Help in deciding on an AI

memomuffin · 10-02-2006

Hi there everyone,
I was an avid poster on this forum at one time or another but it has been awhile. I am in search of people that have frequented numerous AI's in PDC so they can give it to me straight: the good, the bad, all in honesty. We're looking at both RIU Palace properties: Mexico and Riviera Maya, the Royal Porto Real, and on the off handed chance we could find a great deal on either the Secrets Capri, the Excellence and or Royal Hideaway (doubtful to get a good deal on that one I'm betting).
We're looking at direct flights out of Boston and the criteria that my fiance and I are looking for is somewhat on the hefty side but here it goes:

Good location (close to downtown area)
Top shelf liquor (does anyone serve Bombay Sapphire gin or Grey Goose vodka)
Gourmet food
soft sand beach w/ beautiful clear water
gorgeous pool(s) with pool bar
some night life going on at hotel

I'm not going to deny that I am high maintenance and I want everything a good price. We don't have a ton of money but I do a lot of research on all of the travel sites, especially tripadvisor.com (which sometimes makes my choice even harder, not easier). Thank you in advance for your help as it us much appreciated. BTW I have stayed at Ibero* Lindo with my boyfriend and RIU Playacar with my girlfriends, and both were great in their own way, but this trip is much more special so we do want to be pampered with luxurious food/drink and service.

Cinker1 · 10-02-2006

I'd say you are looking for the Royal Porto Real. It pretty much has all of what you are looking for or it is within walking distance to what you are looking for!

sunnywa · 10-02-2006

I don't think of myself as high maintenance

but my "wish list" was very similar to yours and I chose the Playacar Palace. Everyone that has posted a review on TA seems to love it. Just a couple threads down from this one 2theC is in the middle of a trip report on the Playacar Palace.

Good luck...

actran · 10-02-2006

Royal Hideaway has the most pampering, top shelf liquor and excellent food. They are now AAA 5 diamond rated. Great infinity pool, okay "activity" pool and several lovely relaxation pools. Nice beach and great water. No pool bar - but the waiters will come around and get drink orders when you are in the pool (I really loved that

) Several nightlife options, but clearly not a party hardy atmosphere.

We have also stayed at the Riu Palace. It's got the pool bar, but the service , while good, was nowhere near as amazing as RH, and there were a couple memorable glitches. The food was average to above average, but not as good as RH.

If you want a really special time you might want to spring for RH. it's proximity to town is nice too.

memomuffin · 10-05-2006

Thanks for your thoughts, I still can't make up my mind. For the Royal Hideaway, I really wish I could afford it but when you have other deals for $1400 (a couple) less, I just can't get myself to do it.
The top ones (right now anyway...

) are RPR, now the Playacar Palace thanks to sunnywa, and the RIU Palace Riviera Maya.

Anymore opinions and advice is more than welcome, I need all the help I can get!

Babaloo · 10-05-2006

gourmet food?
i wouldn't count on it

memomuffin · 10-05-2006

Well I realize it's not going to be "gourmet", but I immensely enjoy food, and when you are on vacation you want to enjoy every aspect of it. Don't get me wrong, I can maybe count on my left hand how many times I've sent back a meal while dining out, but that doesn't mean I'll settle for average. I still want to ask around, I'd be okay with chain restaurant (TGIF for example) quality.

Babaloo · 10-05-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by memomuffin

I'd be okay with chain restaurant (TGIF for example) quality.

vhonodel · 10-05-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by memomuffin

Well I realize it's not going to be "gourmet", but I immensely enjoy food, and when you are on vacation you want to enjoy every aspect of it. Don't get me wrong, I can maybe count on my left hand how many times I've sent back a meal while dining out, but that doesn't mean I'll settle for average. I still want to ask around, I'd be okay with chain restaurant (TGIF for example) quality.

Hi, You mentioned that you would like to be close to town. This leads me to believe that you won't be spending every waking moment at your chosen AI. This being said, I wouldn't heavily base your decesion on the best food because there are sooo many great places to eat at in town. We stay at the Tucan because we love the tropical atmosphere and really enjoy the wildlife, however the food is mediocre at best but breakfast is always wonderful. We do a snack type lunch there if we are not out on some type of excursion and we do at least 4 or5 very nice dinners in town. I guess what I'm saying is if you find the place that has all the amenities you are looking for except the gourmet aspect, and it is within your budget book that one and enjoy some fabulous food in town. I'm sure you will have a great time no matter where you end up...who wouldn't????

memomuffin · 10-05-2006

Babaloo, I'm trying to be less high maintenace by saying TGIF. Do I go there out to eat when I'm at home, maybe twice a year. I'm just saying that if that's what my AI will have that would be more than fine with me. I do not think the other AI's I have been to have been of that quality.
And yes, vhonodel, you do have a good point, but if we were to go out to eat 5 times of the 7, we wouldn't be doing the AI. We were thinking about doing that but there are a couple of reasons why we decided against it. One is that I've figured out with the non-AI hotels and airfare, we'd already be close to what people pay for a weeks worth of air/hotel/meal and drinks. Also my fiance has had some medical trouble, currently still does, and we're basically doing this for him to relax as much as possible (he loves swim up bars) and he'll finally be able to drink again come this vacation (not until May 07). He likes having pool and beach right there, and he has very fair skin (Irish laddy, gets burnt watching tv) so when he needs to go in the hotel, it will be a step away. We like to be close to downtown basically for the nighttime activities, the bars and dancing, people to meet, and we'll probably at the most do dinner out twice.

actran · 10-05-2006

Have you checked out Secrets Capri? Supposed to be on par with RH, but a little less $$.

Amateurbigfoot · 10-05-2006

Our experience at the Viva Wyndham Maya was not a good one so I recommend NOT to go there.

marvp1 · 10-05-2006

OOps made a mistake see next message.

marvp1 · 10-05-2006

Hey memomuffin a Riu hotel that I like is the Riu Tequila , you can stay at the Riu Palace but for the money the Riu Tequila is a great place to stay, when I was there in Jan 2006 they had Canadian Club rye and Absolut vodka so they had some good liquor , the best tequila I seen was Jose Cuervo (paint remover to me but some people like it) but the buffet had a great variety and the ala cartes had a excellent steak. The walk into PDC is about 15 minutes, I liked it so much I'm going back next January.

memomuffin · 10-08-2006

Thanks everyone for your advice and help in making this decision. Just to give you a heads up so far, I still haven't selected my choice yet. But Actran, you will like this, I did put a bid on .......none other but a Royal Hideaway vacation but I won't find out until tomorrow if I was the winner or not. Also, you, Robino and 2theC have some great input on other resorts, so now I'm also thinking about Secrets Capri. I think if I don't get the RH bid, I'm just going to book the Capri because I'm driving myself (and I'm sure alot of you other PDC'ers on the forum) crazy

!!! Also Secrets Capri has the swim up bar that Matt so desperately feels is necessary while on vacation

so I think we'd both love this place too. When the final decision has been made, I'll be sure to let you all know.

10-02-2006	#1 (permalink)
memomuffin way into it Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 136	Help in deciding on an AI Hi there everyone, I was an avid poster on this forum at one time or another but it has been awhile. I am in search of people that have frequented numerous AI's in PDC so they can give it to me straight: the good, the bad, all in honesty. We're looking at both RIU Palace properties: Mexico and Riviera Maya, the Royal Porto Real, and on the off handed chance we could find a great deal on either the Secrets Capri, the Excellence and or Royal Hideaway (doubtful to get a good deal on that one I'm betting). We're looking at direct flights out of Boston and the criteria that my fiance and I are looking for is somewhat on the hefty side but here it goes: Good location (close to downtown area) Top shelf liquor (does anyone serve Bombay Sapphire gin or Grey Goose vodka) Gourmet food soft sand beach w/ beautiful clear water gorgeous pool(s) with pool bar some night life going on at hotel I'm not going to deny that I am high maintenance and I want everything a good price. We don't have a ton of money but I do a lot of research on all of the travel sites, especially tripadvisor.com (which sometimes makes my choice even harder, not easier). Thank you in advance for your help as it us much appreciated. BTW I have stayed at Ibero* Lindo with my boyfriend and RIU Playacar with my girlfriends, and both were great in their own way, but this trip is much more special so we do want to be pampered with luxurious food/drink and service. Last edited by memomuffin : 10-02-2006 at 04:33 PM.

10-05-2006	#13 (permalink)
marvp1 toe in water Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Saskatoon, Sask. Canada Posts: 47	Help deciding on an AI OOps made a mistake see next message. Last edited by marvp1 : 10-05-2006 at 09:06 PM.

10-05-2006	#14 (permalink)
marvp1 toe in water Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Saskatoon, Sask. Canada Posts: 47	Help deciding on an AI Hey memomuffin a Riu hotel that I like is the Riu Tequila , you can stay at the Riu Palace but for the money the Riu Tequila is a great place to stay, when I was there in Jan 2006 they had Canadian Club rye and Absolut vodka so they had some good liquor , the best tequila I seen was Jose Cuervo (paint remover to me but some people like it) but the buffet had a great variety and the ala cartes had a excellent steak. The walk into PDC is about 15 minutes, I liked it so much I'm going back next January.

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10-02-2006	#2 (permalink)
Cinker1 beachaholic Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 362	I'd say you are looking for the Royal Porto Real. It pretty much has all of what you are looking for or it is within walking distance to what you are looking for!

10-02-2006	#3 (permalink)
sunnywa very sparkly Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 36	I don't think of myself as high maintenance but my "wish list" was very similar to yours and I chose the Playacar Palace. Everyone that has posted a review on TA seems to love it. Just a couple threads down from this one 2theC is in the middle of a trip report on the Playacar Palace. Good luck...

10-02-2006	#4 (permalink)
actran life=playa Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 854	Royal Hideaway has the most pampering, top shelf liquor and excellent food. They are now AAA 5 diamond rated. Great infinity pool, okay "activity" pool and several lovely relaxation pools. Nice beach and great water. No pool bar - but the waiters will come around and get drink orders when you are in the pool (I really loved that ) Several nightlife options, but clearly not a party hardy atmosphere. We have also stayed at the Riu Palace. It's got the pool bar, but the service , while good, was nowhere near as amazing as RH, and there were a couple memorable glitches. The food was average to above average, but not as good as RH. If you want a really special time you might want to spring for RH. it's proximity to town is nice too.

10-05-2006	#5 (permalink)
memomuffin way into it Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 136	Thanks for your thoughts, I still can't make up my mind. For the Royal Hideaway, I really wish I could afford it but when you have other deals for $1400 (a couple) less, I just can't get myself to do it. The top ones (right now anyway... ) are RPR, now the Playacar Palace thanks to sunnywa, and the RIU Palace Riviera Maya. Anymore opinions and advice is more than welcome, I need all the help I can get!

10-05-2006	#6 (permalink)
Babaloo añejo Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Paamul, Q Roo Mexico Posts: 10,366	gourmet food? i wouldn't count on it

10-05-2006	#7 (permalink)
memomuffin way into it Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 136	Well I realize it's not going to be "gourmet", but I immensely enjoy food, and when you are on vacation you want to enjoy every aspect of it. Don't get me wrong, I can maybe count on my left hand how many times I've sent back a meal while dining out, but that doesn't mean I'll settle for average. I still want to ask around, I'd be okay with chain restaurant (TGIF for example) quality.

10-05-2006	#10 (permalink)
memomuffin way into it Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 136	Babaloo, I'm trying to be less high maintenace by saying TGIF. Do I go there out to eat when I'm at home, maybe twice a year. I'm just saying that if that's what my AI will have that would be more than fine with me. I do not think the other AI's I have been to have been of that quality. And yes, vhonodel, you do have a good point, but if we were to go out to eat 5 times of the 7, we wouldn't be doing the AI. We were thinking about doing that but there are a couple of reasons why we decided against it. One is that I've figured out with the non-AI hotels and airfare, we'd already be close to what people pay for a weeks worth of air/hotel/meal and drinks. Also my fiance has had some medical trouble, currently still does, and we're basically doing this for him to relax as much as possible (he loves swim up bars) and he'll finally be able to drink again come this vacation (not until May 07). He likes having pool and beach right there, and he has very fair skin (Irish laddy, gets burnt watching tv) so when he needs to go in the hotel, it will be a step away. We like to be close to downtown basically for the nighttime activities, the bars and dancing, people to meet, and we'll probably at the most do dinner out twice.

10-05-2006	#11 (permalink)
actran life=playa Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 854	Have you checked out Secrets Capri? Supposed to be on par with RH, but a little less $$.

10-05-2006	#12 (permalink)
Amateurbigfoot into ruins Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Posts: 73	Our experience at the Viva Wyndham Maya was not a good one so I recommend NOT to go there.

10-08-2006	#15 (permalink)
memomuffin way into it Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 136	Thanks everyone for your advice and help in making this decision. Just to give you a heads up so far, I still haven't selected my choice yet. But Actran, you will like this, I did put a bid on .......none other but a Royal Hideaway vacation but I won't find out until tomorrow if I was the winner or not. Also, you, Robino and 2theC have some great input on other resorts, so now I'm also thinking about Secrets Capri. I think if I don't get the RH bid, I'm just going to book the Capri because I'm driving myself (and I'm sure alot of you other PDC'ers on the forum) crazy !!! Also Secrets Capri has the swim up bar that Matt so desperately feels is necessary while on vacation so I think we'd both love this place too. When the final decision has been made, I'll be sure to let you all know.

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