Oct 5, 2015, 8:35 am
Last edit by: chrisdeaner
Expert Review (posted in Luxury Forum) from Jan 2018 from Villa stay:
https://www.flyertalk.com/hotel-revi...encounter-2352
Restrictions on the Acceptance of US Currency
Due to recent local regulations, the acceptance of US Dollars in cash is now restricted across Mexico. Payments with credit/debit cards remain unaffected. Please provide arrangements to settle your accounts and other expenses with a credit card or in Mexican Pesos. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause our guests.
FYI - the hotel also can't exchange USD<>MXN but they do have an ATM near the lobby (downstairs by the meeting rooms) that dispenses Pesos.
https://www.flyertalk.com/hotel-revi...encounter-2352
Restrictions on the Acceptance of US Currency
Due to recent local regulations, the acceptance of US Dollars in cash is now restricted across Mexico. Payments with credit/debit cards remain unaffected. Please provide arrangements to settle your accounts and other expenses with a credit card or in Mexican Pesos. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause our guests.
FYI - the hotel also can't exchange USD<>MXN but they do have an ATM near the lobby (downstairs by the meeting rooms) that dispenses Pesos.
St Regis Punta Mita Resort, Mexico [Master Thread]
Jan 26, 2019, 11:55 pm
#571
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 1,394
I couldnt agree more, but with the official Family plan allowing up to 3 adults and 2 children in the room (if I read it correctly), I dont find asking for experiences with staying more than two in the room attempting to fill it with “lots of people”. Especially not with room sizes starting at 600 sq feet.
I've stayed here with a family of four (toddler and infant) in a deluxe suite and junior suite. IMO the junior suite and the standard room are big enough for two adults and two small children. The rooms are big, but about half that space is the bathroom, so the room itself is not as big as one might think looking at square footage. Not sure whether five is allowed, but I would think if you had a two queen room plus a crib, it would work fine but would feel more like a typical two queen room at a city hotel since so much of the space is the bathroom. Note that the bathroom is plenty big to fit an infant crib and that's what we've done each time with our infant.
Thanks!
Jan 29, 2019, 11:26 pm
#574
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
In this situation, I just recommend spending the money on the hotel transfer as it's just part of the experience. They will greet you at the airport with chilled towels for your face and water and beer. And you will be in a very comfortable luxury vehicle. You're not going to the St. Regis to save money, you're going to have a totally indulgent experience. Also, if you hit traffic the ride can be well over an hour, and you really don't want to be in some of those PV taxis for that long.
Jan 30, 2019, 4:02 am
#575
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,764
In this situation, I just recommend spending the money on the hotel transfer as it's just part of the experience. They will greet you at the airport with chilled towels for your face and water and beer. And you will be in a very comfortable luxury vehicle. You're not going to the St. Regis to save money, you're going to have a totally indulgent experience. Also, if you hit traffic the ride can be well over an hour, and you really don't want to be in some of those PV taxis for that long.
Jan 30, 2019, 8:22 am
#576
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
Jan 30, 2019, 9:19 am
#577
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 1,394
We found renting a car and driving to be just fine. IIRC rental car parking lots are walking distance from the terminal, the roads are well travelled and felt safe. And we could go to Sayulita whenever we wanted without any pre-planning. I was just looking last night and hertz was $20 a day plus taxes and fees for a mid-size car.
Jan 30, 2019, 9:54 am
#578
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: MR-Amb, Hyatt-Globalist, AA-EXP
Posts: 1,744
I couldn't find anything about the "family plan" referenced here on the hotel website. I have booked a larger suite and plan to travel with my partner, and our toddler and infant. Looking for some confirmation this will be fine.
Did you have to pre-arrange this with the hotel? Were there any issues? Did they have a crib or did you bring your own?
Thanks!
Did you have to pre-arrange this with the hotel? Were there any issues? Did they have a crib or did you bring your own?
Thanks!
Jan 30, 2019, 2:23 pm
#579
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 229
Jan 30, 2019, 4:21 pm
#580
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 147
As for Uber, I'm uneasy on this in Mexico. I have repeatedly heard how strong the taxi mafia is in Mexico. I don't need to get attacked on vacation because I'm seen as supporting a competitive business. I did open my Uber app a couple times when I was down there early their month just to see how active it is, and there were never any available cars in Punta Mita. Obviously from the airport may be a different story ...
Jan 30, 2019, 6:18 pm
#581
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 1,394
Not to go too far off topic, but i wouldn't make generalizations about Uber in "mexico." Maybe things have changed but i was in mexico city a few times last year and uber was excellent service, plentiful, and safe. Didn't get any taxi mafia vibe at all in the DF.
Jan 30, 2019, 7:55 pm
#582
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,904
An earlier poster said he drove without any issues.
I can get an Alamo with all the insurance for $70.
I've driven from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen and felt fine.
For someone who has been to both parts of Mexico, are the roads similar between PVR and the St. Regis?
I can get an Alamo with all the insurance for $70.
I've driven from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen and felt fine.
For someone who has been to both parts of Mexico, are the roads similar between PVR and the St. Regis?
Jan 30, 2019, 8:04 pm
#583
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
This has been my experience as well. Uber black car in CDMX was cheap, quick, reliable and great service. We used it exclusively there.
For the reasons others stated, I have avoided Uber in PV and will continue to do so for now, at least until they offer black car and it can legally pickup pax at the airport. Now that I am thinking about it, I also remember logging into Uber from the St. Regis and there were no cars available, so you'd need another option to get back in any case. This was in Nov 2018.
Yes, the hotel car service is over priced, but to me it is worth it for the creature comforts and peace of mind. I like that they have really nice luxury SUV's, with friendly english speaking drivers and vehicles that are properly licensed to pick up hotel pax right on the airport property.
Feb 6, 2019, 10:30 pm
#584
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,904
I'm a lifetime Platinum Premier who stayed here on points.
I was upgraded from the basic garden view to an ocean view.
They had beachfront and higher but no further upgrade.
The SUV service to the airport was nice.
We had room service dinner and it was okay. The presentation was a bit lacking for a St. Regis and more like a Marriott.
I took breakfast as the amenity and I thought it too was just okay. I've seen better breakfasts at other resorts in Mexico - such as the Fairmont Mayakoba.
Service was not too attentive - though friendly. For example no spoon was ever offered for yogurt and coffee not refilled when I had to leave the table to take a phone call. Picky - yes - but these are things one expects the staff to notice at a 5 star property.
Lunch at Mita Mary was a highlight. The tuna tostada and green fish ceviche were excellent - incredibly fresh.
Denied late check out past 1pm due to supposed high occupancy but they were selling every category for the night we were going to leave.
I also felt annoyed by how often they called the room on day of departure - 3 times. Once to confirm my 1pm check out, a second time to confirm I was actually checking out that day and a third time to ask if they could send someone to get my luggage at 1pm. At that point they got me out of the shower so I was a bit annoyed and they showed up a few minutes before 1pm.
Maybe I was spoiled by the St. Regis Bali!
The staff was very friendly and helpful. I do want to emphasize that.
I was upgraded from the basic garden view to an ocean view.
They had beachfront and higher but no further upgrade.
The SUV service to the airport was nice.
We had room service dinner and it was okay. The presentation was a bit lacking for a St. Regis and more like a Marriott.
I took breakfast as the amenity and I thought it too was just okay. I've seen better breakfasts at other resorts in Mexico - such as the Fairmont Mayakoba.
Service was not too attentive - though friendly. For example no spoon was ever offered for yogurt and coffee not refilled when I had to leave the table to take a phone call. Picky - yes - but these are things one expects the staff to notice at a 5 star property.
Lunch at Mita Mary was a highlight. The tuna tostada and green fish ceviche were excellent - incredibly fresh.
Denied late check out past 1pm due to supposed high occupancy but they were selling every category for the night we were going to leave.
I also felt annoyed by how often they called the room on day of departure - 3 times. Once to confirm my 1pm check out, a second time to confirm I was actually checking out that day and a third time to ask if they could send someone to get my luggage at 1pm. At that point they got me out of the shower so I was a bit annoyed and they showed up a few minutes before 1pm.
Maybe I was spoiled by the St. Regis Bali!
The staff was very friendly and helpful. I do want to emphasize that.
Feb 7, 2019, 6:29 am
#585
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: EWR
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Silver, Hertz
Posts: 435
We are annual travelers to the PVR area, so I follow the news there. There have been some very recent issues (ie. this month) for Uber drivers - such as cars getting impounded. Puerto Vallarta itself is in Jalisco, Punta Mita in Nayarit, so I don't know if it is a state, city or federal issue. The Uber drivers still on the road have been charging surge pricing and there are protests going on between the taxi driver and Uber drivers. While I have used Uber in the PV area, if I happened to be there right now - I would likely stick to a taxi or hotel-arranged car service.