All inclusive resort

I have a friend who wants to go to an all inclusive in Mexico. It is himself, his wife, and 2 kids, one 17 and one 14. They would like a beach, pools, good food, and sun (they will be going in over Christmas break). Doesn't have to be near town, as they probably won't leave the resort unless on a sponsored activity. I have not been to Mexico and this is not my type of vacation, so I thought I would ask for suggestions. They would like a three bedroom, but would take a 2.

Thanks for any help.
Julie

All-Inclusive

Really a waste in Cabo with sooooooooooooo many good resturants. The Villa del Palmar, and the Royal Solaris come to mind as far as timeshares. The Presidente as far as a hotel.

If money is not a big factor we walked by the Grand Velas in Nuevo Vallarta which would be very nice. I have read really heard good things about it. The Velas Vallarta and the Samba Vallarta by Pueblo Bonito would be a couple of others I would look into.

The AI in Mexico are soooo expensive, especially during the Christmas/NY's weeks. It would probably cost a minimum of $300/day for the AI. They'd be better off in one of the nicer resorts that has restaurants on site.

Barbeque said:

If money is not a big factor we walked by the Grand Velas in Nuevo Vallarta which would be very nice. I have read really heard good things about it. The Velas Vallarta and the Samba Vallarta by Pueblo Bonito would be a couple of others I would look into.

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I can highly recommend the Grand Velas in Nuevo Vallarta but the mandatory A-I fees are $365 pppd over the holiday week so they obviously do not want to cater to exchangers there. The hotel is mostly booked solid. We will be there the first week in February and the fees are still high but we own here and it is finally paying off now. We wouldn't go there if we had to pay these high fees because 20 minutes away, by cab, are many good restaurants and more are coming in this area too.

We love the resort and the food and service are excellent and the staff is very friendly. They are building a new resort in Cancun or somewhere there.

Out of curiosity, I checked how much it would cost us from Feb 3 to Feb 10 if we booked through the hotel and the cheapest rate is $1,100 per night for a couple. I also checked the Trip Advisor and it was about $1,000 less for the week. This includes all the meals, drinks, etc.

The resort is fabulous and on a very nice beach. Here are some pictures It is a great place to go on a honeymoon or for a special occasion and they will make it special so you will remember. I just read a bad Trip Advisor report about a honeymooner. Most reviews are good.

Who says that Mexico is cheap? Not anymore unless you know where to go and eat, especially in Nuevo Vallarta.

PS. Here is a correction of the rates for 2007. It is $285 for the Christmas week and $365 over New Year's. I looked already for 2008 because our week is in 2008, so it is in line with what Pat posted too.

PPS. Another timeshare resort in Nuevo Vallarta is Paradise Village and the Buganvilias in Puerto Vallarta. Neither one have mandatory A-I fees. We enjoyed both.

We can highly recommend any of the Cancun Royal Resorts - Royal Sands, Royal Mayan, Royal Caribbean, and Royal Islander. Check the TUG Top 30, and also the TUG Reviews on them. No, they are not AI. Is an AI really hundreds of $$ per person per day? Yikes, I can't imagine coming even close to that for food and drink! The restaurants at the Royals are all reasonable, and Cancun has many many good restaurants that are fun to explore. They'll have great pools, sun, beach, and many options for relaxation or adventure.

Pat H said:

The AI in Mexico are soooo expensive, especially during the Christmas/NY's weeks. It would probably cost a minimum of $300/day for the AI. They'd be better off in one of the nicer resorts that has restaurants on site.

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Yes, and "plus" the cost of the rental. AI's are VERY expensive, especially during the holidays. Have you friends call an experienced travel agent.

Phil

iconnections said:

I can highly recommend the Grand Velas in Nuevo Vallarta but the mandatory A-I fees are $365 pppd over the holiday week so they obviously do not want to cater to exchangers there. The hotel is mostly booked solid. We will be there the first week in February and the fees are still high but we own here and it is finally paying off now. We wouldn't go there if we had to pay these high fees because 20 minutes away, by cab, are many good restaurants and more are coming in this area too.

We love the resort and the food and service are excellent and the staff is very friendly. They are building a new resort in Cancun or somewhere there.

Out of curiosity, I checked how much it would cost us from Feb 3 to Feb 10 if we booked through the hotel and the cheapest rate is $1,100 per night for a couple. I also checked the Trip Advisor and it was about $1,000 less for the week. This includes all the meals, drinks, etc.

The resort is fabulous and on a very nice beach. Here are some pictures It is a great place to go on a honeymoon or for a special occasion and they will make it special so you will remember. I just read a bad Trip Advisor report about a honeymooner. Most reviews are good.

Who says that Mexico is cheap? Not anymore unless you know where to go and eat, especially in Nuevo Vallarta.

PS. Here is a correction of the rates for 2007. It is $285 for the Christmas week and $365 over New Year's. I looked already for 2008 because our week is in 2008, so it is in line with what Pat posted too.

PPS. Another timeshare resort in Nuevo Vallarta is Paradise Village and the Buganvilias in Puerto Vallarta. Neither one have mandatory A-I fees. We enjoyed both.

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As a owner, how much discount do you get? Do you still pay $285pppd for Christmas week?

I believe it is high for an owner too for the Christmas and New Year's Eve. If you want to know what we pay for our week in February, send me an email.

I would never do an AI, I want too much freedom. But they have done one in the Dominica Republic and thought it was great. They haven't looked at any prices yet, just asked my advise as we work together and I travel a lot. I told them that week is going to be very pricey.

Astromaid said:

I would never do an AI, I want too much freedom.

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This is my exact feeling.

You are being held captive in an AI. The drinks, meals, etc. have been paid for so why go out and pay for them again. You won't see any of the local culture.

The real downer is that there will be a tan line from your little braclet!

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Cerveza tastes just like beer!

Puerto Vallarta has some awesome restaurants and they are so reasonably priced you would be crazy to go AI. You really would have a hard time spending even $75 at dinner for two, with drinks included. AI is just not a good option. Don;t know about cancun. I would suggest the DR for a cheaper AI experience, or even Aruba maybe.

I don't agree with you because many restaurants cost a lot more for dinner alone than we spend all day at our own mandatory A-I resort per person and the same for the decent restaurants at the marina too.

Can you name some of these restaurants that are so reasonable and still very good? I would love to know and I will check them out next time we go there as we have a week at a non mandatory A-I fee resort too and go back every year.

I find the prices at the restaurants in PV or NV just as expensive as here or even more so. We normally buy a bottle of wine and no other drinks except one Margarita for my SO. You really have to know the local places where the people eat, who live there, but you will have to take a cab to get there because they are mostly out of the way. Please, give us some names. TIA.

Archie's Wok, Maresco Pollo (and I am not sure of the spelling but it was cheap and wonderful) The one place I will not go back to is Daiquiri Dicks- we spent $100 and it was very American- much like Key west but a lovely setting on the water.

Emmy,
Read thru a couple PV guide books next time you're at a book store. They give you approx. prices for meals. Then you can check this info against the rest. that are listed in this forum.

Phil

We love to vacation in PV. We like the great restaurants in the old town area, where we usually rent a condo at $150+ per night (there are not timeshares available in that area, at least not right on the beach where we rent). We love the proximity to the culture and the real Mexico. We walk wherever we want to go. With food and margaritas and wine, tours and attractions, we spend as much or more than we do per week in an AI.

So the second week we go to Vallarta Palace in Nuevo Vallarta, where the beaches are much lovelier and less crowded, and we can really relax. The drinks are great, top shelf and lots of variety, the service is superb, and there is entertainment and activities. At Vallarta Palace our transportation to the airport is included, at least two tours are included, as well as a manicure, pedicure and massage. Sooooo, it is not expensive if you utilize all there is to do.
The perfect vacation!

PV Palace during Easter Break

WE own with Palace Resorts and have decided on PV rather than Cancun this year. Can you give any additional info on the Resort and area activities or tours that they provide.
Thanks

There are many good restaurants in PV and reasonably priced. Cancun also has many, a little more expensive. I have found the food in Cabo terribly overpriced and bad. Just my opinion.

LTTravel said:

There are many good restaurants in PV and reasonably priced. Cancun also has many, a little more expensive. I have found the food in Cabo terribly overpriced and bad. Just my opinion.

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I agree that (except for the restaurants at the Royal Resorts, which are not open to the public...) the restaurants in the Hotel Section of Can Cun are perhaps more expensive than the restaurants in downtown Puerto Vallarta... but there are many good restaurants in downtown Can Cun (city) and they are not expensive. I suggest you should go to Yaxchilan avenue in downtown Can Cun, which is full of very good and inexpensive restaurants.

It depends what you are looking for in an All Inclusive, but the Club Meds are GREAT... In fact... Club Med INVENTED "all inclusive".

The rooms are not luxurious, but the food is excellent and abundant, and there are many activities including scuba diving, wind-surfing, tennis, etc. And of course all activities are "included"...

I am an old Club-Medder (first visit in 1967... 18 times after that...) and I got to know Club Meds in Greece... Martinique... Guadeloupe... and all the Club Meds in Mexico... I highly recommend the Club Med in Ixtapa for a family... and Club Med in Can Cun or Playa Blanca for singles... - Ellis

PV Palace during Easter week

There is much to do in the PV area. I'll try to answer your questions about Vallarta Palace Resort.

There are two tours with your package - we took the horseback ride (unfortunately it was not on the beach, but close by the resort) and the sunset cruise. I would also recommend the zip line, the resort can help you book it through Vallarta Adventures. There are activities in the pool each day and entertainment each night. Early in the week the entertainment was only okay, but on Friday and Saturday nights it is great. The beach is large and beautiful with many lounges and umbrellas and waiters to bring your drinks. And the spa is beautiful - take advantage of your massages and pedicures!

The fitness room is great. Don't miss helping return the sea turtles to the ocean - there is a facility north on the beach - but you'll have to find out which night they do the release. There are bicycles free for guests and we rode them around the residential area and to the little zoo close by. We ordered lunch in the room one day - filet mignon - and it was wonderful. There are three restaurants - Asian, Italian and a steakhouse which also served Mexican food.

The rooms are beautiful and the bathrooms are fantastic. The balcony was small, but all rooms face the ocean. This resort is a little smaller than the Cancun resorts, but we love PV.

Do ride the bus into Puerto Vallarta and spend some time in the old part of town.

Have a great time and send a private email if you need more info.

Patty

I have always been amazed at the wonderful selection of restaurants in Puerto Vallarta (as anywhere else in the world, some not so good).

Restaurants in PV are not as inexpensive as they once were but neither are they NY prices........and many of them are as good as NY (some better).

Following are some favs:

Barcelona Tapas - Matamoros at 31 de Octubre (Great View)
Mi Rueda (Dinner only) - Colombia No. 1057 (cor Venezuala) (View)
Hector's Sunset - next to Sheraton Buganvilias (toward town)...don't be put off by the entry, the food & sunsets are magical
Boca Bento - 180 Basilio Badillo (no View...don't let that stop you)
Cafe de Olla - 168 Basilio Badilla (Very Inexpensive)
Spiaggia - Uruguay behind Hotel Pescador (directly on the beach)

I'm not a fan of all-inclusives (unless they are in an area where I am not comfortable leaving a resort)....and PV is the last place I would do that considering the wonderful restaurants. We walk from the Buganvilias every evening (although we might cab it back from the Romantic zone).