[GRASSYASS]

Well looks like I have grown used to falling asleep with the sound of the waves crashing or perhaps it was the Tekillya but sleep just isn’t happening right now. So let me set this up a tad , this is our 3<SUP>rd</SUP> week in the Playa area in just over a year and a half and our 3<SUP>rd</SUP> AI. The others being the Iberostar Maya (amazing place but 20 minutes by cab to Playa) the Eldorado Royal which was also very nice but a tad dead at night and also a long cab ride to Playa, I will say the swim up casita was bad ass! ( by the way they definitely have the best food out of the 3)…So that’s were I draw the comparisons.
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Actually it wasn’t the Time Share Squad that caused the rocky start, they are actually quite easy to avoid. When you check in and receive your room assignment they ask you to stop off at a desk around the corner so they can explain the ins and outs of the resort, well we were beat and wanted to change after a long morning of travel so we blew them off . Turns out the so called info peeps are the time share squad, so blow that stop off and you have side stepped them….. for now.
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OK, day 1…..As everyone knows this place is in the right spot, walk out the door hang a right and less then 1 half block and BOOM right in the heart of the action. There isn’t another AI that has a better location…..So we walk in and instant happiness is upon you.
Very nice set up, wide open and of course there is that amazing looking Ocean that makes you just wanna blow off check in and jump in.
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Now back to the rocky start, we all have certain criteria we are looking for in a hotel/resort and for us it was # 1 location (which again simply can be beat) and #2 Ocean View room (not that we planned to stay in the room but as you know there is no ocean in Chicago and to be able to chill out on the balcony at night or whenever is a big plus to me)…..So off to check out our 1<SUP>st</SUP> floor room, walk in and DAMN NICE looking room and then I see the bed, actually lets make that beds..Hmmmm, that’s not what I booked, Im not 20 something here with my buds and the so called 2 double beds that are really single beds that I can barely sprawl out on myself let alone Mrs Grassyass (problem # uno ). Then I slide open the curtains and WOW what a view of the roped off construction (where the &@#! Is the ocean) ,so I walk out on the terrace (still no ocean) and I take a gander to the right (still no %$#@ ocean )and I walk about 10 feet into the grass and theres that amazing ocean (problem # 2) . “Excuse me Amigo, leave the bags on the cart, we are going to have a chat with Ms front desk assistant manager”..

So off to have a little chat and she tells me they are booked up and only double beds are left today but she can show us one more room. Well the agitation is setting in as when I spoke to Fun Jet to book this trip I was asked Double or King and guaranteed ocean view (which I insisted they put in writing to me and was put through to a manager that did just that). So off to see room # 2 , again gorgeous room 2 doubles and open the curtains and there is the street and a wonderful view of the Grand Porto (sarcasm) but this time if I lean way-way over that well built railing (again sarcasm) and cock my head to the left I can just see a tad bit of the blue. Off to the front desk yet again and its sorry Amigo but we are over booked (as I found out later this was a lie but the rooms view or king size beds were no better elsewhere ) , well im a tad annoyed to say the least and I tell her if you didn’t over book the Grand then upgrade those people for free maybe my &^%$ room would be available to which she replies they never do that (lied yet again). So ….would some extra $$$$ get me an upgrade, “all ocean fronts are booked but let me get the manager for you”……So out he comes and explains they have 2 classes of rooms, O fronts and O view and fronts are right on the water but the views are everything else . Well that’s all fine and dandy I explain but if you cant view the ocean from the room or balcony that’s not a ocean view now is it!!!! Him – but that’s what they are called , Me- Amigo look up at that chandelier hangin, do you see it? (yes)…. now if I call that an airplane does it make it an airplane ?????!!!!!! He just stares blank at me and kinda cocks his head like my dog does when I say something that gets her thinking……..After a long pause he tells me they have a group leaving tomorrow and he will try to get me a better room….IM PISSED!
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OK, off to the Fun Jett desk and they dance a bit and finally call for their manager to come from another hotel. I explain it all then I whip out my email from Fun Jett that says clear as day OCEAN VIEW and off he goes to chat to the manager of the Royal. 20 minutes later he gets back and tells me tomorrow they will get a better room for us so I reluctantly except my double infant beds and view of the Grand and walk off thinking tomorrow will be the same BS but im not going to let it ruin my trip although I am fricking torqued !
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On to the better part of day 1 ,by now its 4:30 and we change hit the pool/beach belly up to the bar were we meet some nice people and start popping many Tekillyas. Suddeny all is forgotten our buzz is on and we are in paradise. Next thing I know its 9pm Im hammered and we pop up to the room to change to meet some others we became friendly with and in the process of changing I apparently pass out cold and day 1 comes to an end….Day 2 coming soon….