Tim and Megan Miller
You will see your email responses to the group thread are mostly from us until you are in Cancun.
- - - Info - Pack - - -
"Hi all! Communication is KEY!"
"Please, we ask that you follow these 4 main points for communication. Thank you!"
Abdiel Guitierrez
Once you are in Cancun, most of your responses will come from me, Abdiel. I am at the resort almost everyday except Sundays.
1. Please never start a new thread. Please only us the GROUP - MAIN email thread. Thank you!
2. Please ALWAYS be sure to hit "Reply All". Otherwise the group chat vanishes. Thank you!
3. Please add the other adults coming to the GROUP - MAIN thread. Thank you.
If the others never use email, please include them anyway.
4. On arrival day, please email the group 3 times. Once when you have arrived in Cancun, once
when you are on your way, and once more when you have arrived at the resort. Thank you
Thank you.
You will find that the group email is very effective in keeping everyone informed with fast response times.
- - - Info - Pack - - -
Resort Address - Oleo Cancun Playa
Blvd. Kukulcan kilometer 19.5, Zona Hotelera
Cancun, Quintana Roo,
Mexico 77500
"Hi guys. If you want a great, relaxing stay, with relaxation instead of frustration, I highly recommend you read at least the items in red. I hope you take advantage of this pack. This page can really help make your stay among the very best ever! Have a great time everyone!" Tim Miller
21. Internet Resort
22. Late Arrivals
23. Massage – Spa Menu
24. Movies in the Penthouses
25. Navigation – Airport to the resort
26. Rental Car – Resort Parking
27. Resort Amenities
28. Resort Security - Wristbands
29. Restaurants Cancun
30. Security Deposit Info
31. Shopping Cancun
32. Snorkeling Trip with Mike
33. Street View – The Resort
34. Supplies we provide
35. Sunday Arrivals
36. VIP Night Club Tickets
37. Visitors not allowed
38. What’s Nearby
39. Weather averages Cancun
Airport Transfers - Booking Link: https://www.entertainment-plus.net/affiliate_1935
We have been referring USA transfers for over 10 years. They have the best prices in Cancun and our guests continue to report that their service is very good. The cost for up to 10 people is $125 round trip. They have child seats upon request. When you exit the airport, if you do not see USA transfers right away, ask any of the transfer companies there, and they will direct you. Everyone knows who they are. Once the USA transfer staff member greets you, the wait is typically 10 minutes or less for your shuttle. For the hotel name type in Oleo Cancun Playa.
More than 10 people per vehicle:
If you have more than 10 going at once, Cancun Transportations can take up to 16 at once, and their prices are good. So far, guests have said they have been satisfied with their service. They also have the child seats if needed. https://www.cancuntransportations.com/group-transportation-in-cancun
For the hotel name type in Oleo Cancun Playa.
Cancun International Airport (CUN):
Finding USA transfers: After clearing customs and getting your luggage, you will see there is only one way out. The signs are clearly marked for where to go for your airport transfer pick up. Once you get outside, you will see all sorts of transfer companies. If you don't see USA transfer right away, just ask any of the others, and they will point you to where they are.
Money Exchange at Airport: Do NOT exchange money at the airport. It's a terrible rate.
Airport Internet: Do NOT use this site except for casual browsing, unless you have a VPN. If you are not sure if you have a VPN or not, you do not have one.
GROCERIES OPTION: Get Groceries on the way to the resort with USA transfers.
If you book your airport transfers with USA transfers, you will see that you can check a box to stop off at the grocery store first, before heading to the resort.
This is very popular option with our guests, because this way everything is out of the way before your vacation starts. The extra charge is $35. Unless you arrive on a Sunday or have a late flight, our staff will help you with the groceries when you get to the resort. We have our own carts and heavy duty plastic crates. Do not purchase ice. They sell ice at the Oxxo right across the street. The ice will melt quickly. Side note: You will save about 20% on your groceries if you put in the notes that you want to go to the Walmart/Cumbres grocery store. This is out of the way about 20 minutes one way, so it will take about an extra 40 minutes, but they do not charge extra to take you to the Walmart. By default, they will take you to Soriano's (pictured right) which is located 3 miles from the resort inside an indoor shopping mall. Both grocery stores sell beer and hard liquors. If you decide to go with the grocery store run, please notify the group as this will affect your arrival time at the resort. You can book your transfers here, you will see the grocery stop option when you book it:
https://www.entertainment-plus.net/affiliate_1935
Thank you.
Alternative to Grocery Run - Ordering Groceries:
If you prefer another alternative to getting groceries by stopping at the store via the transfer company, Walmart does deliver, and they claim it is within one hour, this is a fairly new service here. It does appear that they deliver alcohol as well. However, it is important to note that you would need to place the order after you have arrived and checked in. This is a resort rule, because their staff cannot be tied up with taking in guest deliveries. The resort would expect you to be in the lobby or lobby bar when the delivery arrives so that you can immediately receive it. If our team is available, we are happy to help you out. But please note that we make no guarantees in this regard as we are often times tied up with many other tasks, attending other guests needs, etc. If you choose this option, it is CRITICAL that you let our team know via the GROUP - MAIN thread and hitting reply all. Because we must let the resort administration know to let Walmart through, otherwise security will turn them away. You can book this on their site. They do require you to open an account with them before you place an order. The Chrome browser should translate the page for you to English. There is only one brief moment that is in Spanish, when you see that click "Inciar Sesion".
Supplies - Are there any things we don't need to buy at the store?
Yes, we provide the following:
Hand soap at each sink
Garbage/recycling bags
Dish soap
All purpose cleaner/spray bottle
A new scrubby sponge for the kitchen sink
Salt and pepper
Cooking oil
3 rolls of toilet paper per bathroom - enough to get you started
1 roll paper towel as a courtesy
We do NOT provide shampoo, conditioner, or body wash goods
If you plan on using the washer/dryer, please purchase liquid laundry detergent rather than powder as this is what is specified by the manufacturer.
After your shuttle picks you up:
Your driver will know where to take you. But in case it is necessary, it's good to know that you are going to are going to Oleo Cancun Playa, at kilometer 19.5 in the hotel zone. If you like, you can also click on NAVIGATE and it will navigate you directly to our resort. The drive from the airport is 12-15 minutes.
Resort Address - Oleo Cancun Playa:
Blvd. Kukulcan kilometer 19.5, Zona Hotelera
Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, 77500
Infants - Toddlers - What we provide:
As a courtesy to our guests, we provide a packnplay and high chair, one of each per condo. Please note that we do NOT provide linens for the packnplays. We do not provide cribs. Upon request, we will provide additional high chairs and packnplays. We can also provide a stroller upon request.
Rental Company: Infants - Toddlers - Car seats and almost anything else you may want:
Baby Gear is a company that deliver and rent to you just about anything that you may want for your infant or toddler. Their link is: https://babygearforrent.com/index.html
Rental Company: Wheel Chairs, oxygen and several other items for the handicapped:
Handycaptravlers.com will deliver and rent to you wheelchairs, scooters, oxygen and several other items for the handicapped, including floating chairs for the handicapped.
Their link is: https://www.forhandicaptravelers.com/
Check in Time: 4pm
Check out time: 11am
If you arrive early with groceries, we can get them up before your check in time and we will also get your perishables in the fridge. If you have a very early flight in, please note that we can usually not get them up before 11am, as our current guests have not yet vacated the unit. However if you arrive on a Sunday, or if you arrive late, we provide a lock box code and will not be there when you arrive. In those cases we will stop by the next morning to go over things and have you sign for the unit.
Arrival Day:
Communication is KEY.
DAY OF ARRIVAL - Please email the group:
1. Once when you arrive
2. Once you are on your way
3. One when you arrive at the front gate.
PLEASE BE SURE TO HIT "REPLY ALL" ALWAYS. THANK YOU!
HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!
Arriving at the Resort:
Please do not forget to email the group when you get there. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. PLEASE ALWAYS HIT REPLY ALL TO THE GROUP - MAIN THREAD. When you get to the front gate, they will ask you for your unit number. You will see this on the GROUP - MAIN email thread in the subject box. They will ask to see everyone's ID and match it to the guest list you submitted. Meanwhile, my team should be on there way down to greet you as long as you sent out the email as requested. Please note that sometimes my team is checking in another party at the time you arrive. This can and does happen sometimes. Please allow 20 minutes or so for a response, in case they are already checking in another party. If you are concerned you can call me, Tim, at 847-636-2232.
Penthouse Combo units - if you rented more than one condo: Penthouse Combo Units have shortened numbers. To see the full unit number of each unit you that makes up your combo. Please reference your original email of the GROUP - MAIN thread. The individual unit numbers are NOT shown in the subject box. They are shown on the email in red numbers so that they stand out.
Where to go when you arrive:
When you are sitting at the front gate you will see the lobby directly in front of you. In the photo here, you can see the lobby to the right, and a door to the tower to the left. Please enter into the door to the tower on the left. One you go through that door, you will find....
a spacious secondary lobby area where it is much less crowded, and there is much more seating. We refer to this area as the lobby bar. My manager will meet you there. Please note that our team will service you. We provide our own hotel carts and management team to serve you. You will find the resort staff to be helpful and friendly, but they will not show your reservation in their system, as you did not rent from the resort. The resort rents out hotel rooms, not the penthouse units. Therefore it is important that we are the ones that help you with your luggage, rather than resort staff. I included some photos of the lobby bar area, which includes the Brown Bag restaurant, the bar, the excursion center, lots of seating, and the resort convenience store.
Resort Security - Wristbands:
As soon as you meet with Abdiel or his assistant, they will be giving you wristbands that you must wear throughout your stay. This is a security measure. This way, no one can enter the resort, even on foot. And security staff can easily identify anyone who doesn't belong within the resort.
Security General: The resort is gated and has a full security staff. All resort common areas are equipped with security cameras. You will find it is very safe not only within the resort, but outside of the resort as well. The areas surrounding our resort are well lit and their are restaurants and a convenience store located directly across the street.
How much should I tip the bell hops?
$2 per piece of luggage would be much appreciated. Our management team serves as the bell hops for your luggage. We have our own hotel carts. If you have purchased groceries, my team also has foldable milk crates for all of your items. And my team will be a big help in getting your groceries up to the unit as well as all of your luggage.
When you get to the Penthouse unit PLEASE PAY ATTENTION. THANK YOU!:
Of course, you will likely be tired and be in no mood to want to listen to instructions. But it will help a lot if you pay attention to things like how to use the washer/dryer, TV remotes, appliances, etc. as they are in Spanish. There are also several other helpful details that our manager will cover with you.
Sunday Arrivals
Late Arrivals:
We give our team the day off on Sundays. Our team is at the resort Monday through Saturday during the day. If we see that you have a flight in that will take you past 6pm, we will provide you with a lock box code to access the unit. In these cases, one of our managers will stop by in the morning to introduce themselves, answer your questions, and have you sign for the unit.
Early Check ins
Late Check outs
For people arriving early or departing late, we try to accommodate such requests. If we have guests departing the same day you arrive, early check in is not possible. For late departures, if we have guests arriving the same day you depart, you can leave your luggage in the front entry area by 11am check out time and this works out nicely as a place to store your luggage while you enjoy some more time in Cancun. We ask that you return no later than 3pm to pick up your luggage.
If we do not have people arriving the same day, and you have gotten me your flight info early on, I I can tell you that I have already started planning for a potential early check in for you, assuming no same day arrival is on the books already. But regardless, please note that there is no guarantee of early check in, or late check out. At times we have maintenance scheduled that is important. Or if we have had multiple guests in a row with no time between bookings, there is usually an ever growing list of things that needs attention such as paint touch ups and a myriad of other things. Also we give our staff off on Sundays, which can sometimes come into play with early check ins on Sundays or Mondays. The best thing to do is to get me your flight info early on, and from there keep an eye on the availability calendar, and when the dates get to be close, send an email to the group.
Busses are Everywhere: Rental car is not necessary:
You do not need to rent a car when staying in the Cancun hotel zone. Buses run 24/7 and you can go anywhere in the hotel zone for $1 per person which includes a nice tip for the bus driver. If you prefer a cab, that's always another option. It is also very difficult to find parking in the hotel zone. In many places you may want to go, you will not find any parking. Most everyone staying in the hotel zone uses the bus, as there are so many stops, you can essentially get on or off just about anywhere you want. The photo here is of the bus picking people up in front of our resort. If you do opt for a cab, I highly recommend getting the price BEFORE you get into the cab. For knowing the price, you can ask someone, people are always nearby, or ask a waiter if you are in a restaurant. Beyond that, it's just common sense, what you think is a reasonable price based on how far away the drive is. Most drivers will be reasonable, regardless, but some will take advantage if you don't get the price first. As soon as you ask, they usually know they have to be fair at that point.
Cabs:
You can call up a cab anytime from the resort. Just go to the all glass lobby and ask someone to bring a cab up for you. Always be sure to get a price BEFORE you step into the vehicle. On your way back, you'll find cabs are pretty commonplace. Restaurants will get you a cab if you ask them. If you are just out and about, you'll want to flag one down. Now if you are thinking of taking a cab from the airport, I can tell you that USA Transfers is less money than a cab, even if you are only 1 person. It makes no sense, unless you forgot to book your airport transfers.
Uber:
Uber is another option for you, and works perfectly fine in Mexico. However, whatever you do, DO NOT take an Uber to the airport. The union is very strong in this area entering in the airport. Once there was a situation where many Uber's were stopped at the airport and tourists had to walk for hundreds of yards with the luggage.
We want to go out exploring, so I still want to rent a car, is there parking?
Yes, our resort has a small lot. Sometimes it gets full. If it does, resort staff will direct you to alternate places to park on the resort grounds.
Any recommendations on a car rental?
If you want a vehicle for 2-3 days during your stay, I suggest you talk to my manager Abdiel. He has a friend in the business that will bring a car to the resort for you. If you want a car for your entire stay, I always use easyway. They are way cheaper than getting a name brand at the airport. They pick you up, and their place is right on the way to the resort.
Beach lounge chairs and umbrellas: If you plan to spend the day at the beach or pool, I recommend getting down there at 7am. This is when they have just finished raking out the beach and setting up all of the lounge chairs and umbrellas for the beach and pool area. If you place items on a lounge chair unattended, the resort considers that chair not in use after 30-40 minutes and will open up the chair and store the towel(s) and or items with the towel attendant on the pool deck. Please note that on the beach, there is one area to the North that is sectioned off for "Inspira guests". These are resort guests that have paid a lot of extra money to get this package that includes expensive champagne or wine and their own lounge chairs.
The Spa: The Spa features Massage Services, Nail Services, a Relaxation Pool, Whirl Pools, Steam Room, Sauna, Lounge Chairs, Showers, and Locker room. The cost to enter The Spa is $25 per person per visit. If you purchase a massage they waive the fee. To view the massage menu.
Gym & Tennis Court: The gym is open from 6am until 10pm. The gym has treadmills, free weight dumb bells from 5-50 pounds, and other machines. The tennis court is open from 9am until dusk. Please bring your own racquets and balls. Use of the court is free. If you do not want to pack racquets and balls, you can purchase these items at the Walmart stop if you opt for the grocery store run with the transfer company. Please note that the transfer company will NOT take you to the Walmart unless you put in the notes box "Walmart/Cubmbres".
Beach Activities:
Wave runner on the ocean are a blast! You will find them cruising around the ocean right off of our beach frequently. You will also see parasailers flying by quite often. Sometimes they are set up right on our resort's beach, same with the wave runner rentals. If they are not within a short walk on the beach, to go parasailing or to rent a wave runner, just go to the tour center located on the main level of the central tower, you cannot miss it.
All Inclusive: 9am-1am
The all-inclusive is optional each day you are there. You purchase the all inclusive at the main lobby front desk. It's best to go at 9am to get the most out of it. The cost is $90 per person per day (Dec 19-Jan 3 is approximately $135). Kids 11 and under are half off. 2 and under are no charge. When you purchase it, you gain access to unlimited food and drinks from 4 of the 5 resort restaurants and both of the bars. You cannot gain access to these 4 restaurants or the resort bars without purchasing the all-inclusive, because this is an all-inclusive resort. All 4 restaurants are open at night. During the day, the buffet is open for breakfast and lunch. And the snack bar (located on the pool deck) is open from 11:30-5:30pm. The snack bar by the pool actually has very good food, such as burgers, seasoned fries, shrimp, and other offerings. Regardless of if you are on the all-inclusive or not, you still have use of the resort beach, pool, hot tub, lounge chairs, umbrellas, gym, tennis court and spa. You can also use the Brown Bag restaurants as this is not an all inclusive restaurant. The Spa runs $25 per person per day. They waive the fee if you purchase a massage. The spa has a steam room, sauna, relaxation pool, hot tubs, and massage and nail services.
Pool Hours: 7am-8pm
Spa Hours: 7am-8pm
Gym Hours: 6am-10pm
Resort Activities: The resort prints off a brochure each week detailing activities during the week. They include things like water yoga, water dance, live entertainment some nights around the lobby bar, and other things. To get the brochure, please go to the lobby front desk and just ask for it.
Our Resort Lobby - Purchase the All-Inclusive here. Ask for the weekly activities brochure here as well.
For any day or days you choose to purchase the all-inclusive, you can order from the swim up bar, then lobby bar, or from one of the 5 all inclusive restaurants. When the resort features live entertainment by the bar, you can still hang out there, regardless of if you are on the all inclusive or not. But of course you cannot purchase from the bars & all inclusive restaurants. Two of the 4 all-inclusive restaurants are open at night only, from 6-10. While the buffet restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And the "Snack Bar" restaurant located poolside is open from 11:30-5:30pm. At the snack bar, you walk up to the counter to place your order. The sushi restaurant, called Hakka, is located to the North of the North tower. It's tucked away, so if you are interested in sushi, walk along the pool deck North, and just past the big hot tub you'll see the stairs to go up on your left. After you go up the stairs, you'll see Hakka right there. There is a small restaurant, Brown Bag. This restaurant has things like small pizzas for 2, wraps, baguets, various coffees and desserts. This is the only restaurant that you can order individual items from, even if you are not on the all inclusive. It is included if you are on the all inclusive.
ALL INCLUSIVE CURRENT PRICING AND HOURS: - PLEASE NOTE, WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER CHANGES TO THE PRICE, OR THE HOURS OF THE ALL INCLUSIVE RESTAURANTS AND BARS. HOURS AND PRICING ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. Whenever there is a change, prices and hours are updated promptly to our website and our info pack. Thank you.
ALL-INCLUSIVE CURRENT PRICE: $90 PER PERSON PER DAY - FOR DATES OF APPROXIMATELY DEC 20-JAN 4 PRICES ARE TYPICALLY 50% HIGHER:
HOURS: 9AM - 1AM
PREMIUM DRINKS OPTION: For $50 more, you can get the premium drinks which include top shelf Whiskey, Vodka, Rum, and Tequila.
ALL INCLUSIVE IS PURCHASED AT THE LOBBY FRONT DESK. EACH DAY IT IS OPTIONAL. FOR PAYMENT, VISA, MASTER, AMEX OR CASH ARE ACCEPTED.
Not using all-inclusive: You do NOT have to be on the all-inclusive to eat at The Brown Bag Restaurant: This restaurant is open from 7am until 1am. It is located right by the bar on the main level of the central tower. My favorite things to order here are the Salman Wraps and the Chicken and Ham Baguettes. You can have them toasted and they are really tasty. They also have pizza here, it's pretty good for Mexico. It's essentially a coffee shop, so you can get a wide assortment of coffees here, along with lattes and espressos. They also have a very nice assortment of desserts. If you do choose the all-inclusive, this restaurant is still included.
Not using all-inclusive. When you are not on the all-inclusive please take advantage of the fact that there is a cooler inside the penthouse, it is the perfect size, about the size of a carry-on piece of luggage and it pulls behind you the same way. This is a really nice feature as the vast majority of resorts do not allow these. We actually use the cooler even when we are on the all-inclusive as it makes for a handy little table on the beach. Feel free to take it down to the beach with you, or by the pool. Please, no glass, for obvious reasons. You will find these nice, sturdy plastic cup rock glasses inside the condo. They have the Tim's Ocean Condos logo on them.
- - - DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE RESORT - - -
Navios:
If you like seafood, The Best seafood in Cancun is right across the street! It is very easy to get around our resort, because it is a lot smaller than most. And it doesn't get any easier than strolling across the street to this amazing restaurant. The only thing that may be better than the food is the beautiful night time atmosphere. I recommend you make a reservation for about 1/2 hour before sunset. The sunset over the lagoon is gorgeous, and the night time atmosphere at Navios is a thing of beauty. I recommend the Popey Grouper. It's baked with some fantastic spices (it's not hot, just nicely spiced). It's consistently the best fish I have ever had. And the vegetables are so good, just outstanding! For an appetizer they have this one item that is essentially a shrimp quesadilla. The descriptions are in English, I highly recommend that, it is the best! Whoever they have doing their cooking must be among the best around, because I cannot say enough about how good the food is. The only thing I do not recommend is the octopus, as another guest thought it was average. You can see they have these private palapas where you and your family and friends are surrounded by beautifully lit waters. And these private palapas can seat 10-12, so ideal for larger groups which we so often have. I highly recommend spending at least one night at Navios. Once you experience it, you'll probably go for more. And frankly, the food is not terribly expensive, the grouper I get is $25. But they do get you on the drinks, so be cognizant of that. If you are a smoker, they do not let you smoke here. However, they do have these tables and couches set up along the lagoon before you enter the restaurant. They are really nice, and they let you smoke there and they will serve you drinks there also. But you cannot order food there. I was sitting in this area when I took the picture to the right with the Navios sign that is floating on the water. They are open for both lunch and dinner.
19.5
This is a much more casual place with really good food and the drinks won't break the bank. The views are excellent. You look out over these tree tops, and you have the lagoon in the background. It's essentially like a bar and grille, but instead of having alcohol behind the bar, it's this amazing view. The "bar" spans the whole deck, which is maybe 30 ft. It's a tiki bar kind of vibe, nicely lit, several tables at bar height as well, and a few at regular table height. The owners name is Joe, great guy. And Joe will give any Tim's Ocean Condos guest a discount, so be sure to tell the waiters when you get there that you are staying in a penthouse with Tim's Ocean Condos and they will take care of you. It's supposed to be 10% off. But please, do not wait until the end to let them know, please let them know right away. And please remember to tip on the amount before the discount. Thank you. For food here, I love quesadillas, so I always get the steak quesadillas and papas fritas. Papas fritas are "french fries" except that in this case they are fresh diced potatoes. And I always get them with the chipotle mayo (slightly spicy) along with a side of the "sausa verde". The green sauce is VERY spicy, so unless you like really spicy, skip that one. I love hot stuff, but even I do a gentle dip with this sauce, after first doing a little dunk in the chipotle sauce. Oh my goodness, it is so good. The Hakka cheese they use is so tasty. Other items I like at 19.5 are their Angus burgers and steak fajitas. Of course they have chicken for all of these things too, I just prefer steak. They also have great salads, and excellent frozen drinks. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Typical hours are 9am until midnight.
Oxxo - Open 24 hours
Oxxo is the busiest convenience store you will ever see. They also sell every hard liquor there, several beers, ice, and they even have a little place to order Mexican food inside. As you may know, our resort has a gift shop/convenience store. But their bottled water is so much I'm embarrassed to put it here. Just go to the Oxxo across the street and you'll get 4 waters the same price. This is a great little store, they pack so many items into that store it's crazy. And if you like healthy drinks, try the Vitaloe. It comes in a unique looking green bottle and has aloe in it, and I just love that drink, it's supposed to be good for you too.
- - MOST POPULAR SERVICES - PLEASE BOOK IN ADVANCE - -
In Home Cooking:
Our authentic Mexican cooking has become locally famous. People I do not know email me all the time these days asking if they can get the in home cooking. But I have to explain to them that this is a non profit service that we offer only to our own guests. These are not professional chefs. These are local Mom's that are great cooks of authentic Mexican food. This is an amazing value. The cost is $10 per person for the service ($80 min). For the food, our cooks bring you a receipt from the grocery store. The service includes shopping for the groceries, preparing the meal, and cleaning up any pans or utensils used to make the meal. The meal is served buffet style. We can do special requests such as those who may be vegan, or have allergies to certain things. Just put any of this information in the notes box when you book the service. Payment is made directly to the cooks in cash only please, US dollars.
To book some in home meals, the link is: https://www.cancunvacationrentals1.com/inhouseservices
IMPORTANT: THIS SELECTION REQUIRES MINIMUM 2 WEEKS NOTICE. Otherwise we have to use other sources which are VERY EXPENSIVE, 4 times more money.
Decorations for your Special Occasion:
More often than not our guests are celebrating something. If you would like to have the Penthouse decorated you can choose this option. You can choose to have it before arrival, or you can choose a date where everyone is out on an excursion so that the company we hire to do the decorating has ample time to set everything up. The idea is essentially the same as you see in these two pictures to the right. When you order this you will want to choose the date, the occasion, if birthday, the year, and if you want the champagne affect or the balloon arch. You can also choose the general predominant colors. The cost for the materials and the service to set it all up is $295 for the Champagne bottle affect, and $450 for the arch affect. We need a few hours to get it done, no less than 4 hours please. And we need plenty of advance notice please. No less than 2 weeks please.
You book it here:
Home-Made Tres Leches Chocolate Cake:
If you have never tried Tres Leches, you are in for a treat. Tres Leches is not a cake flavor, it is a process. Cake is always best with ice cream, right? Imagine the ice cream sitting inside all the little air bubbles that make up the cake body. That is essentially what Tres leches is. The very cold cream stays intact within the cells of the cake. Once you try it, no cake will compare again. The process, as you might imagine, takes a lot of time, it's an art really. Even down to how long to keep it refrigerated until it's perfect. My wife and I were blown away the first time we tried it. Currently, we can only make the chocolate cake, as home-made. If you choose another flavor, not a problem. We will purchase it from the bakery and they will deliver it when it is ready.
The cost for from the bakery is $35 plus delivery cost of $30, or $65 total. If you go with the Tres leches home-made cake, the cost is $55 including delivery.
The home-made chocolate cake is 13"x19" and approximately 3" high. Frosting is not recommended. We will add it upon special request, but it will make the cake too sweet in the onion of myself and my wife. If you do opt for frosting, we recommend "lightly frosted". The Tres Leches cake we make is actually made with 4 milks rather than 3. This is not so much for bragging rights as it is for practicality. We kept at it until we found a blend of milks that absorbs best into the body of the cake.
To place an order:
Private Snorkeling Excursion with Mike or Chuckie:
This is the ultimate "no-brainer" and "must do" excursion in Cancun. It's a fantastic time!!!... plus it's THE BEST VALUE IN CANCUN. Not everything in life needs to involve money. That's why we give away the in home cooking and excursions like this. I have known Mike for over 20 years. He helped me put our unit back together for months after hurricane Wilma in 2005. I put Chuckie on here too, because he is a great guy and Mike cannot always get to every excursion. Mike has different sized boats, he can seat 24 people comfortably on his larger boats. He always uses boats that will be very comfortable for the group size going, plenty of seating and space. The seats are cushioned, and he has all of the gear of course. Both Mike and Chuckie are wonderful guys. They joke around, always laughing and cutting up and you'll see how well they take care of everyone, along with their staff. They are very experienced skippers.
The first time I went out, what was shocking to see was how crystal clear the water is. It's so clear, you can see all the way to the bottom even when you're around 30 feet deep. The next thing that you will find so refreshing is that the water is so comfortable, it's not cold at all. It's perfect, not hot like a bath, yet not cold at all. That makes the experience so much nicer in my opinion. There are so many things that make this excursion special, first, it's completely private to your group. Most snorkeling excursions are public and they have a b it of a rushed and corporate feel to them. Plus where they take you is typically not very interesting. Mike takes you to beautiful waters, they are protected waters by the Mexican government. Mike actually has to get a permit for each person, and that's included in the price. But these public snorkeling companies aren't taking you to places like this.
For $90 per person ($540 minimum), here is what you have with this tour:
Private Excursion.
Round Trip Transportation from the resort to Puerto Mujeres, and back. You don't even have to wait for the pick up. Mike's driver will call you on your cell when they get there. The pick up time is always 9am, approximately.
The best captains in the business.
Soda & Water Refreshments on the boat.
Snorkeling in gorgeous protected waters, with expert staff guidance out in the water with you.
A stop at Mike's buddy's place. He has a pet whale shark, and if you make a donation of $5 to his friend, you can get your picture taken with the whale shark. It's best to have 2 or 3 people in the picture so that you can hold it, impossible for one person. Technically speaking there is no charge for this. But it is how Mike's friend makes his living, so he relies on donations. Even if it's a couple of dollars, it's better than nothing and would be appreciated.
Next stop is Isla Mujeres. There golf carts will await you. I love this part of the trip, it's relaxing and a nice break between the snorkeling times. For 2 hours, you get to cruise around the whole island. It takes about an hour to get around the entire island. But with that extra hour, it's perfect, so relaxing. Because you can stop off at the look outs to get pictures, plus there is a historic place that has these amazing views and many shops cool shops to get souvenires and many other things, lots of unique deserts here too. You can also get fresh coconut, cut right in front of you with machete. Also, as you go around the island, to me, it's very interesting, it's such a diverse culture. Just so everyone knows, you can get the trip for $75 per person, but then you only get one hour on the golf cart.
From Then, it's back on the boat, this time to more shallow waters, which is great for both kids and adults. In this area, the sand is super smooth, and it's flat, and it goes for hundreds of yards in every direction. The water here is maybe 3 feet deep, at some points maybe 5 feet. It's so easy to snorkel here, and their staff will jump in with you and take fish food out there which attracts colorful fish in droves.
When you are finally all done, you head out to Isla Mujeres one last time. This time, they serve you this amazing multi course meal with fresh fruits, salad, fresh caught fish, pasta, it's just crazy how much fresh food there is. The only thing you have to pay for there is your own drinks, even soda. After that, you get on the boat and I can tell you from doing this several times, everyone on the boat heading back is exhausted, joyfully exhausted. They're often laying down on the boat, or you see wives snuggling with their husbands, just completely spent. But in a healthy refreshing way. This trip is paid in cash only, US dollars please. If you are happy with the job Mike or Chuckie and their staff do, please consider giving them a nice tip. Excursion time is 5-6 hours or more. To book: https://www.cancunvacationrentals1.com/inhouseservices
Private Fishing Excursion with Mike:
Mike’s family has been all about fishing for many generations. When Cancun became so popular, Mike started offering the snorkeling. I’m not a fisherman, but I have to say I have never seen anyone fish the way Mike does. He puts on these gloves, no pole, just a line and a hook, puts a worm on the hook, then puts the line in and he makes this movement that attracts fish, and you can see what he’s doing, because the water is so clear. In around 30 seconds or so, Mike has a fish on the line, about ¼ pound or so, and he throws that in his bucket of water. He repeats the process for about 5 minutes, and the next thing you know he’s got around 8-10 live fish swimming around in the bucket. Only then, does Mike break out the fishing poles. He uses the fish he just caught for the bigger fish. I’m telling you, Mike knows how to fish. It isn’t long before he’s got something on the line, it’s usually a Barracuda, and they put up one hell of a fight, exhausting. You might also catch some snapper and other unique species. This trip does not include lunch or golf cart rental and the cost is $75 per person ($450 minimum) lasts 4-5 hours:
To book it: https://www.cancunvacationrentals1.com/inhouseservices
Private Catamaran Excursion with Patrick
Patrick and his wife Claudia own this 40ft catamaran. Great people! When you go out with Patrick and his crew, it is THE BEST TIME! Most folks don't understand. But when you sign up for a "private excursion" you are not working with the boat owner. With Mike and Patrick, they own their own boats, you are not working through a broker with mark ups, you are bypassing all that, and no one is going to treat you better than the boat owners themselves. Instead of this corporate type experience with other options, it's much more personal, and much more fun.
Now, Patrick also takes you snorkeling, so which one do you choose? If it is all about the snorkeling, go with Mike. That is his specialty. If you can afford it, I would highly recommend doing both excursions. They are both excellent in their own ways.
Patrick's excursion is an entirely different experience. You have seating conducive to conversation with a table and seating around the table, both inside and out. If you want to be able to sprawl out and enjoy the sun and water, go for a swim, anchor near a shore, do some snorkeling, it's simply a higher end experience all the way around. You can use the bathrooms that are on the boat, you can change in one of the changing rooms on the boat. You have open bar with a beautiful assortment of alcoholic beverages. For food, you have chef quality made offerings. This is an exceptionally nice vessel, large and spacious. And most importantly, this is an ideal set up for groups that rent the penthouses, because 80% of the time our group sizes fall between 6-12 people, which makes this excursion affordable on a per person basis.
Capacity: The maximum that can go out is 14. This is a reasonable max number. My personal opinion is that 8-9 is comfortable, 10-12 ok, but not ideal, and with 14 you do need to be sure to spread out around the boat. Even with 10 you'll want to do that a bit, but not so much, there is inside space as well.
Bathrooms:
The catamaran has two bathrooms.
Changing areas:
There is one bedroom dedicated to the purpose for anyone who needs to change.
Rules:
Please take off your shoes before stepping on to the catamaran.
No smoking on the boat.
Life jackets must be worn to enter the water.
Food: Patrick is an accomplished chef, having been head chef at several 5 star restaurants during his career. If you have more than 6 people, we have to keep things more simple, items you can eat without forks and knives. Patrick will make steak or chicken fajitas, or for Vegan's he will make veggie fajitas. If any have special food needs such as allergies to gluten, etc. they will work with you all on that, don't worry. If you are a smaller group of 6 or less, Patrick will prepare a 3 course meal. You can choose from ribs, chicken or steak for the main course. He cooks everything fresh, right out on the grille that is built into the catamaran. If you are 7 people or more, there is an extra charge for food. Please see prices towards the bottom.
Open Bar: There will be vodka, whiskey, tequila or rum for hard liquor, and some wines. They are all good quality brands. They can also provide various Mexican beers upon request. There is also a premium open bar option. However Patrick is pretty generous with what is included with his standard open bar; things like Absolute vodka, Beefeaters gin, William Lawson's whiskey, and Bacardi Blanco, to name a few.
Knowledge: It's important to be aware that with many "private tours" from other operators: What you will find with brokers they encourage large groups to make their prices look great. Seeing 20-30 people on these 40ft catamarans is not unusual. It's doable, but it's not comfortable nor is it safe, when everyone is standing. This is also very typical of public catamaran tours. For me, no thanks.
For special excursions like these, I get asked a lot if I prefer a yacht or a catamaran. Yachts are great, but I'll give you the main reasons here why I like catamarans much more.
1. Yachts are known for beautiful interiors. But where are you spending your time on an excursion? With a yacht, you will also have some outside space, but it is essentially all in the back (bow). With a catamaran, same size, you will have much more space on the top and forward part of the boat (stern). Because catamarans are much wider (more space).
2. Yacht outside: The outside and forward side of a yacht has a crown to it. It may be padded for sunning, but it is hard to stay comfortable and balanced while relaxing, because of the crown. Whereas a catamaran has a net in the front, like a huge hammock, to relax comfortably.
3. Stability. Catamarans are much more stable than single hull boats, such as yachts. They make is much easier to move around and they make relaxing much more enjoyable.
4. You have a lot more shade on catamarans. The sale acts as a natural shade. On yachts, you have shade in the back only.
5. Meals are much more enjoyable on catamarans, as you are much more stable while enjoying a nice dinner.
6. It is much easier to get in and out of catamarans.
7. You can get much closer to shore on a catamaran to anchor down, because the hulls go nowhere as deep as a single hull vessel, which usually has led in the hull to give it some stability.
8. There is no engine noise on catamarans. It's a much more tranquil feeling on a cat.
Booking: 1/2 down to book, balance is paid on the boat the day you go out. If you are booking well ahead of time, 60 days away or more, 20% is required to book, then 30% more 60 days prior to arrival. To make it easy for our guests, you can book via the In Home Services page using visa, master or discover card. The balances are given directly to Patrick or Claudia the day you go out on the trip. One or both of them will be on the boat. They prefer cash if you are able to, but they also accept paypal.
Cancellations:
You can receive a full refund if you cancel a week or more prior to arrival. After that there are no refunds. If Patrick has to cancel the trip due to high winds or in climate weather, you can either reschedule or receive a full refund. Claudia makes every effort to let you know the day prior if the winds will be too high, or if there is in climate weather expected. Sometimes in Cancun, weather can change quickly.
Pricing - Catamaran with Patrick
4-6 HOUR CRUISE
SMALL GROUPS (1-6 people)
4 Hours: $1,400
6 Hours: $1,750
Extra Hour: $230
3 Course Gourmet Meal included
Open Premium Bar Included
GROUP (7-14 people)
4 Hours: $1,400
6 Hours: $1,750
Extra Hour: $230
Food is $30 extra per person
Open Bar included
Premium Open Bar $30 extra per person View Group Food Menu - Choose two items for your group
3 HOUR SUNSET CRUISE View Open Bar/Premium Bar Menu
SMALL GROUPS (1-6 people)
2 people: $1,200 – 3 or more: add $100 per extra person beyond 2
3 course gourmet meal included
Open Premium Bar Included
GROUP (7-14 PEOPLE)
$1,220 (over 10 people add $122 per person)
This cruise includes hors d’oeuvres for 2 hours
Open Bar Included
Premium Open Bar $30 extra per person
Round Trip Transportation: $145
Dock Fee: $20 per person – Dock fees in Cancun, Mexico are a federally imposed tax that contribute to the maintenance of docks, beaches, and public areas.
After Booking: As with all in home services, you will receive confirmation via the GROUP - MAIN thread, along with your invoice which will show your payment and balance and trip details.
To book: In home services
Which one above do you recommend? I like the 6 hour, it's not much more expensive than the 4 hour, and you get 50% more time. Remember, time flies when your having fun. And with 6 hours the excursion wont be over before you know it. For me, I like starting with the 6 hour with a pick up time about 1pm. Because then you get a great time of fun in the sun all afternoon, and you end the day with this gorgeous sunset cruise.
VIP Pass - Party Hopper
The Night Clubs in Cancun are world famous. Did you know that the cover charges to get into these places run $40 - $75, and that's after waiting in line for quite a while. And once you are in, the shows are amazing, but it's standing room only, and the drinks are very expensive. To me, this one is a "no brainer". For about $110 you get to skip the lines, and the cover charge is taken care of and all of your drinks are covered as well. On top of that, you get your own table and chairs in the VIP section. This VIP pass has evolved over the years, it used to start at 10pm and go for 5 hours. Most recently they have it starting at 9pm and going 5 hours. That makes a lot more sense because if you head down to the big clubs later, it takes 45 minutes to an hour to go 6 little miles, because all of Cancun is heading there. But if you head out at 8:30ish, you'll get there in 20 minutes, much better. To book it: VIP Party Hopper
Cancun Casino - Macao
Macao casino is located 5 miles North of the resort within the beautiful outdoor shopping mall called La Isla. The mall itself is an experience. Within the mall you can do things like swim with the dolphins and visit an aquarium. There are a very limited number of Casinos in Cancun and this is the only one that is the "real deal". Meaning the others are 100% electronic, regardless of the game. Here at Macao, you can play black jack the way it was meant to be played, with real playing cards. They also have poker, roulette, sports bettering, a wide assortment of slots and a nice bar. You can also order salads, tacos, salmon, and several other options. Macao Casino web site
Activities - Cancun
There are an ENORMOUS number of activities both in and around Cancun. The easiest and most cost-effective way to book is online. The links here are the best activities in and around Cancun, and they are hosted by sources we trust with excellent reviews.
1. ATV’s & Ziplines +
2. ATV’s zip lines & Obstacle Course +
3. Beach Party
5. Catamaran
6. Chichen Itza
7. Chichen Itza or Tulum - Private
8. Chichen Itza Night Show
9. Chichen Itza plus Cenotes
10. Cooking Class - Mexican Food
11. Deep Sea Fishing
12. Horse Back Riding
13. Jet Pack – Water Powered
14. Jungle Tour
15. Kayak Sunset
16. Mini-Submarines
17. Party Boat
18. Pirate Dinner – Jolly Roger's
19. Scuba Diving 1
20. Scuba Diving 2
21. Swim with Dolphins
22. Tequila Tour
23. Tulum Ruins, snorkel, cenote
24. Wet’n Wild Water Park
27. Xplor-Night
28. Yacht Rental 1
29. Yacht Rental 2
30. Z-Night Beach Party
31. Z-Private Fishing with Mike
32. Z-Private Snorkeling with Mike
33. Z-Private Catamaran with Pat
34. Casino
- - I M P O R T A N T F O R Y O U R S T A Y - -
PLEASE READ EVERYTHING BELOW
IT WILL ALLOW YOU TO AVOID MANY UNNECESSARY FRUSTRATIONS
AND ALLOW FOR A SMOOTH CHECK IN PROCESS
THANK YOU.
Internet Connection Penthouse:
Your Penthouse is equipped with a PRIVATE ENCRYPTED CONNECTION. This is very safe. The connection and password is located on the fridge inside the Penthouse, and in the Welcome Book located inside the condo.
Resort Internet - Oleo Cancun Playa:
To use the internet anywhere in the resort:
user name: Oleo2020
password: Oleo2020
Although this is password protected, hotel internet world wide is widely regarded as not the safest. If you google it, you’ll see what I mean. Unless you have a VPN, I highly recommend that you DO NOT use the resort internet for any site where you need to be especially safe. For example, banking or places where you have to enter credit card info.
MOVIES in the Penthouse: You can stream Netflix, Prime and others. Most are supported now in Mexico. HOWEVER, what I have found is that you have way less options compared to the US. I have a VPN on my laptop so I can access anything from the US, it's a simple solution. You may want to get a VPN if you don't have one already. If you get one, please remember to pack an HDMI cord so you can hook up the TV to your laptop. If you want a recommendation for a VPN I use Nord and I've been happy with it, easy to use, highly rated. Click here if you want to check it out. Once you get to Cancun just set it to any US city and you're good to go. Please remember to pack an HDMI cord to connect your laptop to the TV. The other nice thing about having a VPN is that you can go online anywhere (even public airports) and your connection is completely safe. After having one for a while, I would never not have one again.
Cell Phones:
Almost all cell phone providers have service in Cancun. The ones that work the best are Verizon and AT&T. YOU CAN GET short term plans from your provider for when you are in Cancun and this will save you money. They are always changing things, but to this day you should have no problem getting temporary Mexican plan that will save you quite a bit of money while you are in Cancun. Depending on your provider, you may be able to do this online. But it is also quite possible that you may need to go in to do this in person. Another option is getting an eSIM. This is similar to a VPN except for phone SIM cards. You can learn more here.
Hot Water:
The hot water side in Mexico is the left side, just like elsewhere. However, it takes a while for the water to get hot, because it comes from the lower level in the central tower. I suggest turning the hot water on 5-10 minutes before you plan to jump in the shower. It typically takes 3-5 minutes to get hot. But I have seen it takes as long as almost 12 minutes. The hot water feeds everyone below us first, so if everyone on other floors is showering at the same time, it can take longer.
No Visitors Please:
Our resort does not allow visitors. This is true of all of the nicer resorts up and down the hotel zone. The resort is providing use of the beach, pool lounge chairs, etc. and this does cost them money. These areas should be reserved for those who are paying customers. Even if the visitor would stay only in the unit, this does not matter, because the resort cannot possibly invest the resources to track this sort of thing. If you know someone that you would like to invite over, the only way the resort will allow it is if they purchase the all-inclusive at their regular rate of $125 per person per day.
Calling:
Once you are in Cancun: For Cancun numbers dial 1 and then the 10 digit number. For US calls, dial 001 and then the 10 digit number. For other countries, dial the country code, then the 10 digit number.
For Emergencies:
Dial 911
Urgent:
If something is urgent, you can call Abdiel at 998-180-0526, or Tim (In the US, not in Cancun) at 847-636-2232.
If you are staying in Penthouse #2000 or #3703: If you are not staying in one of these 2 units, please move on. If you are staying in one of these two, please note: #2000 pool cleaning is every Tuesday at 11am, and #3703 hot tub cleaning is every Tuesday at 12noon. Thank you for your understanding.
Cancellation Policy: Please click here to go to this page.
Old Towels:
We keep 2 IKEA bags full of folded old towels in each condo. They are usually kept in one of the closets. Please ask our manager to show you where they are when you arrive. I mention this because I cannot tell you how many times our bath towels have been used in the kitchens to clean up the kitchen. This often wrecks the towels when we cannot get the stains fully out. It also upsets the guests, because we have to take money out of their security deposit. Please, no NOT use the bath towels to clean up. Please purchase paper towels. We provide a roll of paper towels to get you started, and there should be a kitchen towel or two there, however sometimes these items are ruined or taken, and they are not always there. If you have nothing to use to wipe something up, instead, please take an old towel from the IKEA bag. These are bath towels that have been removed from service. They may be stained, but they have all been washed. Thank you.
Beach Towel Washing:
PLEASE, before you put the beach towels in the washer, please shake them out on the terrace to remove most of the sand. Sand is super hard on the washing components. We service these units every 3 months because they take such a beating. Thank you.
Washing Machine Capacity:
Please, kindly keep your loads to half full, fluffed, not pressed down. Each unit has a max kilogram limit, but rather than providing a scale, if you can keep your load sizes to half or less of the drum capacity, that should be ok. Thank you.
Garbage Collection:
You will hear a knock on the door at about 10am every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. This is your garbage collector. If you will not be around and you need a garbage collection, be sure to let our team know via the GROUP - MAIN email thread.
AC:
The Penthouse is equipped with several dedicated AC units to handle different zones. Each zone has a thermostat. You can see that the Penthouse exterior walls are essentially all glass. This creates a powerful green house effect making it challenging to cool everything down, especially in the summer months. If you would like the unit to cool down, please draw the curtains, especially when you are heading out for a while. And never, ever leave the sliding glass doors open. Doing so creates AC condensation leaks and causes the units to be over worked and even freeze up, if the doors are left open long enough. IMPORTANT: These thermostats have little icons. The one that is the sun, looks pretty close to the one that is a snowflake. Make sure you have it on snowflake.
AC 2:
Please be sure that if you go outside, the sliding glass door is completely closed behind you. I cannot stress enough how important this is. When the humid, hot air enters the unit, you will see water dripping out of the AC vents in no time. That's how you will know if a door is ajar, or was for a while. This makes it much more difficult for the AC units to keep up in removing all of the humidity so that things cool down. If you want the unit to be nice and cool: Be sure to close the sliding glass doors fully, same with any windows that you opened. Thank you.
When you leave the unit for a while:
Please close all of the curtains. This will help to cool things down for you.
When you go to sleep, or when you will be away from the unit for several hours:
Please close the curtains. Please remove the cushions from the outdoor furniture and bring them inside. Tropical storms can come out of nowhere in the tropics, and cushions can fly away. Keeping the curtains closed when you go to sleep is a good idea, so that morning sun does not come through and start heating up the unit.
Recycling:
Mexico does things differently for recycling. We have several bins, one for glass, one for paper, one for plastic, one for aluminum and one for organic. You will see each container is well marked so that you know what goes where. Than
Resort Safety:
Recycling:
Mexico does things differently for recycling. We have several bins, one for glass, one for paper, one for plastic, one for aluminum and one for organic. You will see each container is well marked so that you know what goes where. Thank you for your cooperation on this.
Coming back from The Beach:
The resort has a place to shower off your feet and legs. It is located at the South stairs. Please kindly remove sand from your feet and legs before coming back up. Thank you.
Maid Service:
The Penthouse comes cleaned, laundered and ready to go. If you would like to purchase some additional cleaning days the cost is $85 per cleaning and is paid directly to the service provider in cash only please, US dollars. This cleaning includes freshly laundered linens and towels, known as Premium Service. If you do not require freshly washed linens and towels, this would be our Standard service and the cost is $50 per cleaning. If interested, you book it here: https://www.cancunvacationrentals1.com/inhouseservices
Bath towels:
There should be no 4 bath towels per bathrooms that have showers. These towels are much larger and more comfortable than what you find at nicer hotels. They are 100% cotton. However, please be aware that the most common reason, by far, for withholding funds from damage deposits is stained bath towels. It never ceases to amaze me how this happens, but it so often does. Please, I love giving everyone ALL of their money back. But if we are not able to get a stain out, even if it is small, we have to remove that towel from service. And towels of this quality are VERY expensive in Cancun.
Bed Sheets:
All of the bed sheets are a nice poly-cotton blend. We avoid 100% cotton for sheets in an effort to have a better chance of removing stains. This type of blend is so expensive in Cancun, that I bring them to Cancun from the US in huge duffle bags. Even after paying 16% IVA tax, and hundreds more dollars in extra baggage costs, it is still more cost effective to take them to Cancun from the US. These sets are a nice thread count, 575. But the main point here once again, is the second most common reason for withholding funds from a security deposit. You guest it, stained sheets. Please treat our linens reasonably well and don't get food and pop stains on them. Thank you. One thing I love to see in our business is an "all clear" email from my team regarding the damage reports I get after check outs.
Lost Keys:
When keys are lost this presents a problem, because although the chance is very small, anyone that "lost their key" could still open that door if that key turned up at some point. For this reason, our insurance company requires us to change the locks if a key is not returned. This is the 3rd most common reason for withholding a security deposit.
No Smoking Inside the Penthouse:
You can smoke outside on the terrace. But please, never ever flick a cigarette butt anywhere. It is also super important to note that if a burn hole is created from a cigarette butt, this will result in the full forfeiture of your security deposit. If there is an obvious smoke smell within the penthouse upon your departure, we bring in a company to remove the smell and this would also result in the forfeiture of your damage deposit. I am not trying to sound prejudice here, I smoke when I'm drinking to this day, and I know what smokers go through in society. That's why I get so angry when I see cigarette butts anywhere they do not belong. Thank you.
Toilet Use:
It is critical that you use only toilet paper and human waste in the toilets. If we have to come out for a toilet clog and find other things are stopping it from flushing properly besides human waste and toilet paper there will be a charge of $100.
Tropical Storms/Outdoor Furniture:
In the tropics, tropical storms can sometimes come out of seemingly nowhere and bring with them very high winds and a lot rain. If you plan to be out for the day, please bring the outside furniture cushions inside. Otherwise they could end up in the lagoon on the other side of the street. Please use the same precaution before retiring for the night. Thank you.
Tropical weather and bugs:
We spray every Penthouse monthly for bugs. Please do not leave open food or packages inside the condo. Bugs are attracted to food sources and they seem to come out of nowhere if food is left open or garbage with food or pop residue is laying out.
Tropical Storms/Towels:
Hopefully it will be the usual sunny time in Cancun for your stay. But just in case I need to go over this. Sometimes it can rain very heavily in Cancun, accumulating several inches in a short time. And, at times these rains are combined with very strong winds. If this type of storm comes into play during your stay, you will likely get some water seepage through any non fixed window (a window that slides or opens). Inside the unit, in one of the closets, you will find a blue Ikea bag that is full of old towels. They are cut in half. We cut them in half so that everyone knows they have been removed from service. If you have some water seepage, please use these towels. Thank you.
Music:
We do not have music players in the condos. We suggest you bring portable speakers and connect via blue tooth to your phone.
Loud Noise:
After 10pm, it is important that you are not super loud when you are outside on the terrace. Remember that other vacationers may have an early day planned for an excursion and are looking for a good nights sleep. We rarely get complaints from music played within the Penthouse. But outside on the terrace is a much different story. Please be respectful, thank you.
Trades:
If something breaks that requires a tradesman such as a major appliance, AC., etc: If you have any trouble, please email the group chat. The protocol is to have our on site manager, and potentially resort maintenance try to fix the trouble. They are on site typically every day but Sundays. If we are not able to fix the trouble on our own, a tradesman will be called to service the situation. Please note that we will make every effort to have the tradesman out as soon as possible, which is typically the next business day. We cannot be held responsible for providing compensation if something breaks. All of our appliances and AC equipment is on a regular maintenance schedule.
SHOWING RESPECT: YOUNG ADULTS, PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THIS…..
This section is not for most but it does apply to some groups. There is no tolerance for disrespectful behavior including loud coarse language, public groping and the like, public drunkenness and other disrespectful behaviors. If I get a complaint from resort management you will be given a warning via a phone call directly from me. If I am not able to reach you by phone I will email you. This is the one and only warning you will receive and I can assure you I will already be VERY pissed off if I have to call you about a complaint from resort staff or other guests. If I get a 2nd complaint you are out, no refund PERIOD. You will be escorted out by the Federales (police). Showing belligerent disrespect
to others is ridiculous behavior and will NOT BE TOLERATED.
Damage Deposits:
Stained Bath Towels - I LOVE giving full refunds. You probably have no idea how much I love hearing getting the email that says: All clear. This means simplicity, this means easy, this means no uncomfortable conversations with guests. Guys, I have no interest AT ALL in holding back money from a security deposit. But I cannot give things away that cost us a lot either. If you break a glass or something like that, just let me know, if it is just one glass, I'm never charging for that. If you broke a bunch, I have to. But the truth is that the most common reason for withholding funds is OUR TOWELS. And it is not that people take them, they stain them. These towels are 100% cotton. Stains don't come out easily. What folks do not understand, is that even if there is a little stain, if I cannot get it out, what am I going to do, keep it in service? Of course not. Our bath towels are good size, 53"x30" and we love being able to provide everyone nice towels. So please, if you really need a towel to wipe something up and you don't have one, use the towels that are cut in half. They are located in the blue Ikea bag in one of the closets of the unit. Towels are super expensive in Cancun, they cost us $20 a piece at the Sam's Club. And that does not include our time to go get more and the aggravation of seeing things get destroyed.
Stained Sheets:
The second most common reason for withholding anything is our sheets. My wife specs our towels and sheets. For sheets, she gets this poly/cotton blend. It feels really nice, and being part poly, we have a much better chance of getting stains out. But again, if you think towels are expensive in Cancun, you should look at the sheets. They are so expensive in fact, that we bring them down from the states. We have to pay high IVA customs tax, and $125 per extra bag of luggage to get them here, plus loads of time in doing all of this. If we cannot get a stain out of a sheet set, please know that it will cost you $150. We have to get a whole new set, we cannot replace individual pillow cases or just a fitted sheet, or just a flat sheet. They come in sets. They are nice quality, 575 thread count. Please try not to stain our sheets. Thank you!
This is why we cannot give security deposits back immediately. We have to wash all the towels and sheets first to see if we were able to get the stains out. And we know all the tricks to getting stains out, that I can tell you. So I always get the "before washing" pictures and the "after washing" pictures. And sometimes this can take a while, especially if we are really busy and no units are open to wash anything.
Keys not returned:
The 3rd most common reason for withholding is lost keys. This one is tough, because if we don't get a key back, we really need to change the locks. Would you like it if this was not our policy? It may be a one in 10,000 chance, but what if some nut case keeps the key, and then turns around and books a hotel room at the resort. He/she would still have access to the penthouse unit. Would you want that possibility?
Other reasons:
Sometimes people gets drunk loaded and then can't get into the unit for whatever reason, and subsequently they break the door or door handle or both trying to get into the unit.
Burn holes in cushions do not happen very often, but then they do, it is most disheartening. There is no way to fix something like that and make it look right. The best we can do is match the fabric as close as possible and have the cushion reupholstered. It never looks right again. Obviously this would be a full forfeiture of your deposit.
If you have not listened to the rule of smoking outside only, we will know immediately, it is not hard to tell when someone has been smoking inside the unit. There is a huge difference between lighting up and immediately stepping outside and actually smoking inside the unit. This situation requires us to call a company to remediate the smell. This and the burn holes in the cushions would be automatic losses to the security deposit.
Please treat the place, and more importantly, it's contents, like you would your own stuff. If you do that, I sincerely doubt you will have any issues getting a full refund. And I LOVE giving FULL REFUNDS. It saves myself and our team all kinds of time. The last thing I want to do is to confront my own guests with stains/damages. I take no joy in that whatsoever. But if things are damaged, I have no choice.
Damage deposits are returned 7-10 days after departure. Sometimes it is sooner, I do them in batches and if I have a bunch at one where everything is all good, it can be sooner at times. Also please remember that after I return your deposit is returned on my end, the banks take a few business days to post credits.
H A V E A G R E A T T I M E ! ! !
Great place for family pictures is a minute away:
The famous Cancun sign, where everyone goes to get their pictures taken, is located 1/2 mile North of our resort. If you jump on the bus, you will be there in a minute or two.
