Mayan Palace Nuevo Vallarta-- Tours help

[Dancingfish Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dancingfish]

Will the concerige desk be able to assist in setting up tours?

[pittle Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pittle]

The concierge desk will be quite busy helping guest do that. We have booked some tours through one of the concierge desks. We figured it was better than all the "hawkers" along the streets. They always have strings attached - timeshare tours.

You should have a wonderful trip.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

When you get there ask the cabbies to take you on a private tour. That will run you cheaper and better than any tour you can take.

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

When you get there ask the cabbies to take you on a private tour. That will run you cheaper and better than any tour you can take.

That is what we always do. We chat with the taxi drivers at the resort to find one that we like and then make a deal for an all day private tour. We did a fabulous 12 hour private tour from Nuevo Vallarta up to Tepic, Nayarit and then back down along the coast.

There is an on site travel agency at the Grand Mayan where you can arrange tours. The concierge doesn't book tours for you but will probably direct you to the travel agent. We went on one tour with them.

[tim Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tim]

John, we are going for Easter this year and can't wait. Our first time to Mexico. The idea of using a cab for a tour sounds great. About what can I expect to pay for a full day with a cab like you had? Also, is it possible to fit 5 in a cab? We have our 3 kids with (ages 7, 10, 12). THanks. Tim

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

John, we are going for Easter this year and can't wait. Our first time to Mexico. The idea of using a cab for a tour sounds great. About what can I expect to pay for a full day with a cab like you had? Also, is it possible to fit 5 in a cab? We have our 3 kids with (ages 7, 10, 12). THanks. Tim

Tim we rented 2 Suburbans each able to hold 10. Our cost was on a per hour rate but I do not recall how much it was. I think it may have been about $120 per car.

[tim Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tim]

Bigfrank, thanks. Okay, I can live with $120 for the day. I will definitely look into this for a day trip to see the surrounding areas.

Do they prefer US dollars or pesos for hiring the cars?

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

Bigfrank, thanks. Okay, I can live with $120 for the day. I will definitely look into this for a day trip to see the surrounding areas.

Do they prefer US dollars or pesos for hiring the cars?

Use pesos. You will lose about 10% typically if you pay in dollars.

[Dancingfish Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dancingfish]

Wonderful-- glad to hear about the travel agent! and the cabbie idea

[barndweller Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close barndweller]

Dancingfish,
We just returned from our Nuevo Vallarta trip. We really enjoyed our stay at Mayan Palace. The weather was perfect, too. We booked one tour with Vallarta Adventures from the on-site travel agency. It was costly & not all that great. It was called Rhythms of the Night, an evening boat ride to Las Caletas with a buffet dinner & show. The place is nice but it was so dark we couldn't see anything, the boat ride was fun but very, very rough, & the food was nothing to write home about. We had to wolf down our food to rush into the theater for the show, a sort of psudo-mystical ballet & light show deal. Then immediately reboard the boat for the ride back which actually was the best part seeing the shore all lit up at night and a full moon overhead. I wouldn't do it again. I'd rather do one of the day trips they offer to the same location so you could enjoy the place and not feel like you are being herded around in the dark!

I will enthusiasticaly recommend the Mexican Fiesta held on Thursday night on the beach at the Mayan Palace. It was good food with huge variety, well organized & an entertaining show & we felt it was worth the price.

Next time we will do as others have suggested & hire a cab for a private tour to get out & see some of the other towns & such. We spent most of our time just enjoying the lovely resort (especially the pool) & sampling the drink of the day.