Grand Sunset Princess

[asplumm]

Hello -
We have been to the Grand Palladium Royal the last 2 years. We were originally going to go to Punta Cana to the Palladium for a change, however the prices right now do not compare to Mexico pricing. We really liked the Royal amenities and we thoroughly enjoyed the large size of the resort as there was always somewhere to go and alot of things to do.

I am now looking at the Grand Sunset Princess because prices are excellent and they offer the Platinum which seems to compare some to the Royal at the Palladium. Has anyone been to both resorts and can offer any advice as to whether this is a comparible choice?

[playafool]

Check trip advisor out before you decide. There is a reason GP is so cheap. Accident a few months ago, part of the resort had a slight problem.

[asplumm]

Thank you! I do know about the explosion that happened there and chalk the prices up to that really. We liked the palladium but are looking to try something different and wanted to know if they compared at all since they are big resorts. I also checked out trip advisor and the reviews seemed pretty good other that the explosion. It's so hard to decide!

[Jiminpei]

Originally Posted by asplumm

Thank you! I do know about the explosion that happened there and chalk the prices up to that really. We liked the palladium but are looking to try something different and wanted to know if they compared at all since they are big resorts. I also checked out trip advisor and the reviews seemed pretty good other that the explosion. It's so hard to decide!

Detailed report on CBC tonight on the National:

CBC.ca Player

and

CBC News - The National - In Depth & Analysis - Mexican Resort Blast: What Went Wrong?

[playafool]

You are welcome, I was looking at Punta Cana too and have never been there. I love Mexico. Been to Cancun 7 times and decided to go to Playa and stay at the Royal Playa Del Carmen. Cost more since I went for oceanfront but still cheaper than Punta for what you get. From what I read. Maybe Punta next time. Casino would be fun.

[asplumm]

We were looking at the Royal as well but they dont seem to have any rooms availabe for the time frame we are going. The Gran Porto Real did, but they don offer the adults only, so we are trying to find a plave comparible with those amenites and it's been a little difficult. I do admit the explosion at the GSP is a bit unsettling as well.

[playafool]

Contact SHAMMY on here, she know all when it comes to AIs.

[asplumm]

Thanks, Im not sure how to go about doing that, but Ill check into it!
Also sorry about the type of "princell"

[Shammy]

The Platinum rooms are not for adults only, and the resort as a whole is not, in my opinion, all that comparable to the Palladium. The Palladium is a better resort, again, in my opinion. But if you do go to the Princess, I would get a room in the Platinum section. At least you have an upgraded room and some nice extra perks not included with the other rooms types at the hotel. People do like those rooms. That puts it at least more on the level of the Royal section of the Palladium Riviera.

[asplumm]

Thank you Shammy for the info. It's really hard trying to find a resort that has the same type of service or section of the resort as the Palladium Royal Suites. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks a bunch!

[CDLVancouver]

ive read from people that have been to both that they like the princess....but only if you get the platinum or the laguna villas with the upgraded services/perks. seems that if you stay jr or jr deluxe youre disappointed in the "5-star"'ness of those because they are missing the perks. just have to say, i havent seen any real five stars for even twice the price of the jr/jr dlx there....so thats a bit of a tip off, to me anyway
the laguna villas are adults only so if youre looking for AO, then go for the laguna villas. if you want ocean front/view, go for the platinum, but currently only the sunset platinum is ocean front/view. the riviera platinum is now located up by the lobby at the opposite end of the resort.

[Wilfam]

Hi, I have stayed three times at the GSP,the first time it was shoulder season so a bit slower etc, second was a quick two nights before heading to CUN after a really busy 10 days working. The third time there were 3 families, high season and it was like we were in a different resort than our previous trip.

This resort was really one of my favorites, I loved the gardens with their flora and fauna often marked with species and genus.

The pools are endless, but when its busy there is only so much room to sit and view the antics of people enjoying the sports and fun entertainment crew. The rooms I find are on the large size, the decks are great, we met on one deck to play sequence or cards before dinner every night.

I really liked the beach area at this resort, everyone loved walking the beaches for the morning or jogging around the resort trails or exterior road system. The swimming when we were enjoying it was great, no snorkling, but the water was nice and I didn't knock my feet on any rocks or coral.

There is a constant stream of people walking the beaches as there are many resorts to wander from up and down the beach. The food our last trip, March 2010 was something everyone complained about and we really are not fussy fussy eaters. We enjoy each others company and visiting with our kids over dinner and drinks, its a long process. Everything really tasted the same as the previous night, we would head to the lobby to enjoy more chatting etc or the fantastic Cigar Bar (which I wish every resort had) for a Mayan Coffee before heading to bed. The lobby service was bad and really impersonal. The staff at the front desk really need to work on being personable, there were many complaints by others on the room they thought they were to have and the rooms they rec'd. Our rooms were fantastic, location as well as all of us together side by side.

If you are looking for a great deal and a sun filled vacation with out a whole lot of expectations or just a chair, pool and beach its ok, but if like us food is a part of our experience there are better places. Its a large resort and walking is not necessary as they do have a golf cart that travels around the exterior of the resort for those who do not want to walk. Not always on schedule, but once you figure that out you just leave a bit earlier. Gramma was a bit tired by dinner so she often rode the cart to meet us at the restaurant.

We traveled in high season almost every area of this resort needs to impove to handle the number of persons who transfer in and out every day. Also the tipping here is odd, they are outright rude if you do not tip, happy if you do, but one does not receive better service the next time.

All of the staff, with the exception of our room attendants, need to improve for this to be the star value its rated at, the staff front desk, the show theatre they have is really not nice at all, yeah not my favorite anymore. Sad to realize things really do change for better or worse in a one year period or from season to season.

For an overall better experience, but the same money value I prefer the Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda. Their show venue is great and the service fantastic, the look of the Blue Bay I find kinda funny, but the resort itself is probably a solid four star, no surprises, no annoyances and I found the food to be just fine, tastey not spectacular, but no complaints.

Enjoy your trip.

[deblis]

Originally Posted by Wilfam

Hi, I have stayed three times at the GSP,the first time it was shoulder season so a bit slower etc, second was a quick two nights before heading to CUN after a really busy 10 days working. The third time there were 3 families, high season and it was like we were in a different resort than our previous trip.

This resort was really one of my favorites, I loved the gardens with their flora and fauna often marked with species and genus.

The pools are endless, but when its busy there is only so much room to sit and view the antics of people enjoying the sports and fun entertainment crew. The rooms I find are on the large size, the decks are great, we met on one deck to play sequence or cards before dinner every night.

I really liked the beach area at this resort, everyone loved walking the beaches for the morning or jogging around the resort trails or exterior road system. The swimming when we were enjoying it was great, no snorkling, but the water was nice and I didn't knock my feet on any rocks or coral.

There is a constant stream of people walking the beaches as there are many resorts to wander from up and down the beach. The food our last trip, March 2010 was something everyone complained about and we really are not fussy fussy eaters. We enjoy each others company and visiting with our kids over dinner and drinks, its a long process. Everything really tasted the same as the previous night, we would head to the lobby to enjoy more chatting etc or the fantastic Cigar Bar (which I wish every resort had) for a Mayan Coffee before heading to bed. The lobby service was bad and really impersonal. The staff at the front desk really need to work on being personable, there were many complaints by others on the room they thought they were to have and the rooms they rec'd. Our rooms were fantastic, location as well as all of us together side by side.

If you are looking for a great deal and a sun filled vacation with out a whole lot of expectations or just a chair, pool and beach its ok, but if like us food is a part of our experience there are better places. Its a large resort and walking is not necessary as they do have a golf cart that travels around the exterior of the resort for those who do not want to walk. Not always on schedule, but once you figure that out you just leave a bit earlier. Gramma was a bit tired by dinner so she often rode the cart to meet us at the restaurant.

We traveled in high season almost every area of this resort needs to impove to handle the number of persons who transfer in and out every day. Also the tipping here is odd, they are outright rude if you do not tip, happy if you do, but one does not receive better service the next time.

All of the staff, with the exception of our room attendants, need to improve for this to be the star value its rated at, the staff front desk, the show theatre they have is really not nice at all, yeah not my favorite anymore. Sad to realize things really do change for better or worse in a one year period or from season to season.

For an overall better experience, but the same money value I prefer the Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda. Their show venue is great and the service fantastic, the look of the Blue Bay I find kinda funny, but the resort itself is probably a solid four star, no surprises, no annoyances and I found the food to be just fine, tastey not spectacular, but no complaints.

Enjoy your trip.

Great info, we are going on Feb 26 for 2 weeks. First week for vacation, second week to attend a wedding. By any chance do you know if they supply cribs for a baby?