Sea Garden Mazatlan

Vidafel, Sea Garden

by A TripAdvisor Member

With some apprehension after reading several very negative reports on this resort, we are pleased to report that we had a great time. Best food was at the Shrimp Bucket - take the bus all the way into town and it faces the ocean. Bus is cheap and runs every 15 min. and we used it daily. The Jungle Tour by King David tours was fantastic as was our guide Efrim. The beach vendors were persistant but polite. The City Tour gave us some bearings and we used that as our blueprint to travel about on our own with much fun, including the market in Old Mazatlan. Take the bus to the end, get off and walk to the scenic look-out spot for great pictures of the 2'nd tallest lighthouse in the world and watch the cliff divers. Weather in high 80's but cool enough for a sweater after 6 p.m. This resort is in the North and not near the strips of restaurants. We did not care for the quality or price of the food here but enjoyed eating someplace different every day. Beware of the time-share sharks. Arriving at the airport, we were met by a guide who told us he was there for RCI members/owners. After getting in the cab, we were told that this was a courtesy and we were asked to attend an introduction the following morning for 30 min. in appreciation. Take the cab, it cost 260 pesos, takes 30-40 min. to get to your hotel and forget the freebees. Don't believe it if they say you don't have to buy anything, they ask for deposits so that you will show up at the presentation and then they pay you back AFTER you go through the presentation and they just don't want to take NO for an answer. Enjoy the sun and surf and have fun.

Our week was too short at Sea Garden

by A TripAdvisor Member

We stayed with 2 adults and 3 teens March 20-27, 2004. We were happy with our suite on 3rd floor of a 5 story building with views of both the ocean and the gardens with pools. Our beds were comfortable; rooms were clean and fresh; staff were friendly and helpful. The grounds and pools are terrific. We enjoyed pool in the game room ($3/hr). The exercise room was expensive. The breakfast buffet was well done ($12).
The beach was incredible, with few people and stretched for miles. It was only $0.44 on the white bus and 5 min to the Golden Zone and about 20 minutes down town. We took the usual excursions and enjoyed them to Stone Island and Deer Island. My favorite day was at a private ranch about 3 miles from the hotel where we rode horses and toured the mango and cactus fields. We were invited by Luis who rents horses on the beach by Sea Garden many afternoons. Our disappointments: The Sea Garden Timeshare person became rude and insulting as soon as she realized were were not going to buy. We rented a car which broke down.

If you like excitement, stay away from Sea Garden!

by TripAdvisor Member Lance_L

We took our one year old to Mazatlan and stayed at the Sea Garden. This is a very boring place. All we ever wanted to do was go into town and see the fun places, so we spent a lot of time traveling back and forth on the bus. If all you want to do is sit on the beach and eat the same food every day, this is a fine place, although the prevailing wind in the winter is right onto the beach at Sea Garden and most days were too cold to sit on the beach. We also were stalked by the time share sharks, but I quickly told them to get lost and not talk to me again.
These people have to be dealt with firmly or they will not let up.
Also, beware of the bartender in the evenings(not a people person and has a terrible attitude). The food and drink at this resort is very expensive. The showers were absolutely terrible, hot and cold without touching the control. The room was decent, although we had a view of the parking lot and could hear the service people late at night rolling their carts below. We had already paid our room in full, yet still were so dissappointed that we moved out and went to Playa Mazatlan for the last five nights. If you want to see all that Mazatlan has to offer and have tons of choices of restaraunts and shopping, stay away from Sea Garden. If you want to stay in a mediocre "Resort", Sea Garden is your place.

Discover the Dream

by A TripAdvisor Member

Beware of vacation ownership presentation at Sea Garden (Mayan Palace Resort) in Mazatlan. After saying no to package they send you to another salesman for Discover the Dream Package. It is a big scam and you will be out thousands of dollars. We are. It is nothing they say it is. I will never stay at a Mayan Palace resort because of this. BEWARE!!!

We will NEVER Return

by A TripAdvisor Member

We stayed at Sea Garden from 3/7/04 until 3/14/04 having just arrived home last night. The reservation was made in November/03. This was the most disappointing vacation we have ever taken. This entire property is configured with every unit having only having one large bed. They showed us four different units and while they vary the childrens beds, there are no two-large-bed rooms. There are little nested corner units, Trundle Beds and tiny singles but NO Queen,King or Super Single Beds.
What made me furious is that just to get a unit with two undersized singles they wanted to charge us an additional $50.00 per night. This was also the hardest furniture I have ever slept on. The Management made the bed situation worse by acting like we were the odd balls and that they had never heard of four adults (my father,his wife,myself and my wife) wanting to share a unit. You would have the same problem however with tall teenagers. So be forewarned. Most of the staff was delightful but the Time-Share Sharks are beligerent and rude and everywhere. One last thought, everything we took has mildewed due to the damp rooms. So Sea Garden, Make some changes, But we won't be back.

Vidafel.....Happy Life!

by TripAdvisor Member GrandmaPat

If you're expecting American style grandeur and lavish amenities, Vidafel is not for you. (This is Mexico, after all.) If you want to go somewhere where you'll feel truly welcomed by the attentive, professional and friendly staff, and have a beautiful, relaxing vacation, give Vidafel (Sea Garden) a try. The ocean views from the main tower are picture postcard beautiful. Being twenty minutes north of The Golden Zone, we take the inexpensive bus when we want to shop, eat or visit with friends in town, and a pulmonia back. When settling in to sleep, the only sounds you hear are the calming ocean waves.
Expect to pay more for the on-site services....not unlike anywhere else you may go, you're paying for the convenience of not having to leave the hotel to stock your fridge, buy some suntan lotion or souvenirs, have a drink, or experience fine dining. The fiesta comes to Vidafel weekly, too. Just say no to the time-share salesmen (or the senorita that will call and invite you to a meeting to tell you more about what Sea Garden/Vidafel has to offer); They are persistent....be more so.
Don't waste your valuable vacation time! (If you really are interested in purchasing a time share, check out web sites where people are selling theirs; much better deals!) Our time share ownership is for Mayan Palace Acapulco, but we take our vacation in Mazatlan every year.
The Mazatlecos are some of the friendliest people on earth. We're leaving in 27 days for our March 2004 vacation, our fifth year going to Vidafel. My son and daughter-in-law purchased a time-share at Pueblo Bonito-Emerald Bay. The grounds are breathtakingly beautiful there. But having stayed there, they feel the atmosphere at Vidafel is more welcoming.

Vidafel / Sea Garden Hotel!!

by guybert

"View of Mazatlan from Vidafel Hotel!"

Town of Mazatlan from our hotel balcony. It also shows the hotel grounds & pool area.

"North view!"

Also has a beautiful view to the north.

"Beach front!"

The front of the hotel goes right onto the beach. You can walk whichever direction, north or south for miles without having to worry about crowds or be bothered by to many vendors. There are only a handful of hotels in this area & the sandy beaches are just beautiful. Yet, it is just a 10 minute bus ride to the Golden Zone of Mazatlan. The bus is cheap, it only costs 2.5 pasos a person & usually runs till 11.00pm.

"North Beach!"

Like I said, you can walk for miles north down the beach. It's especially nice to go for a walk in the early morning.

"Vidafel room!"

The rooms are quit nice although it is an older hotel. Most of the rooms have been renovated & are very comfortable. I actually like the rooms & the view from the balconys if you are lucky enough to have a room on one of the upper floors & oceanside.

"Vidafel grounds!"

"Pool area!"

View of the pool area.