Mexico 2008 Trip Report (Sandos Playacar)

[twilloughby1]

"Check in is at the Sandos Riviera lobby and I am almost stunned by how much nicer it is than what I have seen photos wise on the internet. Blame the tiredness, in the face that I didn’t take a photo, so you will have to take my word for it, but it was lovely.

Whilst checking in I’m approached by a lady who asks if I am “missixty”, this is my first ever case of “internet fame” and I realise it is “ellesmere” from the playa.info forum who had said they would be on the same flight as us.

At check in it suddenly dawns on me I never brought my Sandos4U card which could have entitled us to a free upgrade “subject to availability” but since the upgrade would be to a Hacienda building, further away from the beach, we hadn’t been sure whether we’d want to or not. I had figured I’d take the card and take whatever we were given as I couldn’t make the decision myself. As we’d forgot it we were in the main Sandos Beach area, and we hadn’t requested any particular room as they all surround the pool and are close to the beach, so we didn’t really mind which room we were in."
Missixty...this quote from you has me questioning my stay at the Sandos Riviera. I've been told that the walk to the beach from the Riviera section is about 5-7 minutes. I'm thinking of moving my room to the Beach Resort section. What's your thoughts on this?
Was is worth staying at the Riviera even though it's further away from the Beach!!!????

[missixty]

Whether it's worth it? I'm not sure...it all depends on what you're looking for and basically what sort of person you are.

The walk from the Riveira area took around five minutes, it really was no big deal, we stayed near the beach but walked that same walk all the time to go TO the Riviera section for the pools. The pools are much nicer here.

Basically if you are staying at the Beach area, you have to walk to the decent pools. If you are staying in the Riviera area you have to walk to the beach. The walk is the same length either way and we'd split our time between the beach/pool so we would have done that walk no matter where we stayed.

Saying that, we saw so many people queueing for those golf buggies it was shocking. I'm hardly a fitness fanatic myself, lazy by most standards, but I've never seen anything like the people unwilling to walk 5 minutes!! But they are there if you want them and can be bothered waiting.

The only difference really is that the rooms and pool, and lobby (lol everything then) are nicer in the Riviera area, so I guess it depends how much time you will be spending on the beach, and how bothered you are about the rooms etc. They were all nice enough in the Beach part, but not modern like the ones in the Riviera section.

My advice? Stay in a Hacienda! Half way between both sections so 2.5 mins walk either way, and they were deserted when we went, so you basically have your own pool, sun bathing area, and in some I think hammocks and hot tubs too!

I won't be returning to the Sandos but if I did I would go for a Hacienda.

If I personally had to choose between the Riviera or Beach I'd choose the Riviera as the walking is honestly nothing and it's just a bit nicer looking, but I doubt it would have much impact on the over all stay.

[twilloughby1]

Originally Posted by missixty

Whether it's worth it? I'm not sure...it all depends on what you're looking for and basically what sort of person you are.

The walk from the Riveira area took around five minutes, it really was no big deal, we stayed near the beach but walked that same walk all the time to go TO the Riviera section for the pools. The pools are much nicer here.

Basically if you are staying at the Beach area, you have to walk to the decent pools. If you are staying in the Riviera area you have to walk to the beach. The walk is the same length either way and we'd split our time between the beach/pool so we would have done that walk no matter where we stayed.

Saying that, we saw so many people queueing for those golf buggies it was shocking. I'm hardly a fitness fanatic myself, lazy by most standards, but I've never seen anything like the people unwilling to walk 5 minutes!! But they are there if you want them and can be bothered waiting.

The only difference really is that the rooms and pool, and lobby (lol everything then) are nicer in the Riviera area, so I guess it depends how much time you will be spending on the beach, and how bothered you are about the rooms etc. They were all nice enough in the Beach part, but not modern like the ones in the Riviera section.

My advice? Stay in a Hacienda! Half way between both sections so 2.5 mins walk either way, and they were deserted when we went, so you basically have your own pool, sun bathing area, and in some I think hammocks and hot tubs too!

I won't be returning to the Sandos but if I did I would go for a Hacienda.

If I personally had to choose between the Riviera or Beach I'd choose the Riviera as the walking is honestly nothing and it's just a bit nicer looking, but I doubt it would have much impact on the over all stay.

That's the kind of reply I like to get...the detail you give back. Now my questions are answered. I will stay where I am.
Question though?? Why wouldn't you go back to the Sandos??

[missixty]

Glad to help!

We had a great time at the Sandos don't get me wrong. From the UK though it costs around the same price as the Iberostar Tucan/Quetzal, unbelievably we actually paid MORE to stay at the Sandos this year than the Tucan and the two hotels are absolutely worlds apart, they are barely even comparable. I doubt we will ever stay in a hotel that tops the Tucan, it's in a league of it's own and is unique and just perfect all around and the food rivals that of any expensive restaurants we have ever eaten in.

The Sandos was nice, there were no major issues, but the food wasn't great. Before we got fed up with the food issue, we actually liked the hotel itself almost as much as the Tucan but in a completely different way as they are SO different. Once we had been there a while though we just were wishing we were back at the Tucan.

If we return to Playacar we would always go back to the Tucan/Quetzal, which depending on the whole beach renovation thing, we will hopefully be doing next Sept

Don't worry though I guess it's all just personal preference, the Sandos is still great, you'll have a fab time, and the cocktails are brilliant And some things there are nicer than the Tucan (the club, the bar, the cocktails, the spa etc) but just over all we "left our hearts" at the Tucan

[twilloughby1]

Gotcha! I am still reading your trip report...which by the way has me cracking up so much that the people I work with probably thing I've gone looney! It's got to be one of the funniest I've ever seen. I especially loved the part where you're crawling on the floor and barely remember what happened after that...you see, we all have those nights but not all of us have the pictures to tell us about it.
Anyway...great job on the TR.

[TJordan]

I love the Tucan


*sigh*

[missixty]

Originally Posted by twilloughby1

Gotcha! I am still reading your trip report...which by the way has me cracking up so much that the people I work with probably thing I've gone looney! It's got to be one of the funniest I've ever seen. I especially loved the part where you're crawling on the floor and barely remember what happened after that...you see, we all have those nights but not all of us have the pictures to tell us about it.
Anyway...great job on the TR.

Thanks! Glad you're enjoying it!!

Those photos made me laugh too when I saw them as I had no recollection of doing it when I saw them!!

Have a great time at the Sandos! Very jealous!! It's a LONG time till I'm back in Mexico!!

[NurseLovesVaca]

Heading here in May. Loved the pics-even though this review is 3 years old it was very helpful. =)