Just returned from Grand Riviera / Sunset Princess

[amberandryan]

So how does the eve of the 5th sound before, or after dinner or both? We should all try and meet at the main pool bar area around this time. We are a group of 6 couples, ages 29-45. All girls are blond/brown hair, and all the guys are brown/back hair. (I know most are right?!?) amber and ryan will probobly have jack/coke and rum/diet drinks in hand!!
Has anyone tried the slip the desk clerk money for an upgrade? Or heard of amyone that has?
Amber

[dezere]

My opinion of the resort right now is it is beautiful but needs some work in some areas. Food is for the most part mediocre although there a definitely some yummy things. I hated the seafood restaurant. I liked Mexican the most. A couple of days they had no towels and so we would ask a worker passing by and they would go into Platinum area and get some. Really I think you would probably have a better time if you booked Platinum. I like Marival Grand in Nuevo Vallarta much better and I think that was 4 star. The tram is not every 5 minutes like they say either. I really don´t let things bother me too much but my dad is complete opposite and he has been ticked off most of the trip at the service. So I hope this helps!
Dezere

Originally Posted by amberandryan

Thanks for the info, I think we are going to try and upgrade, I am going to call our travel agent tommorow and see how much it is....I also heard of some people sliding some money to the desk agent and asking for the upgrade and got it, I haven't done this kind of thing before, but am wondering if it would work....
So what is your opinion of the resort since you are there now?
The walk to the beach will be o.k. I just thought by the way I looked at the pics it was like a 30 min walk or something like that!!!!!
THANKS

[amberandryan]

Thanks, I will be happy no matter what, sun water and a drink is all I need to comfort me!!! Good to know the food is o.k. How are the drinks? Have you heard of anyone using the desk method for a upgrade?
Amber

[dezere]

Well, we did not hang out at the main pool but at the pool next to La Tortuga. The bartender we had at the swim up bar was not good but on the walk up part of that bar there was Jorge who was amazing. We stayed in that pool for the whole trip since it was easy for us to get to. I also liked the bartender at the bar in the lobby of the Mexican restaurant. He made the best mango margaritas. I never saw anyone using the desk method to upgrad to a better room but I did hear about people doing it for reservations. My mom spoke to one couple that had gotten upgraded to Platinum and they have no idea how. For the restaurant reservations since my dad had a room and I had a room we both stood in different lines. I booked 3 restaurants and he booked 1. Its best if you plan on eating later in the week of your vacation because usually the day you are standing in line there is nothing available for that night or the next.
Dezere

Originally Posted by amberandryan

Thanks, I will be happy no matter what, sun water and a drink is all I need to comfort me!!! Good to know the food is o.k. How are the drinks? Have you heard of anyone using the desk method for a upgrade?
Amber

[amberandryan]

Thanks for the restaurant info that sounds good to me, Personally I am going to be too excited at first to spend 2 hours at a time in a restaurant so I would rather do buffett anyway for the first couple of days. We are arriving on a Wed to Wed did you find that it was a little less crowded during the week than the weekend or the same no matter what?
Amber

[dezere]

Well, I would definitely not want to arrive around noon since that is checkout. It's pretty crowded at that time. But during the week is definitely less crowded for checkin. As far as the resort it was about the same crowd most of the time except for Friday. Maybe a lot of people fly out that day.
Dezere

Originally Posted by amberandryan

Thanks for the restaurant info that sounds good to me, Personally I am going to be too excited at first to spend 2 hours at a time in a restaurant so I would rather do buffett anyway for the first couple of days. We are arriving on a Wed to Wed did you find that it was a little less crowded during the week than the weekend or the same no matter what?
Amber

[smrtypnts]

Originally Posted by dezere

Well, I would definitely not want to arrive around noon since that is checkout. It's pretty crowded at that time. But during the week is definitely less crowded for checkin. As far as the resort it was about the same crowd most of the time except for Friday. Maybe a lot of people fly out that day.
Dezere

Are you saying that people check OUT on Fridays (as it seemed to you) or that more people checked IN on Friday? I will be checking in on Friday. I don't want it to be ultra crowded on my first day there.

[dezere]

I think a lot of people check out on Friday just because the resort was pretty empty that day then on Saturday it was fuller again. I did not go down to the lobby on Friday so I can't tell you how busy it was then but I think more people seem to arrive on Saturday. I also had talked to a couple that had arrived on Friday and they said everything went pretty quick for them but I am not sure what time they got in. We went there on Saturday and customs in Cancun was horrible, almost 2 hours and it took awhile to check in. But even if you have just 2 people in line for checkin it still takes awhile.
Dezere

Originally Posted by smrtypnts

Are you saying that people check OUT on Fridays (as it seemed to you) or that more people checked IN on Friday? I will be checking in on Friday. I don't want it to be ultra crowded on my first day there.

[Linnysue]

We will be arriving on a Tuesday, so I was wondering the same. I was wondering if it will be harder to get the building I want and pool facing since I figure most folks will be checked in for the week by then.

What is the construction all about that I'm reading about on TA? Where is it exactly, and is it a new hotel going in or what? I do hope we are not placed in a room facing it.

[dezere]

The construction is on the Riviera side near the Standard Junior Suites. It is more rooms to be added to the Riviera. Inward facing rooms are probably not a problem but if you face out toward the jungle on Riviera side in a standard room then you will probably see and hear them.
Dezere

Originally Posted by Linnysue

We will be arriving on a Tuesday, so I was wondering the same, and also if it will be harder to get the building I want and pool facing since I figure most folks will be checked in for the week by then. What is the construction all about that I'm reading about on TA? Where is it exactly, and is it a new hotel going in or what? I do hope we are not placed in a room facing it.

[amberandryan]

Thanks for the info regarding the rooms also, We are staying in the standard suites so I will have to request a inward facing room instead of the jungle view. Is it better to be by the lagoon or the other suites closer in the resort, I was looking at the resort map and noticed there were some around the 7000 block in standard jr suites, are these in a good spot, I think they were closer to the main pool area.
Amber

[Linnysue]

Amber, I believe building #14 closer to the middle of the resort would be your best option. It looks like this building is the closest to the start of the pools.

[amberandryan]

THANKS!!! I will request this one for sure!!! I wasnt even paying attn to the bldg numbers but that does look good.
Amber