Acapulco Timeshare Terrorism Warning

Bienviendos. Welcome to Acapulco. It's a quaint, tourist Mecca on Acapulco Bay (southwest Mexico - Guerrero Province - Figure 1). My wife and I arrived on a Saturday (just before local noon) and were greeted by what appeared to be a representative of the local tourism office (Figure 2). We can only say in loud, bold-faced font - BEWARE!!!

Raul, who greeted us, was a nice enough guy; but he was on the payroll of the Mayan Palace (Figure 3) timeshare marketing company. And while he did help us with some basic information, his job was get us to the Mayan Palace for a timeshare sales pitch. We knew where this was going, but he offered us a really good deal for around $100 (round trip airport transit, a city tour for two, 2 tickets to the cliff divers dinner and show, a free breakfast and a day to relax at the Mayan). Since we had been to timeshare sales presentations before, we knew how to say "NO!" Or at least we thought we did!

But this one was the worst sales program yet and we felt that anyone traveling to Acapulco (or other locations in Mexico and elsewhere) where such misleading greeters ply their trade, needed to be forewarned. As the subtitle above notes, "It's not really terrorism, but it's close!"

First, let me note that everything they promised us was given to us, but not before the 90-minute sales pitch turned into almost 3 hours of intense interrogation. We were subjected to five, yes five, people who refused to take NO for an answer. Finally, when salesperson number 4 came along, my wife broke out into laughter. She stood up, roaring uncontrollably. When salesperson number 5 arrived, we lost it. She was obnoxious and nasty. There was not a pleasant bone in her body. I pity her spouse, if she even has one.

And each of the salespersons had a slightly different pitch, a slightly better offer or a slightly better bonus for us. But the latter three then started to put down the initial duo, telling us that buying from them would have been a mistake. That I didn't get.

I just remember looking at all the people in the timeshare sales room (each at their own table with their own terrorist captor). It was not better in the exit room, where final sales pitches were being made under threat of...

I recall leaning over to my wife during the course of our captivity and asking her if this was better or worse than water boarding. Maybe this is how the CIA should break down terror subjects - a three to five hour timeshare pitch!

What was especially troublesome was that if they just sold the facility for what it was and made a "reasonable" offer, I suspect more people would have bought. After all, the place had a large one-kilometer long pool, a mini-water park, restaurants, bars, game rooms, special deals for kids and even a mini-railroad to transit you around the "theme park." There was even an expansive beach area with outdoor showers. The rooms were glorious and had large lanais (covered balconies), Jacuzzi-style bathtubs, full kitchens, large-screen TVs and much more. Even usage aspects were quite positive and cost far less than comparable type rooms at major resorts. Again, even within their timeshare system (they don't do actual exchanges), usage was basically global and seemed to be more expansive in terms of timing and location than what we are used to in the RCI timeshare program. The most negative aspect of the resort was its location. It was close to the airport (that was good), but far removed from the real Acapulco and much of the city nightlife.

After escaping, my wife and I had a chance to discuss our captivity with two other couples staying at the Mar Azul timeshare (Figure 4) in the main Acapulco tourist area. Kevin and Dixie (from Ohio) reported that they received a similar hard-sell, but with many different parameters. For example, we were offered a chance to move over to the Mayan for the week (at the Mayan's expense), if we bought. They were never offered that. Yet, another prospective client that they saw actually asked if she could move in for the week and the Mayan refused. She was ready to buy.

A second couple, Jack and Diane (from Canada) had been staying at the Mayan for 2 weeks (they own there) and specifically took a third week to move over to our area so they could experience Mexican (not resort) life.

Hmm...maybe they'd want to sell their timeshare weeks to the Ohio couple and to us?

One good thing came out of the timeshare sales pitch, however. It gave the six of us something common by which to develop at least vacation camaraderie. As a result, we had some interesting and informative conversations and more.

Jay Braun, another Associated Content contributor, reported a similar tale of terror during his stay in Williamsburg, Virginia. He was accosted outside a supermarket. Here in Acapulco, it's not only at the airport that there is danger, but also with certain taxi drivers who hang around the hotels and even vendors on the streets. As we learned, they receive great incentives (cash and medical insurance) when they bring in enough "victims."

Anyway, it was an adventure and certainly bordered on being held captive by terrorists. And we can only offer the advice that Kevin and Dixie shared with other family members (who were arriving a few days after they got into town), "RUN, don't walk, through the Acapulco Airport!"