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Old 07-07-2009   #1 (permalink)
very sparkly
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
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RIU Playacar 20.06.09-04.07.09

Well what can I say apart from what an amazing holiday......Mexico really lived up to all its meant to be and the hotel was fab - if I had gone by reports on here I would have been dreading it but I cannot fault the hotel in any way.

Staff were amazing, senior members of staff were often floating around the hotel making sure everything was ok and up to standard. Food did not get boring once in 2 weeks....lots of selection. Has its own little secluded part of the beach which was nicer then some parts we saw as it didnt have people trudging through all day. Rooms were very spacious, we got a leak on the day that it rained all day and they happily let us view several rooms until we picked one that we liked and was up to the standard of our old room. We heard lots of bad reviews about the Yucatans food, not sure how accurate that is but more then one couple had been there for lunch that we got talking to and they all said the same.

I really cannot praise the staff enough, my boyfriend learnt a bit of Spanish and they love you even more for trying to make an effort. All so friendly cannot do enough for you.

Beach was amazing, lived up to all expectations.

We did the Sea Life Plus tour in the harbour (Puerto something) and swam with dolphins, snorkelled and swam with manatees and also posed for pics and half swam with sea lions, it was amazing, definitely worth paying more for.

We did the Pirate Ship Tour in Cancun, we had Captain Hook, was a hilarious night, really impressed me as when we booked it I wasnt sure what to expect, heard mixed reviews.......but really worth a night out. Made friends with a great Mexican couple too who now live in LA.

Went to Coco Bongo in Playa, wicked night out. We went with the animation team at Riu Playacar (special mention to Super Chuy and Hugo!) as it was one of their bdays and they really looked after us and got us a great spot at the top right in line with the show. Was one messy night!

There is loads more I can add but mind is blank for now (jet lagged, and depressed at being back!) Will try add photos when I can and will update review as and when I can.

But what a holiday is all I can say, am very sad to be back in the UK!
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Old 07-07-2009   #2 (permalink)
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Glad you had a good time.
It's always sad to have to leave and get back to the everyday life again.
Hope you do post some pictures.
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Old 07-07-2009   #3 (permalink)
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We may have seen you there! We arrived June 28 and left July 05. We also enjoyed our stay. The hotel was only 44% occupied and you could sure tell it in the restaurants and pool/beach area. We like the idea of going to the sister hotels for breakfast and lunch. Our room could have been cooler than it was. After being in the blistering sun I like to go back to a cool room
It was our third time to that hotel. First was right after Wilma at Thanksgiving and again the following year. Both times they were very full.
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Old 07-08-2009   #4 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by Emma_1983 View Post
Well what can I say apart from what an amazing holiday......Mexico really lived up to all its meant to be and the hotel was fab - if I had gone by reports on here I would have been dreading it but I cannot fault the hotel in any way.

Staff were amazing, senior members of staff were often floating around the hotel making sure everything was ok and up to standard. Food did not get boring once in 2 weeks....lots of selection. Has its own little secluded part of the beach which was nicer then some parts we saw as it didnt have people trudging through all day. Rooms were very spacious, we got a leak on the day that it rained all day and they happily let us view several rooms until we picked one that we liked and was up to the standard of our old room. We heard lots of bad reviews about the Yucatans food, not sure how accurate that is but more then one couple had been there for lunch that we got talking to and they all said the same.

I really cannot praise the staff enough, my boyfriend learnt a bit of Spanish and they love you even more for trying to make an effort. All so friendly cannot do enough for you.

Beach was amazing, lived up to all expectations.

We did the Sea Life Plus tour in the harbour (Puerto something) and swam with dolphins, snorkelled and swam with manatees and also posed for pics and half swam with sea lions, it was amazing, definitely worth paying more for.

We did the Pirate Ship Tour in Cancun, we had Captain Hook, was a hilarious night, really impressed me as when we booked it I wasnt sure what to expect, heard mixed reviews.......but really worth a night out. Made friends with a great Mexican couple too who now live in LA.

Went to Coco Bongo in Playa, wicked night out. We went with the animation team at Riu Playacar (special mention to Super Chuy and Hugo!) as it was one of their bdays and they really looked after us and got us a great spot at the top right in line with the show. Was one messy night!

There is loads more I can add but mind is blank for now (jet lagged, and depressed at being back!) Will try add photos when I can and will update review as and when I can.

But what a holiday is all I can say, am very sad to be back in the UK!

Hi did you manage to have a look round the Riu Palace Mexico by any chance. We are off there in September and i believe at present not very busy. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Old 07-08-2009   #5 (permalink)
very sparkly
 
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We may have seen you there! We arrived June 28 and left July 05. We also enjoyed our stay. The hotel was only 44% occupied and you could sure tell it in the restaurants and pool/beach area. We like the idea of going to the sister hotels for breakfast and lunch. Our room could have been cooler than it was. After being in the blistering sun I like to go back to a cool room
It was our third time to that hotel. First was right after Wilma at Thanksgiving and again the following year. Both times they were very full.
We heard our was the best food wise? Our rep also told us it was 80% full......and we spoke to Reception who had 10 check ins one day and 12 another so I dont think it was too empty, if anything I prefer smaller quieter hotels, you are more then just a number then!

I loved the hotel. I would definitely go back, loved the fact the beach was so secluded.
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Old 07-08-2009   #6 (permalink)
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Hi did you manage to have a look round the Riu Palace Mexico by any chance. We are off there in September and i believe at present not very busy. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Is that the one set back from the road? Beige looking? If so no we didnt but our hotel did offer a tour round there once a week.....I wish we had gone now as it looked amazing. We heard lots of good things about it, we dropped a couple off there that had been to the pirate ship tour and they said it was lovely. Looked very chic.

If its the same one we are talking about. To be honest all the Rius looked fab!
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Old 07-08-2009   #7 (permalink)
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Is that the one set back from the road? Beige looking? If so no we didnt but our hotel did offer a tour round there once a week.....I wish we had gone now as it looked amazing. We heard lots of good things about it, we dropped a couple off there that had been to the pirate ship tour and they said it was lovely. Looked very chic.

If its the same one we are talking about. To be honest all the Rius looked fab!
Yes thats the one, set on its own beach. Looks very victorian. Would have been nice to have heard some comments about this hotel, dont seem to be able to find any on here.
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Old 07-09-2009   #8 (permalink)
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Yes thats the one, set on its own beach. Looks very victorian. Would have been nice to have heard some comments about this hotel, dont seem to be able to find any on here.
It looked very chic, reminded me of something you would get in Paris. I am sure its lovely, is it expensive to book would you say?

There is a member on here called Mercy that PMed me about it by mistake, maybe they will message you instead with details about rooms etc!
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Old 07-09-2009   #9 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by Emma_1983 View Post
It looked very chic, reminded me of something you would get in Paris. I am sure its lovely, is it expensive to book would you say?

There is a member on here called Mercy that PMed me about it by mistake, maybe they will message you instead with details about rooms etc!
Emma, yes I sent golazzo a PM also... sorry about the mix-up
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Old 07-09-2009   #10 (permalink)
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Emma, yes I sent golazzo a PM also... sorry about the mix-up
No worries
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Old 07-12-2009   #11 (permalink)
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Did you have a chance to sort your pics? I'd love to see them as we're headed to the riu playacar in about 3 weeks! Yay!

Mark05 - did you have any pics posted anywhere?
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Old 07-13-2009   #12 (permalink)
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Did you have a chance to sort your pics? I'd love to see them as we're headed to the riu playacar in about 3 weeks! Yay!

Mark05 - did you have any pics posted anywhere?
I have them sorted yes, they are on Facebook already.

I will try post some here, can anyone tell me how to post pics?
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Old 07-13-2009   #13 (permalink)
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Did you have a chance to sort your pics? I'd love to see them as we're headed to the riu playacar in about 3 weeks! Yay!

Mark05 - did you have any pics posted anywhere?
And really dont listen to any bad reviews you read on here or any websites, they are really not accurate. We couldnt find any fault with the hotel whatsoever, you will really enjoy it.
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Old 07-13-2009   #14 (permalink)
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I have them sorted yes, they are on Facebook already.

I will try post some here, can anyone tell me how to post pics?
Great - thanks! I'm not exactly sure how you post pictures, but I know you can share your facebook pictures pretty easily (might be more pictures than you really wanted to share on a public forum though!). I suppose you could PM me the link if you wouldn't mind.

Thanks for the reassurance on the hotel as well. We'd seen some negatives, but overall it seemed like it was just more people complaining about little stuff...

Thanks again!
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Old 07-13-2009   #15 (permalink)
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Great - thanks! I'm not exactly sure how you post pictures, but I know you can share your facebook pictures pretty easily (might be more pictures than you really wanted to share on a public forum though!). I suppose you could PM me the link if you wouldn't mind.

Thanks for the reassurance on the hotel as well. We'd seen some negatives, but overall it seemed like it was just more people complaining about little stuff...

Thanks again!
I will try find a way to do it, if not you can add me on Facebook if I give you my details.......

I would honestly not worry, I mean its not The Ritz or anything and you may think the decor is a tad old fashioned but it all had character if you ask me.....I really could not fault it. I think you will prefer it to "bigger" hotels as you feel more treated like a person rather then just a number.

I could say all this and you hate it but I really cant see what you could hate.......

And like you say it was all small stuff people were moaning about, I mean its a holiday in a beautiful place for gods sake, quit moaning and enjoy yourself
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