We returned last night from Cabo after a week at the Villa Del Palmar resort. We normally stay at the Pueblo Bonito Rose (which is wonderful!) But this year we traded our time share to stay at the Villa Del Palmar - to satisfy kids- oh boy! What a difference ...

Lowlights
- Drugs on beach and at hotel a problem. A young woman staying at the hotel, gave drugs to one of the kids (a 17 year old) in our group (aderol) and after mixing with tequila from the bar ended up in the emergency room - $3000 bill from hospital. Drugs are not just a problem with locals, the kids staying at the hotel were a problem too.
- Alcohol is served to all age groups - the 14 year olds in our group had no problem ordering shots of tequila - and charging to the room.
- Theft - 2 ipods, digital camera and wallet stolen from a beach bag during the middle of the day. We think it was a hotel worker.

- Lounge chairs and Pool- definitely not enough chairs at pool or beach- especially when you hit spring break, Easter and Holy Week all at once. Kids were stealing beach towels and chairs. Families were saving 10-15 chairs at a time and they would go unused for hours. Hot tub was full of drunk college kids using language not appropriate for kids - so don't sit near the hot tub or be prepared for R-X Rated behavior and language.

- Cabs- They never had change.Ask before you get into a cab, what the cost is for the number you have in your party- and ask if they have change. We never used anything larger than a $20.00 bill and they never had change. We picked up on this issue early and got smaller pesos so that we were not giving $6.00 tips for each 5 minute ride to and from town.

- Squid Roe - Fun for kids, but again, alcohol is served to all age groups (parents need to taste younger childrens drinks for alcohol) Drugs again a problem inside the establishment. Young kids get kicked out early - which is fine as this is mostly a college kid age hangout.

Restaurants - Credit Card fees are high- try to pay cash as much as possible- as they pass on high merchant fees.

Cruise Ships - Don't shop when they are docked- too $$$.

Highlights
- Beach Party on Wed night- fun- and the cheapest meal we had in Cabo for a week. $28.00 per person. Food was good, entertainment (band) was good, limbo was fun for kids, beer slamming contest was fun for older kids but not suitable for younger children.

- Maid Service- was the best. The rest of the service at the hotel was mediocre. Pool bar staff is horrible - 6 people standing around trying not to make eye contact with all of the folks standing at the bar to get a drink. Restaurant staff not much better.

- Desert Spa - was beautiful and reasonably priced- staff was wonderful -this is a great place to go if you sit near the hot tub and drunk college kids as it will center you again - ha ha! Tell them you are an owner - you get a 15% discount- they never checked to see if anyone was an owner.

- La Golondrina, Whale Watcher Bar, Panchos and Romeo and Juliet , Maricoso Matzatlan and Tabascos were all great places to eat - but very, very expensive - rates were very high during spring break - $50.00 per head - food and alcohol (2 drinks each and basic meals). Look for happy hour places and stay away from Lorenzillos - a very expensive rip off.

- Cabo Adventures Canyon Canopy- WORTH THE $! Very fun! Great Crew Very Safe Activity.


-Banana Boat Rides and shpping on beaches was fun for kids.

Buyer beware. This location is being offered with the option of "all inclusive" It is not an all inclusive hotel!
If you purchase this option , you will will find you are not able to order many items on the menus, the staff are reluctant to assist you and they do not recieve any tips.
The hotel is clean, is in a good location and has very good food, however, it is not a typical allo inclusive hotel.

We just returned from VDP, and I must say that I do not understand the previous negative reviews! Traveling were myself, my husband, 4 children aged 15, 12, 11, and 7, and my 68 year old father. The staff were extremely friendly to us, from check-in to check-out. My husband met up with one bad attitude bartender, but aside from that they were wonderful. The front desk, concierge, and bellhops were very helpful. I had expected rudeness, but we were treated very kindly. The rooms were very nice and clean, the maid washed our dishes, and there wasn't too much noise. We were there over Easter week, and I fully expected spring break wildness, but there was nothing out of control (meaning nothing like the Oasis Cancun, with vomit in the elevators!). Of course, the prices were exhorbitant, but we went to Costco and stocked up on groceries. The kids loved the pool, and when we felt that the VDP pool was a little crowded, we simply went to the much quieter pool at Villa del Arco. The restaurants were pricey, but we had a few meals there anyway. The family loved the pizza at the VDP restaurant, and the breakfast buffet was really good. We had a great time, and wished we had more than a week to stay there.

Now I definately don't listen to reviews..I would much rather learn for myself since everyone has a very different view on what's good and bad you can never really rely on others opinions..however there were so many bad reviews of this hotel I started to believe them..but unfortunately my family has a time share there and I was stuck...so believe me I went into this vacation thinking it wasn't going to be great..now it wasn't all bad so I will be fair and tell you both sides. The bad started with my first night there...the beds were so hard it was almost impossible to sleep and if that wasn't bad enough the review before mine was so right on the walls were unbelievably thin and the noise never ended screaming kids running up and down the halls at all odd hours..slamming doors..and I also believe I heard my neighbor using the toilet..I mean come on. Thank god I never do all inclusive because the service no matter what was sooooooo slow or they would not even bring you what you ordered. Also all the tours seemed like a rip off from what I have experienced before lies lies lies..we went horse back riding and it was suppose to be on the beach ( they told us they were not doing that anymore )we ended up in the dessert with homeless people, garbage, and atv's wizzing by scaring our horses..and later that night low and behold horses riding on the beach. Thankfully I never even heard once about timeshares or was bothered by vendors too much..On the plus side it was on a nice beach, great location ( I walked to town everyday) and the maid service was great! Outside the resort..Cabo Wabo maybe has potential to being great I never saw it..Giggling Marlin definately nothing special..and the Zoo stunk so bad of sewage I made a b-line for the door immediately ( not too mention all the dumb drunk teenagers and the cig smoke was so bad ) I had a really good time at Squid Roe though it screamed tourists please come but the service was great and very entertaining! I also loved Tabasco. It was a restaurant on the beach in between the marina and Villa del Palmar (a very short stroll on the beach). I don't even have one complaint..drinks were 2-4-1 all day everyday..strong and good too! The food was very good and I definately would not of guessed so from looking at it!! So overall I liked Cabo but without even thinking twice I would stay somewhere else!