Divin-Dude
newbie
Just an update. Yet another enjoyable week at the GV. This year, when paying the MF, there is an option and additional voucher to use your 2010 week in Playa del Carmen (however review say needs another year to work out kinks and lots of mosquitos).
Seems the VIP ladies are getting a bit complacent as our name was on a placard, but they didn't care to hold it up. No big deal for us as we knew exactly where to go anyway, but still good to tell the folks at GV as they pay for the third party service.
Check in at the hotel was unusually slow, however still very quick to take your luggage and sit you down. I suspect the new staff was to blame and we did comment as such. Since a large group was also checking out (around 200 ppl), our room was not ready for almost two hours. A quick lunch at Azul and some drinks in the shade near the lobby bar while we waited was tolerable.
They did not collect the AI fee up front, instead we were charged the daily rate when we checked out, basically like a normal hotel stay. There were no issues and you can check out via the room TV is all is ok with the bill.
For the whole week the room cleaning staff seemed to be later than usual and the turn down service inconsistent in time. Perhaps another impact of a reduction in staff?
Resort was 80+% full for two days, then dropped to 20%, which was fine by us, but makes you wonder of the impact due to the economy. There is now only 8 wait staff by the pool, yet another manager as Antonia left. She used to be the mgr at the lobby bar.
All restaurants were open, but selectively closed one day a week due to limited guests. The menu has changed as there is a new head chef and I would have to say that Lucca is once again the best restaurant.
Despite the pool wait staff being less as a whole, with the number of guests at the resort, it was service as usual and lots of time to practice my spanish with them - always a treat! Free 5 min massages now by the activity counter, which of course I had to try almost every day as they stood there waiting for people.
Lobby piano player still plays too loud and we consistently share our comments. There was a new 4 man band called "Oasis" and they are a nice welcome change. The weekly festival was cancelled due to lack of guests too which is understandable.
All in all, with the change in hotel manager (Oscar is gone), there are a few subtle changes and new people to train, however still a great vacation.
The only real negative thing was a real push from Rosa to meet up with the sales manager as there are "a lot of changes for owners". When they refused to see me alone (wife must join me), we opted to sit by the pool in the sun instead.
Seems the VIP ladies are getting a bit complacent as our name was on a placard, but they didn't care to hold it up. No big deal for us as we knew exactly where to go anyway, but still good to tell the folks at GV as they pay for the third party service.
Check in at the hotel was unusually slow, however still very quick to take your luggage and sit you down. I suspect the new staff was to blame and we did comment as such. Since a large group was also checking out (around 200 ppl), our room was not ready for almost two hours. A quick lunch at Azul and some drinks in the shade near the lobby bar while we waited was tolerable.
They did not collect the AI fee up front, instead we were charged the daily rate when we checked out, basically like a normal hotel stay. There were no issues and you can check out via the room TV is all is ok with the bill.For the whole week the room cleaning staff seemed to be later than usual and the turn down service inconsistent in time. Perhaps another impact of a reduction in staff?
Resort was 80+% full for two days, then dropped to 20%, which was fine by us, but makes you wonder of the impact due to the economy. There is now only 8 wait staff by the pool, yet another manager as Antonia left. She used to be the mgr at the lobby bar.
All restaurants were open, but selectively closed one day a week due to limited guests. The menu has changed as there is a new head chef and I would have to say that Lucca is once again the best restaurant.
Despite the pool wait staff being less as a whole, with the number of guests at the resort, it was service as usual and lots of time to practice my spanish with them - always a treat! Free 5 min massages now by the activity counter, which of course I had to try almost every day as they stood there waiting for people.
Lobby piano player still plays too loud and we consistently share our comments. There was a new 4 man band called "Oasis" and they are a nice welcome change. The weekly festival was cancelled due to lack of guests too which is understandable.
All in all, with the change in hotel manager (Oscar is gone), there are a few subtle changes and new people to train, however still a great vacation.
The only real negative thing was a real push from Rosa to meet up with the sales manager as there are "a lot of changes for owners". When they refused to see me alone (wife must join me), we opted to sit by the pool in the sun instead.