Is the Gran Porto Real that bad?

FitzfromKY · 08-22-2007

My wife(in 10 days!) and I are coming down for our honeymoon on Sept.2nd for a week and will be staying at the Grand Porto.We have very little money left after paying for our wedding so upgrading to the Royal is not an option as this trip was a wedding present from my mother(Thanks Mom!!).We would not have a honeymoon if not for her.I am a little worried about all the negative post about this AI resort and I hope it will be as much fun as we would like.All we are really looking for is a place to defuse after a year of wedding planning

.Like I said before we dont have much money to bring so we hoped to take advantage of the all inclusive stuff as much as we can.If we are just looking to sit buy the water with a drink and maybe go out for a nice dinner one night are we going to be alright?I don't mean this like it might sound but we are twenty-six and seem on the younger side of those that post on this site(I swear no disrespect sirs and madams).Is this place cool for younger newly-weds that don't mind kids? Sorry for the long post but I am getting worried,please set my mind at ease!

FitzfromKY · 08-22-2007

Gran Porto Real!!!!!! Sorry for the miss spelling!

Bobby D · 08-22-2007

Don't worry, the grand is a beautiful hotel with nice rooms and good food. The location is simply amazing, your on 5av in under a minute with plenty of shopping even on a tight budget. The beach is rocky in front of the grand but you can walk down to the ferry to cozumel ( 10pps ) it's a nice boat ride and the beach is beautiful on the way down. There is a nice round bar by the pool and in the morning you can see the fisherman come in with there catch near the hotel and a bunch of pelicans waiting to be fed. So if you don't mind the kids you will have a great time. Enjoy Playa del carmen

SigEpMike · 08-22-2007

Your honeymoon is what you make it, so you will be fine. I think the people who say that you should upgrade to the Royal are mainly commenting on the (1) adults-only policy of the Royal and (2) better beach. You can use the Royal's beach and, if you don't mind kinds, you'll be fine.

Have fun.

kayt707 · 08-22-2007

Not to insult anyone but you will find some anti AI people on this site. Alot of folks here prefer the smaller hotels in town. Dont let what they say bother you.

We stayed at the royal and it was amazing but im sure that some of the basics are going to be pretty similar. As was mentioned as long as you are with your new bride and in love and prepared to enjoy yourself you will.

There is a great trip report of a cuple who stayed at the gran porto and got married in playa. They had a wonderful time with the typical glitches that you expect with weddings and travel. If you have achance check out their report. Im going to try to give you a link but I cant promise anything.

http://www.playa.info/playa-del-carm...layagroom.html

heater · 08-22-2007

the beach at the gpr is very hot because it doesn't get much of a breeze. you may want to use the beach north of south of the resort, you'll be much cooler.

**Shammy** · 08-22-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by SigEpMike

You can use the Royal's beach and, if you don't mind kinds, you'll be fine.

.

Just to clarify........While you can "use" the beach in front of the Royal PDC, you can't use any of their lounge chairs or any facilities of that hotel. You can swim in front of the Royal and/or sit on your towel there but that's it.

Bluespicker · 08-22-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shammy

Just to clarify........While you can "use" the beach in front of the Royal PDC, you can't use any of their lounge chairs or any facilities of that hotel. You can swim in front of the Royal and/or sit on your towel there but that's it.

Anyone can do that....right?

**Shammy** · 08-22-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluespicker

Anyone can do that....right?

Yep, it's a public beach, they can't tell you not to lounge or swim there - as long as you don't lounge on (or close to) THEIR chairs.

FitzfromKY · 08-22-2007

Thanks to everyone that replied!I wonder if I am just feeling some of the last minute wedding stress and it is spilling over to the honeymoon stuff.I can be a bit of a control freak.Also with all the false hurricane info I was a bit freaked!That is how I stumbled on to your wonderful online community,I was googleing weather reports for Playa and found some great info on this site.Thanks for being so kind to a new comer,I will report back AFTER the trip(will be to busy with my new bride while I am there

).I am just being silly I am not really THAT big of a perv!Thanks again.

kayt707 · 08-22-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by FitzfromKY

Thanks to everyone that replied!I wonder if I am just feeling some of the last minute wedding stress and it is spilling over to the honeymoon stuff.I can be a bit of a control freak.Also with all the false hurricane info I was a bit freaked!That is how I stumbled on to your wonderful online community,I was googleing weather reports for Playa and found some great info on this site.Thanks for being so kind to a new comer,I will report back AFTER the trip(will be to busy with my new bride while I am there

).I am just being silly I am not really THAT big of a perv!Thanks again.

Have a wonderful trip. Weddings are stressful and one more thing to be concerned about could freak anybody out. Glad you found us and look foward to hearing how it was!

Leia · 08-22-2007

We stayed at the Gran Porto Real in December '05 just before it went all inclusive. We quite enjoyed our stay there, we did opt for the breakfast plan and it was great. We would have no problem staying there again, we just prefer not to stay at an AI. The hotel is nice, we had ocean view suites (2 couples), the staff were very friendly. We enjoyed being so close to 5th Ave.

You'll have a wonderful honeymoon there! Congratulations!

Bluespicker · 08-22-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shammy

Yep, it's a public beach, they can't tell you not to lounge or swim there - as long as you don't lounge on (or close to) THEIR chairs.

Yes I've noticed that they are very proprietary about "their" beach.

RanchHQ · 08-22-2007

We stayed at the RPDC for a week in late May of this year. I spent my afternoons at The Grand because:
1: Their Lunch feed was better.
2: I enjoyed watching the Grandkids in the pool.
3: My Mother In Law was staying there.
4: My Mother In Law was staying there.
The only rooms I went into at The Grand were all over looking the Pool and the Beach.
P.S. My Mother In Law loved the Grand.

Sukidog · 08-22-2007

I'm sure you will have a wonderful honeymoon. Don't think about the negative. The positive will def. outway all....ENJOY!!!

08-22-2007	#1 (permalink)
FitzfromKY sandflea Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4	Is the Gran Porto Real that bad? My wife(in 10 days!) and I are coming down for our honeymoon on Sept.2nd for a week and will be staying at the Grand Porto.We have very little money left after paying for our wedding so upgrading to the Royal is not an option as this trip was a wedding present from my mother(Thanks Mom!!).We would not have a honeymoon if not for her.I am a little worried about all the negative post about this AI resort and I hope it will be as much fun as we would like.All we are really looking for is a place to defuse after a year of wedding planning.Like I said before we dont have much money to bring so we hoped to take advantage of the all inclusive stuff as much as we can.If we are just looking to sit buy the water with a drink and maybe go out for a nice dinner one night are we going to be alright?I don't mean this like it might sound but we are twenty-six and seem on the younger side of those that post on this site(I swear no disrespect sirs and madams).Is this place cool for younger newly-weds that don't mind kids? Sorry for the long post but I am getting worried,please set my mind at ease!

08-22-2007	#3 (permalink)
Bobby D lost on fifth Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montreal, Quebec Posts: 24	Congratulations on the wedding Don't worry, the grand is a beautiful hotel with nice rooms and good food. The location is simply amazing, your on 5av in under a minute with plenty of shopping even on a tight budget. The beach is rocky in front of the grand but you can walk down to the ferry to cozumel ( 10pps ) it's a nice boat ride and the beach is beautiful on the way down. There is a nice round bar by the pool and in the morning you can see the fisherman come in with there catch near the hotel and a bunch of pelicans waiting to be fed. So if you don't mind the kids you will have a great time. Enjoy Playa del carmen

08-22-2007	#10 (permalink)
FitzfromKY sandflea Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4	Thanks to everyone that replied!I wonder if I am just feeling some of the last minute wedding stress and it is spilling over to the honeymoon stuff.I can be a bit of a control freak.Also with all the false hurricane info I was a bit freaked!That is how I stumbled on to your wonderful online community,I was googleing weather reports for Playa and found some great info on this site.Thanks for being so kind to a new comer,I will report back AFTER the trip(will be to busy with my new bride while I am there).I am just being silly I am not really THAT big of a perv!Thanks again.

08-22-2007	#14 (permalink)
RanchHQ ruined Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Foothils of The Sierra's Posts: 81	Fritz.... We stayed at the RPDC for a week in late May of this year. I spent my afternoons at The Grand because: 1: Their Lunch feed was better. 2: I enjoyed watching the Grandkids in the pool. 3: My Mother In Law was staying there. 4: My Mother In Law was staying there. The only rooms I went into at The Grand were all over looking the Pool and the Beach. P.S. My Mother In Law loved the Grand.

08-22-2007	#2 (permalink)
FitzfromKY sandflea Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4	Gran Porto Real!!!!!! Sorry for the miss spelling!

08-22-2007	#4 (permalink)
SigEpMike ruined Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 93	Your honeymoon is what you make it, so you will be fine. I think the people who say that you should upgrade to the Royal are mainly commenting on the (1) adults-only policy of the Royal and (2) better beach. You can use the Royal's beach and, if you don't mind kinds, you'll be fine. Have fun.

08-22-2007	#5 (permalink)
kayt707 añejo Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alta Loma, Ca Posts: 6,404	Not to insult anyone but you will find some anti AI people on this site. Alot of folks here prefer the smaller hotels in town. Dont let what they say bother you. We stayed at the royal and it was amazing but im sure that some of the basics are going to be pretty similar. As was mentioned as long as you are with your new bride and in love and prepared to enjoy yourself you will. There is a great trip report of a cuple who stayed at the gran porto and got married in playa. They had a wonderful time with the typical glitches that you expect with weddings and travel. If you have achance check out their report. Im going to try to give you a link but I cant promise anything. http://www.playa.info/playa-del-carm...layagroom.html

08-22-2007	#6 (permalink)
heater reposado Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: michigan Posts: 1,328	the beach at the gpr is very hot because it doesn't get much of a breeze. you may want to use the beach north of south of the resort, you'll be much cooler.

08-22-2007	#12 (permalink)
Leia life=playa Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lower Mainland, BC, Canada Posts: 930	We stayed at the Gran Porto Real in December '05 just before it went all inclusive. We quite enjoyed our stay there, we did opt for the breakfast plan and it was great. We would have no problem staying there again, we just prefer not to stay at an AI. The hotel is nice, we had ocean view suites (2 couples), the staff were very friendly. We enjoyed being so close to 5th Ave. You'll have a wonderful honeymoon there! Congratulations!

08-22-2007	#15 (permalink)
Sukidog añejo Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: ON, Canada Posts: 1,682	I'm sure you will have a wonderful honeymoon. Don't think about the negative. The positive will def. outway all....ENJOY!!!

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