OT - Atlantis PV 11-5-05

[crystal808]

Less than a month away, half of the categories sold out (according to the website), and only 2 people on the Atlantis board listing....

It will be my first Atlantis (or ANY all-gay) outing. Anybody here going? Just wondering....

Happy sailing to all...
Paul

[ZIPPER]

Paul:

I'll be really interested to read your comments after coming back from PV. I'm in a total quandry regarding Atlantis. My last trip with Atlantis to PV in 11/03 was great, the resort was really nice, the seafood was wonderful, the guys at PV tend to be a really fun west coast crowd, PV is very gay friendly and it was a thoroghly good time. Cancun in 5/04, on the other hand, sucked. The resort left a lot to be desired, the guys were boring, and the food was terrible. I'll be interested to hear your opinion. In PV, you pretty much can't help but have a good time. It's the gay mecca of Mexico so there's also all sorts of gay life outside the resort.

I wouldn't judge the resort bookings based on the suite categories being booked up, hotels frequently have far more regular rooms than suites. I would probably go back to PV with Atlantis except that the prices for singles have gone up substantially in the past few years, and combined with the fact that I've seen most of the entertainers and shows way too many times, for me there are better opportunities. The resorts can be a lot more fun if they don't sell out. The smallest Atlantis event I went to had 250 guys. It was great, everybody pretty much knew everybody else and the cliques tended to break down.

Being your first time to Atlantis in PV you should have a really good time. I would not, however, recommend the Cancun trip.

Please post your experiences on this board, I'll look forward to seeing the comments. Hang out with Shann Carr and Bruce McDonald if you get the chance, they're really fun. Tell Shann I said "hi", I'm the guy who had the collision on the zip cable, she'll know who I am. And you guys thought "Zipper" stood for something else, shame on you!

[crystal808]

Hi...thanks for your thoughts.

(I was making NO guesses as to your screen name!)

I'm looking forward to the trip, basically to enjoy the scenery(!), the weather, beach, and the all-inclusiveness of the resort. From what I can tell, the resort, which had gotten some bad reviews, has had a complete makeover, and the photos of the "new" seem great! I booked a Jr. Suite, although going by myself, for the balcony and view.

I'm not sure a "review" of my trip would be appropriate on this board (although I DID post here...!), but I'll post when I get back, and perhaps you'd like me to email you my thoughts. I'll be gone 11-5 thru 11-12.

I had read negative reports about the Cancun trip, but only hope that the PV trip will prove to be fun. The more I read about PV, the more entertaining it seems it will be. I'm planning on breaking out of the resort to do the los Veranos zipline, too!

Have a good weekend! ;)
Paul

[ZIPPER]

Paul:

I thought the resort was really nice even before the upgrade. It has two huge pools complete with coves, islands, bridges ect. There is actually an island in the middle of the main pool where everybody hangs out and even has impromptu t-dances. It may have changed, but there was an open air restaurant by the sea where I had a wonderful seafood lunch everyday. It even included things like scallop soup and escargot. The beach is wonderful and the resort opens right onto it, and there is even a small but fairly upscale shopping center right across the street with two internet cafes. Definitely, do the zip cables. Feel free to e-mail me, I'd be interested to hear your impressions.

Deep down inside I'm very much looking for an excuse to go back to PV and possibly the Alaska cruise. I have some ambivalent feelings about Atlantis, in regard to things like the caribbean cruises, but I don't know how you can help but have a good time in PV between a great resort, a west coast crowd, a really cool town. All Atlantis events are unique, and it mostly depends on the participants themselves!

Have fun,

[crystal808]

Hi Zipper:

Here's the website for the resort:
http://www.palaceresorts.com

Go to the "Resorts" tab at the top, and pick Vallarta Palace.... Looks like the renovated photos, and looks awfully nice to me! It'll probably be even nicer with a few (hundred) guys around (!) ;)

Would you expect Atlantis to release some kind of events schedule beforehand? I really don't know what to expect from them as it's my first dealing with them. I'd like to try to "pre-plan" a few excursions before I leave!

Thanks for all of your input!
Paul :D