Dinner Time: Poll

What time do most of you find yourselves eating dinner while on vaction?

The reason I ask is becasue our AI (Riu Palace) has reserved dining times in the evenings. They, as some of you know, have two seatings (6:30 ish and 8:30ish). My fiance and I were talking about this and we agree that the later seating would be better. This way we can take our time back from the beach, have a little snooze (read: nookie), shower, get dressed, and leisurely saunter over to the resteraunt. Also, if we're on a day trip (planning trips to cenotes, coba, and Cozumel) there is no reason to rush back. Guess I kind of answered my own question ... but I'd still love to hear what you all have to say.

Around 8:30 or 9:00

[tommy]

where is the poll?

Originally Posted by sun seekers

where is the poll?

Can you actually post a poll? I don't think I know how.

[tommy]

Look under thread tools in the drop down box to the upper middle right next to "Search this thread" select the "Add a poll to this thread" button and then set up your poll...you can select as many options as you see fit!

Originally Posted by sun seekers

Look under thread tools in the drop down box to the upper middle right next to "Search this thread" select the "Add a poll to this thread" button and then set up your poll...you can select as many options as you see fit!

Thank you.

[tommy]

No Problem....Now if you want to add a poll to a thread before you post it look down on the bottom and it is right there for you to do...

Nice work by the way...Much better...and I voted!

After the BUZZ wears off. We normally eat later since we want to enjoy the sun as much as possible.

[solcats3]

Hubby and I aren't big drinkers, so the buzz-factor isn't relevant to us. We find ourselves up with the sun and from there we run on what we laughingly call "old folks time" - we would qualify for Early Birds' Special, if there were such a thing. Dinner generally between 6:00 - 6:30. Big advantage of this is that good tables are easier to come by.

Originally Posted by solcats3

Hubby and I aren't big drinkers, so the buzz-factor isn't relevant to us. We find ourselves up with the sun and from there we run on what we laughingly call "old folks time" - we would qualify for Early Birds' Special, if there were such a thing. Dinner generally between 6:00 - 6:30. Big advantage of this is that good tables are easier to come by.

I'm more of a night time drinker myself. I mostly drink H2O on the beach and leave the libations to night time. Makes getting up early a bit of a chore but it saves from the mid-afternoon pre-hangover hangover. Strange, but when I drink alcohol during the day, by 5 O'clock I've got a raging headache.

[jobob]

BigSmoke, we've been to the Palace twice, both times in December and will be booking again this week for this coming Dec. We like the early seating, mind you it's dark at 5:00ish so you leave the beach at 4:00. If you want to take in the theatre in the evening it's tough to find a seat if you're at the late seating. If you're out on a day trip somewhere and late getting back they'll accomodate a change without any problem. When we were last there most people chose the early seating. They totally closed off one section for the 2nd seating.
Bob

Originally Posted by jobob

BigSmoke, we've been to the Palace twice, both times in December and will be booking again this week for this coming Dec. We like the early seating, mind you it's dark at 5:00ish so you leave the beach at 4:00. If you want to take in the theatre in the evening it's tough to find a seat if you're at the late seating. If you're out on a day trip somewhere and late getting back they'll accomodate a change without any problem. When we were last there most people chose the early seating. They totally closed off one section for the 2nd seating.
Bob

Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it. We'll be there in July. Do the Mexican's observe daylight savings time?

Nice to know that your seating isn't "set in stone." I didn't think they were apt to letting you starve at thier flagship resort.

Like a friend of mine said ... "What are they going to do? Tell you that you can't eat?"

You Make a very valid point and make good sense too.

Thanks.

P.S. What were your general (or specific) observations about the resort. Since you've already been twice and are planning a return, I can guess you've had mostly favourable experiences?

[Coral Reef]

So the times aren't set in stone? Can you eat any time? Why do they have the seating times, then?

The assigned seating time for the buffet is the main reason we haven't tried a RIU property. They are often on our shortlist, but I am really turned off by having an assigned time for the buffet. Also, I've read that you have to get up early in the morning and stand in line to make a la carte reservations. This all sounds like a hassle to me, since other comparable AIs don't make you do these things. That kind of rigid scheduling is a major reason why we stopped taking cruises.

I would be interested in hearing more about how much flexibility there really is at RIUs. Maybe I've been writing off RIU for a reason that isn't really applicable...?

[tommy]

Originally Posted by TheBigSmoke

Do the Mexican's observe daylight savings time?

The Mexicans here in Houston do!!!

Oh sorry you meant does Playa observe daylight savings time? YES they do now...They are on Central Standard Time!

[Shammy]

Originally Posted by Coral Reef

So the times aren't set in stone? Can you eat any time? Why do they have the seating times, then?

The assigned seating time for the buffet is the main reason we haven't tried a RIU property. They are often on our shortlist, but I am really turned off by having an assigned time for the buffet. Also, I've read that you have to get up early in the morning and stand in line to make a la carte reservations. This all sounds like a hassle to me, since other comparable AIs don't make you do these things. That kind of rigid scheduling is a major reason why we stopped taking cruises.

I would be interested in hearing more about how much flexibility there really is at RIUs. Maybe I've been writing off RIU for a reason that isn't really applicable...?

You really DO have to choose either and early or a late seating and abide by it as much as you can. If you choose the early (6:30PM), they want you to be there on time, or "fashionably late" if that so happens (within 15-20 minutes). Same deal withe the late seating (8:30PM).

You choose your seating by showing up at one or the other the first night. The host will show you a table and that will be your table for the rest of your stay. Say for instance you choose the early seating, are expected by 6:30 but don't show up until 7:30. You are then sitting at a table that is assigned to someone at the 8:30 seating and if you are not done within an hour or even a bit before so they can get the table reset, you will delay the late folks from sitting at their table, which isn't fair to them. See where the problem lies if you don't follow the "rules". Certainly you can make other arrangements if you take an excursion or will be late because you are off the property or have something you must do, so mention this to someone and they will accommodate you. But you won't be able to get into the habit of showing up "whenever you feel like it" once you choose your seating without messing up the schedule.

And yes, you do have to make your ala carte dinner reservations early in the morning if you want the greatest choice of times.