you are, of course, very likely right. assuming the Globalist resort resort-fee-waiver is a cost of affilliation with Hyatt rather than a reimbursement from Hyatt Corp to the hotel.

How much Resort fees for award stay
 

If you stay using points how do they calculate resort fees?

No fees for full award bookings....

Any additional updates in the new year?

Have a 3 night stay in a beach suite in couple weeks. Found the latest review on TA about 2 water bugs being found in the room a bit concerning, hopefully not the case otherwise.

Based on reviews discussing the distance between the lagoon and beach rooms - hoping to buy up to a beach suite from lagoon suite (DSU) when we go next month. Will report back with my findings. :)

Imagine that (harmless) bugs in a hot and humid climate....

Just booked a 5 night C&P stay in February, and DSU'd into a lagoon view suite. We visited GH Playa last spring, and really enjoyed that, but I had bronchitis and was pretty confined to the hotel. Hoping to actually get out and see some stuff this time.

Quick question: Does anyone know if the couch in the suite pulls out? That's not listed on the website, but they do say they can bring in a roll-away. We'll have a 6 and a 2 year old with us.

How did you use a DSU with a stay in April if the upgrades expire in Feb? They told me I need to call back after March 1st.

Sorry, meant February. The April trip is Aruba.

Sorry for going OT, but did you book Aruba yet? Sounds like it's to be tougher this yr to upgrade - DSU now confirms into former Cayenne suite, only 3 of those, and further from club. Last year was the Family Suite which worked out great for us. Details here.

Keep us posted on Mayakoba pls - thinking of booking a trip there soon as availability and rates look to be reasonable.

Haven't booked yet; we're considering both the Hyatt and the Renaissance (I also have Platinum status with Marriott).

Mayakoba will be interesting; It looks like all the suites (except the presidential suite) are only 1 king, no pull-out. We have a 6 and 2 year old that will be with us. According to Tahsir's review, it looks like the couch is big enough to sleep on, but my wife is not convinced that will be ideal for the kids for 5 nights. Otherwise, I guess we are bringing in a roll-away (or maybe 2?)...

I feel like pretty much every suite I've ever been in had a pull out couch.

Another question for those who have been: Tahsir's review says you can move around within Mayakoba and see the other hotels / dine at their restaurants. For those who have been (or once you go in the coming days / weeks), would you recommend any specific hotels / restaurants. I understand there are only three: Rosewood, Banyan Tree, and Fairmont. I wonder if you ate lunch there is you could also swim in their pools?

I like the idea of getting some variety out of the trip. Considering booking one night at one of the other hotels just to try it, but the wife is against it for the hassle of unpacking / repacking.

Having been to dozens of similar properties around the world in a "hot and humid climate", at last not used to seeing them come inside the room which means there may be an opening through the walls or ducts where they came in through. This is at least I wouldn't expect at Andaz or Park Hyatt caliber properties.

On another note, anyone know if theres any real difference between "Beach" and "Ocean Front" suite? Maybe one is on ground level while other is on higher level?

How was it? Booked for February with DSUs confirmed. Curious about the rooms, upgrade potential, the pools/beach, and how easy it is to get to/from downtown PDC.

Can someone who has stayed here share what the restaurant options are like both at the resort and around the rest of Mayakoba? Is it only 'fine dining' and the like or is there a good mix? What should one expect to spend per day on food per person?

Also, for someone without Diamond, what are the breakfast options?

I requested menus from the hotel just yesterday. Will add to this thread when (if) I receive them.

Based on reviews it certainly looks like there are a number of casual dining options - which is certainly to be expected at a beach property.

I just received the menus for the restaurants. Dinner menus are below. I also received the breakfast, lunch, and dessert menus if anyone is interested but figured this would be a good reference point. Prices are very reasonable with the current exchange rate.


Amate

http://i.imgur.com/EBgc1s1.jpg

Milagro

http://i.imgur.com/SEDS9O5.jpg

Olla Ceviche

http://i.imgur.com/qEhmsPx.jpg

Olla Taco

http://i.imgur.com/OCMaE7C.jpg

Thanks for the menus Gunner14!

I would be interested in seeing the breakfast, lunch, and dessert ones if you had a moment to upload them. :)

Just got back, was a great stay, albeit pretty quiet as was told by their staff the occupancy last weekend was only about 25-30% of rooms. We were upgraded to a Beach Suite after having booked the standard room through straight points (have diamond status).

The breakfast buffet at Cocina Milagro for those without diamond status would cost about 650 Mexican Pesos plus a 15% service charge which converts to about $35 USD per person. Not sure if this 15% meant the gratuity itself or not as we never asked the staff but left a cash tip anyway everywhere.

Dinner at Casa Amate ran us about 3000 Pesos or $140 including taxes/tip for the 2 of us which was for 2 soups, 2 cocktails, and 2 entrees (no dessert).

Snacks in the minibar included very tasty chile peanuts, potato chips, some Mayan brand of chocolates, and several non-alcoholic beverages free of charge.

The spa that we didn't partake charges about $190 USD for a 1 hour massage or facial plus 15% service charge and about $235 USD for 90 minutes.

the lagoon suite here is special. private hot tub pool is truly private & heated to about 98 degrees. design is fun. huge balcony with round dining table. three balconies.

aside from the presidential & bi-level, it would be a mistake to upgrade further. nothing nicer at the lagoon. upgrades would be beach suite, ocean suite which are about 1/3 smaller than lagoon suite overall due to missing the whole pool area that the lagoon suite has. this is a half-the-size tub on the balcony in the beach/ocean suites, taking up half the balcony. further, this private pool is not heated. similarly, the hotel pool at the beach is not heated - they didn't install a heater.

lagoon suite you want an XX31, not an XX21. there are only 12 lagoon suites, one per building in about half the 20 or so lagoon side buildings. looks like 8 are XX31 and 4 are XX21. XX is buillding number 01 to 22ish. three story buildings, you want the top 3rd floor. for the XX21 suite, the walkway on the 3rd floor looks down onto your private pool. you probably want a higher XX number for less foot traffic in front.

11am boat tour is a must. show up 5 minutes late to get on the 2nd boat, less crowded.

multiple servers advise, unprompted, 15% service charge goes to hotel. so, menu price + 50% is the final cost if you're not a d. truly +++.

private taxi 107USD roundtrip. just walk out of the mass of hawkers to curb upon CUN arrival, find the Super Shuttle stand a bit to the left. despite the name, it is private transfer.

overall stunning. best hyatt resort in my mind now. better than papagayo, closer & better beach. better than maui, cheaper & easier/better DSU. $600ish roundtrip DL J flights nonstop LAX. will be here lots.

So from what your saying, 15% service charge is NOT gratuity? Good to know as had left additional tip everywhere anyway.

This is insanity! 15% resort fee + 3% whatever fee + 15% SERVICE CHARGE at restaurants and still it's not for the staff!?

I emailed the hotel and I received a contradicting reply vs yours.

..."Regarding your inquiry, I would like to say the service charge it is the tip for the staff of the restaurant, however if you considered the service was excellent you can give an extra tip for your waiter. About the resort fee this charge is split in the entire collaborators in the property."

What is a proper additional tip anyway? If I have a 3,000 Pesos meal at a restaurant + $450 service charge + what? Another 15% seems outrageous.

This resort will be insanely expensive with these fine prints.

Curious as to what others feel is an appropriate tip on top of the 15% service charge ... all tip suggestion sites ... even the liberal ones ... say there's no need to tip if the restaurant already includes a service charge.

Check your PM.

your issue here is with management. management knows exactly what it is doing. it presents a bill with a line item "service charge" with a calculated 15% and a separate line item "propensity/gratuity" with blank line. at Banyan Tree, the F&B receipts print with the sentence "service charge is included". No such sentence on Andaz receipts. Banyan Tree additional line is labelled "additional gratuity". Management's decisions at Andaz are quite intentional.

employees have income expectations - if the Andaz model is to confuse & extract an extra 15% from most customers, then the employees have likely accepted lower wages as a result. if management eliminates this nonsense, Andaz will need to raise wages to attract & retain staff.

as it stands now, the only choice most reasonable American customers will see is to add an additional 15% to the bill for the server. the battle can't be waged with the server and his family as the collateral damage.

that being said, Andaz printed prices at 50% markup should be the final cost expectation, and, even still, it is a fair final price. $20 final cost for a frilly, quality cocktails with an umbrella & fresh garnish overlooking the Caribbean ain't too bad in my mind.

I had the opportunity to speak to one of the managers. He clarified that the service charge IS the gratuity for the wait staff and the resort fee is to cover the services / activities offered at the resort.

it is my opinion (and there are countless opinions) that something extra directly to the waiter for excellent service is appropriate -- but not another 15% -- and not on the bill! It is MUCH better to give it to your waiter directly in cash, to ensure all of it goes to the person intended.

I'm a generous tipper - believe me - but we really need to get clarity around this now.

PS - this is such an awesome, unique property. Amazing first impressions.

Thanks for the info Collin! Currently looking at booking here for my honeymoon coming up in April (plan to use DSU into Lagoon Suite). Originally was thinking about upgrading further with cash to a beach suite, but may not do this after hearing your thoughts. Any other tips or advice that you can give?

Quick thoughts: I'm stunned by this property. It is beautiful. Just got off the Eco tour and it was AMAZING and beautiful!

I encourage anyone who's mildly interested to book this property now. I don't see the (comparatively) low rates or wide-open points availability being around for too long, it will likely catch up with its counterparts soon enough.

Amazing!

Any pictures of your suite and balcony would be greatly appreciated! Kind of hard to understand the layout of the room's because there are not that many pictures uploaded on the website. (I have seen a few on hotwire and tripadvisor)

Of course! The only way I know how to do that on FT is via text message lol! PM me your number or email and I'll send you some pictures. We are in a beach suite. Had to take the upgrade because I needed a two double bed room next to it and this was the best set up available. Although I have to agree with Colin, a third floor lagoon view suite is probably best other than Bi level or Presidential. We get enough beach views in other hotels - the lagoon view is something special.

But right now every room is amazing! Spanking brand new and super high ceilings (15 feet?).

Here now and am blown away. I know folks have strong opinions in both directions on the Andaz Maui, but I personally love it (have been 4x in the last 12 months). I love the Andaz Mayakoba as much as the Andaz Maui and in some respects even more.

We had a lagoon view suite and ended up switching to a beach suite. Both are absolutely stunning both in size and design.

Really like OllaTaco, the casual dining restaurant by the pool. We had poolside tacos there the first day as well as dinner that evening. While the prices may seem "expensive for Mexico," given that I live in San Francisco/NYC, the prices seemed downright fair/reasonable to me. Quality poolside cocktails ran about $11 each.

I'd be VERY curious to see how the whole golf cart setup works during peak season occupancy. Presumably right now they're under 40% occupancy and there have been moments where we had to wait a good bit for one to arrive to take us around the property.

Nonetheless, this property is a homerun and the service has been stellar. Spa was beautiful too. We didn't have treatments. We just did hydrotherapy.

I did a video tour of the lagoon suite and will do one of the Beach Suite as well before we leave. Will post both once I get them uploaded back home.

the lagoon suites XX31 connect nicely to a XX32 lagoon double to create a 2-bedroom suite.

in the picture below, to the left of the pool is the connecting XX32 lagoon double.
to the right is the bathroom and further right the king bedroom.


https://s28.postimg.cc/mwo829fvh/IMG_0277.jpg

Having just spent four nights in Mexico City, the prices quoted in this thread (3000 pesos for dinner, $190 for a 1 hour massage, etc.) are absolutely insane and reflect massive price gouging by the management.

This still looks like a beautiful property but I will wait until after March 1, when resort fees are waived for top tier.

I spent 5,000 for a dinner here. :P I suppose it was worth it as a similar dinner in the USA would probably cost 4x if not more. It was an amazing dinning experience.

I did notice the hotel has (already) raised prices of some dinner entrees vs the menus available in this thread.

That's what ultimately matters :)

Que tengas buenas vacaciones!

Waived "resort" fees would be very nice - just priced out a stay at Andaz and at Ziva: Ziva turns out to be ~$50/nt cheaper in total even though Andaz has a $60/nt lower rate.

Really? Only one month in? For the exact same entrees as are on the menus posted in this thread? Is it in reaction to the recent exchange rate change (ex. a 5-10% increase) or is it something less justifiable (ex. 30-100% increase for no reason whatsoever)? Are there still decent mains dishes in the $15-$20 range or are they all $25+ now?

From what I saw, their price increase (for now) was for meat entrees. Poultry / seafood was the same price as it is on the menus here.

But, for example, the Rib Eye Steak at Casa Amate went from 950 to 1,250. And the Beef Pachamanca went from 450 to 620. So approximately a 30% hike in price.

There's plenty of entrees in the 300-400 range ($15-$20). Room service, surprisingly, is priced on the same level as the restaurants - which makes it a good alternative for an evening in.

I must say, the dinner service at the restaurants is top-notch. Amazing waiters and lots of attention to detail. They will do whatever they can to customize an entree based on your individual needs.

Hmm. I guess I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that it's a supplier/market issue then, or maybe they realized that they had mispriced it from day one.

But, if they are instead just playing around with the prices and then keeping track of orders to see what they can get away with charging... well, that's not very professional to say the least... :rolleyes: