A friend and I just got back from a 4-day weekend at the Fiesta Americana, and we really enjoyed ourselves. We rented a car. The hotel is maybe 10 or 15 minutes south of town--not bad, and once you're out of San Miguel, the traffic is surprisingly light.
Parking was free. Check-in was a breeze, and the bellmen, maids, waiters, waitresses, and even the clerks at the on-location stores were friendly and helpful, with one mild exception (further down). In fact, one day we put out $2 for the maid, AND FORGOT TO CLOSE THE SAFE with all our money and passports. Not only was our property safe, but she didn't take the tip until, the next day, we added a note saying "para Maria" (we'd met her when she asked if she should come back later) and put it on the bed.
We had asked for 2 beds and a non-smoking room, not on the ground floor, and that's exactly what they gave us (on the 6th floor). There's a little elevator that gets the job done just fine. Our view of the sea was beautiful, and the view from the other side--by the elevator, over the low mangrove jungle--was almost as breathtaking. One night after a particularly hard rain, the song of the toads and crickets droning out of the trees was just magical. We had little flies out on our balcony, but they didn't bite.
I came to snorkel, and I'll admit, the entry and exit to the water off the steps was a son-of-a-gun, both at high and low tide. The waves buffeted us, small though they were, and the quicker we could get into a belly float the better... once I got to deeper water, I had to take my fins off, one at a time, to clear out the bits of shell that had washed in. Next time, I'll go down the ladder off the pier and simply swim to the swimming area from there. That said? It was SO worth it. We saw as many kinds of fish in the swimming area as we did at Chankanaab, and some lovely little corals (I wouldn't call the area off FA a reef), and some pretty black, spiny sea urchins. I wish I'd gotten to snorkel off the Money Bar and back to the FA beach, but the weather didn't cooperate.
The food was good at the restaurant on the beach--beautifully prepared and presented, and the pico de galo was particularly yummy. It was good at the restaurant off the pool, too. The breakfast buffet was fine, though we didn't splurge for meat or eggs--just fruit, juice, and cereal (we didn't do all-inclusive).
My only complaint? We made the mistake of trying to set up a snorkel tour through the activities desk at the FA. Be aware that they represent a particular entertainment company. Jesus first tried to sell us on the Party Snorkel Cruise, despite that we were two school-teacherish middle-aged ladies. When we convinced him of what we wanted--a 3-dive snorkel trip of about 3 or 4 hours--he set one up for the next morning. We got up early enough, watched the night's rain stop as we ate breakfast, dressed and packed up our equipment, and headed down... only to be told by Jesus that there was a delay because of the weather. Check back in half an hour. So we did. But he said there was a problem with the other passengers--check back in half an hour. So we did. Turns out some people from another hotel had canceled because of the weather, and the tour MIGHT have to cancel, but would get back to us in (guess?) half an hour....
We wasted an entire morning of our trip not wanting to go too far from the lobby, lest we get word that someone was coming to get us. Instead, they canceled (something we had to go to Jesus to find out; he didn't at any point contact us) because, as he repeated several times, they need at least FOUR people to go out. He said he'd *try* to set up something for the next day--check back--but by then I'd had enough. I went online (FA has 3 computers off the back lobby, for customer use) and found contact information for two highly recommended snorkel tours. I got hold of Eagle Ray Travel first. Antonio was wonderful--of course he could take us the next day, AND he came by that afternoon just to say hello and meet us (much gusto!) When we woke to rain again, he called to make sure we wanted to go out, and promised his tour could take us if we were still ready (we were). We had a great time and, when the weather turned really bad and the harbor master closed the ports, he called to make sure we were okay with how the tour had gone and wouldn't mind the shortened afternoon (we were wonderfully tired by then, and had no problems at all). The difference in customer service was noche vs. dia. Jesus also told us San Gervasio was open until 5:00, so when we arrived at 3:30 we were saddened to learn that they closed at FOUR, and we'd have to cut that trip short as well. When he arranged a swim at the Dolphinarius to start early, because we had to catch a plane that afternoon, we arrived there to learn that nobody at the Dolphinarius knew we had to catch a plane--once they found out, they sped things up for us very nicely.
So I'd recommend arranging your own snorkel trips outside of the hotel's activity desk, and double-checking times on your own!
To answer another review--yes, they tack on a 20-peso donation to a charity, the one they have ads for all over the check-in/check-out desk. The fee was the last thing listed on the itemized charges, doublespaced after everything else, so I had no problem noticing it. 20-pesos isn't a whole lot, and I had no problem donating it, but yes, do actually look at your bill before signing it.
I'll probably go to an all-inclusive place with easier access to the snorkeling beach, next time. And if you're already exhausted, the stairs up to the lobby (which is on the 2nd floor) can make an out-of-shape American like me pant. But if I got a good deal on FA, I'd have no problems going back.
