http://www.villasofdistinction.com/v...2009_Rates.htm
$480 Garden Pool Villa
$534 Courtyard Pool Villa
$587 Spa Pool Villa
$694 Two-Bedroom Estuary Pool Villa
$914 Two-Bedroom Sunrise Lagoon Pool Villa
$1,127 Two-Bedroom Sunset Lagoon Pool Villa
$1,414 [3BR] Terrace Residence
$4,220 Three-Bedroom Beach Front Pool Villa
I am really impressed by how the management of Banyan Tree Mayakoba responded to your other half's review on Trip Advisor. They really addressed the issues and told us how the problems will be solved. Really looking forward to the trip next week!
...The outdoor shower is a great disappointment as there is a cheap shower head attached to the side of the wall...
...There is a flight of stairs outside which leads up to the spa treatment area. There is a great outdoor shower (which should have been downstairs!) that is not private at all...
...The in villa dining menu is still limited and we found the food to be unremarkable and very overpriced even by five star resort standards...
...We tried the Tamarinde restaurant which offers “Mediterranean spa” cuisine. The food was decent, however the portions were small and the prices were very high...
...Both pools were quite chilly as was our pool villa...
...Since it is a LONG way from the villas to the beach, many guests will require the use of a buggy. Even with a few guests, we had to wait for a buggy on occasion. We were told they are doing their best to correct this. However, when the resort is full and the weather is hot, the demand for buggies will increase dramatically. The walkways and paths are very narrow. I honestly did not see how two buggies will be able to fit when they are going in opposite directions...
...We were surprised at the high level of security. Uniformed guards were stationed throughout the resort and kept a very watchful eye at all times. They were not obtrusive...
Quote:
Dear guest,
I would like to thank you for taking the time to write about your experience with us and for your high commendation on our service.
Your remarks are very much appreciated as they help us to improve both our service and our product and I want to share with you the actions we are taking for your comments.
Regarding the outdoor shower, we are in the process to change all of them by the end of this year as well as installing heaters for main pools by the same time. And for the privacy of the upstairs shower, we are also making it more private while still allowing you to enjoy the natural environment.
Your comments regarding the menus and portions of food in our restaurants have been discussed with the Food and Beverage Director for his review.
New buggies will be arriving in two weeks time in order to improve our guest transportation service.
We look forward to your return to Banyan Tree Mayakoba and to having the privilege of being of service to you again soon.
Just returned from the Banyan Tree Mayakoba this past weekend. I plan on writing up as extensive and detailed a review as I can muster over the next few days, but thought that I would give you a few first impressions. Overall, the resort is absolutely fantastic. There is very little that I could tell you is sub-par. The villas are absolutely magnificent, the private pools luxurious, the beach club service is beyond even the highest standards, and the staff are the typical BT, customer focused, no request is too much type of group.
We are already planning a return trip. Don't hesitate to book while the rates are still good. I have a feeling this place is going to be on a lot of people's hot lists this year. Feel free to PM me with any specific questions, or just look out for a detailed review with pics in the next few days.
Just returned from the Banyan Tree Mayakoba this past weekend. I plan on writing up as extensive and detailed a review as I can muster over the next few days, but thought that I would give you a few first impressions. Overall, the resort is absolutely fantastic. There is very little that I could tell you is sub-par. The villas are absolutely magnificent, the private pools luxurious, the beach club service is beyond even the highest standards, and the staff are the typical BT, customer focused, no request is too much type of group.
We are already planning a return trip. Don't hesitate to book while the rates are still good. I have a feeling this place is going to be on a lot of people's hot lists this year. Feel free to PM me with any specific questions, or just look out for a detailed review with pics in the next few days.
Good to hear you had a great time at the resort, I look forward to your review.
Banyan Tree resorts get such mixed reviews. Actually, I have heard so many bad things about the BT Phuket in particular, I am interested in your comparison of the two.
Banyan Tree resorts get such mixed reviews. Actually, I have heard so many bad things about the BT Phuket in particular, I am interested in your comparison of the two.[/quote]
Stayed at the Banyan Tree Bintan years ago...a total disater!! A pale imitation of an FS/Aman. We left a day early. I vowed never to return again to a Banyan Tree property.
My partner and I spent two nights at BT Mayakoba mid-March in one of the spa villas. I want to reiterate the mostly positive aspects of others' reviews: great architecture, lovely finishing touches, fantastic service - as should be expected from a BT resort. Now on to the negative (for me) aspects:
As has been mentioned, the BT resort is situated such that only a VERY small part of it is actually on the beach. The rest of the resort is very much inland, and it takes a while to get to the beach (30 min walk from reception area, 15 min bike ride, or a 7 min ride on a golf cart) - longer if your villa happens to be further away from the reception area.
When you are using the plentiful and mostly private outdoor space of your villa, you do not hear the sea at all - which is a big deal for me (if I go to a beach vacation, I expect to hear the sound of the waves).
I say the outdoor space is 'mostly' private because the majority of villas do open up to the uncovered cenotes, now being used as waterways. So you can be lounging in your birthday suit and have a boat come by with other guests or service crew...
Some idiosyncrocies - you can get locked out of your villa! An electronic key is used to get into your courtyard and the main living space, however an actual physical key is needed to get into the pavillion (where the TV, minibar, coffeemaker reside). If you happen to forget that the pavillion is locked AND you forgot your electronic key, you can be stuck in your courtyard and have to call the receptionist to get yourself back into the room(s). And no, they have not figured out how to make it so that once you get past the first gate, the rest of the doors remain unlocked if they are on electronic locks.
Spa service prices were fairly outrageous - having just come back from a vacation in SE Asia (we stayed at the Orient Express La Residence Phou Vao in Luan Probang, for example and had a ton of treatments there), it was quite a sticker shock.
Because we wanted to be close to the beach, and most other properties were booked, the only other place nearby that was convenient was the Grand Velas resort (just south of BT). Obviously totally different style, but we got an ocean front suite and fell asleep blissfully to the sound of the waves, and not the AC.
ive always been a fan of that pool design, its fairly uncommon
ensemble benefits >
# Banyan Tree Gallery gift
# Bottle of wine with chocolate-covered strawberries on arrival
# Upgraded room at time of check-in when available
# Early check-in when available
# Late check-out when available
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Apr 27, 09 at 9:51 pm.
You are only going to hear positive things from me about this new resort. I was very impressed how well the staff work together to make your stay so memorable.
We where lucky enough to stay in a 2 Bedroom Sunset Villa which is located one row back form the beach. There are only 6 of these and 804 enjoys a sea view from the second floor bedroom, terraces, and entrance hall. I would expect numbers 805 and 806 to have similar views. You also see the golf course, the cenotes, and the main part of the resort off in the distance. The villas main bedroom had great space and a bathroom that worked really well. There was plenty of shelf space under the double vanity counter to store all your personal items so your pills and potions don't ruin the look of the bathroom. A large closet also had plenty of storage for all your cloths. The outdoor space contained a huge bathtub, a wonderful outdoor shower nothing like what was discussed here in a earlier thread. The water pressure was ample and filled the tub up quickly. When both doors where fully opened the bathroom was as large as the main bedroom.
The separate living room was icy cold, furnished with a huge day bed, ( two full sized mattresses end to end with twelve pillows and three bolsters) table for four, large flat screen TV, CD player, I-pod docking station (also in bath and main bedroom) Coffee Machine, Tea set up with electric kettle, mini bar. This room was very comfortable and with views of the cenote, pool, and outside terrace.
The location of this villa was great as it took about 30 seconds to be on a wide section of beach in its natural state as there were no villas on this portion of beach. The beach club( Sands) was another 30 seconds away with pool, restaurant, bar, lounge chairs, showers and music playing giving the place a great vibe. As soon as you were set up on the beach, cold towels, ice and water were brought over to your lounge. Two towels were part of the set up and if you wanted more a pile of them were presented. The beach staff came back often to see if you need anything.
Getting to the main part of the resort was no problem with choice of either peddling on our own bikes, riding a golf cart, or boat transfers. The boat transfers where really nice with it silent electric engine, Transfers where quick and always done by someone who had a great smile and winning personality. We should all be so lucky to have such great employees or fellow workers in our own fields.
Management must be reading these post and ones on Trip Advisor as the portions of food must have increased. I could not find one dish that looked skimpy. The quality was of the highest standards, the drinks had plenty of ice, the salads fresh and amazing. All drinks where served with linen coasters, and any nuts, chips,etc. served with linen cocktail napkins. Details were really thought of here and made cocktails a must every evening.
The gym was well thought out as each body part had a machine capable of making your muscles sore or toned. There was enough weight here for someone who lifts heavy weights. Cold water, towels, and a trainer are on hand. Good music in the gym as well!
Transfers can be done by the hotel if you want the whole experience from start to finish or a taxi can be hired at the airport very easily for 90 USD plus tip. The hotel transfer has Banyan Tree music playing, iced water, and of course the first of the many "refreshing towel" that will be presented to you during your stay.
Last edited by zigzag; Apr 11, 09 at 3:20 pm.
Reason: spelling as usaul!
Thank you for your detailed reviews of the Banyan Tree Mayakoba. While it is a bit of a ways off, I was wondering if you would recommend such a trip for a quick two night away weekend around Presidents Day. Always like to get away at this time of year, but it is a busy time at work, so two nights is probably our max.
Yes, you should go even if its only for two nights, three days, just get a early morning flight on the day of your arrival and and late afternoon flight or early evening flight on the day of your departure. Its a great resort!
Yes, you should go even if its only for two nights, three days, just get a early morning flight on the day of your arrival and and late afternoon flight or early evening flight on the day of your departure. Its a great resort!
Thank you zigzag. I am thinking ahead to a couple of long weekends that my wife and I may have coming and the possibility of getting a non-stop from Chicago. Sounds fabulous.
My girlfriend and I were checking out resorts in this area for a 3 night break in September, and the Banyan Tree offered us a very respectable deal which, although amazing, pushes our budget to the absolute limit.
Included in the deal is $800 of hotel credit per night, basically turning it into something approaching an all-inclusive.
Neither of us have any experience with anything near this class of luxury, and have a bit of trepidation before shelling out on this. The hotel is surely the absolute best and looks amazing, but does $800 a night (rolling over if we don't spend it all!) cover what we should expect to pay for meals and drinks in this kind of place?! What about tips etc, does that all add up to a significant amount more we'd need to take into consideration?
I figured the luxury-seasoned glitterati of flyertalk would be able to give me some pointers, and to be honest I'm really hoping this question will result in hoots of laughter and people telling me to go book it already!
$800.00 a night in September in Mexico sounds very pricey, especially when they add the taxes and service charges you are in for more then 1k.... You can get into the Rosewood for $400.00 a night with breakfast plus t&s.
I doubt you can spend $800.00 a day in resort credit unless you drink high end wines and sit in the spa all day
5* newbie has a silly question
