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We just returned from the Boutique Resort La Jolla in Mazatlan for our 4th visit. As usual, it is quiet here in June. There were guests in 4 units two weeks, which is more than we have seen here in the past. Two are filled with us and another family who comes each June also, so there are a few more people this year even though several were there for just a long weekend.
When we checked in, I was pleased that no one at the front desk pushed us to attend an update breakfast. But the next morning right after we had breakfast, my husband said someone that was helping him load the ”luggage cart” on our arrival, did hit him up for an update breakfast, with absolutely no sales presentation, just information. (But, he offered $3000 pesos restaurant credit or 4 massages, or $1500 pesos cash.) So, a week after we were here, we finally agreed to go see what the plans are for the resort.
When we arrived, they insisted having a photo ID’s and I had to go back to our unit to get my driver’s license. We had to wait about 10 more minutes before anyone came to take us inside. When we got to check-in desk, they wanted a credit card too. We told them that this was an update, and not a sales deal so we did not want to give that to them – besides we had to put a credit card on file when we checked in. We also just showed our photo ID but did not let the girl handle it to write down the DL#. They told us that we could not get the free breakfast or any promised gifts if we did not do these two things. We told them that all we really wanted was to find out what was going on construction wise. We did not want gifts or breakfast.
The guy in charge of the people who issue the invitations tried to put a guilt trip on us about how Ricardo would not be paid if we did not do this, but we told him that we did not want the gifts. Ricardo basically snubbed us the rest of the week.
Eventually, Alfredo, the Sales Manager, came out to see us. He said that they were going to build a few more villas and another pool on the side closest to Pueblo Bonito. They are currently expanding the parking lot on that side. He also mentioned that they may build a smaller tower behind the new villas and might tear down the two villas closest to the current tower building and build another smaller tower where those two villas are so that everything matches. They did not have any drawings to show us.
They are no longer selling fixed time and they hope that owners of fixed time in the villas will upgrade to points – especially those in buildings 3 & 4 that they would like to tear down. He said they were making some great offers to fixed time owners to upgrade to La Jolla points. We told him that we were not interested in points at all, especially since they were not affiliated with RCI where we already are members. They are still primarily using HSI and some people have exchanged with DAE. We have never used DAE and do not care for HSI.
I asked about why the top three floors of the tower were not finished and he said that they were waiting for the furniture to arrive and were already booked for October. That is what we were told last year too! There is no elevator in the tower building. On the first floor, they have a sheet of plywood that they nailed up and painted. They have big pots in front of that space. On the 2nd floor they have the pots with plants. So, if you were assigned to the 5th floor, you will have to walk a lot of steps. I went up to the 2nd floor the other day and the area that is supposed to be the gym has mattresses and some cabinets stored there.
They no longer have gals onsite to do massages. If you want a massage, they call someone to come to the resort and do the massage in your room.
Since we were here last year,
• They have painted all the villas tan to match the tower and colors are similar to the Emerald Bay and RIU colors. It does look nice.
• The new lobby is very attractive.
• The pool is in good shape and the maintenance person who keeps it up is doing a good job. We checked the water with our pool test strips and everything is good.
• They do have a few more umbrellas around for guests to use now which is nice.
• There are a few more TV channels, but not many.
• The WI-FI is still slow, but is free.
• The water is still not drinkable, so we purchase 5-gallon jugs of water at a small grocery nearby, but you prefer, you can purchase them from the restaurant for 50 pesos.
• It is also nice to have a parking lot with pavers – not dirt. The sales manager told hubby that we parked in his spot (the one closest to the lobby). It was not marked reserved, so we used it the first day. We are the only guests here with a vehicle, but the lot gets full with sales staff cars and the La Jolla vans during the day. One day they did not like it that we wanted to go out the “in” gate – but construction workers had wheelbarrows in the “out” gate. After a manager intervened, whenever we headed to our vehicle when the workers on the new parking area were present, the “in” gate guard waved to us and opened his gate.
Our dishwasher would not work and they sent maintenance over and two guys came right up and brought us a different one. Another day, the microwave was not working and they brought us a different one. We do not know if these were new or snagged from another unit.
My biggest complaint was about the water – not only could we not drink it, but some mornings we had very little water pressure and one morning when rinsing my hair, NO WATER. The maintenance staff uses the hose connected to Diamond building to water plants and grass. The filter clogs up quickly and they do not replace it, just rinse it out. When it gets full of “gunk” no water!!! As soon as we reported no water, the maintenance man cleaned the filter and we had water again.
We had to leave early for a family health issue at home, but plan to go again next June.
If you want solitude and a relaxing vacation, this is the place to go, but if you want something other than beach and pool, choose somewhere else.
Regardless - DO NOT EVER TAKE A PRESENTATION TOUR. These folks are worse than the Grupo Mayan sales group.
__________________
When we checked in, I was pleased that no one at the front desk pushed us to attend an update breakfast. But the next morning right after we had breakfast, my husband said someone that was helping him load the ”luggage cart” on our arrival, did hit him up for an update breakfast, with absolutely no sales presentation, just information. (But, he offered $3000 pesos restaurant credit or 4 massages, or $1500 pesos cash.) So, a week after we were here, we finally agreed to go see what the plans are for the resort.
When we arrived, they insisted having a photo ID’s and I had to go back to our unit to get my driver’s license. We had to wait about 10 more minutes before anyone came to take us inside. When we got to check-in desk, they wanted a credit card too. We told them that this was an update, and not a sales deal so we did not want to give that to them – besides we had to put a credit card on file when we checked in. We also just showed our photo ID but did not let the girl handle it to write down the DL#. They told us that we could not get the free breakfast or any promised gifts if we did not do these two things. We told them that all we really wanted was to find out what was going on construction wise. We did not want gifts or breakfast.
The guy in charge of the people who issue the invitations tried to put a guilt trip on us about how Ricardo would not be paid if we did not do this, but we told him that we did not want the gifts. Ricardo basically snubbed us the rest of the week.
Eventually, Alfredo, the Sales Manager, came out to see us. He said that they were going to build a few more villas and another pool on the side closest to Pueblo Bonito. They are currently expanding the parking lot on that side. He also mentioned that they may build a smaller tower behind the new villas and might tear down the two villas closest to the current tower building and build another smaller tower where those two villas are so that everything matches. They did not have any drawings to show us.
They are no longer selling fixed time and they hope that owners of fixed time in the villas will upgrade to points – especially those in buildings 3 & 4 that they would like to tear down. He said they were making some great offers to fixed time owners to upgrade to La Jolla points. We told him that we were not interested in points at all, especially since they were not affiliated with RCI where we already are members. They are still primarily using HSI and some people have exchanged with DAE. We have never used DAE and do not care for HSI.
I asked about why the top three floors of the tower were not finished and he said that they were waiting for the furniture to arrive and were already booked for October. That is what we were told last year too! There is no elevator in the tower building. On the first floor, they have a sheet of plywood that they nailed up and painted. They have big pots in front of that space. On the 2nd floor they have the pots with plants. So, if you were assigned to the 5th floor, you will have to walk a lot of steps. I went up to the 2nd floor the other day and the area that is supposed to be the gym has mattresses and some cabinets stored there.
They no longer have gals onsite to do massages. If you want a massage, they call someone to come to the resort and do the massage in your room.
Since we were here last year,
• They have painted all the villas tan to match the tower and colors are similar to the Emerald Bay and RIU colors. It does look nice.
• The new lobby is very attractive.
• The pool is in good shape and the maintenance person who keeps it up is doing a good job. We checked the water with our pool test strips and everything is good.
• They do have a few more umbrellas around for guests to use now which is nice.
• There are a few more TV channels, but not many.
• The WI-FI is still slow, but is free.
• The water is still not drinkable, so we purchase 5-gallon jugs of water at a small grocery nearby, but you prefer, you can purchase them from the restaurant for 50 pesos.
• It is also nice to have a parking lot with pavers – not dirt. The sales manager told hubby that we parked in his spot (the one closest to the lobby). It was not marked reserved, so we used it the first day. We are the only guests here with a vehicle, but the lot gets full with sales staff cars and the La Jolla vans during the day. One day they did not like it that we wanted to go out the “in” gate – but construction workers had wheelbarrows in the “out” gate. After a manager intervened, whenever we headed to our vehicle when the workers on the new parking area were present, the “in” gate guard waved to us and opened his gate.
Our dishwasher would not work and they sent maintenance over and two guys came right up and brought us a different one. Another day, the microwave was not working and they brought us a different one. We do not know if these were new or snagged from another unit.
My biggest complaint was about the water – not only could we not drink it, but some mornings we had very little water pressure and one morning when rinsing my hair, NO WATER. The maintenance staff uses the hose connected to Diamond building to water plants and grass. The filter clogs up quickly and they do not replace it, just rinse it out. When it gets full of “gunk” no water!!! As soon as we reported no water, the maintenance man cleaned the filter and we had water again.
We had to leave early for a family health issue at home, but plan to go again next June.
If you want solitude and a relaxing vacation, this is the place to go, but if you want something other than beach and pool, choose somewhere else.
Regardless - DO NOT EVER TAKE A PRESENTATION TOUR. These folks are worse than the Grupo Mayan sales group.
__________________
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