Newb is ALL confused

Buschman · 07-10-2006

The wife & I are about to celebrate 20 years of marriage & I would like to take her to Playa. We've never been able to fly off on an adventure without the kids before & now is our chance. I've looked at resorts till it hurts, I'm sure the wife would enjoy the pampering of El Dorado Royale but it seems a bit far from town & big for me. I don't know the dress codes but I would assume that shorts & flip flops will not work in the nicer resturants. Adults only & spa tubs in your room sounds nice however.
I think the EDSS sounds a bit more my speed. I saw also something called Playa Mayo that sounded very nice for a small place but it's probably not AI. I think we would want AI for our first trip. I could not find where it is on the beach. Speaking of beach-that will be a priority for us. Where are the nicer beaches?
A travel agent suggested the Sandos Gala Playacar as a nice place that would save a little$
I definately want to spend some time in Playa for drinks, food & shopping so the major resort might be a little much. Guess I'm looking for the best compromise!
Any suggestions? Please?
Great website-feels real vacation like.

xqqzme · 07-10-2006

If you want in town and you want all-inclusive it sort of gets narrowed down. The Gran Porto Real and the Royal Porto Real are on the beach all inclusive and in town. Playa Maya comes highly recommended on this forum with lot's of people having stayed there. The foods great, drinks plentiful and the beach is beautiful. More restaurants of all kinds than you could possibly enjoy are all within an easy stroll. I did what you are thinking....go all inclusive your first time cause you don't know what to expect....wish I hadn't done it. The food was blah and boring and I felt like I should eat there cause I paid for it. Don't limit yourself!!! Enjoy it all and at your own pace!

Beachnutt719 · 07-10-2006

We enjoyed the GPR on our first trip down. The convenience of an AI while still being right in town. The newer Royal Porto is much posher ( read as expensive). It depends on what you want.

bic4d · 07-10-2006

We went AI, because it was our first time and we were a little skeered not knowing food costs, etc. We made up our minds NOT to feel obligated to eat the food, though.

We stayed at the Grand Coco Bay, just north of town. Beautiful walk along the beach into town, or just a 30 peso taxi ride. Right on the beach. Food probably better than most AI's. It's under new management since we went but reviews I've seen tend to be even more favorable.

purpleprincesTX · 07-10-2006

Buschman, If you will look under the AI big resort part of the forum, I made a post about the location of the resort we are staying at, and one of the great folks here, Nerak

put up a link to an aerial map. that thing is awesome, you can click to the north and south and SEE where the resorts and hotels are located and then you can click on the ones you are interested in to see a summary and photos,etc.....Great tool she turned me on to....go and see if it will help you.
also, I have a freind who is a travel agent and she ADORES the El Dorado.
Hubby and I have stayed in Tulum at what is now the Club Maeva, and once at the Reef Playacar. Both times, we took taxis into town and had dinner and listened to live music and walked around shoppping, etc. Both times the food & drinks were great. We have always gotten such good deals at the AI's that I never felt "guilty" dining away for a night. We enjoy all inclusives--when I go, I want to relax and not have to go somewhere all the time for a drink or a snack, I like having all that at my disposal, and the ease of knowing how much cash I need is also appealing to me, I know my expenditure before I depart-- but to each his own, whatever makes you happy it great....after all it is vacation!! Maybe someday we'll try Playa and not go AI, b/c of all we are learning here

about the other hotels and dining options.
You could maybe even shoot the middle of the road at say the Playa Maya or one of those which includes breakfast but would leave you to your own devises for lunch and dinner. Whatever you decide, best wishes and enjoy!

terry@terrygrov · 07-10-2006

Hook'em Horns! From Clear Lake, TX.

**Shammy** · 07-10-2006

Travel agent needs to mention...........

Two adults + 20th anniversary + the Sandos Gala = not the best idea!

VERY family friendly resort + LOTS of kiddies = not what you're looking for I think?

Close to town and in the same area as the Sandos Playacar are the two Riu Palace properties which are "adult oriented" and there's always the Royal Porto Real which is VERY nice (and has that two person jacuzzi tub in the room too!)

Jacko · 07-10-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shammy

Two adults + 20th anniversary + the Sandos Gala = not the best idea!

VERY family friendly resort + LOTS of kiddies = not what you're looking for I think?

The Newb "un-confuser"!

cuffedlinks · 07-10-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shammy

Close to town and in the same area as the Sandos Playacar are the two Riu Palace properties which are "adult oriented"

She just means "of a certain age" and doesn't cater to kids activities at all....

A five minute cab ride and you're in Playa's 5th Ave area....

Buschman · 07-10-2006

Thanks so much for the quick replies! I'm amazed. Thanks for the advice on the Sandoz.
I'm going to check out Rui Palace Riveria, Royal Porto Real, & Grand Coco Bay.

Nerak936 · 07-10-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buschman

Thanks so much for the quick replies! I'm amazed. Thanks for the advice on the Sandoz.
I'm going to check out Rui Palace Riveria, Royal Porto Real, & Grand Coco Bay.

I'll be at Grand Coco Bay 7/22-7/29, so keep an eye out for a trip report after I return (and probably tons of pics). I've done the large AI (Iberostar Quetzal 3 times) and non-AI (Riviera Caribe 2 times), so staying at a smaller AI right on the outskirts of Playa will be a new experience.

cuffedlinks · 07-10-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buschman

Thanks so much for the quick replies! I'm amazed. Thanks for the advice on the Sandoz.
I'm going to check out Rui Palace Riveria, Royal Porto Real, & Grand Coco Bay.

PLENTY of Trip Reports on them here....and pics too.
I have Riu Palace pics in my signature link.

**Shammy** · 07-10-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuffedlinks

She just means "of a certain age" and doesn't cater to kids activities at all....

A five minute cab ride and you're in Playa's 5th Ave area....

Oops! Yep, that's what I mean, uh huh!

cuffedlinks · 07-10-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shammy

Oops! Yep, that's what I mean, uh huh!

I rather LIKE the sounds of "adult oriented" better though....

wendyjoe · 07-10-2006

I just returned from a week long stay in a private home on the beach and it was the greatest trip to Playa yet. We had a private pool, huge house, full time staff of 2 and all the comforts of home. We had the staff stock up on food for us but ate out every night. I'm pretty sure you could get someone in to cook if you wanted. We also had a massage therapist come to the house a couple of days for spa treatments (facials, sea weed wraps, body scrub massages)...one day we had her set up on the rooftop terrace in the evening. It is a big house but probably less expensive than you'll pay for a nicer AI. Also, a 7-10 minute walkto the heart of downtown- about 5 minutes from the ferry dock. Very relaxing vacation...pm me if you're interested in more info.

07-10-2006	#1 (permalink)
Buschman lost on fifth Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Beaumont Texas Posts: 18	Newb is ALL confused The wife & I are about to celebrate 20 years of marriage & I would like to take her to Playa. We've never been able to fly off on an adventure without the kids before & now is our chance. I've looked at resorts till it hurts, I'm sure the wife would enjoy the pampering of El Dorado Royale but it seems a bit far from town & big for me. I don't know the dress codes but I would assume that shorts & flip flops will not work in the nicer resturants. Adults only & spa tubs in your room sounds nice however. I think the EDSS sounds a bit more my speed. I saw also something called Playa Mayo that sounded very nice for a small place but it's probably not AI. I think we would want AI for our first trip. I could not find where it is on the beach. Speaking of beach-that will be a priority for us. Where are the nicer beaches? A travel agent suggested the Sandos Gala Playacar as a nice place that would save a little$ I definately want to spend some time in Playa for drinks, food & shopping so the major resort might be a little much. Guess I'm looking for the best compromise! Any suggestions? Please? Great website-feels real vacation like.

07-10-2006	#7 (permalink)
Shammy Moderator Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Joisey Shore Posts: 10,240	Travel agent needs to mention........... Two adults + 20th anniversary + the Sandos Gala = not the best idea! VERY family friendly resort + LOTS of kiddies = not what you're looking for I think? Close to town and in the same area as the Sandos Playacar are the two Riu Palace properties which are "adult oriented" and there's always the Royal Porto Real which is VERY nice (and has that two person jacuzzi tub in the room too!) Last edited by Shammy : 07-10-2006 at 09:12 PM.

07-10-2006	#10 (permalink)
Buschman lost on fifth Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Beaumont Texas Posts: 18	Wow Thanks so much for the quick replies! I'm amazed. Thanks for the advice on the Sandoz. I'm going to check out Rui Palace Riveria, Royal Porto Real, & Grand Coco Bay.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

07-10-2006	#2 (permalink)
xqqzme Bi-Coastal Beacher Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Las Vegas and St George Posts: 4,785	If you want in town and you want all-inclusive it sort of gets narrowed down. The Gran Porto Real and the Royal Porto Real are on the beach all inclusive and in town. Playa Maya comes highly recommended on this forum with lot's of people having stayed there. The foods great, drinks plentiful and the beach is beautiful. More restaurants of all kinds than you could possibly enjoy are all within an easy stroll. I did what you are thinking....go all inclusive your first time cause you don't know what to expect....wish I hadn't done it. The food was blah and boring and I felt like I should eat there cause I paid for it. Don't limit yourself!!! Enjoy it all and at your own pace!

07-10-2006	#3 (permalink)
Beachnutt719 añejo Join Date: May 2004 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 3,972	We enjoyed the GPR on our first trip down. The convenience of an AI while still being right in town. The newer Royal Porto is much posher ( read as expensive). It depends on what you want.

07-10-2006	#4 (permalink)
bic4d ruined Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 96	We went AI, because it was our first time and we were a little skeered not knowing food costs, etc. We made up our minds NOT to feel obligated to eat the food, though. We stayed at the Grand Coco Bay, just north of town. Beautiful walk along the beach into town, or just a 30 peso taxi ride. Right on the beach. Food probably better than most AI's. It's under new management since we went but reviews I've seen tend to be even more favorable.

07-10-2006	#5 (permalink)
purpleprincesTX way into it Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: La Porte, TX Posts: 131	Buschman, If you will look under the AI big resort part of the forum, I made a post about the location of the resort we are staying at, and one of the great folks here, Nerak put up a link to an aerial map. that thing is awesome, you can click to the north and south and SEE where the resorts and hotels are located and then you can click on the ones you are interested in to see a summary and photos,etc.....Great tool she turned me on to....go and see if it will help you. also, I have a freind who is a travel agent and she ADORES the El Dorado. Hubby and I have stayed in Tulum at what is now the Club Maeva, and once at the Reef Playacar. Both times, we took taxis into town and had dinner and listened to live music and walked around shoppping, etc. Both times the food & drinks were great. We have always gotten such good deals at the AI's that I never felt "guilty" dining away for a night. We enjoy all inclusives--when I go, I want to relax and not have to go somewhere all the time for a drink or a snack, I like having all that at my disposal, and the ease of knowing how much cash I need is also appealing to me, I know my expenditure before I depart-- but to each his own, whatever makes you happy it great....after all it is vacation!! Maybe someday we'll try Playa and not go AI, b/c of all we are learning here about the other hotels and dining options. You could maybe even shoot the middle of the road at say the Playa Maya or one of those which includes breakfast but would leave you to your own devises for lunch and dinner. Whatever you decide, best wishes and enjoy!

07-10-2006	#6 (permalink)
terry@terrygrov sandflea Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6	Hook'em Horns! From Clear Lake, TX.

07-10-2006	#15 (permalink)
wendyjoe lost on fifth Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: AL Posts: 18	I just returned from a week long stay in a private home on the beach and it was the greatest trip to Playa yet. We had a private pool, huge house, full time staff of 2 and all the comforts of home. We had the staff stock up on food for us but ate out every night. I'm pretty sure you could get someone in to cook if you wanted. We also had a massage therapist come to the house a couple of days for spa treatments (facials, sea weed wraps, body scrub massages)...one day we had her set up on the rooftop terrace in the evening. It is a big house but probably less expensive than you'll pay for a nicer AI. Also, a 7-10 minute walkto the heart of downtown- about 5 minutes from the ferry dock. Very relaxing vacation...pm me if you're interested in more info.

register to remove these adverts