VDP Cancun News. Contents. Summer 2012

Transcription

1 VDP Cancun News Summer 2012 All-In-One Member Services at the Front Desk! For quick and easy transactions, there is no need to walk to a separate Club Caribe member offi ce. We ve streamlined the process so that you can pay your maintenance fee bill, make reservations for next year, vacation bank or borrow, or initiate an exchange all at the Front Desk! Any Member Service need or request can be handled on the spot. For those of you who worry that this affects the level of customized service you are used to receiving, fear not! Any member issue that needs extra attention or cannot be handled quickly and effi ciently at the desk can be referred to a separate desk or offi ce area where your Club Caribe Onsite Representatives will be there to provide the one-on-one support and service you are accustomed to. Since the business end of things can be taken care of more quickly and effi ciently, this saves you time so you can be doing what you are supposed to be doing on vacation relaxing. Although the staff onsite is always available to help you, we always encourage members to call the tollfree Member Services line or go online to take care of all transactions before your trip. When all the i s are dotted and t s are crossed in advance, all that will be awaiting you in Mexico is sun and fun! Trip Advisor Top Ten Mexican Beach Destinations The Villa Group defi nitely knew what they were doing Contents when they set out to fi nd Mexico s most beautiful beach locations to build their top quality luxury resorts. Did you know that Cancun, one of your Villa del Palmar destinations was recently named in Trip Advisor s 2012 Top Ten Beach Destinations in Mexico? It came in at number #2, rated by you, the travelers. Here s what they had to say about Cancun: #2 Cancun, Mexico It s not just for spring-breakers. Cancun, with its golden beaches and perfect climate, is the premiere coastal destination in Mexico. And while there is certainly a 365-day party available for college students, resorts cater well to families and to those seeking solitude. This Yucatan paradise is also the gateway to the ruins of Tulum and Chichén Itzá. All-In-One Member Services Trip Advisor Pg. 1 Cancun Resort Update Pg. 2 Garza Blanca Resort Update Culture Corner Pg. 3 Out and About Cancun Out and About Loreto Pg. 4 Out and About Puerto Vallarta Out and About Cabo Pg. 5 UVCI Calendar Resale Fraud Pg. 6

2 VDP Cancun News Summer 2012 Cancun Resort Update New General Manager Seasoned industry professional Lucy Ruiz relocated from Cabo San Lucas and now joins the Villa del Palmar Cancun resort as the new General Manager. After serving successfully as GM at Villa del Arco for several years, Lucy will bring fresh ideas and strong management skills to the resort. Save Time, Postage & Paper by Greening the Bills UVCI s servicing partner ResortCom will offer a paperless billing option for the 2013 maintenance fee billing cycle and is currently working on the details of this project. Paperless billing is the fastest and most convenient way to receive and pay your bill. All transactions are secure. Stay tuned towards the end of the summer for more information. Help save paper and postage too! Village Spa strives to constantly improve the quality of their products and services. So, we are proud to introduce you to Epicuren, a new product line that we are now using with our services. Epicuren offers pure, innovative skin care using the most luxurious and natural ingredients available. The primary element used in Epicuren products is an enzyme that stimulates the skin into self-renewing, absorbing antioxidants and moisture, and resulting in more youthful and glowing skin. to reveal beautifully radiant skin, followed by a unique protein enzyme that activates cell metabolism to dramatically lift, tighten, and firm facial skin. Within one treatment you will notice increased textural clarity and tone. During this facial you will also receive a luxurious hand, arm, scalp and foot massage with a vanilla enzyme lotion, for complete rejuvenation of the body and mind. Best of all, some of the products we use in your spa services can be purchased so that you can continue your home treatment and enjoy those essences of cinnamon, coconut, hibiscus and rosemary long after you ve left your vacation home, Villa del Palmar Cancun. For more information on these products, please visit www. epicuren.com. Here are two Village Spa treatments that are perfect for Summer: Cinnamon Spice Enzyme Facial (Luxury Anti-aging Facial) This results-oriented facial utilizes a stimulating cinnamon enzyme peel Ocean Mist Detoxifying Facial From the vast biodiversity of the ocean, we bring you a delicately blended mint, aloe and sea algae mask to soothe, deep cleanse and restore calm to the skin. After your skin is refreshed with a rosemary-mint protein mist to tone and restore the ph of the skin, customized elixirs are then applied for luxurious hydration. The finishing touch is a Zinc sunscreen to seal in moisture and protect skin from the elements. 2 Call for Club Caribe Villa del Palmar information and assistance

3 Garza Blanca Resort Update Enjoy the sun and beautiful weather by our infi nity pool, framed by the most stunning view of the bay. It s easy, just sit back and enjoy. Spoil yourself with selections of healthy appetizers and lunch at Aquazul Restaurant, located adjacent to our pool. Treat Yourself Garza Blanca Preserve Resort and Spa offers its members a new level of individual and unique attention to your stay. For activities and special requests, our 24-hour concierge will be delighted to assist you in making the most of every minute in paradise. Indulge in our culinary experience, each as unique as you are. Blanca Blue Restaurant, Bar & Lounge, one of Vallarta s premier dining venues, offers a stylish lounge, a 230 label award-winning wine cellar and a selection of exclusive, and tempting contemporary dishes that will seduce the most passionate gourmet. Culture Corner The Mayan Calendar was invented by the Mayan people of Central America. This ancient civilization s mathematically intricate calendar synchs with the solar cycle and features a variety of events. These events include festivities that would later be mirrored by Christian events on our Gregorian calendar, as well as major epochs that represent en a change in the calendar s cycle. Perhaps the most popular event on the Mayan calendar is the zero date of the calendar s long count, or the perceived end of the calendar. The Mayan calendar s katun cycle a time unit of 20 turns equal to 7,200 days will turn over on December 21st, 2012 on the modern calendar. Many who have studied this date associate the long count with earthly pole shifts, cosmic convergences and earth changes. As the Mayan calendar is cyclic in nature, it is meant to turn over after the long count just as our calendar does at the arrival of a new millennium; and this date represents the beginning of a new cycle on the calendar, much like the arrival of the year 2000 on our modern calendar. While some believe this date represents the end of the world, the majority of people in southeastern Mexico view the approaching Winter Solstice as a time of renewal. As Yeanet Zaldo, a tourism spokeswoman for the state of Quintana Roo, puts it For us, it is a message of hope. For that reason, this region which is the heart of Maya territory, plans a year long celebration. e Mexico s tourism agency expects to draw 52 million visitors this year to the regions of Chiapas, Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Campeche. To put this in perspective, all of Mexico usually hosts about 22 million tourists in a year. Plans are already underway to celebrate the coming Winter Solstice. In the nearby archaeological site of Izapa, Maya priests will burn incense, chant and offer prayers. In the tropical jungle of Quintana Roo, people are putting messages and photos in a time capsule that will be buried for 50 years. Maya priests and Indian dancers will perform rituals at the time capsule ceremony. Yucatan state also has announced plans to complete the Maya Museum of Merida by next summer so you ll have a place to delve even deeper into the mysteries of this enchanting culture! 3

4 VDP Cancun News Summer 2012 Out and About Cancun Wet n Wild Water Park is the only water park in Cancun and Riviera Maya, and is located in Cancun s hotel zone, boasting an expanse of 18 acres with an array of attractions for the entire family. At this water park you can sail on a relaxing lazy river that runs through the property, take a thrilling ride called the Kamikaze, enjoy the exciting water slides or have lots of fun at the wave pool. You can even swim with the dolphins, if you d like. Live a day full of fun at this fabulous water park in Cancun; an exciting all ages adventure that your family won t soon forget! Out and About Islands of Loreto Is Visiting One of the Most Beautiful Places on Earth on Your Bucket List? If so, get ready to cross that one off. Because now you have a GREAT OPTION for your fantasy vacation to the Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto and getting there has NEVER been easier or more affordable! Loreto and Cabo Experience the Best of BAJA! Fast and Flexible Flights our exclusive partnership with Aereo Calafi a allows us to offer short trips between these two fabulous and very different destinations. Use your regular membership time, fl y into Cabo San Lucas, and then with your fl exible split week benefi ts it is easy to split your vacation into four days in one location and three days in another. By dividing your vacation between The Islands of Loreto and Cabo San Lucas you get to enjoy the excitement of Cabo and the tranquility of Loreto! Your reservation agent will assist you with Aereo Calafi a fl ight options and reservations. Aereo Calafia flights from only $122 per person based on one way travel. Call to book your agent is standing by to discuss airfare, destination, and package options available to the Villa del Palmar Islands of Loreto. See you soon in paradise! 4 Call for Club Caribe Villa del Palmar information and assistance

5 Out and About Puerto Vallarta Canopy Tour Hidden in the heart of the virgin tropical forest of the Sierra Madre Mountains, just 45 minutes northeast of Puerto Vallarta, lays the only true treetop canopy and adventure eco tour in the whole area. Join us on this exhilarating journey as you explore high above the jungle floor via zip lines, suspended walkways and platforms, scale the Crazy Ladder and descend via rappels. Thrilling zip lines give you the optimum perspective to marvel at this stunning tropical setting, as you effortlessly traverse through huge Out and About Cabo All Terrain X Rail Adventure Hop on your fully automatic X Rail Buggy for the safest off road fun ride you will ever experience. Explore Cabo San Lucas magical transition from desert to ocean as you travel through mountains and canyons at Migrino sandy river bed, making your way to Half Moon Canyon and Tree Rock. After a refreshing break, continue tropical trees, amongst wild orchids and a diversity of native birds and reptiles. You won t soon forget this magical jungle tour. to La Candelaria; a 300 year old Aboriginal Village. Here, your guide will enrich your experience with the knowledge of local history. Step on the gas, enjoy a thrilling ride until you reach the river s delta where the desert merges with the Pacific Ocean, before you make your way back to the starting point for a gourmet Mexican Buffet and refreshments. 3 hour adventures available at 12:00 or 3:00 pm. Contact reservations@ bajabuggys.com for information. IMPORTANT ADDRESSES AND PHONE NUMBERS UVC International 404 Camino Del Rio South, Fourth Floor San Diego, CA Hours: 7:30 am to 6:00 PM PST Toll Free: Outside the US & Canada: Fax: Website: Member Services: clubmail@myuvci.com Newsletter & Website Suggestions: news@myuvci.com Board of Directors: myboard@myuvci.com On-Site Customer Service: Dir. Member Services Contracts, Sales issues, Loan payments Phone: (619) mservicecancun@villagroup.com On-site Club Manager Reservations, Maintenance Fees ext clubmanagercancun@villagroup.com Villa del Palmar Cancun Carretera Punta Sam Km MZ9, SMZ2, L3 Isla Mujeres Quintana Roo, Mexico Phone: ResortCom International Reservations and Member Services Website: Owner Referral Program Toll-Free: Vacation Exchange Interval International (II): USA: CANADA: Website: Additional Resort Contacts Garza Blanca Carretera a Barra de Navidad Km. 7.5 Zona Hotelera Sur, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco MX Phone: Fax: Villa del Mar / Villa del Palmar Puerto Vallarta Blvd. Francisco Medina Ascencio KM 0.3 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco MX Phone: Fax: Villa del Palmar Flamingos Paseo Cocoteros 750 Sur Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit MX Phone: Fax: Villa del Palmar Cabo San Lucas Km 0.5 Camino Viejo A San Jose Cabo San Lucas, BCS, MX Phone: Fax: Villa del Arco Cabo San Lucas Km 0.5 Camino Viejo A San Jose Cabo San Lucas, BCS, MX Phone: Fax: Villa del Palmar Loreto Carretera Transpeninsular K.M. 83 Ensenada Blanca Loreto, BCS, MX Phone:

6 VDP Cancun NewsSummer 2012 UVCI Annual Calendar October Maintenance fee assessment bills will be mailed. November 1st Vacation banking deadline. November 30th Maintenance fee payments due. 1st Installment is due for members utilizing the quarterly December 1st Unpaid maintenance assessments are delinquent and subject to late fees and penalties. February 1st 2nd Installment due for members utilizing the quarterly May 1st 3rd Installment due for members utilizing the quarterly August 1st 4th Installment due for members utilizing the quarterly Resale Fraud - What You Should Know! Recently some members have been contacted ted by companies with solicitations to purchase their Club Caribe memberships. These resale companies have taken advantage of people that t may be in tight fi nancial situations by agreeing ei to sell the week or points in exchange for an upfront fee, but then never follow up with the sale. Never pay an upfront fee this is a RED FLAG that the company is not legitimate! These companies are not affi liated with the resort. The resort does not distribute its member records (nor do the exchange companies RCI and II) and we are investigating how the information has been obtained. Through entities such as ARDA (American Resort Development Association) and the Consumer Protection Agency, these companies are being investigated. ARDA has a great online resource where you can check recent articles, Fraud Alerts and consumer protection ti information. They also list press releases on legislation involving timeshare resale. They are in the process of expanding their site even further and will offer even great resources to the vacation industry on this important issue. Visit ardaroc.org and in the lower left box you can sign up for free alerts regarding breaking legislative news and events, and the latest headlines affecting timeshare owners, associations, managers, and the vacation ownership industry. Click on the Timeshare Resale Resource Center on the right hand side to fi nd out the latest!