Marriott Marbella Visit

[CalGalTraveler]

We have a visit to Marriott Marbella planned this summer. We plan to take day trips to Granada, Seville, and Cordoba and used Claude AI to map out those schedules. Curious if there are any tours out of the resort or resort amenities or activities that we should take advantage of. We have already visited Western Spain, Tangiers and Gibraltar so want to focus on other parts of Andalusia.

Also interested in recommendations on restaurants in the area. TIA.

 

[mjm1]

We have a visit to Marriott Marbella planned this summer. We plan to take day trips to Granada, Seville, and Cordoba and used Claude AI to map out those schedules. Curious if there are any tours out of the resort or resort amenities or activities that we should take advantage of. We have already visited Western Spain, Tangiers and Gibraltar so want to focus on other parts of Andalusia.

Also interested in recommendations on restaurants in the area. TIA.

We stayed at that resort a few years ago, rented a car at the Malaga airport, and drove to each of those cities in addition to Ronda, which we enjoyed too. I think we drove about 1,200 miles and enjoyed that too. If you drive watch your speed as they have speed cameras on the freeways. We didn’t use any tours, so I can’t help you there.

 

[bazzap]

We have a visit to Marriott Marbella planned this summer. We plan to take day trips to Granada, Seville, and Cordoba and used Claude AI to map out those schedules. Curious if there are any tours out of the resort or resort amenities or activities that we should take advantage of. We have already visited Western Spain, Tangiers and Gibraltar so want to focus on other parts of Andalusia.

Also interested in recommendations on restaurants in the area. TIA.

If you contact the resort concierge, they should be able to give you information on
Special Tours for Marriott Marbella guests only
Private Tours
You can email them at conciergemarbella@vacationclub.com


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[Red elephant]

We have a visit to Marriott Marbella planned this summer. We plan to take day trips to Granada, Seville, and Cordoba and used Claude AI to map out those schedules. Curious if there are any tours out of the resort or resort amenities or activities that we should take advantage of. We have already visited Western Spain, Tangiers and Gibraltar so want to focus on other parts of Andalusia.

Also interested in recommendations on restaurants in the area. TIA.

I am on my way back from Playa and Marbella.
I took the tour to Seville as I wanted to enjoy the breathtaking views on the drive up. Last time I was there I drove to Cordoba. The resort booked us a tour to the Alhambra but I was glad I drove as we were able to go see the other sites in Granada.
I also took a tour to Tangier which was also wonderful. Same thing with Gibraltar and I am glad we did as I would have been too scared to drive to the top of the rock and would have missed the sites up there.
Food wise I prefer whole roasted fish so that might not be to everyone’s tastes. We ate at the Chiringuitos a lot.
Amigos in Benahavís was really good had lamb chops.
Tony’s next door to Marbella Marriott was good too.
Christina’s next door on the left not so much.
We ate at a wonderful Moroccan restaurant in Gibraltar off the Main Street there.
Since you are going in the summer make sure you make reservations.
Enjoy.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

@Red elephant Thank you for the recommendations. FYI...We just reserved Chiringuitos Puente Romano for a late lunch. We met a couple from the UK at Whistler on the lift and they said "This is the best seafood restaurant in the world" according to them and a CEO they know who vacations in Marbella. They said to book it when reservations open 2 months in advance. https://www.puenteromano.com/dining-drinks/chiringuito/

We also reserved the hike that was in the area in the gorge. I cannot remember the name. Thankfully we were able to reserve tickets to Alhambra in Granada. They were selling out quickly. I am amazed that we need to reserve in so many places because we will be there in May. We used Claude AI to recommend what tickets to reserve and when. Last time we were in Seville we missed the palace. I don't want that to happen again.

PSA: We used Claude to identify must see attractions. It built a robust itinerary with times, when to reserve, walking, parking etc. that it made the same itinerary made by ChatGPT look lame. 3D chess vs. checkers. Claude has increasingly become my go to for AI on tasks with multiple constraints, complicated schedules and spreadsheets.

 

[Red elephant]

W

@Red elephant Thank you for the recommendations. FYI...We just reserved Chiringuitos Puente Romano for a late lunch. We met a couple from the UK at Whistler on the lift and they said "This is the best seafood restaurant in the world" according to them and a CEO they know who vacations in Marbella. They said to book it when reservations open 2 months in advance. https://www.puenteromano.com/dining-drinks/chiringuito/

We also reserved the hike that was in the area in the gorge. I cannot remember the name. Thankfully we were able to reserve tickets to Alhambra in Granada. They were selling out quickly. I am amazed that we need to reserve in so many places because we will be there in May. We used Claude AI to recommend what tickets to reserve and when. Last time we were in Seville we missed the palace. I don't want that to happen again.

PSA: We used Claude to identify must see attractions. It built a robust itinerary with times, when to reserve, walking, parking etc. that it made the same itinerary made by ChatGPT look lame. 3D chess vs. checkers. Claude has increasingly become my go to for AI on tasks with multiple constraints, complicated schedules and spreadsheets.

I will have to check out Puente Romano next I go in September. Never used Claude before so will try that. When you said you were going summer I thought you meant June- August .
I don’t have the guts to hike Caminito del Rey which is what I believe you’re talking about.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Yes well early summer.

Caminito del Ray. We bought the guided tour which provides the bus to the trailhead and helmets. The UK couple who recommended it said they hiked it in tennis shoes so not too bad. I don't want to haul my hiking boots throughout Europe if I can avoid it.

 

[DanCali]

If you rent a car, be careful with speeding. I got a notice about a possible fine from Hertz with camera photos showing we were speeding (nothing crazy - I think maybe 82kph in a 70kph zone) and saying they will pass along the costs of the fine. It was all in Spanish so I had to have a co-worker translate it for me. In the end no fine was issued, but Hertz charged us some fees for the hassle on their end.

 

[TUGBrian]

I am on my way back from Playa and Marbella.
I took the tour to Seville as I wanted to enjoy the breathtaking views on the drive up. Last time I was there I drove to Cordoba. The resort booked us a tour to the Alhambra but I was glad I drove as we were able to go see the other sites in Granada.
I also took a tour to Tangier which was also wonderful. Same thing with Gibraltar and I am glad we did as I would have been too scared to drive to the top of the rock and would have missed the sites up there.
Food wise I prefer whole roasted fish so that might not be to everyone’s tastes. We ate at the Chiringuitos a lot.
Amigos in Benahavís was really good had lamb chops.
Tony’s next door to Marbella Marriott was good too.
Christina’s next door on the left not so much.
We ate at a wonderful Moroccan restaurant in Gibraltar off the Main Street there.
Since you are going in the summer make sure you make reservations.
Enjoy.

marbella comprehensive review would earn a free years membership!

 

[bazzap]

Yes well early summer.

Caminito del Ray. We bought the guided tour which provides the bus to the trailhead and helmets. The UK couple who recommended it said they hiked it in tennis shoes so not too bad. I don't want to haul my hiking boots throughout Europe if I can avoid it.

You definitely don’t need hiking boots now to walk the Caminito del Ray.
It was closed for a number of years whilst they made it very safe to walk.
We wore walking shoes, as it can be a little rough and uneven underfoot and they do give more grip.
I could probably have done it in trainers or tennis shoes though.
It is a fabulous, scenic experience.


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[CalGalTraveler]

I forgot to ask:

1) What room / building should I request at Marbella. We are an II trade for a 2 bdrm using Vistana so not sure if we get any priority - but doesn't hurt to ask!
What is the best method and timing to notify the resort of our requests? What is the best way to get our Bonvoy points added to the reservation? When we were in Mexico, it was not easy with II trading.

2) We need one extra night at Marbella in a 1 or 2 bdrm. We don't have Abound access anymore. We have rented a night from Marriott.com but wondering if there are more cost effective alternatives.

3) Are the presentations worth attending? What is optimal gift they provide? What are they offering lately in terms of re-enrolling units? We have one mandatory and one non-mandatory Vistana. However we are pretty happy with our trading on both.

 

[Hindsite]

2). Book a refundable rate and then stalk II getaways and and accom certs for a deal. It could be cheaper to get the week than just the couple of days

 

[Fasttr]

2) We need one extra night at Marbella in a 1 or 2 bdrm. We don't have Abound access anymore. We have rented a night from Marriott.com but wondering if there are more cost effective alternatives.

If you book a cash stay, try the owner discount code….

• Select and Owner DC Members and Weeks Owners not affiliated with the DC - 25% off (code "7VC")

 

[CalGalTraveler]

If you book a cash stay, try the owner discount code….

• Select and Owner DC Members and Weeks Owners not affiliated with the DC - 25% off (code "7VC")

Thank you! Do I enter this code in Marriott.com? or is there a place in MVC/Vistana portal?

UPDATE: I entered this into Marriott.com and it gave me the same rate as our Marriott Elite Discount.

 

[bazzap]

I forgot to ask:

1) What room / building should I request at Marbella. We are an II trade for a 2 bdrm using Vistana so not sure if we get any priority - but doesn't hurt to ask!
What is the best method and timing to notify the resort of our requests? What is the best way to get our Bonvoy points added to the reservation? When we were in Mexico, it was not easy with II trading.

2) We need one extra night at Marbella in a 1 or 2 bdrm. We don't have Abound access anymore. We have rented a night from Marriott.com but wondering if there are more cost effective alternatives.

3) Are the presentations worth attending? What is optimal gift they provide? What are they offering lately in terms of re-enrolling units? We have one mandatory and one non-mandatory Vistana. However we are pretty happy with our trading on both.

Marbella owners tend to make their room requests up to a year in advance when booking, so they will tend to have priority.
Your best bet might be to request, according to your preferences:
High v Low Floor
East v West Facing, for morning or afternoon sun


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[CalGalTraveler]

Marbella owners tend to make their room requests up to a year in advance when booking, so they will tend to have priority.
Your best bet might be to request, according to your preferences:
High v Low Floor
East v West Facing, for morning or afternoon sun


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Thank you. For room placement do I email the concierge at the address provided earlier?

We usually prefer East facing high floor does one side provide a better view than the other.

 

[bazzap]

Thank you. For room placement do I email the concierge at the address provided earlier?

We usually prefer East facing high floor does one side provide a better view than the other.

Yes you can email the Concierge
I can’t say as we particularly noticed one side having the better view?


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[CalGalTraveler]

Thanks all for your replies. I am preparing a message to the concierge.

For an II trade confirmation, which reservation number is correct for MVC? The one at the top of the email? or the one near the bottom which describes the unit type? @GrayFal @dioxide45 @Hindsite do you know which number is II and which is Marriott so the resort can identify our stay? II reservations do not show up in our Marriott account.

TIA

 

[Hindsite]

Its the number beside the words Reservation number, that is half way down the email. See link below for info on how to add the number to your account.

No longer able to add a reservation to Marriott app

Or just a temporary glitch?

tugbbs.com

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Thank you! It is the number down the page. Now onward to see if I can get it to add to my Bonvoy account.

Update: was not able to get it to connect in the PC nor app so emailed the concierge. I believe II is tied to our Trust account so need to get the resort to add it. We had the same problem at Westin Cabo. Worked for SOs but not for II trades.

 

[CarpeDiem65]

We are heading to Marbella on June 5th. Does anyone know if there is a Nespresso machine in the units kitchen?

 

[bazzap]

We are heading to Marbella on June 5th. Does anyone know if there is a Nespresso machine in the units kitchen?

Yes a Nespresso compatible Pod mini machine.


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