto Rico will be opening as of November 2025, as a rebranding of the existing St. Regis. The property will be undergoing a refresh prior to opening as a Four Seasons, so that’s a positive development. On the other hand, it’s sad to lose a points hotel.
What do you make of plans for the Four Seasons Puerto Rico?
For whatever it's worth, the hotel is owned by billionaire John Paulson's Paulson & Co. Four Seasons was given a 60-year contract to manage the property.
Keep an eye on the Condado Vanderbilt and La Concha Renaissance Hotel, both also in Puerto Rico. Paulson recently bought those too.
I'm curious how this conversion works. It was Marriott-managed as a St. Regis. So, is the management still Marriott and then one morning new management show...
For whatever it's worth, the hotel is owned by billionaire John Paulson's Paulson & Co. Four Seasons was given a 60-year contract to manage the property.
Keep an eye on the Condado Vanderbilt and La Concha Renaissance Hotel, both also in Puerto Rico. Paulson recently bought those too.
I'm curious how this conversion works. It was Marriott-managed as a St. Regis. So, is the management still Marriott and then one morning new management show up? Or are the management and employees actually considered employees of the owner and just "supervised" by a Marriott GM, who will be replaced by a Four Seasons GM on the appointed day?
On a related note, the Ritz-Carlton in San Juan remains closed since the 2017 hurricanes. It was supposed to open FINALLY this year. The 500-room hotel was undergoing $150 million in renovations, which is at most $300,000 per room although in reality the number is far less given all the public spaces. Apparently, it may not reopen this year due to more lawsuits and missed deadlines.
doesn't Paulson also own Dorado Beach?
No, the Ritz-Carlton Reserve is owned by Braemar Hotels & Resorts. Interestingly, some of their other properties, like the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota or the Seattle Marriott, are extremely mediocre.