In the last post of this five part series focusing on Huatulco villa rentals vs. Huatulco resort vacations, we’re going to compare the costs and availability of property and concierge services for both travel options.

Huatulco Villas

The majority of the villas offer private pools and/or shared pools. This luxury has to be one of the absolute best parts about renting a private villa; you get to enjoy the pool all to yourself. At worst, you may have to share the pool with another few guests from a neighboring villa. The best part of private pools is the fact that you don’t have to share the pool with hundreds of other guests…it’s all yours to enjoy!

In addition, many of the villas are very close in proximity to local marinas that offer boat and bay tours as well as other ocean based activities like deep sea fishing. In some cases, you’ll even find that the villas themselves come with additional toys such as sea kayaks and small paddle boats.

If you really feel like you want to enjoy the properties and grounds of a resort, you should know that all resorts offer day-pass rates! That’s right, for about $10 you can use all of the property grounds for the day, including pools, tennis courts, exercise gyms, basketball courts, volleyball nets and more. You can even dine at their restaurants - although this service comes at an additional cost.

It’s kind of a nice thought to imagine having the choice of peace & quiet and privacy but being able to exercise the option to visit the resort for a day here or there throughout your stay…or if you’re really adventurous you can even try out a few different resort properties! THIS INCLUDES THE OPTION TO ACCESS KIDS’ CLUBS IF YOU PARENTS WANT A DAY OFF!

In terms of concierge services, there is a wonderful local service that can arrange any restaurant or tour bookings/reservations you wish to make. There are also various packages available that can all be arranged through online booking companies.

Huatulco Resorts

All of the major resorts definitely offer some great amenities including:

• Several large pools
• Tennis courts
• Volleyball courts
• Exercise and Fitness Gyms
• Spas
• Restaurants and Bars
• Entertainment Centers
• Planned Activities
• Convenience Stores

Since these resorts have all these amenities right on their property it makes it very appealing for the traveler that doesn’t care to leave the resorts grounds. This is likely one of the main reasons why some people tend to prefer to stay at resorts as opposed to private villas. In addition to the resorts’ pools, you can usually stroll down to the beach and find watercraft rentals or use the hotel’s sea kayaks to play around in the ocean.

However, the crowded common areas and overbooked services can sometimes begin to get a little old as your week(s) progresses. But once again, it all depends on what you want to get out of your Huatulco vacation!

Many families gravitate towards resorts in order to entertain their kids since many of the resorts offer kids’ activities/clubs and planned activities as well as more vibrant nightlife. This is a definite plus for many families with kids in different age groups. But most people forget that these resort features are not exclusive just for guests; almost all resorts offer these amenities at a day-pass rate!

One of the other main benefits of staying at any resort is that you have the benefit of full-time concierge services.

Conclusion

With either travel option you really have the opportunity to enjoy the best amenities and property grounds. If you don’t want privacy and and are really just looking for family entertainment without having to travel around, then a resort vacation would be perfect for you! This way you can enjoy everything from daily activities to restaurants and clubs without ever having to leave the resort grounds.

If you want to have some privacy while on your vacation, then there is no better travel option than a Huatulco villa rental. Plus, with any villa rental you also have the opportunity to use any of the resorts’ properties because they all offer day passes! This way you can really get the best of both worlds by having the privacy of your own villa while still being able to enjoy in the social activities and grounds offered by the biggest Huatulco resorts! This combination truly makes for the perfect vacation!

In part four of the five part series focusing on Huatulco villa rentals vs. Huatulco resort vacations we’re going to compare the costs of food and beverages for both travel options.

Huatulco Villas

There are a few typical options available to villa renters:

1. Cheapest Option: If you decide that you don’t want to spend that much on food, you can wait until you get to Huatulco to visit the local grocery store to stock your fridge and pantry for the week(s) you’re there. Your kitchen or kitchenette will provide you with all the space you need to prepare food, and there is always a dining area in each villa where you can enjoy all of your meals. The local grocery stores really do carry everything you need (even organic milk and other organic products) - so you will most definitely have access to whatever food you wish to buy.

Cost = average weekly grocery bill

2. Mid-Range Option: If you wish to have food ready for your arrival and don’t want to worry about visiting the local grocery store, you can take advantage of local services that offer pantry stocking/villa provisioning before you arrive. The process is pretty simple: you would forward a copy of your grocery list through your booking agent and when you arrive - you will be graced by a fully stocked pantry and fridge. You never have to worry and the best part is that you get to avoid grocery shopping. This option also offers a re-stock service mid-week if you wish to use it.

Cost = average weekly grocery bill + service charge

3. High-End Option: If you really want to enjoy the privacy of your beautiful Huatulco villa and still get the best in fine Mexican cuisine, you can hire a personal cook to prepare and serve all of your meals for the entire duration of your stay! Plus, you can package this service together with the mid-range option to ensure that you’ll always be adequately covered when it comes to fine dining in Huatulco! If the villa property already offers full-time staff, this service will only cost you an extra $20/day (total). If the property does not already have staff on the premises, you can arrange for someone to accommodate this service for anywhere from $30 - $80/day depending on the the cook’s individual rates.

Cost = grocery bill + service charge + weekly staff fees

As for beverages, this service isn’t included in your villa rental but you need not worry because purchasing alcohol locally is very inexpensive. You also have the option of purchasing your alcohol in the duty free store at your airport or in your connection city. This way you can purchase and enjoy the alcohol of your choice while still staying on budget.

Huatulco Resorts

One of the advantages of staying at any major resort or hotel is that they have multiple restaurants on-site for you to dine at. Some of the resorts offer “all-inclusive” meal plans, where your meals and drinks are all covered and are set - usually with a lot of buffets. For some, this is the definition of holiday travel; all the food you can eat at your convenience! However, there are a few down falls if you’re not on a meal plan as the cost of food is usually exorbitant compared to many local restaurants.

Additionally, a lot of travelers will get bored of the same few restaurants and will want to explore other destinations to really taste some fine Mexican cuisine. So if you are the type of traveler who doesn’t enjoy staying and eating at the same place all week, you can guarantee you’ll be spending some money to enjoy dining at some off-site restaurants; and in the process lose money on the meals you’re not taking advantage of on your pre-paid plan.

Also, a lot of the luxury resorts enforce reservations at all of their restaurants. Many times you’ll find that you have a limited number of meals that can actually be enjoyed in a table service setting - leaving the rest of your meals for buffet dining. As mentioned, for some this is great, but for many travelers they would prefer to sample local restaurants to really enjoy the different tastes that Huatulco, Mexico has to offer!

Conclusion

The deals on food and beverages are very different for Huatulco villa rentals compared to resort vacations. When it comes down to it, it’s really all about what you want to get out of your dining experience(s). If you prefer to eat at buffets and at the same few restaurants; then a pre-paid meal plan at a Huatulco resort would be just perfect for you! However, if you want to enjoy some of the great local restaurants throughout Huatulco, this option may not be the best fit for you.

For villa renters they really have an incredible opportunity to have their very own personal cook prepare them their meals. This service allows travelers to relish in the beauty and privacy of their private villa while still enjoying all of the different delicacies and authentic Mexican dishes that are commonly available at many of the local restaurants. Villa renters also have the option to combine this service with having their fridge/pantry pre-stocked with food in order to really get the best of both worlds!

In the next and final post of this series, we’ll examine the property amenities and concierge services offered at both Huatulco villas and Huatulco resorts.

In part three of the five part series focusing on Huatulco villa rentals vs. Huatulco resort vacations we’re going to take a look at air travel costs as well as airport pick-up and transportation details.

Huatulco Villas

Huatulco has its own International airport (airport code=HUX), so it is a common destination for many of the largest international airlines. All year round you’ll find that the airline Mexicana offers flights into Huatulco - usually with a connection in Mexico City.

There are also several charters that offer direct flights and fly out of the United States and Canada. You can usually buy seats on these charters for cheaper than it would cost you to travel on Mexicana, but the problem is that you’re often forced into only traveling when they fly, which is usually only once a week.

Some of the major airline providers that travel to Huatulco include Continental Airlines and American Airlines. They usually offer connections and are often used for flights out of the biggest cities across the United States including San Francisco, LA, New York, Miami, Altanta, etc.

Huatulco Resorts

The only difference in air travel options for Huatulco resorts is if you’re getting a special packaged deal through your travel agent or tour company. If this is the case, then you are looking at an easy decision: the costs of the flights themselves should be lower than any of the flights available on the market, and if not, then you too will have to look for alternative arrangements with the mainstream airlines.

Either way, whether you’re traveling to a resort or a private villa, you are going to have to explore your options to find the best deal on air travel. When doing research, a few good resources to check include Expedia, Trip Advisor and Orbitz; they all provide information on air travel rates, quotes and reviews. When doing you research make sure you use the code HUX for the Huatulco airport.

Airport pick-up/transport

Huatulco Villas

One of the biggest misconceptions of renting a private villa is that travelers often feel that getting to their villa is more difficult when compared to a large resort. They may perceive this as a stressful process because they are often unfamiliar with the foreign location. They may also not speak the foreign language (Spanish), so trying to communicate with a taxi cab driver can be a very difficult and stressful process.

To avoid these problems and to accommodate for travelers, all villa rentals offer prearranged airport transportation as an available service. Once your villa is booked and you purchase your flights, you simply arrange the pick-up details and when you touch down in Huatulco you will be greeted by a driver with a sign that has your name on it…and there begins your vacation!

The service is extremely beneficial because the local driver will already know where they are going and will quickly take you to your villa. The best part of this service is that you don’t have to worry about catching a shuttle bus, or trying to negotiate rates with a local taxi driver; all the stress of arrival is erased by prearranging for pick-up and transportation back to your beautiful Huatulco villa.

The entire process is very simple: once you clear customs and get your luggage you find your driver and your vacation begins! You can even grab an icy Corona at the airport to take on the drive to your villa, so you can sit back and start enjoying your Huatulco vacation before you even arrive at your villa!

Huatulco Resorts

Resort transportation is extremely appealing for many travelers because you usually travel with a large group of other people who are in the same position as you. This can often ease the stress that some travelers feel when trying to get their luggage and find their shuttle bus or other prearranged mode of pick-up transportation. Almost all of the Huatulco resorts offer airport pickup, so if you are traveling with a charter group, you will likely not be the only one traveling to your hotel.

The pick-up process is pretty similar for resort travel; once you clear customs and get your luggage you will find a person holding a sign with the name of your charter company. Once you meet them, you would usually be directed to a bus that you and all the other travelers will board. After all of the luggage has been loaded, you will proceed to the resorts. One of the downfalls is that the buses often make more than one stop (going from resort to resort) in order to to drop off travelers visiting the different resorts in the bay.

As a result, your estimated time to arrival really depends on the number of travelers on your bus. So traveling to a Huatulco resort may be a little more time consuming, but if you’re in vacation mode you probably won’t care too much about the extra time it takes to drop off other travelers at their resort(s).

Conclusion

When it comes down to air travel, the differences between going with a villa rental or a resort vacation are pretty minimal. For the actual costs of the flights, they will be the same unless you get bit of a deal by going with a combined travel package if you decide to stay at a Huatulco resort. But, it’s also important to consider the costs of the trip as a whole to see if you’re really saving any money on air travel costs by going with a combined travel package.

The pick-up process is pretty similar for both Huatulco villas and Huatulco resorts. With either travel option you will have access to prearranged pick-up and transportation back to your villa or hotel. The only difference here is that with you will probably have to wait a bit longer to arrive at your resort because the bus usually stops at several resorts to accommodate all the travelers. Either way, getting to your villa or hotel is really quite easy and non-stressful, so you can begin to enjoy your Huatulco vacation as soon as your arrive!

Be sure to check out the next post, in which we’ll examine the food and beverage deals at both Huatulco villas and resorts.

In part two of the five part series focusing on Huatulco villa rentals vs. Huatulco resort vacations we’re going to take a look at the costs of each travel option.

Huatulco Villas

Renting a private villa is often much more cost effective when compared to resort prices. When you’re looking at vacation packages, it’s essential that you break down the costs and separate the charter flight costs from the resort room fees to find out if you’re actually saving money by going with a packaged vacation option. These combined “accommodation & air travel” packages are usually one of the main selling points of many of the resorts; so it’s important to really examine the costs separately to see if you’re truly getting a good deal on lodging.

The main goal when evaluating the costs of booking a Huatulco villa is to consider what you are really getting for the money you spend. For a one-bedroom condo suite that offers room for 4 people and includes a living and dining space plus a kitchen and private patio - you will only pay about $1000/week. This means it will cost you between $250 - $500/person for the whole week (depending if you have 2 or 4 people staying in the villa).

If you start arranging accommodations for larger groups (12+ people) to travel together you could drastically reduce your costs and get them down to as low as $200/person/week. This a guarantee - you will NEVER find a luxury resort in Huatulco with rates that match this!

Now a lot of people think that it would be more expensive to rent a private villa because vacation resorts often include airfare into their prices. But if you actually separate the costs and look at the cost of airfare you’d be very surprised. In the off-season, the most expensive flights we found were in the $900 range. So if you take a weekly cost of $250/person + $900 flight, you end up with a total cost of $1150/person for a week’s vacation. Not bad at all considering you’ll be staying in a beautiful, authentic Mexican villa. Next, we’ll examine the costs of booking a Huatulco resort to further illustrate how booking a private villa can actually cost you less.

Huatulco Resorts

It’s well known that the majority of luxury resorts in Huatulco are all located in Tangolunda Bay. Using Trip Advisor as our reference, we found that all the credible hotels in the area are available for around $150 - $360/night. If you calculate that rate out over the span of a week, you’re looking at a cost of $1,050 - $2,520/person for a week’s vacation.

If you are trying to do a fair comparison, remember that the prices listed above are the nightly/weekly costs for a single bedroom! Comparing these costs to the cost of renting a private villa, it’s clear that you with a resort you usually end up paying more money for a smaller room. Even worse, these resort rooms often offer less amenities and more crowds compared to renting out an entire private villa for your and your friends and family.

Now, of course it would be misleading if we didn’t account for the fact that resorts are actively involved in offering packaged vacations in Mexico. These packages often create an overall discount for the traveler by amalgamating flight, hotel and food/beverage costs and discounting everything through the packaged rate. Sometimes they may offer lower prices on room fare just to get you to sign up for the entire vacation package, so when comparing costs it’s important that you keep this in mind.

Conclusion

When comparing the costs of renting out a villa vs a resort, we were surprised to find that overall, the prices for renting a resort remain on par or are even higher when compared to renting out a private Huatulco villa. This is especially true for group travelers, who can really save money by renting a private villa. As mentioned in the post, it’s clear that you get more value by renting a private villa since you are spending the same amount of money (if not less) to get an entire villa to yourself and your companions. Whereas with a resort, you won’t be able to get the same luxuries or privacy as you would with renting a villa.

In the next post we’ll examine the prices of air travel as well as how to arrange for transportation from the airport. If you are wondering about what food and drinks will cost you, be sure to check out part four of the series in which we will examine the food and beverage deals at both Huatulco villas and resorts.

One of the main reasons that people are hesitant when it comes to renting a private villa is because they may be under the perception that booking with a mainstream resort is easier, more secure and cheaper. However, renting a private villa in Huatulco is becoming increasingly easier because of online booking companies and travel agents. The growing trend towards renting a private villa has a lot to do with the fact that renting a private villa is not only easier, it’s more flexible as there are often more amenities, privacy and luxuries. On top of that - 9 times out of 10 - it is CHEAPER!! This might seem hard to believe but there is no hiding the realities of the dollars and cents.

In order to provide value for our readers, we decided that we should just do a side-by-side comparison of what the two experiences have to offer. As a result, we’ll be covering some of the major frequently asked questions, including costs, air travel and the ease of booking either a private villa or a resort/hotel room in Huatulco, Mexico. We’re going to break this up into a five part series since it’ll be a lengthy discussion that should provide some insights to help readers decide whether they would prefer a private villa rental or a resort vacation trip in Huatulco.

The five parts will focus on:

1. The Ease of Booking
2. Costs
3. Air Travel
4. Food and Beverages
5. Property Amenities and Concierge Services

We’re going to kick off the five part series with a look at the ease of booking a private Huatulco villa compared to a resort or hotel rental.

Ease of Booking

Huatulco Villas

Huatulco has a dedicated online booking engine for Villa rentals that will be launching at the end of November 2008. The benefit of this online booking system is that it will quickly allow you to search by price, amenities, number of people, dates, etc. to help narrow your search to a villa that specifically suits your travel needs. The goal of all of this is to make renting private villas as easy as booking a hotel when making travel arrangements to stay in Huatulco.

After you identify your villa of choice, the booking process is very simple. You simply reserve your villa online and then complete the booking via credit card payment with the booking company.

One of the best things about renting a private villa is that you can find private lodging for a group of any size. So, whether you’re a party of two or a party of fifty - there is a villa that will suit your group and we can guarantee the experience will far outperform staying at any of the resorts since you get the privacy and comfort of an authentic and beautiful Huatulco villa.

For more information on renting a private villa in Huatulco for your vacation, you can email the booking company by clicking: My Huatulco Vacation

Huatulco Resorts

One of the biggest problems associated with booking resorts (either online or through travel agents) is that travelers have been forced to rely on a limited amount of pictures and reviews for decades. Even worse, a lot of these pictures and reviews are skewed, and once you fall outside of the traditional one-bedroom booking (if you have more than a family of four or would like two or more rooms) - your process becomes even more complicated since it can be very difficult to book several rooms together.

Another problem is the time it takes to arrange the booking details with your travel agent. Travel agents often represent many different travel providers (cruise companies, hotels, resorts, etc.) so it can take them time to try to accommodate all of your travel needs. Whereas you can book a private villa online as soon as you’ve decided on the the specific villa of your choice.

It’s also not uncommon for joint travelers to be split up in two different areas of the resort or to have to wait around while staff figures out what they have available even though they thought they booked in advance. This occurs because a lot of the time when you book a resort online or through an agent, the actual confirmation details don’t usually get solidly confirmed until you arrive at the property. Oftentimes travelers find themselves disappointed because they arrive very excited for their dream holiday only to find that their travel plans have been altered.

Conclusion

The main difference between booking a villa versus a resort is that you have more control over your travel arrangements when you book a villa privately online. Most travelers know their travel availability as well as what type of lodging and amenities they want, so they can easily choose their villa of choice without having to deal with a travel agent. Another huge advantage of renting villas is that you can accommodate for groups of any size and arrange for group lodging. As previously mentioned, one of the biggest downfalls of booking a resort is the lack of up-to-date information and pictures on the lodging facilities. That’s one of the main reasons for the growing trend of travelers who actually prefer to book their own private villa(s) online.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for part two of this great five part series which will focus on comparing the cost of renting a villa versus a resort or hotel room/condo.