Owners Corner

E-Blast Communication

Greetings from the Mexican Beverly Hills! We wish you were here…

We begin with something important – which is not to say that everything we write isn’t important to someone. Apparently, we weren’t clear on how often this eblast would be published. The board has approved publication every other month. This was mentioned in the first eblast just before Christmas but it must have slipped by some readers. So, unless the board decides differently, or if something worth mentioning sooner than two months from the last publication date happens, you’ll receive a copy of this on, or within a day or two of, the first Monday in the even numbered months. And, the really good news is that, even with sending it six times a year (or more), it costs less than three newsletters per year.

This month we have a lot of information for you covering a wide range of subjects: The upcoming election of Lindo Mar directors, rumors about the lawsuit against Casa Mirador, exploring the coast of Bahia de Banderas, and more.

Let’s get the rumor out of the way first: We have heard there is talk going around that Casa Mirador made Lindo Mar a $500,000 offer to settle the wall collapse damage claim and that Lindo Mar refused the offer. That is categorically not true. In the fall of 2008, Lindo Mar attended a settlement conference with one of Casa Mirador’s owners, their attorney, and their engineer. A tentative figure was agreed upon that was nowhere near $500,000. However, there were other terms that the parties were in the process of negotiating, and then Casa Mirador changed lawyers. We have not heard from them about settlement since the spring of 2009. Because there is an ongoing lawsuit against Casa Mirador, we can’t say more than that. Suffice it to say that Lindo Mar has always been open to a reasonable settlement with our neighbor, but none has been forthcoming.

As for the status of the lawsuit, it continues to wend its way through the system. We’re hoping there will be some kind of judgment in the near future.

What’s Happening at Lindo Mar

Recently, we hired an engineer to look at some wall damage found in one of the rooms. After consulting with another engineer, he concluded it was time to retrofit some of the support columns in the building. A survey will be done starting April 17th to determine how many columns will be involved. The work will be done in May and June and will include only the first and second floors. There will be some noise associated with both the survey and the repairs and we apologize for that in advance but it’s something that can’t be ignored. We must stress that there is no danger; it is simply something that needs to be done after all these years. The good news is that no special assessment will be required. We have the reserves necessary to pay for it.

We’re installing flat-screen LCD TVs in the one-bedroom units. To paraphrase a popular movie trailer promo, they will be coming soon to a two-bedroom unit near you! We hope you enjoy the improved quality of the picture and sound.

There is now a daily rate available for the rental of the wireless Internet broadband sticks. Ask the front desk for more information. We also upgraded the service available in the lobby, the pool area, and the restaurant. Most guests who need Internet access are happy with the enhanced service. However, if you need privacy – for a VOIP telephone call, for example – ask the front desk for a broadband stick. You can use it anywhere, including your room. And no password is needed.

Correction: In the last eblast we said that the WiFi in the lobby and concierge area, and the pool and restaurant were “complimentary.” Of course that’s not true and we apologize.

Anyone up for a long walk to nowhere? We just replaced the treadmill in the Fitness Center and it’s working great. All aboard! OK, not all. But for one at a time, it’s a good way to walk it off. Whatever “it” might be.

La Playita

Pasta night is still one of the most popular nights at La Playita, our wonderful in-house restaurant. It’s on Tuesdays and the food is delightful. These guys know what they’re doing when comes to Italian. And you definitely won’t go away hungry.

Speaking of not going away hungry, be sure your vacation at Lindo Mar includes at least one breakfast buffet on Saturday or Sunday. If you’ve tried it on a Sunday and found it too crowded, go on Saturday. It’s just as good and a lot less crowded. If you simply must go on Sunday, get there before 10:00 am or after 12:30 pm. A new feature is made-while-you-wait waffles and hot cakes. And of course we still have those delicious omelets made-to-order just the way you like ‘em.

Recent Rules Change

It seems as though one of the most popular activities at Lindo Mar has been reserving a lounge by the pool or on the beach under a palapa by putting a book or a towel on it and not returning for several hours. The rules have always stressed being considerate of your fellow guests by not doing that, but they weren’t very specific. Previously, the rules asked for cooperation in this but last year the board adopted a harder line on it. Here’s the new rule showing the change: Because of the limited space and availability of chairs and lounges, ~~please do not attempt to~~ you may not reserve them by putting your towel or other items on them. Any items left on pool furniture for an extended period will be picked up by staff and held for you to reclaim.

Please be aware that security has been instructed to collect any personal items that do not obviously belong to someone using the pool or beach areas. We apologize for the way that sounds but it really did become something of a problem.

Oh yeah, almost forgot; the spa in front of unit 104 is for the private use of the residents of that unit, and the furniture on the patios of units 101, 102, 103, and 104 is for the exclusive use of the occupants of those units and must not be removed for use by guests not staying in those units.

Now to happier stuff…

Lindo Mar Awards

Lindo Mar has received RCI’s Gold Crown and Excellence in Service awards again.

We also have been named one of Interval International’s Select Resorts. This distinction identifies Lindo Mar as exceeding the already high I.I. affiliation standards and delivering great vacation experiences. The criteria for award of this designation take into account resort inspections, customer feedback, and many other relevant factors.

Congratulations to everyone at the resort for all they do that contributes to continuing to receive these awards.

Private Use of the 104 Spa gets “Privater”

OK, maybe that should be more private. Anyway, the maintenance crew at Lindo Mar has installed canvas in the fence by the unit 104 spa to afford more privacy for our guests, both in the spa and in the restaurant. We won’t explain why the second part of that is important; use your imagination.

Here's what it looks like:

Want to Buy or Sell?

If you’re looking for another week to own at Lindo Mar or you want to sell the one you have, stop into our Member Services Office in the lower lobby. Javier Quezada is in the office to the right of the concierge desk. He won’t try to “power sell” you; he’ll just tell you how it is and do everything he can to help you accomplish your goal, whether buying or selling. As he put it in one of our newsletters last year, “Drop by my office to find out about exiting inventory, resales, or just to say hello.”

Touring the Bay

If you really want to get the feel of Puerto Vallarta in the past, go to Boca de Tomatlan. It’s the last beach heading south that is easy to get to by car or bus. Spend the day sunning on the beach, snorkeling in the clear waters, or hiking the trails. You can even hike all the way to Los Animas if you’re up to it. If you would rather relax while touring, you can arrange a boat trip to Yelapa, Los Animas, or Quimixto by talking to Maria Elena at Lindo Mar’s concierge desk.

Let Maria Elena book you to Yelapa. It’s only accessible by boat but arrival there presents the opportunity to explore spectacular waterfalls, splash in the many swimming holes, pick up a souvenir at a beachside shop or from a vendor, and even spend the night, if you’re so inclined. Don’t forget to buy a piece of pie from one of the ladies on the beach.

Another great tour you can get from Maria Elena will take you to Los Animas where you’ll have dinner and enjoy The Rhythms of the Night, a professionally produced and performed stage show that describes Mexican history. It is reminiscent of Cirque de Soleil and is very well done.

Amending Lindo Mar’s governing documents

The board agreed to include amendment of the declaration and the bylaws in the upcoming election. It’s their second attempt in two years to improve and update those documents to make them more workable and incorporate some important changes that have occurred. The election materials and your ballot will be mailed on Friday, April 13, 2012. The polls will be open until Friday, May 25th. However, even though you have several weeks to vote, please don’t put it off. The measures require approval by 75% of all eligible owners, whether or not they actually vote, not just three-quarters of those who do vote. That it’s a difficult goal at best was proven by last year’s vote falling short of the required percentage. Don’t let that happen again this year – read the material as soon as you get it and mail your ballot the same day.

Reserving Your Week

There’s been a lot of confusion recently about making reservations at Lindo Mar. We’ll take this opportunity to try explaining it and hope we don’t confuse things even more. Here goes:

For many years, it pretty much didn’t matter when you called for a reservation – eight months ahead, six months ahead, and even less sometimes – because the space was almost always available. But, as more weeks were sold, and late callers learned they had a better chance of getting what they wanted by calling earlier, there was more pressure for the “best” weeks when the reservation window opened. Here’s what the relevant portion of Lindo Mar’s Rules and Regulations says, “On a space available basis, and if your Club account is in good standing, you may request a reservation that starts no more than eleven (11) months before the first day of the Use Period desired.” Now, here’s the critical part – it says eleven months before the day you want your vacation to start. That means to the date of the first day, not eleven months before the first day of the desired week, except when that date is a Sunday or a holiday. It makes a big difference.

As everyone got smarter about making reservations, it got ever more important to reserve your week as far ahead as allowed by the rules, i.e., eleven months before the date you want to check-in. For example, if you want to check-in on Saturday, July 20, 2013, call us on Monday, August 20, 2012. But keep this in mind: You are always subject to “the luck of the draw.” That is, calls are answered in the order received.

For a schedule of check-in dates for 2013 and 2014 and their corresponding reservation call-in days, click here. We don’t guarantee having this information will get you what you want, but we hope it will help.

And, speaking of reservations, an owner wrote in asking if it was possible to specify on the confirmation the room they would be occupying at Lindo Mar. Management tells us room numbers were noted on confirmations in the past, but it proved to be a problem when units needed maintenance or other factors forced on-site staff to reassign a room. For a long time now, confirmations have specified a room type only. This allows the on-site staff – who clearly have the best knowledge of available rooms – to assign occupancy to best suit the needs of the operation while still honoring special room requests when possible.

We’ve been told that when a specific room assignment is desired, the owner only needs to tell the reservationist and a note will be put in the record. To the extent it is possible for that room to be used by the person who asked for it, the request will be granted.

Do You Have a Favorite Smartphone App or Website?

Send us the name of a Smartphone application you really like and want to share with your fellow owners. And, if you have a website you use a lot that you think others would enjoy, send that to us also. To prime the pump, so to speak, here are some we’ve enjoyed. These may or may not be available for both Android and iPhones:

Apps:
Shazam listens to music, identifies it, and tells you where you can buy it and a lot more
Gesture Search lets you use a swipe of your finger to find contacts, bookmarks, applications, music, etc.
Mouse Wait tells you how long you must wait for rides at Disneyland and a lot more. There’s one for Disney World, too.
TuneIn Radio lets you tune in radio stations – good thing since it has that name, right? Seriously, it lets you listen to thousands of radio stations anywhere you have access to WiFi.
Jewellust is a variation on Bejeweled and other games with “Jewel” in their name. Very addictive.

Websites:
Crackberry for anyone with a Blackberry.
Amazon Appstore lets you download one paid application each day for free.
TripAdvisor has information on hotels, restaurants, etc. around the world. FYI – They rank them, too, and they currently have Lindo Mar at #6 of 114 resorts in Puerto Vallarta.
Snopes lets you learn the truth about those weird emails you get from your friends.
World Factbook has information on just about every country in the world. The site is run by the CIA; who would know more about countries than them?

Send your contribution to darrylh@tradingplaces.com and we’ll put it in a future eblast…as long as it’s decent, of course.

That’s it for now. Our next scheduled issue is set for June 4, 2012. We’ll have the preliminary election result at that time.

Nos vemos pronto en Lindo Mar.

Previous Messages

February 2012

Well, it’s another gorgeous day on the Mexican Riviera. That’s actually pretty safe to say any time of the year at Lindo Mar, but right now it’s guaranteed. Most things are going well at Lindo Mar; the only exception is we recently had a day without hot water at the resort (fixed quickly, as usual). And, currently, the big deal is the road resurfacing outside our front door.

Road Improvement
As we told you last month, the government is resurfacing the southbound highway which runs right in front of Lindo Mar. They are currently working in front of Lindo Mar but we think they’re almost done. To cause the least disturbance to our guests, we asked them to only block half of the parking lot at a time. For some reason, they skipped a large section of the highway north of us clear down to our area. When you’re traveling on this highway by car, bus, or taxi during the next several months, you should expect this project to be a traffic problem. They plan to go all the way to Mismaloya. FYI – part of the project is to make a sidewalk two meters wide that goes all the way into town.

Trip Advisor
Just wanted to let you know that we are no longer the 11th highest rated resort among 114 in Puerto Vallarta, we are now in the Top Ten! You should check out this web site regularly since our ranking changes based on guest comments. Take a look and be proud! Click here.

Industry Awards
Here’s why people like Lindo Mar so much. We’ve been notified that we’re getting RCI’s Gold Crown designation for 2011-2012, and their Excellence in Service award. We’ll have pictures and more information soon. These awards are in recognition of the Lindo Mar staff’s commitment and dedication to creating a vacation experience that is, in RCI’s words, “unique and exceptional.” Lindo Mar has received the Gold Crown designation every year since 2003.

For the Gold Crown Award, RCI uses the guest comments in five categories: Check-in/out, Resort Hospitality, Resort Maintenance, Unit Maintenance, and Unit Housekeeping. Each category is rated by the exchange guest on a scale of 1 through 5, with 5 being best. The minimum requirement for the Gold Crown Award and the scores achieved by Lindo Mar (in red) are, in order: 4.3 – 4.7, 4.4 – 4.8, 4.2 – 4.6, 4.0 – 4.3, and 4.3 – 4.6. By comparison to other resorts in Latin America, their averages (again, in order) are: 4.3, 4.4, 4.3, 4.2, and 4.3.

Internet Update
The broadband “sticks” we’ve been renting out at the front desk seem to be popular but there are still a lot of guests who are satisfied with the service in the lobby, around the pool, and in the restaurant. But if you need a lot of bandwidth, check out the sticks. Another advantage of the broadband sticks is that, because they are providing a direct connection through the telephone company, no password is required.

Also, there seems to be some misunderstanding about the service we’ve been offering all along. The antennas you used to see attached to palm trees by the pool were not operational. They were left by a previous vendor and we didn’t take them down in the hope that someday they would be of use. Because they misled some guests into thinking they were part of the Internet access system and were not, they’ve been removed. If you have any questions about Internet access, please don’t hesitate to ask Franklin at the front desk or our manager Roberto.

Super Bowl
What an exciting game! Or, at least the fourth quarter. Whether you are a fan of the Patriots or the Giants, there was a lot to cheer for. And, unfortunately, a lot to jeer at. But, that’s the way of the game. Those who watched the game in La Playita restaurant, all had good seats and good food and a good time was had by all.

FYI – If there is a special event you think would be of interest to everyone (Super Bowl, World Series, soccer – ‘scuse me, futbol – match, etc.) let Jesus or Roberto know and, if there’s enough interest, the TVs will be set up in the bar. For sure, the Olympics will be shown this summer.

Improvements
Just a few of the things happening at the resort:

New TVs in some rooms; there’s an ongoing plan to replace all old style sets with LED flat screens
Toilets are being replaced with those that have water-saving tanks, and slightly higher seats
On-going projects include mattress replacement, light sensitive lighting in the corridors, emergency lamps on every floor, in the restaurant, and at the front desk
Replacement of termite-infested wood beams and doors
Extension phones in bedrooms
Updating of the décor in the restaurant and other areas
New kitchen equipment; ranges, refrigerators, microwaves
Shower and tub curtains were replaced
Décor pillows are being repaired or replaced, as needed
Replacement or painting of tiles, as appropriate
New flooring in the elevator
A new treadmill in the gym
A new heater for the spa by the pool
The beach palapas have been replaced
Several lounge chairs by the pool have been replaced
The wrought iron was painted throughout the resort

Some Random Statistics

Total light bulbs installed – 1,250
Length of wood beams replaced in 706, 901, and 902 – 120 meters
Length of wood beams replaced in La Playita – 60 meters
Daily water consumption – 35,000 liters
Wrought iron on windows and balconies – 540 meters
Water storage capacity – 90,000 liters
Pool capacity – 60,000 liters
Palm trees – 16
Ceiling fans – 130
Capacity of five Jacuzzis – 20,000 liters
Beds – 67
Air conditioning – mini-splits 64, fan & coils 58
Tables and chairs in rooms – 46 and 194
Tables and chairs in La Playita – 40 and 168
Refrigerators – rooms, 46; restaurant, 9; staff kitchen, 2; storage room, 4
Employees – 70

Thank you staff members
Here’s an opportunity to thank the staff for their contribution to keeping costs down at Lindo Mar. In 2011, employees were asked to take extra days of unpaid time off and cut back their hours when possible. Altogether, they contributed more than $82,000 pesos in wages. Now that’s a sacrifice worth mentioning. Be sure you thank them when you have a chance.

On-site security
Some guests have wondered why we lock the resort gates at 11:00 p.m. both upstairs and downstairs. It’s for the security and safety of the guests. Occasionally, we get people who are not registered guests who try to get into the building, for whatever reason. The gates are locked to prevent just such access. Because the beach is public and it can be accessed from the adjacent properties or the road to the north of the restaurant, anyone could get into the building if the gates were not locked and monitored. We know it’s a bit of an inconvenience, but it’s the best way to protect our most precious asset, our owners and guests.

Taste of Vallarta
Here’s a way to savor your trip to Puerto Vallarta in your home kitchen – a recipe from a favorite Puerto Vallarta restaurant.

Fusilli Porto Bello

Ingredients:
24 oz. cooked fusilli
1 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic
2.8 oz. black olives
8 oz. artichoke
1 oz. sweet basil
1 med. lime
1 pinch salt
1 dash pepper
1 med. onion

Preparation:
Fry the garlic and onion until golden.
Add the sliced artichoke, salt, and pepper.
Add the fusilli, basil, and lime juice and sauté briefly before serving.

Serves four

Chef’s Tip:
The pasta should be al dente and can be seasoned with Parmesan cheese.

Whale Spotting Time
Probably there is nothing more to say about this than, click here.

We look forward to welcoming you back to Lindo Mar very soon!
Sincerely,
The Board and Management

Welcome to a new form of communication for Lindo Mar: the eblast! For a long time, the Lindo Mar board and management have wanted to improve communication with you, the owners. A lot of ideas have been kicked around: a Facebook page, an internet user group, a dedicated web site other than lindomarresort.com. If you can think it, the board and management have probably considered it. At their October 2011 meeting, the board decided on a bi-monthly email message to all Lindo Mar owners who have provided their electronic address. And this is it – the very first one.

We’re going to bring you news, general information, photos, etc. covering a myriad of subjects including resort operations, board business, legal updates, answers to questions, etc. So, let’s begin.

Internet Access in the Rooms
We continue to look for ways guests can access the Internet from their rooms. Currently, a WiFi connection is available in the lobby, by the pool, and in the restaurant. Because of the inconsistency of the signal in the lobby and the pool and restaurant areas, and because many guests prefer the privacy and comfort of their rooms for Internet access, we’ve been looking for a service provider that can improve the signal at the three current access points, and for a purveyor that can supply access in the rooms, either by wireless or by wired connection. So far, we have learned two things: 1) wireless will be the most difficult because of the construction and configuration of the building, and 2) wired connections will be equally as difficult for the same reasons. The questions that remain unanswered are exactly how much either method will cost and how to pay for it. The question of how to pay for it involves two aspects: How to pay for it initially, and how to pay the ongoing cost. We’ll keep you informed – please be patient.

Maintenance Fee Mistake
The cover letter with the 2012 maintenance fee billing mistakenly showed the $857 - $831 amounts as being for a 2-bed Deluxe unit. It should have said “3-bed Deluxe” as seen here in red.

Unit	MF	MF - 3%	Unit	MF	MF - 3%
1-bed	$521	$505	2-bed Penthouse	$911	$884
2-bed Standard	$651	$631	3-bed Deluxe	$857	$831
2-bed Deluxe	$691	$670	3-bed Penthouse	$990	$960
2-bed Loft	$911	$884

We apologize for any inconvenience or confusion.

Road Improvement
The government is working on the highway going out of town, which runs right in front of Lindo Mar. They are replacing the asphalt with concrete. Maybe replacing is the wrong word since they aren’t actually removing the asphalt; they are simply pouring the concrete over the top of it! Two problems are being created by the work. First, the traffic is backed up more than a mile for most of every day as you can see to the right, and second, pouring about 8 inches of concrete over the existing asphalt will make the Lindo Mar parking steeper than it is now. Almost forgot; they are also building a two-meter-wide walkway on the west side of the road all the way up to Basilio Badillo,which will take even more of our parking space. But, as we do with everything else, we’ll make it work for you.

Trip Advisor
No doubt many of you have heard of www.TripAdvisor.com, a web site that features destinations all around the world and includes comments from people who have stayed there. If you really want to feel good about Lindo Mar, click on the link above and search for “Lindo Mar” to see what others are saying. You’ll be glad you did.

Also, Trip Advisor has begun a rating service based on their 1 through 5 system of comments. Lindo Mar is ranked 11th out of 114 Puerto Vallarta locations. We’re sure you’ll agree that Lindo Mar is equally as good as any of the ten PV resorts that are rated higher.

Buffet Brunch
The buffet brunch at La Playita continues to get rave reviews from Lindo Mar guests. Many think it’s the best thing about Lindo Mar. And now is the time of year when you get twice as much! The Saturday brunch has been restarted, as it is every year during high season. The price has been raised slightly, up to 145 pesos from 138 pesos, or about 5%. It is still the easiest, best, and tastiest way to support your resort. The profit from the brunch is used to offset possible maintenance fee increases. La Playita is one of the reasons the regular maintenance fee increase for 2012 was only 2.8%. As in any resort town, the mark of a good restaurant is its popularity with the locals and you’ll find that locals are a significant percentage of La Playita patrons. Even the governor of Jalisco has eaten there on several occasions, not to mention the owners of other PV restaurants.

Improvements
When she was at the resort the last time, board member Sandra Wicks noticed a lady having a bit of trouble coming up the stairs from the beach, and she (Sandra) suggested something be added to give people a hand-hold. Here is a picture of the part added as a result of Sandra’s suggestion, which includes a portion of the fence installed earlier this year..

We wish all of our owners a wonderful holiday season and a very Happy New Year. Be on the lookout for another board update in February, and we hope to see you back at Lindo Mar in 2012.

Sincerely,
The Board and Management