Just another All Inclusive trip report - Page 3

playadreaming · 04-23-2008

Day Three Continued

After breakfast, we went down to grab a spot on the beach. Kylee declined to join me for a walk, opting for some reading on the beach. Unlike when we visited last year, we could now walk south from the RPRM all the way past the Sandos resort. Although you do have to cross an elevated walkway in front of the Royal Hideaway and climb over sandbags at the IB* Quetzal, it is a great walk.

I believe this is known as a sand shark.

Looking south in front of Riu Playacar

Looking north in front of Riu Playacar (the Royal hidaway in the distance.) I believe there is a poem about the single trail of footprints in the sand...

These 3 are from in front of the Riu Palace Mexico/ Riu Yucatan.

The hardest spot to cross was at this construction in front of the IB* Quetzal. You could hear the jackhammer driving in the piling from a ways down the beach.

These are south of the Sandos Resort at the end of the Playacar row of resorts.

The crossing in front of the Royal Hideaway on my way back. Big step on this side, level on the north side.

Whew! What a walk, glad to be back

mbelec · 04-24-2008

Thanks so much for the review! Keep it coming, I check a few times a day for more

We can't wait for our vacation in June and will take your advice and email in advance for inner courtyard rooms - maybe yours! We're going for a combination 20th anniversary trip and high school graduation for daughter/niece.

playadreaming · 04-24-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbelec

Thanks so much for the review! Keep it coming, I check a few times a day for more

We can't wait for our vacation in June and will take your advice and email in advance for inner courtyard rooms - maybe yours! We're going for a combination 20th anniversary trip and high school graduation for daughter/niece.

You guys will have a great time! I'm jealous, you still have everything to look forward to. Half the fun of a trip is the anticipation. (Maybe not half, but at least a quarter

)

playadreaming · 04-24-2008

Day Three continued…
After relaxing on the beach, we walked up to have lunch. The resort had a beach grill going, and this talented artist creating an ice sculpture.

We decided to walk down to the Playacar shopping center which is across the street from the Riu Palace Mexico. I also wanted to look around at the Riu Tequila. It is substantially less expensive, but isn't beach front.
Typical condo along the way

Mexican flag at shopping center

One of the little guys running free in the jungle area of the Riu Tequila

Missed a few photos during the walk, but Kylee was getting tired of seeing me with a camera glued to my face.

Dinner was at the resort Asian restuarant, Yashima.

pre dinner drinks in the courtyard

The buffet was having carribean night, and we made a quick walk through to take pictures of the ice sculptures.

Had a drink and watched a musician, but we were too tired to stay for the Grease show.

View before bed.

Mamacita · 04-24-2008

Great pics! I really hate those whales though.

Keep it coming!!!

130taKen120 · 04-24-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by playadreaming

Day Three Continued

I remember that buoy and the rocks. Wonder why no one has come to retrieve the buoy? Lots of people got their pics taken while standing on it and the rocks. We went to the absolute last stretch of sand along this beach, waaaayyyyyyyyy south - were you able to get that far? VERY secluded

playadreaming · 04-24-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by 130taKen120

I remember that buoy and the rocks. Wonder why no one has come to retrieve the buoy? Lots of people got their pics taken while standing on it and the rocks. We went to the absolute last stretch of sand along this beach, waaaayyyyyyyyy south - were you able to get that far? VERY secluded

No, I just went past the rocks. Walking from the north end of playacar took some time to make it this far, and didn't want to be away from Kylee that long. The one day I got Ky to walk down the beach she was worn out by the time we got to Sandos, and we turned around there. Of course, we stopped at a couple of Rius for drinks on our way back

mbelec · 04-24-2008

Wow! Just reinforces our good decision to switch from the Grand Riviera Maya Princess to this resort - can't wait! Thanks for the pics!

playadreaming · 04-24-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mamacita

Great pics! I really hate those whales though.

Keep it coming!!!

Thanks!

It's really sad about the beach erosion. When I stayed at the IB* Quetzal in Oct 06 the beach was beautiful. Hopefully, the beach will recover...

rayinpa · 04-24-2008

August can not come soon enough. Going to Palace Mexico for a long Labor Day weekend, but just seeing the water and the beach I CAN'T WAIT!

playadreaming · 04-24-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayinpa

August can not come soon enough. Going to Palace Mexico for a long Labor Day weekend, but just seeing the water and the beach I CAN'T WAIT!

You'll have a great time. We walked down several times to the RPM, and really liked their beach bar. It was very relaxed, and seemed secluded in the palms. There are neat little paths down to the beach, instead of the big open walkway at the RPRM. Actually, we were originally booked at RPM in a garden view, but when pricing dropped we switched resorts and got the courtyard view at RPRM for only $64 more.

playadreaming · 04-24-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbelec

Wow! Just reinforces our good decision to switch from the Grand Riviera Maya Princess to this resort - can't wait! Thanks for the pics!

We love the RPRM, but I can't say anything about the GRMP...never been there. I have read many reports on the place from others (sonofdob and sunshinejk.) One benefit of the Riu is being close to downtown playa, but I'm sure there are benefits to each.

Anyway, I hope you have a great vacation

playadreaming · 04-25-2008

Day Four, Tuesday April 15th

This was a slow picture day. I went diving in the morning with the resort dive group, Scuba Caribe.

Laziness prevented me from using a local dive shop. I had walked down to the water sports desk on different occasions to see the condition of the dive equipment, and had watched the dive boats coming and going through the day. The groups were small, and they had 4 dives a day, deep, shallow, mid and shallow. Options + convenience convinced me use them.

The guy who signed me up, Alex, was great as was the dive master. The rest of the crew could be described as less than enthusiastic. The dive master, told me that we would have to swim to the reef after drop off because the captain could never find the reef. Not a good sign.

As soon as we dropped in the sea, a turtle swam up to us. As we started our descent, one lady had trouble with her equipment (personal regulator/not dive shops.) So we returned to surface and floated while she returned to boat to switch out. Our friend, the turtle, just floated motionless about 10 feet deep and 10-15 feet away and observed us. Now on down, the wall was great, even after a little swim along the bottom to find the reef. Saw lots of sealife.

After the deep dive, we returned to the resort and switched boats via jet skis. Shallow dive was great too, but I'll have to get my dive log to remember the name of the site. **Edit** Fared Verde was the first dive. I think it means the green wall.(?) The second dive was Moxche.

Kylee's beach pics, while I was away diving.

The dive group returning from our second dive.

Our friend during lunch. Him and his pals joined us for lunch most days.

Afternoon views from balcony.

Trying to look like I own the place.

Kylee goofing off.

Dinner at the Brazilian. The only pic we took was this of our flamming bacon wrapped plantains, broccoli and waffle fries. The rest of the meal consisted of lots of meat served from swords. Sausage, chicken, pork, beef...If you're on the Atkins diet reserve this place every night. They also start with a salad bar. We were stuffed.

playadreaming · 04-25-2008

error

syl · 04-25-2008

your pics are wonderful ..the beach ones are so bright and really capture the beauty of the colors!!!cant wait to be there!!!!

04-23-2008	#31 (permalink)
playadreaming way into it Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: near Tulsa Posts: 231	Day Three Continued After breakfast, we went down to grab a spot on the beach. Kylee declined to join me for a walk, opting for some reading on the beach. Unlike when we visited last year, we could now walk south from the RPRM all the way past the Sandos resort. Although you do have to cross an elevated walkway in front of the Royal Hideaway and climb over sandbags at the IB* Quetzal, it is a great walk. I believe this is known as a sand shark. Looking south in front of Riu Playacar Looking north in front of Riu Playacar (the Royal hidaway in the distance.) I believe there is a poem about the single trail of footprints in the sand... These 3 are from in front of the Riu Palace Mexico/ Riu Yucatan. The hardest spot to cross was at this construction in front of the IB* Quetzal. You could hear the jackhammer driving in the piling from a ways down the beach. These are south of the Sandos Resort at the end of the Playacar row of resorts. The crossing in front of the Royal Hideaway on my way back. Big step on this side, level on the north side. Whew! What a walk, glad to be back __________________ Trip report - April 2008 Trip report - May 2007 Last edited by playadreaming; 07-20-2008 at 10:34 PM. Reason: adding labels to photos

04-24-2008	#34 (permalink)
playadreaming way into it Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: near Tulsa Posts: 231	Day Three continued… After relaxing on the beach, we walked up to have lunch. The resort had a beach grill going, and this talented artist creating an ice sculpture. We decided to walk down to the Playacar shopping center which is across the street from the Riu Palace Mexico. I also wanted to look around at the Riu Tequila. It is substantially less expensive, but isn't beach front. Typical condo along the way Mexican flag at shopping center One of the little guys running free in the jungle area of the Riu Tequila Missed a few photos during the walk, but Kylee was getting tired of seeing me with a camera glued to my face. Dinner was at the resort Asian restuarant, Yashima. pre dinner drinks in the courtyard The buffet was having carribean night, and we made a quick walk through to take pictures of the ice sculptures. Had a drink and watched a musician, but we were too tired to stay for the Grease show. View before bed. Last edited by playadreaming; 04-24-2008 at 03:59 PM.

04-25-2008	#43 (permalink)
playadreaming way into it Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: near Tulsa Posts: 231	Day Four, Tuesday April 15th This was a slow picture day. I went diving in the morning with the resort dive group, Scuba Caribe. Laziness prevented me from using a local dive shop. I had walked down to the water sports desk on different occasions to see the condition of the dive equipment, and had watched the dive boats coming and going through the day. The groups were small, and they had 4 dives a day, deep, shallow, mid and shallow. Options + convenience convinced me use them. The guy who signed me up, Alex, was great as was the dive master. The rest of the crew could be described as less than enthusiastic. The dive master, told me that we would have to swim to the reef after drop off because the captain could never find the reef. Not a good sign. As soon as we dropped in the sea, a turtle swam up to us. As we started our descent, one lady had trouble with her equipment (personal regulator/not dive shops.) So we returned to surface and floated while she returned to boat to switch out. Our friend, the turtle, just floated motionless about 10 feet deep and 10-15 feet away and observed us. Now on down, the wall was great, even after a little swim along the bottom to find the reef. Saw lots of sealife. After the deep dive, we returned to the resort and switched boats via jet skis. Shallow dive was great too, but I'll have to get my dive log to remember the name of the site. Edit Fared Verde was the first dive. I think it means the green wall.(?) The second dive was Moxche. Kylee's beach pics, while I was away diving. The dive group returning from our second dive. Our friend during lunch. Him and his pals joined us for lunch most days. Afternoon views from balcony. Trying to look like I own the place. Kylee goofing off. Dinner at the Brazilian. The only pic we took was this of our flamming bacon wrapped plantains, broccoli and waffle fries. The rest of the meal consisted of lots of meat served from swords. Sausage, chicken, pork, beef...If you're on the Atkins diet reserve this place every night. They also start with a salad bar. We were stuffed. Last edited by playadreaming; 07-20-2008 at 10:35 PM.

04-25-2008	#44 (permalink)
playadreaming way into it Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: near Tulsa Posts: 231	error Last edited by playadreaming; 04-25-2008 at 05:53 PM.

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04-24-2008	#32 (permalink)
mbelec into ruins Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 67	Thanks so much for the review! Keep it coming, I check a few times a day for more We can't wait for our vacation in June and will take your advice and email in advance for inner courtyard rooms - maybe yours! We're going for a combination 20th anniversary trip and high school graduation for daughter/niece.

04-24-2008	#35 (permalink)
Mamacita life=playa Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 692	Great pics! I really hate those whales though. Keep it coming!!!

04-24-2008	#38 (permalink)
mbelec into ruins Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 67	Wow! Just reinforces our good decision to switch from the Grand Riviera Maya Princess to this resort - can't wait! Thanks for the pics!

04-24-2008	#40 (permalink)
rayinpa very sparkly Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Outside Philadelphia, PA Posts: 38	August can not come soon enough. Going to Palace Mexico for a long Labor Day weekend, but just seeing the water and the beach I CAN'T WAIT!

04-25-2008	#45 (permalink)
syl añejo Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: santa ynez Posts: 3,410	your pics are wonderful ..the beach ones are so bright and really capture the beauty of the colors!!!cant wait to be there!!!!

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