Marriott's

Continuing to blog alphabetically for the month of April for the A-Z challenge brings us to M and today, let's talk Marriott.  Or maybe you like to visit an M destination, Manzanilla for instints, I've blogged about it HERE.   I've counted 38 Marriott Time Shares in the Continental US, however there are over 50 in 31 countries to choose from.  That's alot of locations and variety in activities as well.  Some are beach locations, others geared to golf, while others are geared to more family oriented destinations with things like Disney at hand.  Example there are 7 Marriott Time Shares in Hilton Head South Carolina (where it all began), and 7 in the ever popular Orlando and Disney area.

You can stay at your home resort, you can trade your weeks through Interval International, you can convert your weeks to destination points to stay elsewhere beyond your home resort, and you can turn your weeks into Marriott Rewards Points.  Maybe you've purchased more recently and don't own "weeks" but own trust points.  You can use your trust points to book at any of the locations and or use them towards tours or cruises.  Lots to choose from.

But, that's only one side of Marriott.  You can enjoy the quality of Marriott's without purchasing time share weeks.  There are a variety of Marriott Hotels, Marriott, JW Marriott, Residents Inn, Springhills, Courtyards and Renaissance.  With that variety there's always one near at hand.  With that variety of brands you also have many chooses in prize, room styles and amenities.  Some are geared more to personal travel, some more business, while others are nice adult locations and others geared towards traveling families.  Remember to use your Marriott Charge Card to obtain the most bang for your buck.

Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations.

Villa Paraiso, Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico

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Villa Paraiso Manzanillo, LaPunta, Pennisula de Santiago CP 28860  ManZanilla, Colima, Mexico.  Villa Paraiso translates to House of Paradise.

As you make your entrance into this 12,000 ft. sq. house built into the hillside you are transformed by Nestor the manager and his awesome house staff.

Fun, friendly, professional and very accommodate they really pamper you during your stay.  Though this picture was taken later outback, kitchen and dining room through those doors...we were initially greeted with a tray of Martgueritas, and fresh warm towels to wipe up after the trip from the airport. 

Lunch was served after the house tour concluded and everyone selected their bedrooms, in the Palapa where we virtually lived through out the week.  The bar is to your left, one pool to your right, another pool up and to your right, and another pool further up.

From the main hall way, on the same level as this upper pool, looking down to bar, Palapa and infinite pool.  The edge of this upper pool you see is a waterfall with anther pool just beneath it...the level where you see the orange chairs.

This eating space is on the same level as the orange chairs and one of the pools.

Though we had breakfast and dinner inside at the dining room table, with lunch in the Palapa daily.

Can you see why we lived in the Palapa?  Bar behind us, infinite pool to the left.

Standing just outside the Palapa, you see lounge chairs and lower level pool, the red dot above is the upper level pool; while off on the right you see 4 of the 6 bedrooms.  This is an open air house, though you can close you bedroom door at night and turn on room air, if you feel you need it. (if you click the picture you'll be able to see the red numbers and dot)

Each room was decorated differently.  This blue room on the lower level and had a seating area to the left before the door that lead outside.

Each room had it's on bathroom and outside shower.

To your left was a floor to ceiling custom cabinet with shelving and drawers, in addition to all the space behind the mirrors.

Standing outside the 2 bedroom on the upper level  bedrooms (#1 and; 2 in the other picture) you can see the infinity pool, hammock and bar area.  The space beneath are the other 2 bedrooms.

Even the stair cases were beautiful.  With the house being built into the side of the hill, there's lots of up and down, so you do get some exercises between drinks.  lol

One of the many views.  This is taken outside the upper level bedrooms.

If you're looking for an affordable group vacation, do yourself a favor and contact Nestor, the manager at nestormanzillo@yahoo.com or visit their facebook page. 
Be sure and let them know Sandy sent you.


Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations.
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Not a typical day at The Beach, Manzanillo Mexico

Once again the order I wanted on the blog seems to be an issue. Apologies that they aren't in the nicest order. Two friends here, one still wearing a party hat. Not a typical day at the beach. Not for me anyway. A normal day at the beach might be a packed lunch/packed cooler and a couple of beach towels and or beach chairs. This is doing it up in style folks. One might ask who's crocked here, those in the photo's (see drinks in hands), or the photographer. lol
Our table area in the shade of a Palapa, table cloth, and real dishes in the foreground with the bar area further back. The staff prepares the area then transported us there for a wonderful day at the beach with fabulous food and drink.
Real silverware, cloth napkins; so much nicer than paper and plastic. And when you see the food they prepared for us....truly the real stuff is needed.
Villa Paraiso has access to this private beach. The day we were there, we were the only ones. The town of Manzanillo is off in the distance there. We're in the vicinity here of where the movie 10 was filmed. I'd show you a picture of me running the beach, looking like Bo Derek's look alike...except I'm taking the pictures you see. lol
The Shrimp, Chicken, and Beef Kabobs were fabulous.
An attempt to get all 9 of us in our party hats failed, but you can still see how festive everyone was in their special sombrero's.
Food view with chilled adult beverages.
In case you wonder how to show you're having a good time, use this photo as your guide. Here forward this picture will appear in Websters under the words Party Hats.
This is the bath house which was quite large and very nice. There were lots of tables inside, and facilities for concessions which I believe are open during the "in season". We were there just 1 week before the "in season".

Villa Paraiso, Manzanillo, Mexico

Welcome to Mexico. Sorry these pictures are out of order. I've loaded them twice, seem to be having some tech issues. Ernie and I here, relaxing after lunch on Day 1. Look at the food, tons of wonderful food. Yes, we are in our bathing suits. We lived in them for a week. Note to self, pack more suits and fewer clothes in the future. One can get very relaxed after several good margarita's.
A close up of some of the food for our typical lunch. Chips, Margarita's, Tortilla's and more not shown in this photo. No one left hungry.
Meet Joel, our bar tender. Actually Joel did many things there at the house, Villa Paraiso I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me back up. Day 1 began early, before daylight early -arriving at the airport. After making it to Houston we flew into ZLO (Manzanillo). The airport is about 35 miles north of the city of Manzanillo on highway 200. We were met by our guide/driver Antonio. He transported 7 of us to the Villa, where we met the staff. They were fabulous. They greeted us with a tray of waiting margarita's and nice warm cloth to towel off after our 2 flights and van drive. AWESOME beginning.
They gave us a tour of the house, we each selected our bedroom and quickly got into swim suits. We made our way outside to The Palapa (were we virtually lived for the duration of the week); refilled our glasses and were soon served our lunch. This was a nice touch, The Buckeye Dude by the bar. The house is owned by a fellow Ohioan, a Buckeye.
This pool view is awesome. You're looking out at The Sierra Madre Mtns, the Pacific Ocean; the bar is to your right should you need a refill.
Our first breathtaking sunset. This shot was standing behind the pool in the above photo.
The sun is almost dipping into the water here, or so it seems. The pools water in the foreground. Manzanillo is a busy port city in the state of Colima in Mexico. It's home to The Navy, and is The Sailfish Capital of the world.

Once the sunset we ventured indoors for dinner, but returned again after dinner to The Palapa to visit, and enjoy ourselves before calling it a night. The house is an open air home, some folks left their doors open to the outside, others used the a.c. at night only. The weather was fabulous.

Return for more fun and information, I've got a lot to share.