Whats the BEST AI Resort in Playa del Carmen area?

simonpatrick100 · 10-20-2005

There might be an availabilty problem at ASP for our visit in November, so wonder what people though would be the BEST second choice?

Many thanks,

Simon P

kathyb · 10-20-2005

I would recommend one of the Secrets resorts - Excellence or Capri. They are both adults only, offer all ala carte restaurants with no reservations and the food and service is 5 star. Capri has a nicer beach and is closer to Playa than Excellence but Excellence has a little more to offer in entertainment. Capri is a small intimate resort with only 220 rooms where Excellence has more in the range of 400. I don't think you would be disappointed in either.

**Shammy** · 10-20-2005

I agree, the Secrets Resorts are very posh, more so than the ASP.

But if those prices give you sticker shock, look into the Riu Palace as well...if they still have availability.

simonpatrick100 · 10-20-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shammy

I agree, the Secrets Resorts are very posh, more so than the ASP.

But if those prices give you sticker shock, look into the Riu Palace as well...if they still have availability.

I notice there are two Riu Palace resorts in the area?

JudyBluEyes · 10-20-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by simonpatrick100

I notice there are two Riu Palace resorts in the area?

One is not yet complete. The Riu Palace Mexico is the one Shammy is referring to. The Riu Palace Riviera Maya is due to open in Feb 2006.

simonpatrick100 · 10-20-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by JudyBluEyes

One is not yet complete. The Riu Palace Mexico is the one Shammy is referring to. The Riu Palace Riviera Maya is due to open in Feb 2006.

Sorry if sound daft LOL

....is this the one?

JudyBluEyes · 10-20-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by simonpatrick100

Sorry if sound daft LOL

....is this the one?

Yep, that looks like the Riu Palace Mexico all right.

Jacko · 10-20-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by simonpatrick100

Sorry if sound daft LOL

....is this the one?

Yep and it is great! We stayed there two years ago.....

actran · 10-20-2005

I gotta give a vote to Royal Hideaway. Had a couple of fabulous vacations there.

summer05 · 10-21-2005

We were at the Riu Palace Mexico in July and it was excellent!! Personally, I would take it over the Royal Hideaway because of the erosion at RH.

actran · 10-21-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by summer05

We were at the Riu Palace Mexico in July and it was excellent!! Personally, I would take it over the Royal Hideaway because of the erosion at RH.

Recent pictures show ther Royal Hideaway has a smooth beach now with no dropoff/erosion.
I've heard the Rui Palace is very nice though. Royal Hideaway is smaller and more intimate, less walking I would think. A big plus for me was at Rui Palace you have to get up early to make dinner reservations every day, whereas at RH you can make them all with your concierge when you arrive.
Some people don't like to have to make reservations though. Also, RH has a no kids under 13 policy and it is so kid un-friendly you see very few around.

I think I might like to go to the Rui Palace with my kids (teens) though. I suppose I could always make my DH go early and make those dinner reservations.

Let's hope all these resorts and more importantly, all the people down there survive Wilma.

bri-guy · 10-21-2005

If you want a nice beach,try the Gala resort.We were last there Nov.03 and are returning this December for two weeks this time.The beach is by far the nicest, and biggest in playacar.Hopefully Wilma hasn't destroyed it.

**Shammy** · 10-21-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by actran

Recent pictures show ther Royal Hideaway has a smooth beach now with no dropoff/erosion.

That's not entirely true, well...wasn't true LAST week. NEXT week, I don't think there will be much beach left to worry about.

Anyway, there is a slope toward the ocean from the pool area at the RH, and when you stert getting into the water, there is a drop off there as well. However, even though the Riu Palace beach is "flatter", they also have that same drop going into the ocean.

Quote:

Originally Posted by actran

A big plus for me was at Rui Palace you have to get up early to make dinner reservations every day, whereas at RH you can make them all with your concierge when you arrive.

Yes, having the concierge do it would of course be a plus...but you no longer have to get up early to make your ala carte reservations. In fact, they will only take them beginning at 10 AM, in front of the buffet restaurant.

As far as taking the kids...I think you'd really like the Palace, and the kids would be fine there. SO much better than your last experience too.

MsRubio · 10-23-2005

Barcelo Maya...best beach I have ever seen...never crowded...hotel can be at full capacity and yet the beach is never crowded. Service was outstanding. Food was great. We did the Spanish restaurant...we were served champagne because it was our anniversary and they knew it...we always had turn down service...towel art on the bed...flowers in the room and the mini fridge was always stocked with Modelo and water and soda. Pools were great with swim up bars and never any problem getting a chair around the pool...no need to play the towel game. If we ever did AI again this is where we would go without thinking twice.

MsRubio · 10-23-2005

Here is the pool at Barcelo...there are two pools like this one.

One of the two swim up bars.

Here is the never crowded beach.

10-20-2005	#1 (permalink)
simonpatrick100 very sparkly Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: London Posts: 26	Whats the BEST AI Resort in Playa del Carmen area? There might be an availabilty problem at ASP for our visit in November, so wonder what people though would be the BEST second choice? Many thanks, Simon P

10-23-2005	#15 (permalink)
MsRubio añejo Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Top of the Chesapeake Bay, Md Posts: 6,521	Here is the pool at Barcelo...there are two pools like this one. One of the two swim up bars. Here is the never crowded beach. Last edited by MsRubio; 10-23-2005 at 12:25 AM..

10-20-2005	#2 (permalink)
kathyb ruined Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Methuen, MA Posts: 84	I would recommend one of the Secrets resorts - Excellence or Capri. They are both adults only, offer all ala carte restaurants with no reservations and the food and service is 5 star. Capri has a nicer beach and is closer to Playa than Excellence but Excellence has a little more to offer in entertainment. Capri is a small intimate resort with only 220 rooms where Excellence has more in the range of 400. I don't think you would be disappointed in either.

10-20-2005	#3 (permalink)
Shammy Travel Insurance Tester Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Joisey Shore Posts: 13,592	I agree, the Secrets Resorts are very posh, more so than the ASP. But if those prices give you sticker shock, look into the Riu Palace as well...if they still have availability.

10-20-2005	#9 (permalink)
actran reposado Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,137	I gotta give a vote to Royal Hideaway. Had a couple of fabulous vacations there.

10-21-2005	#10 (permalink)
summer05 beachaholic Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 289	We were at the Riu Palace Mexico in July and it was excellent!! Personally, I would take it over the Royal Hideaway because of the erosion at RH.

10-21-2005	#12 (permalink)
bri-guy sandflea Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Vancouver,B.C. Posts: 5	If you want a nice beach,try the Gala resort.We were last there Nov.03 and are returning this December for two weeks this time.The beach is by far the nicest, and biggest in playacar.Hopefully Wilma hasn't destroyed it.

10-23-2005	#14 (permalink)
MsRubio añejo Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Top of the Chesapeake Bay, Md Posts: 6,521	Barcelo Maya...best beach I have ever seen...never crowded...hotel can be at full capacity and yet the beach is never crowded. Service was outstanding. Food was great. We did the Spanish restaurant...we were served champagne because it was our anniversary and they knew it...we always had turn down service...towel art on the bed...flowers in the room and the mini fridge was always stocked with Modelo and water and soda. Pools were great with swim up bars and never any problem getting a chair around the pool...no need to play the towel game. If we ever did AI again this is where we would go without thinking twice.

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