What’s the deal or key draw with Margaritaville?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My take is that it's for older white people who think vacations are all about day drinking, listening to 70s and 80s music, and getting some sun. It's not my thing, but I won't fault anyone who wants to recreate the kind of fun they had in 1987 during spring break in Key West. There is clearly a large audience for it.

Idk, the one hotel I have been to was not like that at all. Just upscale, quiet beachy vibes. The pool and restaurants/gift shops are tropical-themed but the rest is not at all in a kitschy way and is all soothing colors, very clean and nice. So my view is you could go all out pounding pina coladas by the pool and listening to cheesy music, or not at all and make it relaxing and spa-like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fat, middle class, drunk people from flyover country.

I posted before but this was not at all the vibe at the Wyndham Rio Mar. it was. Upper middle class families and empty nest uMC golfers, I think. I don’t think I heard any Jimmy Buffett when I was there.
https://www.margaritavilleresorts.com/margaritaville-vacation-club-rio-mar

Aren't they just sort of normal, upper middle range all inclusives? I think the Buffett branding is really just because people love him and - like pp said - associate him with a relaxed, fun time. We live in Florida and drive past a Margaritaville condo complex fairly often - and if you didn't know Margaritaville's association, you'd just think it was a regular old waterfront place.

I've never been to one, though. I assume they're pretty nice?

Why don't you go to one OP and see what you think. Life is for living.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you truly this dense, or were you just feeling desperate to be a snob on the internet today?

Lots of folks are fans of this particular brand of kitsch.

+1
Come on, OP. Do you wonder the same thing about Disneyworld fans? Or visiting-sports-stadiums fans? Or national parks fans? Different people have fun with different things.

I'll come to the defense of the OP because I've asked myself the same question. Your examples are more well known. The overwhelming majority know what to expect from Disney, sports, or national parks. I know Jimmy Buffet exists as a musician but I have no clue why he would have travel destinations named after him and who it would attract. Especially when there aren't other musicians with something similar.

They advertise heavily on Wheel of Fortune. That should tell you something.

[Anonymous]

It's just a vibe that resonates with a lot of people, especially of a certain age.
My idea of heaven is the Great Lakes, boats, lighthouses, sand dunes and the woods. FIL's idea of heaven is this Margaritaville thing. His is more popular than mine so he gets a whole chain catering to him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you truly this dense, or were you just feeling desperate to be a snob on the internet today?

Lots of folks are fans of this particular brand of kitsch.

+1
Come on, OP. Do you wonder the same thing about Disneyworld fans? Or visiting-sports-stadiums fans? Or national parks fans? Different people have fun with different things.

I'll come to the defense of the OP because I've asked myself the same question. Your examples are more well known. The overwhelming majority know what to expect from Disney, sports, or national parks. I know Jimmy Buffet exists as a musician but I have no clue why he would have travel destinations named after him and who it would attract. Especially when there aren't other musicians with something similar.

They advertise heavily on Wheel of Fortune. That should tell you something.

Lol. Telling.

[Anonymous]

I only found out recently that Jimmy Buffet was Warren Buffet's cousin. Same genes, but different vibe.

[Anonymous]

My husband won a 5-night 4-day stay at the resort in Nassau through a work lottery. The company was trying to get more donors for their annual blood drive and raffled off various prizes.
And that's what he won!

It was nice. Didn't like the location (so close to the cruise port) but the rooms were clean, nice pool, good service. Several waterslides- there were tons of families. Didn't seem any different to me than any other large, branded resort in the Caribbean or Mexico.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I only found out recently that Jimmy Buffet was Warren Buffet's cousin. Same genes, but different vibe.

But both have great reputations as decent people - and made tons of money in ways that don't seem scummy at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I only found out recently that Jimmy Buffet was Warren Buffet's cousin. Same genes, but different vibe.

Today I learned...

I'm not surprised that the Margaritaville vibe has been corporatized. For people that came up in the 70s and 80s, the beach bar was certainly a thing. But day drinking margaritas is absolutely brutal for people in their 50s and 60s. You can do it when you're 25. But woe to the people still rolling like that at 50. It would take me three days to recover and it'd be a waste of a vacation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I only found out recently that Jimmy Buffet was Warren Buffet's cousin. Same genes, but different vibe.

But both have great reputations as decent people - and made tons of money in ways that don't seem scummy at all.

Yes. They both seem like two of the more decent wealthy celebrities. I like Jimmy Buffet and his music.

[Anonymous]

I stayed at the one within the Wyndham complex in Rio Mar PR. It’s a time share but I picked up a room through a travel site where people sell their unused weeks.

It was a great deal and came with access to all of the Wyndham facilities. The room was much nicer the hotel and it had a small kitchenette, a buffet blender etc., It was modern, bright and clean with a comfy bed.

Parking was free and there was no resort fee and it was less expensive. The room was much nicer room with a small kitchen (cooktop, microwave, sink and fridge. I’m not a drinker or partier but I would choose it any day over the Wyndham. It’s a great location for families staying in Rio Mar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boomer alcoholic STD fest

Pretty much. It's for people who would live in The Villages.

This. I like Jimmy Buffett, and I'm in the right age range, but these resorts and things are for heavy drinkers and partiers who are 50+.

More like 60+! People in their 50s are Xers and don't engage in the same nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I stayed at the one within the Wyndham complex in Rio Mar PR. It’s a time share but I picked up a room through a travel site where people sell their unused weeks.

It was a great deal and came with access to all of the Wyndham facilities. The room was much nicer the hotel and it had a small kitchenette, a buffet blender etc., It was modern, bright and clean with a comfy bed.

Parking was free and there was no resort fee and it was less expensive. The room was much nicer room with a small kitchen (cooktop, microwave, sink and fridge. I’m not a drinker or partier but I would choose it any day over the Wyndham. It’s a great location for families staying in Rio Mar.

Which site do you use for this? I've looked into it before, but always worried about getting a dud resort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are not the core demographic.

Disagree. I stayed at Margaritaville in the Orlando area and there were many, many black people AND white people.

What?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boomer alcoholic STD fest

Pretty much. It's for people who would live in The Villages.

They don’t need the Villages.
They have Margaritaville communities now.