denisea

I will start by saying that I always kinda wanted to go to Cabo san Lucas. We went because a friend with a time share wanted to sell their week and we have friends who love Cabo, so we went. If you love Cabo, that's great and forgive me...we didn't. It did have its good points but the lasting impression we have of it is....hassle.

Let's start with the good -
....we had great weather. A little more humid than I would have expected but sunny and hot.
...the spectacular views of the coast from our hotel...really fantastic!
...the Sky Pool at Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach....infinity pool from the highest point of the resort. Terrific views and good drinks (before the drunk crowd fires up around 2pm)
...the golf (according to my husband...I don't play, but he played twice and loved both courses he played).
...Hacienda Cocina y Cantina...wow, what a view! Beautiful beach and pool scenery with wonderful food and cocktails. Great spot and the perfect last night out.
...seeing El Arco from the water...very cool.
...watching my husband catch his first salt water fish, a gorgeous dorado (and having it as ceviche on the boat 2 hours later).
...seeing our first Marlin on the same trip....he fought like hell and broke free, although he would have been released anyway...pretty exciting to see.

The bad -
...Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach resort...it's quite pretty but the lack of service is appalling. The front desk and concierge desks are not focused on you, the guest, at all.
...You are constantly approached to attend one of their timeshare presentations...as soon as you check in you are given the hard sell, at every meal, at the pool...vultures.
...They could help you, as a guest, but don't make it a priority. You are treated a bit more as a cash flow opportunity rather than a vacationing guest.
...Both ATMs on the property were not working and they did not care or offer other alternatives to get cash (which we needed for fishing), we had to leave the property to get cash
...If you exchange US dollars for pesos you get the once over like you are a criminal and they don't apologize for anything - ever (like not telling you to bring your passport with you to exchange money at the front desk when you call to ask if they will do that for you, hike up there, wait in line twice and then they tell you, after looking at you like you are definitely doing something wrong by changing money, on vacation in another country).
...Out of towels at two different pools or two separate days....are you kidding?
...Slow service at the Bistro, especially at breakfast....everything takes forever and there are no managers around to keep things moving and provide some direction.
...only 2 spots on the entire, huge property with free wi-fi....again, it's not set up for your convenience at all. Forget trying to get it in your condo (you can pay extra for it but another guest did so and said it was so slow, not worth it).
...the super drunk crowd at Pueblo Bonito pools...like vacationing at a frat house...not for me
...housekeeping leaves you a reminder envelope to tip them the day before you check out. I didn't mind tipping them, they did a good job but I think it is a bit presumptuous to ask for a tip...one last shot for Pueblo Bonito to get more money out of you. To me, it's tacky.

The ugly -
...the ridiculous bait and switch hassle in renting a car (National) with the confusing charges and options that you don't really understand (which is the point) and the $2000 deposit they take and when you turn the car in...they send a LETTER to cancel the deposit...it's 2013...a letter???? Come on! (it also took forever just to do the paperwork and then we stood in the sun waiting for the car, which was not ready). Oh, and they also tried to hook us up with golfing with some kind of timeshare "catch"....not ok.
...I got frisked, and I do mean frisked while boarding the plane home. My carry on bag was searched twice at the airport, once at security and again while boarding. OK, fine but frisked??? I don't need that kind of hassle...I have been to multiple countries and have never been frisked....I could see it if I set off the metal detector at security, but I didn't and this was just a random BS search right at the airplane door.

Adios, Mexico....we far prefer Hawaii for a beach getaway, so that's where we and our dollars will go next time.

suze

None of this has to do with Cabo San Lucas. Most of your complaints seem to be about the specific (timeshare) hotel you chose to stay at. And a car rental agency. And the airport.

That's fine if you want to go to Hawaii instead. I don't think it's fair to blame an entire country... "Mexico".

Just saying I've been to Cabo and nothing like that happened to me, not even close.

Katzgar

this thread is just plain silly...obviously all of Mexico isn't like this. ridiculous and absurd.

MichelleY

Sorry you did not care for Sunset Beach. We have stayed there many times and love it. We look forward to staying there again next spring. For a quieter time, we head to the adult only, smaller pools on the property. More rowdy behavior since the added the AI option, perhaps.

KVR

Sorry, you didn't have a good time. I do agree with the time share sharks. Of all the places we've been to in Mexico Cabo was the absolute worst.

Most of your complaints have to do with the hotel you chose and the car rental company. We stayed on the marina at the Marian Fiesta and loved it. Great location to get to most everything. Quite AI hotel. No issues with guests even being an AI.

We never rent cars in Mexico. Read the thousands of horrid stories. It's just not necessary.

We also never exchange money in Mexico either. No need as they readily take US.

I agree with you on the Hacienda Cocina y Cantina. We had a fabulous dinner there.

We had issues with the airport coming back. Our plane out of Cabo was over an hour late and we missed our connection in Dallas. American Airlines has to be the worst. Their agents are heartless and just down right hateful. We ended having to rent a car in Dallas to get home as they refused to help us. So, it's always something.

I personally wouldn't mind being frisked if they are protecting me and others from security issues. On our way in, they had drug dogs sniffing all over us before we could clear customs. Don't think this is all Mexico. Other Caribbean airports are vigilant also. If this bothers you that much sticking with a known US destination is probably best, but you will be missing our on some fabulous destinations and culture.

Please don't write off all of Mexico. The Caribbean side of Mexico; Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Cancun and Riviera Maya are much better than the Western side. There are more things to see and do off property and the beaches/ocean is fabulous compared to PV, Cabo and even Hawaii. The time share sharks are not as prevalent and the hospitality is more friendly. We go to the Caribbean side of Mexico almost every year since 2000.

JeanH

I disagree completely that the Caribbean side of Mexico is better than the western side. No argument that the sand and water is prettier on the Caribbean side.

But, we're in Puerto Vallarta at the moment and it's simply beautiful with the lush jungle as a backdrop over the city.

We walked a couple of miles up along the Rio Cuale this morning. Simply stunning. Small Mexican neighborhoods, surrounded by mountains and jungle.

We've been here two weeks, I think only once or twice has anyone asked us about timeshares, other than in the airport upon arrival.

It just feels more like Mexico here than when I've been in Playa del Carmen. I haven't been anywhere that the prices have been listed in US dollars, all menus and such have been in pesos. Excursions and such are in US dollars.

We've also found the locals do be every bit as welcoming and friendly as anywhere we've been in the Yucatan.

All this said, we don't stay in resorts. We stay in small properties or, since we're here for a month, in a condo.

suze

I also disagree about writing off the entire Pacific side of Mexico. Puerto Vallarta is my favorite destination, that I return to year after year. Like JeanH above, I rent an apartment in town.

When you change money, do it at a "cambio" (exchange booth or window) or a bank. Or better yet use an ATM to get peso. Not your resort front desk.

Stewbear

Well I know I'll upset some but that is somewhat my experience in Cabo. Just too much like going to a expensive place in the Ole US of A.
PV, Manzanillo, Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa & most other places in Mexico are nothing like this. Sorry you picked (IMO) the worst place in Mexico. That's a bit like going to New York & staying in the Broncs! Smile

suze

stewbear, Here I was going to say it's is like going to Vegas and deciding you hate all of the USA.

Fra_Diavolo

My favorite places in Mexico are away from the coast. (I also noticed that in the Yucatan, prices were much higher than elsewhere in Mexico.) I did want to go to Cabo about 35 years ago for the fishing, but never made it and wouldn't dream of setting foot there now. Give me the mountains!

november_moon

I agree with the others that this experience isn't a reason to write off Mexico as a whole. There are a lot of other places in the country that may be more your style - or even a different hotel or resort in that area. I haven't been to Cabo San Lucas, so I can't speak for the situation there, but we spent a fabulous 2 weeks on the Yucatan Peninsula earlier this year and had a great time.

KVR

"I disagree completely that the Caribbean side of Mexico is better than the western side."

I'm sure it's all a matter of perception and opinion. Maybe if I could stay a month in either destination instead of a weeks vacation I might have a different view. But, based on the fact that the ocean and beaches are far superior on the Caribbean side, I still beg the difference and prefer the Caribbean side over the West side. There is also way more things to see and do off property in the Riviera Maya area than In PV or Cabo.

"(I also noticed that in the Yucatan, prices were much higher than elsewhere in Mexico.)"

That's interesting, as I noticed the exact opposite. The prices for food, drinks, hotel rooms and excursions were more in Cabo and PV than in Playa and Cancun. Cozumel is still the least expensive of all of those destinations. Which is just another reason why we spend most of our vacation time throughout the years in Caribbean Mexico.

Fra_Diavolo

"That's interesting, as I noticed the exact opposite."

I was comparing them to the sort of places I like to go: Oaxaca, Puebla, Mexico City, Guanajuato etc.

suze

<<There is also way more things to see and do off property in the Riviera Maya area than In PV or Cabo.>>

Again, that's simply not true. There's a practically endless list of things to see and do "off property" in Puerto Vallarta and Cabo. I'm not sure why you'd say that.

november_moon

I think that in general, the more "touristy" the area, the higher the prices. So if you are in the Yucatan, but away from the Mayan Rivera, prices will be quite reasonable. On the Mayan Riviera, prices will be higher. I am sure it is the same in Baja - high prices around Cabo San Lucas, but lower once you get away from the main tourist hub.

suze

Generally I'd agree, november_moon. But there are reasonable places to stay in Cabo outside the resort scene. I stayed at a fantastic place, your basic clean and friendly genuine "Mexican hotel" for $67/night, right downtown.

Odin

I thought it was pretty usual in any country that you need to provide a passport in order to exchange money. Even at home I need to provide ID if I need to change some money back to my own currency. Can't say we had any issues renting a car in Mexico either and we rented twice. Sounds like the extras were not understood eg CDW and various insurances which are quite expensive in Mexico but absolutely necessary. We rent almost everywhere and never had any issues described here, I'm sure there will be a first time. And for being frisked, I had swabs taken from the palms of my hands and was directed thru security separately with all my belongings checked very carefully when leaving Cancun. Quite unpleasant but that is what happens in airports. Does it mean I won't go to Mexico again, of course not.

suze

<I thought it was pretty usual in any country that you need to provide a passport in order to exchange money.>

I was told that was because of drug money laundering. There is a limit that any one person can exchange from USD to peso per month.

I've never once been "frisked" in 20+ trips in and out of Mexico, but I was taken into a private room by one scary Jamaican matron my last trip back from the Caribbean. I know in Vallarta, they do hand-search bags still because of lack of x-ray in security at the airport.

KVR

"Again, that's simply not true. There's a practically endless list of things to see and do "off property" in Puerto Vallarta and Cabo. I'm not sure why you'd say that."

I say that because that was my experience. After several trips to the Yucatan Peninsula we haven't seen or done everything there the area has to offer. One of the reasons we haven't been back to Cabo or PV, is because I couldn't find any additional excursions or interests to do that we didn't already do on our prior trips there.

Again, it's a matter of preference and personal opinion. I have nothing against PV or Cabo and would gladly return someday. I wish you would make the trip over to the Caribbean side of Mexico, so you may has some inclination of what I'm talking about.

suze

KVR, How many times have you been to Puerto Vallarta? Are you saying you have already done all these things I list below? That there's nothing interest to do there?


Visit San Sebastian
Surfing at Sayulita
Turtle release program
Yelapa & Majahuitas
Into the Sierra Madre mountains
Up to Punta Mita, Rincon, San Pancho
Down to Barre de Navidad and Melenque
Scuba Diving
Snorkeling at Las Caletas
Horseback riding at Rancho El Charro
Home & Garden Tour
Sylvie's Power Walks
Mountain biking
The volcano at Colino
The nature preserve at San Blas


I have no interest in staying in an all-inclusive on the Caribbean side of Mexico. But that doesn't mean I say bad things about it.