Questions about Grand Mayan

[ridee1946]

Just got back from Grand Mayan, very nice , need to take shuttles which are easily
available.
recommend water shoes for beach , it is rocky
shuttle to play where beaches are nice and food is not as expensive
we ate alot at Havanna Moon, really good hamburgers and fries
Itailian rest. is nice for a special night
went to Playa and shopped at Mega right where they drop you off, got some
liquor there and snacks
they have happy hour from 11 to 1 at the pool bar and the beach bar.
trip to playa is 6 round trip
anything else I can help you with let me know.

[kc-to-playa]

Hi ridee1946! Thanks for the info! A couple of questions ... did you use any other transportation besides the resort shuttle? Also, did you go to the Mexican Fiesta or book any tours/excursions with the resort?

[kc-to-playa]

Just had to post WOOHOO LEAVING TOMORROW!

Thanks for everyone's help on this thread and my other threads!

[kc-to-playa]

Just got back Sunday from the Grand Mayan. It is a great resort and we had a great trip! I know that others replied to my thread, but was I the last one of the posters to go? If not, I just wanted to open this up for questions if anyone had any!

[kristens4]

Hi, I am going in two weeks. Can you tell me more about your trip? Was it hard to get the palapa at the pool? How was the shuttle to Playa? How much was it? Did you take any tours thru the resort? Did you go to Xcaret?
Thanks,
Kristen

[kc-to-playa]

Originally Posted by kristens4

Hi, I am going in two weeks. Can you tell me more about your trip? Was it hard to get the palapa at the pool? How was the shuttle to Playa? How much was it? Did you take any tours thru the resort? Did you go to Xcaret?
Thanks,
Kristen

Hi Kristen! We really did love the resort. The grounds were beautiful, the rooms were awesome, and the service was excellent. All the food we had at the resort was very good. We can't stop talking about how nice the resort was.

We did not get a palapa, but our friends did. They were able to get one same day because if people don't claim them by a certain time, they reassign them. So she didn't actually reserve one. She was just there at the right time to claim one. I think it was about 11am that they gave it to her. She did have to go to the front desk and show that she spent $30 on food and drinks to have the charge removed, but it was no big deal. They readily removed the charge.

The shuttle was good. It is a good sized bus. It is $6 round trip, but they do let you buy a one way ticket for $3. You don't have to make a reservation. Just show up at the pickup place at the appropriate time. It ran about every 2 hours. The last one returns from Playa at 8 or 9 pm. I am sorry I don't have exact times for you. I didn't bring the schedule home with me. Also, we only used it once. Several times we caught a bus or van at the highway for $1.50. It was really easy to do! You just stand there quite obvious and they stop You can catch a return trip at the ADO bus station on 5th, but the last one leaves at 1am, I believe. A taxi to or from Playa is $20 and that is how we usually returned to the resort because I didn't want to wait for the bus and just wanted to get back!

We did the snorkel trip at the resort and it was great! They do it at 1pm every day. Reserve your spot the day before because it is popular and does fill up. To reserve, go to the water activities hut on the beach. This is where you reserve parasailing, waverunners, scuba, and snorkeling. They take you to two different areas of the reef for snorkeling and then to a very nice beach for about 30 minutes of just relaxing. Beer, soda, and water is provided. We were back about 4pm. The cost was $46 and they guys running it did a great job!

Our friends did an excursion thru the resort that included ziplining, mountain biking, and swimming in a cenote. It think it was $65. It included lunch and drinks. I think it was 10am-3pm. They loved it and highly suggest it! I was afraid of the mountain biking part so didn't go , but they said it was only 1 mile there and 1 mile back and if you didn't want to do that part, they will take you in the van.

Yes, we did go to Xcaret and we might be the only people on this board that can say they were disappointed. We purchased regular admission for $69 and the evening dinner for $45. We wore our clothes and took our swimsuits and intended to do the "dry stuff" first. We got there about 2pm and it was sooooo hot. We visited all the exhibits and loved the aquairum, manatees, giant sea turtles, and butterfly exhibit. We also did the Paradise River boat ride which was just hot and boring. The walkways are a bit closed in and hot and the signage is confusing. By 4:30 pm we had seen most everything and were so hot we thought we would die. We went back to the main pavilion because that was the only place we could find ala carte food. Every other place was buffet. So we got food and drinks and sat in a breezy place and tried to recover. By then we didn't even want to bother with putting on our swimsuits and doing the water activities (underground river and snorkeling). So we just rested until about 6pm then went to the revolving observation tower, which was pretty neat. The tower is next to the dinner theater. So then we headed to the theater for the evening show and dinner. That is when things got good! We enjoyed our reserved seats for the show. They had backs and had a great view. The food was very good. It wasn't a $45 meal, but was worth the price for the seats and the dinner really was very good. The show was outstanding! If we had arrived after 4pm, it would have only cost us $49 admission instead of $69, but we didn't know that we would see everything so quick and that we would feel too ill from the heat to even put on our swimsuits. So I have mixed thoughts about Xcaret. There just isn't enough to do for the $69 admission but the evening show is fabulous!

Whew, that was a long reply Please let me know if there are any other questions I can answer!

[Moppi]

Originally Posted by kristens4

Hi, I am going in two weeks. Can you tell me more about your trip? Was it hard to get the palapa at the pool? How was the shuttle to Playa? How much was it? Did you take any tours thru the resort? Did you go to Xcaret?
Thanks,
Kristen

Hi - I'm a friend of KC to Playa's that crashed a couple days with them at The Grand Mayan. My sole purpose was to have a couple of days in the sun without hubby and kids The Grand Mayan pool was perfect for this! The Grand Mayan pool has a 'sandy beach' area with cushioned loungers and plenty of palapas that were readily available, along with a great bar waitstaff! Don't worry about the sand, there's a separate rinse area for your feet before you enter the zero-entry pool. I liked the Grand Mayan pool - more of an adult pool - much better than the Grand Palace pool -which was more of a 'party pool' atomosphere- but that is also the pool that has the 'bed' palapas to rent for $30 per day. It just depends on which atmosphere you prefer. The resort itself was very nice - just too big. Make sure you request a low numbered building and enjoy your stay!

[kristens4]

Thanks so much for the info!! Very helpful. I am traveling with my 6yo, and leaving hubby and younger kids at home. Did you have any trouble calling home? Does the hotel charge you with a fee even if you use a calling card? Is there any place yummy you would recommed in Playa to eat? Was there lots of traffic when you crossed the street? Did a resort shuttle take you to the entrance, or are you able to walk it?
One last question, okay two, do the rooms have coffee makers/filters and do they have DVD players?
Sorry for all of the questions, thanks for taking the time to help!
Kristen

[kc-to-playa]

Hi Kristen! I activated international calling on my cell phone so I didn't use the room phone or a calling card so can't help you out there.

The best place I ate in Playa was Carboncitas. The prices were great and the food was fabulous! It is at 5th Avenue and 4th Street. As you are walking down 5th Avenue when you reach 4th Street, just look down the street and you will see it just a little ways down. We are returning to Playa in July with the rest of the family and I am definitely taking my husband and son there!

Yes, there is sometimes a lot of traffic to cross and I can understand your concern with a 6 year old. I never felt in danger, but you may have to just check it out for yourself.

I considered it to be way too far to walk to the front entrance. We always took a shuttle from the Mayan Palace lobby to the front entrance.

Yes, the rooms have coffee makers - thank goodness! They provide a package of filters, a couple of packets of creamer and sugar, and one day's worth of coffee. You can buy more coffee in the convenience store, but it is expensive. So I just took coffee in my suitcase.

No, they don't have DVD players. We took our portable DVD player and those red/yellow/white cords to attach it to the TV.

My biggest tip (you may have already read this on Trip Advisor) is to get get a room in buildings 1-7. Until I got there, I had no idea just how important this would be to me! We were in building 2, which worked out perfect. Buildings 1 and 2 are connected and share an elevator and concierge in the center. I walked thru building 1 and literally was at the Grand Mayan pool. Just a short, beautiful walk around the corner and you are at the Mayan Palace Pool, the beach, the convenience store, the spa, and the restaurants. It was great! The first 7 buildings form a "C", with 1 and 7 on the ends. But there is a lagoon in the middle of the "C" so you can't just cut across. Building 7 wouldn't be bad because you would just walk around that end of the lagoon. Then you have buildings 8 thru 13 strung out lengthwise behind the "C". The temporary Grand Mayan lobby is past building 13. So when we were headed to the lobby on the shuttle, we would see all these families at the shuttle stops with their hands full of beach stuff. I have no idea how prompt the shuttles were to those buildings, but hopefully they were quick! When we wanted to take a shuttle to the Grand Mayan lobby or the front gate of the resort, we went to the Mayan Palace lobby and caught it there. They came along every few minutes and we never had to wait. If you don't get buildings 1-7, don't be sad! It is still a beautiful resort with great service and the shuttles were very efficient!

Another thing we did that would be handy with your child is to take a couple of insulated cups. I would fill mine half full with water and then fill it up with ice at the ice machine on my way out of the building. Then I would have ice water to take to the pool. Later during the 11am-1pm happy hour (2 for 1 drinks!) I would pour out any remaining water and fill the cup with my frozen drinks. When you buying during 2 for 1, they bring you both the drinks at the same time so my 2nd drink would melt before I finished my 1st one.

Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any more questions. I am so happy to help someone since I got so much help myself from this forum!

[kristens4]

I am arriving to Cancun airport at 1130 and expect to get to the Mayan Palace around 2 or so. Does anyone know if they will let me check in early or at least keep my luggage while we hit the pool? Once at the pool can we order food and drinks even though they won't take cash? Do you think our luggage would be safe?
Thanks again,
Kristen

[Bevoz]

They have a locked and guarded holding room for you luggae and will give you a # for when they deliver them to your room. Most times you can check in early especialy in low season. You can then go and pay cash ( you can) until you get your band and room #. We love the Mayan resorts hope you have a great vacation.

[kc-to-playa]

Originally Posted by kristens4

I am arriving to Cancun airport at 1130 and expect to get to the Mayan Palace around 2 or so. Does anyone know if they will let me check in early or at least keep my luggage while we hit the pool? Once at the pool can we order food and drinks even though they won't take cash? Do you think our luggage would be safe?
Thanks again,
Kristen

Hi Kristen - My experience was with the Grand Mayan, but I assume it would be the same for the Mayan Palace. We arrived about 1pm. They checked us in and gave us our room number, but our room wasn't ready. Check-in isn't until 5pm and they told us our room wouldn't be available until at least 4pm. They stored our luggage and gave us a claim check. They also gave us our towel cards and, because our room wouldn't be ready until late, they gave us a 25% off coupon for Havana Moon restaurant. At that point were were completely checked in and could charge to our room - no cash needed. So we went to Havana Moon to eat lunch which was excellent! Next we changed into our suits, got our towels, hit the pool, and ordered drinks! Later we returned to the lobby to get our room keys and have our luggage delivered to our room.

[kristens4]

Perfect, thanks!!! We are so excited, only 14 more days!!!

[svtcobra242]

My wife will be 6 months pregnant and I hope we get a building close to the pool. Do you think, they would help us?
KC, what type of room did you have? how many people per room?
When I made my reservations, I clearly told them 7 Adults and 3 kids. I am scheduled to stay at the Mayan Palace. When I check online, the largest room for the Mayan says 6 Adults 2 Kids. For the "Grand" Mayan, the largest room states 8 adults and 2 kids.

[kc-to-playa]

I would definitely push for a lower numbered building when you check in. Also send the concierge a couple of emails between now and when you leave requesting buildings 1-4 citing "medical reasons". That is what we did - well, we didn't cite medical reasons, just requested buildings 1-4. They will tell you that they have added the request to your reservation and there is no guarantee, but I really think it helped that we sent the emails in advance. I sent the final email about a week before we left.

We stayed at the Grand Mayan. We had a one bedroom suite, as did our traveling companions. We had 4 adults in our room and they had 5 adults. The suite consists of a living room/kitchen and the seperate bedroom. The living room has 2 couches, each sleeps 2 people. The bedroom had a king size bed and a couch that could sleep 1 person. So our room could sleep a total of 7 people. If we had the two bedroom suite, that would have been another bed and couch for a total of 10 people. I am sure they have a limit to number of people per room so someone doesn't try to squeeze 15 people in the room!

Are you a timeshare owner or did you purchase your room from a timeshare owner? Either way, it should state on your confirmation what type of room you have, 1 or 2 bedroom suite. If you have a 2 bedroom suite at the Grand Mayan, you could fit your 10 people - but that is a lot of people for one bathroom But your reservation is at the Mayan Palace, right?