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Cat 5: Puerto Vallarta [Hurricane Patricia]

The Vidanta staff has been great at keeping us informed, but this is a monster storm that's unheard of here - or anywhere, I guess. We don't know where they are going to evacuate us, but we've been told there's a shelter on the property. We're on the ninth floor at Grand Luxxe, and all those buildings below us look pretty puny! They told everyone to get breakfast and pack a small bag for overnight. Latest reports are that the wind will early pick up around 6pm. It's going to be a long night.
 
PamMo said:
The Vidanta staff has been great at keeping us informed, but this is a monster storm that's unheard of here - or anywhere, I guess. We don't know where they are going to evacuate us, but we've been told there's a shelter on the property. We're on the ninth floor at Grand Luxxe, and all those buildings below us look pretty puny! They told everyone to get breakfast and pack a small bag for overnight. Latest reports are that the wind will early pick up around 6pm. It's going to be a long night.
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How far inland will the shelter be? The further inland and higher ground the better. Be safe, take care and good luck.
 
The resort is right on the beach, next to the Ameca River (the border of Jalisco and Nayarit states), and a good-sized marina on the other side. The property is flat, flat, flat. This storm blew up out of nowhere, so it's caught everyone by surprise. We were supposed to leave today, but the airport was closed. Someone else mentioned a 39' storm surge, but I haven't been able to confirm that. Stories like that have created some panic among the guests.

Power is flickering, so I'm off for now!
 
PamMo said:
We were supposed to leave today, but the airport was closed.
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I'm so sorry to hear that. It's really too bad that they couldn't have flown out some people before the big hit later tonight.
 
You are going to be North of the eye if it tracks to predictions, and this is a good thing. The winds will be blowing East to West, which means little storm surge. Also, the buildings should serve as something of a windbreak, so most of the damage should be on the side of them facing away from the pool, and you may find in the aftermath that there was little damage to the pool area itself....maybe some roof parts blown onto it....
 
sptung said:
How far inland will the shelter be? The further inland and higher ground the better. Be safe, take care and good luck.
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Higher ground only to a point. When the storm hits the mountains there will be monumental, which will include lower lying land near the foot of the mountains. Expect major flooding of all drainage courses. There is the potential for a huge surge on the Rio Ameco, as tidal surge combines with massive runoff from the mountains.
 
T_R_Oglodyte said:
Higher ground only to a point. When the storm hits the mountains there will be monumental, which will include lower lying land near the foot of the mountains. Expect major flooding of all drainage courses. There is the potential for a huge surge on the Rio Ameco, as tidal surge combines with massive runoff from the mountains.
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Yeah, and I remember reading about mudslides expected from the mountains.
 
My prayers go out to all of the residents and guests in the affected area.
I was supposed to arrive on the 24th for a week at Velas Vallarta and I was able to cancel my flights on United for no charge. I am an "owner" at Velas and while they took my cancellation they did not seem to be very concerned about Patricia.
 
icydog said:
My friends are at the GM in NV RIGHT NOW! Last year they were in Cabo for the hurricane that hit in September. They had a terrible time and really suffered the last time. Needless to say I am doubly worried this year because it is an even bigger hurricane.

Funny thing is we joked about hurricanes on Monday before it was even forecast. She said the waitstaff told her Hurricanes rarely hit PVR so therefore it was a big joke.

They are both in their upper 70's. I'm very worried about them. Last year they had a ceiling fall on them, a major flood in their room, a bathroom under water, and nothing to eat but Mayan supplied ham sandwiches. They are both in the late 70's so there is need to worry.

Last year I told them to follow the advice of other Tuggers. To get on the plane my friend told them her real age and explained her husband's heart condition. It worked and they got out on the third day of evacuations.
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I remember that! Wow - what luck. :(

Keeping fingers crossed for everyone. This is very scary.
 
We're supposed to head down in two weeks. I'm not optimistic. This sounds like a monster storm. Yikes.

From my perspective, whatever happens to my reservation happens, there's no sense in worrying about it. If Interval allows me a retrade, I'll bet we could get something in Tahoe or Sedona or Palm Springs or Scottsdale. Or we can just head out to do something locally, maybe we'll take a sail trip if the weather is nice.

PamMo, stay safe. We're thinking good thoughts for you.
 
Ironwood said:
How do RCI or II deal with booked vacations that have to be cancelled a day or two before because of hurricanes or other sudden disasters that render a resort unvisitable.....my spell check says that isn't a word? I ask because a friend is to fly to PV today.
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We didn't cancel during last year's hurricane in Cabo, but the hurricane pretty much destroyed the resort where we had booked rental through RCI and we had to cancel our reservation for January. (The resort was Club Regina which finally opened last month). RCI couldn't do anything for us - not that I expected anything - we lost a few hundred dollars since we were cancelling a few months in advance of our reservation. Travel insurance would have been our only recourse.
 
Any updates on Hurricane Patricia?
 
Snowbird22 said:
I made a great trade last year, getting a 3 bedroom at the Grand Luxxe Nuevo Vallarta for 1 side of my SDO starting today Oct 23rd

Obviously with the massive hurricane coming in all flights are cancelled and we won't be travelling. I didn't purchase the Interval insurance and I am not sure if my Amex Gold has any coverage.

I just called II and they said I can retrade for a trade fee into whatever inventory is available today which is limited. I have to do this within the next 7 days.

I am looking for advice from people who have been in a similar situation. The II agent wasn't very helpful.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Does this mean you can go to any place that's available in the world? Check it out if so go as far from the Hurricane area as possible!
Good Luck!
 
Friends of my son's got stuck in Cabo during the storm. Based on their experience, I would be getting to the airport today to try to get a flight to anywhere that won't be impacted.

Please take care.
 
Snowbird22 said:
I made a great trade last year, getting a 3 bedroom at the Grand Luxxe Nuevo Vallarta for 1 side of my SDO starting today Oct 23rd

Obviously with the massive hurricane coming in all flights are cancelled and we won't be travelling. I didn't purchase the Interval insurance and I am not sure if my Amex Gold has any coverage.

I just called II and they said I can retrade for a trade fee into whatever inventory is available today which is limited. I have to do this within the next 7 days.

I am looking for advice from people who have been in a similar situation. The II agent wasn't very helpful.

Thanks
Click to expand...
I agree with the others. Just pay the retrade fee and go somewhere else. I realize that it will be a disappointment but what can you do? We lost three hundred dollars due to Odile last year but rebooked in a different resort and had a great time.

FYI - I'm amazed that you can do a retrade on check in day. That's pretty awesome.
 
this storm looks utterly unbelievable...200mph sustained winds....thats essentially an F4 tornado thats hundreds of miles wide.

truly hope that anyone who had the ability to get out was able to, I cringe to think at what the PV resorts are going to look like if this hits dead on.

Hope you are ok Pam!!!!
 
silentg said:
Any updates on Hurricane Patricia?
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Still expecting landfall south of PV and north of Manazanillo. Winds are expected to be down to 150 MPH Sustained by landfall.

I think I saw 8PM local time they expect landfall.
 
Last edited:
TUGBrian said:
this storm looks utterly unbelievable...200mph sustained winds....thats essentially an F4 tornado thats hundreds of miles wide.

truly hope that anyone who had the ability to get out was able to, I cringe to think at what the PV resorts are going to look like if this hits dead on.

Hope you are ok Pam!!!!
Click to expand...

The area with 200 mph winds is expected to be 15 to 20 miles wide. Patricia is higher intensity, but more compact than many other hurricanes. That compactness is perhaps why it is so intense - similar amount of energy, but the energy is being released in a smaller area.
 
icydog said:
My friends are at the GM in NV RIGHT NOW! Last year they were in Cabo for the hurricane that hit in September. They had a terrible time and really suffered the last time. Needless to say I am doubly worried this year because it is an even bigger hurricane.

Funny thing is we joked about hurricanes on Monday before it was even forecast. She said the waitstaff told her Hurricanes rarely hit PVR so therefore it was a big joke.

They are both in their upper 70's. I'm very worried about them. Last year they had a ceiling fall on them, a major flood in their room, a bathroom under water, and nothing to eat but Mayan supplied ham sandwiches. They are both in the late 70's so there is need to worry.

Last year I told them to follow the advice of other Tuggers. To get on the plane my friend told them her real age and explained her husband's heart condition. It worked and they got out on the third day of evacuations.
Click to expand...


They are sitting in the lobby of one of the buildings in the Grand Mayan. My friend wants to go back to her room. She says four members of the staff have told her the mountains will block the storm.

Is that true? Will they be protected in Nuevo Vallarta? Why would the staff tell their guests this if it's not accurate? Are they scared themselves and in denial?
 
TUGBrian said:
this storm looks utterly unbelievable...200mph sustained winds....thats essentially an F4 tornado thats hundreds of miles wide.

truly hope that anyone who had the ability to get out was able to, I cringe to think at what the PV resorts are going to look like if this hits dead on.

Hope you are ok Pam!!!!
Click to expand...


Brian I'm very worried about my friends in NV at the GM! The staff is telling them not to worry. Instead of evacuating them they're sitting in the lobby of their building. This is nuts.
 
i mean, im not sure how you run from something that large...heres to hoping the area of extremely high winds misses them by a great deal.

not sure if the news is just "building up the story"....but now they are saying 205mph sustained with gusts up to 240.

i cant even fathom what a 240mph gust of wind would do to most modern structures....but i have a feeling very few were designed to handle it.
 
We're settled into the resort's designated hurricane shelter. It's in the laundry building behind the Grand Mayan, which is a warren of rooms. I've tried in vain to figure out an easy exit plan from where we are in the building, but it is a maze of hallways and offices. People are camped out on chaise lounges, office chairs, and spread all over the floor. You can see the best and worst in people at a time like this. It's funny how territorial some people become, and heart warming to see how kind others are.

I must say that the Grand Luxxe looks more solidly built than this building. We are on the second floor, about 20-25' above ground level. The walls are much thinner here than at the Grand Luxxe, so we're all in interior rooms and corridors. The staff is laying and splicing wires down the hallways for fans and outlets, so everyone can charge their electronics! It's quite a sight. The A/C is working in our room so far, thankfully. The staff is still moving guests out of their hotel rooms by the bus loads. No sign of the storm yet.
 
Icy Dog, we'll be on the north, NW quadrant of the storm when Patricia makes landfall, so we shouldn't feel the brunt of it. If she hits land south of us, the mountains surrounding Banderas Bay will also knock some of the power out of her. The staff isn't lying to your friend.

Hopefully your friend will be reassured to know that people are still being moved over to the shelter. They are trying to get everyone settled in a fairly orderly fashion. I'd rather be sitting in the Grand Luxxe lobby right now. The storm should not hit for a few more hours.
 
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