Summer Vacay Puerto/Nuevo Vallarta Day 1 - Arrival

June 20, 2015.

The usual procrastinators that we are, we packed at the last minute, therefore I only managed to sleep half hour before leaving for the flyaway. We were supposed to leave at 5 but we missed the 530 bus and had to wait for the 6oclock one. Good thing no traffic and we made good time to the airport. United was the last terminal and boy they were packed.

On one of the stops, Tal pointed out that Mr. Chow AKA Ken Jeong was sitting right outside the terminal chatting with another passenger. I looked and to my disbelief, he did look like Mr Chow. I managed to snap one photo before the bus takes off but didn't manage to focus!

Since we packed liquids, we have to check in one of the bags plus need to print Aba's boarding pass because his flight was reserved with the wrong name. That took the longest because everyone was lining up behind a computerized kiosk and nobody seemed to know what needs to be done and needed assistance. When it was my time, I couldn't check my bag in because it passed the 45min prior to boarding. So needed assistance and none of the agent would help because it was only a specific agent that's assisting other kiosks that can help us.

Finally flagged him down and he understood that we were late, so he helped us out to check the bag and process Aba's boarding pass and took us upstairs, cut through security line and we ran to the gate like crazy with just minutes to spare. I honestly thought we were gonna miss the flight as we spent about 30mins to check in.

Flight was only 3 hours and we slept most of it. We were seated separately, however, the row in front me was the exit row and nobody was there so I gathered the other two to come and sit with me hehe nothing beats more leg room!

We breezed through immigration but upon collecting our bags, this darn dog sniffed my bag, I showed the officer that I only have muffins. Thought we were on the clear, there's another level of immigration and another freaking dog sniffed my bag and we had to be screened. They asked us to take our bags to opened. Didn't confiscate anything except some sandwiches that Tal's mom made which Aba brought all the way from Israel. What bummer!

After all that, we exit the area and searched for our transportation, the concierge advised to ignore the timeshare people that lurks around the airport. One of the guys approached us and identify himself as Vida for the transportation service and asked that we speak to someone at the counter. Guillermo told us that our car will be ready in 15mins and in the meantime he wanted to inform us of all activities around the area that we can take advantage of. He offered us kayaking to a unesco site for $30/person, 6hr fishing trip for $150/trip and zip line for $20/person. 

We opted for the kayak and zip line totaling $150 and he can only accept cash, the only catch is we just need to spend one hour timeshare presentation, which we've done many times so it wasn't a big deal. We paid him the money and exchanged our numbers so he can arrange to pick us up tomorrow for the presentation. He also forewarned us not to speak to the concierge at the hotel about other timeshare presentations when we get into the hotel.

It was about 20mins car ride to the hotel. The property is so huge that we had to depart with our luggage with the bellboy to be taken to the "Santuario" in a golf cart and from there another 10mins walk to the hotel itself to check-in. The Grand Mayan entrance is lined with humongous Mayan status - from my estimation they're probably about 100ft high and pitch dark for some reason maybe to appear mystical. 

To check in they put a deposit hold of US$700 on your credit card, in case of incidental damages. And ushered us to the direction of the concierge. As we were pre-warned by Guillermo, we were very cautious on what she was about to tell us. It wasn't her first rodeo, she already assumed that we spoke to the airport people as she called them and told us that she'd match whatever he promised us at no cost to us and also will upgrade us to a deluxe room in a different hotel closer to the beach provided that we attend their timeshare presentation.

When asked why should we go with her and not him, she said that they have bad reputation of holding customers for longer than an hour and not upholding or granting all the activities promised. She said we should be assured since she's at the hotel and work for the hotel unlike the guys at the airport that we have no way of reaching them.

It was a no brainer, so we agreed to drop that guy, he keeps the $150 and we get an upgrade as well as the activities we paid for. The timeshare comes with breakfast and we're only obligated to stay for one hour with no commitment to buy. Since we've already checked into Grand Mayan and now upgraded to Deluxe Tower which she said the rooms are twice as large with a huge deck and dip pool, we had to be carted to the new hotel so another golf cart driver awaits us to take us there. 3mins later we arrived to a much luxurious looking resort where there isn't really a reception counter but concierge desks instead. 

We were served with chilled jamaica (pronounced hamaica) and basil drink which is just hibiscus and boy it was so good and refreshing. After we confirmed everything, we were given wrist bands to be worn to identify which property we're staying in and it also has RFID that acts as our room key - we felt like royalties!

Our room is just on the second floor and we were upgraded to 2bedroom instead of 1, but the rooms are huge with big soaking tub and jacuzzi in each room, full kitchen equipped with microwave, electric range, coffee maker, blender, toaster, fridge, cookware, dinnerware, flatware and utensils for over 10people. The photo below only shows the kitchen/living area, there's doors that lead to both bedrooms and size of the rooms are the same as living while bath is about the size of kitchen.

All rooms are huge and airy with high ceiling and have access to the balcony where they have a dip pool, hammock, dining set and buffet table. Balcony has partial ocean view and full river view where we were told crocodiles and snapping turtles live.

Ah, this is the good life.