Thanks everyone. I hope my story will evolve to be like tartanwood's story... in fact, I'm going to try my first serving of "lemonade" next week!
I'm heading to Cabo, staying at Villa del Arco, with 2 studio units (one for my family, one for another family... our kids are friends), for President's day week. I managed to get this after being on waitlist and then informed of availability (some time last year). It's really 5-nights, not a complete week.
I got several calls from Resortcom, to arrange shuttle from/to airport, and trying get me to buy all-inclusive (declined). Most recent call is asking me to attend a "member's update" meeting the second morning of my visit. I am worried about this. Is this another sales pitch? Is this "required" or optional? I'm also a bit worried about the guest family. Will they be pressured into a presentation on check-in? What kind of benefit should I negotiate/expect for attending member's update meeting, and what should my guest family negotiate/expect if they attend a sales pitch? Or is it best to just say no? I know if guest family attends a sales pitch, their breakfast will be free, but that's way too little bonus for the potential few hours gone.
I'm planning to rent a car. This will settle transport between airport/hotel. It will also allow for Walmart/Costco/Mega(La Comer)/Soriana shopping runs. It will take us to Mt. Solmar if we want to hike, or Santa Maria/Chileno beaches for snorkling, or if we want to visit Todos Santos or San Jose del Cabo nearby, plus eat at nearby local restaurants, or go downtown more easily (else it's a 35+ minute walk from VDA).
We plan to save money/time at least for breakfast (stock the mini-fridge). For lunch/dinner, it is preferred to eat out (local food preferred) on days of exploration, or else eat at VDA restaurants (food there any good?), though I've been warned by the Resortcom rep trying to sell me AI that the food portions are small and expensive at VDA (hence, it's cheaper to buy AI). AI is US$550/day for both families (4-adult/3-kid), way over budgeted for food. None of us drink.
Some more questions about VDA property if anyone knows:
1. Seems VDA swimming pools might be less interesting (for kids) than VDP (with whale slide), but only recently, I found out these two properties are separated by La Estancia... so it's further than initially thought... 10-minute walk from what I read. Any issue using VDP swimming pools/towel service if living in VDA? The answer from Resortcom is mixed, sounds more like "just do it, don't ask". Elsewhere in Tripadvisor forum, someone reminded not to bring one property's towel into a different property, as they are different and immediately obvious you come from other property. I assume it's best to walk on the beach connecting VDA/VDP to go from one to another? Supposedly there's a free shuttle that goes between the two properties... if anyone has done this, was it easier to wait/ride shuttle, or just easier to make the 10-minute(?) walk each way? Shuttle comes frequent?
2. Is La Estancia off-limits, or I can visit also? I hear for kids, it is VDP > VDA > Estancia, basically, Estancia is quiet, more for adults only... so I don't think it matters... but if it is not off-limits, then I think visiting it for a bit sounds fun, if only for curiosity/novelty, and seems like it's sitting in-between VDA and VDP anyway. Can we use the pools there in Estancia too?
3. Kids are 7, 8, and 9 year olds. 7-year old is tiny (35 lb, 1-percentile). They all love playing in water, so the swimming pools will be one attraction. Wonder if the water is too cold or not though. I'm surprised to always see the pools (at VDA) seemingly unoccupied, in the live webcam,
https://www.cabovillas.com/campage.asp?id=8. Isn't it already peak winter season, why am I seeing the pools mostly empty whenever I check the live webcam... kids would prefer other families/kids also around pool and can make friends, etc. (which happened in Villa del Palmar Cancun last year early May).
4. We enjoyed the night shows at Villa del Palmar in Cancun last year. These were 9:00 p.m., dancing/music, with stage set up next to pools. Seems like anyone can watch it. But Resortcom is telling me (when trying to sell me AI) that the theme-nights for Villa del Palmar in Cabo has to be paid for (unless AI). Anyone knows if this is true?
Water-taxi to Land's End is a must I guess. To see a rock.
It's a checklist item for Cabo visit (esp. first time). I wonder how it works if we want to spend a bit of time in lover's beach then? Take water-taxi to see Land's End and get dropped off at lover's beach, and then later wave-down another water-taxi to take us back (from lover's beach back to Medano beach/marina, and then walk back to VDA)?
Sports fishing seems very popular in Cabo, but none of us has done it, unsure about seasickness, and also unsure if too early for 7/8/9 year old kids (they might feel too cruel?). It's also expensive (taxes, tips, all add, and total around US$1K for the two families, on 5-hour boat ride, not yet adding the extras like drone video, etc).
One more week before travel, starting to prepare in earnest. I resolved to learn more Spanish after Cancun trip last year, but looks like that went nowhere! Try again next year.
