Do you rent the palapas through...

Do you rent the palapas through Marriott? I read that the beach in front of the Ocean Club is a public beach and now there is another palapa vendor. Do they both charge the same price and do you have to get there at the crack of dawn? Is it also a problem getting beach chairs with umbrellas/shade by the pool too?

We go down around 9:oo am and there is always palapas available for free and lots of room around the pool. If you REALLY want to be close to the ocean, there is a smal charge through the hotel. We don't see the need. We walk the beach a lot and like the pool and the palapas. You can get out of the sun easier with a palapa.(move the chairs, more room) Tip: Walk down the beach to "The Beach Bar" and drink and eat at half the price of the Marriott. In front of the Playa Linda Resort. The Marriott Surf Club is very bad and yes, crack of dawn, no room, rude people from NYC!

Palapa availability? Depends when you go. Xmas, February and April vacation weeks, college breaks, “hell week”, etc, are difficult to find an empty spot. Other weeks are much easier. Technically, if the palapa is vacant, the beach staff should release it. Regardless of how much stuff is left behind. This is seldom enforced, even if you approach the staff.