Grand Luxxe Nuevo Vallarta or Grand Solmar at Lands End

[csalter2]

Hello,

I have the choice to stay at either of these two resorts this summer In 2 bedroom units. The Grand Luxxe says VILLA. Is there a big difference in their products. The reviews of each are similar. Any thoughts on the better choice?

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

If it were me I would base my final decision on the geographic local .
Cabo vs NV- PV - and the weather / temperature at each for the summer month you plan to go .

 

[csalter2]

If it were me I would base my final decision on the geographic local .
Cabo vs NV- PV - and the weather / temperature at each for the summer month you plan to go .

‘That’s a given. Both places are acceptable. I’ve been to both locales in the past. I was just wondering if anyone had stayed at both and could provide feedback. They both seem to be huge resorts. I’ve visited the Grand Luxxe in Cancun but not NV so was interested in people’s thoughts.

 

[PamMo]

I've stayed in both. Each has their pluses and minuses. Grand Luxxe is a MUCH larger resort, so if you're looking to primarily use the resort pools, restaurants, and activities, I'd choose GL. It's a massive complex with plenty to do to stay entertained and well fed for a week!

For a more intimate vacation, I'd choose GS @ Land's End. It has a similar level of luxury, but on a much smaller scale. You don't get the "pool" on your balcony like at Grand Luxxe, but the oceanfront pools are delightful. I also really like being within walking distance to lots of restaurants and shopping in town - something that's harder to do in GLNV.

Vidanta has those high mandatory resort fees, which I'd factor into my choice between the two, but I don't think you'd go wrong with either one.

What are you looking for in a resort?

 

[mjm1]

We just stayed at Lands End earlier this month for the first time. We loved the resort- pools, walking distance to town, restaurants, and the staff. The 1BR 2BA unit was very spacious. No extra fees either. We wouldn’t hesitate to return again. We haven’t stayed in NV, so can’t comment on that.

Best regards.

Mike

 

[csalter2]

I've stayed in both. Each has their pluses and minuses. Grand Luxxe is a MUCH larger resort, so if you're looking to primarily use the resort pools, restaurants, and activities, I'd choose GL. It's a massive complex with plenty to do to stay entertained and well fed for a week!

For a more intimate vacation, I'd choose GS @ Land's End. It has a similar level of luxury, but on a much smaller scale. You don't get the "pool" on your balcony like at Grand Luxxe, but the oceanfront pools are delightful. I also really like being within walking distance to lots of restaurants and shopping in town - something that's harder to do in GLNV.

Vidanta has those high mandatory resort fees, which I'd factor into my choice between the two, but I don't think you'd go wrong with either one.

What are you looking for in a resort?

I have my wife and six year old going. I want fun for my little girl and relaxation for my wife. I can adapt. I just want good food. Is the food comparable at both resorts?

Have you been to the other Grand Solmar in Ranch Las Cabo’s? Apparently that’s a newer one about 30 minutes from the Lands End one.

 

[PamMo]

Grand Solmar at Rancho San Lucas is still under construction (it's going to be HUGE), and it is well out of town. If you want to stay on property, you could easily relax there for a week. I think I'd get a bit bored, though.

I prefer the restaurants on property at GLNV over GS, but I prefer the variety of restaurants we walk to in Cabo San Lucas over the GL offerings. It depends on how much you want to go off property. With a six year old, I would choose GL for the balcony pool, lazy river, and kids club. My grands LOVE the water, and they were intensely happy at the resort - they just told me this morning that they want to go back. That was before I read your post.

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

I have my wife and six year old going. I want fun for my little girl and relaxation for my wife. I can adapt. I just want good food. ......

6 year old -
You may want to check information on the Vidanta NV
Kids Club(s) and the really fun looking kids splash pool ( behind the Ola Mulata beach front restaurant / in front of the Grand Mayan buildings.

Re: good food - Vidanta NV has about 20 evening restaurants and about 40
food choice locations . All are no cash / billed to your room number .

 

[Eric B]

6 year old -
You may want to check information on the Vidanta NV
Kids Club(s) and the really fun looking kids splash pool ( behind the Ola Mulata beach front restaurant / in front of the Grand Mayan buildings.

Re: good food - Vidanta NV has about 20 evening restaurants and about 40
food choice locations . All are no cash / billed to your room number .

There's also a Kids Club by the Grand Luxxe Tower 4 pool for folks staying in Grand Luxxe.

You can see the typical weekly activities for kids on the last page of the NV activity calendar on the Vidanta website.

https://www.vidanta.com/documents/34916/50210/actividades-NuevoVallarta.pdf/305124bf-94f4-96a2-2985-86f64e0403cd?t=1523901598292

 

[csalter2]

There's also a Kids Club by the Grand Luxxe Tower 4 pool for folks staying in Grand Luxxe.

You can see the typical weekly activities for kids on the last page of the NV activity calendar on the Vidanta website.

https://www.vidanta.com/documents/34916/50210/actividades-NuevoVallarta.pdf/305124bf-94f4-96a2-2985-86f64e0403cd?t=1523901598292

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? $150 for one activity in the Kids Club and $350 for Day Activities? $350 for the night activities? I am sorry that’s a ripoff! I am willing to eat the $630 for the opportunity to stay, but if entertainment is going to cost a ridiculous amount then I am probably going to pass on the Grand Luxxe. We haven’t even looked at a meal plan yet. If it’s anything like I saw at the Riviera Maya in Cancun when I toured, it’s probably difficult to get off the property because it’s so big.

Are there other charges that I should be aware of because I don’t like to be ambushed? Is it just those exchanging into Grand Luxxe or do owners also have to pay these fees?

 

[Eric B]

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? $150 for one activity in the Kids Club and $350 for Day Activities? $350 for the night activities? I am sorry that’s a ripoff! I am willing to eat the $630 for the opportunity to stay, but if entertainment is going to cost a ridiculous amount then I am probably going to pass on the Grand Luxxe. We haven’t even looked at a meal plan yet. If it’s anything like I saw at the Riviera Maya in Cancun when I toured, it’s probably difficult to get off the property because it’s so big.

Are there other charges that I should be aware of because I don’t like to be ambushed? Is it just those exchanging into Grand Luxxe or do owners also have to pay these fees?

Resort is in Mexico, so prices are in pesos.

 

[nomadio]

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? $150 for one activity in the Kids Club and $350 for Day Activities? $350 for the night activities? I am sorry that’s a ripoff! I am willing to eat the $630 for the opportunity to stay, but if entertainment is going to cost a ridiculous amount then I am probably going to pass on the Grand Luxxe. We haven’t even looked at a meal plan yet. If it’s anything like I saw at the Riviera Maya in Cancun when I toured, it’s probably difficult to get off the property because it’s so big.

Are there other charges that I should be aware of because I don’t like to be ambushed? Is it just those exchanging into Grand Luxxe or do owners also have to pay these fees?

Those amounts for the kids club are in pesos, not usd. Same symbol ($) is used for both pesos and dollars.

As for your other comment, yes, it is a pain to leave the resort, which is itself huge.

 

[csalter2]

Resort is in Mexico, so prices are in pesos.

That’s good to know. Sometimes when I’m in Mexico I forget at times because I’ll see MXN or $ and not know which applies to the $. Is there some understanding that I’m not aware of to know which applies?

 

[Eric B]

What I've noticed at Vidanta is that there's one vertical line in the peso symbol and two in the dollar symbol, which usually also is marked with US.

 

[csalter2]

Those amounts for the kids club are in pesos, not usd. Same symbol ($) is used for both pesos and dollars.

As for your other comment, yes, it is a pain to leave the resort, which is itself huge.

I am sure that Vidante wants you to spend all of your money with them. However, if one wants to leave and take a tour outside the property, I am sure there is no difficulty from th resort to make you stay.

Are the resort activities and pools available to every one?

 

[Eric B]

I am sure that Vidanta wants you to spend all of your money with them. However, if one wants to leave and take a tour outside the property, I am sure there is no difficulty from th resort to make you stay.

Are the resort activities and pools available to every one?

They do make it tough to get off the resort; you have a choice between taking a taxi or walking North up the beach to the Sea Garden to catch the bus. We usually do the beach walk.

Pools and activities are available to all based on the tier they're staying in, as one would expect. Grand Luxxe can go to all, Grand Bliss all but GL, Grand Mayan all but GL & GB, and Mayan Palace just the MP Pool. Sea Garden is off on its own up the beach, but can go to restaurants and shops. There are more details, but that's fundamentally how things work there.