Riu Palace or El Dorado Royale?

[tropigal]

I need some advice from people who have been to both resorts...
I believe my husband and I have narrowed it down, to these 2...
How do the rooms compare? and Beach? food/drinks?
I like to play in big waves, and my hubby likes to soak in the sun. I can't take too much sun so shady areas are important. He also like to take part in pool volleball, etc. (ok, we're in our 40s...but still like to play =)

Any thoughts between the 2 places for us? Thanks in advance!!

[jeromeserena]

i have not stayed at edr but read a lot of reviews stayed at palace. it is great lovely beach not to crowded great water food is tremendous only down side i could see is that it is a little more subdued at night[not a problem for me] but you can use other more lively rius next door for disco etc. look up riubamba.com lots of info. to me it would be no contest.riu all the way.

[tropigal]

Thanks for the info...we're leaning toward the palace after reading all the reviews...although it sounds like either one would be nice, we do like to be close to playa.

[jeromeserena]

sorry web site should read riu bambu.com[to many whiskys last night]

[cuffedlinks]

Originally Posted by tropigal

I need some advice from people who have been to both resorts...

Been to both....enjoyed them both for different reasons....and unless you're spending the extra $$$ for a Casita Suite (NOT that their other rooms aren't fine, which they are at the EDR, quite so!) I'd stay at the Riu Palace....Of course I think we had the BEST room available at the Palace without haveing to go for a corner located jacuzzi suite for BIG $$...

The Riu Palace has very nice rooms, great location with shops and stores across the street at the Plaza Playacar (including TelMex and Ladatel phones which we need to use for our AT&T phone card - but you can buy phone cards in Mexico but it IS difficult at the EDR)...and at the Riu Palace it is a $4 USD taxi ride to 5th Avenue...the EDR is quite far from Playa Del Carmen, is situated by itself (which is nice hence NO AI wristbands at the EDR)...there are several nice restaurants at the EDR and you can get a decent stretch of beach by yourselves there...the beach at the Palace is shared to some degree with the other Riu's nearby, but we NEVER had a problem with that, in fact we liked the people watching at the Palace...

You can get to many photos of these two resorts from our stay at both resorts by clicking on our "View Our Mexico Photos" link...

Either place you'll enjoy. (But I'd stay closer to PDC if it were me...)

[giggidy goo]

cuffedlinks, you seem to be very knowldgeable on PDC from everything I've seen you write. Can you help me with this problem? My gf and I are going to cancun for 3 nights at the secrets excellence for my brother's wedding. Then we want to go to PDC for the rest of the time because we would prefer a better beach w/out all the seaweed! We are both 25 years old and just want a good time w/ a good beach at a good price. Which would be better for us, RH or RIU Palace?? (We are not picky when it comes to food). I'm just trying hard to find a good trip for my gf who was born in Mexico but has never seen the beautiful beaches in her home country! Thanks in advance for your help!

Originally Posted by cuffedlinks

Been to both....enjoyed them both for different reasons....and unless you're spending the extra $$$ for a Casita Suite (NOT that their other rooms aren't fine, which they are at the EDR, quite so!) I'd stay at the Riu Palace....Of course I think we had the BEST room available at the Palace without haveing to go for a corner located jacuzzi suite for BIG $$...

The Riu Palace has very nice rooms, great location with shops and stores across the street at the Plaza Playacar (including TelMex and Ladatel phones which we need to use for our AT&T phone card - but you can buy phone cards in Mexico but it IS difficult at the EDR)...and at the Riu Palace it is a $4 USD taxi ride to 5th Avenue...the EDR is quite far from Playa Del Carmen, is situated by itself (which is nice hence NO AI wristbands at the EDR)...there are several nice restaurants at the EDR and you can get a decent stretch of beach by yourselves there...the beach at the Palace is shared to some degree with the other Riu's nearby, but we NEVER had a problem with that, in fact we liked the people watching at the Palace...

You can get to many photos of these two resorts from our stay at both resorts by clicking on our "View Our Mexico Photos" link...

Either place you'll enjoy. (But I'd stay closer to PDC if it were me...)

[stonecold]

Can't beat the RIU Palace......