Gran Porto Real

ljm · 12-26-2003

Looking for info on the Gran Porto Real-How far from 5th ave -Is it really a 4 and 1/2 star,how is the beach.
Any info would be great
ljm[/b]

mikeandbeth · 12-26-2003

Hello, We stayed at The Gran Porto Real in March of 2003, loved it do much, we are returning in March 2004!!! It is approximately 3 blocks from 5th street, very easy walk, and great to head down fifth, and when you have had enough, head down to the beach and hop the beach bars back the the hotel. Can't say much about the food, or bar as we spent most of the time of 5th street. The beach is nice, although there are many boats tied up along the beach in front of the hotel. Just a short walk in either direction will get you to a beautiful beach.

Hope this helps, Mike and Beth

ljm · 12-26-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by "mikeandbeth"

Hello, We stayed at The Gran Porto Real in March of 2003, loved it do much, we are returning in March 2004!!! It is approximately 3 blocks from 5th street, very easy walk, and great to head down fifth, and when you have had enough, head down to the beach and hop the beach bars back the the hotel. Can't say much about the food, or bar as we spent most of the time of 5th street. The beach is nice, although there are many boats tied up along the beach in front of the hotel. Just a short walk in either direction will get you to a beautiful beach.

Hope this helps, Mike and Beth

Thanks for the info-we will be arriving from Alberta,Canada on Feb1st to the 8th.
Les and Sharon

heatherh · 12-28-2003

we are going April 18,we have been reading various reviews about an overbooking problem, we will be very disappointed if this happens, has anyone actually had this happen to them?? we cant wait to go this is our first visit to PDC.

mbelec · 12-28-2003

I, too, have read alot about overbooking/shifting people elsewhere. We're booked into a master suite 1-31 to 2-7, and dearly hoping this doesn't happen to us.

Getting more leery about the beach with all the talk about a long pier being built in front of the resort and the construction across the road (and accompanying noise). Others mention future cruise ship visits, which will definately change the dynamics of PDC.

Ann Arbor · 12-28-2003

Yes, they over book. We stayed here and vowed to never return. We traveled with four other families- ALL did not have their room choices honored. ALL received a crummy room overlooking construction after fighting to not get transferred to a non-PDC hotel. One family was put up in the then recently acquired cockroach trap next door. Watch out for the "mandatory" time share meeting. Food is, well, food. Go to town for a fine meal. The kids club is excellent as are the staff who service the beach. But overshadowing all is the shear insolence and incompetence of the front desk management and staff. Yes, I know this is Mexico. But a crass, indifferent and crude demeanor is NOT commen of Mexico or any of the other locations I've travelled to. To top it off, the "manager" insulted my wife as "just a woman" and refused to speak to her. If it were the states, an attorney would have a field day with their alleged reservation system. Now, if you can tolerate the risk of the reservation system, the location is hard to beat. This year, I'm willing to spend a few more $$ and give an Iberostar property my business.

mbelec · 12-31-2003

Just cancelled our ressie for the GPR 1-31 to 2-7. We had booked a master suite, oceanfront, so if anyone is interested, call your travel agent ASAP and you might get it - they only have 2 that are oceanfront, and prob. don't overbook them!

BMK1951 · 01-01-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by "heatherh"

we are going April 18,we have been reading various reviews about an overbooking problem, we will be very disappointed if this happens, has anyone actually had this happen to them?? we cant wait to go this is our first visit to PDC.

Heather H,

April 18 is at the tail end of peak season. I wouldn't worry about overbooking. Some of the folks that were upset that their room choices were not honored may not have noticed ROH on their reservation confirmation. ROH means Run Of House, a good travel agent will explain that means that the hotel can put you in any room of the type you paid for based on availablity. Specific reservation by room number or location usually will cost more.

So if you have ROH on your reservation it means you can ask for ocean view, but if the hotel has more capacity in less desirable room locations it can put you there.

Another thing at Porto Real, after a few days stay if you are a first time guest they will offer you an opportunity to split your stay at their sister hotel El Gran Caribe in Cancun. But it is not manditory and sometimes it involves a room type upgrade for free.

When I've stayed it's usually been during the slow season, first week of December. It's cold enough back home that a stay someplace tropical is appreciated and I still get budget summer rates. You never have to worry about overbooking during low season.

heatherh · 01-01-2004

Thanks BMK, we are booked through Air Canada Vacations. We have nightmares about being bumped,2 years agao we went to the Dom Rep,got off the plane & sent to a sister resort (Secrets Excellence) an hour outside Punta Cana in the middle of the jungle,with nothing within walking or driving distance. We did get money refunded when we returned home. We booked Porto Real for the location,easy acess to everything. Counting down the days..to April 18th..when we fly out of Halifax NS to Cancun..

ljm · 01-03-2004

Good Morning From Canada,
Thanks for all the info on the gran Porto-Couple of things to add-
1/Do they have internet access at the Hotel.
2/ Is the pier construction bad enough during the day that you cannot sit on the beach.
3/I want to golf and was wondering if there is any golfers going to be around the week of Feb 1-8th that would like a partner-My wife does not golf so i will be going solo-And any idea of costs?
Thanks again
ljm

ish01 · 01-05-2004

We stayed here in Jan. 2002 and loved it so much we'll be returning Feb. 6-13, 2004. We had booked a jr. suite and on our first night we got stuck in a regular room. They moved us the next morning to a partial ocean view and gave us a few extras. Despite the problem the first evening we loved it and have nothing but positive things to say about it. Although we did go w/the AI option we still wondered down to 5th Ave. several nights for dinner.

I am also slightly concerend about all the talk of pier construction. Anyone been there recently enough to comment?

12-26-2003	#1 (permalink)
ljm into ruins Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Edmonton,Canada Posts: 62	Gran Porto Real Looking for info on the Gran Porto Real-How far from 5th ave -Is it really a 4 and 1/2 star,how is the beach. Any info would be great ljm[/b]

12-28-2003	#4 (permalink)
heatherh sandflea Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: canada Posts: 6	Overbooking at Porto Real we are going April 18,we have been reading various reviews about an overbooking problem, we will be very disappointed if this happens, has anyone actually had this happen to them?? we cant wait to go this is our first visit to PDC.

12-28-2003	#5 (permalink)
mbelec into ruins Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 67	GPR I, too, have read alot about overbooking/shifting people elsewhere. We're booked into a master suite 1-31 to 2-7, and dearly hoping this doesn't happen to us. Getting more leery about the beach with all the talk about a long pier being built in front of the resort and the construction across the road (and accompanying noise). Others mention future cruise ship visits, which will definately change the dynamics of PDC.

12-28-2003	#6 (permalink)
Ann Arbor sandflea Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3	Gran Porto Real Yes, they over book. We stayed here and vowed to never return. We traveled with four other families- ALL did not have their room choices honored. ALL received a crummy room overlooking construction after fighting to not get transferred to a non-PDC hotel. One family was put up in the then recently acquired cockroach trap next door. Watch out for the "mandatory" time share meeting. Food is, well, food. Go to town for a fine meal. The kids club is excellent as are the staff who service the beach. But overshadowing all is the shear insolence and incompetence of the front desk management and staff. Yes, I know this is Mexico. But a crass, indifferent and crude demeanor is NOT commen of Mexico or any of the other locations I've travelled to. To top it off, the "manager" insulted my wife as "just a woman" and refused to speak to her. If it were the states, an attorney would have a field day with their alleged reservation system. Now, if you can tolerate the risk of the reservation system, the location is hard to beat. This year, I'm willing to spend a few more $$ and give an Iberostar property my business.

12-31-2003	#7 (permalink)
mbelec into ruins Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 67	master suite available Just cancelled our ressie for the GPR 1-31 to 2-7. We had booked a master suite, oceanfront, so if anyone is interested, call your travel agent ASAP and you might get it - they only have 2 that are oceanfront, and prob. don't overbook them!

12-26-2003	#2 (permalink)
mikeandbeth lost on fifth Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Iowa Posts: 11	Hello, We stayed at The Gran Porto Real in March of 2003, loved it do much, we are returning in March 2004!!! It is approximately 3 blocks from 5th street, very easy walk, and great to head down fifth, and when you have had enough, head down to the beach and hop the beach bars back the the hotel. Can't say much about the food, or bar as we spent most of the time of 5th street. The beach is nice, although there are many boats tied up along the beach in front of the hotel. Just a short walk in either direction will get you to a beautiful beach. Hope this helps, Mike and Beth

01-01-2004	#9 (permalink)
heatherh sandflea Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: canada Posts: 6	Thanks... Thanks BMK, we are booked through Air Canada Vacations. We have nightmares about being bumped,2 years agao we went to the Dom Rep,got off the plane & sent to a sister resort (Secrets Excellence) an hour outside Punta Cana in the middle of the jungle,with nothing within walking or driving distance. We did get money refunded when we returned home. We booked Porto Real for the location,easy acess to everything. Counting down the days..to April 18th..when we fly out of Halifax NS to Cancun..

01-03-2004	#10 (permalink)
ljm into ruins Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Edmonton,Canada Posts: 62	Gran Porto Good Morning From Canada, Thanks for all the info on the gran Porto-Couple of things to add- 1/Do they have internet access at the Hotel. 2/ Is the pier construction bad enough during the day that you cannot sit on the beach. 3/I want to golf and was wondering if there is any golfers going to be around the week of Feb 1-8th that would like a partner-My wife does not golf so i will be going solo-And any idea of costs? Thanks again ljm

01-05-2004	#11 (permalink)
ish01 sandflea Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4	We stayed here in Jan. 2002 and loved it so much we'll be returning Feb. 6-13, 2004. We had booked a jr. suite and on our first night we got stuck in a regular room. They moved us the next morning to a partial ocean view and gave us a few extras. Despite the problem the first evening we loved it and have nothing but positive things to say about it. Although we did go w/the AI option we still wondered down to 5th Ave. several nights for dinner. I am also slightly concerend about all the talk of pier construction. Anyone been there recently enough to comment?

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