HELP! Best of II?

[BCV2002]

Where are the best places to stay in either Mexico or the Caribbean through Disney's II resorts? Is there a place where I can find ratings for these resorts as well?

 

[Remoh76]

I have been looking for a nice place to exchange to as well. I have found that a lot of the resorts are listed on tripadvisor.com I just search for them by name. There are also several reviews for most of the resorts. I currently have an exchange search in for Villa Del Palmar Flamingos in Nuevo Vallarta.

 

[BCV2002]

I have been looking for a nice place to exchange to as well. I have found that a lot of the resorts are listed on tripadvisor.com I just search for them by name. There are also several reviews for most of the resorts. I currently have an exchange search in for Villa Del Palmar Flamingos in Nuevo Vallarta.

We have actually been thinking of that one, too. My DH, BIL and SIL are looking at going in summer 2008. It looks really nice. I'll have to try that on tripadvisor. You from Chicago? We're from the suburbs. Small world!

 

[Dean]

The Timeshare Users group (tug2.net) has reviews and rankings. So does Timesharing today to a lessor extent. Tripadvisors is very suspect but tends to have some info as well. I think redweeks also has some reviews.

I'd say the top Caribbean resorts are Westin St. John, Reef Resort Cayman's and Marriott's in Aruba and St. Thomas (it may not be on the list yet but will be soon), soon add St. Kits to that list as well. For Cancun it's the 4 Royals and for Puerto Vallarta, Paradise Village. Can't speak to other MX resorts/locations. If you thrown in Key West, add the Hyatt's and Galleon to your list. There are a handful of others I'd consider for trading DVC but are lessor resorts overall than the ones I mentioned.

 

[BCV2002]

Thanks, Dean! Actually, I have been looking at the Royals. Also, we stayed at the Marriott Aruba Ocean Club for our honeymoon and loved it! Was also looking at the Renaissance Aruba. I was looking at Westin St. John, but have heard mixed reviews. And villas look far away.

How about Harborside at Atlantis? I think that's our dream spot, but have heard it's hard to get. Any ideas?

 

[Dean]

Thanks, Dean! Actually, I have been looking at the Royals. Also, we stayed at the Marriott Aruba Ocean Club for our honeymoon and loved it! Was also looking at the Renaissance Aruba. I was looking at Westin St. John, but have heard mixed reviews. And villas look far away.

How about Harborside at Atlantis? I think that's our dream spot, but have heard it's hard to get. Any ideas?

It and the Westin are difficult to get. I should have included it on my list but I keep forgetting DVC added it back on this past year. It is VERY expensive though, even more so than Aruba. I'd probably do the Royals if it were me.

 

[lmb]

How hard is it to get the Aruba Marriotts or Reef resort in Grand Cayman?

 

[Dean]

How hard is it to get the Aruba Marriotts or Reef resort in Grand Cayman?

It depends. For Xmas to Easter almost impossible. For the rest of the time it's workable but some times more likely than others. Aruba will be easier overall simply because there are more units. The Reef is a small resort, somewhere around 100 or so units total and that includes if all units are broken into the smaller lockoff components I BELIEVE. Mid summer will be tough as well but not early as so as the winter and spring weeks 51-16. Xmas and President's week bill be the toughest.

 

[BCV2002]

If it were my choice, I'd stay at Aruba b/c we have been to both GC and Aruba, and we liked Aruba much better. Not that GC was bad, but if I were to bet on it.

We were also looking at the Hotel Parador in Costa Rica. It looks nice, but now hearing about that Carnival Cruise "attack" in Costa Rica, it makes me a little nervous. Any thoughts?