Trip Report For Over Halloween

So, TTR Trip No. 20 in the books, as of our visit over Halloween this year.

To make this a bit shorter than my usual, imagine that I've inserted all the typical details of our making it to TTR in the usual way here, in this sentence.

We arrive, going up that huge incline to get the ride up to that height from the road level, and we're greeted immediately by a couple of the veteran bellman, which was way cool. There seemed to be more bellman this time than usual, but maybe it was the time of day. We knew two of the 6 guys out there working. Again, good to see familiar happy faces. Bell staff gets 9 out of 10.

Then inside... and I have to say that I'm not really a fan of the way the lobby is designed. Not that the lobby makes much difference to my vacation or not, but the lobby IS where you get your initial feeling of what the hotel/resort/restaurant is going to be all about. You'll notice this recurring theme in the rest of my review as we go along. Listening to Stacia describe the colors, decor, feeling, smelling (they've upgraded and added aroma to the circulation system, just like they do in Vegas) the room, listening to the talk/chatter of the staff, and hearing the echoes of the lobby all around... to me, it's very cold. Designed to be looked at and specifically to impress.... sort of like, "Look how fancy I am. I'm like, all marble and stuff and I have carpet everywhere. Well, not everywhere, only to make it look good. Don't I look good? Of course I do. Run along now." Like that. Lobby gets a 3 out of 10 from me. It does it's job, but it makes you want to get out of there.

To check-in -- We only knew where the Premier desk was as Norma had been at TTR to point it out to us back in August when we visited on opening day so we could do a day out on the Yacht. We maneuver over there.... and let me tell you, if you've not had a Premier member rave about how awesome the team of Damien & Norma was at old-TTR from a front desk perspective... you should have. One of the best front desk experiences I've ever had, and it happened each and every time we visited TTR over the past 6 years since we got our membership. Well, Damien is no longer working there (he works for Diego directly), and Norma wasn't there either. We had new people... who probably didn't get the memo that TTR staff is having fun, smiling, laughing and very energetic about their jobs. We got a sort of South of the Border version of Motel 6/Super 8. We were checked in, and didn't enjoy the experience. You are supposed to be welcomed, imo, by the desk. Not at the TTR, not for us. But, we DID get checked-in to TTR, so it did work. I give front desk a 5 out of 10.

Room: I think our first room was... 2320, maybe? The numbering system must make sense to someone, I suppose, but we couldn't figure it out. We walked into our assigned "Plush Jacuzzi Room," which is simply a refurbished old-TTR Jacuzzi Room, the ones that sort of wrap around the area by where the Italian restaurant, Quiet Pool and that stuff is. Stacia took 3 steps inside and turned tot he bell man and told him we needed a different room as the room was foul with cigarrette smoke. It was really bad you guys. Like a 2 pack a day smoker would go in there and be able to scratch his itch, like that. For asthma chik it was a non-starter. So, we went over to 2217 I think it was, which wasn't rank with cigarrette smoke, but still had some sort of bad odor. We didn't pack the small air freshener, more fools us, because we were coming to " a completely refurbished hotel & resort," right? But, int he end, that was something we had dealt with before at TTR. The solution is to leave the room, go get your drink/party on, and when you go back to the room you don't care about little things like the fumes wafting from the bathroom. The bed was more comfortable, so they finally got new mattresses and pillows. So, that was a serious upgrade. I could completely have done without the so-called "automatic window shades." I think that was a complete waste of their money. The automatic thing didn't work right except for one time, and it wanted to fight with us when we wanted to do something different. Same deal with the way the room controls are all in that unit ... it's not intuitive, not user-friendly, and didn't work besides. Room gets a 4 out of 10, but then again, it always did.

Butler Service: We had a butler, but we did not get service. There you go, as plain as I can put it. He said, "Anything you want or need, tell me and I'll get it for you." I came back immediately with, "I would like a handle-bottle of Fireball right over there, on that shelf, so that she (Stacia) & I can have warm-up shots from our own bottle before going out." He said, "I can do that, but I have to go tot he store and I'll bring back the receipt nd you pay that." I reply, "Not a problem (pat wallet) I've the pesos from last trip already, and I need to give them all to someone anyway."

.... so.... day goes by, no Fireball. Then 2 days go by, still no Fireball. See the guy around, sure, but no Fireball. Worse (from customer service perspective) not a single word to us about the Fireball, either. Never did get it, never did get anything the guy said he'd get, except one time he escorted room service (way messed up, too) to the room so "they could find our room."

It's not like having our own Fireball in the room is a biggee... but the guy DID say he'd get it, and then.... black hole.

Room Service: It took them 3 days to get a breakfast order to us, and gee, by the 4th day it was actually right. And, now having succeeded in delivering to us what we'd asked for as our "daily breakfast," it stopped. Nice. Really, really complex order, too. Scrambled eggs, double bacon, pot of coffee, and white toast for two people. Lofty goal, that.



Premier Deck Bar. Oddly, completely and totally unchanged from the old-TTR, like it was a walled-off area owned by someone else while they were upgrading. Which, now that I've thought about it, is just fine with me as it didn't need much of anything. Well, it could have a slightly larger roof, so that the things hanging down off of the roof aren't on your head if you're 5'7" or taller while standing behind someone or with someone, who is seated on one of the barstools there. I had to go a long way to find that one complaint, you can tell. Bar staff were all regular old-TTR guys, which was fantastic. "Hola Mr. John! Sol? Or Purple Shit?" Bam, like I'd never been gone and was just coming out for my third day in a row, except that it'd been more than a year. Premier Deck Bar gets 9.5 out of 10.

Sexy Pool: Vibe seems the same. Cool, fun and chatty people all getting a bit lit and enjoying running around mostly naked while getting their drink on. That part was the same. As the planet knows now, the pool itself is huge, which does serve to diffuse out the crowd during partying into clumps, which certain kinds of people seem to take as making it "cliquey." I didn't find it so, but I'm either... blind to such things (ba-dum-bum) or just don't care. The problem was, the pool is way too damn deep for the shorties, and if you've not noticed, it's the shorties who have the boobies that are out for air at TTR, so having the water level that ... high (?) is counter-productive. Also, mechanically for the real shorties like Stacia at 5'1" it can be a big deal to just try and move around in the pool -- so she just didn't. At all. So, no pool time for her, except on the side, or sat out on a step or sun-shelf. That does sort of cut down on the socializing ability as you're just not exposed (pun intended) to as many other folks. Water was very cold, too... which is a function of the pool being deeper, I get that. Maybe it's an engineering thing? Marshe was telling me about the water circulation system working as a heat exchange process between hotel and pool, so maybe there was some advantage gained in doing things that way? Still, imo, messed up a perfectly good pool "party environment." I give the Sexy Pool (itself not the people or the vibe) 2 out of 10. The people and the vibe get 8 out of 10.

We walked past the Quiet Pool a couple of times this trip, and it struck me that it was anything but... ahh... quiet. There is music palying at pretty high volume out there now overhead/from the landscaping... and the restaurant close by has an outside speaker which is playing the, contrasting, restaurant's music about an equal volume. If you were trying to chill... you'd go nuts. I'll abstain from putting a rating ont he Quiet Pool this time.

Italian: Menu slightly different, but they still had the Lasagna, so I obliterated mine, and completed the back half of Stacia's as she wanted two things and couldn't decide. Problem solved. The decor has been updated as well, whatever. It's not as good as a high-end Italian place or three I could name in Houston, just as in any major city, but for a break from TTR buffet fare, it's top notch. Italian = 9 out of 10.

Asian: We didn't do the reservation habachi part, as that doesn't do anything for Stacia. Truthfully, if I could just eat the habachi food without having to wait fo the guy to amaze me ith his cutlery skills, I'd like it better, as I DO love the food when it comes right off the grill like that. But, we did do the reservation-less Asian part, and Boy! It was Good and Loud in there! Meaning, my food (sweet & sour chicken, but the preparation was Not what you'd expect, way good), that was fabulous. It was LOUD in there like they were piping in crowd noise to make sure everyone knew they were supposed to be eating and having fun. It was hard to have a conversation witht he person sitting right next to you, much less across from you. Loud. Food excellent, though. I give Asain 8 out of 10.

People: Met a good group of people, but again as the ... population-flow mechanics of people in/around the Sexy Pool wasn't the same, not as many as usual. People met were very pleasant to chat with for a minute or a couple hours. Re-met a couple of very cool people from up near the Artic Circle (well, way, way closer to it than us) in Flin Flon, Manitoba. They got home and it was 21F outside, poor peeps, that's Tim & Michelle who we'd originally met at Pearl in August. Saw Marshe, both of them, and got to hang out for a good amount of time with them. Restling. wade/Janet. Randy & Kay, whazzup H-town peeps! Good to see and talk with you both. Hillary, Audrey, Bill and Billy, different dudes, another pair of Johns, great name that. Saw CCC's Steve a lot this trip (by the way, buddy, how bad was it when you made it home?). It's the usual thing... meeting cool people who are the best friends you just met, it's hard to explain how it works. But, ti does work. People at TTR get a 10 out of 10.

Furniture: It is quite obvious that whoever was responsible for "buying" the furniture around the pools, and in Bash, or in the rooms (other than the beds) did not actually "sit" in anything. Just a "Yes, that's the look we want. Kind of ssharp and edgy, and bendy in places where people do not actually end. That's perfect." The furniture gets a 1 out of 10.

Bash: OK. Honest opinion here. I am not a fan of Bash. Inside, too bright, spread out, and no real nightclub environment. While we were there, there was no attempt at normalization of the temperature, and it is VERY hard to get a group of people to wear naughty little things when it's actually getting a bit cold outside, and there's a breeze coming through at about 12-15 mph... and when you try to go inside the A/C is down around 62F. Talk about goosebumps! And I was told by more than one lady, goosebumps are not sexy. So, that's a fail. Bar service is spotty. You've got to walk the bar areas to find an old-TTR tender if you want the level of speed of service you've become accustomed to at TTR. That's outside. Inside, where it was all new guys... you could stand and wait for 10 minutes (timed), without being spoken to. Again, not a fan. Bash gets 3 out of 10. The outside of Bash, which is sort of where the old Patyo's was, has been opened up some, a bar is out there, there's music, and it could be cool, if it hadn't been cold. I give the Bash outside, ranked separately, a 7 out of 10, and I'd go up two points if all the people were heated up a bit. There should be just a bit of sweat on people dancing hard.

Security: Security was very cool this trip on the tom-foolery. We weren't there, but the big jacuzzi thing that's up near to Bash but outside apparently ended up with a group of about 20 people in there, most of them completely anked and drinking, talking and having a good time. As nobody was attempting to actually "get busy" security let them be. Similarly, there were free-range boobies on display at night at Bash, though on a couple of nights only for a short time as, has been noted before, goosebumps are not sexy. It does still seem ther are quite a few people who don't know how to determine, for themselves, that they've had enough booze. Contrary to the States, if a person is standing, slouching, or sitting basically upright, and they ask for another drink, in Mexico, they get it. Which... is not always a good thing. Some restraint might be a positive improvement. I'm not saying don't go have fun, tie one on, you're in Mexico by all means do so. But, you may not want to, as one girl did, drink so much that you pass out and off your seat. Not a problem usually, except she was at the swim-up bar and now she's face-down int he water. A few extra seconds of that (remember, everyone around is drinking too) and she'd maybe been dead, or at the very least had serious life-long lung damage (Can you imagine getting afternoon Sexy Pool water in your lungs? Ewww...).

Sports Bar: I was really excited to check this out, so that maybe they'd done something cool with the old Nice Shoes. Hmmm.... it starts out OK on it's face. You come in the old doors, down some steps, there is some booth seating ont he left, pool tables in front of you, big TV on the right side wall, huge projection TV of multiple monitors set up way in the back where the bar area is, up a couple steps, like that. OK, so it "looks" like it could be a sports bar. But, here's another Epic Fail. Except on Sundays, the staff can't change the audio overhead (which is playing whatever the general hotel is playing) to the sports event you are looking at on the screen. That's an easy, very simple thing to do, and it should have been done without people having to point it out. It's not like they still call it Nice Shoes... it's called the "Sports Bar." 2 out of 10.

Daytime food: Not impressive. The old-TTR's Margaritas restaurant was where Stacia & I always tried to take our middle of the drinking-day food, around 3:00 to 4:30 pm. Well, Margaritas is gone now, and replaced with ... again... a pretty looking thing that does not actually serve the purpose to which it is intended. We did our day drinking, then checked this place out at 3:30 pm our first day. Let me explain... this middle of the day thing at ~3 pm has been working for us for 9 YEARS, for 20 trips. Go drink in the sun from 11 am until ~3 pm, go eat. Take nap, up at 8 pm go eat againa nd dress up and go out. Scheduled and set, planned and in the books. Problem is... Hmm... let's just say we got up and walked away from food which was not even half-eaten. Fail. 2 out of 10.

Buffet: Less options than what you'd have expected if you are a TTR-repeater. No clue why that is. Maybe to freshen up what IS on the buffet? It was all right, and we ate it with lack of enthusiasm. 5 out of 10.

Beach: Same beach, different furniture. I DID actually like the new style of chairs they have down at the beach, they were fine. Premier area gets bar service run out there to us, so that's nice. Get your drink on without having to go to the bar. Seaweed is still an issue, but seemed to be less bad than it was in August, so it's finally diminishing, I think. Some good groups out down on the beach, chilling and hanging out. 7 out of 10, as per usual.

Spa: If you're Premier, you get to use the spa whenever you want, for free, so we did. Hot Steam Sauna, then Hot Dry Sauna, each for about 10 minutes, then a teeth-chattering dunk (for me only, Stacia was skeert) into the chill plunge pool (that thing is COLD! You can get massages there of the normal and sensual/erotic kind, but they are cheaper down on the beach, even at the Premier discount price. Still, it's fun to go with your person and hang out together int he spa, that's a good time. 8 out of 10.

So, there you have it. Our next trip is planned for TTR next July (15-22), so if you run into us, me actually, offer up your own perspective on things. Contrary to my number ratings (I tend to always rate things on an absolute scale, rather than in context), I did enjoy the trip and TTR. Maybe it's like putting on a brand new boot, and feeling all the ways the new boot shoves your foot around uncomfortably that your regular, old, very comfortable (but... worn-out) boots did not do. Still, we're not going to try to shove our foot back into the new boot for about 10 months, and then with a good crew of friends in tow. We'll hit DRM, definitely at late April, front May, and maybe in late February for 3 days or so, too.

*Edited as I forgot to put in the above comments RE Butler service and Rroom service.*

 

all my worst fears confirmed...especially the cold too deep pool.

 

It's OK. Go to DRM or Pearl. Their pools are both warm, and have no deep end.

 

Plus...their hot tubs are outstanding.

 

Great place that could be so much better with a little better plan!

 

Thinking the split for June may include an extra night at DRM to try that out. Amanda’s 4’11”. That pool is going to be a real pain. Guess we’ll have to see how it is for ourselves.

Thanks for the report!

 

Great trip report as usual. You brought up some things I had forgot about, and was nodding in agreement. I agree with your front desk assessment. Whenever I went there, they were always on the phone, and just not as "welcoming". The way you phrased it was right on.

Premier deck bar at the sexy pool. I remember now how annoying those low hanging things were. Ah, First World Problems....

Getting drinks at any bar except the quiet pool seemed like a challenge, and running out of booze is a pretty big turnoff. I would rather they not have it, then have them tease you with it one day, and be out the next two. Fireball, comes to mind.

And yeah, the furniture. Furniture, and the messed up pool, in depth and warmth, are things I'm hoping will keep the price down. Certainly not 5 star quality.

 

Newbie here. The one thing I hear that concerns me (Im easy to please otherwise) is water temp. And actually now that John mentioned cool weather, that too. Funny he mentioned knowing people from Flin Flon, Im wrong Winnipeg, Manitoba and a winter vacation should be HOT. Since its cold here, maybe "cool" to some of you Americans will be warm to me... hoping so! I want to be able to hang out in the pool and not shiver.

 

You won't be cold. People travel to TTR year round, and the pool being "cold" is relative. some people think under 80 is cold....

 

its 29 degrees today I will deal with the cool 70 to 75 degree weather and the pool can be cold. LOL i cant wait. Maybe because it new and the bugs need to be worked out.little time and everyone will adjust. Sometimes change is hard for some. All in all good honest review.