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Escape from Vidanta

Eric B

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Ok, I've got the path out of Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta down pay now, walking out the beach to Sea Garden and catching the bus or a collectivo or just plain walking. Took us 55 minutes to get from Grand Luxxe tower 4 to the Paradise Plaza shopping center. Not that we're cheap, just don't like being forced to catch a cab to get a few blocks off the resort. Good news is we found where the Tuesday farmers market is behind the casino and won't miss it next time. Seems like a much bigger one than the one by The Sea Garden OXXO.

Next trip, we're down in Riviera Maya; any helpful hints on hitting the town there? Mass transport or walking preferred.

Vidanta seems to be accepting that some folks might want to get out a little bit, by the way. Their app now lists the taxi fares to get to common NV and RM destinations, which is a step in the right direction (or a drive with some payment, if you know what I mean). I heard the back story on their opening the old small gate for a few months last year; a long time owner started a petition, organized a protest March outside the resort and invited the press, so Vidanta opened it for awhile. I hope it doesn't have to come to that for the next time.

Anyway, any of you Vidanta owners having helpful hints on the Cancun side would be most welcome. Thanks!
 

pittle

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There is a shuttle that runs hourly to Playa del Carmen from the main departure area.. It was 80 Pesos per person. The taxi from the Mega to the resort was 350 Pesos. So, for 320 Pesos, a couple could do RT to Playa and back. There are several stops in Playa. You can bring some things back with you on the shuttle. We bought enough stuff to eat & drink in our unit for the week, so opted for the taxi as a return. We walked around 5th Ave a while and had lunch before going to Mega.

I took a picture of the taxi fares in April.........

upload_2018-12-26_13-41-25.png
 

hurnik

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If at Vidanta in the RM, you will not be walking, IMO. I believe it's approx. 7 miles or so north of downtown Play del Carmen.

Taxi or Shuttle is the easiest, although supposedly you could walk out of the resort to the highway and catch a bus.
Not sure about Uber/Lyft in the area.
 

Eric B

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There is a shuttle that runs hourly to Playa del Carmen from the main departure area.. It was 80 Pesos per person. The taxi from the Mega to the resort was 350 Pesos. So, for 320 Pesos, a couple could do RT to Playa and back. There are several stops in Playa. You can bring some things back with you on the shuttle. We bought enough stuff to eat & drink in our unit for the week, so opted for the taxi as a return. We walked around 5th Ave a while and had lunch before going to Mega.

I took a picture of the taxi fares in April.........

View attachment 9623

Thanks, Phyllis. I figured you'd know. Is the shuttle one of the collectivos? I've seen some of them stopping by the Cafe del Lago, but don't really know where they go. BTW, the picture matches what they have on their app now.

If at Vidanta in the RM, you will not be walking, IMO. I believe it's approx. 7 miles or so north of downtown Play del Carmen.

Taxi or Shuttle is the easiest, although supposedly you could walk out of the resort to the highway and catch a bus.
Not sure about Uber/Lyft in the area.

I kind of figured that was the case based on the surroundings, but was hoping someone knew how the busses there work. We've figured them out in NV enough to use them to get to PV so far, which is good. I figure the locals get around somehow in RM and am happy to tag along.
 

Eric B

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Oh, one other helpful hint to share - don't let them tighten the wristband if you're staying at grand luxxe. I just look the excess around the little badge thingy to keep it on when I'm there so I can take it off out in town. Less of a mark as a high roller.
 

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It's a shame that the NV resort has become so enclosed. They even used to run shuttles from the MP and GM to the SG. Once GB and GL construction began, they stopped the shuttle and then walled off that road to SG. So close and yet so far to drive from the main resort to SG and nearby restaurants, except for the beach route.

None of this is true at the RM complex, because there is nothing nearby. Just walking out to the highway and catching a collectivo is a hike. Phyllis' suggestion of the shuttle and cab back with groceries is the best solution.

Ron

PS Thanks Eric for the tip about the Tuesday farmers' market at NV.
 

Eric B

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Tuesday one is behind the casino close to Paradise Village; Saturday is by the SG OXXO. We haven’t made it to the Tuesday one yet, but did the Saturday one a couple times.
 

T-Dot-Traveller

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None of this is true at the RM complex, ...walking out to the highway and catching a collectivo is a hike. Phyllis' suggestion of the shuttle and cab back with groceries is the best solution. .
the collectivos? ........ I figure the locals get around somehow in RM and am happy to tag along.

If you want to try the local system - in RM -I think it is the collectivos
which is likely how most staff reach the resort - but require walking out to the highway / as per Ron .

We have not stayed at Vidanta RM / did visit Club Regina Cancun ( RCI exchange) in Feb .2015
We daytripped using the intercity bus from centro Cancun terminal to the Playa del Carmen terminal that is a block or two from the beach ( 5 or 6 USD $ / pp) .

Once out of Cancun - I did not see much in the way of local busses / most everything local appeared to be collectivos . It did inspire us to use the Nuevo Vallarta collectivos to go to San Juan de Abajo .
 
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pittle

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Thanks, Phyllis. I figured you'd know. Is the shuttle one of the collectivos? I've seen some of them stopping by the Cafe del Lago, but don't really know where they go. BTW, the picture matches what they have on their app now.

I kind of figured that was the case based on the surroundings, but was hoping someone knew how the busses there work. We've figured them out in NV enough to use them to get to PV so far, which is good. I figure the locals get around somehow in RM and am happy to tag along.

The shuttle to town is a 12 or 15 passenger van. You take a resort shuttle go to the taxi stop area and you walk down a sidewalk to where the shuttles run. There are a few benches and a Mayan World person to assist you. (They count how many people are going and make sure there are enough vans.) Some vans are similar to the Colllectivo ones. The driver will tell you where the 2 or 3 pick-up points are.

If you can get to the main road, you can snag a larger bus, collectivo, or taxi. The highway is so busy now that it is a challenge to cross the highway. It is also very difficult to walk to the highway from the resort. There are no sidewalks. When we went years ago, it was not difficult and you could even skirt the edge of the golf course if your unit was close to the highway. Now there is a lot of foliage and fencing.
 

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Tuesday one is behind the casino close to Paradise Village; Saturday is by the SG OXXO. We haven’t made it to the Tuesday one yet, but did the Saturday one a couple times.

It looks like a very long walk around the marina to get to Paradise Village. Has anyone tried begging a boat ride across the marina or catching a water taxi?
 

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It is a long walk, but you can take the Riu bus or a cooperativo.
 

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In October we were there and sea garden was closed so we had to walk to the breakwater where there was public access to the beach. Both times we got a boat ride over to Paradise Village for a small fee. Our only problem was after a day at Sayulita we could not find a boat back to our side (at 5:30) so then had to pay a cab back to the resort. Still an adventure filled day walking the beach, taking a boat and then 2 buses to get to Sayulita. The second time we broke out of prison when we came back by taxi they asked us to show our wrist bands since they did not have record of our leaving the resort.
 

Eric B

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Could you list the busses you took to Sayulita and where you got the boats?

Thanks!
 

T-Dot-Traveller

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Could you list the busses you took to Sayalita

Thanks!

Hi Eric ,
When we did a NV to Sayalita day trip in 2017 - we took the ATM bus from the Sea Garden / OXXO into PV
and got off at Walmart in PV ( by the cruise ship Marina ) We then took a Sayalita bound bus .
The Sayalita bus does make stops in Buscarias - so this is obviously not the most direct way ; but it is simple due the well known locations.( and our lack of conversational Spanish- if we get lost )

On the way back - we got off at the Nuevo Walmart stop , bought some groceries and took a cab back to Vidanta ( $5-7 USD) . You do need to watch for the stop since it is on the feeder road on the opposite side of MX 200 / and the overpass blocks your view of the Walmart . Lots of people do get off there .

When the bus reaches Sayalita , it stops at a parking area and you walk over a small bridge into town ..
It was a good day trip .
 
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Tacoma

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With pretty much no Spanish we hung around the marina and indicated we wanted to get to the other side. Both mornings it took minutes to get a boat. Then at Paradise Village we asked the local bus driver Sayulita and he motioned for us to get in. He then stopped on the highway and indicated we had to cross over and catch a bus the other direction as he was headed to PV. A local helped us get on the right bus to Sayulita under the underpass in the shade where you just hold out your hand to get them to stop. After passing through Bucerias you go through a nice forested area and end up in Sayulita. Going back we took the bus directly from the bus station and indicated Nuevo Vallarta to the driver. He told us NV where we had to get off to catch another local bus. Two days later did the same route to Bucerias but this time the route was different and we had to cross the highway with no overpass. As in any foreign county we hung by the local doing the same thing as they know what they are doing. Nothing is as scary as crossing the road in Ho Chi Minh. Pretty much petrified every time I had to do it. It made crossing the road in Hanoi and Bangkok look tame.
 

Eric B

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Thanks guys!
 

pittle

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Eric - FYI for when you are at the Buganvilias, you can walk on the south side of the soccer field across the street about 3 blocks and you will see the main bus terminal on your right about a block in for buses to Bucerias, Salulita, and Punta Mita. When they pull out, you hop on and tell the driver where you want to go. If you do not catch the bus there, you have to walk a long way as they only make 1 or 2 stops until the Sam's/Walmart stop by the Marina It seems that all buses stop there.
 

Eric B

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Thanks, Phyllis. We've taken the ATM bus from NV down to where their terminal is on the corner of Calle Bolivia and Calle Guatemala; I'm pretty sure that's the one your talking about. It is a bit spotty catching those anywhere else besides the Walmart, though we did find a couple other stops along the way. Buganvilias seems to be a lot better place to get out of than Vidanta.

I've seen a few of the other bus lines (the blue ones) with Bucerias written on the windshields, too. Haven't tried those yet, though. Met a fellow that just bought a condo in the old town side of PV, too, so we'll be doing some exploring with him when we're down in March.

Also, we're back down there 9-16 November, but at Vidanta. Will you be there for Thanksgiving that early?
 

pittle

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Thanks, Phyllis. We've taken the ATM bus from NV down to where their terminal is on the corner of Calle Bolivia and Calle Guatemala; I'm pretty sure that's the one your talking about. It is a bit spotty catching those anywhere else besides the Walmart, though we did find a couple other stops along the way. Buganvilias seems to be a lot better place to get out of than Vidanta.

I've seen a few of the other bus lines (the blue ones) with Bucerias written on the windshields, too. Haven't tried those yet, though. Met a fellow that just bought a condo in the old town side of PV, too, so we'll be doing some exploring with him when we're down in March.

Also, we're back down there 9-16 November, but at Vidanta. Will you be there for Thanksgiving that early?


If a bus has Bucerias, Punta Mita, LaCruz, or Salulita on it, it is fine to take. They have been updating some of the buses, but many are the ones with the locations written on the windshield. We ride the older ones all the time. Anything with Central on it when you are coming from the north will get you to the downtown area.

We know that we will be there from November 23rd-30th, but have not decided whether to do a week before and a week after or 2 weeks before. We have been talking about it this week.
 

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Ok, I've got the path out of Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta down pay now, walking out the beach to Sea Garden and catching the bus or a collectivo or just plain walking. Took us 55 minutes to get from Grand Luxxe tower 4 to the Paradise Plaza shopping center. Not that we're cheap, just don't like being forced to catch a cab to get a few blocks off the resort. Good news is we found where the Tuesday farmers market is behind the casino and won't miss it next time. Seems like a much bigger one than the one by The Sea Garden OXXO.

Next trip, we're down in Riviera Maya; any helpful hints on hitting the town there? Mass transport or walking preferred.

Vidanta seems to be accepting that some folks might want to get out a little bit, by the way. Their app now lists the taxi fares to get to common NV and RM destinations, which is a step in the right direction (or a drive with some payment, if you know what I mean). I heard the back story on their opening the old small gate for a few months last year; a long time owner started a petition, organized a protest March outside the resort and invited the press, so Vidanta opened it for awhile. I hope it doesn't have to come to that for the next time.

Anyway, any of you Vidanta owners having helpful hints on the Cancun side would be most welcome. Thanks!

The jail break from RM is in many ways easier than NV as it provides ready access to frequent collectivos plying the highway.

The egress begins from Lobby Central, which is easily walkable but also served by two shuttle routes.

The ‘LC’ route originates from the lobby, travels along the GM jungle units to the transfer station and doubling back from the jungle units to the lobby (thus from the GB or GM jungle this line is effective to ride in a reverse commute direction, away from the beach).

The ‘LCE’ is an express route traveling from the transfer station to Lobby Central, without stops and paralleling the walkways along the golf course (the preferred path for most walkers as it passes right by the exit).

Once at Lobby Central, walk through the lobby and bear left. Do not cross under the overpass. Stay to the left and a 5-minute walk leads to the exit.

What I believe is a concession by the Chavez Familia is this path—though without walkways—is the only road absent of the ‘no hay pasar’ logo.

If you are making this trek in the morning be prepared to be quizzed by staff fearful you are meeting an outside TS rep and eager to match whatever offer they misconceive. Never an intervention in the afternoon.

Once freed, my preferred destination in recent years has been north to Puerto Morelos, closer and easier to access, without the mad dash across the highway southbound to PdC.

The collectivo stops on the highway directly opposite the main gate. For 25 pesos I can leave my room and be in PM in less than 30 minutes. The Chedaraui supermarket on the highway at the main PM stop is tough to beat for a supply run. (And for a half day out or more the restaurants are on par with PdC and 20 buck snorkel tours to the reef can’t be beat).

Additionally, access from the Joya side of the highway is possible late afternoon and evening with shuttles serving the show. I’m unsure, but there seems to be two entrances, for public access and personal (for the show).

I’ve always ended up at the personal access but have been able to persuade the guard to flag down a deadheading golf cart to shuttle me through the tunnel under the highway—avoiding the mad dash across it—and, usually, right to my doorstep.
 

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...Vidanta seems to be accepting that some folks might want to get out a little bit, by the way... I heard the back story on their opening the old small gate for a few months last year; a long time owner started a petition, organized a protest March outside the resort and invited the press, so Vidanta opened it for awhile. I hope it doesn't have to come to that for the next time...

If there is an "old small gate", it is well hidden and not advertised. We are walking up the beach & back again this evening to the marina for dinner. From the standpoint of accessibility, Sea Garden has the best deal...walk out the front entrance and catch a bus (20 pesos) to PV, or 5 minute walk to the marina area.

Haven't seen taxi fares to anywhere posted on the Vindanta app...maybe I missed it. Yesterday we walked up the beach and took a bus to downtown PV ("directo" to Wal Mart, then transfer to El Centro, 30 pesos each). After dinner we took Uber back to Vindanta (400 pesos)
 

Eric B

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The taxi fares can be found by selecting "Info" in the lower right hand corner after you're on the Nuevo Vallarta portion, then scrolling down in the "Guest Services" section to the fifth item, "Taxi Fare." When you select that it opens a more detailed page with a button to select to open a table. I understand taxis are cheaper at the circle in front of the OXXO by the Sea Garden.

For the bus, the Directo goes to an ATM bus terminal that is in the vicinity of the Buganvilias; it's about an 8-10 block walk from there to the Malecon and pretty close to the Mercado Cinco di Diciembre (inland from the terminal on the corner of Calle de Guatemala and Calle de Brasilia. Worth a visit to see a local market, tortilla factory, etc.
 

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Below is a photo of what I believe is the gate (escape route) that Eric refers to...maybe? This gate is located between the Grand Mayan (Copan building) and the beach. Of course the problem is that both the door and the turnstile are locked...can't go through in either direction. The gate is at the edge of Vindanta property. You can see the condominium building behind the gate. There is a wire fence (about 14 gage wire for those of you with wire cutters) on both sides of the gate that extends the length of the property.

My wife and I spent some time digging around in the undergrowth of tropical jungle vegetation looking for a way to sneak through the fence, but no luck. As we popped out of the jungle back onto the walkway, a couple passing by stopped and asked "Are you trying to escape?" When we answered yes, they said they had been looking for 3 days and could not find a way out.:)

It would be interesting to know more of the background about this gate. It would be easy to station a security guard at the gate to check wristbands if they are concerned about outsiders coming in.

Walking up the beach to the Sea Garden is the only way to get a bus to Mega or downtown PV. Go through the front lobby and around the corner to the left of the Sea Garden and there is a bus stop and taxi stand. Sure would be nice if Vindanta had even ONE location where you could get a bus. We walked up the beach several times to the bus stop, but it's kind of a pain in the neck.


vindanta_escape_gate2.jpg
 

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I have, likewise as have others, tried to find another way out with no luck. The security excuse is total bs, nobody checks the beach entrances to the GM. The system of a few years ago where people showed their bracelets to a guard manning a gate worked, but I guess that meant a loss of restaurant revenue...had nothing to do with security!
 

zentraveler

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I have, likewise as have others, tried to find another way out with no luck. The security excuse is total bs, nobody checks the beach entrances to the GM. The system of a few years ago where people showed their bracelets to a guard manning a gate worked, but I guess that meant a loss of restaurant revenue...had nothing to do with security!

Thanks for checking GW2 and completely agree with rpennisi. This can't have anything to do with security. There is a reason the place is like a fortress; Vidanta wants to make it almost impossible for us to easily get off the property and away from their shops and restaurants.

On the other hand, they make a wide array of dining available to us and I can see some logic in that as well. We went to the lovely Costa Arena for lunch one day and there was one other table used the whole time. It seems that the current escape route is the compromise they have struck (or been forced into by virtue of the need for access to the beach).
 
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