Taking a Chance on a Brand New Hotel

Taking a Chance on a Brand New Hotel:

            I mentioned in an earlier blog post, how you can save money and often get a deal if you are willing to book a new hotel. Sure it may not be at full capacity, it may not have all services available yet, and they will be working on their customer service. However, most of the time you will be welcomed into a squeaky clean new hotel with employees eager to impress and serve you. After all, management knows that their success highly depends on the reviews they will receive on TripAdvisor and more. Here are a few hotels we were lucky enough to stay at before their nightly rate increased significantly:

1.     Live Aqua Cancun: It was stylish, modern, and they greeted you with a hand massage upon check-in. It was close to many activities in Cancun, yet quiet enough to resemble a spa. The room service was top notch and the pools looking out on the ocean were breathtaking. Highlight: sipping “Cancun kiwi’s” (cocktail) while swinging on the swing at the beach bar.

Price we paid in 2011: $159 (u.s dollars) per night double occupancy

Price per night currently: $449 (u.s dollars) and up per night double occupancy

2.     Barcelo Maya Colonial (Mayan Riviera): This resort was huge! So much to see and do. As a guest you have access to all four hotels: Barcelo Maya Beach, Barcelo Maya Caribe, Barcelo Maya Colonial and Barcelo Maya Tropical. Leaving your hotel room was truly a full night out, with taking a trolly to dinner, then another trolly to the shows, and finally a large disco to top it all off. Highlight: feeding the fish and swimming with the sea turtles found just off the hotel built board walk! We loved this place so much we came back and got married at its partnering Barcelo Palace.

Price we paid first visit 2006: $159 (u.s dollars) per night double occupancy

Price we paid for our wedding 2010: $400 (u.s dollars) per night double occupancy

Price per night currently: $472 (u.s dollars) and up per night double occupancy

3.     Grand Sunset Princess (Playa del Carmen): This resort is quite large as well. It has many options for upgrades beyond the basic room, like swim up villas. Lots of exciting activities going on and great restaurant choices. The facilities were modern and the lobby is grand. We stayed with a group of friends at this resort and we loved that it was close to Playa Del Carmen if we wanted to go into town, yet there was still enough to keep us entertained if we decided to stay at the resort. Highlight: drinking mimosas in the lobby bar before dinner and enjoying the ice cream treats they handout around the pool during the day.

Price we paid in 2011: $99 (u.s dollars) per night double occupancy

Price per night currently: $343 (u.s dollars) and up per night double occupancy

In two weeks Rich and I will be travelling to Puerto Vallarta. We are staying at the newly opened Grand Fiesta Americana which is an adult’s only resort. The resort opened in November and has received solid reviews so far. There have been little complaints and pool temperature and the dinner reservation system, but management has already addressed these areas. We’ll provide pictures on our Instagram account while staying at the resort and a trip review when we get back for those who may be interested in future stays at the resort.

Have you been one of the first guests to stay at a hotel or resort? Let us know in the comment section how it worked out for you.

Barcelo Maya Palace Deluxe
Photo: @conciergecouple