Mexico resorts

[DK3]

Has anyone else taken a look at booking in Mexico in January or February? There is nothing at any of the resorts that can be booked online and I mean nothing. No random days on the grid and no future days after the booking window.

 

[buzglyd]

It always a bit of a wait for Fiesta Americana to release inventory for the following year. We had a similar thread last year about this same thing.

 

[Ckhawaii]

Keep in mind that a lot of Fiesta Americana are mandatory AI (although that could change now. Buffets aren’t coming back soon). I’ve used HGVC points in Cabo and in Cancun. The first Cancun property is several levels down quality wise than HGVC, I’d rather rent at Lagunamar.
The Cabo property is a lot nicer, however they increased the amount of HGVC club points it takes and made the AI mandatory. The few downfalls of the Cabo property is no swimmable beach and you either need a car, taxi, or Uber to go anywhere.

 

[simon63]

They have AI free for FAVC members until Dec 1, I’m not sure for HGVC members

 

[buzglyd]

Keep in mind that a lot of Fiesta Americana are mandatory AI (although that could change now. Buffets aren’t coming back soon). I’ve used HGVC points in Cabo and in Cancun. The first Cancun property is several levels down quality wise than HGVC, I’d rather rent at Lagunamar.
The Cabo property is a lot nicer, however they increased the amount of HGVC club points it takes and made the AI mandatory. The few downfalls of the Cabo property is no swimmable beach and you either need a car, taxi, or Uber to go anywhere.

I wonder about the buffet. That is the best part of the AI experience at the Cabo property is that awesome morning breakfast (and the skinny margaritas by the pool). The dinners aren’t that great.

My idea going forward at the Cabo property is to just use cheap points for the hotel rental. You don’t need a kitchen because AI is mandatory anyway. The beach is kinda swimmable. The snorkeling is actually really good at the rocks just off the shore.

 

[Ckhawaii]

I

I wonder about the buffet. That is the best part of the AI experience at the Cabo property is that awesome morning breakfast (and the skinny margaritas by the pool). The dinners aren’t that great.

My idea going forward at the Cabo property is to just use cheap points for the hotel rental. You don’t need a kitchen because AI is mandatory anyway. The beach is kinda swimmable. The snorkeling is actually really good at the rocks just off the shore.

I don’t think their will be self serving buffets for awhile. I saw a video on CNN where it showed with a black light how buffets with a worker serving the food (lunch lady style) drastically cuts down the spread of germs.

 

[buzglyd]

I

I don’t think their will be self serving buffets for awhile. I saw a video on CNN where it showed with a black light how buffets with a worker serving the food (lunch lady style) drastically cuts down the spread of germs.

The labor is cheap enough in Mexico that they could have multiple servers.

 

[DK3]

Keep in mind that a lot of Fiesta Americana are mandatory AI (although that could change now. Buffets aren’t coming back soon). I’ve used HGVC points in Cabo and in Cancun. The first Cancun property is several levels down quality wise than HGVC, I’d rather rent at Lagunamar.
The Cabo property is a lot nicer, however they increased the amount of HGVC club points it takes and made the AI mandatory. The few downfalls of the Cabo property is no swimmable beach and you either need a car, taxi, or Uber to go anywhere.

We took the city bus last year to travel to Cabo. It is a hike to the main road.

 

[GT75]

They have AI free for FAVC members until Dec 1

Does that mean that FAVC members will also be required to mandatory AI after Dec 1.

 

[GT75]

The snorkeling is actually really good at the rocks just off the shore.

Agree, in fact, it so far is the best that we have found in the area so far.

 

[bobpark56]

Has anyone else taken a look at booking in Mexico in January or February? There is nothing at any of the resorts that can be booked online and I mean nothing. No random days on the grid and no future days after the booking window.

I just booked 17 mid-January nights at the Westin Lagunamar in Cancún. There seemed to be decent availability.

 

[simon63]

Does that mean that FAVC members will also be required to mandatory AI after Dec 1.

After will be optional

 

[simon63]

FAVC Cancun Villas had been remodeled in the last years. They add sand and palapas in the beach, more jacuzzis by the pool, the lobby, new steak house restaurant, will change hot tubes in the rooms. I like the location ant spend a few points, but if you compare whit Lagunamar there’s no chance.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I wonder about the buffet. That is the best part of the AI experience at the Cabo property is that awesome morning breakfast (and the skinny margaritas by the pool). The dinners aren’t that great.

My idea going forward at the Cabo property is to just use cheap points for the hotel rental. You don’t need a kitchen because AI is mandatory anyway. The beach is kinda swimmable. The snorkeling is actually really good at the rocks just off the shore.

+1 agree about the breakfast and dinners. Wonder how they will manage that.

I am curious about cheap points. Are you referring to a low number of HGVC points required? or are there hotel points that can be used to stay there? If so, which ones?

 

[buzglyd]

+1 agree about the breakfast and dinners. Wonder how they will manage that.

I am curious about cheap points. Are you referring to a low number of HGVC points required? or are there hotel points that can be used to stay there? If so, which ones?

There are two categories under HGV at FA Cabo now. The one we always used offered Studio, 1 br and 2 br. The second FA Cabo category you can access are just hotel units with 2 queen beds. These were always mandatory AI. Cheap points especially mid week. I just figure forget getting a condo since you won’t be cooking anyway.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

There are two categories under HGV at FA Cabo now. The one we always used offered Studio, 1 br and 2 br. The second FA Cabo category you can access are just hotel units with 2 queen beds. These were always mandatory AI. Cheap points especially mid week. I just figure forget getting a condo since you won’t be cooking anyway.

Thanks for clarifying. I presume AI would not be too bad for a short mid-week stay with only 2 people.

 

[buzglyd]

Thanks for clarifying. I presume AI would not be too bad for a short mid-week stay with only 2 people.

Yeah that’s the way I look at it. My wife and I can go Monday to Friday in off season for a little more than 500 points. Breakfast, lunch and cocktails by the pool make the AI palatable. We can go out to dinner somewhere else. They do have some dinner items that are a surcharge. I wonder if those are any better?

 

[CalGalTraveler]

@buzglyd I thought AI was all or nothing. Is there a smaller package that deletes dinners? How much does that run per day? I would love a package that does not pay for dinners.

 

[buzglyd]

@buzglyd I thought AI was all or nothing. Is there a smaller package that deletes dinners? How much does that run per day? I would love a package that does not pay for dinners.

No, I'm not saying that. Dinners are included but there were some menu items that had a surcharge that were not included (like lobster). I'm just wondering if the surcharge menu items were better than the regular prison gruel dinners and then you could still have free drinks with dinner (although the free wines were not very good).

 

[CalGalTraveler]

No, I'm not saying that. Dinners are included but there were some menu items that had a surcharge that were not included (like lobster). I'm just wondering if the surcharge menu items were better than the regular prison gruel dinners and then you could still have free drinks with dinner (although the free wines were not very good).

Got it. I agree that the regular dinner fare was not great and service excruciatingly slow. That would be a good way to get greater value out of the AI menu if the surcharges are not too steep.

 

[geist1223]

We are Booked for 3 weeks in San Jose del Cabo during February 2021 - Royal Solaris, Coral Baja, and Cabo Azul.

 

[nlehvac]

I notice people mentioning going to a hotel room being a 'cheaper' way to go, rather than the villas. But there's more than the AI to consider. Granted, after our first year there using HGVC points we bought FA and are now Live Aqua (I thought it was nuts, but hubby wanted it and luckily that's more important then the $$s), but there's more to consider than AI or "need" for a kitchen.

NOTE these comments are pre-Covid, but I think still of interest going forward. During the pandemic, I'm sure the crowds aren't near as bad. But then do YOU want to be there? HINT: You probably don't want to depend on the medical care. "Uneven" is the best I would say about it [luckily, I think mine was quite good when I needed it]. Also, during the current pandemic, I doubt anything is crowded - assuming it (or all the restaurants) is open. Or as Americans will there be difficult immigration regs for when you plan to go.

Have you ever been there when there's a convention booked and/or multiple weddings, all of whom are staying in the hotel? You may as well be at a hotel in a major city. And it REALLY can fill up the restaurants leading to the slow service (altho a nice - not exorbitant - tip can fix that). You may also want to check about access to the timeshare pools if you're booked hotel. I have no idea and the main pools can also get crowded.

Personally we and others we've brought (including a couple of Bostonites used to "the good life") found most of the food, including dinners quite good. This last year (late Jan into Feb) no matter where we had dinner in the hotel, 4 or 5 of us would go to the Italian restaurant for creme brule dessert. That's where being LARC really helps, even if the folks in line give nasty stares ) .

Just had to edit for what we think is an important point ... Having a waterside room (if you ask for phase 1, which we were able to do even that first HGVC year). Sleep with the sliding doors open and fall asleep to the surf. Watch the surf coming in/going out with your morning coffee. That's why we don't go up the hill to the LARC villas! Perfect sunrise view, too. And one year, we almost missed our bus back to the airport watching a momma teaching baby how to breach.
Can't guarantee phase 1 in the high seasons, tho!