Ross sent us the above photo and comments associated with the photo. He also provided information he learned about the possible plans for future development of the area from Luxxe I to the ocean. All speculation now, because so much depends on the economy and sales of new units. Regardless, it is interesting to hear what the thinking is now.Click on the photo to see more.
Enjoy Ross' comments:
How large the Grand Mayan pool area looks from the Grand Mayan balconies ? They look like only a small part of the total area from this view.
The Grand Bliss has reached its full height and is being topped off.
The Mayan Palace end unit additions look to be close to completion. They are working on the interior and on the hallway connections to the original building.
Café Del Lago has had its? outdoor dining areas expanded. They are terraced so that each level has a view over the Lagoons to the ocean. The cement work, all of the plantings and the clean up was completed in 10 days. The café re-opened the day before we left. It is a short stroll from the Luxxe pools to the Palace Lobby.
The Luxxe pool on the left is natural temperature while the one on the right has some warming to ease the morning chills.
The building tucked in close to Café Del Lago is the Luxxe pool kitchen. The dining area is in front of it.
The three building running off to the right are from left to right: Ladies washroom, Towel building and Men?s washroom.
The edge of Luxxe Tower II can be seen past the above three building.
All of the hardscape around the Luxxe pools is a magic white concrete that is smooth and easy on bare feet and in the mid day heat it is actually really cold on the tootsies.
The manager told me that there will be more pools to the left of this picture between these pools and the ocean. He did not know what is planned for the area to the right.
He did say that there will not be a building between Luxxe Towers I and II. The next tower will be built further inland from the second tower.
Luxxe Punta, if necessary will be built last. It will be between Tower one and the ocean.
Sales said that Luxxe Punta may be a ?Mansions of the World?. They said that we should have access to it with our Maintenance Fees but there is no mention of it in our contract.
Thanks for the update and photo, Ross.
December 17, 2009
Bob had some questions he wanted asked of his Nuevo Vallarta Customer Service Representative and has shared both the questions and answers with us.
First Bob's questions:
Hi (name purposely omitted),
It was good to see you again. I appreciate
your help in getting us an ocean view room. We really enjoy the
resort so I want to give you some thoughts that you can respond to and
pass on to management to make the experience better for your
owners.
The biggest problem we find is a lack of
communication. This is between Grupo Mayan and owners and within
the resort with the people who make it work. A web site
has been created for Grupo Mayan owners which focuses on Nuevo
Vallarta. When owners come back they post info and
pictures. Since we attended a presentation we have a lot of
information to post but I want to go over the points with you and get
your response before we post because some of the info may not be
correct. Frankly we believe about one half of what the sales
people tell us in the presentations. I know this is long but please
take the time to respond to ALL of the points. I would like to
put my postings on the website the week after next.
1. Our first suggestion is that Grupo
Mayan produce a newsletter to send to owners preferably quarterly but
at least twice a year to update us on what is new and progress on the
construction.
2. Suggestion #2 is to communicate to all
the resort staff what the rules are and what owners are entitled
to. Here are some examples of what happens that make owners
upset and your responses will be posted.
- As you know EVERY
time we have come it has been a fight to get an ocean view room 5th
floor or above. I recognize this is a real problem as there are
only so many ocean view rooms. However Grand Luxe and Grand
Bliss members are supposed to get priority according to you. And
even though I had your email that Miriam Calixto had supposedly
confirmed our request we had a lot of trouble at check in to finally
get it. The excuse is that they do not have the sales or Miriam
info in the system. That is ridiculous.
- When the Grand
Luxe and Grand Bliss open there still will only be 1/2 the rooms
facing the ocean to the west. The other side will likely have a
view into Banderas Bay and the lower floors should have good
views. So what should people request. Should it be a west
facing room or a room ending in an odd number (those are ocean facing
in the Grand Mayan)? This will also be less of an issue when
Nayar is complete. What do you suggest?
- One of my
grandsons and his father used our free golf. However, I was
amazed to hear from them that noone in the club house gave them info
on the course rules or costs. I went myself to the golf
shop. I was told that there is NO PRINTED INFO. That is
absolute nonsense. It should be clearly spelled out what are the
green fee costs , club rental, ball purchase options, clothing
and shoe rules, and caddy costs. It is hard to believe that is
not written down for people to view. As a result my son in law
had to purchase balls that cost 6X the cost of the used balls that you
have for sale and was surprised on the ninth hole when the caddy
requested payment.
- Exercise
amenities. We used all our 6 hours of exercise classes but each
day was a fight. Our contract indicates that it includes, yoga,
spinning, and pilates. The certificate was not clear. And
each day the gym staff argued about whether it covered pool spinning
or only indoor spinning and said it did not include stretching.
I believe that all exercise classes are the same price so why should
it matter which ones are used by the certificate. These are the kind
of silly things that make owners upset. What are the real
rules? - There is no website for
Grand Bliss members and the Grand Mayan one does not work as you
cannot reserve a master suite. We have heard time after time
that the websites will be up and running. What is the real
timetable? This is not a difficult IT problem and should
have been solved ages ago. It really upsets the
owners Is there really a separate customer service
group for Grand Bliss and Grand Luxe members?.
- Since the Grand Luxe and
Grand Bliss are not open we cannot avail ourselves of the ability to
book 12 or 8 months in advance. Again, promises that are not
met.
3. We took notes during our presentation
and these will also be posted so that we need you to confirm or
clarify.
- I have always asked
when Buenos Aires will be open. We were very surprised and upset
to hear the answer. We are told that you have entered into a
joint venture with the Wyndham group to put up luxury hotels in major
cities in the world. These are to be called Mansions of the
World. The first one will be Buenos Aires. However we are
told that ONLY Grand Luxe members will be eligible to utilize the
Mansions of the World facilities. That is not what we were told
when we bought each time. We need to know the real answer and
why?
- We are told that the
Grand Luxe is now only being sold in 4 week chunks, in other words you
cannot buy one week. We of course were offered a "special deal"
to upgrade to a one week one bedroom. They also said
that there will be no more vacation fair weeks. Now we have
one registered week and one vacation fair week at the Grand Bliss. We
are also told that new owners will be required to pay the yearly
maintenance fee regardless whether they use the week or not.
Need you to confirm all this. Not paying the maintenance if
you don't use a week is a big attraction for the Grupo Mayan.
You really ought to rethink this if true.
- We are told that green fee
costs will be $250 per round. This was part of trying to get us
to upgrade. Since the cost is now $35.00 for 18 holes we find
this hard to believe. I would expect when the second course is
finished and the first one is back to 18 holes that the green fees
will increase but 7X??. Please confirm.
- We are told that the senior program of
paying only 1/2 the maintenance fee at 75 and zero at 77 is no longer
available to new owners. Is that true and please confirm that
those of us who have will continue to have it.
- We were also told that if we
upgraded to a 1 BDR Grand Luxe we could utilize a 2 BDRM by giving up
golf and massage and pay a maintenance fee which is less.
- There were a lot of other
supposed benefits of the Grand Luxe such as use of 2 premium weeks in
deluxe resorts anywhere etc.
4. What other sites have or will have
Grand Bliss or Grand Luxe facilities.
5. We understand that the Grand Luxe
will have a soft opening in Feb. but will not take reservations for
any time before April. Please confirm.
6. What is the current timetable for
completion and opening of the Nuevo Vallarta Grand
Bliss/
7. We would frankly prefer that the sales
office remain in the Grand Mayan instead of being relocated to the
Grand Bliss. Why move it?
8. What is the timetable for completion
and opening of Nayar with the new entrance, trains,
etc.
A lot of questions but it really is in your best
interest to respond. Thanks in advance.
Bob
Now the answers:
Had a talk with our Customer Service Representative this AM and she gave me answers
to most of the questions that I sent and which you had copies of. Here are
the salient points.
1. She claims that she passed on my email to the
powers to be especially re the newsletter and better communications. She
agrees on the communication problem which of course they blame on high
turnover which just means no training or management followup. We will see
if anything changes.
2. Websites: She is just getting the same old BS
that I get re websites. She did say that they are committed to having
websites for each group eg Grand Luxe, Grand Bliss, etc. However she gets
no timetable for completion. These are not difficult things so I don't
understand the problem. So we will continue to rely on the customer
service #s.
3. Re ocean view rooms. For the Grand Bliss and
Grand Luxe she admits that 1/2 will view the ocean and the rest the Bay.
She has no idea of the room numbering system yet. So I guess it is the same
program of asking for the view you want and then I go through her so I have a
letter back in case of the usual fight at check in.
4. Golf. She claims the Mayan Palace guests are now
paying $105 per round but I told her when I got the quote the person had no
idea of my status. In any case I would suspect that the $250 per round may
be true when the current and new course are completed.
5. Mansions of the World. She did confirm that
there has been a change with the concepts of Mansions. As a Grand
Bliss member I will not have access to them. As Grand Luxe members you
will have access and at your regular maintenance fees. They have no date
on completion in Buenos Aires. Apparently they are having permit
problems with the government. Another promise to us broken.
6. Openings. She did confirm the Grand Luxe soft
opening in Feb and taking firm reservations for April and beyond. The
Grand Bliss is scheduled to be open Nov. 2010.
7. Nayar. Timetable is still opening early
2012. Penasco will also have the same format but not likely for the other
locations. Penasco is also getting a Grand Bliss and a Grand Luxe.
8. The most important point she made is the new
philosophy. We are very lucky that we are early buyers. She would
not confirm the Grand Luxe requirement of having to buy 4 weeks but she did
confirm the following:
- Maintenance fees for all are
mandatory beginning 2010 except for those of us who have old contracts. In
fact I just got a letter about paying my 2010 maintenance fees but it did
show "only if used"
- Vacation Fair weeks will not be
available for new owners
- There will be no more senior
discounts
- Any privilege or extra
entitlement in our agreements will be honored..
It would appear to me that they have become successful
enough so that they can now act like all other time share operations. Our
ownerships have become even more valuable.
Bob feel free to post whatever you wish of this
info.
Thanks Bob. Good information for all of us.
