ice_leopard

We are trying to choose among one of these 2-bedroom timeshare for one week at the end of Aug. There are 2 adults + 3 kids (ages 9, 14, 20).

Any input on the following properties re: room sizes, restaurants, pools, beach access (very important to us), special activities, water sports, services, location, area attractions......

--Mayan Palace, Nuevo Vallarta
--Club Regina at Westin, Puerto Vallarta
--Royal Villa, Mazatlan
--Grand Maya, Acapulco
--Villa Palma, Cabo San Lucas

Thanks in advance.

froiesman

club regina is my home timeshare. beautiful grounds, pool and rooms. beach is small and waves are small which if your kids are into boogie boarding will be a disappointment. regina is in the marina zone, walking distance to restaurants and right across the hiway from wal-mart(best place to shop for groceries) and is much closer to downtown pv compared to the mayan in nuevo vallarta. i've stayed at the mayan palace, it is also a beautiful resort, grounds and pool are huge as well as a beach that goes on for miles, better waves for boogie boarding, if the kids are into surf and beach it is a better choice by far. downside is that nuevo is a good 45 minute bus ride from downtown pv which is where all the authentic mexico charm is located. my kids found it sufficient to do a day or two in town, after that their preference was to be at the pool and beach which, if thats true for your kids, i'd recommend mayan palace.

acctg

Not to be rude, but I find it astonishing that vacation choices are made based on the PROPERTY where you will stay rather than the PLACE you are going to visit. I can't help but wonder why you would spend the airfare to go any distance and not just stay at a resort nearer your home.

I've been to four of the five cities you mention (Nuevo Vallarta is the unknown - is it a place or somewhere near PV that has established a cloister of time shares?) and they are all dramically different places, each having positives and negatives.

Shows that it's true: Different stokes for different folks.

ice_leopard

froiesman--Thanks so much. Your reply is exactly what I am looking for. I would know where to choose when we go to PV next time--Mayan if I'm going with kids, Club Regina if without. Unfortunately, these two places are no longer available now so we'll be going to Acapulco.

acctg-- This would be an end-of-summer trip that we are taking advantage of with a friend's timeshare. The places are going fast so it's Acapulco for us now. We've splurged on a trip to Europe in Spring. Will be going to Alaska and Asia in early summer, so we decide to skimp on this trip hence the choices of property over location. And with kids, I find they care more about what they do rather than where they go. Does that make sense???

acctg

sort of. Unfortunately, Acapulco is not really a nice place to visit - esp. with kids. Of course, this is just my opinion - but I've heard it from others as well. It's a large city, with its heyday and beauty well behind it.

I still say that I'd consider looking elsewhere and saving the plane fare. The kids won't care where they are as long as there is a pool and stuff to do. Pass on the time share, use the plane fare to get a place where everyone can enjoy themselves instead of wishing they were elsewhere.

sorry - but if you put up a post asking "what do you think of Acapulco" I'm betting you get information that's going to make you think twice about visiting.