By RamonRamon is the creator of Traveling Companion. He focuses on flight review, hotel reviews, and helping stretch your travel dollars, miles, and points further.  Downtown Puerto Vallarta Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta Overview Our first trip together to an all inclusive was a mixed bag. The views and beach experience at this resort were spectacular though the all-inclusive experience at this resort didn't meet our expectations. Pros- Spectacular ocean views, private beach, suites with outdoor jacuzzi, outdoor dining, complimentary room service, strong drink selection, large selection of activities, huge selection of pools, swim up bar Cons- Inconsistent service, tasteless and bland Mexican food, pricey rooms and suites, expensive transportation and spa options, high humidity, poor elite recognition Booking We travelled to Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta in March 2020 about one week before most of the world shut down for the COVID-19 pandemic. We didn't know it at the time but it was our last trip for about a year and a half until vaccines were widely available. In February 2020 we booked a Garden King for $350 per night. We chose the Hyatt Ziva because it was an all-inclusive and we were looking for an escape to warm weather and relaxation after a few stressful months. The AAA rate ended up being the same as the member rate and the member rate was less than the promotion rate so we just booked the member rate. We also decided not to book a private transfer since it was just the two of us and it would have cost $125 for two people. Eight days before our arrival I received a pre-arrival upgrade offer with various options to request an upgrade to a room at a reduced price. The options ranged from $59-$83 but did not include an offer a suite or junior suite. This meant that is I accepted any of these offers I would be accepting something I was already entitled too as a Hyatt elite member so we passed. I was really looking forward to this experience since I had a great stay for the bachelor party at the Hyatt Zilara Cancun though this ended up not being as solid of a stay as the Hyatt Zilara Cancun because of the difference in the quality of the food.  Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta Entrance Sign Check In We arrived at the resort via Uber and when we pulled up to the resort, we were required to give our names to the guard who cross checked our name on the guest list and then asked for the name of the driver and her license. This definitely added to the sense of the privacy at the resort since not only were we behind a gate but the resort was locked in a private cove with a private beach.  Lobby When we got out of the car, I gave my name to the bellhop who matched it to his list and sent us to check in at the Hyatt elite status desk. This is the desk used for all Hyatt elite levels and was less grand than the separate area at the Zilara Cancun. One of the benefits given in Cancun was a welcome toast, however, we were not offered a beverage at check-in here. We were given the full list of amenities for elites which included access to the club lounge, a preferred room within type booked, a 10% discount on room upgrade to another room, 10% discount on tours, 10% discount on upgraded wines and lobster. As part of the check-in process we were given the opportunity to upgrade from our base level Garden View room to a Jacuzzi Suite for an additional $90 a night versus the normal cost of an additional $150 or to upgrade to a swim up suite for an additional $120 a night. We decided to go with the Jacuzzi Suite because we heard bad reviews about the rooms in the old building. We wanted and ended up appreciating the privacy of the Jacuzzi Suite over the exposure of the swim up suite. We ended up finding this to a be a good decision since the “garden view” rooms were essentially rooms with views of the parking lot. We ended up getting a lot of use out of our jacuzzi and enjoyed the amazing views from our room on the 17th floor. I also really appreciated that Hyatt recognizes even low-level elite as the resort sent us a bottle of sparkling wine for just being a Discoverist elite. Though this palled in comparison to the bottle of sparkling wine we received during my trip to Cancun. However, I was disappointed because in Cancun the worst room is still a junior suite and all have ocean views so there would be no need for the upgrade. Since we upgraded our room wasn’t ready yet but we were told to come back in about an hour. They held our bags at check-in instead of bringing them to the room and also it was weird that they did not allow us to check in at the other towers check-in desks since were now in the new tower. Club Ocean Front Hot Tub King Our upgraded room (1755) was in the newer club tower on the top floor.  Old Tower  New Club Tower When we walked off of the elevator we were already impressed by the amazing view. The hallways have windows which were left open during our entire stay to let in the cool breeze and right off the elevators give access to the spectacular view which I heard one guest describe as a postcard. These views continued in our room as were one of the best features of the room. We were treated to amazing sunsets every day and on our last morning an amazing sunrise since the other mornings were cloudy.  Hallway in New Tower The suite was really large and had a big flatscreen TV, we never used, a separate sitting area with a couch and table with two chairs. The suite itself had amazing decor and was in good condition. It had lots of wood paneling and a circular curved ceiling with a fan. While the room had air conditioning (AC), the ceiling fan proved critical for the very humid nights when humidity reached 96%. Even when we turned on the AC the humidity was still unbearable and we had to turn on the fan. The bathroom was also very nice with marble countertops a closet and four shelves one of which had a safe. The bathroom also had sliding doors. In additional it also had a separate toilet room for privacy which I really appreciated. The room also had two snacks in a drawer which looked really sad and we did not touch. The shower was also really nice and had both a handheld and rainforest shower head. The water pressure was very good. Though I think the Kenneth MD (Zilara/Ziva shower amenities) were only average when compared to other hotels.  Shower The really amazing part of the room was the jacuzzi, which we used three times and found well worth the upgrade. It was on the balcony along with another table and set of wooden chairs. The hot tub was definitely only big enough to only fit two people. It filled up with turn dials and we found it easy to use as it had a button to turn on jets. The only issue we had with it was that on the day we were checking out we woke up and found that it was leaking water through the faucet and seemed to have been leaking for hours. It was amazing to be able to view the sunset from our deck and get warm when it got chilly late at night. Amenities and Activities Beach and Pools The resort is located directly on a private beach and offered stunning views. During our time there we jogged along the beach and swam on one occasion. However, the water was still a little too cold in March to enjoy the ocean. Because of the cold water most of the other guests also swam in the pools over the ocean. The biggest frustration of the beach and our stay were the beach vendors. Every day that we went to the beach there were vendors bothering us and trying to hawk items. I was really surprised that the vendors weren't kicked off of the beach since it was a private beach and security knew each person staying at the resort. The hotel also featured four infinity pools, a kid-friendly pool, and a swim up bar. We enjoyed these multiple times a day and they were refreshing because of the very humid climate in Puerto Vallarta. I once again loved the swim up bar and I think it may be my favorite amenity at all-inclusive resorts. During our stay the pools were full of people during the middle of the day but quieter in the early morning. The pool also offered stunning ocean views. Gym, Salon, and Spa The resort also had a gym, salon, and spa. We used the gym once during our stay and we were the only people there. It had a wide variety of equipment including ellipticals, treadmills, and weights. We didn't try the gym or the salon but the wide variety of offerings seemed expensive relative to the lower cost of living in Mexico. Resort Activities The resort offered a wide variety of beach and water activities during the day and at least one activity each night. The beach activities included beach volleyball and kayaking. Though we ended up wanting to relax and didn't try any of these beach and ocean activities.  Activities Center During our stay other activities included a movie night, dance party, and multiple shows. The fun part about the movie night was that it was set up with a projector on the beach. When we walked by no one was watching the movie but if we had a young child with us, I think this would have been a fun activity
One night the show featured fire and on another night, it featured acrobats by the pool. Both of these shows were packed with people and entertaining.
Visiting Downtown Puerto Vallarta Because we were staying at an all-inclusive and looking for a relaxing vacation we only ventured out once to Puerto Vallarta. My overall impression of the city is that it was a sleepy beach town with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and expats. As is often the case on our trips I was saddened by the significant development downtown and in the tourist areas, contrasted with the poor conditions on the outskirts of town where I assume many of the workers live. Dining During our stay the resort had vast array of dining options including five restaurants, a coffee shop, sports bar, club lounge, and room service. Blaze (American and Mexican) This was the resort's seafood restaurant where we went for lunch on first day and later for breakfast. It had a blend of Mexican and American seafood and I found the food wholly unimpressive. When we got there the first day Christina ordered a fish taco and while the fish was good the tortilla wasn’t tasty and they automatically served it on a flour tortilla instead of a corn one without asking. She had to ask afterwards specifically for corn which came back and tasted much better. I ordered the steak tacos but they were boring and flavorless. Everything at this restaurant felt like it was made blander for the American pallet to be non-offensive to any American or Canadian pallet since there were many Canadian tourists. Also, the service here was terrible. When we sat down, we were asked if we wanted anything to drink before we even had a chance to look at the menu. I asked for more time and that server never came back and instead another server came by our table. The same bland food and terrible service continued as breakfast which showed this restaurant continually delivered bad food and service. I ordered the Huevos y Asada and found it again to be very bland. Christina ordered some Mexican breads and was given three croissants and a turnover once again showing how they served inauthentic and bland version of Mexican food. The best part of the breakfast was the drinks including the Mexican hot chocolate and fresh juice which were really good and I found that to be a theme throughout the resort. The drinks were consistently really good while the food was generally bad or bland. The only other positive about this restaurant was its ocean views. Casa Grande (Mexican) This was the resort’s flagship Mexican restaurant. It was really large with a bar and then a big dining area at the back with a stage at the center. The restaurant had a lot of decorations and a thatched roof. Inside the room were Spanish clay tiles. Christina found the decorations to be over the top and tacky. In general, we found the Mexican food we ordered to be average and again bland. Also, we found the service to be average at best. Though once again we did really like our drinks which this time were margaritas. Melanzane (Italian) We visited this restaurant one day for lunch. The restaurant is right next to the main pool and open for lunch and dinner serving Italian food. It offered a range of pizza and pasta for lunch. We ended up sharing a margherita pizza which was really good. It was served warm, fresh, with a thin crust, and had flavor. It was funny that the Italian food was better than the Mexican food at this Mexican resort. Vivaz (Buffet) This was the busiest restaurant on the property and served breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We found that this restaurant consistently offered above average food and better service than everywhere other than Puerza. Even though it was a buffet the servers offered to retrieve drinks and food for guests and constantly checked if anything else was needed. Pureza (Asian) We found this restaurant which is only open for dinner to be the most impressive. It is located next to Kids Club on the opposite end of the beach from Blaze. The setting is very sophisticated with no walls and a thatched roof and wood floors which allowed us to feel the great ocean breeze and hear the ocean. The service here was excellent with our server having indulged us by asking every question in Spanish and correcting us if we got any words wrong. He also checked back in with us several times when our dishes took longer than he expected. The food here was also really good and we felt that they were delivering authentic Asian cuisine. I really liked the Satay and it tasted as good as the one we had in Singapore. My beef ribs were also amazing and cooked to perfection so they fell off of the bone. This was the best dish I had during the entire trip. Christina's Pad Thai was also good but made with tomato sauce which is not typical for Pad Thai. We finally finished off with fried ice cream which was really good. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our dinner here. Deli (Coffee Shop) This was a good spot for warm drinks at the resort and we constantly found the staff to be friendly. Also continuing the theme at this resort, the drinks were good. It also offered a variety of pastries focused on breads and cakes. The cakes I had I found bland but the bread particularly the chocolate bread was consistently good. The biggest disappointment here was that it did not offer ice cream which was one of my favorite deserts at the Hyatt Zilara Cancun. We were told by other guests that the Deli used to offer ice cream so I am not sure what happened. Hyghlightz (Sports Bar) This is the resort's sports bar and we stopped in briefly to check it out. It offered what you would expect from a sports bar. Beer on tap and lots of televisions with sports on every television.
Room Service The resort offered 24/7 room service and one afternoon we ordered room service for lunch. The order took about 30 minutes to arrive. I ordered a burger with bacon and found the taste to be bland and not flavorful. However, I was annoyed that after it arrived, we got a call to ask how long it took. There has to a better way to make sure they are evaluating how fast their service is without disturbing guests eating. Club Lounge At check-in we were told that with our room in the club tower we had access to a club lounge with additional food offerings and a separate bar. Since this was an all-inclusive, I was curious what would be offered at this club lounge and it was very underwhelming. It was located on the first floor of the new tower and included a very small additional buffet selection. Service The service here can only be described as remarkably inconsistent. In some instances, the staff were friendly and went out of their way to provide good service. However, in other instances the service was slow and not friendly. It felt staff were just going through the motions. One example of the slow service was at the pool bars. The resorts had multiple pool bars but the servers were slow and not friendly. Often, we had to go to the bar to put in or check- in on our orders which should be unnecessary. I would say the service at the Hyatt Zilara Cancun blew this service out of the water. It is amazing even through both are Hyatt all-inclusive and owned by the same hotel operator Playa Hotels & Resorts. Take Away Overall, I enjoyed our very relaxing stay at the Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta. My biggest disappointment was the food which generally did not live up to the quality I experienced at the Hyatt Zilara Cancun. This was hard since the food is one of the most important components of an all-inclusive resort. However, the resort did make up for this with a strong drink selection, stunning ocean views, a jacuzzi on the balcony of our suite, a large selection of activities, and a huge number of pools. I don't think we would come back to Puerto Vallarta because I don't think there are enough activities outside of the resorts. However, if I came back to Puerto Vallarta, I would probably choose to stay at a non-all-inclusive so I could experience good Mexican cuisine.
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By RamonRamon is the creator of Travelling Companion. He focuses on flight review, hotel reviews, and helping stretch your travel dollars, miles, and points further.
Hotel Overview
This resort makes it easy to relax with ocean views from every room, multiple pools and hot tubs with stunning ocean views, a wide variety of fresh food and good drinks. Pros- Stylish Airport Transportation, Good Elite Recognition, Great Ocean Front Location, Ocean Views and Hot Tubs in every room, Champagne Welcome Amenity, In-Room Tablet, Wide Variety of Dining Options, Amazing Seafood, Good Alcoholic Drinks, Multiple Pools and Hot Tubs, Swim-Up Bar, Complimentary Room Service, Friendly Service, Hard-Working Staff Cons- Poor Concierge Service, Chaotic Airport Pickup, No Complimentary Water Sports, Awkward Check-Out Process Relaxing in Cancun Report Relaxing in Cancun Overview Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse Washington Dulles Review Delta 737-800 IAD-CUN Flight Review Hyatt Zilara Cancun Review Location The Hyatt Zilara Cancun, which opened in 2013, is located in the Hotel Zone about a 20 minute drive from the Cancun International Airport and 15 minutes from downtown Cancun. Zilara is Hyatt's adult-only all-inclusive brand which in 2020 has 3 locations: 1) Cancun Mexico, 2) Montego Bay, Jamaica, and 3) Cap Cana, Dominican Republic all of which are owned and Managed by Playa Hotels and Resorts. I found the location to be good because it was directly on the beach but still close to the nightlife in downtown Cancun. 
Map of Hyatt Zilara Cancun Location
Airport Transportation
About one week before our arrival we reached out to the resort to schedule airport transportation to our hotel. We were quoted a cost of $90 one way or $150 roundtrip. Because we had a group of 5 guys this came out to a reasonable cost of $30 per person which we decided was a good deal. Upon exiting the arrivals area about Cancun International Airport (CUN) we were greeted by a chaotic scene. Surrounding us were at least a hundred different people aggressively trying to sell airport transportation services or pickup people with prearranged transportation. As we waded through this crowd of people and looked at all of the signs we did not see a sign with my name or the Hyatt Zilara sign. After about another 15 minutes we spotted the driver who apologized that he wasn't waiting for us upon arrival but explained that there were no parking spots available. We waited for about another 20 minutes until the final member of our group arrived and then we headed towards the hotel. Our transportation to the hotel was a luxurious black Lincoln Navigator with space for six passengers and a driver. When we entered the SUV our driver offered us a cold towel and cold water. We really appreciated this after standing in the hot sun for almost an hour. The luxurious ride was a nice start to our Hyatt Zilara experience, after a poor airport pickup experience at CUN. CUN really needs to improve the airport pickup experience and I would strongly recommend any larger groups staying at the Hyatt Zilara Cancun to arraign transportation ahead of time to avoid the chaos of the airport pickup. 
Hyatt Zilara Cancun Lincoln Navigator
Check-In
Hyatt Zilara Cancun Driveway
Upon arriving at the resort all our suitcases were taken and would be delivered to our rooms later.
Hyatt Zilara Entrance
As we entered the resort we were very impressed by the decor, which reminded me of a hacienda with an interior courtyard stain glass ceiling, and the atmosphere of the resort felt very cool. We headed to the standard check-in area and after recognizing that I was a Hyatt Discoverist, the lowest level tier of World of Hyatt elite status, we were ushered to a private check-in area for World of Hyatt elites.
Standard Check-In Area
All of the members of our group were shown to seats in this area and were offered champagne. I was again greeted as a Hyatt Discoverist and was told that I had been upgraded from an Junior Suite to an Junior Ocean View Suite. The other two Junior Suite Double Rooms we booked were also on upper floors with better ocean views. This was the first time I had stayed at a Hyatt as an elite and I was impressed by the Hyatt elite recognition. Overall, I was very impressed by the elite recognition and I felt we were treated like kings.
Junior Ocean View Suite Upon entering the suite I was again impressed that I was greeted with a welcome amenity of Champagne and macrons which I assumed was due to my Hyatt elite status. The champagne was good and the macrons were delicious. The continued elite recognition left me really impressed by Hyatt. 
Welcome Amenity
My Junior Ocean View Suite was a 653 square foot room with a king bed at the center facing the ocean. The bed was comfortable and had an impressive headboard with a mirror in the center.
Junior Suite King Bed
Near the sliding glass door was a table with two chairs, where my welcome amenity sat, and a flat screen television.
Junior Suite King Room
On both sides of the bed were side tables and on the right side was a desk with a wooden chair. At the foot of the bed was an ottoman which I really liked using to change my shoes.
In-Room Tablet
A really impressive feature of the resort was the tablet next to my bed which reminded me of the Aria. This tablet contained the schedule of the all of the resort's activities, information on all of the restaurants, and most impressive was the ability to order room service from the tablet. I really appreciate it when hotels embrace technology to improve the guest experience and I can say that Hyatt Zilara Cancun did just that.
Mini-Fridge
The room also had a dresser near the entrance which contained a mini-fridge and had a Nespresso machine on top. The mini-fridge came stocked with juice, beer, soda, and water. While I could order whatever I wanted at the restaurants or via room service I still appreciated having some beverages in the room in case I got thirsty.
In-Room Hot Tub
One very impressive feature of this resort is that all of the rooms contain an in-room hot tub. While I didn't get to use it one of my traveling companions who did use the hot tub said it was really nice.
Sink
The bathroom was split into two with one half having a sink, shelving, and a closet that contained a safe. Inside the closet was an iron, ironing board, and two robes.
Shower
The second half had a room with a walk-in shower, toilet, and phone. A cool feature of the shower was a window which allowed the person showering to have an ocean view. I really appreciated these great design touches.
"Magic Box"
Another impressive feature of the room was something the resort called the "magic box". It was located next to the entrance of the room and allows room service delivery and return with complete privacy. When room service was delivered a light turned on and you could retrieve the room service from the magic box. When we were done you simply returned the empty dishes to the magic box.
Balcony
I was really impressed that all 310 junior suites and suites at the Hyatt Zilara Cancun had at least a partial ocean view and a balcony. I loved the balcony in my room and it had a table and two chairs and I found the ocean view from my room to be spectacular. However, I didn't notice a significant difference in the view since all of the rooms face the ocean and my room and my traveling companions' rooms were on the same floor. The balcony also had a hammock which could be strung up. I didn't try it but my traveling companions said it was lovely.
Ocean View
The only part of my room I didn't like was the location. I loved the good view and being on a higher floor. However, I actually ended up finding the upgrade annoying because my suite was located at the other end of the resort far from my traveling companions. This meant more privacy but also long walks every time I needed to go back to my room. Overall, I was left very impressed by my Junior King Ocean View Suite. Having a private hot tub, a king bed, balcony, and ocean view made this a great room.
Dining One of the most important aspects of an all-inclusive resort is the dining and this is an area where the Hyatt Zilara shined. This was my first stay ever at an all inclusive and I was unsure what to expect especially when it came to food and drinks. The dining options at the resort left me very impressed. Hyatt Zilara Cancun had a wide array of dining and drinking options with six restaurants, one cafe, four bars, and 24-hours a day complimentary room service. During our two night stay we were able to try all of these dining options with the exceptions of La Adelita Cantina, which is only open for dinner, and Chef's Plate, which is the only dining option requiring a reservation and only accessible to guests stay in full suites. Pelicanos The first dining option we checked out was Pelicanos which is located next to the main pool and overlooks the ocean. Pelicanos offered stunning ocean views and a relaxed setting for a meal. Pelicanos is a Caribbean fusion restaurant with a heavy focus on fresh seafood. During our stay it was only open for breakfast and lunch. Since our stay its hours have expanded to include dinner. 
Pelicanos
Some of the highlights of my meals at Pelicanos were the grilled grouper, the shrimp cocktail, and the chocolate platanos (plantains). The grouper was one of the best I have ever had which is a strong statement coming from someone who grew up in the Caribbean.
Grouper
Pelicanos was our most visited dining option during our stay because of the good drinks, stunning views, and fresh seafood.
Shrimp Cocktail
Marie Marie
For dinner on the first night we went to Marie Marie. This is a gourmet Mexican restaurant which is only open for dinner. The restaurant shares a building with Cantina La Adelita and is located in a more secluded area of the resort near the outdoor hot tubs. 
Marie Marie Entrance
The restaurant had a very romantic atmosphere with dark mood lighting, a fountain, and candlesticks in the shape of a heart.
Marie Marie Decorations
I found the beef tacos at Marie Marie to be okay and I thought the ones I had in Mexico City were much better. However, the pork ribs I ordered fell off of the bone and were amazing while the flan was small but sweet and tasty.
Pork Ribs
The service at Marie Marie was outstanding. The servers checked on our table often and brought out additional appetizers and drinks that we didn't even order. Overall, I found Marie Marie to have a great atmosphere particularly suited for couples but my traveling companions and I still enjoyed the ambience, delicious food, and good service.
Marie Marie Dining Room
Spice
On our second morning at the resort we had breakfast at Spice the resort's buffet which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I didn't find the breakfast buffet at Spice to be impressive. 
Spice Brunch
While the buffet had many options including some Mexican dishes such as tacos, frijoles, quesadillas, and Conchas most of the food was American cuisine. This included pancakes, toast, and eggs. I found the American food I tried including pancakes and an omelet to bland. The most impressive part of the buffet was the fresh fruit and fruit juice station which included mango, guava, and orange juice.
Spice Breakfast
Asiana
During the second night of our stay we had dinner at Asiana the resort's Asian restaurant focused on gourmet contemporary Asian Cuisine. The restaurant is located in a more secluded area on the side of the resort not facing the ocean near Marie Marie. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and has two levels. 
Asiana Entrance
The top level, where we ate, served a full menu including sushi while the bottom level had a hibachi grill with a cooking show but required a reservation. We were not told about the cooking show at check-in so did not make a reservation but still enjoyed our dinner at Asiana. I ordered the Chicken Pad Thai and Korean Beef. The Chicken Pad Thai was okay but the Korean Beef was delicious. I loved the sauce the Korean Beff was soaked in. Asiana also had a menu offering Asian drinks including Sake. My traveling companions and I really enjoyed the Sake. The service at this restaurant was fast but indifferent. I liked Asiana but would probably opt for the lower level hibachi cooking experience if I returned to the Hyatt Zilara Cancun.
Asiana
Room Service
We ordered room service multiple times during our stay at the resort. I found room service to be a great feature because it was complimentary and convenient. Room service was very easy to order through the tablets in each room. I loved the use of technology to streamline and simplify the process. 
In-Room Room Service Odering
The only downsides to the room service were it did not allow the ordering of alcohol and it was slow. The first time we ordered it took 40 minutes. The highlight of my room service orders was the breakfast I ordered on our final morning in Cancun. It was very relaxing to order room service while I sat looking out over the ocean. The salmon omelet with fresh guava juice was very good and capped off my great dining experience at the resort.
Room Service Breakfast
Casa del Cafe
The resort also had a cafe called Casa del Cafe which had coffee, hot chocolate, and numerous deserts including a large variety of ice cream. It is located just off of the lobby and is open from 7am-10 pm. 
Case del Cafe Sign
I loved having access to ice cream and hot chocolate for most of the day. Also, like most of the resort it offered stunning ocean views and we sometimes sat on the couches drinking our warm drinks or eating ice cream and staring at the ocean.
Ice Cream
Trades Winds Swim Up Bar and Tequliria Beach Lounge
One my favorite features of the resort is the swim up bar Trade Winds located in the same building as Pelicanos in the infinity pool. The staff here was friendly and the drinks were very good. I especially loved the mango margaritas. I really appreciated that the resort did not water down the drinks which was something I feared staying at an all-inclusive. 
Trade Winds Swim Up Bar
The resort also has a beach bar called Tequliria Beach Lounge. I checked out the bar once and didn't find the tequila collection or drinks to be any better than what was served at other bars around the resort. I would only recommend visiting this bar if the other bars are busy or if you are already at the beach.
Time Out Time Out is the resort's 24 hour lounge. The lounge serves drinks and appetizers from 11 am-11 pm. It featured numerous televisions showing sports most of the day. It also had games such as pool, table tennis, checkers, and poker. During our visit it was under renovation so the bathrooms and the courtyard were closed. Timeout was never full when we went inside and we did not spend a lot of time here but it is a good option if you want to watch a particular game, play a game, or want some down time. 
Time Out Sign
Lobby Bar
The Lobby Bar was located just off the lobby behind Pelicanos. The bar was a fun place to hang out especially in the evenings when it filled up with other guests. In this space there were televisions with sports on and the area also hosted a lot of the nightly entertainment. 
Lobby Bar
Activities
The activities at the Hyatt Zilara make it clear that this a place to relax. If you are a person who wants to be very active during your vacation this is not the spot for you. The resort has multiple pools, a beautiful beach multiple hot tubs, and numerous daily activities. Two of the activities we did not check out were the Sky Gym and the Zen Spa. The gym looked nice from the outside and the spa offered massages with a view of the beach. 
Sky Gym
Beach
The beach at the Hyatt Zilara Cancun is beautiful but the ocean is very rough and not pleasant to swim in. The beach does have cabanas which are complimentary and do not need to be reserved. We went swimming in the ocean one time during our stay. What was also really disappointing was that the resort did not offer any complimentary water sports such as kayaking. I assumed this was because of safety concerns due to the very choppy water near the beach.
Hyatt Zilara Cancun Beach
Pools and Hot Tubs
Where we spent the majority of our time during the day was in the pool and in the hot tubs. The resort has two outdoor pools and multiple hot tubs. The first pool is a lap pool located next to Pelicanos and the second pool is an infinity pool also located next to the Pelicanos. On our first day the resort lap pool had a foam party which looked like a ton of fun and the pools were definitely the center of activity during the day. Both of the pools featured cabanas which were also complimentary and did not require reservations. Staff constantly passed by the cabanas to see if guests wanted anything to drink. I really liked that these cabanas came at no additional cost since so many resorts use this an opportunity for an upcharge. 
Infinity Pool
There were multiple hot tubs but we liked the ones that were more private located on the side of the resort not facing the ocean. These hot tubs were fun because for the vast majority of the time we were the only guests using them.
Glow Party and Michael Jackson Show
The resort had nightly entertainment and during our stay the two shows were a glow party and a Michael Jackson show. The glow party was held on the first night of our stay in one of the resort's ballroom. The resort did a good job turning the ballroom into a fun glow in the dark party. 
Glow Party
The party had many interesting decorations and characters. It seemed the staff were going for a trance dance party look. Overall, we really had fun at this party and I think the staff did a good job making sure the scenery was fun and the drinks were easily accessible.
Glow Party
The Michael Jackson show was held in the lobby during our second night. I thought the dancers in the show were very good but found the show itself to be short. I also thought it was distracting that the resort left the televisions on during the show. After the show ended the lobby bar had live music and became a hub of activity.
Michael Jackson Show
Service
The service at the Hyatt Zilara Cancun was great. The staff in the restaurants and at the bars seemed to go out of there way to make sure that guests had fun. For example, on our first day at the resort the champagne welcome amenity in my friend's room was already hot so he called down to ask for another bottle and the staff were happy to accommodate his request and sent up a cold bottle of champagne. Also, during our dinner at Marie Marie the waiter sent over appetizers that we hadn't ordered for us to sample and made sure that the drinks kept flowing every time we were empty. The staff at the pool were also great. It seemed that they were everywhere and any time a member of our party needed another drink they were ready to serve us. What I found most surprising about the service is that all of resort fees and gratuity are already included in the rate so staff were unlikely to get additional tips but were very quick and hard working. The biggest service downfall at this resort was the concierge service. About a week before our stay I reached out to the resort asking about their airport transportation options and any recommendations on nightlife in Cancun and I never heard a response. So about two days later I ended up having to call the resort to arrange the transportation. When we checked in at the resort I asked the staff member about nightlife options in Cancun and was given the generic answer of Coco Bongo but no other options. The resort really needs to step up their concierge services including responding to guest in a timely manner and providing additional information about activities outside of the resort. One additional item to note is the awkward check-out process at the resort. While many resorts allow you to leave the resort without formally checking out, this resort required a slip of paper saying you had checked out before you could leave the property. Take Away The Hyatt Zilara Cancun has a great location, impressive design elements, and all of the rooms have amazing ocean views which makes it easy to enjoy yourself in Cancun. The resort also features a wide array of fresh and delicious food and good drinks in addition to multiple pools with stunning ocean views and relaxing hot tubs. The staff is friendly, hardworking, and constantly makes sure guests are enjoying themselves. All of this added up to make the Hyatt Zilara Cancun one of the best resorts I have stayed at and I would strongly recommend staying here if you are looking for a relaxing resort vacation with beautiful ocean views. By RamonRamon is the creator of Travelling Companion. He focuses on flight review, hotel reviews, and helping stretch your travel dollars, miles, and points further. Flight Overview This non-stop Delta flight from the Washington D.C. area which has now moved from IAD to BWI provided a comfortable and convenient ride to Cancun, Mexico. Pros-Non-Stop Service to Cancun, Newly Upholstered and Comfortable Seat, Friendly Crew Cons-Slow Boarding Process, Old IFE System, Limited IFE Selection, No USB Power Relaxing in Cancun Report Relaxing in Cancun Overview Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse Washington Dulles Review Delta 737-800 IAD-CUN Flight Review Hyatt Zilara Cancun Review Boarding After a visit to the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse my traveling companions and I took a long walk from the lounge down to our departure gate B78 at the far end of the B terminal. As we walked I was happy to be traveling with two friends even though it was strange to be traveling without Christina. We were traveling during the federal government shutdown and there had been reports of long lines at security around the country but all of us made it quickly through security. On the way to our gate I ran into an alumnus of my college who was headed with her family to vacation in the Cancun area. It was nice to randomly run into someone I knew at the airport.  Dulles Gate B78 At check-in the flight was full in economy but ended up having two empty First Class seats even after all upgrades were processed. This was not surprising because neither Dulles or Cancun are Delta hubs and Cancun is primarily a leisure destination making this a rare non-hub to hub flight for Delta. Since I flew this flight in the winter of 2019 Delta moved the flight from IAD to Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) which makes sense since BWI is a more leisure focused airport. I was annoyed that I did not have Delta status since I could have easily ended up with a First Class upgrade. Because of the empty First Class cabin I was offered a $169 First Class upgrade at check-in which I would have gladly accepted if I was flying with Christina. However, I declined it since I was flying without her and my friends were flying in economy. Despite the 7:50 am boarding time boarding did not begin until 8:10 am because of large number of passport checks and gate-checked bags. Despite the late start boarding was completed in 25 minutes and economy ended up going out with empty seats which I assumed was due to passengers missing the flight.  Boeing 737-800 Plane and Seats On this flight I was flying a Boeing 737-800 arranged in a standard 3-3 economy configuration with approximately 17 inches of width and 31 inches of pitch. As I headed to my seat 20C, a standard economy aisle seat on the left hand side, I noticed the fresh and stylish blue upholstery on the economy seats. Delta clearly had recently replaced the upholstery and I appreciated the updated look. The seat was nicely padded and comfortable but did not have a headrest which would be annoying on a late night or early morning flight when a passenger is trying to rest.  737-800 Economy Seats Once passengers completed boarding the captain announced that we could not depart because of a maintenance issue. Once the issue was fixed we still didn't move because we needed a driver to move us back from the gate since there was a ton of ice and snow on the ground. We ended up departing at 9:05 am about 20 minutes late for our approximately 3-and-a-half-hour flight. As we took off we saw the ice and snow and I was very happy to be escaping the Washington D.C. winter for Cancun, Mexico.  Delta 737-800 Amenities and In-Flight Entertainment After boarding was completed the flight attendants came through the economy cabin with complimentary headphones. This is a staple on Delta's international flights. The headphones Delta offers are cheap headphones so I always bring my own noise cancelling headphones, but they are still better than nothing in the era of cost cutting and fees. The area where Delta was really weak on this flight was in-flight entertainment (IFE). This 737-800 featured an old Delta IFE system with a small screen and poor resolution. The IFE also did not have USB power and economy passengers had to rely on the two shared AC power outlets for every three seats. Finally, the IFE selection on this flight was not strong and it had relatively few new releases. I ended up watching Mission Impossible Fallout.  737-800 IFE Food and Drinks
The start of the flight was quite bumpy and the captain asked that the flight attendants and passengers remained seated. This delayed the start of the flight food and drink service. Despite the turbulence passengers continued to walk about the cabin and flight attendants continually asked passengers to remain seated for their safety. After about 30 minutes food and drink service commenced. There was no complimentary food served in economy on this flight. However, there was a buy on board menu which included a choice between a Protein Box and a Turkey Maple Sandwich. Since I had already eaten in the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse and I was headed to an all-inclusive resort I decided to pass on buying a meal. However, the flight did include Delta's standard complementary snacks including Biscoff cookies, Kind bars, snack mix, and peanuts. Service Service on this flight overall was friendly. There were a total of four flight attendants working economy. The flight attendants were firm but not mean making sure that passengers sat down during turbulence. When they came by for snack service the flight attendants offered two snacks and chatted in a friendly manner with passengers. The flight attendants made several announcements to keep passengers informed and were friendly each time. While the cabin was kept dark for most of the time during this morning flight the flight attendants did come by with a water service with about 20 minutes left in the flight. Take Away My flight on Delta's 737-800 non-stop from Washington Dulles to Cancun provided a newly upholstered and comfortable seat coupled with friendly service. However, the boarding process was slow, the IFE system needed to be refreshed, there was no USB power, and the IFE selection was limited. Despite several drawbacks including the age of the plane I would choose to take this flight because of the convience of taking a non-stop versus a connecting flight. By RamonRamon is the creator of Travelling Companion. He focuses on flight review, hotel reviews, and helping stretch your travel dollars, miles, and points further. Relaxing in Cancun Report Relaxing in Cancun Overview Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse Washington Dulles Review Delta 737-800 IAD-CUN Flight Review Hyatt Zilara Cancun Review  Introduction During early 2019, I decided to escape the cold in Washington D.C. and head to Cancun, Mexico for my bachelor party. This was my second time in Mexico, after our amazing trip to Mexico City. I chose Cancun because I wanted a warm weather beach destination that I had never visited. I can confidently say it was one of the best vacation decisions I have ever made. On this trip I had the opportunity to try out an all-inclusive hotel, the Hyatt Zilara Cancun, for the first time. I left impressed by Mexico's beaches, with the Hyatt Zilara brand, and several of the airport lounges I tried on this trip. Booking Hotel One of the main reasons I chose Cancun, Mexico was because I had the opportunity to try an all-inclusive hotel for the first time. I wanted a vacation where I didn't have to worry about constantly pulling out the checkbook and my traveling companions would know the vast majority of the cost upfront. There are several all-inclusive options in the Cancun area but I chose the Hyatt Zilara because it was an adults-only all-inclusive and gave me the opportunity to earn points and use my Hyatt Discoverist status.  Hyatt Zilara Cancun There are a several things to bear in mind when booking the Hyatt Zilara Cancun. First, as best as I can tell the standard rates are more for marketing purposes and tracking the rate for our January trip it never got close to the standard rate even a week before the trip. Second, the rates at this hotel vary significantly depending on what time of year you book and how far in advance you book. I booked about six months in advance and kept checking for a cheaper rate. Over time the rate fell from $448 per night for one person to $398 per night. Also, the hotel was definitely not full during our stay so I assume that my rate was on the low end for the resort. Third, the rate varies depending on the number of guests and the sweet spot is two guests in a room, however, I ended up having to book a room for one since there was a person who dropped our at the last minute. For example, my room was $398 for one person while a double room with two people came out to $276 per person. Fourth, while these rates may seem high for Mexico they include not just the room but all the food, all drinks including alcoholic drinks, and gratuity. When you consider this the cost per person per day is a good deal. Fifth, the all-inclusive does not include the cost of transportation to or from the airport. Because there were five of us traveling together we booked a car for $270 roundtrip. Since I booked the stay directly with Hyatt I ended up earning 3,392 base and 339 bonus World of Hyatt points. Booking Flights Southwest, Spirit, United, and Delta all offer non-stop flights from Washington D.C. area to Cancun. At the time of booking I had elite status with American Airlines but because I was only going to spend three days in Cancun and the non-stop flights offered reasonable prices I decided not to book with American. While I did not have have status with Delta at the time I had positive experiences with the airline in the past so decided to book with Delta. I booked the non-stop Saturday-only Washington Dulles (IAD) flight to Cancun and came back to Washington Regan National (DCA) with a connection in Minneapolis (MSP). Since I flew this flight in January 2019 Delta moved its non-stop Saturday-only Cancun service for the D.C. area to Baltimore Washington International (BWI) airport. While I was nervous connecting in Minneapolis during winter I ended up not having any problems.  IAD-CUN-MSP Route (Flight Routing Map generated using the Great Circle Mapper-copyright Karl) L. Swartz To top it all off I got the best deal I have gotten since our sub-$200 tickets to Mexico City. In the end this flight was $271 which was a steal for a non-basic economy fare to Cancun! Because of the high taxes and fees which amounted to 49% of the ticket cost and my lack of Delta elite status at the time I would have earned only 695 Delta SkyMiles. Instead I credited this flight to Delta's partner Virgin Atlantic where I earned 1,973 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles.
Summary Cancun was the perfect winter escape and left me with a great impression of the Mexican beaches, Hyatt's all-inclusive hotels, and several of the airport lounges. I look forward to sharing my experience and the many reasons why I enjoyed my travel experience to Cancun and my time in Cancun. Rollercoaster Ride Through The Storm: Delta A320 Economy Atlanta (ATL)- Washington (DCA) Review11/4/2018 By RamonRamon is the creator of Travelling Companion. He focuses on flight review, hotel reviews, and helping stretch your travel dollars, miles, and points further. Flight Summary Delta hit a low in passenger comfort on this flight and its operations team should have cancelled this scary rollercoaster ride. Pros-Great Delta Pilots. Cons- Aggressive Delta Operations, Bad Delay Notifications, Glitchy In-Flight Entertainment. A Weekend in Mexico City Trip Report A Weekend in Mexico City Trip Overview Delta A321 DCA-ATL Review Delta Boeing 737-800 Economy ATL-MEX Review Hilton Mexico City Reforma Review Exploring Mexico City Delta A319 Economy MEX-ATL Review Delta A320 Economy ATL-DCA Review The Club at ATL We got off of our flight from MEX and took the ATL train to terminal F to visit the Club at ATL which I have access to as part of my Priority Pass membership. The Club brand is used for a set of independent airport lounges across the U.S. which partner with lounge memberships such as Priority Pass to grant access to members. The Club at ATL is located in Terminal F, the international, terminal at ATL.  The Club at ATL Entrance As we entered the lounge to check-in it was a zoo. This lounge was very loud, overcrowded, and there was still a line at the check-in desk for additional patrons to enter. Once it was our turn the check-in agent told us that we could enter but were unlikely to find any seats. I agreed to enter just so I could get a sense of the amenities in the lounge for the blog. I can tell you this lounge is not even worth visiting. This was definitely the most full I have ever seen any lounge and their was not a single seat available and the noise was worse than sitting in the terminal. I imagine the huge crowds were due to the evening international departures. I checked out the food and it looked disgusting and picked apart.  Club at ATL Food This was one of the worse lounges I have ever seen and made American Airline's Admirals clubs look good. The Club at ATL really needs to expand their space. This lounge was terrible and my advice would be stay away. Boarding We left the lounge and headed to gate T5. The T-Gates have a Admirals Club next to T-11 but we did not check it out since it was already closed. As we walked up to the gate, which was full of people, the check-in agent announced that the flight was delayed because we were waiting for a new flight crew. I assumed the original crew had flown their allowable hours today so we needed a new crew. Despite the delay neither the Delta app nor the screen at the gate were updated with the new departure time prior to boarding. Passengers rely on accurate information about the flight and the fact that Delta did not update the time despite knowing about the delay is disrespectful of the customers time and shows a need to continuing improving there delay notifications. After a long wait there was no additional communication until the gate agent started making pre-flight announcements. In one of the announcements the agent said that the FAA restricts passengers to only one carry on and one personal item when there is in fact no such FAA rule and this is regulated by the airlines. I found this telling and it showed that some additional training is needed to make sure airline employees share accurate information with passengers. Overall, the customer service from the gate agents and Delta information technology was poor. After piling everyone onto the plane we ended up departing 14 minutes late.  Gate T5 Sign In-Flight Entertainment On the surface the in-flight entertainment (IFE) system on this flight seemed the same as the IFE on the A321 and A319. However, the IFE on this aircraft functioned the worse of any of the Delta flights. About half way through the flight the IFE system stopped working all together. Once it came back online it only allowed passengers to choose from a handful of films in French. I am not sure if this functionality was due to a poor IFE system on the plane or the bad weather but throughout the second half of the flight it continued to be glitchy and nearly non-functional.  IFE Screen On the surface the in-flight entertainment (IFE) system on this flight seemed the same as the IFE on the A321 and A319. However, the IFE on this aircraft functioned the worse of any of the Delta flights. About half way through the flight the IFE system stopped working all together. Once it came back online it only allowed passengers to choose from a handful of films in French. I am not sure if this functionality was due to a poor IFE system on the plane or the bad weather but throughout the second half of the flight it continued to be glitchy and nearly non-functional. Weather and Turbulence The flight attendants started beverage service and offered us a complimentary drink and snack. However, they abruptly ended service after row 14 when the captain came on the speaker and asked for the flight attendants to be seated due to rough weather ahead. The weather throughout the flight was so bad that the flight attendants never got back up again for beverage service. As we continued flying we flew directly into a thunderstorm and the plane violently shook due to the turbulence. We entered the clouds and the weather caused the plane to go up and down like a rollercoaster ride. I have been through bouts of turbulence many times on a plane but this was some of the worse I have experienced.  Thunderstorm Affecting Flight The weather and turbulence continued throughout the rest of the flight and passengers grew more and more nervous and uncomfortable on the plane. As we started our descent it was clear we were flying through a thunderstorm and it was raining hard outside our window. As we continued to descend there was zero visibility and we could not see the runway until seconds before we landed. This was one of the worst bouts of weather I have been through and one of my worst experiences ever on a plane. When we were finally let off Christina ran to the bathroom and threw up due to all of the tossing and turning of the plane. Afterwards I looked up our flight path and saw that we had indeed flown directly through a bad thunderstorm one that spawned a tornado in Virginia. The flight path showed that the pilot attempted to take us through the weakest part of the storm but it was still a terrible passenger experience.  Flight Path Take Away
This was one of the worst flights I have ever taken. It started with bad delay notifications by Delta, continued with a glitchy IFE system, and ended with what felt like a rollercoaster ride. I found Delta's reputation for operating during inclement weather is well earned but sometimes their operations can be too aggressive. Be aware of this on your next Delta flight during inclement weather. By RamonRamon is the creator of Travelling Companion. He focuses on flight review, hotel reviews, and helping stretch your travel dollars, miles, and points further. Flight Summary Delta provided a solid flight experience on this small narrow body jet and AeroMexico provided a terrible lounge experience on the ground in MEX. Pros-Good legroom and seat width for economy, large overhead bins, good in-flight snacks, USB power plug at each seat, updated bathrooms. Cons-Poor Service, Poor Lounge Experience. A Weekend in Mexico City Trip Report A Weekend in Mexico City Trip Overview Delta A321 DCA-ATL Review Delta Boeing 737-800 Economy ATL-MEX Review Hilton Mexico City Reforma Review Exploring Mexico City Delta A319 Economy MEX-ATL Review Delta A320 Economy ATL-DCA Review Aeromexico Salon Premiere Since we had no bags to check we headed straight to the AeroMexico lounge after clearing security. It was difficult to find the AeroMexico lounge since the only signs we saw after security were for the American Express lounge. After searching for a few minutes we looked up and saw the entrance sign for the lounge on the second floor. All of the lounges in Terminal 2 are on the second level above the departure gates. Once we found the lounge we also ran into another issue, we could not find an elevator to the second level. I found it to be ridiculous that there was not an easy to find elevator since many passengers are carrying luggage. We ended up having to climb what seemed like a long flight of stairs to the second floor with our luggage in tow. AeroMexico really needs to improve the ease of finding and accessing this lounge.  AeroMexico Salon Premier The Salon Premier lounge is the lounge for customers flying in AeroMexico's business class called Clase Premier. Christina and I had access to the lounge via my Priority Pass membership. Once we found the lounge we were given a very cold greeting by the check-in agent. He did not say hi or welcome when he saw us. I handed him my electronic Priority Pass card and he asked for my boarding pass which I let him know was also on my phone. After a few minutes he let us into the lounge. AeroMexico's staff really were not friendly at all which was a significant contrast with our amazing experience at the Hilton Mexico City Reforma and throughout our stay in Mexico City. Entering the lounge on the left in a very dimly lit area were newspapers and a wall with clocks showing times from cities around the world. The lounge was very loud with lots of boarding calls, loud conversations, and a soccer match playing on TV. The lounge had two bars one when you entered and one to the right of the entrance at the far end of the lounge. We walked through the lounge looking for seating and ended up in a much quieter area. This area near the Desertika Spa had red chairs in the center with lamps next to each chair and several semi-private areas to the side with eight black chairs each. While we were sitting here I was surprised that the spa was fairly busy with consistent traffic throughout our time in the lounge.  Salon Premier Seating At the rear of the lounge near the second bar was an area with a wide selection of alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic drinks and some snacks. The drink selection included a number of Mexican beers such as Bohemia, soft drinks, bottles of juice, and large containers of water.  Salon Premier Drink Options The food selection at this lounge was pathetic. They had celery, mini-carrots, tortilla chips, and cold ham sandwiches. During our time at the lounge they also brought out some warm mini-hot dogs which were terrible. On the positive side we saw one person ask the staff to bring a drink order to his seat and the staff member did so. However, staff members were difficult to find and in our room took about 20 minutes for a staff member to clear plates. Finally, the lounge made boarding announcements which were loud and nearly incomprehensible because of a muffled microphone.  Lounge Food Selection Overall, this was a poor lounge experience. Even if you have complimentary access through Priority Pass I would recommend grabbing some drinks at this lounge and leaving. I was surprised that this is the ground experience that AeroMexico provides to its business class passengers. Boarding We exited the lounge and headed towards our gate 53 for our flight to Atlanta. Terminal 2 is the newer terminal at MEX and is the home of all Delta and AeroMexico flights along with flights on AeroMar and Copa. I was impressed by the modern look of the terminal which was well lite with light emanating from what looked like polka dots throughout the ceiling. As we walked to our gate the terminal was really warm something I did not like. Boarding started eight minutes late. Check-in agents held up signs to start boarding for the business class cabin something that I had never seen before. Because of our discounted economy tickets we once again boarded in Zone 3.  MEX Gate 53 Plane and Seats This was my third Delta plane type on this trip and it was surprisingly solid for a A319. Generally, the A319 plane is used for short haul flights so the approximately 3 hour journey from MEX-ATL was on the outer limits of a comfortable A319 journey. However, I found this A319 to be a lot more comfortable than American Airline's version of the plane. We were seated in row 13 and despite boarding the plane in Zone 3 there was still space in the overhead bins since this plane featured the new larger overhead bins. The seats are about an inch wider than most of American Airlines A319 seats and the plane felt like it had more legroom and better pitch (space between middle of two seats).  Delta A319 Seats The plane also had shared AC power plugs beneath the set of seats in front of us. Because we were seated in row 13 one row behind Comfort+ (Delta's extra legroom seats) the Comfort+ seats in front of us had a convenient extra pocket which was nice for storing a phone. One additional feature that I appreciated on this plane was the updated bathrooms. There were two bathrooms at the rear of the plane which featured touch-less faucets a nice feature which I wish American Airlines would install on more of their planes.  Comfort+ Seatback Pocket Our flight ended up departing six minutes early but we taxied for about 40 minutes. I am not sure what caused this delay or if it is a typical experience at MEX but it was quite frustrating. Despite the extending taxi on the runway we ended up arriving eight minutes early which indicated to me that Delta a long taxi is normal on this route and Delta plans the scheduling accordingly. In-Flight Entertainment The A319 featured touchscreen in-flight entertainment (IFE) at every economy seat. This entertainment screen was very responsive unlike the one on Delta's 737-800. The IFE also featured a lot more options than the 737-800 and had a USB charger below the screen. My one disappointment was that the Live by Dish did not work on this flight. I wondered if this had to do with the fact that we were outside of the U.S. but even as we approached ATL it still did not work.  Delta A319 IFE Screen Meal Just like my flight from ATL-MEX this flight featured a meal service something which is not typically offered on Delta's flights to/and from Mexico. As I mentioned in my ATL-MEX review I suspect this has to do with Delta's partnership with AeroMexico which has its hub at MEX. The flight attendants came around with a choice of Biscoff cookies and a snack mix to start. I chose the snack mix and Christina chose the Biscoff cookies. This time for a meal we were offered a choice between a turkey sandwich and a fruit and cheese plate. Since I chose a sandwich on the last flight I chose the fruit and cheese plate this time and Christina chose the sandwich. Both came with a Minion sweet roll as desert and my cheese plate had three slices of cheese and some grapes. Overall, the fruit and cheese plate was a solid snack but certainly not a meal as it was advertised. Christina found her sandwich to be more substantial but average in taste. I appreciate that Delta serves a "meal" on this flight at all but I would not come into this flight hungry.  Delta MEX-ATL Meal Service Service
On my four flights with Delta this trip I saw both the highs and low of Delta's service and I would consider this flight a low. While I thought the flight attendant working first class was friendly and even came back to help clean up near the end of the flight. I thought the flight attendants working economy were not friendly. One flight attendant in particular was impatient with passengers. One passenger asked her what the meal options were and she grew frustrated at him and said give me a minute to regroup before she gave him the two options. Then later on as she served another passenger she said thank you for actually knowing the options and not asking me. I just found this to be a rude attitude to have with passengers just asking her a question. Take Away Overall, this was a solid flight on this Delta narrow body jet and a terrible experience at the AeroMexico lounge. After this flight I appreciated the additional overhead bin space, legroom, seat width, updated bathrooms, and inflight snack despite the poor service. I would recommend flying Delta's A319 on this route but spending as little time as possible in the AeroMexico lounge. By ChristinaChristina writes and edits Travelling Companion. Her writing covers expeditions, food, and culture for the blog.  Hemiciclo a Juarez A Weekend in Mexico City Trip Report A Weekend in Mexico City Trip Overview Delta A321 DCA-ATL Review Delta Boeing 737-800 Economy ATL-MEX Review Hilton Mexico City Reforma Review Exploring Mexico City Delta A319 Economy MEX-ATL Review Delta A320 Economy ATL-DCA Review For Ramon’s 30th birthday, we celebrated by visiting his 30th state Louisiana. My 30th was just a few months after his, and I was not sure how I wanted to spend it. Ramon was a hawk, looking for last-minute flight deals when Mexico City popped up. I have never been to Mexico City, but I have multiple friends who raved that the city is great. Food? Check. Art? Check. Culture? Check. Night Life? Check. So arming ourselves with a few suggestions for places to visit, we booked my 30th birthday weekend trip to MXDX. Here are some of the best things we saw and did on this quick trip: Hemiciclo a Juarez Right outside our hotel was a monument to a past Mexican president, Bendito Juarez. History nerds that we are, Ramon and I happily learned a lot about this amazing man throughout this stay. President Juarez pops up in murals, buildings, and music while walking the streets of Mexico City. Bendito Juarez was an indigenous president from Oaxaca who led Mexico through their Liberal Reform and the French Invasion. Palacio de Bellas Artes  Man, Controller of the Universe The Palacio de Bella Artes (Palace of Fine Arts) is best known for its striking architecture, along with Diego Rivera’s Man, Controller of the Universe. The original version, Man at a Crossroads, was in New York City but was destroyed by Rockefeller because of the anti-capitalism message. It is hard not to be taken aback by this piece. Ramon, who is not as enthusiastic about the arts as I am, really enjoyed taking in the mural, discovering various historical and symbolic aspects. I recommend going to the Palacio de Bella artes when it first opens. By the time we left, the place was taken over by various school and tour groups. Zócalo  Dancers in the Zócalo Zócalo is the main city square in Mexico City, the country’s version of the National Mall, but a deeper history. Zócalo was the main square during Aztec times and is now where the majority of national government business convenes. Aztec roots are not forgotten.You will find street performers dancing traditional Aztec dances, wearing traditional Aztec garb, and providing spiritual offerings and/or cleansing for a few pesos. They are definitely worth a few minutes of your time to stop and enjoy some culture. Attached to the Zocalo is the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, Templo Mayor Museum, and the National Palace. Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral  Ramon and I did a quick walk through the Cathedral, as we knew we had limited time in the city. Similar to the other cathedrals, inside you will find various chapels dedicated to various saints, along with a crypt where archbishops are laid to eternal rest. The most striking thing from this stop was learning the Spaniards used sacred ground from the Aztecs to build the church. Before entering the cathedral, there are two large glass windows on the ground that show the archeological dig of the Aztec holy ground. Templo Mayor  Temlo Mayor For the Templo Mayor, I suggest carving out a half day. This is an archeological site of the main Aztec Temple. It is breathtaking. I recommend either bushing up on Aztec history or going with a tour guide. I feel like we may have missed some important aspects of the temple. At the end of the archeological site is a beautiful museum where you can walk through the various artifacts from the dig. A worker from the museum asked if we would like to have a personal tour guide. We took him up on the offer, and so glad we did. He made the history come alive while we looked at jewelry, bones, and codex writings. Best part, it was free! We only went through the first floor of the museum since we already clocked four hours in Templo Mayor, and had to keep going. Warning: There are multiple human skulls on display, mostly from human sacrifice from the Aztecs. It is sobering, but a real part of human history. Palacio Nacional  Palacio Nacional The Palacio Nacional (National Palace) has two main attractions in addition to its unique architecture. Diego Rivera has another mural describing the history of Mexico. There is also a small museum where you can walk through the rooms occupied by President Juarez, and learn more about his remarkable life. What kept us longer at the Palacio Nacional was a group of high school kids dancing Ballet Folklorico. Ballet Folklorico is a type of national folk dance, and each state has its own specialty. Seeing the dancers was a great reminder of just how size and diversity of Mexico. Each group danced their local folk dance for the tourist, and they were fantastic. Miralto  View from Miralto After a long day in the main square, Ramon and I decided to take it easy for a nice long dinner at Miralto. Miralto is located in the Torre Latinoamericana and was a suggested stop from Ramon’s cousin for the uncompromising views of the city. The views did not disappoint. We scheduled ourselves to be there just before sunset to watch the city turn from day to night, and we were memorized of seeing the city breathe full of life. The food was forgettable; there are way better places to eat in the city. I recommend getting a drink at the bar for these views, without needing to pay for entry to the observatory, and skipping the food. Plaza de La Solidaridad Across the street from our hotel is a small plaza called the Plaza de La Solidaridad (Plaza of Solidarity). During the day, it is an open air shop, where local people are selling food, clothes, and gadgets. This is a perfect place to stock up on gifts, and to try out some street food. At night, this plaza comes alive with a local band, and some of salsa dancing. Ramon and I joined the party, hoping to dance off a few extra calories, before heading in for the night. Diego Rivera Mural Museum  Dream of a Sunday Afternoon Similar to President Juarez, Diego Rivera is everywhere. This museum is a few feet from our hotel, and finishing up restorations. We squeezed this visit in before heading to the airport. Because it was not in its full glory, the cost to get in was waved. The only piece open to the public was Rivera’s most famous painting, Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in the Alameda. Another complex piece, it would have been helpful to have someone or something walk us through the painting. It was overwhelming and beautiful. Overall, seeing the city made two things clear. 1. We were correct in focusing in one district for the first visit. 2. We need to return.  Almeda Central Some hardest parts to handle were, the size of the city, the number of people in the city, the air quality, and the altitude. Mexico City is very large. Overlooking the city from Miralta, I felt overwhelmed knowing I could never discover all of Mexico City. The city also has so many people within the borders. It is home to roughly nine million people within the proper city limits, and close to 21 million people in the greater urban area. Walking the streets can feel suffocating, especially for someone who has claustrophobia. One quiet time when we were able to enjoy the city without the sea of people was early in the morning on Saturday and Sunday. On these mornings the street in front our hotel, Avenida Juarez was closed to cars. We watched numerous people walking and biking up and down the street without a car in sight.  Avenida Juarez Mexico City can also suffer from poor air quality, and it is high in altitude. By the end of the first day, I knew we could not push ourselves the next day, and was happy to partake in hotel amenities.
All that being said, Mexico City has a spirit, unlike any other city. Ramon and I fell in love with Mexico City. The people are warm and welcoming, the culture is comfortable, and the city is beautiful. We have so much more we want to see, guaranteeing our return. What do you recommend for us to visit on our next trip to Mexico City? By RamonRamon is the creator of Travelling Companion. He focuses on flight review, hotel reviews, and helping stretch, your travel dollars, miles, and points further. Hotel Overview This was an impressive hotel with an amazing location, delightful staff, and an affordable price. It was the nicest Hilton I have ever stayed in. Pros-Centrally located in Mexico City's historic district, very friendly staff, affordable price, amazing views of Mexico City, indoor and outdoor pool, spectacular food at El Cardenal Restaurant. Cons- Poor Check-In Process, Overpriced food at Los Dones. A Weekend in Mexico City Trip Report A Weekend in Mexico City Trip Overview Delta A321 DCA-ATL Review Delta Boeing 737-800 Economy ATL-MEX Review Hilton Mexico City Reforma Review Exploring Mexico City Delta A319 Economy MEX-ATL Review Delta A320 Economy ATL-DCA Review Location Because Mexico City is big (573 square miles) and this was Christina and my first time visiting Mexico City we decided that we needed to pick a hotel that would allow us to tackle one area of the city. We are both history lovers, so we thought the best place to start would be the Centro Histórico. We picked the Hilton Mexico City Reforma to burn through some Hilton Honors points. This hotel is walking distance to many major historical sites including the Zocalo, Palacio Nacional, Templo Mayor, and the Palacio de Bella Artes. We found the location to be an amazing jumping off point to Centro Histórico, and allowed us to throughly enjoy Mexico City.  Hilton Mexico City Reforma Check In We took an Uber from the airport. The ride was 30 minutes, and 116 pesos (~$7). As we exited the car we were greeted by friendly staff who opened the doors for us as we walked in. The amiable staff was a trend that would continue throughout our stay. I was immediately impressed with the lobby which had high ceilings, a mural, an assortment of couches, and a lobby bar. Behind the lobby bar were floor to ceiling shelves with pottery and to our left of the entrance was the concierge desk. This certainly didn't feel like any Hilton I have stayed at before.  Lobby We walked up to the check-in area and saw all of the desks were occupied. After a short wait we were greeted and asked if we would like to conduct the check-in process in Spanish or English. We said that it did not matter to us confident that our Spanish we had practiced only a few months before in Spain would be sufficient. However, this was a mistake since the check-in agent spoke really quickly which meant we had to ask her to repeat herself several times. We generally are able to handle speaking in Spanish as tourists and did so throughout our trip but learned our lesson to ask to speak in English during check-in and check-out process. Outside of the language barrier the overall check-in process was very confusing and I believe was made worse by the fact that our check-in agent was new. Hilton has a cool feature which allows Hilton Honors members to pre-select a room using the app 6 am the day before check-in. We used this feature to select our room, however, the agent let us now that the room we pre-selected was no longer available but she had secured us an even better room also on a high floor. The agent also tried to up sell us by asking us first if we wanted to pay extra 200 pesos (~$11) for access to the pool and gym and then if we wanted to upgrade to a room on the executive floor which came with breakfast, a larger room, and lounge access. I found the first offer strange since I had never stayed at a hotel where pool access was not included in the rate. We contemplated this offer since we really wanted pool access but ended up declining both offers since we thought it wasn't worth it to pay extra for amenities or a larger room on our short weekend stay. However, later on when we went back down to the lobby and were told that access to the pool was included. I am not sure if this was something that was lost in translation, which would be our fault for not asking to complete the process in English, but it really made for a confusing check-in process. Room I was nervous that we would be given a room with a view of the adjacent building and not one with a view of the city, like the one we had pre-selected. However, once we opened the door to our room the fear completely disappeared.  View from the Room The room was full of light and had a sweeping view of Mexico City. From our room we could see the Palacio de Bella Artes, Torre Latinoamericana, and the Palacio Nacional. The view was so impressive that every time we came back to the room I would spend a few minutes looking our over the city. I was amazed that we got such a great room given that Christina did not have Hilton elite status.  Standard King Room The room came with a king bed, dresser, flat screen television, and a desk. I found the bed to be very comfortable with a perfect balance between hard and soft. One thing that the room lacked was sufficient plugs, an issue I run into in many hotels.  Bathroom The bathroom had a mirror above the sink along with a hair dryer. The bathroom amenities were the Hilton standard Thomas Roth and included lotion, shampoo, conditioner along with a shower cap. The bathroom also had two complimentary bottles of water which we appreciated since we walked a lot around the city. There was also a tub shower combo along with a movable rainforest shower head and great water pressure. We ran into one issue with the shower door not always closing correctly but overall the bathroom was nice. One word of caution the shower/tub combo has a large step up which I could see causing issue for older adults and people with limited mobility.  Shower/Tub Combo Dining The Hilton Mexico City Reforma has three restaurants the Terrace Restaurant, Los Dones, and El Cardenal. The Terrace Restaurant was located on the sixth floor and had floor to ceiling glass windows, and beautiful views of the city. Unfortunately, we did not get to the try the restaurant because it was closed the day of our arrival, and again on our second day for a private event, and finally completely closed the morning of our departure.  Terrace Restaurant We were really hungry after our flight to Mexico City and did not want to venture too far. We decided to have dinner at the hotel. El Cardenal was already closed so we decided to try Los Dones and this was a mistake. The first sign this was a poor choice was that on a Friday night the restaurant was empty. The atmosphere continued to disappoint from the decor to the lack of views.  Los Dones Restaurant As we sat down at the table and looked at the menu and it was really boring. We came to Mexico City to try authentic Mexican cuisine and the menu did not cater to this. We asked our friendly waiter for a wine menu and he said that they did not have one but if we asked for a type of wine he would bring us a bottle. Later on when we got the bill I realized that one reason they may not have a wine menu here is to hide the expensive prices. The bottle of Malbec we ordered cost 600 pesos (~$32) which is unheard of in a city as affordable as Mexico City. We could have stomached this better if the bottle of wine was good but it was terrible. To make matters worse as we sat and waited to order there was a fly in the restaurant. I ordered the short ribs and Christina ordered sea bass. On the positive side the short ribs were good but not actually short ribs and the sea bass was good even though it had a bit of a spicy kick. Finally, we ordered chocolate ice cream which was delicious. But, how could you go wrong with ice cream? Overall, the food was okay but expensive by Mexico City standards, and the wine was terrible and also expensive. I would recommend skipping this restaurant if you stay at the Hilton Mexico City Reforma.  Los Dones Menu Despite the disappointing first meal we decided to give another restaurant in the hotel, El Cardenal a try. El Cardenal is a local restaurant with a few locations across Mexico City and focused on authentic Mexican cuisine and Mexican culture. We were told that their was a 10 minute wait when we arrived at the restaurant. Their were numerous locals waiting as well, which was very good signs of what was to come. As we waited we perused the Mexican art El Cardenal had for sale, and admired the charming Mexican portraits on the wall.  El Cardenal When we sat down we were impressed by the table setting which included napkins branded with the restaurants name. We were greeted by an very friendly waiter. He was the definition of a good waiter always there when you needed him but not hovering.  El Cardenal Table Setting We then embarked on what can only be described as a Mexican culinary adventure trying a wide range of authentic Mexican cuisine. I ordered hot chocolate and it was fantastic. I love hot chocolate and I would go as far as to say at this was the best hot chocolate I had ever had. I believe the hot chocolate was made with real milk chocolate and I could have 10 of them. Next the friendly staff came by with a tray full of Mexican sweets called pan dulce. The pan dulce was rich and flavorful, and obviously made fresh that morning. For our main dishes I ordered the cordero (lamb) and Christina ordered the lengua (beef tongue). The staff also brought us fresh bread, which was excellent and tasted like baguettes, along with corn tortillas.  Corn Tortillas The food came out very quickly and my dish came in a clay pot. The cordero was cooked in a clay oven and surrounded by leaves for flavor. I was really impressed by the freshness of all of the food and the commitment to authenticity of El Cardenal. My one complaint was that the meat came out a little overcooked but overall I still enjoyed the cordero. When I finished my hot chocolate I ordered some mango juice. Wow was it good! The mango juice was so fresh that it tasted like it was just picked from the mango tree.  Cordero Christina's lengua came with nopales (cactus) and avocado. She really enjoyed her meal and cleaned her plate. In total our meal took about 45 minutes and we were so sad to end what was a truly a toast to some of the best cuisine Mexico has to offer. Even if you don't stay at the Hilton Mexico City Reforma I would strongly recommend that you try out El Cardenal.  Amenities The hotels amenities included a gym, pools, and a spa. All of these amenities were located on the sixth floor. We did not use the gym, but peeked inside. It seemed to be a large and well equipped gym. We did call to ask about spa prices and were blown away by the high prices we were quoted so never tried the spa. After we cleared up the confusion around the additional fee for the pool we headed up to the sixth floor on our final day in Mexico City to utilize the pool.  Hotel Spa and Gym The hotel had both an indoor pool and an outdoor lap pool. We utilized the indoor pools for several hours and it was clean and a lot of fun.  Indoor Pool The outdoor lap pool was next to the Terrace Restaurant and enjoyed nice views of Mexico City. Christina was disappointed that she did not have hear googles to enjoy a few laps in the pool.  Outdoor Pool Service
The staff at the Hilton Mexico City Reforma were delightful. They were friendly and provided great service. Everyone at the hotel seemed to take service seriously. As we walked throughout the hotel, the employees greeted us and had smiles on their faces. One day as we headed towards the elevator a staff member who was headed to the lobby saw us heading towards the elevator pressed the button and held open the elevator doors for us. These small gestures were really appreciated. The only complaint we had was that the concierge was always busy with other guests. Overall, it really seemed like the staff at this hotel actually enjoyed coming to work and were proud to deliver good service. Take Away Despite our initial mix up at check-in and the poor meal at Los Dones this hotel was very impressive and definitely the best stay I have ever had at a Hilton. The location was amazing, the staff were very friendly, the indoor pool was fun, the food at El Cardenal was fabulous, and the room offered an great view of Mexico City. Even better the hotel is affordable and standard rooms regularly go for under $140 a night during April. It is an amazing value for such a good hotel. If we did not have points expiring, we would have gladly paid the full cash to stay at this hotel. I strongly recommend the Hilton Mexico City Reforma, especially for first timers to Mexico City. By RamonRamon is the creator of Travelling Companion. He focuses on flight review, hotel reviews, and helping stretch your travel dollars, miles, and points further. Flight Summary This flight showed Delta's product at its worse and that the airplane you fly matters on Delta. Pros-Conveniently located power plugs, mood lighting. Cons-No USB power, bland food, old and poorly functioning in-flight entertainment system, and barely functional in-flight messaging. A Weekend in Mexico City Trip Report A Weekend in Mexico City Trip Overview Delta A321 DCA-ATL Review Delta Boeing 737-800 Economy ATL-MEX Review Hilton Mexico City Reforma Review Exploring Mexico City Delta A319 Economy MEX-ATL Review Delta A320 Economy ATL-DCA Review Boarding As we got off of our flight from Washington D.C. we headed straight to our gate at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) since our flight was departing in about one hour. Boarding began about 15 minutes late. Once again we boarded in Zone 3 since we bought deeply discounted tickets and did not have Delta elite status or a Delta credit card. Because this aircraft had much smaller overhead bins that the last one and we boarded in Zone 3 we were forced to check our bags at the gate. When we got on the plane it was packed and all of the overhead bins seemed to be full. This is one big reason why for those who travel often it can really help to have elite status and for those who fly even a few times a year it is worth it to sign up for your primary airline's credit card.  Boeing 737-800 Mood Lighting Boarding ended up taking a long time as the flight attendants made multiple announcements but were not helpful in clearing the aisle quickly for boarding. We ended up departing seven minutes late due to the slow boarding and delays loading luggage. Plane and Seats As we settled into our seats for this roughly three and a half hour flight I once again enjoyed the mood lighting which this time was also paired with nice boarding music. However, in general these seats were not as well padded as those on the previous flight and the interior of the plane was significantly older. One positive feature of the seat was the placement of the shared power plug. Instead of underneath the seat the plug was located on the rear of the seat in front making it much easier to access. We were seated in seats 20A and 20B which were right at the wing and obstructed some of our view but I still enjoyed the view from the wing on a clear day departing ATL.  View from the Wing In-Flight Entertainment and Messaging The in-flight entertainment (IFE) system on the plane was very old. I found it very difficult to use and it took forever to scroll through selections. This aircraft offered live-TV from Dish network which I had not noticed on my flight from DCA-ATL. However, it did not function at all during this flight. Also, as I looked through the IFE selection they were significantly fewer options than were offered on our last flight. On a side note when we finally got the IFE to work Christina and I watched the movie Detroit on this flight. While it was a good movie it was very intense and not the kind of movie which I would recommend watching on a flight 😀.  Boeing 737-800 IFE Screen In 2017 Delta rolled out complimentary in-flight messaging which allows you to use data messaging services such as I-Message, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp free in air. When I heard about this I thought it was a cool new feature but this flight was my first time using this feature. A few things to keep in mind the service does not allow you to send pictures or video only text and emojis. As I used the service I found it extremely slow and barely functional. It took a long time to send and receive even simple text only I-Messages. While I appreciate that Delta offers the service at all I really think they have a long way to go perfecting the service and I wouldn't plan on engaging in long text conversations on a Delta 737-800. Meal Most Delta flights to Mexico on U.S. carriers do not serve a meal so I was surprised when I found out that Delta serves meals on the ATL- Mexico City International Airport (MEX) route and did not know what to expect. My suspicion is that they serve meals on this route because their joint venture partner AeroMexico, in whom Delta has a 49% stake, operates its largest hub at MEX. When meal service began a choice between sandwich and a fruit and cheese plate.  Fruit and Cheese Plate I chose the ham and cheese sandwich and Christina chose the fruit and cheese plate. The fruit and cheese plate included crackers, grapes, and three types of cheese. The fruit and cheese plate was fairly boring and not filling. It was much more of a snack than lunch. Christina thought the best part of the meal was the Ghriadelli Sea Salt Chocolate which was included on the side.  Ham and Cheese Sandwich The sandwich included ham, cheese, and a tomato. The sandwich was bland and basic. My favorite part of the meal was the apple on the side. I appreciated the fact that we were offered meals on this relatively short flight but overall the meals were small, bland, and had me wishing I was able to stick to my original AeroMexico since Aero Mexico serves hot meals and tequila on flights over three hours.  View of Mexico City We touched down in a very foggy Mexico City and I was excited to start exploring the city.
Take Away After a great flight from DCA-ATL this flight demonstrated the inconsistency in Delta's product across different aircraft. As I have also said about American Airlines the aircraft you fly really matters and the same principal applies on Delta. This aircraft was old had a poor IFE system, barely functional in-flight messaging, and no USB power. While I appreciated that Delta offered a meal it was small and bland. I would only recommend flying Delta to Mexico City on 737-800 if you are able to score a great deal like we were, otherwise try to avoid this aircraft and try some of Delta's newer aircraft. I really hope that I will be able to try out AeroMexico next time I go to Mexico City. By RamonRamon is the creator of Travelling Companion. He focuses on flight review, hotel reviews, and helping stretch, your travel dollars, miles, and points further.  Delta DCA Biometrics Sign Flight Summary This short Delta flight showed Delta's potential and why the airline receives strong customer ratings. Pros-Delta Studio, new in-flight entertainment system, large overhead bins, USB power at every seat, mood lighting, new and comfortable economy seats, friendly customer service. Cons- None. A Weekend in Mexico City Trip Report A Weekend in Mexico City Trip Overview Delta A321 DCA-ATL Review Delta Boeing 737-800 Economy ATL-MEX Review Hilton Mexico City Reforma Review Exploring Mexico City Delta A319 Economy MEX-ATL Review Delta A320 Economy ATL-DCA Review Introduction Normally I would not review a flight as short as our connecting flight from Washington Regan National (DCA) to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL). However, this flight was on one of Delta's newest aircraft the A321 and provides me with an opportunity to compare the four different Delta aircraft I flew on this trip Delta DCA Presence Over the past two years Delta has significantly enhanced the experience for Delta flyers out of DCA. I believe this is an attempt to fight for business travelers in key business markets from Washington D.C. and if Delta is successful it could represent a major challenge to American Airlines in these markets. First, in April 2017 Delta introduced lie-flat seats in business class on transcontinental flights operated by Boeing 757-200 aircraft along with complimentary meals for economy passengers and free drinks and a sleep kit for Delta's extra legroom Comfort+ passengers. Second, in May 2017 Delta announced that it would test its new biometric airport experience at DCA allowing passengers to board using their fingerprint and eventually expanded this to the include Delta SkyClub access using a fingerprint. Third, in June 2018 Delta opened its renovated Delta SkyClub at DCA with an additional 1,800 square feet of space. Boarding Unfortunately, as American Airlines elite fliers without access to the renovated Delta SkyClub we enjoyed some Cava at the airport and headed to our gate for boarding. While the boarding process was underway a passenger fainted at the gate and the gate agents called for assistance. This was the first time I had ever seen this flying. Police officers showed up to check on the passenger and after he said he was fine and in no need of medical attention allowed him to board the plane. Thankfully, it seems the passenger was ok as we did not experience a medical emergency on this flight. Because we have no status or Delta credit cards we boarded in Zone 3 which is reserved for passenger who purchased deeply discounted Delta economy tickets. Plane and Seats The A321 is one of the newest planes in Delta's fleet and the airline took delivery of its first A321 in March 2016. Delta has a reputation for utilizing older planes with an average fleet age of about 17 years at the beginning of 2018. Recently, the airline begun ordering planes such as the A321 to replace its ancient MD-80/90 planes in order to use more fuel efficient airplanes.  Delta A321 I was immediately impressed as a the cabin featured mood lighting and brand new seats. The seats were well padded an very comfortable a stark contrast to the slimline and poorly padded seats on American Airlines new narrow body aircraft. The seats also had 110V outlets below the seat which were shared with the neighboring seat. Despite the fact that we boarded in Zone 3 there were still space in the overhead bins for our luggage. This is likely because of the larger overhead bins on Delta's A321 aircraft.  A321 Seat In-Flight Entertainment The in-flight entertainment (IFE) screen had a crisp and clear picture. The screen was also touchscreen and functioned very well. At the bottom of each screen at every seat was a USB power plug and a headphone jack. The IFE offered Delta Studio which featured a large selection of TV shows and movies. As American Airlines continues to remove IFE screen from all of its domestic narrow body aircraft I think Delta is making a distinction in the passenger experience by continuing to add IFE screens to additional aircraft. I definitely noticed the difference even on this short flight. Having an IFE screen allows you to plug in without needing to remember to bring your own device, download content, move items around on the small tray table in order to find space for your food and drinks along with the device, and pack it away again before the end of the flight.  A321 IFE Screen Service We departed five minutes late but ended up arriving only about one minute late for this approximately one and a half hour flight. Typically on such a short flight there is not a lot of time to judge service in economy. However, I was impressed by the Delta staff on our flight. As the captain welcomed us on board he was very friendly and over the speakers talked about college basketball. During the snack service we were offered the choice between a snack mix or Biscoff cookie. Christina was indecisive making her choice and instead of getting upset at her the flight attendant smiled and gave her both. While this is a very small gesture it is these small gestures that set Delta apart from out legacy carriers on the customer service front.  Delta Snack Service Take Away
This short flight showed Delta's great potential and why the airline often receives higher customer ratings than other legacy airlines. The airline impressed me with this new aircraft that featured a new IFE system, Delta Studio, large overhead bins, USB power at every seat, mood lighting, new and comfortable economy seats. Most importantly as an American Airlines elite what set Delta apart of this flight for me was their customer service. The crew was friendly an actually seemed to enjoy their work. I would definitely recommending flying between DCA and ATL. After finishing this flight I was interested to see how Delta would perform on my first ever flight to Mexico. |
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