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February 16, 2018

The Riviera Maya News posted the following article. It certainly speaks for itself, and it would be great if order would come to the PV International airport too. What do you think? Leave your comment below this article. Cheers!

Agencies say order is needed to stop tourist harassment at Cancun airport

BY RIVIERA MAYA NEWS ON FEBRUARY 16, 2018
https://www.riviera-maya-news.com
Cancun, Q.R. — Several tourist bodies in Cancun are requesting that bad tourism practices being allowed by the Cancun International Airport be regulated.

The Hotel Association of Cancun and Puerto Morelos (AHCyPM) along with the Visitors and Conventions Office (OVC) and the Mexican Association of Travel Agencies (AMAV) have voiced their concern about irregularities in the new Terminal 4 of the Cancun airport.

Concerned bodies are denouncing the harassment of arriving passengers saying they have received many complaints in regards to the irregularities in the AIC. They say these things create a bad image for visitors, such as the harassment of passengers for car rental services, taxis (those who have the concession for the air terminal), of pirate transporters and of timeshare vendors at the terminal exit.

“We have received complaints from the tour operators about the arrival area of the T4. Passengers who head toward the exit door do not see representatives of their hotel or company so the independent transport companies deceive them by selling them transportation. This causes complaints and requests for reimbursements,” said Lizzie Cole Guerrero, director of OVC.

“This damages not only the local tourism agencies, but also the tour operator, the travel agent who sold the package and in general, our destination,” she added.

“We agreed that we must put order in the airport. We cannot be a world class destination with that reception to our tourists,” said Roberto Cintrón Gómez, president of the AHCyPM.

The AHCyPM also agrees. The AMAV is absolutely right to raise its voice, order must be placed, compared to other international airports in Mexico and the world. The AIC is very “aggressive”, said Abelardo Vara Riviera, hotel entrepreneur.

“The reality is that when you arrive at the terminals, it seems that you arrive at a place of savages, all shouting, offering you almost everything. Visitors are left with the desire to return to the plane. There are no words to describe the way they almost assault you offering services and things that sometimes you do not understand. You are arriving from a long flight and from the moment you step inside the terminal until you take your transport, it is an almost constant harassment,” he said.

Marisol Vanegas Pérez, Secretary of Tourism of Quintana Roo says the timeshare sales practices at the Cancun International Airport (AIC) are not illegal, given that there is a contract with Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (Asur) and is part of its customer attraction strategies, but what is sought is to avoid deception and harassment, which becomes aggressive toward tourists.

The Timeshare Industry is good for the Mexican economy and tourism, but the airports leave a lot to be desired, don't you think?

Happy Thanksgiving

Novmeber 23, 2017

Thanksgiving on the beach..completely boned turkey!

An Aimfair member sent us this as a reminder of days gone by. She is a Grandma and wishes us all a happy Thanksgiving Day:

GRANDMA RULES!!!!

Grandma's Invitation (Priceless)

Dear Family,

I'm not dead yet. Thanksgiving is still important to me. If being in my Last Will and Testament is important to you, then you might consider being with me for my favorite holiday.

Dinner is at 2:00.

• NOT 2:15
• NOT 2:05
• Two 2:00

Arrive late and you get what's left over.

Last year, that moron Marshall fried a turkey in one of those contraptions and practically burned the deck off the house. This year, the only peanut oil used to make the meal will be from the secret scoop of peanut butter I add to the carrot soup.

Jonathan, your last new wife was an idiot. You don't arrive at someone's house on Thanksgiving needing to use the oven and the stove. Honest to God, I thought you might have learned after two wives - date them longer and save us all the agony of another divorce.

Now, the house rules are slightly different this year because I have decided that 47% of you don't know how to take care of nice things. Paper plates and red Solo cups might be bad for the environment, but I'll be gone soon and that will be your problem to deal with.

House Rules:

1. The University of Texas no longer plays Texas A&M. The television stays off during the meal.

2. The "no cans for kids" rule still exists. We are using 2 liter bottles because your children still open a third can before finishing the first two. Parents can fill a child's cup when it is empty. All of the cups have names on them and I'll be paying close attention to refills.

3. Chloe, last year we were at Trudy's house and I looked the other way when your Jell-O salad showed up. This year, if Jell-O salad comes in the front door it will go right back out the back door with the garbage. Save yourself some time, honey. You've never been a good cook and you shouldn't bring something that wiggles more than you. Buy something from the bakery.

4. Grandmothers give grandchildren cookies and candy. That is a fact of life. Your children can eat healthy at your home. At my home, they can eat whatever they like as long as they finish it.

5. I cook with bacon and bacon grease. That's nothing new. Your being a vegetarian doesn't change the fact that stuffing without bacon is like egg salad without eggs. Even the green bean casserole has a little bacon grease in it. That's why it tastes so good. Not eating bacon is just not natural. And as far as being healthy... look at me. I've outlived almost everyone I know.

6. Salad at Thanksgiving is a waste of space.

7. I do not like cell phones. Leave them in the car.

8. I do not like video cameras. There will be 32 people here. I am sure you can capture lots of memories without the camera pointed at me.

9. Being a mother means you have to actually pay attention to the kids. I have nice things and I don't put them away just because company is coming over. Mary, watch your kids and I'll watch my things.

10. Rhonda, a cat that requires a shot twice a day is a cat that has lived too many lives. I think staying home to care for the cat is your way of letting me know that I have lived too many lives too. I can live with that. Can you?

11. Words mean things. I say what I mean. Let me repeat: You don't need to bring anything means you don't need to bring anything. And if I did tell you to bring something, bring it in the quantity I said. Really, this doesn't have to be difficult.

12. Dominos and cards are better than anything that requires a battery or an on/off switch. That was true when you were kids and it's true now that you have kids.

13. Showing up for Thanksgiving guarantees presents at Christmas. Not showing up guarantees a card that may or may not be signed.

14. In memory of your Grandfather, the back fridge will be filled with beer. Drink until it is gone. I prefer wine anyway. But one from each family needs to be the designated driver. I really mean all of the above.

Love You,
Grandma

As Grandmas and Grandpas ourselves, we wish you all a wonderful, memorable Thanksgiving!

September 21, 2017

Bulgari? St. Regis Hotels Resorts? Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co.? Ritz-Carlton Reserve? All owned by Marriott International.

Chloe Riley of HOTELSMag.com interviewed Lisa Holladay, VP of Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis brands and uncovered a couple of interesting insights:

How Marriott is updating its luxury brands (Interview)

By Chloe Riley on 9/20/2017 (http://www.hotelsmag.com/Industry/News/Details/75499)

Lisa Holladay drives the global brand marketing strategy for Marriott International's luxury brands, including Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co., Ritz-Carlton Reserve, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts and Bulgari. HOTELS spoke with her about steps the company’s taking to make luxury more accessible.

Marriott’s global brand leader and VP of Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis brands, Lisa Holladay:

HOTELS: What’s going on with Marriott’s upper luxury brands in terms of making a move towards casual luxury?
Lisa Holladay: Marriott has started this journey of making quite substantial changes in luxury. From major things like changing the brand identities, updating the logo and the color, to things that may seem smaller but actually have a huge impact, and that was around the grooming standards.

H: What kind of changes?
LH: Facial hair was one. And earrings, nail polish color, hosiery. Previously, women were required to wear hosiery even if they were working in Palms Springs and it was 100 degrees outside. The way their hair was cut, how long their hair could be – it really encompassed everything from hair to nails to clothing to shoes. We want to appeal not only for younger guests, have a more relaxed feel, but also it’s super important for the talent we’re attracting, the future ladies and gentlemen that we want to come work at the brand.

H: What’s hot and trending from a service and amenities perspective?
LH: We went through a small moment in time where there was almost a disconnect with the concierges because guests had so much information at their fingertips. What we see now is a complete swing the other way, that there’s so much information and they’re inundated with so much, they’re really looking for the individuals at the property to be the local experts.

For a while, I also felt like everything was so focused on what technology we’re bringing in and we see a swing in that, too. It’s not that customers don’t want it, but what we’ve found in luxury specifically is that ultimately technology doesn’t take the place of our staff.

H: Fashion and lifestyle partnerships – how are those evolving?
LH: We’re working with the designers from Marchesa, currently Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig. They’re just wonderful connoisseurs for their brand, definitely representative of our target guest.

It gave us the opportunity to not only talk about our connection and our design connection, but also to really highlight having weddings at a St. Regis. So we’re working with them right now on how we can evolve that strategy and maybe focus on honeymoons next.

There are a number of changes taking place in the Luxury accommodation space, and Marriott seems to be aggressively pursuing interesting strategies. For example, Bulgari, the Italian fashion brand and supposed supplier of body washes for the new Grand Luxxe brand before the units opened, is now owned by Marriott. We learned that Ritz Carlson is offering its own luxury cruises. In the above article, we learned that concierges did not have as much information as guests because of the use of technology. Now, it seems guests are turning toward experiences of concierges, which places more emphasis on staff members and their knowledge.

The luxury space is demanding and competitive. As members of the Grand Luxxe Residence Club, we hope management is aware of the rising standards being adopted by the industry's other luxury brands. We look forward to seeing the new season unfold.

August 22, 2017

Imagine....you are on the fourth floor of Tower Two in Nuevo Vallarta, coffee has been served and the day is well on its way. As you leave your unit to enjoy your vacation doing what ever pleases you, you leave a card on the outside door handle of your unit. "Ready to be cleaned" is what the card says.

But, the card is unique. It has an electronic sensor that sends a message to Gita to join her human partner to clean the unit that just sent the notice. Gita and her partner receive a number of messages, indicating that all the units on a given floor are ready for cleaning.

Off they go. Gita follows her partner and memorizes the route. Gita's partner opens the first door, and both enter the unit. Towels are on the floor ready to be replaced by clean ones. The soiled towels are then given to Gita, who stores them in a hopper. The hopper is large enough for all the towels in the units on any floor.

When Gita is full, off she goes to the service area on the floor she's working on. When she arrives, she empties her cargo of soiled towels and heads back to pick up another load.

Gita and her sibling - complements of HotelsMag.com

Well this scenario is speculation and distant at best. But, the concept of robotics in the hospitality industry may not be.

Just think how technology impacts all of our lives today. Do you remember what you were doing in July, 1976. That was only 41 years ago, and that was the first time an Apple computer was offered for sale for $666.66.

First Advertisement for Apple Computer - July, 1976 (Quora.com)

If you are interested in learning more, just tap the following link to HotelsMag.com: My new BFF is a robotic schlepper!

To bring us all to the same point, consider that Grupo Mayan Resorts began operations in 1975 with its first property called Pariso Mazatlan. You can read that post here: Mayan Palace

What fun...speculation, reflection and enjoying the ride....

August 17, 2017

Aimfair members are located throughout the US and Canada, with some from Mexico and Great Britain as well. Wisconsin is a well represented state, and unfortunately, one Aimfair member's family is close to Abbey Conner, the young woman who tragically drowned at an Iberostar Resort in Cancun, Mexico. The case is still being investigated, but there does not appear to be much hope of knowing exactly what happened.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinal has been closely following this case. Following is a list of related articles recently posted by the paper:

• 8/17/17 - Blackout Victims at Mexico Resorts Have Little Hope of Justice
• 8/12/17 - Mexican Authorities Crackdown and Seize Illicit Alcohol at Cancun Resorts
• 7/28/17 - Mexico Says It Will Take Action Against Tainted Alcohol
• 7/26/17 - State Department Issues Travel Warning - Tainted Alcohol in Mexico
• 7/20/17 - All-Inclusive Resorts in Mexico - Suspected of Drugging Tourists
• 7/12/17 - Wisconsin Family Questions Daughters Mysterious Drowning

Trust is a difficult concept that brings together both emotional and logical senses. From Changingminds.org:

• Definition 1: Trust means being able to predict what other people will do and what situations will occur. If we can surround ourselves with people we trust, then we can create a safe present and an even better future.
  
  
• Definition 2: Trust means making an exchange with someone when you do not have full knowledge about them, their intent and the things they are offering to you.
  
  
• Definition 3: Trust means giving something now with an expectation that it will be repaid, possibly in some unspecified way at some unspecified time in the future.
  
  
• Definition 4: Trust means enabling other people to take advantage of your vulnerabilities—but expecting that they will not do this.

Aimfairites have made significant investments based upon high levels of trust that Grupo Vidanta will do everything it can to protect its guests and members. The Grand Luxxe Residence Club facilities are located on large compounds with restricted access. The organization takes pride in selecting employees who project professionalism and respect for their jobs. Systems appear to be in place to ensure corners are not cut and guests are protected against substances that cause illness to the best of their abilities. In the end, guests are all vulnerable because they are using facilities run by people they don't know.

How do we as individuals protect ourselves from illicit alcohol? By taking extra steps to validate the source and origin of a drink. Drink liquids that are capped, such as beer and wine. Be careful about drinking Tequila made in places you don't trust. Just be careful. Use common sense. Recognize when circumstances could become out of control and move on.

Bottom Line: Grand Luxxe facilities are AAA Five Diamond rated. Mexico is a beautiful place. Enjoy, and be careful!

July 20, 2017

Timeshare's are usually used as homes, when it comes to meals. Owners like to stock up at the local Walmart, Mega Foods, or Costco because of the savings on refreshments and freshness of the food they cook and eat. Groups of family members descend on one unit and everyone pitches in to disseminate the meal duties.

It is true, however, that the cost of going off property to buy staples and other stuff is increasing, mainly because of the increasing cost of taxi rides. For example, in December, 2015 the cost of a round trip to Sam's or Mega Foods was $340 MxP (about $17 US). Then add the cost of the food and other items purchased. Finally add the time taken. All in all, going off property is an involved process, even though we love to do it every vacation.

The alternative is to truly enjoy your vacation by not worrying about preparing food each meal and cleaning up afterwards. The resort offers meal plans that appear to be very reasonable. Following is an image that explains the plan:

The Vidanta Meal Plan is subject to change and prices may be different when you travel.

The current rate of MxP to USD is 17.48 to 1. Using this conversion rate, the average price of each coupon is $25.72 US. This includes 12 coupons: 6 for breakfast and 6 for lunches or dinners.

Taking everything into consideration, the price of the meal plan appears to be very reasonable. Check it out for yourselves. We all have a unique take on how to spend vacations and how much to spend as well.

Let us know your thoughts and experiences by posting your comments on Member Reviews. Tap here to be taken there. Cheers!

July 7, 2017

Cirque du Soleil announced it has purchased Blue Man Productions. Blue Man wanted to expand and thought the creative venue provided by Cirque would provide a pathway to accomplish its expansion plans. Consider the following article seen on DIS:

Blue Man Group Has Been Purchased by Cirque du Soleil

Charles Boda | July 6, 2017

Cirque du Soleil has announced today that they have acquired Blue Man Productions, the company behind the popular percussive performers Blue Man Group. The purchase occurred to help both companies serve their mutual goal of expansion.
Cirque du Soleil and Blue Man Group both currently have existing shows in the Orlando theme park area: Cirque’s Disney Springs show, La Nouba, will have its final performance on December 31st, 2017; and Universal CityWalk hosts a live Blue Man Group show. Exactly how this acquisition could affect the companies’ Orlando presence is unknown, but for the time being, it appears Cirque is more concerned with expansion than with merging their properties.

Daniel Lamarre, Cirque’s chief executive, stated, “The Blue Man Group will keep its autonomy. We’re not going to mix the Cirque du Soleil brand with the brand of the Blue Man Group.”

Blue Man Group’s brand of percussion, lighting, dancing, and nonverbal comedy has already stretched its reach to five permanent shows in the United States (Orlando, Chicago, New York, Boston, and Las Vegas), one international show in Berlin, and one world tour. Their performances are said to take in hundreds of millions of dollars per year. They have been operating for almost 30 years at this point, first performing in 1988 (officially forming in 1991), and have performed in front of over 35 million viewers.

Cirque du Soleil was created in 1984 by former fire-eater Guy Laliberte and initially cultivated street performers in Quebec. Since then, Cirque has gone from 20 performers to 1,300, employs 4,000 people, and operates in approximately 50 nations. Annually, Cirque’s performances draw 13 million people and bring in $1 billion in revenue.

Cirque strategy looks to be expanding Blue Man internationally. “We saw the potential for a marketing and distributing powerhouse like Cirque du Soleil to be able to distribute Blue Man Group and make their brand better known internationally,” Lamarre said.

Source: http://www.wdwinfo.com/author/charles-boda/

Who knows, maybe some day we will be treated to a Blue Man show too.

Stay tuned....

June 10, 2017

Is it the water.....the air.....the food...? What is it? Reservation systems for three top companies continue to be in sick bay. Consider the following from DIS:

Walt Disney World Resort Hotel Reservation System Remains Down Longer Than Expected

Jackie Gailey | June 10, 2017
Contemporary-Resort-001

We were informed that Disney would be implementing a system update on Friday, June 9, 2017, from 2:00 a.m. to end of the business day. Disney reported that the call center and online bookings for Walt Disney Travel Company package and room-only reservations at Walt Disney World Resort and Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa would be unavailable during that time.

As of the time of this story publishing, Saturday, June 10, 2017, at 4:10 p.m., their booking system is still down.

Their newest update below shows on the main Walt Disney World website at this time:

WDW Res down

The source of this report is The DIS, which is an information portal about Disney World activities and updates.

So, it seems we Vidanta members are not alone.

Stay tuned....

May 26, 2017

We have heard much about Vidanta's challenges with changes management made to its reservation system. Well, Vidanta is not the only one suffering from owner backlash. Consider Wyndham timeshare owners' actions as a result of Wyndham's changes to its website and reservation system. The Orlando Sentinel posted an article today, that describes timeshare owner's displeasure and from the sound of it, the owners reactions are very similar to Vidanta member reactions to the same issues. Following is the article:

Rolling out a new website for Wyndham’s timeshare company sparked anger and confusion among owners, which has roiled the company and online forums for days.

Orlando-based Wyndham Vacation Ownership, the largest timeshare company in the U.S., warned users it was rolling out the new website over the past weekend. But even with that warning and instructions, hundreds of messages have been posted online complaining.

The most common complaints are trouble logging in, trouble registering as an existing owner, accessing the account, making reservations and missing points or inventory.

“A decent percentage of this frustration is just dealing with change,” said Brian Rogers, who organizes the Timeshare Users Group website. “But it sounds to me they just released it too soon, before all the bugs were worked out. I haven’t seen anyone saying it’s great and they’re happy.”

A discussion thread about the Wyndham website on TUG’s forum had 636 posts by Thursday afternoon.

Wyndham (NYSE: WYN) said it was moving all of its owners to the new system — 400,000 owners, inventory at more than 140 resorts, and about 636,000 existing reservations. “While the vast majority of owners are already fully integrated in the new systems, a very small percentage of accounts are still being transitioned,” Wyndham said in a statement. “Successfully transitioning every account, the inventory-management system, and existing reservations is our top priority, and we continue to focus our teams around the clock on meeting this goal.”

Some of those locked out might have been warned previously that they needed to change their passwords.

Timeshare owner Wes McLaughlin posted on a Facebook group for Wyndham owners, “Wyndham fix your mess! This new system rollout is a total disaster!”

He said he didn’t have trouble with the system but he knew many others who had. He recommended people take a screenshot of the error or lockout messages they are receiving, to document the problems.

“Please, please, bring back the old system! Nobody likes this new one. Especially those of us who are tech-challenged! I’m just lost — just want to cry,” said a post by Maxine Atwood Moates on Wyndham Vacation Ownership’s Facebook page.

The timeshare giant is struggling to weave an old system into a new platform that interacts with new brands that Wyndham has added in recent years, said Greg Crist, CEO of the National Timeshare Owners Association.

He said complaints about the switchover began a year ago when the company first tested the system.

“Technology is a beast,” Crist said. “They need to get this right quick.”

He said the most frustrating thing about the problem, for many, is not being able to book rooms that are highly competitive at desired resorts.

“People had really learned how to maximize their use of the old website,” Crist said. “They knew exactly when to log in for a desirable resort during a certain time period.”

Brands for Wyndham Vacation Ownership include Club Wyndham, WorldMark by Wyndham, Shell Vacations Club, Margaritaville Vacation Club by Wyndham, and clubs in Asia, the South Pacific and Brazil.

Got a news tip? pbrinkmann@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5660; Twitter, @PaulBrinkmann

Yes, technology is changing. Growing companies need to keep up. If they don't, software security breaches become very real problems. The recent Wannacry ransomeware attack quickly brings the issue very close to home, not to mention the importance of keeping member personal information confidential.

The only constant in today's world is change....and keeping up with change is a constant challenge for everyone...Stay tuned

March 18, 2017

The Vidanta Online Reservation System was relied upon and heavily used by Vidanta's members. It was easy to use and displayed inventory that was available for use. Booking weeks was painless.

But, then a new system was introduced. It was to have replaced a relatively easy system with a much better one. Result: Disaster - no more online reservations and no announced replacement for calling the Customer Care Center to make reservations.

Is this a unique story? Evidently not. Consider the following experience noted in a weekly newsletter by Graham Jones, Internet Psychologist in London, England:

My car is due for a service, so this week I went to the local dealer's website where they have a rather fancy online booking tool. I entered my registration number and up came the details of my car. Then I was asked to select which day I wanted, and after that, I was allowed to choose a time slot from those that were still available. All well and good, you might think. So did I. It was particularly encouraging when I received an email confirming the date and time of my service appointment.

Two hours later, though, I had a phone call where I was told that the appointment I had booked wasn't available and that I would need to rebook. "But I have confirmation," I said. "Yes, we know," said the lady at the other end of the phone, "but the online booking system doesn't work because it isn't linked to the system where we book services over the phone."

Madness. If a company is going to offer an online app but then fail to integrate that with its existing processes, then it is not actually providing an online system at all. I see this all the time when I am consulting with businesses. They come up with fancy online methods which make everyone go "wow, that's brilliant", but then fail to back the idea with proper integration with existing systems. One of the case studies I use is of Marks and Spencer. They neglected to back their website ordering system with good logistics meaning they had to cancel people's orders just to cope. It's all very well seeking to have a fantastic online presence, but if you don't back it up with efficient and effective back-office processes, you may as well not bother.

Two observations, neither one of which makes us feel that much better because the reservation system is still broken:

1. It appears there are companies whose management does not think through the entire process before offering online services, so we members of Vidanta are not alone in the world of cyberspace, and
   
   
2. The result is a mess that reflects badly on the company and its management.

Yes, the system will be repaired, yes there is a professional project manager with much experience in the implementation of complex hotel reservation systems who is in charge of changing Vidanta's system, and yes, the process will probably take much longer than anticipated. Why? Because it is very likely the system will be integrated with more complexity in the form of the hotels at the Park. This last point is speculation on our part, but it is a logical extension of the issues the current reservation system has to deal with.

The surface is beautiful! But snafus created by not linking the chains that lead to great customer experiences tend to reduce confidence.

We support waiting until the system works before introducing one that doesn't....Stay tuned....!!

February 28, 2017

The question was raised the other day....What are the Fire and Emergency Protocols on Vidanta's property in Nuevo Vallarta?

The issue was escalated because there allegedly was a fire that broke out in the Tacos Break (Old name) in the Mercado, across from the Azur Restaurant in La Plaza. The fire must not have been very large because only one person brought it to our attention. Regardless, that does not reduce the importance of knowing what to do and who to call.

Interestingly, there is a new Emergency telephone number we can all access while in Nuevo Vallarta. The new number is being introduced now and will replace the old 611 number. Here is what we found:

The new emergency number is 911 in Puerto Vallarta and surrounding areas.

The source for this article is the following: http://pvangels.com/news/5328/puerto-vallarta-initiates-replacing-emergency-call-number-from-066-to-911

It is a website for spreading news about community and charitable activities in Jalisco and Nayarit. Here is their charter:

Charity & Community United

Become a Partner for Change

Being a Partner for Change can have a different meaning to each of us depending on our role, our location, our clients, our relationships. But no matter where or who you are, you can be a Partner for Change.

PVAngels is about introducing the world to a safe, thriving, community-driven Puerto Vallarta, raising tons of support for its local charities and having a boatload of fun doing it.

The PVAngels site is a unique blend of community awareness through the daily posting of local news and events, formal introductions to the charities and their needs, online fundraising, social networking and giving back.

The dream of PVAngels is to create an atmosphere of pulling together in making our perfect little corner of the world a better - and better known - place.

Whether you're an individual, group, company or corporation, PVAngels will inform, entertain and be of benefit to you, and we welcome you to become involved.

Stay in touch with them through their website.

Now we know who to call in case of an emergency. The Fire Department will respond.

February 13, 2017

This view is on the Golf Cart Bridge looking east of Blvd. Nayarit. The bridge is open to golf cart traffic during the day. The gate has been locked after the last golfer finishes playing the east side. Use caution when using this bridge to walk to restaurants near the Marina. Taxi home at night.

This is on the Golf Cart Bridge looking west of Blvd. Nayarit. The bridge is open to golf cart traffic during the day. The gate has been locked after the last golfer finishes playing the east side. Use caution when using this bridge to walk to restaurants near the Marina. Taxi home at night.

Security is a major concern for resort management. An incident involving a golf cart crossing Blvd. Nayarit and a taxi could have been serious. As it turns out, according to one person familiar with the incident, no one was injured. Everyone dodged a bullet, as we all know how fast cars and trucks move on Blvd. Nayarit during the day and at night.

That said, members of Vidanta get the feeling that management unwittingly or knowingly tries to restrict their freedom to leave the property on foot. There are many attractions in the Marina Nuevo Vallarta area that guests frequently like to visit. (Please tap the photo below to enlarge, and tap your browser's back arrow to return to this page.)

The Marina Nuevo Vallarta district offers restaurants, an art gallery and a theater. Many fun venues, and they are all accessible by foot.

Are restrictions relaxing? Read what this Aimfair member, who is there now, had to say about his party's recent experiences leaving the property on foot:

Well, we went to Porto Bello and Blue Shrimp over past 2 nights. Had no trouble walking out over golf bridge at sunset. Both restaurants were busy. Both had good service and good food. Took a cab home.

Are restrictions loosening? Management seems to be listening, and leaving the property on foot may be a new reality. Stay tuned....

February 10, 2017

The Snow Moon is alive and well in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico.

Moons have been given a number of names over the years. The moon we saw last night and this morning is called the "Snow Moon", and, according to the Farmers Almanac, the name came from native Americans. Evidently, they named all the moons in order to keep track of months and time.

Of course the Snow Moon would look beautiful in a snowy setting. But, then again, who wants to be in the snow when you can see this when you get up to start you day full of golf, pool side reading and beach walking?

Maybe we should start our own naming system....Beach Moon 1, Beach Moon 2....No? Not very creative? OK, you win....we will forget that idea.

It certainly is wonderful having photos like this one sent often from Nuevo Vallarta. Thank you, and keep them coming...

January 27, 2017

Grand Luxxe Residence Club Towers in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico.

We learned from The Mexico Report that the AAA has named its list of Five Diamond Hotels and Restaurants for 2017. There are four hotels in Riviera Nayarit that are on the list. These include:

• The Grand Luxxe Nayarit (2014)
• Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit (2007)
• Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Mexico (2001)
• The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort (2009)

It is good to see that The Grand Luxxe remains on the list, and we remain convinced the Grand Luxxe has earned this designation for the third year in a row.

That said, there are issues we would like management to reconcile. These include:

• Return the ability for guests to leave the property and return by foot. There are ways to do this surreptitiously. But that is not what we all want to do. A shuttle to the old entrance and a short walk over Blvd. Nayarit on the cart bridge could resolve this issue.
  
  
• Open the northbound access road to Highway 200. Although there appears to be a cloverleaf in place, there is word that a turn-around across the bridge and near the Starbucks Coffee shop is the project underway that will enable travelers from the Vidanta property to head north.
  
  
• Resolve the reservation system.
  
  
• Improve shuttle service around the property.
  
  
• Noise on the property is intrusive and should be reduced out of respect to guests on the property.
  
  
• Although concierges are friendly and accommodating, they are not well equipped to provide reliable services to guests who expect Five Star levels of service.

Achieving AAA Five Star status in four years, which is the time it took the Gand Luxxe in Nayarit to achieve its Five Diamond status, is no easy feat! We applaud and congratulate Management for building and maintaining such beautiful and luxurious facilities. Now that the goal has been achieved, we encourage management to listen to its members to continue trying to exceed expectations.

Congratulations for retaining the AAA Five Star status in 2017. Let's keep improving!

December 22, 2016

The Christmas Tree in front of the Plaza is now complete. Each step of the way was fun to watch. Now, we celebrate! Happy Holidays!

The Holiday Season is wonderful. Youngsters are wide eyed. Teenagers still enjoy the mystery of what's coming next. Friends and couples share good times. Families with grand parents, parents, partners and children come together to share gifts, laughter and fun together. Its that way for us anyway....

Its that way in Nuevo Vallarta too. Look what we found - Santa is there in person:



Then there is this very heartwarming and conceivable story:



We originally came to Neuvo Vallarta to gather memories. And gather them we have. With nine grand children and ten children and spouses, the memories abound. We anticipate they will continue, too, with all the additions to the property and apparent willingness to go the extra mile, so to speak.

There is no question that the company is in the real estate business, and the sole purpose of the business plan is to sell its product. That said, it is a very quality product and the grounds are second to none.

So, it is with great pleasure that we wish all our new found friends who are Aimfair members or maybe not, company employees or maybe not the happiest and most memorable Holiday Season, and a healthy, prosperous, fun filled 2017.

Cheers! To fond memories and good friends!!

December 17, 2016

Action! Taking place in Nuevo Vallarta next to Highway 200 just north of the Ameca River bridge. This is a very big development.

Here is a view of the property in July, 2016 as seen on Google Earth (Tap the image to expand, tap your browser's "back arrow" to return.):

Construction of the Theme Park at Nuevo Vallarta is well underway. Although the final configuration is probably not confirmed at this time, it is clear there will be water parks, hotels and other venues. Opening is scheduled for December, 2018.

What we see in the above image is only part of the proposed park. Do you see the driving range in the lower left side and corner of the image? It is said that the Nicklaus Academy and Driving Range will also become part of the Theme Park. If so, it will consume the area that extends to the Jarretaderas access road.

Here is a recent view from the ground of the construction activity (Contributed by an Aimfair supporter and member.):



Can you imagine the number of guests that will be required to insure the success of this venture? It has been said in different places that there will be up to 5,000 per day and maybe more. This estimate puts those of us who own right to use contracts in an interesting spot. Will it be too crowded for us to enjoy a peaceful vacation....or....will it be exciting to be part of such a dynamic venue? Who knows.....we will all just have to...

Stay Tuned....!

October 6, 2016

Then there are the places that are considered Luxurious! Consider the following statement from ThrillList, which is website that posts articles about food, travel and many other topics that may interest you:

THE RESIDENCE AT GRAND LUXXE

The Residence at Grand Luxxe Four Bedroom Residence, Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta

Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico

When traveling in groups, you want to be sure you have plenty of space to accommodate everyone. Two bedrooms with king-size beds, two more with double beds, 4.5 bathrooms, two Jacuzzis, a full gourmet kitchen with breakfast bar and wine bar, a dining room table that seats 10, two terraces, a dipping pool, and an outdoor dining area at this planned residential-resort community 15 minutes from the Puerto Vallarta airport should suffice. And all for the it-was-this-or-a-new-car price of $14,840 per night.

This should give all the owners of the Residence at the Grand Luxxe huge confidence that they are truly in luxurious surroundings according to at least one travel and food website. The locations that were listed before the Residence were:

• The Presidential Suite, Mandarin Oriental, Shanghi, China ($26,450 per night).
• Hilltop Estate Owner's Accommodation, Laucala Island Resort - you need to apply to stay at this location ($40,000 per night per guest villa).
• Viceroy Villa, Viceroy Bali - you have to ask to use this facility. Rooms can go up to $1,726 per night.

You can see the list by following this link.

What fun....

October 6, 2016

According to a recent article in Money Talk News, Puerto Vallarta is the second best place to retire and get more from your retirement savings in the world.

Consider the following comments:

Faraway locations beckon to some retirees, but many more prefer living within a fairly short plane ride of the States. Mexico, with its low costs, warm weather and tradition of hospitality, fits the bill. Puerto Vallarta is on Mexico’s Pacific coast, in the state of Nayarit. “Its combination of first-class urban amenities and charming palm-fringed villages have made it an appealing retiree draw,” says AARP Magazine. Some 40,000 expatriates and foreign retirees live in Puerto Vallarta, according to U.S. News & World Report.
A two-bedroom furnished apartment with an ocean view can be had in Puerto Vallarta for around $1,000 a month — and less as you move further inland, International Living.com editors say, in an article published by the Huffington Post.
Safety is an important consideration today in Mexico, so make it part of your research. Reports from American visitors and residents there vary widely. While some parts of Mexico suffer from extreme gang violence, others are safer. Here is the U.S. State Department’s Mexico travel advisory.

We are very lucky to have access to such a world renowned location. Let's hope the price of this beautiful place does not escalate beyond our collective abilities to afford it.

Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta will only get better....Stay tuned....

September 8, 2016

If you are like us, you look for ways to stretch the value of dollars you spend. One obvious way to stretch the value of our dollar is to buy frequently used items when they are on sale. News paper ads, email blasts and in-store advertising are a few ways we learn about bargains.

Another process used by ourselves and many others is through the use of credit card benefits. Saving money by using credit card reward points makes financial sense to 58% of us, according to a recently conducted study by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA).

However, the study also found that only 15% of the respondents paid for all or part of their trip with reward points compared with 14% who say the cost of a trip they have taken resulted in a credit card balance that could not be paid off by their next statement. In addition, 14% of all Americans have suffered negative financial consequences from their vacation travel, with 12% carrying a balance or paying interest on their credit card, 3% missing a payment or being charged a late fee and 2% going over their spending limit. Not good!

So what is the takeaway from this study?

1. Don't overspend to earn travel rewards. Have a budget to live within. The savings you earned could evaporate because of interest and fees you incur by going over budget.
2. Look for cards that fit your needs. What is most important to you? Be sure to answer that question before applying for a card. Flexibility to transfer points between companies is important to us. Others feel the cash-back at the end of a term is more important because the cash is a defined discount to the price paid. Waiver of foreign transaction fees, insurance coverage, and other features are important items to understand before making a final decision.
3. Look for cards with big sign-up bonuses. Opening too many credit cards in a short period of time could negatively impact your credit score. Open only those cards you intend to use. Don't forget....first year waiver of the annual fee could be a costly benefit if the charges in future years negate the benefits of using the card. But, don't get carried away by overspending to meet the minimum spends to qualify for the bonus points offered.
4. Use technology to track your benefits. AwardWallet.com is an example of using technology to track your rewards and notify you of changes. RewardExpert.com helps members craft a strategy using points and miles to get where you want to go. These are just two interesting ways to help you manage credit card rewards.

Travel is wonderful. Credit cards are terrific ways to pay for vacations. Rewards are valuable and should be used whenever possible. Technology is there to help. But the bottom line is.....Spend Wisely!!

September 3, 2016

It's not new news....exiting a time-share is tricky business, is not easy to do, takes time to accomplish and sometimes risky. Stacey Johnson started Money Talks News in 1991. It is a "personal finance TV news feature that airs within the local news of about 80 network affiliates nationwide as well as on major websites including MSN, Yahoo, and of course, this one (MoneyTalksNews.com)!" Mr. Johnson was asked by a member of his audience "How Can I Get Out of My Time-Share Without Being Robbed?". You can read his answer by tapping the following link: http://www.moneytalksnews.com/ask-stacy-how-can-get-out-time-share-without-being-robbed/

First of all, in general, Mr. Johnson is not a big fan of time-shares for many reasons:

• Time-shares are a product that’s often foisted on the gullible with high-pressure sales tactics.
• When it’s time to sell, there’s often no way to do it, especially when there’s a loan involved.
• Time-shares depreciate radically the moment they’re purchased.
• Buy a time-share at retail from a developer, and odds are good you’ll be left twisting in the wind.

He states "recovering even a fraction of your money when selling a time-share can be nearly impossible." The reasons for this include:

• An inactive secondary market.
• High monthly maintenance fees.
• A supply that eclipses demand.
• Most lose a huge chunk of their value the instant they’re purchased.

If you do want to sell your time-share interest, Mr. Johnson offers these sites to examine:

• http://tug2.com/timeshare-marketplace.aspx
• http://www.redweek.com
• http://www.myresortnetwork.com/sell-timeshare/
• http://pages.ebay.com/realestate/timesharesellerguide.html?rmvSB=true

He offers a good article on the Timeshare Users Group called - How to Sell Your Time-Share. It is definitely a good article to read, even before you buy a time-share.

Our takeaway from Mr. Johnson's article is the following:

• Time-shares are long term commitments for prepaid vacations.
• Be sure you like the location and facilities.
• Understand there is little to no resale value to time-share interests.
• Understand the ramifications of borrowing to buy.
• Understand that all loans will have to be retired before a sale can be closed.

Change is the only constant at the Vidanta properties and in our lives for that matter.

Although Mr. Johnson admits he is not very high on buying time-share interests, we feel comforted that our purchases from Grupo Vidanta have exceeded our expectations. Use of the facilities is always looked forward to by ourselves, our children and grand children. We have never expected a return of our money through the sale of our contracts. Finally, if we do not use our weeks, there is no penalty or requirement to "catch up" in order to return to using our weeks again.

Time-shares are another form of ownership. Buying them requires the same thought and consideration that one gives to buying any asset that is held for a long term. Use generates the highest value to the buyer. Enjoy to the fullest extent possible to gain maximum value....Cheers!