Has anyone stayed at the Mayan Palace? my fiance and i are going to Acapulco for our honymoon August 2004. We are both inexperienced travelers and want to know what to watch out for ---- bartering - bad food - tourist traps -- etc... any tips?

Thanks
Erin

Personally, I don't like Mayan Palace. They've got a reputation for building very nice hotels, but frankly, they have zero concept of how to execute on the service end of things. I think I've gotten better service at Motel 6.

To heap insult on injury, their lobby is always jam packed with timeshare salesmen, and even if you already own a timeshare, they'll force you to wear armbands, branding yourself as a Mayan Palace guest so that every timeshare salesman in town can zero in on you like vultures circling over roadkill.

Complaints about shoddy service and unprofessional policies are greeted with deafening nonchalance.

Mayan Palace looks nice on the outside, but scratch the surface and you quickly find that they're all glitz and no substance.

I think most discriminating travelers will tell you "Mayan Palace sucks".

It is so.

Have fun!
Mark
www.tiogringo.com

Besides it being your honeymoon ,is there any other reason that you want to be away from the main stream of the down town Acapulco Hotel Strip area.!??

You are over by the airport area where there is a cluster of 4-5 hotels, you will have to take a bus or taxi to get to the main downtown region.

Next to the Mayan is the Fairmount Princess Acapulco and then next to this the Fairmount Pierre Marques.

You can look into these two and see if they suite your fancy.

Percy

If a Mayan Palace hotel were my only choice in Mexico, I would not go at all...
Check out Acapulco hotels over at tripadvisor.com.
If I were going to Acapulco, I'd take a long look at the Camino Real Diamante. It looks fantastic...

The Las Brisas area has many very lovely rentals with maids, cooks, gardeners and world class views!
'Tho I have not been there in many years, the Hot Las Brisas is the only hotel I would consider staying in ACA - Las Casitas higher up the Mountain, the way better!
M
San Miguel de Allende, MX

Hi Erin. I have a couple of recommendations, depending on the type of atmosphere you are looking for.

My favorite place to stay in Acapulco is in one of the private pool casitas at Las Brisas. We've been there a few times in the last two years (driving from Mexico City) and will be going back in a few weeks. The daytime and nighttime views of the city are great, and I think having your own small pool and outdoor area is very luxurious. But some people find it very boring - think of it as a collection of cottages rather than a "fun" resort, so you kind of have to make your own fun (not a problem on a honeymoon, right?). And while the rooms are very well kept, they probably don't look much different than they did 40 years ago.

I haven't stayed at the Mayan Palace but do like the Fairmont Princess just down the beach. It is a big, lively resort (although not a party place like in Cancun). Splurge on one of the oceanfront junior suites with a corner balcony so you can sunbathe in private and listen to the waves.

The downside of both of these places, as previously pointed out, is that you'll have to take a bus or cab into town if you want to go out to dinner. But cabs aren't terribly expensive, and are always waiting at the hotels.

Downtown, my recommendation is for the Hyatt, but it's definitely more of a city-type vacation spot. How long are you planning to stay? Maybe you could try two different places.

Is your heart set on Acapulco? Are you open to other suggestions along the west coast? Puerto Vallarta is an absolutely lovely place, I've been there many many times. I think it might be an easier destination for inexperienced travelers than Acapulco, for many reasons.

I agree with the Las Brisas. We spent the first two nights of our honeymoon there, before boarding a cruise, and wished we had spent at least a week there. The views are unbelievable and the private pools are to die for. I can't think of a better place in Acapulco.