[DenverCpl]

We just got back and curiously enough we liked the old Palace over the new one. We walked over and had breakfast at the new Riu Palace Mayan and were impressed with the decor but noticed sutble differences that made us prefer the old Palace where we were staying. Little things like the huge lobby, it was extremely similar to the old Palce but bigger, the thing was, unlike the old palace the air conditioning didn't work so well ( probably due to doors at the far end being open all the time) We realy appreciated the lobby ( and bar ) in the old palace being so lovely and cool after coming in from the outside. We found the main buffet restaurant to be designed slightly differently, so as to cause lines at the food bars. ( we even told an exasperated couple to come over and have breakfast and lunch over at the old palace, as there are never any lines, even though both seemed to have the same number of people. The layout of where everything is almost exactly the same in both palace's. The new palace has a great pool, better than the old in fact, yet when we got to the beach it was no contest. We were astonished at how small it was and with a sea wall to boot. When we snorkled and parasailed we found some people were ferried over ( on seado's) from the new palace to the old to do these activities.
Personaly I think anyone would have a fantastic time at either resort but after experiencing the old palace for a week then to see the new we found that we prefered the old - of course this may be due to 'hotel loyalty' setting in.
hope this helps