Sandos playacar riviera

[btodd]

If you are travelling with a charter company, they will have an orientation meeting, usually the first morning, to give you all your return info. The return date seems so far away when you arrive, but believe me, it sneaks up far too quickly! If you are travelling on your own, I am sure the hotel staff will assist you.............Have fun!

[Shammy]

You don't have to be traveling with a "charter company", it can be any company (Apple, Funjet, Travel Impressions, Worryfree, etc). If you transfers are included, you meet with the company rep who should be on site at some point every day. You give them your return flight info and they will tell you what time to be in the lobby for the ride back to the airport.

If you DON'T have tranfers included with your vacation package, well, then you need to be making those arrangements before you go!

[btodd]

Sorry Shams, of course you are right, we refer to those types of companies as charter outfits here in Canada!!

[jamm]

hey knipper...first i must ask if transport was included in ur vaca pkg...if it was when u ck into the resort someone will be there to tell u when to ck in w/the transport desk to confirm flight time so u know when to be ready to leave...
if u have to get ur own transport back to cancun airpt. the concierge can get u a taxi ( appx $50-NOT pp)...i would set it up at least 1-2 days before hand and they will also tell u what time to be ready to leave...ready to leave means u have "cked out of the resort" and r waiting in the lobby for transport...
sandos ranks high on customer service so u will not have any problems...
have a great trip...any other quests just ask...jamm

[knipper]

We are flyin with a charter gig, "conquest" and everything is included as far as transfers to Cancun etc. Just our first trip away as a family, been gone lots when I was in the military (but those were nasty places) I want everything to go smooth (as can be) , any other info let me know it all helps

[tranpalcan]

Hi all, we will be at Sandos Riviera end of April and just wonder whether the resort charges extra for room service, i.e. room service delivery charge, etc.
What about reservations for restaurants? Could we do them days before or they have to be made on the day of?
Any tips for our trip would be greatly appreciated.

BTW, we travel with our two sons age 3 and 6.

[jamm]

hey tran...i've been to sandos 4x and will be going again this yr...
it's an all inclusive resort and EVERYTHING is included...they have 24 hr room service too which is part of the all incl. (nice to give a tip)...u can make the restaurant reserv at ck in...we love the buffets and don't like being tied down to a dinner hr so we mostly eat at the buffets...we go to 5th ave a few x at nite and eat at the resort before (any time we want -buffets opens 6:30 for dinner)
also there r theme nites at the buffets - for ex. tues is mexican nite so we would not make a restaurant reserv that nite cause we like the food and the vendors set up around the fountain so we don't go the 5th ave that nite...everything going on is posted by the playacar pool -not sure where by the riviera...
hope that helped...only xtra money u need is for tipping-(bring lots of singles), excursions and SHOPPING! also the maids only make $3 a day , yes a DAY so we r always generous tippers as the room is always spotless-just what we do...
there is babysitting avail at nite-make arrangements the day before...there is a chg for babysitting...
...ask me anything if u have a quest...jamm

[tranpalcan]

Thanks much jamm! Your reply really helps. I just have another couple of questions, if you don't mind...what is 5th avenue? is it outside or part of the resort? What are your tips for snorkeling there, if you've already tried some. I also heard about flowrider in Mexico but not sure if that's just for cruises.
We are so looking forward to this trip and your tips are much appreciated.

[krazzy]

well i can help answer one for you ,, 5th avenue is akeen to umm, a vendor street where u can haggle prices etc, and also small resturants and bars right in playadelcarmen and not at the resort, it would be about a 30 minute walk from that resort on the street or a 5 dollar cab ride ,, it is also very long probally 12 or more blocks running adjacent to the ocean in playa about 1 street from the beach. If you go to playa you absolutely must refultedly hit 5th at least once to experience it.
as for your other questions I swim like a rock straight down so ill take the 5th (getit?) on that one lol ,, have fun

[jamm]

hey tran...5th ave is the big shopping area in town...hundreds of shops , many blocks and side streets...the ferry to Cozumel is there too (there is snorkeling and shopping at coz too)...seems the further u go on 5th the stores get better/less touristy-trinks etc...go past the circle w the mayan head for the more unique shops...it's a 5 min $5 taxi ride fr sandos and plenty of taxis waiting to take u back...lots of bars and restaurants too...some street events, people w/exotic animals, artists etc...we go a few times - at nite ...HEAVILY bargain when purchasing...
i went snorkeling at akamal and it was beautiful...saw sea turtles, stingrays, lots of species of fish, coral etc...u go off shore and swim out...
flowrider? not sure what that is LOL...
arrangements for any excursion u want to do including snorkeling can be made at the resort...u can watch a dvd before u choose...
seems mr jamm is talking about an early may vaca (we usually go around our anniversary may 8th)...now I'M getting excited too...
if u think of ANYTHING else ask...ps-i see ur on TA too-so am i ...
jamm

[corona_couple]

We have been to Sandos every year for the past few years. Love it love it love it! We always stay in the older section near the beach. This July we are bringing the 3 kids, ages 11, 14, 16 and his brother, sister in law and 15 year old son are coming as well. I'm having some confusion with the rooms. I'm thinking the cheapest way is to have one of my kids stay with his brother so there are 4 people in each room. My problem is with my oldest who will be 16 at the time of our trip. On Sandos's site..when you pick childrens ages it only goes to 15! I tried to talk to our travel agent(at this point I know more than the travel agents MOST of the time) about the hacienda suites and she looked at us like we were crazy and said there weren't any. Can I have my whole family stay in a suite? We stay there every year,,,so i was thinking booking our trip would be a no brainer and its beginning to make my brain hurt!! I have emailed Sandos directly serveral times with no responses, which is a little disheartening. I took some time last year to really check out the resort as far having children with you and I really feel good in my decsion to bring the kids there. On top of the fact that him and I love it there so much, it feels very safe and I feel I can trust having my children there. So if anyone has some advice I would GREATLY appreciate it!!!
Thanks in advance
Jul

[jamm]

hey there jul...we've been to sandos many times too and also love love love it ...we also stay at the playacar sec-oceanfrt room as of lately...this yr will be the 5th time there...
as far as 4 in a room i think u have a good idea putting one of ur kids w/the bro and SIL...and as WE know there r haciendas that accommodate larger families which i think might be better...i know the kids will have a blast and as u already know it's very safe even off the property at nite...the haciendas r a short walk fr the beach and playacar pool where all the stuff is going on or the golf carts come by all the time...one thing w/teens, they will get wristbands indicating they r under drinking age but many a teen has gotten drink w/alcohol on the sneak...if u trust ur kids fine - some parents taste the "virgin" drinks cause just maybe the "bartender" made a mistake LOL...
we've always gone just hubby and i to sandos cause our kids r older (one is married-22 yrs old- and they go on vaca w/o us --- yipeeee- we've done it for yrs prior)...but, we always get such a kick out of watching all the kids and teens having such a great time...u've been there so u already know how much fun they will have and u can give them a lot of freedom there ...i am giving u an e mail add so u can ask sandos about the haciendas or age of ur son etc...(maybe don't say anything about his age-if u book when he's 15 maybe that's ok)...
sandoswebrelations1@gmail.com
sandos is on facebook and u can become friends and ask quests too...
keep me posted...jamm

[tjg986]

Just back from Sandos Jan 22 we booked a run of the house and ended up with an ocean front room. Don't know how or why they gave it to us but it was excellent. Other group in our party got stuck way up in the new section of Riviera. Decent resort for the money but way way to crowded beach. They should have stopped building this place after the original beach section.

[Towrod]

Here is a map of the resort - Riviera 8100 section is closest to Haciendas and the rest of the resort - It really is no big deal to walk down to the beach from Riviera IMHO

[SOMMER]

Originally Posted by knipper

My wife and I along with our 13 yr old and 8 yr old are heading to Sandos mid Feb 2009, is there any information that can help make our trip better. Example - when you are getting ready to leave for home how do you go about getting the transport back to Cancum Airport etc, we are all very excited to be going and this is our first trip like this.

Hi, would like to know how your trip to Sandos went. We are heading there in mid march and have read some REALLY bad reviews of the resort. Did you like it and how was the beach??