Vista Encantada Spa Resort and Residences

[ski_sierra]

Actually, the helpful person you describe is a concierge and not a butler. They are great at what they do and that is to assist you however they can - they are a fountain of useful information like places to go, make dinner reservations for you, local history, medical advisory, shopping, etc., etc. We found our fellow, Omar, to be an essential part of our week's enjoyment because of his advisory services.

Typically concierge desks push tours and activities that pay them a commission. It sounds like the concierge here is actually a helpful person.

 

[Garry]

Typically concierge desks push tours and activities that pay them a commission. It sounds like the concierge here is actually a helpful person.

You are correct. There was no push for anything other than to make an offer to assist. His restaurant recommendations were smack on the money. Interesting spots, good food, reasonable prices. With drinks and mains for 6, bills were under 2500 pesos.

 

[77JC]

We booked a 2bedroom here in Feb 2021. They emailed me and offered the all inclusive meal plan for $135 pp per day. This also includes shuttle to/from town.
We normally don’t do AIs but this seems like a good deal. Am I missing something ? Would love to hear from folks that did AI plan here. Thanks !

dsexton-

We just returned from Vista yesterday. A very different experience due to COVID I'm sure-empty airports, nearly empty resort. Some days we had the rooftop pool to ourselves. Service and property was amazing-I agree with the comparison to Vidanta but with much more personal service. We had a personal butler but we didn't really utilize his services-why leave when we were the only guests there? But to answer your AI question for us the premium AI plan really was a great choice. Since we knew we would not be leaving the resort to eat offsite too much it was a good value. Also, you do not need to get the plan for your entire week-if you want to go offsite a few nights to eat you can get it for three or four nights as well.

The plan includes room service, all you care to drink (pricey) and any meal upcharges in the restaurants. The high end restaurant (Mestizo) was only open one night while we were there but the meal and service was excellent. We did not have a bad meal while we were on site-and a couple of ribeye and lobster meals in there as well. The culinary highlight of our trip was the night the Mestizo chef and a bartender/waiter came to our room to prepare a personal meal for us including drinks and dessert. The price for the meal was almost $400 USD-all covered by the plan except for a tip. I don't know if this is something they will continue to offer after the restaurant reopens seven day a week but we sure did enjoy it.

I hope this helps you make your decision. If I was to go again I would get the AI. Let me know if I can help with any other questions.

-Jeff

 

[Mroze]

Appreciate the review Jeff.

What size room were you in?
Are the 2BR, 3BR, 4BR Residences all at the same location?

We have a 4 BR booked for Jul 3 - Jul 17th 2021 and trying to figure out if we will be within walking distance to the downtown [Mall/Marina].

 

[77JC]

Microze-

We were in a 2BR. I did not take the "tour" so can't answer for sure.

It is too far to walk downtown-in my opinion anyway. The resort provides a shuttle which is $5 pp but is included with the AI package. It was only running every 2 hours so a little inconvenient but that may have been because there were so few guests on property. We went to the marina twice in the week we were there-one time took a $25 taxi ride back to the resort because we didn't want to wait for the shuttle.

Hope you have a great trip. I'll post a more thorough resort review in a few days.

Jeff

 

[dsexton]

Jeff-thanks so much for your feedback. I believe they said the AI also includes several off site restaurants. Did you try any of these ? Sounds like you had a great time and I’m glad we didn’t cancel due to Covid

 

[77JC]

We liked it so much we have already confirmed an exchange to return in March!

We did try two of the off site Marina restaurants. Presto-Italian food was really good. We had lunch there one day. Jack's Steakhouse for dinner another day-not so good. It was the only meal the entire trip that disappointed us. Due to the situation with COVID we didn't spend much time off property.

 

[hapstersmom]

This is what she said:

Resort was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Room was Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!! Food was ok. There was nothing that I was like man that was good will have to have that again. Kind of a more upscale food type place and that just isn’t me. So for some hoity-toity they might like it but a little too rich for my taste and wallet. LOL!

Portion sizes were a little on the smaller size as well. Didn’t have too many drinks all week and lets just say the few I had I felt nothing. LOL! Staff was great, especially our butler. I mean he didn’t cook or do our laundry was just basically a personal info center but very helpful. He played cards with us a couple of nights and was very friendly. Gives you his phone number and you can text or call with any issues. No extra charge for his services but a end of week we tipped him well.

Our room was under the storage area under to pool. So at all hours they were in there doing things so sometimes it woke you up if it was during sleep time. But other that that we heard nothing.

It is connected to the Hacienda Encantada by a driveway and lobby. They share same drive but lobby and rooms on opposite sides. Whenever we were asked by someone where we were staying and we said Vista Encantada they were all like “oh you fancy”! LOL! Rooms have washer and dryer units. Starbucks in the lobby. Can see whales from balcony all week.

All in all I would stay there again but go buy groceries for the most part.

That's interesting about the hoity toity food. I am totally a foodie and the more hoity toity the better. I sprang for the AI onsite due to some comments about the food being good around various travel sites. We just left today. The best food (Italian) was good but nothing special, the worst food was horrid, and I mean, horrid, and the most of it was like a chain dining restaurant. I would return to the resort, but I would never pay for AI again. I would go off the ranch. The nights we did, we ate better.

 

[Hobokie]

That's interesting about the hoity toity food. I am totally a foodie and the more hoity toity the better. I sprang for the AI onsite due to some comments about the food being good around various travel sites. We just left today. The best food (Italian) was good but nothing special, the worst food was horrid, and I mean, horrid, and the most of it was like a chain dining restaurant. I would return to the resort, but I would never pay for AI again. I would go off the ranch. The nights we did, we ate better.

I’m guessing your comments are related to Vista Encantada specifically, correct? Did you also dine at Hacienda Encantada? Where else did you dine and what this you like best for reference and additional context?

 

[ecassidy6]

We are vacationing at this resort for two weeks - April 2024. Any suggestions? I read on a different thread that the Four Seasons located next door will be constructing new residences, which when completed will not obstruct views from the Vista Encantada. Any idea when this construction will begin, which could impact quality of stay.

 

[hapstersmom]

I’m guessing your comments are related to Vista Encantada specifically, correct? Did you also dine at Hacienda Encantada? Where else did you dine and what this you like best for reference and additional context?

The restaurants spread across the whole Hacienda property including El Encanto and Hacienda, and the restaurants in the Marina that are allowed as well. The best food was Barolo, followed by Mestizo. The worst experience was both the food and the service at Trajinera the "fine dining" Mexican. The Oyster Bar in the Golden Zone was okay, but the oysters were meh. We left Vista at the end of the week, but decided to stay a couple of extra days, using Priceline I got a 5 star resort, Solaz (not the time share, but the Marriott owned resort part.) Vista was very very good at personal service and the room was awesome. Just not the food. But, the experience at Solaz makes Vista seem like a bus station for check in and the resort managed like any 4 star chain in comparison. If it was me, I would rent a car (we had one), buy groceries at Costco, and dine out for either fancy breakfast or fancy dinner. That is my plan for next time I visit Vista, and there will be a next time. I really loved it.

 

[hapstersmom]

We are vacationing at this resort for two weeks - April 2024. Any suggestions? I read on a different thread that the Four Seasons located next door will be constructing new residences, which when completed will not obstruct views from the Vista Encantada. Any idea when this construction will begin, which could impact quality of stay.

I don't know when the construction started, but the land is mowed down and our room directly overlooked the ocean and the construction site. I only saw one day with anyone working at all, and that was just two guys. From our room, it seems as if 4S will block views at the lower levels of the hotel. The lobby is level 4 here, the pool is level 7, the highest level, and the rooms go down to level one. All the flat land is where the 4S will be. This was taken taken from a 2 bedroom in the middle of the tower on level 3.

 

[jules54]

We stayed at Vista Encandata in November/December 2022 it was a last minute booking with II. Absolutely loved the resort. First rate check in process and no added resort fees or taxes. We never do AI and we only stayed there 4 nites out of 7. As we had other resorts booked in Cabo. The condo was a 2 bedroom and it was amazing. I’ve owned timeshare for 29 years and this is definitely one of the nicest resorts I’ve ever stayed in. We had our family out for one day to use the sky pool and have lunch. 8 of us and the bill was very reasonable. Our butler which is what she called herself was Anna. Great service she would have gone grocery shopping for us, but we brought our own. The Starbucks was fabulous and they had a pastry a crème filled round churro sandwich type thing that I have never seen before nor since. We are staying there again in December of 2023 so I can have that pastry lol.

We did not use the shuttle to down as it was 7.00 each way pp. Uber is in Cabo now and a ride into downtown Cabo was under 10.00.

We stayed at PB Rose and Corozon formerly Cabo Villas where we own. Both resorts had fees and PB Rose charged 15.00 per day for internet.

 

[Hobokie]

We stayed at Vista Encandata in November/December 2022 it was a last minute booking with II. Absolutely loved the resort. First rate check in process and no added resort fees or taxes. We never do AI and we only stayed there 4 nites out of 7. As we had other resorts booked in Cabo. The condo was a 2 bedroom and it was amazing. I’ve owned timeshare for 29 years and this is definitely one of the nicest resorts I’ve ever stayed in. We had our family out for one day to use the sky pool and have lunch. 8 of us and the bill was very reasonable. Our butler which is what she called herself was Anna. Great service she would have gone grocery shopping for us, but we brought our own. The Starbucks was fabulous and they had a pastry a crème filled round churro sandwich type thing that I have never seen before nor since. We are staying there again in December of 2023 so I can have that pastry lol.

We did not use the shuttle to down as it was 7.00 each way pp. Uber is in Cabo now and a ride into downtown Cabo was under 10.00.

We stayed at PB Rose and Corozon formerly Cabo Villas where we own. Both resorts had fees and PB Rose charged 15.00 per day for internet.

I’m staying there next year in a 4 bd September 2023! Question for you for context… can you provide a few other resorts that would fall into this “one of the nicest” category for you?

 

[jules54]

In Cabo those would be
Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach
Casa Dorado Medano
Estancia

Nice Resorts
Corozon formerly Cabo Villas
Playa Grande we like this resort because we can see whales from there and it’s walkable to Marina

We use to enjoy Pueblo Bonito Rose, but it is going worn and the organization doesn’t seem to be putting money into it.

 

[hurnik]

Does anyone have (or know where to find) the menus WITH pricing for Vista Encantada (and their sister resort next door)?
Trying to figure out if AI is the way or not.

Seems there's only the one plan now and it's $122 USD/pp/day if you pre-pay for 7 days now.

 

[Jang]

Any suggestions on the best way to get to the resort from the airport? We are a party or 3 so wasnt sure if we should just grab a taxi or if there is a cheaper shuttle service available?
Thanks!

 

[hurnik]

Any suggestions on the best way to get to the resort from the airport? We are a party or 3 so wasnt sure if we should just grab a taxi or if there is a cheaper shuttle service available?
Thanks!

I've used Transcabo before. Not sure if they have the best pricing, but they have options such as shared or private shuttles. I believe you'll choose Hacienda Encantada as the resort in their pull-down list since it's right next to Vista Encantada.

 

[Jang]

Thanks! Will check them out!

 

[byeloe]

Any suggestions on the best way to get to the resort from the airport? We are a party or 3 so wasnt sure if we should just grab a taxi or if there is a cheaper shuttle service available?
Thanks!

You could try Canada Transfers

 

[77JC]

Any suggestions on the best way to get to the resort from the airport? We are a party or 3 so wasnt sure if we should just grab a taxi or if there is a cheaper shuttle service available?
Thanks!

Jang-

The AI includes one way transfer to the property if you choose to purchase it. The company they use is CaboSeasons.

 

[77JC]

Does anyone have (or know where to find) the menus WITH pricing for Vista Encantada (and their sister resort next door)?
Trying to figure out if AI is the way or not.

Seems there's only the one plan now and it's $122 USD/pp/day if you pre-pay for 7 days now.

Hurnik,

I don't have any menus with pricing but it is pretty expensive. If you are staying on property the majority of the time and you enjoy a cocktail or two (or three or...) the AI is going to save you money. It is up to $150/day with a 7 day purchase now. It's always been a good value for us but we spend a lot of time on site and do enjoy a margarita or several! The AI does include a few other items (at least it did) that add to the value like the Temescal experience and one way transfer from the airport and free shuttle back and forth to the Marina.

Also-there is a fairly new restaurant on the highway at the entrance to the property. It is affiliated with the property in some way (same ownership perhaps?) but is not included in the AI. We ate there one night of our stay. It was a really fun high energy place. Be warned it is very loud but we enjoyed it. Food was good service was great and they had a fire show nightly. It would be worth checking out at least for a drink.

Have a great trip.

 

[hurnik]

Hurnik,

I don't have any menus with pricing but it is pretty expensive. If you are staying on property the majority of the time and you enjoy a cocktail or two (or three or...) the AI is going to save you money. It is up to $150/day with a 7 day purchase now. It's always been a good value for us but we spend a lot of time on site and do enjoy a margarita or several! The AI does include a few other items (at least it did) that add to the value like the Temescal experience and one way transfer from the airport and free shuttle back and forth to the Marina.

Also-there is a fairly new restaurant on the highway at the entrance to the property. It is affiliated with the property in some way (same ownership perhaps?) but is not included in the AI. We ate there one night of our stay. It was a really fun high energy place. Be warned it is very loud but we enjoyed it. Food was good service was great and they had a fire show nightly. It would be worth checking out at least for a drink.

Have a great trip.

Thanks for the info. I think on the email looks like 7 nights is $122.99/pp/d and anything less is $172.99/pp/d. So we'll probably do the AI as much as I like to make my own margaritas. (Just fresh squeeze Mexican/Key Limes, simple syrup, triplesec/cointreau and tequila). Some of the margaritas tend to use a sickeningly sweet sweet and sour mix. But a Cosmo is good too.

 

[TheHappyWanderer]

Someone who got All Inclusive at Vista Encantada complained on Tripadvisor that it did not actually include room service as they had been told it would. It says in this thread that AI does actually include room service.

Can anyone who has been to Vista Encantada recently confirm that it still includes room service, and if so, was room service limited to certain hours of the day, and/or fairly limited in scope?

 

[easyrider]

Someone who got All Inclusive at Vista Encantada complained on Tripadvisor that it did not actually include room service as they had been told it would. It says in this thread that AI does actually include room service.

Can anyone who has been to Vista Encantada recently confirm that it still includes room service, and if so, was room service limited to certain hours of the day, and/or fairly limited in scope?

We didn't try the room service but we were told it was available to us. On the fridge is a qr code to order room service. We were there for two weeks and didn't go to all of the restaurants. Mestizo for a few sunset diners, a bit of pool food and in the marina are the areas where we ordered food. We liked the Mesitzo del Mar on top of the roof. The thing to watch at Mestizo is the check includes a gratuity of 18% and they have a line for an additional tip. We always left the server 100 pesos cash anyway.

We didn't do the AI and I'm thinking that you can order room service without having AI.

Bill