by nigelbees

Cedarbrook, New Jersey

March 28, 2009

by Maria751

Queens, New York

January 27, 2007

by Blackbelt Mom

Bountiful, Utah

May 22, 2006

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Good
• Family Friendliness: Very Good
• Service: Very Good

by Ishtar

Bayside, New York

November 12, 2005

You’ll have fabulous breakfast buffets or lunches at Bakal, and alternatively, dial ext. 6173 and be served right in bed. You can participate in Bakal’s theme dinners nightly, or make reservations at the Argentina Terrace & Grill, the staff of which will bend over backwards to satiate your carnivorous fantasies; there will also be live music from 7 to 9pm. Want to stay fit during this your time? Pilates and Aerobics classes are offered; just dial ext. 6090 or join everyone in the pool at around noon when they do group aquasize classes.

Miss pizza? No problem: They will deliver to your room and offer a special, two-for-one, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Just dial ext. 6173 or 6174. Need to be kneaded? Call the Spa at ext. 4030 and reserve a Swedish massage, facial, shiatsu, or just a manicure/pedicure.

The most intriguing place for me was the nightclub, Tribu, and not for the deafening music, which emanated from behind the massive doors. It’s an ultra-modern setting anchored by a wonderful collection of tribal photographs from all over the world. We went in during the daytime so that I could read all the inscriptions. At night we did try to get some shots, but it was very dark. Nevertheless, it had a great atmosphere. The counter at the bar is made of glass pebbles; it’s really lovely, and I imagine it is done to evoke the beach or something blue. There are pool tables for your pleasure, and the place is open from 6pm to 2am. They gave us a special deal for Noche de Salsa; cover was US$5, with the second drink free.

So the downpour now is so severe that you can’t walk around, can’t go to the beach, but yes, you can spend money shopping. They have a Cartier boutique that also sells Mont Blanc pens; I didn’t exactly see people lining up for those. The décor is a la Diego Rivera and is quite handsome. It was also always empty. To their credit, the Jade Boutique, which is right next door, is a clothing shop, gift shop, and Internet café all in one. I found their line of women’s linen clothes very attractive. Their choice of pottery and ceramics was also very unusual and upscale. The display never changed during the time I was there. For Internet use there are only two available, and you are charged by the half hour (US$2). Part of the shop also carries snacks and first aid-type drugs and sundries. A modest array of magazine and papers is also available here.

• Unit Type: Studio
• Activities: Good
• Amenities: Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Good
• Family Friendliness: Very Good
• Service: Fair

by Ishtar

Bayside, New York

November 12, 2005

Chuck had arrived here a day earlier than I did, so he had a chance to get a lay of the land. We had our first day and night at another resort, Villa del Palmar , and I really loved the ambiance there. The major portion of our stay was spent here, and then we had another day and night at another place downtown.

The entrance to the Mayan Palace is forbidding: the doorway is blocked by a huge black stone wall, which is supposed to represent a Mayan relic, with water all around it, and the visitor needs to go around this structure to enter the premises. (Not very zen). We arrived early; apparently check in is at 5:00PM and were told that before a room assignment, we had to check in with the time-share desk. We were handed over to a woman whose name I don't remember, but whose manner I'll never forget. She had a southern drawl, and asked very pointed questions. I do recall telling her that there were some things she should not want to know.

She gave us a run down of the facilities, with a map, a brochure, and a great big push to attend a short (??!!)presentation which would give us a choice of 3 activities. I have already reported on the outing of our choice in Part 1 of the journal. She told us that she had moved to PVR from Texas some twelve years ago, and never left. The man who was going to give us the sales pitch was also a Canadian that left home never to return.

The room we were assigned was comfortable, but lacked the most basic amenities, such as a coffee maker and a refrigerator. We were told that we could have those only if we upgraded to a one bedroom suite. Considering the little time we spent in our room, it was not worth it.

Bathroom was very well stocked with Gilchrest & Soames toiletries, so that made up for any discomfort I may have felt at not being able to have Earl Gray when I wanted to. Also, wall hair dryer, plenty of large fluffy towels and extra blanket. We rented a fridge for $25/week, and that was worth it. It made the room a little bit crowded, so that the area with the table and chairs was almost always jammed. The TV rests on top of a dresser, which means there is less room to maneuver. We had two double beds, as they could not get us a king. Thank Heavens for the A/C in this room!

• Unit Type: Studio
• Activities: Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Good
• Family Friendliness: Good
• Service: Fair

by patyg

MEXICO CITY, Mexico

October 19, 2005

• Unit Type: Studio
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

by Robyn S

san diego, California

September 7, 2005

Unfortunately, the beach there is horrible. Because of the construction going on in the area (more high-rise timeshares and hotels), the sand has all but gone and been replaced by silt that gets washed down from the nearby river with broken bricks and construction materials. Go farther north and the beaches are quite nice. The beach at the Mayan in Nuevo Vallarta is much nicer than in the Mayan in PV, but you need to again go farther north to find what we might consider to be a beach worth staying at.

The resort offers plenty of day time activities centered around the pool, but nothing at night. We had expected to see at least some Mexican entertainment or dancing at the Mayan, but there was none. Only an expensive Mexican buffet was offered one night. We had our 10-year-old son in tow, and he had a great time in the pool, but we had hoped for him to experience some of the Mexican culture, but there was little (only extremely expensive and late tours).

The prices at the resort, and all of the surrounding restaurants and cafes, are very expensive. We couldn't even find a place to eat where the locals eat (to experience real Mexico), as they were all very expensive (a sandwich was around $7). We opted for Mexico over Europe, expecting a more economical vacation, but we would have spent no more in Europe. A 2-day-old USA Today newspaper sold for $4 at the Mayan, and there was nothing else there at all to read (or buy to read). In the end, we opted to purchase our groceries at Wal-Mart, which we hated to do, but the local stores were more expensive for what we needed.

This resort is a good choice if you have a car or lots of tours booked; otherwise, the resort gets to feel a bit small. Given the choice again, go for the Mayan at Nuevo Vallarta.

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Good
• Amenities: Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Good
• Family Friendliness: Good
• Service: Good

by lindazoo

port;land, Oregon

May 28, 2005

Do not go way out into Nuevo Vallarta unless you want to be 25 miles out of town at an all-American type of resort area. If you want to experience this area, then get into downtown and stay as close to downtown as you can. You will not have to waste so much money on cabs and buses, which also wastes your time. Do NOT take any tours. You do not need them. You don't even need a place to stay on the ocean, but a pool is a very good thing. Ideally, find a place downtown by the river and walk your way around. Beware, as the streets are cobblestone and curb high, so this is not for people who are unstable. If you are in a wheelchair, stay at a resort where you don't have to come into downtown, someplace like Paradise Village in Nuevo Vallarta, which is very nice.

Anyway, Puerto Vallarta is a place to buy rum, tequila, flavored liquors, and Kahlua. The places with the best prices for liquor are in the airport on the second floor (not first).

Do NOT go to any timeshare presentations for the freebies! Do not take a cab from the airport for more than a few dollars (no more than $13). Eat lots of seafood and beef. Forget most of the pastries, but the flan is usually good.

Take a trip to Wal-Mart and sample and see the differences from those in the USA. Buy food at the deli and or sub sandwiches for cheap.

Pick up some flowers the day after you arrive to make your room beautiful. You can get them at Wal-Mart for $4 to $8 or a few more dollars at a floral shop. Enjoy!

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Fair
• Amenities: Fair
• Unit Satisfaction: Good
• Family Friendliness: Fair
• Service: Good

by LindaL7524

Moraga, California

May 19, 2005

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Very Good
• Service: Very Good

by berky

Nepean, Ontario

February 2, 2005

The grounds are beautifully landscaped, and it is very peaceful to walk about on the shaded paths. The lobby is absolutely spectacular—you feel as if you are in a different world with the music playing—very serene. There are many different areas to explore, and a shuttle bus takes one around. You can also travel about on a small train, electric boats, or kayaks. There were plenty of lounge chairs around the large, interconnected pools and also plenty of chairs on the beach, some of which were strategically placed under palapas. Brown sand on the beach would probably be very hot in warmer months, and presumably, the water would be warmer too, but in January, when we were there, there were not many people in the water.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent