|
Just returned last week from a family trip to BPT. Without exception, we had a wonderful time. Let me put things in perspective, I travel quite a bit on business and am used to staying in nice places. Also, we have 5 children aged 5 - 11, so we were big users of all the facilities at the resort. My impressions:
Beach: Nice, but rocky. Wore crocs all week and still stubbed my toe occasionally. Spent most time at the beach just to the BPT side of the dive school area. Small rocks and coral very dense in first few feet of water, then it gets much nicer. But it's a warm, beautiful ocean and a pretty beach. I'd take the crocs and not worry about it.
Rooms: Considering that you're in a less-developed area, I thought the rooms were great. Absolutely all that you needed. We were upgraded by the resort to a pair of connecting Jr. Suites in building #4. Had a beach view out my window. Very attentive service and housekeeping was extremely good. Beds were a little on the hard side (fine by me), but pillows were like stones. Air conditioning worked too well. We shut it off at night and just ran the fan. Very comfortable.
Food: We were allowed to select 5 ala carte sitdown dinners. We actually took none of them. We loved the buffet and chose to eat there each night. The food was fresh, hot and delicious. Every meal had at least 6 to 10 choices for entrees, along with all the fresh salad and fruit you could stand. Desserts were to die for. Two of my children have food allergies. The staff is very willing to point out what dish has which ingredients, or to make something special for them. They also have a "kids section" with hotdogs, chicken nuggets etal. Very family friendly, while very satisfying for mom & dad. Don't miss the strolling mariachi band in the evening. A big hit with everyone, and a great photo opportunity.
Service: My recommendation for the main dining hall is to turn to the right (away from the food) once you enter the main dining room and go all the way toward the wall closest to the sea. Look for a server named Hippolito. He took great care of us all week. For example, the tables in that section were made up for 6. Each night, he preset one for 7 people just for us. He also learned our favorite beverages and had them waiting for us. I wish he could work for me in the US. Good example of the value of a $1 tip here and there. Used the Gran Tortuga for the occasional breakfast and lunch to break things up. Also used the "snack bar". It's really an open-air shady resturaunt that has both buffet offering available and does short order cooking from a menu. Great midday alternative.
Trams: Don't count on them to get back and forth from the room to the beach. They run frequently from the lobbies to the hacienda (shopping district). It's also a nice walk, well lit and with a guard at the gate. Felt very safe all week, even at night.
ATM: At the shopping area in a small room with a locking glass door. Safe way to get extra pesos when you need them.
Pool: We all loved the pool. Biggest complaint was the ever-popular chair saving. A very bad concept that kept us from fully enjoying the pool. Also, found the towel situation to be poor at times, as laundry is done. Having said that, however, we always ended up getting towels, just had to wait for them sometimes. Main pool is really about 4 pools that are tangent to one another, but not really all together. The pool with the best kids area is right next to the large thatched roof bar just off of the Tulum lobby. Always was able to snag a plastic table and a few chairs from the bar to have a place to set our stuff while the kids were swimming.
Palapas: As I said, the pool chairs were unreal in terms of being reserved early. Our best success was with palapas at the beach just out from the Gran Tortuga. Another good reason to eat breakfast/lunch there. Never failed to find chairs under the thatched roof and had to settle for watching the ocean instead of the pool.
Intangibles: A couple of our kids, along with mom& dad, overdid it in the strong sun. One of the kids actually came down with an illness that required immediate attention. The english-speaking Dr and pharmacy at the shopping area came to our rescue. Traveling with kids is tough, but traveling with sick kids is miserable. Knowing this is available should give you piece of mind.
Tours: We went to Xcaret. Good all-day thing with a marvelous beach for the kids. Mom & dad could sit in beach chair with table service, hydrate, snack and watch them. Big hits were butterfly pavillion, maya village and underground river. Make sure you have plenty of cash if you want handicrafts since vendors in maya village can't take credit cards.
People: Everyone VERY helpful.. I loved it. Best vacation in a few years, even with a couple sick ones.
Special Commendation: Heather at Playa Tours. Wanted badly to take the Tulum and Beyond tour. She moved mountains to make it possible with very short notice. Then, kids get sick and we need to cancel at the last minute. Very helpful, pleasant and professional. Anyone can take you on a tour when things are going smoothly, but it's when things don't go so smoothly that you really get some insight into people's integrity and character. They are dependable, and they did right by me when it wasn't good for them. I'll always use them in the future.
|