- Introduction: Hotel Hopping In Amazing Los Cabos
- Review: Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
- Review: Zadun, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve Los Cabos
- Review: The Cape, A Thompson Hotel Los Cabos
- Review: Four Seasons Los Cabos At Costa Palmas
- Review: Solaz Los Cabos, Marriott Luxury Collection (My First-Ever One Star Rating)
I was debating whether or not to even write this review, given that this hotel mysteriously closed in July 2021 due to “infrastructure” issues. I asked OMAAT readers if they still wanted to read a review (given that it’s not actually useful at the moment), and everyone who answered said they did. So here we go…
For the first time ever, I’m going to give a hotel a one star rating. Not because I’m suggesting that this is a one star hotel, but rather because this property has no interest in actually being a hotel, or being hospitable. Based on my stay (and I hope others have had different experiences), this property exists solely to sell timeshares.
Imagine being told by an employee that the hotel isn’t Solaz’s main business, and it’s more of a “side gig.” Well, there’s no need to imagine, you just have to stay at Solaz (except it’s not open anymore, so it’s a moot point).
In this post:
How I booked Solaz Los Cabos
Solaz initially opened in mid-2018, and it’s a Marriott property that has long been on my radar, since online it looks quite nice. For our stay we booked five nights using points. This is a Category 7 Marriott Bonvoy property, and we were staying over “off-peak” dates, meaning the cost was 45,000 points per night.
As a result, our five night stay cost a total of 180,000 Bonvoy points, given that you get the fifth night free.
I’d note that paid rates here were steep. Solaz was charging $800 per night plus the 34% tax and service charge, so the hotel was asking for well over $1,000 per night for a standard room. This pricing was significantly higher than at The Cape, which I preferred by a long shot.
Our bizarre & unprofessional check-in experience
When we pulled up to the Solaz compound in a taxi, the security person asked for our names. I provided my name, and he spent probably five minutes looking at a sheet of paper. He made phone calls. He claimed we didn’t have a reservation. I assured him that we did, and showed him the confirmation.
“Oh, you’re staying at the hotel?” Ummm, yes? Little did I know he was apparently just reviewing the timeshare check-in sheet, and not the hotel guest sheet. This really foreshadowed how Solaz views those staying in the hotel portion of the property — not as guests, but as potential timeshare customers.
We arrived in the beautiful open-air lobby and proceeded to check-in. We handed the host our passports and a credit card, and she said “while I check you in, my colleague will just give you a brief property orientation.”
Her colleague took us over to the far end of the lobby and basically showed us the view of the resort for about 30 seconds (not much of an orientation), and then she took us over to someone who was oddly standing by a display case, and introduced us to her. The lady said “please follow me,” and then about 100 feet away we entered a room.
There it was explained to us that the owner of the property is a big art collector, and that this was the only hotel with an art museum in Los Cabos. At this point we’re thinking “WTF?” We were being polite — after all, if someone tells you something they seem to be proud of at their hotel, you don’t want to say “I’m not interested, take me out of here.”
She probably spent five minutes showing us the “art,” and then at the end of the “tour” she explained how enjoying this museum and resort could be part of our lifestyle going forward, if only we became “owners” (aka buying a timeshare).
“Why don’t you attend a presentation tomorrow morning, we will invite you to breakfast, and we will give you a $100 credit you can use as well, so you can learn about all the ownership opportunities.”
Okay, at this point I saw where this was going.
“I can promise you I’m not buying a timeshare, I’m not interested. Let’s just go back to check-in.”
“I don’t want you to miss out on this amazing opportunity, why don’t you schedule now?”
“No, we’re really not interested, I’m telling you I will never buy a timeshare.”
“We will offer you $200, do you have time tomorrow?”
“No, this is a working vacation, I don’t have time.”
“Well, when do you have time?”
“Why don’t you give me your business card and I’ll get back to you? I just want to check-in.”
“We want to make sure we can secure your spot, we might not have availability if you don’t book now, and you can’t get the exclusive offer.”
“That’s not a problem, I’m not interested.”
“What if we give you a $300 credit if you attend a presentation?”
“I’m still not interested, how about I get back to you, I’ll take the risk?”
“This is an amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. How about Tuesday instead?”
“Fine, Tuesday, if we can check-in then.”
We were given a voucher for this “exclusive opportunity,” and told we shouldn’t lose it, because this was a “one time opportunity.” We were also reminded to bring our IDs and a major credit card, and to make sure we had no activities planned after the presentation.
The interaction left such a bad taste in my mouth:
- It would be different if we booked one of those timeshare packages where you get a discounted rate in exchange for attending a sales pitch, but that’s not what we did
- Last I checked, hotels (especially self-proclaimed luxury hotels charging $800+ per night) are in the hospitality business, and there’s nothing about this interaction that made us feel welcome
- The entire interaction felt nonconsensual — we were lied to about what was going on, and they basically wouldn’t let us leave without agreeing to a pitch (I get we could have just walked out, but you shouldn’t have to do that when checking into a hotel, when you repeatedly tell someone you’re not interested)
Solaz sounds like it’s on a racetrack
Before I talk about the actual timeshare pitch, let me share my biggest other beef with this property — the hotel had an unbelievable amount of noise from the nearby highway. I don’t know what mistake was made with construction to cause this, because we weren’t actually staying close to the street, and this wasn’t a problem at any other hotel we stayed at. But even inside our room we could hear street noise.
Below is a video taken from near our room, which was pretty typical of how it usually sounded.
Is it just me, or do you guys hear that? And can someone help me understand how guests tolerate this so much, as I see surprisingly few complaints about this online? This is not normal at other resorts in Los Cabos. When you’re staying at a beach resort you want to hear the ocean, not the street. There’s a reason I share this point about noise before talking about the actual timeshare pitch…
A ridiculous timeshare pitch
Initially I was going to cancel our timeshare pitch appointment, since I will never, ever buy a timeshare. But then I figured we might as well do it. After all, I write about travel, and the last time I attended a timeshare presentation was with my parents when I was a kid. I figured it would be fun to see what kind of an approach they’re taking, and what the value proposition is nowadays.
I know how timeshare pitches work in general, but this one was next level (or at least I assume it was). They generally take a “good cop, bad cop” approach. The initial person giving us the presentation was super nice. She was a younger Mexican woman, and while she tried to get us to order alcohol with our “VIP breakfast buffet,” she was ultimately polite, tried to be friendly, and had a pleasant personality.
Based on her presentation, it became clear that the hotel exclusively exists to sell timeshares. Solaz has 128 hotel rooms, and then significantly more timeshare units than that:
- The pitch is that the hotel charges $800 per night for a standard room, and essentially if you buy a timeshare you’ll pay less than that per night for a multiple bedroom unit (never mind the risk, long term commitment, etc.)
- The catch is that very few people are actually paying that rate at Solaz — rather I am convinced they inflate the room rates so that they can make people believe that a timeshare is a great deal, while I’d be willing to bet most people are getting significant discounts and/or are redeeming points
- There were obviously paid actors who were cheering and pretended they bought a timeshare, and then that was used as a way to show us all the other happy owners, and what we’re missing out on
When it was clear we weren’t interested in buying, she brought in a complete douchecanoe from north of the border, who couldn’t have been ruder and sleazier. Where do we begin?
- I explained the hotel wasn’t worth $800 per night and that we redeemed points; he responded with “well you’re staying for free this time, but you’ll have to pay next time” (um, no and no, this guy made the management at the Aegon Mykonos look like professionals by comparison)
- He explained how the hotel is “more of a side gig” for the owners, and that the property is really about the timeshares, so we should get with the program
- He talked about how “we value integrity over everything else,” while simultaneously having no integrity with anything
- He showed us the initial price for the timeshare, then he offered us a huge discount, then he offered to throw in an extra week each year, but only if we signed before leaving the table
- I explained that I wouldn’t take a timeshare even if it cost zero, given that I don’t want to be stuck with the maintenance fees and risk long-term
- He wasn’t taking no for an answer, so then miraculously a unit just became available that minute with a shorter term
- I repeatedly reminded him that I didn’t actually particularly like the resort, and in particular had issues with the street noise; he denied that the issue existed, and even when I played him the video above with the noise, he pretended he couldn’t hear anything
- He also said “if you’re not serious don’t waste my time” (LOL)
When it was clear we wouldn’t buy anything, we were told to see another (American) woman, who would give us our voucher. That was a fun experience too;
- She claimed to be with “marketing,” and said that she was there to collect feedback on our experience
- We told her exactly how we felt, and that the “bad cop” guy was a real jerk, and that we didn’t like how we were forced into this presentation
- Of course we quickly learned she wasn’t there to collect feedback, but rather was there to try to sell us on the timeshare again
- When it was clear we weren’t interested, she offered to sell us a one week stay so that we could come back and experience the benefits of ownership; the cost was less than the maintenance fees would have been for a week
Every aspect of this experience was ridiculously off-putting. You don’t pay to stay at a hotel in order to be treated like this, and honestly it fully tarnished our views of the hotel.
By the way, during our timeshare pitch we were given a tour of the property. It was explained to us that a large part of the main building was closed, because “updates” were being made. That seemed odd at the time, given that the hotel is just a few years old. With the hotel having recently closed for “infrastructure” reasons, I can’t help but wonder if that’s all related.
Solaz Ocean View King Plunge Pool Room
With the above out of the way, let me review other aspects of our experience. While we booked a standard room, we were upgraded to an Ocean View King Plunge Pool Room (I’m a Bonvoy Titanium member). Ironically I tried to apply a Marriott Bonvoy Suite Night Award to confirm that suite in advance, but it was denied. However, I was still given the suite at check-in.
While the standard rooms are located in the main buildings (which are architecturally cool), the accommodations with plunge pools are mostly located in rows of rooms closer to the water, which are just a single floor.
We were assigned room 2004, which was in the middle row of guest rooms.
While the room is marketed as being 859 square feet, that clearly includes all the outdoor space. The room itself was maybe 400 square feet, about the size of a standard hotel room. Upon entering the room there was first a walled off outdoor area, with an outdoor shower and a bench.
The room itself was rather uninspiring, and felt generic, cheap, and poorly thought out. It felt more to me like a W Hotel than a Luxury Collection property.
The room had a king size bed and then a rocking chair next to it.
The only sitting area inside the room was a ridiculously small table with two wooden stools. Not only was it uncomfortable, but the stools were so low, it almost felt like what you’d expect inside the kids room in a Centurion Lounge.
Much of the bathroom wasn’t separated from the rest of the room. The sink and minibar area were all on a counter just inside the entrance to the room, so there was no privacy there.
Then the toilet was in a small room to the left, while the shower was in a room to the right. While I’m personally not a bathtub guy (unless I’m getting ducks from the Lufthansa First Class Terminal), I’d note that this is the only hotel we stayed at in Los Cabos where we didn’t have a bathtub.
Toiletries were the Le Chemin collection from Byredo, which were pretty decent.
I guess the outdoor area was the highlight of the room. There were two chairs with ottomans, along with a hammock.
The plunge pool was small, and also wasn’t actually a private pool. Rather several rooms share one long and very narrow pool, which just has some above-water wooden partitions that provide some privacy.
The sunrises were pretty, though I do think it’s a stretch to suggest that this room has an “ocean view.”
My biggest complaint was that I could even hear cars from the road from inside the room, even though it was quite far away.
Solaz Los Cabos pools
Credit where credit’s due, Solaz has huge and beautiful pools. They’re mostly infinity-edge, and right along the beach, so visually they’re gorgeous, and there’s a ton of space to spread out (then again, this is kind of a mega-resort, given the number of timeshare units).
While the pools were pretty, service at the pools was a different story. We only visited the pool once, when we went to the hot tub one afternoon. When we exited, there weren’t any towels available anywhere. We asked staff for some towels, and they said they’d bring some. Long story short, we had to ask three times over 20 minutes to get towels.
Solaz Los Cabos gym
While not as impressive as the gyms at Zadun or the Four Seasons, Solaz did have a solid gym with modern equipment. That being said, it got quite full, given how much bigger this property is than the others (due to the timeshare units).
Solaz Los Cabos Cascabel Restaurant breakfast
Breakfast at Solaz was served daily from 7:00AM until 11:30AM at Cascabel Restaurant, located near reception. We received this complimentary thanks to my Marriott Bonvoy elite status. The restaurant wasn’t terribly inspiring in terms of the design, though at least there was a terrace.
The first couple of days breakfast was kind of good — there was a buffet, and you could order whatever you wanted, including specialty coffee drinks, juice, etc.
The buffet itself wasn’t too exciting, but was fine.
When combined with a decent iced coffee and menu items, it was a solid breakfast, though.
Well, halfway through our stay, the hotel changed its policy. Menu items and specialty coffee drinks were no longer included. Fair enough if that were the policy in the first place, but it seems kind of cheap to switch the policy mid-stay.
Solaz Los Cabos Erizo Restaurant lunch
We had lunch one day at Erizo Restaurant, which is the poolside restaurant serving ceviche, pizzas, etc. We ordered a couple of pizzas, and they were quite good.
Solaz Los Cabos La Deriva Restaurant dinner
Our dining highlight at Solaz was at La Deriva, which is the hotel’s Italian restaurant. The indoor space is fine, but what’s really beautiful is the outdoor space, where we dined.
We were offered a complimentary welcome drink, bread, and an amuse bouche, at the start of our meal.
The food was excellent as well — we had a salad and soup as starters, and then a prawn and pasta dish as our mains. Service was friendly and attentive as well. This was the best meal we had on property, and while it wouldn’t go on my list of the top five meals we had in Cabo, it was still very good.
Solaz Los Cabos butler service
Solaz offers guests butler service, and I have to give huge credit to our butler, Josue. He was extremely friendly, provided great customer service, and was incredibly responsive. He told us we could reach him 24/7 via WhatsApp, and amazingly enough he responded late in the evening and early in the morning.
He was the only guy on property who seemed genuinely interested in ensuring that we had a great stay. When we left he asked how our stay was — we told him how impressed we were by him, but not by the rest of the hotel, and we said that we hoped we’d see him one day at another hotel.
With Solaz now closed, if any other hotel in Los Cabos is looking for an awesome butler or customer service professional, please reach out to Josue!
Bottom line
Yeah, our stay at Solaz Los Cabos wasn’t great, to put it mildly. While I would’ve recommended steering clear of this property, I don’t have to, since it’s now closed for some mysterious reason.
The reality is that if it weren’t for the timeshare situation, I’d probably give this hotel 3.5 stars (by my ratings). However, the extent to which we were pressured into something we didn’t want before even being able to check in basically ruined the whole concept of hospitality.
It’s totally fine if Solaz wants to run a timeshare business, and even present other guests with the opportunity to attend one of these presentations. But there’s a fine line between that and what we experienced, where we were outright told that the hotel doesn’t exist for hotel guests, but rather to sell timeshares.
What do you make of Solaz’s techniques? Would anyone be fine with how they approach non-timeshare guests?
Solaz is back open. Do you think this resort has improved?
I've been to Solaz twice. I'm a swimmer, so the amazing 50 meter infinity-edge ocean-side pools are a huge attraction for me; especially at sunrise when no one else is in the water. The Japanese restaurant on property is quite excellent, and I feel qualified to say this since I lived in Japan for over 3 years. I agree that the highway noise is an issue if you are staying in the main towers, but...
I've been to Solaz twice. I'm a swimmer, so the amazing 50 meter infinity-edge ocean-side pools are a huge attraction for me; especially at sunrise when no one else is in the water. The Japanese restaurant on property is quite excellent, and I feel qualified to say this since I lived in Japan for over 3 years. I agree that the highway noise is an issue if you are staying in the main towers, but I was unable to hear it from the any of the lower rooms, as they all face the ocean. Service has always been good when I've been there. Sorry you had a bad experience.
I did recently learn that it was closed because the original structural plans did not take into consideration the thickness of the decorative external stone (I don't know exactly what it is, but it's really beautiful). So, they had to close the hotel to remove the stone slab and replace them with thinner, lighter versions.
All and all, we really like the place and it's an easy getaway from Texas.
This makes me so sad! We came here in September 2018 right after it opened and it was amazing. Service was so attentive and generous everywhere we went and no one tried to sell us anything. Obviously this property has been horribly mismanaged since then. I so wonder what on earth happened to make it go so far downhill.
We stayed at the Solaz in May of 2021, and it was the most beautiful, relaxing vacation we have ever had. Besides the food by the pool, which was subpar (bordering on awful), everything else was fantastic. The Japanese restaurant was top notch, and the head sushi chef often gave us complimentary dishes. We also used points and had the same type of room (in fact, we were just a couple doors down from you)....
We stayed at the Solaz in May of 2021, and it was the most beautiful, relaxing vacation we have ever had. Besides the food by the pool, which was subpar (bordering on awful), everything else was fantastic. The Japanese restaurant was top notch, and the head sushi chef often gave us complimentary dishes. We also used points and had the same type of room (in fact, we were just a couple doors down from you). It was quiet, and I’m a very light sleeper, so I don’t know what was going on during your stay. Besides the initial push to get us to consider a time share, we firmly told them “no” and were not bothered after that. We went to the pool every day. How could you only go once? It was stunning. Servers brought complimentary snacks regularly (which were somehow better than the restaurant food), and everyone was very attentive. On our last day, one of the towel guys kept an eye out and removed some towels from chairs people had “saved” for hours and asked if we wanted to move there. They were right in front of the pool in their own area, so we had no one next to us. I have to say, we tipped the pool guys daily, so maybe that led to the attentiveness. I’m very picky when it comes to food, and I found things at the breakfast buffet that I loved, such as their homemade chia puddings, fresh fruit, and tostadas. My husband enjoyed the omelette station every day. Staff went above and beyond. We had the very opposite experience as you.
I've stayed at this property EIGHT times and have never had a problem. In fact, I keep coming back because the service was so great. Everybody knew my name walking by the front desk and by the pool. I'm a lowly gold marriott member, so that wasn't it. I loved this property so much, I've started staying in other luxury collection hotels. I talked to one guy in the pool who did time share, but...
I've stayed at this property EIGHT times and have never had a problem. In fact, I keep coming back because the service was so great. Everybody knew my name walking by the front desk and by the pool. I'm a lowly gold marriott member, so that wasn't it. I loved this property so much, I've started staying in other luxury collection hotels. I talked to one guy in the pool who did time share, but I've never been harassed, so did I ever go approach them.
I was there in March and had the usual incredible service, so not sure what your issue was. Maybe they had a bad weekend. I can tell you I could write a one star review for several 5 star properties, but I'd never do that, unless I'd been back to confirm the problems again.
Article isn't fair... but I guess it doesn't matter now bc they're closed.
This sounds like someone from the owners' group or Marriott. Suspicious. Maybe the guys from Greece are trying to help out their Mexican brethren.
Completely agree. That was clearly written by someone affiliated with the hotel or Marriott who does a lot of dreaming - they like to dream while they are awake.
Unfortunately, what you experienced is the way you can now expect to be treated at Marriott properties in Cabo. Ever since my bad experience at the JW Marriott Cabo for a 5 night stay for New Year’s Eve in 2016 I have actually sworn off going to Cabo altogether.
I’m also a (lifetime) Titanium member and my stay was using points (although they gleefully charged a $25 nightly “resort” fee for my “free” stay)....
Unfortunately, what you experienced is the way you can now expect to be treated at Marriott properties in Cabo. Ever since my bad experience at the JW Marriott Cabo for a 5 night stay for New Year’s Eve in 2016 I have actually sworn off going to Cabo altogether.
I’m also a (lifetime) Titanium member and my stay was using points (although they gleefully charged a $25 nightly “resort” fee for my “free” stay). Like the Solaz, the JW Marriott was architecturally stunning and almost brand new. But the service and attitudes were absolutely awful. As a Platinum member (the 2016 equivalent to today’s Titanium) I had expected to be upgraded to a larger room but I found out upgrades are only given to those willing to pay a $250 upgrade fee! There is also no complimentary access to the club lounge (called Griffin Club – which has its own pool area, completely devoid of customers during my 5 night stay) or the spa facilities. What the heck is Titanium status for if you can’t access the lounge or spa or even be eligible for upgrades? To top it off, they seemed to be utilizing some sort of recycled water system for the toilets and every toilet we flushed really reeked every time it was flushed - in the room, at the pool, outside the restaurant. Definitely gives Mexico a third-world feel (smell!?).
There are so many nice places to go in the world (open soon hopefully). YOU get to choose how to spend your life – avoid Cabo and Marriott’s in Cabo like the plague!
I seldom read review, but found your headline and it got my attention. A nicely written and concise article on how almost every timeshare property works. Avoid them like the plague! I would've told him no only once and then said, "I have nothing more to say to you," and then walked back to reception,
Very honest report. Thanks for sharing your dreadful experience!!
The Westin St John is the same way…wont go back anymore…..from the second you step off the boat. They try to jam Time Shares down your throat….Used to be a great hotel…NO MORE
This is a truly great piece of travel writing. Timeshare peddlers should be treated like lepers. Don't engage. RUN!
"Douchecanoe" is a magnificent word. I can't quite fathom its etymology but its onomatopoetic quality is beyond question.
I can't say I've been held prisoner at a timeshare in quite the same way but it's such a damn shame to be in a spectacular location enduring relentless unctuousness when the outcome for all of the parties involved is never in question. In a similar Marriott timeshare vein, here are my thoughts on the Westin Nanaea...
"Douchecanoe" is a magnificent word. I can't quite fathom its etymology but its onomatopoetic quality is beyond question.
I can't say I've been held prisoner at a timeshare in quite the same way but it's such a damn shame to be in a spectacular location enduring relentless unctuousness when the outcome for all of the parties involved is never in question. In a similar Marriott timeshare vein, here are my thoughts on the Westin Nanaea Ocean Villas Ka'anapali, which, in fairness, is a timeshare property but also bookable with Bonvoy points:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60634-d12344180-r749789986-The_Westin_Nanea_Ocean_Villas_Ka_anapali-Lahaina_Maui_Hawaii.html
Maybe the line "Oh, I have no interest in buying, I'm a journalist and I'm here to review your time share sales process" might have terminated things pretty quickly.
Agree with @Another Lump
Timeshare ppl, like many salespeople, are specifically trained to never accept "no" as an answer. So, no matter how polite you are in saying no, until you walk away, they are trained to treat your "no" as a "maybe". And they were right in your situation.
I agree that a higher end hotel should not be engaging in this kind of high pressure behavior but you also need to learn that...
Agree with @Another Lump
Timeshare ppl, like many salespeople, are specifically trained to never accept "no" as an answer. So, no matter how polite you are in saying no, until you walk away, they are trained to treat your "no" as a "maybe". And they were right in your situation.
I agree that a higher end hotel should not be engaging in this kind of high pressure behavior but you also need to learn that at a certain point in these interactions, the right course of action is to say "thank you but no. I have a call to make, please excuse me" and walk away immediately.
BTW, offering you alcohol before a sales pitch is especially sleazy imo...
Ben, have you watched “The White Lotus” on HBO yet?
Definitely deserves a post.
I could not disagree more. I’m a long time timeshare owner from Hacienda Del Mar and the experience that I had its allies was quite good. We knew we would be paying a little bit more but the amenities are top shelf. The pools, rooms, grounds, workout facilities market, restaurant, beach, beach activities and service are all outstanding. I own at 3 other facilities and this is one of the top 5 in all of...
I could not disagree more. I’m a long time timeshare owner from Hacienda Del Mar and the experience that I had its allies was quite good. We knew we would be paying a little bit more but the amenities are top shelf. The pools, rooms, grounds, workout facilities market, restaurant, beach, beach activities and service are all outstanding. I own at 3 other facilities and this is one of the top 5 in all of cabo. For you to rate a zero is way over top and I question your motives
Many timeshAre pitches are aggressive but i haven't questioned purchase at all. Even with infrastructure issue . They will get right. This is a top organization and they have already accommodated me for 2022 with favorable options.
People deIre to be here and I am glad we are there . The museum is nice, but yeah used too much. I like the history though but but for one of the beat settings in cabo! You didn’t see much on- line about street noise because I HAVe NOT HEARD Any! No noise ! So, cmon…. Resort side nada!
Cheers
TWU
I created an account just to write this - it gives me great pleasure to read this review and learn this disaster resort was closed immediately. I stayed here about 8 months after they first opened and could not have possibly been more disappointed by virtually everything aside from the spectacular architecture, which as we know now is also an engineering disaster.
I didn't have the same timeshare experience but actually found the service, food,...
I created an account just to write this - it gives me great pleasure to read this review and learn this disaster resort was closed immediately. I stayed here about 8 months after they first opened and could not have possibly been more disappointed by virtually everything aside from the spectacular architecture, which as we know now is also an engineering disaster.
I didn't have the same timeshare experience but actually found the service, food, and overall experience to be very unimpressive. Someone else mentioned they loved the room design - I actually found it to be very kitsch-y in person and the bathroom was just plain annoying after the first day. The sink in the room wasn't even balanced properly so the water wasn't even draining right.
I am (or was, I haven't been paying attention since covid) a Bonvoy Platinum and this was completely ignored when I checked in, no upgrade when I checked in even though I could see availability on the booking site and I asked (I wasn't upset though once I learned all the rooms look exactly the same anyway, so it's pointless). The butler service was VERY informal and didn't actually deliver on any of my pre-arrival requests - I'd asked to book a cruise for us, some other activities I can't remember now, and when I arrived, they had no record of any reservations being made and seemed inconvenienced at the prospect of actually having to process any requests - the butler was very friendly and made himself very available though, so I guess that's nice if you're looking for a WhatsApp penpal.
The food was mediocre, but it sounds like maybe it had improved, apparently. The food at the pool area was all microwaved with ungodly amounts of cheese on anything and everything that could possibly be smothered in grocery-store shredded cheese. One of the restaurants, I can't remember which (thank god, I think the specifics have been repressed in my memory), was painfully silent with library-like whispers exchanged between the other diners and the waitstaff staring and looming in the wings - honestly the most awkward dining experience I can remember in ages, horrible ambiance. Breakfast was the only highlight and meal I remember fondly (but it's all relative in retrospect, I guess).
Yes, the pools looked very lovely, but unfortunately when I was there and much to my disbelief and horror, at least two families seemed to think it was a good idea to bring their babies in diapers into the pools for a dip. I actually thought they were following us at one point because even after moving to one of the other pools, 10 minutes later the soggy-diaper baby family appeared there as well. Just repulsive. Don't even get me going about the slooooooooooooow service. At a few points, I was getting ready to call amnesty international to make sure the waitstaff hadn't been abducted or something.
Solaz did get a lot of glorious reviews on tripadvisor from newly-wed honeymooners and couples celebrating their anniversary, but I have to say, they must have been completely consumed by the setting, which was visually striking, but otherwise blind and deaf to everything else. Unfortunately, this place truly exemplified the concept of all style, no substance.
The hotel reviews are not particularly useful for this points collector. I read them for entertainment purposes. They can be quite amusing, like this one!
The corporate hotel chains are selling their loyalty members to various private equity outfits that actually own the buildings. There is minimal quality control over these arrangements. I have perhaps a dozen cards and 3M points or miles to burn and not a single card is for a hotel group....
The hotel reviews are not particularly useful for this points collector. I read them for entertainment purposes. They can be quite amusing, like this one!
The corporate hotel chains are selling their loyalty members to various private equity outfits that actually own the buildings. There is minimal quality control over these arrangements. I have perhaps a dozen cards and 3M points or miles to burn and not a single card is for a hotel group. I'd rather find small non-affiliated boutique hotels or an apartment that isn't on air bnb.
I had read extensive reviews of this property before we stayed there a few months ago. I had read about the timeshare pressure issue. We didn't have a single person even mention timeshares to us our entire stay. Further, as a platinum elite we were upgraded to a beautiful one bedroom ocean view panorama suite. Overall we had a great stay.
Did they honor the $300 credit?
Thanks for reviewing this property Ben. These are the kinds of reviews I look forward to.
I am kind of intrigued that some comments here are saying that 1 star is too harsh for just the timeshare aspect.
It is worth remembering that this is a hotel that was charging 800 USD per night during this time period. When you are staying at a hotel in this range, you are paying to have the perfect experience. I mean, for me, if I am paying more than about 100 EUR per...
I am kind of intrigued that some comments here are saying that 1 star is too harsh for just the timeshare aspect.
It is worth remembering that this is a hotel that was charging 800 USD per night during this time period. When you are staying at a hotel in this range, you are paying to have the perfect experience. I mean, for me, if I am paying more than about 100 EUR per night, I would consider this sort of service worthy of a one star review. Even without the atrocious customer service, I can't imagine how this would get more than 1 star when they are charging those kinds of prices. I mean, if I am staying at a 30 EUR per night Ibis Budget, as long as I have the room as promised, that is at least a 4 out of 5. So the price absolutely should be taken into account and I just can't imagine a universe where this place looks anywhere close to worth 800 USD per night.
@Lucky - have to assume you have a decent amount of Bonvoy points still? I (unfortunately) do and let them know the number and I never have to pay to go on vacation again and that usually shakes them. I was at the Westin Lagunamar in Cancun last month - showed her my phone with my balance and the aggressive pitch basically shrugged their shoulders and walked away. Even if you dont have a large balance say you do!
@ Jeff -- Indeed I do have a lot of Bonvoy points, and during the presentation I mentioned that as a reason that I don't really need to buy a timeshare here. I guess the guy wasn't wrong though -- I wouldn't be able to stay for "free" next time, but only because the hotel closed. ;)
This reminds me of horror stories I’ve read about sleazy MLM recruitment pitches, especially Amway. How incredibly uncomfortable.
My husband and I stayed at Hotel Solaz in October of 2020. Our first night it rained and the restaurant right off the lobby where we had dinner had rain water getting in through the doors. Staff were continually squeegeeing it out and using towels to make the walk way safe (I assume). I’m wondering if the structural issues is this issue? I imagine continual rain might be a liability nightmare. Giving them the benefit...
My husband and I stayed at Hotel Solaz in October of 2020. Our first night it rained and the restaurant right off the lobby where we had dinner had rain water getting in through the doors. Staff were continually squeegeeing it out and using towels to make the walk way safe (I assume). I’m wondering if the structural issues is this issue? I imagine continual rain might be a liability nightmare. Giving them the benefit of the doubt here.
I do agree that the timeshare people were very persistent. We had a woman who was nice but kept us with her for far too long. She actually took us from the restaurant where the all the timeshare selling was taking place into this room with a couch and tv. She tried to sell a separate timeshare option aside from Solaz which was like a timeshare Airbnb where one could stay in luxury homes in a timeshare style pay schedule. The price of the Solaz Timeshare went from extremely high to nominal in comparison and it was at that point that I really smelled the desperation. Surprisingly, while we were at the presentation, three couples purchased a timeshare. I remember feeling bad for them. After we definitely said no, they brought us over to their Discovery program where we could stay at the timeshare portion for 7 nights for 2k. We purchased that. Let’s see how getting a refund goes.
I wonder if the time shares have structural problems/built cheap too? Are they still open?
My mom just brought that up. What happen in Florida could be the tragic unfortunate reminder to ensure structural soundness.
I’m wondering if legal limitations with being affiliated with Marriott had them decide to take the infrastructure route as opposed to insolvency etc. issues.
@ Jorge Paez -- Nope, the entire property, including the timeshares, are closed.
Hey Lucky! How was traveling with Winston around Cabo? Did he have to stay in the room at all times? Any issues with barking? Thank you!
@ Frank -- It varied by hotels. Some hotels (like the Waldorf) allowed him almost anywhere, while some hotels (like Solaz) only allowed him in the room and on the paths.
Very cool that you were able to string together multiple stays at places that would allow dogs. I know the downsides to your trips are being away from him. (No offense to Ford.)
Looking at how Marriott is managing brands and services I silently wished that Starwood Hotels was sold to that Chinese insurance group who bidded for them instead, at least from an outside perspective they would have kept the brands customer(not franchise owners) centric. Brands that fell to the Chinese didn't fare so bad after all, Volvo, AMC, GE Appliances to name a few.
Ironically, that's quite the opposite experience in nearly all ways to our stay.
At check in, we were never offered the lobby reception tour or taken to the museum. We did clear with our SNA's to the plunge pool ocean view. Our butler rushed the walkthrough of the room and never folllwed through on the first 2 things we asked of him that we asked for a new butler for the balance of our...
Ironically, that's quite the opposite experience in nearly all ways to our stay.
At check in, we were never offered the lobby reception tour or taken to the museum. We did clear with our SNA's to the plunge pool ocean view. Our butler rushed the walkthrough of the room and never folllwed through on the first 2 things we asked of him that we asked for a new butler for the balance of our stay. He never gave us his Whatsapp number either.
We were worried about the traffic sound if we were in the main building, but we never heard traffic noise on the property and for sure not in the room. Must have been the way the wind was blowing as your video was super loud traffic.
We thought the breakfast was great as far as the titanium elite benefit went. Would have been annoyed if they took away my latte though.
We ate at the restaurant by the lobby and had their wanderlust menu which was only $80 and included unlimited alcohol and a 10 course meal with super great bread. Considering the price of the drinks at the resort, was the best deal of the trip. We also had the omakase at the sushi restaurant upstairs which was great, but well overpriced for what we felt we got. We would have gone back next time, but only ordering ala carte.
La Deriva was beautiful, but we ended up going in town to La Lupita for dinner which the concierge Eduardo/Luis helped us get modified.
Speaking of the concierge, it's the only time that I recall of that after we got back, that I got a thank you email offering additional service. We asked for a recipie for a drink at the pool bar and within 24 hours, had it via email.
We met some great people that we still are in touch with and we couldn't wait to go back. Those 2 couples were also on points so your comments make sense.
It's amazing how different our expereinces were. Maybe we were lucky, but I was sad when I read about their close as we were planning on going back and using my 5 remaining SNA's for 2021.
I know exactly what you mean regarding timeshare people they are so aggressive and rude and especially the Marriott lot of which I have had much experience!!!!
Any hotel that is also a timeshare is a no go for me. Why in the world would anyone even bother staying at one of these places? Let alone later on buying in to one the greatest scams know to man. I have a feeling though that with the pandemic the acceleration of the time share collapse is pretty much happening right now. Good luck to those who got scammed - and no wonder half...
Any hotel that is also a timeshare is a no go for me. Why in the world would anyone even bother staying at one of these places? Let alone later on buying in to one the greatest scams know to man. I have a feeling though that with the pandemic the acceleration of the time share collapse is pretty much happening right now. Good luck to those who got scammed - and no wonder half the ads on CNN are from firms helping you to get out of your time share commitment. I feel sad for people so gullible.
@ Stuart -- Totally agree, and in general I avoid timeshare properties as well (and will make a point of doing so in the future). Before my stay I wasn't aware that this property had such a timeshare focus, or else I would have avoided it.
You would think or hope Marriott would not allow these properties on in the first place. Wyndham is the only chain I’m aware of that has timeshares if I’m correct.
Westin ( aka Marriott) has a number of timeshare properties. As does Hilton (Hilton Grand Vacations). I’ve attended sales presentations for both, and they weren’t bad at all. Almost pleasant. Did not buy.
From my experience, that's a typical timeshare sales experience. I don't let stuff like that bother me. I think 3.5 stars is the right rating. We stayed at Solaz, did the presentation and didn't find it any more off-putting than any other. Our butler also was excellent. In fact, I contacted him to ask about the closure, he said, the staff is as much in the dark as every one else. I thought the food...
From my experience, that's a typical timeshare sales experience. I don't let stuff like that bother me. I think 3.5 stars is the right rating. We stayed at Solaz, did the presentation and didn't find it any more off-putting than any other. Our butler also was excellent. In fact, I contacted him to ask about the closure, he said, the staff is as much in the dark as every one else. I thought the food was great. The design of the room, specifically the sinks was weird. But overall, I liked Solaz more than the Waldorf. I guess after you have done enough time share presentations, it's not that intimidating. It's like buying a car, in my opinion. You learn the tricks that throw them for a loop. I was quite happy to get $250 for F+B, had great dinners and lunches, not bad for 90 minutes of my time. We had carte blanche for breakfast and ordered something like $150 off the menu, and no one flinched. We found it the best breakfast of any property in Cabo, Sheraton was second. Waldorf was second worst, slightly beating out JW Marriott. In the grand scheme of things, I think Solaz probably shouldn't be part of Marriott.
Property is emblematic of Marriott, Inc. in a nutshell - baiting & switching, promises made and not kept, and overall just a bit sleazy
Honestly, the one-star review seems undeserved. The time-share sale pitch was annoying and aggressive, but Ben voluntarily chose to go to it (perhaps motivated by a desire to "generate content"). Such sales pitches are well known to be high pressure and unpleasant. Why do you think they pay people to go to them?
Objectively, the rest of the hotel as described in the review seems solidly in 3 star territory. The room looked new...
Honestly, the one-star review seems undeserved. The time-share sale pitch was annoying and aggressive, but Ben voluntarily chose to go to it (perhaps motivated by a desire to "generate content"). Such sales pitches are well known to be high pressure and unpleasant. Why do you think they pay people to go to them?
Objectively, the rest of the hotel as described in the review seems solidly in 3 star territory. The room looked new and pleasant, the food sounded good, and it had a nice pool.
Honestly, Ben's reviews these days are overly skewed toward extremely high end and expensive properties (with odd justifications about how paying $800+ a night on a hotel room is somehow really a good deal). I'm getting less and less value out of them as a more price-sensitive traveller. The occasional review if a $500+ per night property is one thing, but that's basically all we get now. Also, it's incredibly clear that Ben never had a shoestring backpacker phase in his 20s, which would help give him more perspective on what an actual 1 star hotel is like!
> but Ben voluntarily chose to go to it
Guessing you skipped right over the entire check-in process, then.
@ Middle-class traveller -- As I started in my review, a one star OMAAT rating doesn't mean a hotel is one star, and a five star rating doesn't mean a hotel is five stars. A rating system like that wouldn't add much value. My rating is intended to take into account how a hotel compares to peers, how it delivers on promises, and how the overall guest experience is. A Four Seasons could get one...
@ Middle-class traveller -- As I started in my review, a one star OMAAT rating doesn't mean a hotel is one star, and a five star rating doesn't mean a hotel is five stars. A rating system like that wouldn't add much value. My rating is intended to take into account how a hotel compares to peers, how it delivers on promises, and how the overall guest experience is. A Four Seasons could get one star if it were bad, and a Hampton Inn could get five stars if it were good.
While I suppose I "voluntarily" went to the timeshare presentation (in the sense that I could have canceled), the initial push to get me to sign-up was hardly voluntary. I was basically not allowed to check-in until I agreed to it. And I think it's also important to emphasize that this is a self-proclaimed $800+ per night hotel.
I appreciate the feedback on the types of hotels I'm reviewing in general, and will keep that in mind going forward. Thanks.
Ben, I totally disagree. The high end reviews are by far the most interesting to me, and for the most part the hotels are bookable on points, which makes them attainable to most.
Something like the 4 Seasons review I also really enjoyed, even if the price point is higher than I’d probably ever spend. It’s still great to have the knowledge in case that’s a decision I ever do want to make! And...
Ben, I totally disagree. The high end reviews are by far the most interesting to me, and for the most part the hotels are bookable on points, which makes them attainable to most.
Something like the 4 Seasons review I also really enjoyed, even if the price point is higher than I’d probably ever spend. It’s still great to have the knowledge in case that’s a decision I ever do want to make! And then there are all the different promotions, off season rates, etc that can make it attainable. I say keep it up :)
Next month, Ben reviews Motel 6 :P.
To be honest, the high and ultra reviews are the best part of the site. I don't really need another review of a standard Marriott or Hyatt (especially in most of the US/Europe/Japan). I know pretty much what I'm going to get with a few exceptions. It's the "splurges" (either with money or points) where you want to make sure that you're making the right decision. And I think that your focus on service and...
To be honest, the high and ultra reviews are the best part of the site. I don't really need another review of a standard Marriott or Hyatt (especially in most of the US/Europe/Japan). I know pretty much what I'm going to get with a few exceptions. It's the "splurges" (either with money or points) where you want to make sure that you're making the right decision. And I think that your focus on service and smaller touches is helpful since that can often compensate for scuffed furniture or a slow drain or street noise. I'd just like to see more reviews. A lot of the world has been opened back up for months. You're fully vaccinated. Your risk with Covid is still effectively zero. Get travelin'. ;-)
Bummer about the experience. I've stayed at timeshare resorts in Cabo as a hotel guest and have never experienced this. Granted, I'm not staying on the ultra luxury side unless you consider places like the Grand Fiesta Americana ultra luxury(it's not), but I don't think I've ever been pressured at all. I find that the experiences are better at timeshare resorts(at least ones that aren't kid oriented) and there's a much greater chance of all...
Bummer about the experience. I've stayed at timeshare resorts in Cabo as a hotel guest and have never experienced this. Granted, I'm not staying on the ultra luxury side unless you consider places like the Grand Fiesta Americana ultra luxury(it's not), but I don't think I've ever been pressured at all. I find that the experiences are better at timeshare resorts(at least ones that aren't kid oriented) and there's a much greater chance of all inclusive packages(which I prefer) compared to traditional hotels.
The prices you were offered are also really expensive for a timeshare. You can spend a third to half less at other luxury timeshares for a week yearly.
Glad you wrote this one up! Makes for a great Friday afternoon read ☺️
After reading many reviews over the past months going back a couple of years i think it is very clear that the owners realized the extent of the problem with the property recently and hence why the timeshare presentations were much more aggressive they knew the property was gonna close and wanted to get as many sales as possible, what a despicable management group.
Also on the noise i think it is obvious, they...
After reading many reviews over the past months going back a couple of years i think it is very clear that the owners realized the extent of the problem with the property recently and hence why the timeshare presentations were much more aggressive they knew the property was gonna close and wanted to get as many sales as possible, what a despicable management group.
Also on the noise i think it is obvious, they built it cheap. Cheap materials dont absorb or block sound, windows and walls probably paper thin, and if they went cheap on building materials you can see what about the ones you cant see like the structure. Thank god they closed it before a disaster struck.
Except the sound video was outdoors..
All time most hillarious reveiw ever!!!! So funny...could not stop laughing....
priceless!!!!!
This and your recent greek debacle. What is the one thing in common......
You got BONVOYED!!
Great review i cant tell you how excited i was for the full deep dive after you shared your initial experience on a previous blog post.
Did you talk to any timeshare owners at this property? Would have been interesting to hear their perspective, especially in retrospect if the property is now closed.
@ Francisco C -- I can't say that I did. I did overhear many of them talking at the pool, but didn't hear anything particularly interesting when it comes to ownership at Solaz as such.
Thanks for taking one on the chin for us! Good to hear about your experience. Glad they are closed as a hotel.
at a place like this, how much should one tip the butler to the room?
thank you.
@ john -- I think it depends how much they do for you. If they don't do anything then probably nothing (or very little), while we tipped our butler $100 ($20 per day seemed fair, given how helpful and nice he was).
Ben - have you forwarded your comments to Marriott? If not, please do!
This is underrated. Between the timeshare pitch (obviously using a depressed redemption cost to draw people in) and the bizarre closure, Marriott missed big time here in enforcing brand standards and delivering on their promise to Bonvoy members. I hold them more responsible than the property owners in this instance.
I’m not sure why a lot of people had such a bad experience at Solaz. I went there on September 2020 and I had an amazing time.
They offered us the time share even showed us the museum and offered the breakfast but we declined and the conversation stop. I never felt like they were very persistent about it.
I stayed with my dad a few rooms down yours and we never had...
I’m not sure why a lot of people had such a bad experience at Solaz. I went there on September 2020 and I had an amazing time.
They offered us the time share even showed us the museum and offered the breakfast but we declined and the conversation stop. I never felt like they were very persistent about it.
I stayed with my dad a few rooms down yours and we never had any problems with the noise. For me the room was very beautiful and a good size, I see no problem with sharing the canal pool with the neighbours as there is a divider every few rooms.
We tried every restaurant in the hotel and the food was amazing. We were in the main pool a couple of times and never had an issue with the staff. My dad used the spa and he loved it. It saddens me that the hotel had to close, I would go back if it ever reopens.
Timeshares presentations are annoying. I dont think id ever participate in one. Other than them being pushy at checkin everything else seemed reasonable. Good food, plunge pool upgrade, nice beach etc.
We stayed there in May and were never pushed for the timeshare presentation In actuality we had a wonderful experience there. We were called every night by the concierge if they could make dinner reservations for us. The front desk staff was very accommodating Stayed by the amazing infinity pool and were served complementary smoothies or sushi or mini quesadillas or something else almost hourly Our room was nice and the complimentary breakfast was terrific...
We stayed there in May and were never pushed for the timeshare presentation In actuality we had a wonderful experience there. We were called every night by the concierge if they could make dinner reservations for us. The front desk staff was very accommodating Stayed by the amazing infinity pool and were served complementary smoothies or sushi or mini quesadillas or something else almost hourly Our room was nice and the complimentary breakfast was terrific . I too am a Lifetime Titanium member (over 2500 nights over the years stayed at Marriott properties worldwide). Liked the property so much we booked it again on points for October which obviously is not happening due it closure
Sorry you experience was not like ours
What d’you mean, the room décor was generic and poorly designed?!?!?! I’m not going to defend this so-called hotel in any way whatsoever, but the one thing that’s outstanding is the room décor, and I really fell in love with it. The rest of the place, well....!
@ VT-CIE -- Different folks, different strokes, I guess. The room felt generic to me, I didn't like the exposed bathroom, there was nowhere to sit in the room other than a rocking chair (I don't count the stools seemingly intended for children), the cushion at the foot of the bed wasn't in any way secured, so it kept sliding off, we heard noise from the street, etc.
Butler service can be helpful, but I never know what is an acceptable tip for my butler. Some say $50-100, but I have no idea.
Seems like the timeshare tainted your time there. We have been twice and really enjoyed it. We had the larger 1 bedroom king suite with ocean view, so perhaps that helped. It featured a large table/chairs in a kitchen area at the entry which led into a living room (you could go to the patio through the glass doors there) with a bedroom and separate bathroom on the other side (again you could go to...
Seems like the timeshare tainted your time there. We have been twice and really enjoyed it. We had the larger 1 bedroom king suite with ocean view, so perhaps that helped. It featured a large table/chairs in a kitchen area at the entry which led into a living room (you could go to the patio through the glass doors there) with a bedroom and separate bathroom on the other side (again you could go to the patio/pool area from the bedroom as well). Never noticed street noise especially not from our room nor pool area.
The food and drinks we had were all great to include breakfast each morning. Never had a bad thing during either stay, but we aren't very picky either. Service was great everywhere we went to include the pool where they had a stand set up with towels near the entry or there were towels on the loungers already. I agree that the pool area is the best part of the resort and where we spent almost all of our time.
We received the "museum/timeshare" pitch the 1st trip, but made it clear right away we had no interest and they took us back to the lobby. On our second trip they left us alone.
Our 5 year old loved the kids club not so much for the space, but enjoyed the attention he received from the staff working. He enjoyed playing and drawing with them and felt important.
There's a ton of better places to eat from local taco joints, to local favs (Edith's, Romeo & Juliet, etc), newer spots like Carbon Cabron, farm-to-table spots like Flora Farms or Acre. These and many more are better and often less expensive than eating on the resorts.
We also Pedregal is far superior, but also twice the cost. I guess it's moot because Solaz is closed and doesn't sound good for a re-opening anytime soon and when it does it's hard to say how it will be managed then.
Regarding the timeshare pitch...hate to say it, but Lucky, you're either too polite or don't have a backbone, or maybe a bit of both. I stayed at this hotel, simply told them firmly I wasn't interested and that was the end of that. Literally a 7 second interaction with the lady at the museum. In fact, my kids liked the museum so we voluntarily went back to the museum a 2nd time during our stay...
Regarding the timeshare pitch...hate to say it, but Lucky, you're either too polite or don't have a backbone, or maybe a bit of both. I stayed at this hotel, simply told them firmly I wasn't interested and that was the end of that. Literally a 7 second interaction with the lady at the museum. In fact, my kids liked the museum so we voluntarily went back to the museum a 2nd time during our stay and the same lady didn't even bother me.
I've stayed at A LOT of hotels in Cabo (I've been 15+ times over the years) and I would say Solaz had one of the most impressive pools in all of Los Cabos. Yes the service isn't as polished at Las Ventanas, WA, etc, but the hard product around the pool area was really impressive.
The restaurants were also way above average for a hotel. Agree on breakfast that it was just ok.
I would happily go back to the Solaz if they ever reopen.
They knew the property was about to be shut down and went nuclear to get more sales done hence the ultra aggressive approach, which explains Lucky's recent experience and explains why in the past it was not like this. Many reviews say the same thing as you Luis and i bet this used to be a great property, clearly it all changed when they realized their structural problems which is down right despicable.
2 days before our family was to go here, we saw the postings on the internet that Solaz suddenly closed. They didn’t even call us and they were booking guests at a neighboring (but much older) hotel. We booked that same plunge pool room. We ended up switching hotels at the last day on our own. I called Marriott and they were unwilling to accommodate us to an equal or better property even though they...
2 days before our family was to go here, we saw the postings on the internet that Solaz suddenly closed. They didn’t even call us and they were booking guests at a neighboring (but much older) hotel. We booked that same plunge pool room. We ended up switching hotels at the last day on our own. I called Marriott and they were unwilling to accommodate us to an equal or better property even though they acknowledged the abrupt closure. They hassled me a bit about the late cancel and “I may be charged”, but in the end they waived it. What a mess of a new hotel, and we were actually fortunate and booked a better place.
The part I enjoyed most of your review was the photo with the caption ... "Winston realizing he got Bonvoyed"… LOVEZ IT! I'll take more Winston please!
@Lucky:
Were you the only real people at the timeshare presentation? All the others were stooges?
If not: could you prevent others from buying?
They could've at least taken the time to spell out your first name correctly, Mr. Ban Schlappig. :)
They can't even spell 'breakfast' right.
Ford "Backett" too
This is pretty standard for timeshare pitches in Mexico. Same tactics, different resort. Even walking through the “shark tank” after you clear customs and immigration in Mexico is an experience. I’m flying to Los Cabos tomorrow. I’ve already turned down the advance invite for a tour from my “concierge.”
Love the timeshare interaction part of the post. But I thought the Aegon was a one star review for you as well?
I'd say you were way too polite.
Timeshare ppl are best handled like panhandlers. Do not engage with them, it only encourages them. After you say "no" once, do not acknowledge their existence. Ignore them, browse your phone, etc. I would have just walked back to check in and just say "check me in please" over and over.
My highlight of this review is the timeshare part.
That is pretty much the standard timeshare presentation sequence.
The headhunter who gets paid just by delivering people. (so yeah, @Lucky your attendance paid this person)
The pitiful and sad sales rep who is your buddy and just started working.
The mean and high pressure boss.
The feedback person who will sneak in a "deal"
And the clerk who will hand...
My highlight of this review is the timeshare part.
That is pretty much the standard timeshare presentation sequence.
The headhunter who gets paid just by delivering people. (so yeah, @Lucky your attendance paid this person)
The pitiful and sad sales rep who is your buddy and just started working.
The mean and high pressure boss.
The feedback person who will sneak in a "deal"
And the clerk who will hand you goodies you were promised after spending more than the advertised 90 mins.
I'm not sure if I've ever heard you use the term 'douchecanoe" in all my years of reading you but that asshole certainly deserved it. Very well played:)
I would've punched him and likely ended in a Cabo local jail.
Great review.
Loves it, sliving for the entire report. Would avoid the property like a plague if it ever reopens.
your new show on netflix is beyond, well done paris, sliving as usual
Thank you for putting the time into writing this one! Absolutely hysterical report