Taking Advantage
Of Your Concierge In Cancun by Justin Burch
Travelers often dismiss concierges
as meaningless middlemen. Yet, when vacationing in Cancun, your hotel concierge
can supply you a world of information and opportunity. These jacks-of-all-trades
can be found at most resorts and know Cancun as well as anyone. While some
concierges may have more valuable connections than others, any one of these
hotel professionals can provide invaluable tips for your stay. Best of
all, their assistance and advice are free of charge.
When in Cancun, you’ll obviously
be in search of unique recreation and entertainment opportunities. To access
the best this exotic destination has to offer, ask your concierge for assistance
setting up special activities for your vacation. Whether you want to go
scuba diving or snorkeling with Cancun’s premier dive masters, take a private
tour of ancient Mayan ruins or play a round at one of Cancun’s exclusive
golf resorts, your concierge is the best ticket to the finest attractions.
Keep in mind concierges are
paid to be the ultimate Cancun insiders. They attend museum exhibits, dine
at the finest restaurants and frequent the exclusive clubs, all for the
sake of telling you what's worth your time and money. Along the way, they
develop business relationships that offer hard-to-find tickets, reservations
and discounts. As a result, restaurants are more likely to accommodate
concierges from high-profile resorts for last-minute reservations or special
accommodations than the average tourist.
When asking about restaurants,
it pays to be specific. Suggest a location, view, price range or cuisine
to ensure your concierge knows exactly what you’re looking for. The same
goes for any request you make of your concierge in Cancun, anything from
shopping for the perfect gift to locating a doctor or babysitter. The more
information you provide the concierge, the more they will be able to help.
Your concierge can also serve
as a travel agent - confirming flights, changing seat assignments, securing
visas and boarding passes, even planning entire vacations. Concierges can
even act as personal assistants, running errands like delivering business
materials and picking up needed supplies.
Just as important as those
perks, a good concierge will serve as an instructor of local customs and
etiquette, letting you how to dress at the beach or the best way to experience
the nightlife. Your concierge will also be up to date on events and festivals
in Cancun and can suggest the best times to visit certain attractions.
Like every other travel detail,
the best travel tip regarding the concierge remains the ability to plan
and organize. To take full advantage of the possibilities outlined above,
your relationship with the hotel concierge should begin well before check–in.
Though many travelers aren’t aware of this fact, you can call the concierge
up to one month before you arrive to discuss any of the objectives for
your trip, be it business or pleasure. With such advance notice, your concierge
can make all of your arrangements and appointments and even grant you a
detailed hourly itinerary when you arrive. An advance call to the concierge
is also the best way to ensure a table at a popular restaurant or a ticket
to a sold-out event. While a concierge can often use his connections to
make a last-minute reservation, the more time you allow the better.
Calling in advance can also
qualify you for special pricing at your hotel. The concierge will know
about seasonal specials the resorts don’t advertise, in addition to discount
opportunities for dining and sightseeing.
As mentioned, concierge services
are free. However, introducing yourself and offering a $20 gratuity at
the beginning of your vacation is a good idea if you plan on making several
requests. As a general rule, a tip of $5 is acceptable for dinner or entertainment
reservations. A tip up to $100 might be in order if the concierge developed
your itinerary or exhibited truly exceptional service. Furthermore, when
you return to the resort, the concierge will certainly remember you and
be prepared to serve again..
About the Author
This article was written
by Justin Burch. Justin writes select pieces about travel
in Mexico for the JW Marriott Cancun Resort.
