Playacar Palace

[Sun Worshiper]

I did a search in the threads looking for Peep info about the Playacar Palace. Everything seemed to discuss the renovations and was a little old. I did find some great pictures and thought I'd throw the question out again as to weather it is worth the cost to stay there or not. We have air miles to use so we won't be buying tickets and are doing an exchange with our time share.
We have never done an all inclusive before so we are virgins at this. Will be there in early 09.
Thanks in Advance for your input
Ed

[Mamacita]

Hi Ed,

I'm going there the 1st of November. We're using my mom's timeshare. From the research I've done, it looks really great. The photos I've seen from Trip Advisor look really nice. Of course, the big downer there is that there's no beach. I'm sure that's why it's not as popular. But I think the location is a huge plus, and we plan on being at other beaches anyways (like Tulum and Akumal).

Is your timeshare through RCI? If so, there were other choices but not sure about the price differences on the AI fee. I believe the Royal and Gran Porto Real were also choices and are close to town with the Royal having a nice beach.

Let us know what you decide!

[mr2thec]

Our fifth trip to the PP is coming up next month. We have really enjoyed it, the food, service, location, room and amenities. We spend as much time outside of the resort as we do at the resort so we are probably going non AI in September to one of our favorite spots to stop (Playa Maya) when we walk the beach.

We picked up tips from this board and others and have found some of the best places to eat, drink and people watch from Playa to Tulum.

There is one buffet and two Ala Carte restaurants, and room service. Room includes stocked bar, fridge with beer, soft drinks and water. They also include Farouk (sp) toiletries, shave kit, tooth brush, tooth paste, shoe shine kit, robe and slippers.

You can use the sister resorts but we only use the cozumel palace for a courtesy room to shower and change after a day in cozumel.

They are always painting or maintaining the building but have not seen any renovations or major construction. Our last trip was Sept. 07 for 8 days.

See links below for one full trip report and one partial from our trips

http://www.playa.info/playa-del-carm...ay-2007-a.html

http://www.playa.info/playa-del-carm...ip-report.html

[lovetheheat]

We are going down to the Moon Palace in a few weeks.. Our first stay there (have stayed at the Aventura Spa several times), but we plan to spend at least a couple of days down in PDC.. With the Palace resorts, you stay at one and can use facilities of any of them (short of getting a room that is).. So we planned to pop by the Playacar Palace for dinner one day and some drinks.. I'll have a look around (pools, beach, etc) and get back with thoughts of the place... I know it is significantly smaller than some of the other Palace resorts at only a couple hundred rooms.. But that's not necessarily a bad thing..

[mr2thec]

I think it only has 209 rooms; it was never at capacity when we stayed. We never have had to hunt for a chair or wait in lines for a meal. We have never felt crowded or herded. The biggest issue is the beach is small when it is not completely washed away.
Also, the Luna Lounge (opens at 4) has excellent appetizers and drinks.

[Mamacita]

Originally Posted by mr2thec

I think it only has 209 rooms; it was never at capacity when we stayed. We never have had to hunt for a chair or wait in lines for a meal. We have never felt crowded or herded. The biggest issue is the beach is small when it is not completely washed away.
Also, the Luna Lounge (opens at 4) has excellent appetizers and drinks.

Just got done reading both your trip reports (don't know how I've missed them before with my searching ). I LOVED reading those reports! You guys sound a lot like us - staying at an AI, but not really there that much.

I wanted to ask you about any of the tours they offer. I really don't like the idea of a big tour bus, but would hate to miss the opportunity for free tours! They go to Chichen Itza, but I think we're going to book a tour with Mitch for that one so it's a smaller trip, more intimate, cenotes, etc. But the hotel does one called Paradise Snorkeling that looks like a Fat Cat trip. Have you done that one? Did you enjoy your Tulum tour? Back in your report you mentioned Club Maeva, do you know if that's still part of the Tulum one? Would you do this tour again?

Thanks for your input! We're planning to copy your day in Coz!!!

[lovetheheat]

Originally Posted by Mamacita

I wanted to ask you about any of the tours they offer. I really don't like the idea of a big tour bus, but would hate to miss the opportunity for free tours!

If you are referring to the free tours offered as part of the 'Palace Resort Passport', here is a link...

Cancun/Riviera Maya

Cheers!!

[mr2thec]

The Tulum tour was good except being dropped of at a hotel for a few hours. The beach was nice but we were ready to head back since our plan for the day didn’t work out.

They have the regular where they bus you to the ASP to p/u more people and then to a jewelry store for about 30 minutes for you to shop (I am sure they get a kick back) then to Tulum with a tour guide. Our guide was great! If you do the regular tour they then take you to Xpu Ha Palace for the afternoon (we got to go to Maeva but it has since closed). You can take the Tulum Express; this brings you back to Playacar right after the tour.

We have heard the paradise tour is not that good. After snorkeling they drop you off at a beach where you can pay for parasailing, sea doos, etc. We didn’t do that because we like to come and go.

When we stayed in Cancun, before we found Playa, we went on the Isla tour. That was a lot of fun. Having been on that twice I would rather stay south of Cancun. If I had not been before I would be interested in going on it. We have not been on any other free tours.

Just a tip - if you want to see Tulum Pueblo and the beaches you can take the free tour to Tulum, tour the ruins and then let them know you are staying J. Then you can walk to the beaches (El Pariso) or take a cab to the town or beach. It is definitely worth going to, the beach club is small, and the beach is gorgeous. I wish we had done that before and then take the collective back.

We booked the Cata Maya last September but they cancelled the day before. They said they had to work on the boat.

We read Nerak936’s (bead lady) Cozumel trip report and followed her lead. It is one of the best excursions we have been on. Not worrying about driving (we don’t drink and drive at home or Mexico). Very relaxing, get to see a lot of Cozumel. I have read somewhere that D. Trump has been trying to build on the east coast of Cozumel. I hope not, but just in case you may want to see it now before that starts developing. PM and I can give you a phone number for a guy in Cozumel that we use. I called him last week and set up our trip for May. He meets us at the ferry dock, we hit the Coz Palace for towels and champagne and then hit the road.
Feel free to ask any questions. It is a nice property. We have really enjoyed it, but there is so much outside of the hotel we enjoy just as much.

[Mamacita]

mr2thec - Thanks for so much great info!!!! If this wasn't our first trip with about a million things we want to see/do, Isla might be on this list. Not this time.

Yeah, I think we'll just bus it down to Tulum and see the ruins ourselves and then head to El Paraiso. We're going to spend a day in Akumal snorkeling and we'll do that on our own too. I just hate being herded around!

I guess I'll have to pay for the Fat Cat or Catamaya though. I really want a nice day on the water snorkeling and boating and rum-punching.

I am SO looking forward to Coz! We had been planning to rent a car over there as my hubby's not much of a drinker and so that's not a concern. But I'll have to talk to him about it since he might like the opportunity to have a margarita or two. Can I ask what that cost you to hire a driver for the day. Seems spendy...

lovetheheat - thanks for the link! I have looked. I guess I should visit trip advisor too to see if there are more recent reports about any of the tours. The resort is small, so there's not as much posted, but I could also look in ASP reviews for the same tours.

[mr2thec]

We are going to try Akumal this time too. We just got the Olympus 850 SW underwater digital camera just for that day.
We love Tulum and the beaches, that will be a great day!
Cozumel is fun for a day. Maybe not everyone’s cup of tea but we have enjoyed it. We go to Playa Palnacar (sp?), stop at some of the scenic views on the east coast, stop at Chen Rio (bring your own snorkel gear from home!), then we eat lunch at coconuts (great salsa, burger and fish tacos - powerful margaritas and good sangrita). Then we stop at the Mezcalitos area for a farewell drink. If we decide to eat at the Coz Palace we pre-arrange a hospitality room to shower/ change in prior to dinner. Otherwise we get dropped of at the ferry pier, purchase a ticket on the next departing ferry and head back to PDC (great sunset trip). We may check out some other beaches this time. We always go on a Monday (you can check the cruise ship calendar from a Google search - the website that had a really good calendar now charges); there are less cruise ships on that day.

Only 30 more days

[Sun Worshiper]

Thanks so much for all the info.
We have been to Playa and Coz 3 times and each time try something different. Lookinf forward to the trip and the prior planning.
Ed