Mayan Palace Report -- Long!

MWC · 04-21-2003

We just came back from a week at the Mayan Palace Cancun. We’re not really resort people (read: we’re pretty cheap), so we didn’t take advantage of everything the facility had to offer. We were there during “Semana Santa” (Palm Sunday – Easter Sunday), which apparently is a huge vacation time for Mexican families – so I suspect that the resort’s “A team” facilities and staff were in action. Not that I’m complaining about that! But here are a few observations that may be helpful:

First of all, if you’re deciding about going there or not: if there is an environmentalist at any level of your soul, don’t come here. It is obvious that they completely razed several hundred acres of jungle from the beach to Highway 307, and are now rebuilding it to please vacationers. While the scrub jungle along the Mayan Riviera is hardly picturesque, to think that it was completely scraped away really bothered me – especially since the resort had none of the reptiles, birds, even insects that can add an “interesting” perspective to one’s travels down there. None. I found that downright creepy.

If the nature aspects don’t bother you, and/or you’re already committed to staying at the Mayan Palace Cancun, I say stop worrying and have a great time. It seemed geared toward affluent families or settled couples, and as such, offers a lot of activities and options that make it a great place for people of disparate ages to enjoy a nice vacation together. The golf course is still a work in progress, although at least nine holes were rumored to be operational. The pool is absolutely awesome, and you could spend at least two solid days by the pool without getting bored and without having explored it all. (A siesta on one of the palapa mattresses is a must that’s worth waiting for!)

All the staff we encountered were extremely courteous and professional and helpful. I give the activities staff high marks for their energy during the daytime poolside activities, and for putting on imaginative entertainment at night. The poolside activities were a nice mix of things for adults (water aerobics, yoga, stretching, dance lessons, bingo) and kids (games, arts and crafts, beach and pool volleyball, beach football, contests). There is also ping pong and a foos-ball table by the pool during daytime hours.

I had read someone’s complaints about pool maintenance, but I found that there was staff constantly at work skimming, vacuuming and scrubbing – very unobtrusively. Yes, there would be suntan oil build-up in isolated corners of the pool, and yes, leaves would drift off the surrounding plants into the water (from its size and design, that’s hardly a surprise) … but I never saw the same problem in the same place two days in a row. My family was in that pool at least once a day, and noone got ear infections or any problems that would indicate that maintenance was being shortchanged.

The maintenance staff also did a great job keeping the common areas and units clean. The room-maid service was a little inconsistent: some nights our beds would be turned down, sometimes they wouldn’t be; if the maids were in the middle of cleaning your room and it was time for lunch, they’d leave it halfway finished and come back hours later to finish up – but these are hardly make-or-break issues in our book. One person had complained that the maids wouldn’t wash dirty dishes left in the sink. We have been doing the timeshare thing for about 15 years now, and I have yet to encounter a place where that WOULD be the case.

We had a unit that was a king bed and pullout couches, which was perfect for our couple plus two kids family. Our unit was terrifically laid out, with lots of storage. The furnishings and decorating scheme were very pleasant. The bathroom was spacious and well-appointed, with good water pressure, hot and cold – plus there is a retractable clothesline build into the shower stall, a great feature!) The kitchen was a little skimpy on cooking space (2 electric burners; microwave); but the mini-refrigerator held a surprising amount of stuff. We typically made our own breakfasts and snacks, and lunches when we were on-premise.

We stayed away from the front desk staff and concierge, simply because we felt that the easiest way to not get sucked into a timeshare presentation. But we did have to work with them on one or two small issues, and they handled our questions attentively and courteously. And heed all the warnings you’ve read about how aggressive the sales staff is here. We brushed them off (politely) when we first checked in, but they called our unit EVERY morning to lure us into a presentation. (HINT: ignore your room phone if it rings between 8:30 and 9:30 am! That’s what we did) The big days for having groups come through seemed to be Friday, Saturday and Sunday; so if you’re self-conscious about what sort of figure you cut at the pool, you may want to go elsewhere for those days. For us it was no biggie.

Another annoyance was the aggressive tour operators that were parked right outside the current main entrance. We bypassed them – and having to tip any car valets for retrieving our rental car – by using the exterior exit. Approaching the lobby area from the parking area, you’ll see a pathway to the right – use that path to avoid approaching the lobby once you’re checked in and don’t feel like being hit up by “helpful” service staff.

Everything you’ve read about the awful beach is pretty accurate. There is a sandy area with palapas, etc. And nearby bar service. But the rocky shoreline makes the water totally inaccessible, unless you’re wearing foot protection. And even then, the water’s awfully shallow over some pretty jagged rocks, with waves and current growing stronger as the day wears on. There were catamarans and sea kayaks for rent, a volleyball net … and, turning lemons into lemonade, some terrific beachcombing. We spent a lot of time with the kids exploring tidal pools, and collecting some great shells … I even got some pretty good snorkeling in. If you don’t mind walking, there is a gorgeous, sandy beach (Playa Secreto) about a 15-20 minute walk north of the resort. Supposedly if you walk 15-20 minutes south of the resort there’s another great beach, but we didn’t do that, so I don’t know. If you do want to swim or snorkel on premise, I recommend doing it early in the day. By the time 3:30 rolls around, the wind and waves pick up to unpleasant levels (even making the pool deck a little chilly!).

We didn’t eat at every restaurant there. But if you’re expecting “Mexican” savings, forget it. The poolside snack bar offered a pretty good price/quality/variety ratio. Elsewhere, the pizza was excellent, could be delivered to your unit, and is probably your best meal value at the resort. We sprang for the Mexican Fiesta! they have on Thursday night ($42 each adult, slightly less for kids) and recommend that wholeheartedly. Your price includes open bar, and a buffet of Mexican regional dishes that was very generous and surprisingly good. The entertainment is also good: the emcee was a hoot, an excellent mariachi band, and an interpretive dance presentation of Mexican history that was particularly fascinating to us for the way that as the female dancers’ outfits got skimpier, their headresses became larger and more intricate. (Have a few margaritas and you’ll share our amusement)

The bars were fun, and all around the pool. But again, if you’re expecting “Mexican” savings on drinks, forget it ($3.40 cervesas, $4.50 frozen drinks). That said, we felt that the resort was very generous with happy hours – you could get 2 for 1 from 11:30 until 1:30 every day, plus an hour before dinner. The one thing that cracked us up about happy hours was that it was never drinks for half price; it was always two for one, right then and there. HINT: get an insulated mug (some very colorful ones are available at WalMart) , and pour your two drinks into the mug. That way, you won’t have to belt your drinks down to enjoy them cool.

Transportation. We rented a car, and paid for all the rental-provided insurance (which drove the total price up to about $350 for the week). In retrospect, and even though the Mayan Palace is isolated, my husband and I agreed that the rental car might be unnecessary. It’s really up to what kind of vacationer you think you will be. If you want to park your butt in one place, with maybe one or two or three off-premise adventures, I wouldn’t bother renting a car. Either take one of the resort’s tours (we didn’t price these out) … or there were always a minimum of three taxis cooling their heels in the parking lot. If you wanted a better beach experience, it would be a pretty cheap cab ride up to Playa Secreto or down to the Maroma Beach Club (look for the Mexican flags) By no means is anyone – even a cost-conscious traveler – stranded there.

I think that’s it. If you have any specific questions, pm me and I’ll try to answer them!

04-23-2003

for your review! We're heading there May 3rd for two weeks and after all the posts I've read I didn't know what to expect! You're review has helped to ease my mind

04-25-2003

[]

Do you know if they are in the process of constructing a "Sandy" beach/swimming area? I have read in various message boards that state the resort suffered the effects of a hurricane which blew the beach away.

I am going in October and would like to be able to snorkel & swim right outside of the resort. Another person stated that when he was there in Feb. that there were concrete "bells" in the water for the placing of the sand to create a beach. Did you see any of this or did you learn of any plans for this construction?? [/i]

MWC · 04-25-2003

Lynne --

The bells were there, and are still being put in. But that will be a long process to build up a sandy swimming beach there, unless they're going to truck sand in -- which I believe they have been forbidden from doing.

To clarify the beach situation somewhat, there is a nice sandy area where you can sunbathe, relax under a palapa, be served drinks, etc. It's just that the entry into the water in front of where they have chosen to put those things is swimmer-UNfriendly to the max. You could enjoy the sandy beach and hop up into the pool, but I know that's not the same thing ...

As far as snorkeling goes, I explored a little bit and found the snorkeling there not too bad, with entries no hairier than some other places, like Half-Moon Bay and Tankah. My preferred entry point was just to the north of where the property line seemed to end. There is a small area of sand leading into the water, and the water was deep enough to not make me feel as though I was just barely clearing the rocks, etc. I saw a queen triggerfish as big as a serving platter, along with a nice array of the usual suspects. I used a combo of beach booties and heel-strap fins, which served me well there and at most of the other snorkeling places I visited.

Another fun thing you could try onsite, which I didn't, is to rent a sea kayak (resort has them) and bring your snorkel stuff with you. Paddle up or down the shore to a better beach ... or, if someone is with you, paddle out from shore a bit, and take turns snorkeling out there.

Don't bum out about the beach too much. I thought I would be, but the pool area has enough diversions to win even a purist's heart! Have fun!

KatrinaG · 04-26-2003

I have posted photos of my trip to MP from January 2003. There is a second album of photos from my trip there last year, too. Go to:

www.picturetrail.com User name is: KatrinaG

Let me know if you have any problems.

04-21-2003	#1 (permalink)
MWC añejo Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,837	Mayan Palace Report -- Long! We just came back from a week at the Mayan Palace Cancun. We’re not really resort people (read: we’re pretty cheap), so we didn’t take advantage of everything the facility had to offer. We were there during “Semana Santa” (Palm Sunday – Easter Sunday), which apparently is a huge vacation time for Mexican families – so I suspect that the resort’s “A team” facilities and staff were in action. Not that I’m complaining about that! But here are a few observations that may be helpful: First of all, if you’re deciding about going there or not: if there is an environmentalist at any level of your soul, don’t come here. It is obvious that they completely razed several hundred acres of jungle from the beach to Highway 307, and are now rebuilding it to please vacationers. While the scrub jungle along the Mayan Riviera is hardly picturesque, to think that it was completely scraped away really bothered me – especially since the resort had none of the reptiles, birds, even insects that can add an “interesting” perspective to one’s travels down there. None. I found that downright creepy. If the nature aspects don’t bother you, and/or you’re already committed to staying at the Mayan Palace Cancun, I say stop worrying and have a great time. It seemed geared toward affluent families or settled couples, and as such, offers a lot of activities and options that make it a great place for people of disparate ages to enjoy a nice vacation together. The golf course is still a work in progress, although at least nine holes were rumored to be operational. The pool is absolutely awesome, and you could spend at least two solid days by the pool without getting bored and without having explored it all. (A siesta on one of the palapa mattresses is a must that’s worth waiting for!) All the staff we encountered were extremely courteous and professional and helpful. I give the activities staff high marks for their energy during the daytime poolside activities, and for putting on imaginative entertainment at night. The poolside activities were a nice mix of things for adults (water aerobics, yoga, stretching, dance lessons, bingo) and kids (games, arts and crafts, beach and pool volleyball, beach football, contests). There is also ping pong and a foos-ball table by the pool during daytime hours. I had read someone’s complaints about pool maintenance, but I found that there was staff constantly at work skimming, vacuuming and scrubbing – very unobtrusively. Yes, there would be suntan oil build-up in isolated corners of the pool, and yes, leaves would drift off the surrounding plants into the water (from its size and design, that’s hardly a surprise) … but I never saw the same problem in the same place two days in a row. My family was in that pool at least once a day, and noone got ear infections or any problems that would indicate that maintenance was being shortchanged. The maintenance staff also did a great job keeping the common areas and units clean. The room-maid service was a little inconsistent: some nights our beds would be turned down, sometimes they wouldn’t be; if the maids were in the middle of cleaning your room and it was time for lunch, they’d leave it halfway finished and come back hours later to finish up – but these are hardly make-or-break issues in our book. One person had complained that the maids wouldn’t wash dirty dishes left in the sink. We have been doing the timeshare thing for about 15 years now, and I have yet to encounter a place where that WOULD be the case. We had a unit that was a king bed and pullout couches, which was perfect for our couple plus two kids family. Our unit was terrifically laid out, with lots of storage. The furnishings and decorating scheme were very pleasant. The bathroom was spacious and well-appointed, with good water pressure, hot and cold – plus there is a retractable clothesline build into the shower stall, a great feature!) The kitchen was a little skimpy on cooking space (2 electric burners; microwave); but the mini-refrigerator held a surprising amount of stuff. We typically made our own breakfasts and snacks, and lunches when we were on-premise. We stayed away from the front desk staff and concierge, simply because we felt that the easiest way to not get sucked into a timeshare presentation. But we did have to work with them on one or two small issues, and they handled our questions attentively and courteously. And heed all the warnings you’ve read about how aggressive the sales staff is here. We brushed them off (politely) when we first checked in, but they called our unit EVERY morning to lure us into a presentation. (HINT: ignore your room phone if it rings between 8:30 and 9:30 am! That’s what we did) The big days for having groups come through seemed to be Friday, Saturday and Sunday; so if you’re self-conscious about what sort of figure you cut at the pool, you may want to go elsewhere for those days. For us it was no biggie. Another annoyance was the aggressive tour operators that were parked right outside the current main entrance. We bypassed them – and having to tip any car valets for retrieving our rental car – by using the exterior exit. Approaching the lobby area from the parking area, you’ll see a pathway to the right – use that path to avoid approaching the lobby once you’re checked in and don’t feel like being hit up by “helpful” service staff. Everything you’ve read about the awful beach is pretty accurate. There is a sandy area with palapas, etc. And nearby bar service. But the rocky shoreline makes the water totally inaccessible, unless you’re wearing foot protection. And even then, the water’s awfully shallow over some pretty jagged rocks, with waves and current growing stronger as the day wears on. There were catamarans and sea kayaks for rent, a volleyball net … and, turning lemons into lemonade, some terrific beachcombing. We spent a lot of time with the kids exploring tidal pools, and collecting some great shells … I even got some pretty good snorkeling in. If you don’t mind walking, there is a gorgeous, sandy beach (Playa Secreto) about a 15-20 minute walk north of the resort. Supposedly if you walk 15-20 minutes south of the resort there’s another great beach, but we didn’t do that, so I don’t know. If you do want to swim or snorkel on premise, I recommend doing it early in the day. By the time 3:30 rolls around, the wind and waves pick up to unpleasant levels (even making the pool deck a little chilly!). We didn’t eat at every restaurant there. But if you’re expecting “Mexican” savings, forget it. The poolside snack bar offered a pretty good price/quality/variety ratio. Elsewhere, the pizza was excellent, could be delivered to your unit, and is probably your best meal value at the resort. We sprang for the Mexican Fiesta! they have on Thursday night ($42 each adult, slightly less for kids) and recommend that wholeheartedly. Your price includes open bar, and a buffet of Mexican regional dishes that was very generous and surprisingly good. The entertainment is also good: the emcee was a hoot, an excellent mariachi band, and an interpretive dance presentation of Mexican history that was particularly fascinating to us for the way that as the female dancers’ outfits got skimpier, their headresses became larger and more intricate. (Have a few margaritas and you’ll share our amusement) The bars were fun, and all around the pool. But again, if you’re expecting “Mexican” savings on drinks, forget it ($3.40 cervesas, $4.50 frozen drinks). That said, we felt that the resort was very generous with happy hours – you could get 2 for 1 from 11:30 until 1:30 every day, plus an hour before dinner. The one thing that cracked us up about happy hours was that it was never drinks for half price; it was always two for one, right then and there. HINT: get an insulated mug (some very colorful ones are available at WalMart) , and pour your two drinks into the mug. That way, you won’t have to belt your drinks down to enjoy them cool. Transportation. We rented a car, and paid for all the rental-provided insurance (which drove the total price up to about $350 for the week). In retrospect, and even though the Mayan Palace is isolated, my husband and I agreed that the rental car might be unnecessary. It’s really up to what kind of vacationer you think you will be. If you want to park your butt in one place, with maybe one or two or three off-premise adventures, I wouldn’t bother renting a car. Either take one of the resort’s tours (we didn’t price these out) … or there were always a minimum of three taxis cooling their heels in the parking lot. If you wanted a better beach experience, it would be a pretty cheap cab ride up to Playa Secreto or down to the Maroma Beach Club (look for the Mexican flags) By no means is anyone – even a cost-conscious traveler – stranded there. I think that’s it. If you have any specific questions, pm me and I’ll try to answer them!

04-23-2003	#2 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks..... for your review! We're heading there May 3rd for two weeks and after all the posts I've read I didn't know what to expect! You're review has helped to ease my mind

04-25-2003	#3 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	Mayan Palace [] Do you know if they are in the process of constructing a "Sandy" beach/swimming area? I have read in various message boards that state the resort suffered the effects of a hurricane which blew the beach away. I am going in October and would like to be able to snorkel & swim right outside of the resort. Another person stated that when he was there in Feb. that there were concrete "bells" in the water for the placing of the sand to create a beach. Did you see any of this or did you learn of any plans for this construction?? [/i]

04-26-2003	#5 (permalink)
KatrinaG sandflea Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 8	photos I have posted photos of my trip to MP from January 2003. There is a second album of photos from my trip there last year, too. Go to: www.picturetrail.com User name is: KatrinaG Let me know if you have any problems.

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

04-25-2003	#4 (permalink)
MWC añejo Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,837	Lynne -- The bells were there, and are still being put in. But that will be a long process to build up a sandy swimming beach there, unless they're going to truck sand in -- which I believe they have been forbidden from doing. To clarify the beach situation somewhat, there is a nice sandy area where you can sunbathe, relax under a palapa, be served drinks, etc. It's just that the entry into the water in front of where they have chosen to put those things is swimmer-UNfriendly to the max. You could enjoy the sandy beach and hop up into the pool, but I know that's not the same thing ... As far as snorkeling goes, I explored a little bit and found the snorkeling there not too bad, with entries no hairier than some other places, like Half-Moon Bay and Tankah. My preferred entry point was just to the north of where the property line seemed to end. There is a small area of sand leading into the water, and the water was deep enough to not make me feel as though I was just barely clearing the rocks, etc. I saw a queen triggerfish as big as a serving platter, along with a nice array of the usual suspects. I used a combo of beach booties and heel-strap fins, which served me well there and at most of the other snorkeling places I visited. Another fun thing you could try onsite, which I didn't, is to rent a sea kayak (resort has them) and bring your snorkel stuff with you. Paddle up or down the shore to a better beach ... or, if someone is with you, paddle out from shore a bit, and take turns snorkeling out there. Don't bum out about the beach too much. I thought I would be, but the pool area has enough diversions to win even a purist's heart! Have fun!

register to remove these adverts