Trip report: Our liquid/liquor adventure at the IB* Grand

[actran]

Background info – this will be our eighth trip to Playa. We are going to celebrate our 29th anniversary. This will be our second trip to the Iberostar Grand.

45 days to go – It snowed here today. Although not as much as they predicted. Ready for some Mexican sun, sand and relaxation.

41 days to go – I love my job, but my staff is making me crazy. It was in the 60’s today. Better than snow, but still not Playa.

21 days to go, BIG snow storm predicted. But they are hedging, 3-10 inches expected. Geez, 10 is more than 3 times 3. WTH?

20 days to go. Snow was kind of a bust. Enough to make it miserable and messy, but I never saw anywhere close to 10”.

18 days to go – I feel soooo tired from all the grey, gloomy weather. Think I’ll go check the boards for a trip report. That’ll cheer me up.

WHEN IS IT GOING TO STOP SNOWING! IT’S APRIL FOR GOD’S SAKE! ENOUGH!



April 30, Day 1 – It’s here! Today’s the day. We are so excited. And ready. We get up and say good-bye to our 15 year old, who will be looked after by his two older sibs while we are gone. We hop in the car and the day is one of Colorado’s best. Sunny, warm. But I am not fooled. I know more “weather” (as it is euphemistically called) is coming in tomorrow. But I don’t care, because I won’t be here – lalalalala.

Zung is a Frontier Summit member, so we get to go in the special, shorter line. The lady (and I use that term loosely in this case) who takes our bags lifts mine and comments on how heavy it is and weighs it again. I get in right under the wire are 50#. She wants to know what is in there. When I say 6 pairs of shoes she says to Zung, “She’ll just pick the most comfortable pair and wear them the whole time, won’t she?” What planet is this woman from? Not Venus, that’s for sure. And she sure doesn’t know me.



We go through security. We get “puffed” and the airport guy warns me to hold down my skirt or have a “Marilyn Monroe moment.”

We have loads of time so we get some breakfast. Zung takes my leftovers for a snack on the plane. Before we know it, we are boarding, and after a short delay, taking off. It’s a smooth flight and then we are landing. Immigration (I don’t think the agent looked directly at us once) was quick and we had a brief wait for our bags, then through Customs. Damn! Got the red light. I guess we were about due. The inspection was pretty cursory. Then we went to get our ride, which was a private transfer through Apple. We usually use Cancun Valet, but our TA threw private transfers into our package. It was not as quick as Cancun Valet is and I got a little antsy, but we were finally on the road and pulling into the Iberostar Paraiso entrance. Then into the Grand entrance.



We got out and were taken into the lobby where Paolo checked us in and informed us we were being upgraded from a standard room to an ocean view. We were given welcome drinks (I had champagne naturally and for some strange reason Zung took the non-alcoholic fruity drink – he says it was good) . I exchanged some US for pesos so we’d have plenty to tip with and then the bellman took us to our room.

The view had a nice amount of ocean to it.





There was a welcome letter. Shortly after we arrived our butler showed up. It was Eduardo, whom I remembered from last year. He asked if we wanted him to unpack for us and we declined. Frankly, I didn’t want him handling my sexy lingerie – I’d never be able to look him in the face again.

We asked for the pillows of our choice, I told him we’d already made dinner reservations by email and he said he’d check on that. He showed us the mini-bar and I asked for a full bottle of Havana Club. He frowned and said usually they only have full bottles of the liquors that are in the mini bottles. I gave him my best pleading look and he said he could ask room service to bring us some and then ask them to leave the bottle. Shortly after room service showed up with a full, unopened bottle of Havana Club. I was a happy camper. They also brought an almost full bottle of Barcari, which we never touched. I mean. Why drink Bacardi when you have Havana? I can get Bacardi at home.





Zung took a shower and I tried to call the kids. Couldn’t get through. The next morning I finally figured out I was short a 0. I was dialing 01 and then the number, and I needed to be dialing 001.

I sat on the balcony and gazed at the ocean, so happy to be here at last.

By the time Zung got showered and dressed it was time for dinner. But first (!) - there was the ceremonial removal of the watch. I start every vacation this way.



The restaurants were mere steps from our door. We went to the Japanese that first night. We both had lobster and a bottle of red wine. The lobster was a little dry, but everything else was very yummy. Last year lobster was unavailable because it was during the lobster baby season. So I was happy to see we hadn’t missed it again this year.

I decided then and there to make a record of all the things we drank.



After dinner we were tired from our travel day. We went back to our room. We were disappointed to not have gotten turn down service but had some Havana rum, straight and smooth. Yuuuummmmm. That made it all good.

We wanted to get a good night’s sleep so we’d have plenty of energy to lay on the beach tomorrow.

[Chilepepper]

You are off to a great start! When I get there (in 20-somthing days) I think I am going to borrow your ceremonial "taking off the watch" idea! Can't wait for more!!!

[TAPPY]

Who hoo - been waiting for this one. I have a co-worker who is going on his honeymoon to the Grand so I am going to see him this linky !

[syl]

great start!!!!looking forward to more

[130taKen120]

Ha ! Taking off the watch is a great idea! How about tossing out the calendar, dousing the cell phone and just generally losing track of time as you hope it stands still? thanks for the beginnings of your TR & hope to read more and see more soon!

[Jacko]

Great start! You look marvelous in your dress!

[actran]

Originally Posted by Jacko

Great start! You look marvelous in your dress!

Thanks! (I got to cast another vote for Obama at the Congressional District convention today, and I'm off to state next Saturday).

[Shamrock0421]

Originally Posted by actran

Ahhhhh, Andrea! This picture made me smile from ear-to-ear! You could have posted only THIS as your trip report, IMHO!
You and Zung are more gorgeous than your last trip! You know I'm reading on both boards.
(Painful as it is, because now - more than ever - I want to go back!!)
Hugs,
Lori

[Moxie]

Excellent report so far! Food and drinks are exactly what I like to read about. I'm considering this resort for next year's trip, so I can't wait to read more. Havana Club in a bottle, doesn't get much better than that.

[Shamrock0421]

Originally Posted by Moxie

Excellent report so far! Food and drinks are exactly what I like to read about. I'm considering this resort for next year's trip, so I can't wait to read more. Havana Club in a bottle, doesn't get much better than that.

I was there in November - book it - you'll LOVE it!

[btodd]

Great start.......great pics!! Bring on the rest!!!....................please...........

[debk]

You look fantastic - I don't think I have a chance to look that good in a dress like that. Of course, I'm not working on it either!! You always have the best trip reports - can't wait for the rest! I'm counting the days until I can *plan* my return! I hate it when life interferes!

[lonestarbevo]

I always adore your reports and can't wait for more of this one!!

[actran]

Not all my pics uploaded and I found a couple important ones from last night.






May 1, Day 2 – I woke up in the middle of the night. I frequently do my first night in a strange bed. I would have taken an Ambien last night to prevent this, but in view of the amount of alcohol I consumed, that did not seem like a good idea

We woke up pretty early. The drapes completely block out any outside light, so Zung peeked out and reported it was sunny. We got dressed and headed to Bella Vista for breakfast.

The Grand has three options for breakfast, Bella Vista, which is the buffet restaurant in the main building, just two flights down the stairs for us, Las Brisa, the building right off the beach, and room service. We were seated and the waiter came over and asked if we wanted coffee. Zung said yes and I asked for hot tea. The waiter plopped down a carafe and walked away. We had no idea it had coffee in it and when he came back and saw that Zung had not poured it himself the waiter poured it. I have to say I was surprised the waiter didn’t pour it. This was in contrast to last year when they brought you a cup of coffee and if you asked for a second cup, they brought you more coffee in a clean cup.

Zung got what he always gets, an omelet and fruit and fresh donut. Sorry guys, no pictures of food with the exception of some desserts. But lots of pictures of delicious drinks.



I had fruit (was disappointed there was no mango because last year it was sooo yum). I had a scrambled egg and fruit and a croissant.

Breakfast was done and the next task was to make dinner reservations. We went to the concierge. On our way we saw Eduardo, our butler, who asked how things were and was there anything we needed. I said no, he got me my Havana rum, so I was good. We made dinner ressies for Venecia, the Italian. I was hoping our amazing waiter, Karim, from last year would be there. Had no problem getting the time we wanted for any of our dinner reservations.

Then we greased up with sunscreen and headed out to the beach. We parked ourselves on the south side of building #70, which is the Ocean Front building that is next to the Maya. The advantage is the water is more swimmable than what is in front of building #71. It wasn’t long before a waiter was out to get our first drink order.



I sat there, looking at the ocean, listening to the ocean, smelling the ocean, feeling the ocean breeze on my body. I was in heaven. I think I probably had a big, silly grin on my face. I was so happy to be there.





We read and drank and I baked in the sun while Zung stayed in the shade of the palapa.



There are tons of palapas on the beach, While there was chair saving, it really wasn’t necessary. The pool has cabanas and those appeared to be claimed early on. We never parked ourselves by the pool. There was just too much activity that intruded on my zen vacation state.

At noon I pulled myself out of the sun. Shortly thereafter we went to Las Brisa for lunch. It is right near the main pool and the activity area. There always seemed to be something going on in the pool or activity center. I couldn’t figure out why all those people were exercising or dancing or doing all those active things. It wore me out just watching them.

At lunch I ordered my first Havana rum and coke, requesting “mas fuertes” (I’m sure the waiters got a chuckle out of my command of the Spanish language). Zung got a Corona.







I got the Kobe burger and Zung got the lobster. The lobster ended up being only a few bites, so he went to the buffet and got more food.

This man can eat like you wouldn’t believe. And his 60 year old body is better than most of the men half his age. It infuriates me. But I wasn’t worrying about calories this week. Where’s the dessert?!

Back to the beach.



More drinks




More reading and just enjoying this beautiful place.




I went back into the sun at 3pm. Around 4 we packed up and headed to the spa pool. Last year we had not checked this out at all other than to walk through. BIG mistake. This pool is amazing. There are all these giant faucets that pour and pulse water out. There are hot tubs and there is an area in the pool that is mostly enclosed. You push a button and tiny bubbles slowly come up from the bottom, then it bubbles up like a volcano. It’s a good thing my bathing suit was on securely.





When we were totally jello, we headed back to our room. We made rum and cokes and got ready for dinner. We walked to Venecia, which is by the lobby, so it involved a bit of a walk. We gave the hostess our reservation receipt and I asked if Karim still worked there. He does, but he was working at the Surf and Turf tonight. She assured me we would get just as excellent a waiter and seated us at one of Jorge’s tables. Jorge was very professional and provided us with excellent service. But, he wasn’t Karim. He was so serious. Karim was fun, and I hoped we would see him at some point during our trip.

For appies I had the salmon carpaccio and Zung had the calamari (or “squidies” as he calls them). We ordered the shrimp and lobster risotto to share, and both ordered the sea bass. This year after the appies they brought the rest all together instead of the risotto as a separate course. The risotto was probably the very best thing we ate the entire trip. It was so good. The sea bass was good, but not quite as good as last year. I had the tiramisu for dessert and Zung had the Pears in Grappa. Both were very tasty.





After such a grueling day the only thing we had energy for was to go back to the room for after dinner drinks and then to sleep.



Tomorrow would be another busy day of laying in the sun and stuffing our faces. Can’t wait!

[Shamrock0421]

Those pictures bring back such happy memories. Such a beautfiul place. I can't believe it when I see SO many people on the beach. When we went - no one was there! As always, a great report! Love it!