Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto

The mood was the part our group of eight 50-year-olds liked least. The resort seemed to cater to an older, very quiet crowd, and we found the atmosphere dull and unfriendly. Guests didn’t seem to smile, enjoy themselves, or engage much with the wonderful staff. On Saturday night, we had the whole disco to ourselves. The resort could use a younger, friendlier crowd to go with its facilities and staff. The other big nuisance was the timeshare sales pressure. I paid for my room online and wasn’t given anything complimentary for the stay, so being repeatedly pestered about buying a timeshare felt inappropriate. They should scale that approach back considerably. The natural setting is stunning, secluded, and about 30 miles outside Loreto. The views are beautiful, with great hiking nearby and warm water for paddle boarding. We stayed in a lovely one-bedroom penthouse suite, and the full-size jacuzzi on the balcony was a memorable touch. Food was generally better than we expected at an all-inclusive. Danzante steakhouse was excellent and worth the small fee, so much so that we ate there twice. Dinner on the beach at night was great, as was food and service by the pool and beach. The main buffet wasn’t for us, and dinner at the club house was our least favorite. Drinks were noticeably weak, though bar service was consistently good. There’s also a beautiful golf course and beach, and service around the resort was generally attentive. The views, amenities, and staff were great, but the quiet, unfriendly feel and unsolicited sales pitches took a lot away from the experience.

We paid in advance for an all-inclusive stay, but even on ordinary nights it was packed and difficult to get dinner reservations. On New Year’s Eve, we dressed up with the kids and tried all three restaurants, only to be told we’d have to pay and that they were already full. Paid reservations had sold out, so we were sent back to our room to pay for room service. It took two hours to arrive, at 9:30 pm. There was no entertainment or activity that night unless you’d managed to pay for and book dinner and a show days earlier. Other resort activities, including fishing tours, were fully booked too, and staff offered no referrals for off-site options. They should charge less with a discount and tell guests to plan ahead for off-site meals and activities on New Year’s Eve. Our guess is the resort is understaffed and booked beyond capacity, which is a serious problem when food and activities are part of what you’ve paid for. We were also repeatedly urged to attend a timeshare presentation wherever we went. The breakfast buffet was fairly good, the pool areas were fun and scenic, and the rooms and beach location were nice. Of course, we paid for those as well.

Loreto is peaceful and laid-back, and we’d like to come back with the rest of the family. My wife and I came to Mexico to golf, and the course was immaculate. Everyone we met, from the pro shop and driving range staff to the groundskeepers, was polite and courteous. We stayed four nights and had good service and good meals at all the different restaurants. We also went hiking and took a guided fishing trip. Everything was five-star.

The upgrade sales started as soon as we arrived, with a lot of pressure, and it took away the relaxed feeling we’d hoped for. It’s a rough way to begin a vacation, feeling pushed instead of looked after. Prices across the resort also felt far too high, more like Hawaii at a luxury destination than Mexico. We already pay a lot in maintenance and resort fees, which makes the costs harder to enjoy. The grounds are beautiful and the staff are truly wonderful, kind and welcoming. I hope someone takes this seriously, because the people and the experience deserve policies that let guests relax and enjoy a special getaway.