Attempt at a timely trip report...

[jewels3081]

Ok, last trip, I started a trip report, didn't finish it for quite a long time, and ended up finishing it by just posting a bunch of pictures. My goals this time are to 1) start the trip report soon, since we came back a few days ago 2) finish the trip report fairly soon after starting it, and 3) still including some pictures!
Here goes...
We left on Thursday, July 19th (me and hubby, Chris's 10th anniversary!) from Dallas on our way to Playa via Cancun. We live in Arkansas, but it's much cheaper to fly from Dallas, and it's not too far to drive, so we chose to do that. My brother and his wife, Barry and Rhonda, along with their 3 kids, Tate, age 9; Luke, age 6; and Emma age 4 came along with us, because they new how much we loved it last year. We booked our travel and hotel as a package through FareDeals.com, and I guess I would recommend it again. It was a Funjet trip, but we found the package through Fare Deals, for a price that we all thought was amazing. So, the morning we wake in Dallas, I try and try to call Aero Mexico's toll free # to make sure the flight time hadn't changed, but their automated system just sent me to a line that didn't recognize my flight # and no one ever answered when I tried to reach a live person. I figured it must not have changed because no one contacted us, and if it did changed, it would've been pushed off and not moved up.
We get to the airport at what we think is 2 hours early (our hotel shuttle ran a few minutes late), and when we arrive, we are last in line and the folks in front of us tell us they were called last week and told the flight time was moved UP an hour. I am not sure whose fault this is, the airline's or Funjet or Fare Deals. When we booked through Fare Deals, we gave two phone #'s for my husband and I (both cell phones) and two #'s for my brother's family. Neither of us got a phone call. So that's why I say I guess I would recommend Fare Deals--the price was great, and everything else was as promised, and all our other dealings where with Funjet, so I just don't know who to blame about that one. Either way, we got on the plane, and off to Mexico we happily go!
We arrive at the airport and go through the usual stuff, and then board a Funjet van headed to the Grand Coco Bay hotel. It's true, when you get close to GCB, you aren't quite sure if you made a good choice in hotel or not, because you really do wonder if you are in the middle of no where. But then, you see the hotel, and it looks good. You walk in the front doors and there are chairs and pretty statues, and a bar off to one side, and then someone hands you champagne, all of this under a beautiful authentic thatched roof... It's all pretty good. We get checked in, and they are able to move us into rooms close to each other, so we are happy about that. We walk towards the back of the lobby, where the entrance to the pool/beach is, and OMG, it's amazing. There is this pool that sort of winds all through the courtyard area. I call it a courtyard for lack of better word. The hotel is arranged in a horseshoe shape, and the middle part that opens out to the beach is a long area with this beautiful pool and swim up bar. There is a snack bar and eating area with tables and umbrellas, loungers galore, and where the pool ends and the beach begins is a huge rotunda with the buffett restaurant in it. The buffet isn't super, but it's very nice for breakfast and fresh fruit and that sort of thing. I never ate there at night, or even lunch, so I am not the best judge of the buffet. The snack bar was easy, serving pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, nacho's, bread, french fries, cheese quesadilla's, ice cream, and I think that's about it. I may have missed a few things. The sign at the snack bar says they serve lots more variety, but they actually didn't. But, the food was quick and easy, and to me, that's what counts. I don't want anything interfering with my beach time!
We all walk to our rooms, which aren't pool view, but we have a nice view when we walk out our door. We are on the 2nd floor just around the corner from the rotunda where the restaurant and club is, but more importantly, right where the stairs leading down to the pool are. So I am happy. My brother had a little balcony, but there wasn't really a view because there was an area on the second floor by the stairs where there were some lounge chairs that blocked the view down to the pool. We were the room on the end, on the corner, and we had a sliding glass door leading out to the steps, but no balcony. Since we didn't have an ocean view I didn't need a balcony anyway. The rooms are pretty simple. The air conditioner stayed on full blast, but never really made the room very cold, which is fine with me because I am so cold-natured, but Chris is extremely hot-natured, so when we made a trip to Walmart that night for snacks, we bought a fan as well! We left it for the guy who cleaned our room all week when we came home. The room also didn't have many power outlets. One in the bathroom, two in the main room, and one or two at least behind the huge headboard that is attached to both beds, which, by the way, we can't access. So, to hook up something electric (laptop, cell phone charger, travel iron, etc) we had to move the dresser a little and unplug the TV (or the air conditioner--no way!) , or reach even farther behind the dresser and plug something in the other available plug where the lamp was located. By the way, when I say one plug in the bathroom, that's what I mean, ONE plug, not a double outlet like we are used to in the US. The other two were double outlets, at least. Ok, that's my gripes about the room. But honestly, who goes to Mexico to stay in the room, right?
Luckily, since our flight was moved up an hour, we get there an hour earlier and head straight for the beach. The beach is wide and the sand is so baby powder soft, it's heaven. The weather is nice, the water is the perfect temp, and there are a little more waves here than there were farther south where we stayed last year. The only problem with the beach is that once you wade into the water, there are tiny rocks and shell fragments that are rough on the feet. However, to the north of the hotel, there is nothing but empty beach for a mile or more, and when we walked 40 feet down the beach, the sand was powdery as far out as you could walk into the water. Plus all that stretch of beach beside us was almost empty. It was great to have the option to lay right in front of the hotel on the loungers, or take a little oceanside stroll and have the perfect place to play in the water. With the three kids, who are my brother's kids but act like they are mine as well, it was always a struggle as to where we would be, the beautiful pool, the beach in front of the hotel, or down a little ways at the other part of the beach. Three kids, three places to be. And guess what? None of them wanted to be in the same spot at the same time!
There are lots of boats in front of the hotel, and wave runners for rent, so that keeps the water a bit more wavy. The boats themselves, when they were anchored, didn't bother me much. Some of them were very pretty. But, to me it seemed that they drove very near the shore and VERY close to the ropes of the swimming area when they came in. Having small children to watch, there were a few times that that really bothered me. It seemed some boats and drivers had a bigger problem with the boundaries than others. I think the presence of the boats bothered my bro and SIL a little more than me. So just know if you are a person who would be bothered by this, Grand Coco Bay isn't the resort for you.
The kids club was closed, or at least not very active while we were there because there had been a very tragic accident a few days before we arrived. The GCB has three hot tub areas, a large one with two smaller, vortex style whirlpools on either side. The small ones looked scary, there was such a tornado/whirlpool affect going on. I don't want to scare anyone away from the hotel, because everything else was very safe, and there always security guards around, but a boy had been killed by drowning in one of the smaller whirpools. The vortex/tornado/whirlpool drain had so much suction, that the little boy had been sucked down to the drain and couldn't free himself, and he drowned before someone realized he was there. I only say this because it's the reason I can't comment on the kids club, and if you have small kids and the whirlpools still work the same way when you visit the GCB, please keep your kids out of those whirlpools.
Our first night there, Chris and I left the rest of the family at the hotel and went out on our own to celebrate our anniversary. We ate at Chicago Don Jose's, since we didn't get to last trip, and it was wonderful! I had the beef fillet with peppercorn sauce, and Chris had a ribeye or some other steak that was equally as good. We loved it! It was a little pricey for us, but then we both had dessert and drank a million soft drinks (which, in Mexico, costs more than beer!) but darn, it was all good! I had the banana flambe for dessert, and Chris had the brownie cake that isn't on the menu, and they both came with Mexican vanilla ice cream, which is awesome. I can't tell how it's different from vanilla we get in the US, but it's different and good! The flambe was so good I went back for it two more times throughout the week. We met the owner Dalia, who is so sweet. She greeted us with a hug, and bode us good-bye with another hug and kiss on the cheek. The story of her little restaurant is amazing too. Written up in Food and Wine magazine, listed as a recommended restaurant on the PGA tour, people fly in just for the rack of lamb, and she never had any chef's training or restaurant experience when she moved from Chicago to Playa. Very impressive for a gal who dreams of living in Playa someday!
Whew. That's just day one. If I haven't said it already, I LOVE Playa! I am home now, but thinking of that feeling of my toes hitting the sand in paradise, AHHH! I love it!

Here is a picture of Me and Chris and Dalia from Chicago Don Jose's:


And some postcards and other pictures from Grand Coco Bay:






Pictures I attempted to take of the GCB from the hotel and beach:












It's late, and that's all I muster for now. More later, I promise!

Julie

[TeeZet]

Originally Posted by jewels3081

...
...I will post some pics from the day

Please do!

Edit: you just did!

[jewels3081]

I had to go back and find a PM from last year where someone instructed me how to post pics! There will be more to come, probably way more than anyone here cares to see of me and my family!
Julie

[TeeZet]

Including those postcards was a great idea!
You'd never be able to get those shots yourself and they show a nice overview of the resort.

[jewels3081]

Originally Posted by TeeZet

Including those postcards was a great idea!
You'd never be able to get those shots yourself and they show a nice overview of the resort.

Thanks, I never could find many good pics of the hotel when I started looking at booking there, even from the web-site of the hotel. So, I figured those would show people what the overall view is, and maybe get a feeling of the size and how awesome that pool is. Of course, I don't go to Playa for the pools, but since this was a more family oriented vacation, that pool was important! Plus, it is really the coolest pool I have seen at any hotel. But, you know, It's not like I am a world traveler or anything.

Every time I look at it I just wish I could beam myself right back to that beach!

Julie

[Dijo]

it sure didn't take you long to get the hang of posting pictures. Keep up the good work.

[4wheeled]

Originally Posted by jewels3081

Thanks, I never could find many good pics of the hotel when I started looking at booking there, even from the web-site of the hotel. So, I figured those would show people what the overall view is, and maybe get a feeling of the size and how awesome that pool is. Of course, I don't go to Playa for the pools, but since this was a more family oriented vacation, that pool was important! Plus, it is really the coolest pool I have seen at any hotel. But, you know, It's not like I am a world traveler or anything.

Every time I look at it I just wish I could beam myself right back to that beach!

Julie

thanks very much Julie. i'm hoping to stay there next april and it is always helpful to have an idea of what to expect.

looking forward to the rest of your report

[maestranba]

Great start! You're a beautiful couple!! We stayed at GCB last summer and I know what you mean about the jacuzzis. We wouldn't let our son go in them without one of us. Very sad about that child drowning. Usually the security guard is standing right in that area, too.

I was disappointed in the beach there. I figured it would be nice and sandy like at Mamitas. The first time I went in the water I stubbed my toe badly. We just wore water shoes after that.

Can't wait for more!

[Becks310]

Yay! Great start! I can't wait to read the rest and to see all your beautiful pictures

[jewels3081]

Originally Posted by maestranba

Great start! You're a beautiful couple!! We stayed at GCB last summer and I know what you mean about the jacuzzis. We wouldn't let our son go in them without one of us. Very sad about that child drowning. Usually the security guard is standing right in that area, too.

I was disappointed in the beach there. I figured it would be nice and sandy like at Mamitas. The first time I went in the water I stubbed my toe badly. We just wore water shoes after that.

Can't wait for more!

Thanks for the compliment. We had some semi professional pics done on the beach, so you will see lots and lots more pics of us and the rest of our family!
I got used to the stuff underfoot on the beach, but it was nice to realize we could walk just a short way down and have a nice sandy beach almost all to ourselves. GCB is in a good location, it's not too far from 5th. It would be nice to have a oceanfront AI in walking distance to 5th though. That's why we love the place, the beach and 5th. It doesn't cost much or take long to take a taxi, but it's SO much nicer when you can just stroll along at night and feel the breeze off the ocean.... AHH, I already miss it so!
The ambiance of Playa is like a drug, it;s very addictive!
Julie

[jewels3081]

OK, so the first full day we spent in Playa was Friday, and I always plan my trips with my first day being a total beach day. We just slept late, relaxed on the beach, played in the pool and ocean, explored the hotel a little, did that sort of thing. It was so nice to just hang out. It was a beautiful day. Quite a bit of the week was overcast with lots of ominous looking clouds, though it only sprinkled for about 10 minutes or so one day, but then it really stormed our last night and day there. It's such a bummer to end your vacation with a rainy day.
I remembered to use my camera on the first day, and the last day, and managed to forget about it most times in between. Here's my lovely family enjoying their very first day in Playadise!
My big bro, at the bar, as usual!


My sis in law, living it up in the sun:


My husband enjoying the pool:


And the precious little terrors:





After our full day at the beach, we all decided to explore 5th Ave, since it was my brother's family's first time there. They loved it. They really "got" it, you know? I was afraid it might not be commercialized enough for them, that drivng through the dirtier parts of the city might turn them off or that they might expect malls or something, although I told them many times it wasn't like that, so it was awesome for them to think 5th Ave. and the areas around it were as cool as Chris and I do. The kids even loved it. They liked that it really felt like you were in another country, as opposed to Cancun or somewhere with high rises and hotels that look just like Florida. We ate at La Parrilla Mexican, and I think everyone was pleased. I don't remember what everyone had, I know one of the boys had steak (he had steak every night! He'll be a 12 year old with a heart stint someday at the rate he's going with the steak eating) and the other had cheese quesadillas. Chris and I had the mixed grill for two, which they bring out on a little box that actually still has smoldering coals in it to keep the food warm. It had chicken, steak, shrimp, and lobster. It was very good. Chris ordered a strawberry margarita, and they asked if he wanted a jumbo one, so of course, he said yes. Well, little did he know that they were going to bring out a tall tube like container about two feet tall with maragarita in it! So when they gave us sombreros and took our picture, it was funny because he was trying to hide the drink behind someone or under the table or something. It's pretty difficult to hide something that big and red. Our meal there was pretty pricey too, but we all got lots of food. It was good we were on 5th so we could do some walking after that meal!
My bro still has the pic of us with the sombreros and Chris with the huge drink. I'll have to post that when I get the picture from him.
After we closed down the stores on 5th, we headed back to the hotel to relax and get ready for the next day, Saturday, which we thought was going to be an Akumal day. My nephew got really sick to his stomach before we left the hotel, so we cancelled that day and decided to stay around the hotel again. The little guys felt really bad, but I had no problem hanging out on the beach again. Beach and sun, that's what I vacation for! It was just a short term problem, luckily, not the "revenge," so by noon or so he was out and about enjoying his day. I was happy for him. We ate at the hotel's Mexican restaurant that night. Now, some people have said the restaurants at GCB aren't good, and I have never been to another AI so I can't compare, but the Mexican place was really good. You have to make reservations early, and it's much easier to get a reservation at the Mexican restaurant than at the Italian one. I don't really understand the limited reservation policy at the hotel, because when we ate at one of the restaurants, there were never more than three tables busy at any one time. Our rooms were right beside the restaurants, so we walked by them often, and it was that way all night. The restaurants were never even at half capacity. I figure it must have to do with how many (or how few) people they staff the restaurants with or something. At any rate, the Mexican place was very good, although not extremely "mexican." One of my nephews and I had chicken fajitas, which were very simple, just chicken with melted cheese on it and tortillas, but we both like them that way so that was great for us. My SIL and niece split surf and turf (shrimp and steak skewers) and they enjoyed that. Luke, the little steak eater, my husband and my brother all three had steak, which they thought was very good as well. We had appetizers too, the melted fundido, I think they call it, which is just melted cheese (thick, not runny like cheese dip) that you scoop up and wrap in a tortilla, and the Aztec appetizer. I don't remember the exact name, but it had the word Azetec in it. It was FABULOUS! It's like a multilayered tostada or something with cheese, pulled chicken, and refried beans in between layers of round tostada looking chip things. (I obviously can't think of the correct word here!) Plus there was some kind of sauce on it. We all fought over it, so the next time we ate there, we ordered multiple plates of that!
This is the day that Chris and Barry brought out their 52 ounce Bubba Kegs that I had bought them before we left. They looked like a football on the outside, with a flat bottom and a handle. Those containers got a lot of attention around the resort. People were very jealous. Everyday, someone mentioned the bubba's, as we called them. A guy even asked to buy one off of us! My SIL, who has a hilarious sense of humor, commented that when she and I walked around with the bubba kegs, people were admiring our "jugs". HA! Seriously, Chris and I were really thinking we should move there and sell Bubba Kegs. If only.....
So that's Friday and Saturday. Here is a pic of my guy with his Bubba Keg:


And us on the beach. Notice who has bubba this time?


Dead sexy, aren't we! HA!
More to come!
Julie

[TXS]

It was great meeting you guys down there....

great trip report so far!!!!!

[jewels3081]

Originally Posted by TXS

It was great meeting you guys down there....

great trip report so far!!!!!

That is a great picture. Is it one you guys took while there? It was so nice meeting you too. I hope your vacation was fantastic.

[monte]

Julie, great report with some good info. Thanks. I'm still laughing about your SIL comment about the jugs

[2theC]

Great pics! Can't wait to read the rest of your report.