Riu Palace

[UGAplaya]

Originally Posted by SW

Kind of off-topic, but I've read that there is (was?) a bit off a drop-off at the Palace's beach. Does anyone know if this has increased or decreased post-Wilma? Is there much of a difference between the Palace beach and the RIU Yucatan's beach?

Pants at dinner. Oy.

Recent pictures sent to me from the greatest Travel Agent in the world (Shammy) showed the beach to be in great shape. No drop off at all from what I could tell. Dig through this site and I bet you can find them still.

[UGAplaya]

Originally Posted by SW

Kind of off-topic, but I've read that there is (was?) a bit off a drop-off at the Palace's beach. Does anyone know if this has increased or decreased post-Wilma? Is there much of a difference between the Palace beach and the RIU Yucatan's beach?

Pants at dinner. Oy.

Look at this link....

http://www.playa.info/playa-del-carm...r-beaches.html

[SW]

Yes, Shammy's been a superhero these past few weeks!

Thanks for the link, UGAplaya...I can't tell where the water starts to get deeper, but it does look great. It also looks that the Palace may have somewhat more shade available than the Riu Yucatan, which is also good to know (it's amazing that anything is left on those palm trees after Wilma).

[Shammy]

I can't comment on what the "drop off" situation is post Wilma, but when I was at the Palace a few weeks ago, there IS a drop off once you enter the water...but not one on the beach. A few steps in, and you go from calf deep to thigh deep ocean. Not a big deal at all, unless you planned on never going all the way INTO the water!

The beach at the Yucatan and the Palace will be the same, they are right next door to each other. Matter of fact, when I was a tad hungover from the peep meet and HAD to find total shade to sit in, we moved a few chairs over and sat on the Yucatan side.

There WERE the same amount of trees on both beaches really. Don't know how many are still standing. Thing is, the Yucatan beach went further back, where the Palace beach had some dunes and then the volleyball court in that area.

[SW]

Yes, I meant to ask about the drop-off in the water. Thanks as always, Shammy! I am traveling with a non-swimmer who is very much chicken about going too deep into the water. Any sudden surprises and she runs back to shore! (I know... , it sucks). At least I can warn her about the sudden change if we end up staying there.

By the way, I have sort of a complicated reservation request and need to contact someone at the Riu Palace...if anyone happens to have the e-mail address of someone there who could help me, I'd be most grateful (feel free to PM me). I'd sent an e-mail to their general mailbox, but it's been a while and haven't heard anything.

[Shammy]

Originally Posted by SW

Yes, I meant to ask about the drop-off in the water. Thanks as always, Shammy! I am traveling with a non-swimmer who is very much chicken about going too deep into the water. Any sudden surprises and she runs back to shore! (I know... , it sucks). At least I can warn her about the sudden change if we end up staying there.

By the way, I have sort of a complicated reservation request and need to contact someone at the Riu Palace...if anyone happens to have the e-mail address of someone there who could help me, I'd be most grateful (feel free to PM me). I'd sent an e-mail to their general mailbox, but it's been a while and haven't heard anything.

There's just one e mail addy that you can send a request to...and I'd venture to say they are swamped with e mails asking what the weather is like, do I need a jacket, are you open, what's the dress code, can I have room such and such...and other assorted things.

I'll PM you the e mail address that I KNOW works, but you may already have it and still might not get a response back right now.

[jobob]

Originally Posted by Shammy

I can't comment on what the "drop off" situation is post Wilma, but when I was at the Palace a few weeks ago, there IS a drop off once you enter the water...but not one on the beach. A few steps in, and you go from calf deep to thigh deep ocean. Not a big deal at all, unless you planned on never going all the way INTO the water!

When we were there last year, beginning of Dec, the drop off in the water changed almost daily. Some days none and others like Shammy describes. 3 weeks today and we'll be eating dinner at the Palace.

[Shammy]

Originally Posted by jobob

When we were there last year, beginning of Dec, the drop off in the water changed almost daily. Some days none and others like Shammy describes. 3 weeks today and we'll be eating dinner at the Palace.

Best news I've had all day! Wonderful!

[mackzook]

I'll be at the Palace tomorrow afternoon, anyone have an idea if it will be difficult to get our rooms next to each other? Were going w/ a group and we need at least a few of the rooms together. Unfortunatley, our TA is nothing like Shammy and we don't have any good info about the hotel. Luckily I remembered the dress code, they never even mentioned that to anyone. All the men were planning to just bring shorts...

I spoke the American Airlines the other day and got our seats together... they had our kids sitting by themselves in misc. places.

Another note: I found out yesterday that the reason the other airlines are not flying in is because the control tower isn't working???? I guess it's visual landing only... that's a little scary. Anyone know more about this?

[Shammy]

Originally Posted by mackzook

I'll be at the Palace tomorrow afternoon, anyone have an idea if it will be difficult to get our rooms next to each other? Were going w/ a group and we need at least a few of the rooms together. Unfortunatley, our TA is nothing like Shammy and we don't have any good info about the hotel. Luckily I remembered the dress code, they never even mentioned that to anyone. All the men were planning to just bring shorts...

A travel agent, whether myself or anyone else, has no control over room assignments. That's up to the hotel themselves, and if they can accomodate you with that request, I'm sure they will. You could have sent en e mail directly to the hotel about a week ago requesting this so they could have made a notation of it. But they've been SO busy trying to get things picked up and tidy after Wilma, I'm just not sure handling room requests right now is what they are concerned with. They DO try, but the bottom line is no request is guaranteed, and they are based upon availability at the time of check in.

And yes, bring pants as they MUST be worn for dinner, at both the buffet and the ala carte restaurants!

[cuffedlinks]

Yes you'll need to bring pants or slacks...the courtyard area is a really nice place to have a cognac or adult beverage of your choice and a hand rolled cigar (from the area just between Don Julian and the ala carte Sir Edwards last time I was there) after the early sitting for dinner or prior to the late seating - and before or during the theatre show...

...and a quick e-mail to them still may not hurt for your adjoining room request...

[UGAplaya]

Originally Posted by cuffedlinks

Yes you'll need to bring pants or slacks...the courtyard area is a really nice place to have a cognac or adult beverage of your choice and a hand rolled cigar (from the area just between Don Julian and the ala carte Sir Edwards last time I was there) after the early sitting for dinner or prior to the late seating - and before or during the theatre show...

...and a quick e-mail to them still may not hurt for your adjoining room request...

Silly question Cuffed....but can you buy Cuban cigars in Playa? If so, what do you recommend? I'm not a smoker but I would be up for trying one.

[cuffedlinks]

Originally Posted by UGAplaya

Silly question Cuffed....but can you buy Cuban cigars in Playa? If so, what do you recommend? I'm not a smoker but I would be up for trying one.

Yes you can but I would certainly go into town to do that - its a good excuse to get you into Playa - ...Many other more educated cigar afficionados than I would be able to tell you exactly where you can go and purchase Cuban cigars that aren't really Dominicans being passed off as Cuban....I have purchased a few cuban cigars at the AI shops while at the El Dorado Royale and at Riu Palace...well the wrappers said they were anyway ...

Here's a recent thread from September '05:

Cuban Cigars - Sept. Thread

and here from earlier in '05 - this does have store names/locations too:

Cuban Cigars 2

Just click on the underlined link(s).

[Shammy]

The cigar store right across from the Tequila Barrel has Cubans. Hubby smokes cigars and knows a Cuban when he smokes one - he has bought cigars from that shop every time we have been there. When I have been in Playa without him, I always stop in to get a cigar to bring back (shhh!) and they have always been very helpful when it comes to picking a good one out for me (cause I don't smoke cigars so what the heck do I know?!).

[BuckeyeBeachLvr]

Mackzook,

I'm sure you probably aren't hanging out on Playa.info when you're in Mexico BUT if you are can you let me know how the Palace looks ? (I saw the Apple Vacation photos and it looked good but they also showed Lindo & didn't bother showing the damage photos that I could find). How's the beach ?
Our Nov. 7 trip to the Lindo got cancelled with flight problems. I rebooked for the Riu Palace in Cabo for Dec. but am having second thoughts that I should go for Riu Palace PDC instead. I worry it may be a good bit cooler in Cabo in Dec. although they are supposed to have a heated pool there plus nothing beats the water on the PDC side. My heart was set on PDC before and although everyone who has been to Cabo loved it I just hate not going to my original choice. On the other hand, my husband said he'll do whatever I want but the hotel had better be right (he's ok with the vegetation and trees & knows that will be a bit sparse).
Thanks!