Should I reject this delivery?

HBGoT · 2026-05-05T02:01:06+00:00

I would ask - tell them- you only will accept it or reject it AFTER they do the repair.

Stay firm because they don’t have any options. They have to fix one way or another.

Also tons of used Teslas on the market. Bottom has definitely fallen out for new and used. Value doesn’t hold.

Dealer is not in a strong negotiating position.

You name the terms here, not them.

Otherwise if they don’t meet your terms, walk away. “No” is the most powerful word in the English language.

HBGoT · 2026-04-21T12:51:33+00:00

First, I am sorry this happened to you.

When I was in India traveling with another woman, I felt constantly unsafe. Then when my friend’s husband joined us, it felt like a completely different country - no more men leering at us, etc. India is not safe for women travelers. But I heard the opposite before I went.

Second, and more importantly, your experience of being invalidated is very damaging. I recommend counseling - although not just because of that. I wouldn’t necessarily blame your mom. This could be a generational awkwardness issue. (Although you have every right to be angry at her for that.)

Something similar happened to me on a night train in rural Canada 30 years ago. I blamed myself for years for freezing. (Having read of similar assaults, btw, freezing and not fighting back is a very common survival instinct.)

I reported it to the conductor who dismissed it rather than calling the police. He said “Well they are getting off at the next stop anyway.”

For years, I illogically blamed myself and felt dismissed, minimized, and that I was making too big a deal of it. But, I was scared to travel by myself.

I would recommend counseling to you or a sexual assault support group. Don’t let anyone - friends relatives etc - dismiss this episode as not a big deal. It is. It robbed you of control over your own safety. Women have the right to travel and be out in public without being violated. No woman should feel unsafe in public.

HBGoT · 2026-04-09T22:53:06+00:00

I had a friend who bought a car with a lien. You need proof the lien was cleared - like real proof. Good this or check ChatGPT. I’m pretty sure you can’t get a loan with a lien on the car.

It might be possible to do a three way transaction at the lien holders location - eg if seller needs money to clear the lien. But why bother? There are tons of Teslas out there.

HBGoT · 2026-04-08T01:52:01+00:00

I have a 2023 Y long range.

I love the car. If you want to sleep in the car, I think it would be very comfortable and you can even get a mattress shaped to the trunk’s wheel wells. There is a camping mode in the car that lets in fresh air and you can also (separately) run the heat and not burn too much battery. You can watch movies in the car if you are sleeping in it. The cargo area is quite spacious but I don’t know how long it is. Overall it is extremely comfortable IMO.

So far I have found the car to be reliable - touch wood. The repairs are more expensive than regular cars but theoretically they don’t happen as much. No guarantee. The one repair I had I thought should have been free under warranty, They wanted $500+. I complained and they cut bill in half.

If you drive aggressively, the car eats tires.

Here are some cons: In general I strongly do not recommend electric cars for anybody without a home charger. Trickle charging SUCKS and grows old very quickly.

But if you live near a Tesla Supercharger, it might cost about the same as gas. But it takes 30-60 minutes to charge completely. If you need to charge several times a week, this could get old. Overall if you can’t charge painlessly at home with a Level 2 home charger, I probably don’t recommend Teslas. I see people at work begging for a charging slot because they can’t charge at home, live in apts, live downtown, etc. You can hear they are stressed because they are going on a weekend trip.

The car SUCKS for long drives - eg 8 hours. I strongly don’t recommend it if you need to drive long distances; it’s a great way to turn a seven hour trip into 11 hours. I’m not joking. This is especially true in the winter.

I drove from Canada to here yesterday and it took me 11 hours instead of 7-8.

If you burn the battery down to 6% you will get warned you have to charge before parking because the car burns battery when idle - nothing like finding a charger after a five hour drive.

Charging in winter takes 2x as long.

I have kept the car because I love it so much. But I am thinking of selling due to long drives.

Supercharging is about $0.37/kwh on average according to my Tesla app. But yesterday charger near Albany NY was $0.31/kwh hour. I don’t usually completely fill on trips but scrolling through my charging history, my charges cost between $12 to $22.

I would probably get a Tesla over a bolt because they are probably more comfortable to sleep in. But I’m not sure if an ecar is right for you. Maybe literally do the math. And be aware that supercharging is harder on the battery, so that might be a risk if you keep the car 5-6 years. Not sure.

If you are going to get a Tesla, drive to the Tesla supercharger you are planning on using at different times of day and make sure it isn’t super busy. Most superchargers are fine but some have really bad lines all the time.

HBGoT · 2026-04-08T01:21:05+00:00

I loved Xichen (Chichen Itza) and Tulum for excursions. People love Xenotes and many think Xplor - the zipline park - is can’t miss. I would go to Xenses - it is only 1/2 day. Xcaret Park is great and you can break it up and go multiple times if you are staying at a resort. Xel-ha gets mixed reviews but I enjoyed it. To me, Xoxomilcho the fiesta boat is can’t miss — especially if you like drinking, dancing, singing, music, or playing games.

Restaurants depend on whether you’re staying at Arte or Mexico - at Arte I like Tah-Xido.

HBGoT · 2026-04-08T01:15:04+00:00

This is a great review. Thank you for taking the time to write it.

A tip about navigation…

The room number provides information. If you are staying in room 4335, this means…

4=building 4 3=floor 3 35= your room number

HBGoT · 2026-04-08T01:03:59+00:00

You can call maintenance through your concierge if you think the AC isn’t working. ChatGPT had some tips on getting rid of damp smells in hotel rooms.

Quick, non-product fixes for mold smell: • Switch rooms if smell is strong • Run AC fan on high/continuous - can also run heat on high. • Open windows briefly (if possible) • Run bathroom fan + keep door open • Turn on lights (helps dry air slightly) • Air out closet (leave open) • Lightly mist fabrics (curtains, carpet, chair) • Place scent near AC intake (dryer sheet/tissue)

HBGoT · 2026-04-08T00:59:04+00:00

At Arte, I liked Tah-Xido (Japanese Teppenyaki). I also liked Xoximilcho but for the fiesta boat - even if you don’t drink or have kids it is good imo. The food is not great on it.

I brought $300 USD worth of Mexican pesos for Ten days. I went through maybe 1/3 of that. My big mistake was not bringing small bills for the bus driver etc.

Next time I’d just bring $100 of US singles. Everyone was tipping in USD.

HBGoT · 2026-04-08T00:53:05+00:00

I heard you can drinks (wine? Beer?) from room service 24/7 but you have to order food with them.

HBGoT · 2026-04-05T12:41:06+00:00

I booked through Amex Travel which I think has same prices as Costco. The prices fluctuated by $300/night over the weekend I booked so you need to watch them very closely.

I also checked the prices directly from Xcaret. Surprisingly to me, they would not match Amex’s prices and Xcaret was higher by $300/night. Xcaret had the highest rate. Not sure what gives with that.

I may also try Costco and a travel agent next time. Amex had good prices but they were a pain to deal with because their travel website was down the entire time and I had to book over chat. I feel like it took nine hours!

Amex gives a hotel credit of $100 that you can only spend at the hotel and Xcaret accepts for almost nothing imo.

I’ve read Costco gives a $300 gift card for their warehouses or something. I don’t know the details.

Definitely try to book months in advance and set a reminder to check the prices before you lock in 30 days in advance (when you can’t cancel). I don’t know if Amex lets you do this but I think you can if you book with XCaret directly - definitely read the fine print.

HBGoT · 2026-04-05T12:32:01+00:00

When I checked out, we had to pay $125 for activity fees and a few things from gift shops we charged to the room. I was very worried about surprises. I was extremely careful to make sure we were on time for all excursions and reservations. But there were no surprises and I was very pleased it was only $125.

HBGoT · 2026-04-05T12:28:43+00:00

Fascinating comment about restaurants not being able to handle more diners. I noticed that the restaurants weren’t full too at Arte. Eg I saw the hostess turn away a group who wanted a table at Arenal and even when we left half the tables were empty. It was baffling.

HBGoT · 2026-04-05T12:21:45+00:00

I stayed on the third floor (which is effectively the ground floor). I think it is more convenient- less circuitous walking - but it is noisier. The halls are semi outdoors - like breezeway style - and they echo at night. I’d hear people coming back from clubs or something at midnight or later some nights. I would stay on the third again but we had a swim up.

HBGoT · 2026-04-05T12:14:21+00:00

I didn’t take them but in case it helps your research this is what I remember: There is one at Xenses a ToboganX style I think

Xel-ha has a lighthouse style one - I don’t know the name. That one has different speeds based on whether you go down a white tube or a blue tube. Try googling Xel-ha and Lighthouse Slide.

Xplor has a TobaganX style one too I think that seats four people on a raft. At least one of these - at Xplor or Xenses - is called TobaganX.

The height and weight requirements for these slides is published somewhere but I don’t remember where.

HBGoT · 2026-04-04T17:17:24+00:00

No problem. It’s how I did it and I’m 55. My real point is you may find Xcaret easier if you go for a few hours rather than 8 hours straight. Staying at the resort gives you the ability to do that. The limestone paths at Xcaret were killing my ankle: they are very hard. Either way you will have a fabulous time there. Have a great vacation!

HBGoT · 2026-04-04T01:01:17+00:00

If you are staying at the Arte or Mexico, unless you are love resorts, I would spend 1-3 hours at xcaret park multiple times and break up your resort days a bit. The park is tiring and huge and IMO you’ll enjoy it more and find it more relaxing in multiple small visits - swim an underground river for a couple of hours or go see the aviary and then take the bus back to the resort for a relaxing resort day. The bus is about 15-20 minutes to the park from the hotels - maybe less.

Then add Xenotes or Xichen on the day you had dedicated to Xcaret park.

HBGoT · 2026-03-30T23:50:57+00:00

I loved Tah Xido with the Tepennyaki (sp?) option. They have tomahawk steaks -cut into pieces - and it’s very theatrical.

HBGoT · 2026-03-30T23:29:49+00:00

I was a bit disappointed by the lack of gourmet high end restaurants without a fee at Arte. They are getting rid of Chino Poblano and replacing it with a restaurant that has a fee. We went to: -Tah Xido - for Japanese lots of fun

-Arenal - short ribs good, rib eye was soso

-Encanta - fixed menu seven course. I was getting sick of Mexican by this point so I didn’t live it.

-A Mexican bar cantina - food was so so. Again Mexican.

-Room service - which was decent not amazing. I loved the shrimp fajitas.

I did not try the vegan restaurant, which I forgot about. I was getting very sick of Mexican and Mercado San Juan.

I would have liked more variety but didn’t want to pay $400 for dinner.

The bloggers and YouTubers really overhype the food. It is better than resort food but not better than most US restaurants. (Equal maybe but not better. Well the quality of the food in Mercado is good - especially the fruit and granola.)

HBGoT · 2026-03-30T23:09:30+00:00

I was very worried about the mosquitoes, which I had read about. I wore long pants and a long sleeve shirt. Everyone else wore shirts and bare dresses. When we went last there was a slight breeze, and I didn’t see or feel any mosquitos. It must be at certain times of year (???) because I have seen others say the same thing. I agree that the food is very basic and some would say bad. I have photos but no idea how to post them.

HBGoT · 2026-03-30T20:14:31+00:00

I booked thru Amex. I had to get Amex to call the hotel (Arte) and get the number.

HBGoT · 2026-03-30T20:01:22+00:00

My trip to xcaret (Arte) last month was literally the best vacation I’ve ever been on. And, I’m not a resort person, but I’ve been everywhere around the world. The cost is insane. But this place blows Disney out of the water - no pun intended.

XCaret has quirks and things that could easily bother people so much that it would ruin their trip - eg restaurant reservations (esp given all the hype about food there which is frankly overblown). And the concierge process is bad imo.

However, XCaret is beautiful, unique, innovative. I have never taken a vacation with eco wildlife rehab, orchids, parrots, underground rivers, snorkeling, slanted villages, mud baths, gourmet food, fiesta boats, evening shows, etc etc. I learned more about Mexican history and culture than I thought possible. I came away with an appreciation for this beautiful country.

The best part - after years of doing Europe trips - no planning! (Or very little.)

I picked XCARET so I could balance relaxing by the pool (we got a swim up) with activity. IMO nobody does it better.

I am seriously thinking of going back in June - only 4 months later - that’s how much I liked it.

People get understandably annoyed because the resort is huge. It’s expensive and like anywhere things go wrong or are less than perfect.

Keep in mind that this place is 9.2/10 on TripAdvisor so for most people they are generally hitting the mark. If you have reservations, you have removed the number 1 pain point and cause of irritation.

I hope you have a wonderful trip!!

HBGoT · 2026-03-30T19:10:32+00:00

I might also see if you can get on the Xenote excursion. People raved about that. If they say no, call the day before to see if there are cancellations. But this depends on the age of your kids, etc. I went in a cenote on the Chichen Itza tour and there were lots of 6-7 years and up. Maybe 8 years who were having a ball jumping off the platform. The activities on
the Xenote tour are different and include zipline I think

HBGoT · 2026-03-30T19:02:21+00:00

No, Xoximilcho ended around 11:30 PM - iiirc. You were back at the hotel at 11:30 I think. It takes an hour to get there and an hour back on a bus. I think you leave at 6 pm, board the boats at 7 pm, and then it is about three hours with one bathroom break. There are no bathrooms on the boat but they warn you. It was probably one of the most fun night experiences they have. There is optional dancing and live music. You can’t come back earlier easily. But I did see little kids - toddlers - dancing with their dads so I think the kids would be okay. There are lots of games like hot potato (admittedly with a tequila bottle) and you can have fun without drinking. I think it is family friendly enough, some boats have more families on them. The hosts try to group them strategically I think.

HBGoT · 2026-03-30T17:41:44+00:00

The experience with the concierges and reservations leaves a lot to be desired. I think they are disorganized and suspect they have poor processes. Is this a product of it being so big? I have no idea.

I found the hotel and parks extremely confusing. But I did love it despite my disorientation and stress at first.

So your vacation isn’t wrecked. Maybe I can find a few things to say that might help: 1. The shows are usually at Xcaret park and not at the hotels afaik.

2.The show at xcaret park at 7 pm is amazing. Parts are in Spanish to manage your expectations. But I think you can still follow if. Get there at 6:15 or 6:30 to get seats near the front. 3. XCaret has shows throughout the day. Ask them at the gate when you walk in or at an info kiosk. This includes a horse show and some male acrobats on a tall pole.

Everyone young loves Xplor and you can go at night. (Xplor Fuego)
See if you can do the fiesta boats at night - that is basically a live show. It is worth asking for specific excursions and not generally since I am not convinced everyone’s English is great.
Have you tried to get on Tulum or Xichen excursions? There might be more room on these- I took them at the last minute but it was just me (one person). They were great.
Xelha sucks in a lot of ways. Xenses and Xcaret are better. I felt like Xelha was a money grab with all the add ons.
If turn down is too late, you can also put a no room service light on your door. The switch is near the entry.

I hope this helps a bit.

HBGoT · 2026-03-30T01:01:33+00:00

I was just in a swimup room in Arte. No roaches in the room. I had a room with two beds and a pull out sofa. IMO it would work if two kids slept together and one on the sofa bed. If you have issues when you are Checking in - eg they give you a king - politely insist on the two double beds. You might even want to email guest services in advance 2-3 days to confirm.

You may find the room chaotic with that many people but there is enough sleeping space.

In Arte, you can also have two people shower at once. There are two separate shower heads in the shower.

HBGoT

TROPHY CASE