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Cabo San Lucas

Fiesta Americana

by Mark S.

A September 2003 travel journal

Last Updated: January 12, 2004

Journal Usefulness Rating 3 out of 5
Journal Usefulness Rating
3
Reviews

2003 trip to Cabo San Lucas. Beautiful resort and then Hurricane Marty hit it. Nice place even without power and water.

Fiesta Americana

Overview

Most memorable moment was when Hurricane Marty hit our resort on Sunday night. They asked all residents to come to the main ballroom. My wife and I stayed in our room.

The hurricane did extensive damage. With the damage, you saw that the walls were built with sheetrock and not brick or stone. Also, since there was so much rain, mud went down the cart path and directly into one of the pools. They had to shut down the pool all week. In addition, we were on water and power restrictions the whole week. It was still better than being home.

The beaches are clean and pleasant. The staff was extremely friendly even with a hurricane.

The rooms at the Fiesta Americana were awesome. We had a full kitchen, suite, whirlpool tub and two private baths.

Although there was partial flooding due to the hurricane, the staff cleaned the room in 10 minutes.

Quick Tips:

Take the time-share tour. They will give you some credit to your hotel bill, but you have to present the certificate. Although they say the presentation is 1.5 hours; it lasted 2. Still, they weren't too pushy. I said no mainly because I questioned the structural integrity of the building, the design, and the fact that I did not want a 40-year lease, which gave them little room to try to break me.

Food - go to Mi Casa in Cabo. The food is great. And if you like a fun bar, be sure to visit the Gigglin' Marlin. Sammy Hagar's bar is the Cabo Wabo.

Be sure to get an international long-distance card. I would recommend your home carrier (AT&T, MCI, Sprint, etc). If you use the carrier they provide, you will be paying per minute (4 minute minimum) and setup fee. I learned this the hard way when I had a charge on my check card a month after the trip. So, that 2-minute call to my family to tell them I survived the hurricane cost .

Best Way To Get Around:

Bring your walking shoes. If you stay in our time-share villa, you will have a 5-minute walk to the main lobby.

The resort is between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo (5 miles each way). So you will have to take a van/shuttle to go to town.

A shuttle company provides transportation to Cabo San Lucas every hour from 8 am to 9 pm. And it costs per person roundtrip. If you want to stay in Cabo until a later time, you will need to find a cab driver. However, they are regulated, so you won't be paying through the nose for it.

Fiesta Americana
Carretera Transpeninsular Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Best Things Nearby:
Nothing. You will have to take a shuttle into town. Bring your walking shoes because this is a big resort.

Call the resort ahead of time before you arrive. The concierge will arrange a shuttle for you. Otherwise when you step out of the baggage claim, umpteen hundred people will be there ready to sign you up for a timeshare presentation. And you may not get to your resort.

Best Things About the Resort:
The staff is super-nice. They work to accommodate you in so many ways.

They have a great spa.

It is truly a beautiful resort. The pictures do not do it justice.

Resort Experience:
It was a great place and fun to visit. We were there when Hurricane Marty hit. The staff was friendly and the food was nice.

Be sure to get a cheeseburger. One day about 2pm after being in the sun, I ordered a cheeseburger. It may sound cheesy, but there's nothing like a cheeseburger in paradise.

  • Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
  • Activities: Good
  • Amenities: Very Good
  • Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
  • Family Friendliness: Excellent
  • Service: Excellent
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Mark S. on January 2, 2004

Fiesta Americana
Carretera Transpeninsular Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Gigglin' Marlin

Activity

What goes in Cabo stays in Cabo. The staff is friendly and fun. They come around with a sombrero, place it on your head, and toss a shot of liqour down your throat. It's fun. The crowds are good and you can have a lot of fun in Cabo.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Mark S. on January 12, 2004

The Giggling Marlin
Blvd Marina y Matamoros Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 23410
+52 114 3 1182

About the Writer

Mark S.
Mark S.
Concord, North Carolina

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