hurnik
TUG Member
Stayed again this year with dad, via another SFX exchange/bonus week.
Was there last year, just a week later.
Some changes or "updates" from last year:
1) It's now apparently officially part of Marriott's system (Interval, etc.) I vaguely recall back in 2018 it was not (at least the timeshare side, it was its own system?)
2) Got put in the SAME outdated room again (literally the same room # the 3 times we've stayed). They have "updated" the rooms in the following sense: No more free coffee/tea/sugar packets. You just get the free coffee filters. No more dishwasher pods either. Bathrooms are still horrendous to get in and out of the tubs, but they have added "handles" on the actual sides of the tubs (if one to were take an actual bath you can use those to help lift yourself up until you can get to the grab bars). Also, no more shampoo/conditioner mini bottles. They have 3 large refillable bottles on the walls now. You still get the actual bar soaps though. Lastly, the patio furniture has all been replaced with that plastic/resin "wicker" looking stuff, but you don't have a table now to eat from, it's a little coffee table now.
3) We did the timeshare presentation to get moved to a better room. Mold smell was killing us. We got put in A building on 5th floor in an Ambassador Suite (the two connecting rooms). Smaller than the older unit, but we don't use the living room much, so it wasn't a big deal. Anyway, the presentation (now that it's Marriott?) was quite smooth, VERY VERY low pressure (almost like Hilton) and kept very close to the 90 minutes after breakfast (maybe 5 minutes over ?)
The newer room had the same amenities as the other unit (meaning no coffe, tea, sugar packets, no dishwasher pods, etc.)
I think that's about all I can think of. Will stay again - especially if I can get into the updated unit. One floor remaining in A needs to be updated. C and D need to be done, except for that very very end one by the ocean/bay.
There's a soriana (which we didn't know about for some reason) 2 blocks to the left of the resort (as you exit) that's like a Walmart. We had done Ley for shopping instead (a little further I think and selection was limited on a lot of stuff).
Malecon is being extended, was supposed to be done, but probably another month, IMO. Traffic (people) was a lot less the week we were there vs. prior years (but last year we were a week "later"). However, the last day, the 6th, the hotel side was PACKED. The entire week both pools were fairly empty (comparatively). Even when the Festival of Guadalupe started on the 1st, there wasn't much people crowds except the first night (when going into downtown).
Oh, the "value" of the timeshare presentation in case anyone is wondering:
You can get a 2 BR Imperial Ambassador Suite (these are the corner units from floors 16-24 ?) for "list" of $56k MF of about $1,200 every other year (biannual contract). I did check resale units but nothing for that, or 2 BR. Found a lot of 1 BR ambassador, but I'm sure the supply comes and goes.
But it's the closest timeshare to downtown. Walkable, but we chose to take a taxi down a few times and then walk back (I believe it's about 2 miles walk if you go to the end by La Palapa/El Dorado restaurants). And when it's a tad warm....
Was there last year, just a week later.
Some changes or "updates" from last year:
1) It's now apparently officially part of Marriott's system (Interval, etc.) I vaguely recall back in 2018 it was not (at least the timeshare side, it was its own system?)
2) Got put in the SAME outdated room again (literally the same room # the 3 times we've stayed). They have "updated" the rooms in the following sense: No more free coffee/tea/sugar packets. You just get the free coffee filters. No more dishwasher pods either. Bathrooms are still horrendous to get in and out of the tubs, but they have added "handles" on the actual sides of the tubs (if one to were take an actual bath you can use those to help lift yourself up until you can get to the grab bars). Also, no more shampoo/conditioner mini bottles. They have 3 large refillable bottles on the walls now. You still get the actual bar soaps though. Lastly, the patio furniture has all been replaced with that plastic/resin "wicker" looking stuff, but you don't have a table now to eat from, it's a little coffee table now.
3) We did the timeshare presentation to get moved to a better room. Mold smell was killing us. We got put in A building on 5th floor in an Ambassador Suite (the two connecting rooms). Smaller than the older unit, but we don't use the living room much, so it wasn't a big deal. Anyway, the presentation (now that it's Marriott?) was quite smooth, VERY VERY low pressure (almost like Hilton) and kept very close to the 90 minutes after breakfast (maybe 5 minutes over ?)
The newer room had the same amenities as the other unit (meaning no coffe, tea, sugar packets, no dishwasher pods, etc.)
I think that's about all I can think of. Will stay again - especially if I can get into the updated unit. One floor remaining in A needs to be updated. C and D need to be done, except for that very very end one by the ocean/bay.
There's a soriana (which we didn't know about for some reason) 2 blocks to the left of the resort (as you exit) that's like a Walmart. We had done Ley for shopping instead (a little further I think and selection was limited on a lot of stuff).
Malecon is being extended, was supposed to be done, but probably another month, IMO. Traffic (people) was a lot less the week we were there vs. prior years (but last year we were a week "later"). However, the last day, the 6th, the hotel side was PACKED. The entire week both pools were fairly empty (comparatively). Even when the Festival of Guadalupe started on the 1st, there wasn't much people crowds except the first night (when going into downtown).
Oh, the "value" of the timeshare presentation in case anyone is wondering:
You can get a 2 BR Imperial Ambassador Suite (these are the corner units from floors 16-24 ?) for "list" of $56k MF of about $1,200 every other year (biannual contract). I did check resale units but nothing for that, or 2 BR. Found a lot of 1 BR ambassador, but I'm sure the supply comes and goes.
But it's the closest timeshare to downtown. Walkable, but we chose to take a taxi down a few times and then walk back (I believe it's about 2 miles walk if you go to the end by La Palapa/El Dorado restaurants). And when it's a tad warm....