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Luxury Condo #1604
FAQ’s
Luxury Condo #1604 - Property Description & FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions)
BVG Porto Fino is located on the Northern side of the famed Cancun Hotel Zone at kilometer 9.5. The resort is comprised of 2 towers, each are 20 stories high. Luxury Condo #1604 is located in Tower 5000 on the 16th Floor.
Luxury Condo #1604 is among the finest condos you will find in BVG Porto Fino or anywhere else in Cancun. This special space is located in building 5 MIL. Note there is a substantial difference in the two towers. The difference is that building 5 MIL is situated substantially closer to the ocean than the other tower. How substantially? The full width of the building closer. If you are in a corner unit, the impact of the difference is just huge. Is your corner view of a building, or of the Caribbean? Sure, you have the Caribbean straight away in either case. But what the pictures of these other units don’t show you is looking off the corner, they only show you straight East views and for good reason. Don’t be disappointed, get the end unit here, #1604 and get the best views BVG Porto Fino has to offer.
This gorgeous luxury condo is different than almost all the other large 5 bedroom condos at BVG Porto Fino. That’s because the floor plans in these units separate the kitchen from the rest of the condo. We altered this by removing the walls that separate the kitchen. We replaced the wall with a beautiful marble kitchen bar and flat screen TV. The result is a vast openness. The space feels so much larger. And to be certain, why not have the outstanding view from the nice kitchen as well as everywhere else?!
This amazing luxury condo runs from the front of the building all the way to the back. The views and vast space here are fantastic. If you want to be able to walk to restaurants, shopping, & the famed Cancun night clubs, this is where you want to be.
For those who don’t know, Cancun (the hotel zone) is a narrow strip of land that is surrounded by water. The Caribbean is on one side, the fresh water bay is on the other. This “strip of land” is known as the Cancun Hotel Zone. You can enter this zone from either the North or South side. Most of this zone runs about parallel to the mainland (about 6 miles). Almost all visitors enter the zone from the South as they come in from the airport.
Another really nice feature of BVG Porto Fino is that the resort pool is elevated. What this means to you is while relaxing poolside, your view of the Caribbean and looking up the coastline is greatly enhanced. This is further enhanced by the proximity of the pool to the water of the Caribbean. The pool is infinity styling. It’s great for small children. To get in the pool, just walk down the gentle ramp. And you can lounge in the water in the specially designed water lounge portion of the pool. The pictures in the #1604 photo gallery show this feature well. The private resort beach is just beautiful. There are beach loungers and umbrellas provided out on the private beach here for your enjoyment. The quality level of the outdoor furnishings and the resort in general can best be seen by the photos. This is an upper end complex and I believe you get a real feel for this by the photo gallery for BVG Porto Fino.
Luxury Condo #1604 -
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you smoke in the condo? No. However, smoking is permitted outside on the terrace.
Are Linens provided? Yes, towels and linens are provided.
Is there a washer and dryer? Yes.
Is there an iron and ironing board? Yes
Are there hair dryers? Yes, one in each bathroom.
Do we need a converter for the electrical plugs? No.
With so many beds and more space, why does this condo sleep the same or less than the other 4 bedroom condos on this web-site? Because the association at BVG Porto Fino has a rule about how many people are allowed to occupy a condo.
The maximum number of adults is 10. They strictly enforce this rule at the front gate.
Do they ever allow more than 10 people? The only exception they are allowing now is if the 11th person is a baby.
Are there safes for valuables? Yes.
Are beach towels provided? No. If you want to purchase beach towels the most reasonable option is the Super Walmart.
Is daily maid service included? No. In the vacation rental business, you can expect a clean, laundered unit upon your arrival.
Can we get additional cleaning days? Yes.
* Standard Service is $50: General cleaning & making up the beds.
* Premium Service is $85: Same as above plus newly laundered linens are put on when the beds are made up.
How do we request the additional cleaning? You book it. To do so, hover over the “Main Menu” located at the top of the page. Click on “Tim’s Picks & Tips” then click on “Proceed to Bookings System for In House Special Services”.
How do we pay for the cleaning? Please pay the service provider directly in cash.
How do we request the additional cleaning? You book it. To do so, click on “Tim’s Picks & Tips” then click on “Proceed to Bookings System for In House Special Services”.
What size beds are in the bedrooms? King in the two bedrooms facing the Caribbean.
2 queen beds in each of the two bedrooms facing the bay. A full size bed in the 5th bedroom. (Couch converts to a double - it is comfortable, high density foam, not the spring loaded type. I’ve found the spring loaded type of sleepers to typically be hard on the back to put it mildly)
Which bedrooms have their own bathroom? All 5 bedrooms have their own bathroom with shower. Note: one of these bathrooms doubles as the powder room for the condo.
Does the 5th bedroom have a view? No
Is the 5th bedroom small? Yes, it’s very small, more like a walk in closet, it’s 6ft x 10 ft. The bathroom is small too. In Mexico when they build these larger units, almost without exception a maids quarters is part of the floor plan. That’s what this room and bathroom is.
Is there still a TV? Yes.
I heard with satellite you can only have up to 4 TV’s using different channels. Is this true?...I see there are 7 TV’s in the condo. The statement is true, yes. However #1604 has 2 satellite dishes serving the 7 TV’s so all can get different channels.
Is there any extra bedding? There is generally no need for additional bedding in #1604. But if needed, a an additional queen air bed can be provided upon request.
Are linens provided for the extra bed? Yes, linens are provided for all beds.
Do you have anything for babies to sleep in? Yes, we have a retractable crib called a Pack’nplay. This is basically a padded play-pen and works well for infants or young children to sleep in.
Is there inter-net access from the condo? Yes, wireless inter-net.
Is there a charge for this? No, it is complimentary for our guests.
Can we drink water from the tap? Not recommended. Right out in front of the resort is an Oxxo. These stores are like the 7/11 convenience stores in the states.
Can we make calls from the condo? Yes.
How much do they cost? Local calls in Mexico are free.
Do you recommend renting a car? No. Buses run 24/7 right outside the resort and the wait is never more than 5 minutes. You can go anywhere in the hotel zone for just .65 cents per person.
What if we want to rent a car anyway, is there parking? Yes, there are 2 covered parking spaces designated for #1604.
Do you offer airport transfers? No.
Do you recommend a transfer company from the airport. Yes www.cancun-transfers.net
Are they the best price you have found, and are they reliable. Yes on both.
About what does it cost? About $70 round trip for up to 10 people as of this writing. If less than 8, it’s a little less. If more than 10 another vehicle is required so the price goes up quite a bit for 11 or more.
Can we book online with the transfer company? Yes
I read somewhere we get some sort of special password for the transfer company site after we book the condo, what’s that about? When you enter the password, the pricing becomes a little better for you. I negotiated the best deal I could for our guests. The password also allows you access to the option for the Walmart run.
We were thinking of doing the snorkeling tour with Mike, and maybe the in home cook. How do we book these services?
Hover over the “Main Menu” located at the top of the page. Click on “Tim’s Picks & Tips” then click on “Proceed to Bookings System for In House Special Services”.
Where do I find these “In Home Special Services?”
Hover over the “Main Menu” located at the top of the page. Click on “Tim’s Picks & Tips” then click on “In House Special Services”.
Do we have to know which days exactly we want the services to book them? Yes. It’s too difficult to keep a schedule on our end otherwise.
When is the latest we can book the In House Special Services? 2 weeks prior to arrival.
What happens if we don’t book on time? I may not be able to get you scheduled. It’s best to book far in advance of the deadline. The reason is the services are first come, first serve. The longer you wait, the less your chances are of getting the service you want, or the date you want the service. This is particularly true at the busier times of the year.
Do we receive some sort of confirmation in this regard? You’ll receive an acknowledgment via email within a few minutes. Then the next business day you will receive your services-confirmation assuming your booking didn’t create a scheduling conflict with what we already have on the books. Either way, you’ll here from me, Tim Miller, via email the next business day.
Do we pay you for these services? No, I don’t take payment for anything other than the condo rental. The “In House Special Services” services are paid directly to my manager, or the service provider. My manager will let you know. Please know that payments for the In House Special Services are cash only. The only exception to this is if you opt to book the Walmart grocery run AND you opt to do so with the transfer company.
Can we book the In House Special Services over the phone? Sorry, no. There are a couple of reasons. One is that no payment is required to book, so for those who are hesitant to book online for security reasons this is not an issue. Second, when you submit the online form, the information is automatically emailed to my managers in Cancun which saves time. Please remember that these services are provided for guests at cost (no mark up). Therefore keeping the system as efficient as possible is important.
What if we need to change or cancel an In House Special Service, can we do that?
Yes. There is a cost of $1 to make a change or to cancel a service-reservation. To change, add to, or cancel an existing service-reservation please fill out the online form. The link is just to the right of the link for booking the services. If the only change you are making is to add another service or another date or time to an existing service, you don’t have to pay the $1.
Does canceling a service reservation cost anything? Yes, it costs $1.
Can we book our condo rental online? Yes, on any page on the site, upper right click on “Book Online”.
Can we call if we prefer? Yes, you can call me, Tim Miller, directly at 847-636-2232
Do you have a preference on phoning in or booking online? If it makes no difference to you, yes, I prefer the online method, it saves some time on my end.
Is the online method secure? Yes, all info uses high grade encryption. Plus the credit card portion of the info never travels over the web. It’s contained in a secure server.
If we decide to rent a car is there parking? Yes
Is there a charge to park? No
Do you recommend a rental car company? Yes, www.e-zrentacar.com/Locations/Cancun-Airport/
Why to you recommend this rental car company? This is the company I have been using for some time now. It will save you money to not rent from a company that is directly at the airport. These companies pay high rent, and many additional airport taxes. When you rent from the “off airport” companies like this one, as soon as you exit the airport they will be holding a sign up with your name on it. When you take the shuttle over, it’s 5 minutes round trip out of the way. Well worth the savings.
First time to Cancun?
A point of interest after you clear customs in Cancun: There is the one point in time during your stay in Cancun where you could get frustrated. This is the time right after you have cleared customs and you are on your way out of the airport to get to your transfer or rental car. I will also address how to easily avoid this frustration. The frustration is that in all likelihood you will be approached by a few vendors acting as if they are your transfer company. They may ask for your name and act as if they are your transfer company and tell you to follow them. The solution to this is very simple. I can assure you, no one ever approaches me anymore, even when I’m there with all the family. And it can easily be the same way for you, even if it’s your first time to Cancun. All you need to know are 3 simple steps:
Step #1: Know where you are going: After clearing customs, (where they scan your bags on the Cancun side at the airport) you will walk directly through a long set of glass doors and turn to the right. Doesn’t matter what terminal, all are set up the same way. You might notice others before you, all will turn to the right after going through the glass doors because there is only one way to go. Once you start walking, the outside of the airport is maybe 100 yards, or about a football field away. There are no turns along the way, it’s a straight walk and out you go. After you exit to the outside of the airport keep walking straight for another 30 feet or so. Then stop and look up for your name. The transfer company you booked is the only one that will be holding your name up. Airport security keeps the vendors at a distance, so there is plenty of room after you get outside the airport to look around. Then just go to your name and you are good to go. If you are renting a car: At the airport, on your left as you walk down the hall. Off site: same plan as if you are taking a transfer.
Step #2: Get situated: Before you head out from customs, get all your bags in order and in a position to move them easily. You don’t want to be fumbling around with your luggage along the way. This makes you look like an amateur traveler and that’s what these high pressure people are looking for.
Step #3: Walk with a purpose: When you head out from customs walk as if you are in a hurry and you are there for a purpose, and like you have been there 100 times before. The vendors know us types, they don’t stand a chance and they know it. They don’t even bother. Even if you can’t walk quickly, for whatever the reason may be; babies, young children or elderly parents, simply being organized and purposeful will do the trick. They will key into this and leave you alone.
I spent some time on the above because I’m sure I take this for granted. A guest recently returned telling me about his stay. His email to me was terrific, among the most detailed I have ever received before. One of his suggestions was to provide a level of expectation after getting through customs at the airport.
Message to all our guests: I think the above information for “first timers” to Cancun above is a good example of how one person making the time to email me after their return can be of benefit to others. I’m hopeful that if you decide to stay at one of the properties on the site, you too will take a little time to offer your commentary and suggestions. Nearly all improvements to the site, and improvements to the way we operate in general on the Cancun side, have been the result of valued guest feedback. I offer a heart felt Thank You to all who have contributed.
Tim
THE RESORT:
Does this resort have its own restaurants? Nothing where you can sit down indoors no. However, what is called their snack bar is actually a pretty nice menu of tasty Mexican food options. Drinks are also served. The food and drinks are available down by the pool. They will serve you while relaxing poolside or down by the beach. The service is offered daily from 10am-6pm, closer to 5pm in less busier times of year. If you talk to one of the servers, you can also arrange to call down and have food taken up to your room. Basically the equivalent of room service during the time frame noted.
What types of drinks will they make? Anything you want, frozen drinks, beer and everything in between.
How are the prices? They’re actually pretty decent, especially for Cancun. Depends on the drink or what food item you order, but the prices are reasonable.
Does the condo have English speaking channels on the TV’s? Yes. The TV’s are hooked up to a satellite. There are over Many channels are in English.
Is the kitchen a full kitchen? Yes, there is a full size fridge, a cook top, microwave, pots, pans, dishware, silverware, utensils, etc.
Is there a DVD player? Yes, one in the living room, and one in each bedroom.
Is there a stereo? Yes, there’s a nice stereo in the living room.
Does the stereo have an I-Pod or MP3 dock? No. However 4 of the bedrooms have smaller stereos with I-Pod docks.
RESORT INFO:
BVG Porto Fino offers food and drink service by the pool from 10am-6pm daily. They offer a short menu from the grill such as burgers and there is a nice assortment of snacks. Both soda and alcoholic drinks are available. The prices are also quite reasonable.
Does the resort have a pool? Yes.
Where is the resort located? Blvd. Kukulcan kilometer 9.5 Zona Hotelera, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, 77500
How far is the resort from the airport? About 30 minutes.
Does the resort have a private beach? Yes.
Does the resort have a jacuzzi? Yes. One by the pool, one in the spa.
Is there a convenience store? No, however there is an Oxxo (like a 7/11) right out in front of the resort.
Is there a tennis court? Yes.
Is there a spa? Yes, offering massage services. There is also a nice jacuzzi there in the spa.
Is there a gym? Yes.
Are there beach chairs out on the beach? Yes, loungers.
Are there umbrellas out on the beach? Yes.
OTHER INFO:
To make a reservation, do we need to sign any contract or lease agreement? No. You can book online
on this site by going to the “Book Online” tab to the far upper right on any page on this site. This page will go over provide information for your review and give you the option to bring up the online system to book.
How do we get the keys? Mike is my manager in Cancun for Luxury Condo #1604. Mike will make every effort to be there upon your arrival to greet you and show you around the condo. If he cannot be there for any reason, the keys are in a lock box affixed right next to the front door of the condo. The code is provided for you on the final e-confirmation/receipt.
What is your cancellation policy?
For details on this topic please see the Cancellation Policy page (in the Main Menu drop down).
Another question I’ve been asked so I’m adding it here...how old are the pictures you show? A few were taken in October of 2008 after the doing the renovation and decor. Some were taken in 2009, quite a few more are from 2010 and 2011.bout ½ of the pictures of #1604 were taken in either 2010 or 2011. The rest were taken in 2009.
Warm regards and thanks for reading up on the details.
Tim Miller