Hilton Waikoloa Village

A beautiful hotel in a gorgeous setting. If you've watched Wheel of Fortune when they are filming in Hawaii, this is where it is filmed. We upgraded to an ocean view room. Well worth it.

If you haven't heard, they have an interesting way to get to your room. After checking in, one goes to a boat, which goes around the huge hotel grounds on a large canal. The grounds are so large, they really needed a way to transport guests around the property. The boat ride and canal would have been much more enjoyable, but for the huge amount of rotting algae in the canal. Phew! What a stench!

We spent a very enjoyable week there last August 08. The dolphin pool was fun. The huge swimming pool was very relaxing, and we really enjoyed walking out on the point. A perfect place for Romance, bringing families, and everything. Great sunsets. They have childcare if you just need to get away... Despite the condition of the canal, this was one of our more enjoyable Hawaiian vacations.

Lake Tahoe, River Ranch, Great BBQ, but Restaurant, yecchh..

This summer (and last) while at Lake Tahoe, we went to the River Ranch Patio BBQ several times and had really enjoyable food. It is the perfect ending when rafting on the Truckee River.

So we thought, why not enjoy the river side scenery in the evening and eat in the main sit down restaurant. A tad bit pricy, two folks over $140.00. Anyway the River Ranch's restaurant was abysmal. The wedge salad was OK, but the blue cheese dressing was watery and strange. Everything, I mean everything had a thin gruel of cream style corn. Is the Chef crazy or just Lazy? Far too many dishes used a thin gruel of cream style corn. The Cream of Asparagus Soup, was tasteless, and had the corn added. The Pork chop was very dry and overcooked, but for the cream style corn that it floated in. The Venison also lay soaking in a pool of cream style corn. Have you ever desired flavorless raw florettes of Venison? Well go to the River Ranch Restaurant.

Westin Hotel, Maui

Had a very enjoyable time at the Westin, Kaanapali Beach, Lahaina, Maui last August 2008. Unfortunately they are beginning to cut corners. Maintenance seemed degraded from just a year prior. The nice leis that were always at the entrance for arriving guests have been replaced by cheap sea shell necklaces (Made in China?).

Still meals and drinks at the very close Hula Grill were reasonable and of good quality. Be sure to catch the Hula Grill's happy hour.

Leilani's continues to be great. Eating downstairs is sure cheaper than the upstairs restaurant. If eating at the restaruant, be sure to hit the "Early Bird" specials. Great food for a reasonable price, only if on the Early Bird.

We had an unbelievably fun time parasailing off the beach. Unlike Mexico where "off the beach" really meant "Off The Beach), and then landing back on the beach (with broken ankles,etc.) here you are taken out to a boat and go up off (and back down to) the back of aboat. This is much safer. UFO Parasailing leaves from near the front of the Westin. Reasonable and a fun time.

Gran Velas, Nuevo Vallarta

Gran Velas, Nuevo Vallarta: June 29, 2007: Just returned from Gran Velas, Nuevo Vallarta. Very nice. A few minor mix ups; they put us in a two queen room, when we had a king confirmed, by the next day it was fixed. The rooms are very nice, all are at least 1,000 SF suites. All rooms are Ocean Front, as opposed to Ocean View or other less desirable choices. The speciality restaurants, Italian, French and Mexican, were "fine cuisine" and fully included in the "All-Inclusive Fee". One could use them every night without limitation. Wonderful wait-staff, and the piano music in the Italian was very memorable. I've read about other AI (All-Inclusive) resorts in Mexico that were noisy and ovr crowded. Not this one. It seems to have risen very close to its 5 Star rating. Front desk staff were always friendly and very responsive. My wife loved the Spa... rated in top 10 in the world. We normally would visit the surrounding area. Did that last time in PV. But the resort was so relaxing, we never left. The three infinity pools with a swim-up bar were fantastic. Not certain but suspected the pool bar may have watered some of the booze.

While some may think the AI fee to be tad bit too high.... we thought it well worth it.

News Flash: While there, just heard from another guest, Gran Velas is dumping RCI and moving exclusively to The Registry. Can't blame them. RCI appears to be abusing their Weeks members by blocking exchanges, and renting the deposited space out. While a former board member of a member resort, we discovered uncontrovertible evidence of this slimy practice. I'm cancelling my RCI membership.

Great value for a bit more money.

Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

We spent 4 days at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, over the end of July. OK, we love the place, despite its challenges for improvement. We will return. It beats the heck out of the Mirage and we love the Mirage.

Of course it was lacking in one of our key tests. No swim-up bar. The pools however were quite nice, if however a little overcrowded. I'll bet that they could double the size of their pools and still fill up every day. It is amazing the number of Las Vegas resorts that seriously fail in regard to sizing and designing pools that folks will want to stay at. We go to a resort more for the Pool and its amenities than the shows. Sitting around the pool, we hear similar comments. We fell in love with the Lazy River.... It appears that they lowered the water level in the Wave Pool, I scrape my chest on the bottom where the waves crash. But the wave pool is fun.

We did have to request a room change, but the staff was very accomodating. Restaurants are nice, but their House of Blues left me with a blue stomach for an entire day...... We didn't return there. The Southwest Grill or whatever the name of their mexican food restaurant was a very poor rendition of mexican food (can get better imitation mexican food at places like Chevy's). It was also grossly overpriced, had a cold atmosphere and poor service.

I have no clue what Mandalay Bay's entertainment management was thinking by bringing in a combo jazz band who's only skill seemed to be making loud noise in an otherwise nice bar. when I'd mention it to staff, their response was limited to a pained sympathetic expression and to say the group would be leaving soon.

Coral Baja, Los Cabos

Wow, just returned from the Coral Baja (Worldmark) in Los Cabos (6/25/05-7/2/-05). Still love the pool and swim-up bar, the beach, the room orientation (all face the ocean), listening to the surf at night. Mama Mia's restaurant is still relaxed and inexpensive. A little relaxing music around the pool would be nice.

The grounds might have a problem. Upon entering the premises, we were greeted with a putrid stench. We found that true of entry of all the buildings. And the St. Augustine grass is turning wierd shades of yellow as well as the gardens beginning to look stunted. I wonder if they've begun using "gray water"..... DOWNGRADE to 4 Steve's Stars,

This was our first time flying on America West (OAK - SJD). Sorry Alaska Air, but your advance fares came down very late. It was an OK flight. It seems America West (HD) soon to become US Air, squeezes every inch of room they can. I wonder how many more rows of seats they had put in at the expense of my legs. But the price was better than Alaska Air's.

SJD airport continues to be friendly (just ignore the Time Share soliciters at the airport). The immigation, airport and airline personnel were all nice and expedited our processes.

Rented a Budget Rental Car at San Jose del Cabo airport. I know that when I reserved online that the price quoted, including insurance, was like $289. but at the counter, I ended up paying even more for their "insurance"..... to the tune of an extra $25 daily.... plus taxes, monetary exchange fees (even if paying by credit card). I think I paid somewhere over $600 when I walked away....

What's up with Interval International (II)?

Golly, I went to II's exchange site to seek out an exchange for Hawaii, and nothing is available.... not at all.

But wait! I checked their Getaway Vacations (where you must pay to rent somewhere), and voila! Availability! So I wonder how many of us have deposited time, only to have it rented out by II and not made available to working stiffs like us.

I guess I'll have to review my relationship with II. It seems that they are up to the same tricks as RCI. I wonder when some good consumer oriented Attorney General will pick this issue up?