Resort comparisons?

[terrycl]

Hi everyone --

My fiancee and I are getting married in June and we wanted to spend a weeklong honeymoon in the Playa area. I've been driving myself crazy trying to research all the resorts and I think I've got the list of possibles down to four. They've all received (mostly) good reviews here, but I was wondering what y'all think of each compared to the others.

In more-or-less order, the four resorts are:

1) Iberostar Paraiso Lindo
2) Secrets Capri
3) Aventura Spa Palace
4) Riu Palace

I'd also been looking at the Royal Hideaway but it seemed a bit pricy and possibly a bit stuffy? Our main criteria are:

1) Good beach (I've heard mixed reviews of the ASP lagoon?)
2) Good food (breakfast/lunch buffets are OK)
3) Jaccuzi in room and/or 2-person shower
4) Swim-up bar (the Lindo's ice cream bar sounds nice)
5) Range of activities/nightlife
6) Adults only/mostly

And this isn't a deal-breaker, but I'd like to avoid bracelets and towel cards if possible!

We're in our mid/late 20s and we're basically looking for somewhere we can have a good time, eat good food, relax by the pool, walk on the beach, maybe take a tour or two, go into town for a day and basically get away from the world. We aren't looking for a party atmosphere but we don't want somewhere completely dead after 6pm either -- our idea of a nice evening would be going to a fun show, hanging out in a bar with a piano player/jazz band/lounge singer, or something reasonably low-key like that.

Any thoughts?

Thanks...

[jobob]

Hi Terrycl, can't comment on the others but can on the Riu Palace. It has a great beach and lots of lounges, you can always get one at any time of the day. Food is very good with 3 dinner ala carte restaurants plus the dinner buffet with nearly 300 feet of food counter. There is a bathtub/shower which I guess you might get 2 people in if you snuggled up real close. :lol:
There is a swimup bar and nightly entertainment and when we were there a small band that you could dance to before and after the main show. There was also an excellent piano player in the main lobby lounge playing from 6 - 9 each evening. We'd go and listen to him for 1/2 hour before dinner then after for a while until the music started outside.
Re towel cards and bracelets I think you'd have to go to the Royal Hideway to get away from them.
Hope this helps,
Bob

[carolina]

My husband and I were at Eldorado Royale last May for a week. It was wonderful. It's adults only and the food and service were wonderful. We never had to wait for a drink anywhere. They know your name after the first day and bend over backwards to help you. We stayed in an ocean front Jr. Suite and it was very nice. For more money the Casitas looked great. They don't have bracelets or cards for towels. You can have as many beach towels as you want and the towels are already in your room in the Casita.

We were at the Aventure 3 years ago and had a nice time. I didn't find their food or service as wonderful as the El Dorado Royale, but it's all a matter of personal taste. We also didn't like their lack of beach.

This May we are going to Secrets for a week. Some friends of ours told us it was even better than El Dorado Royale and it's also adults only. they don't have bracelets or cards for towels either. They also liked it better than Rui Palace or Ibeostar.

Best wishes on your upcoming marriage and have a great time in Mexico!

[tbasson]

Hey terrycl
We’re definitely in the same boat. Our honeymoon is mid May, and I’ve been going crazy with the research over the last few months. It’s an important time in our lives, so there is no harm in doing too much researching. If your like me, you’ve probably reviewed a gazillion reviews, and taken notes on the positives and negatives. If you’re totally keen, I’m sure you’ve scanned the internet search for pictures to help visualize what the resort actually look like. My obsession has gotten to the point where I am now searching for maps of the resorts to get a better idea of where the perfect room can be located. I'm starting to think this has gone way beyond an obsession :P

The criteria your using is pretty well in-line with what we’re thinking, but I’ve also looked into ranking the service and location (from PdelC). So here’s my ranking and gutt feel on the top picks (drum role) …

1. Royal Hideaway – ask anyone and they will tell you it’s the best and well worth the money. Especially when it comes to food, service, beach and location
2. Aventura Spa Palace – apart from the beach, it ranks up as one of the best – if you need beautiful sand and ocean, there is a daily free shuttle (5 minute ride) to their sister resort Xpu-Ha Palace. This place is noted for its excellent pool, room and service. You’ll have to deal with the pink bracelet included for all honeymooners. You’ve got the Jacuzzi in the room.
3. Iberostar Lindo - I really like this one too, especially the amazing pool and food. But I’m just don’t know if this is the place to do some chilling after the wedding. Some reviews indicate the resort is for party oriented" travellers and all of the pools had loud music. Has jacuzzi tubs on the balcony of the honeymoon suites. Kids in the pool???
4. Riu Palace – Very nice , noted for there room, service and food. NO KING BEDS at the Riu resorts. Its upscale, so there shouldn’t be too many kids
5. Secrets Capri – Your gambling on this one. Too many inconsistent reviews, even after 4 months of being open. Do you really think another 4 months is going to make a difference? This resort is for a VERY SPECIFIC Clientelle. Classy, upscale, relaxed atmosphere. The food and beach appears to be just ok.

If your not sold on this, check out Ron’s All Inclusive Ratings (scroll down the page under ratings by different categories) http://www.ramproductions.com/survey/topres.asp. Based on the 100’s of reviews and rankings, it list them all according to whatever criteria you desire.

The question comes down to cost. From what I gather, there is probably a difference of about $US 1000 for the week between the selecting the very best and 5th place. The way I look at it, you’re probably going to have only one honeymoon in your life. Spending the extra $ to ensure complete satisfaction on your trip is probably well worth it – the last thing I want to see is your new partner disappointed because I tried to save a buck or two.

Another thing ... yes, some of these places appear to lack some of the nightlife - but your on your honeymoon, right? And if you really need to shake your booty there is always resorts nearby by (in which you can probably share with the sister resort or head downtown.

Hope this helps. Best wishes

[terrycl]

Thanks to all for your advice! We've decided to splurge on the Royal Hideaway -- Secrets was probably going to be our top choice, despite all the inconsistent reports, but it's looking to only be about $500 more for the RH and (like tbasson said) it's the trip of a lifetime and not the place to be pinching pennies...

[tbasson]

For the record, I think I will be doing the same!

[carolina]

If you are booking Royal Hideaway. you may want to book an oceanview room. The gardenview rooms face another resort that tends to be very noisy.

[rawwood]

MY WIFE AND I SPENT A WEEK AT SECRETS CAPRI IN LATE JANUARY. WE ALSO READ A NUMBER OF VERY DISCOURAGING REVIEWS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN THERE IN LATE DECEMBER. WE WERE VERY PLEASANTLY SURPRISED AND WOULD LOVE TO GO BACK. THE FOOD WAS VERY GOOD, SERVICE WAS VERY GOOD(WE FOUND THAT BY TIPPING WELL WE WERE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF ESPECIALLY ON THE BEACH) THE ROOMS WERE VERY NICE, THE ATMOSPHERE WAS VERY NICE AND HAD KIND OF A CASUAL ELLEGANCE ABOUT IT.

I THINK THOUGH THAT I MIGHT AGREE WITH SOME OF THE OTHER RESPONSES, THAT IS, IF IT IS YOUR HONEYMOON AND A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS WOULD NOT MAKE OR BREAK THE DEAL, ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT STAYED THERE, IT SEEMS THAT ROYAL HIDEAWAY IS THE CLASS OF THE AREA.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE FOUND NONE OF THE NEGATIVES AT SECRETSA THAT HAD BEEN REPORTED. MY WIFE AND I FOUND IT TO BE VERY ROMANTIC WEEK, ALTHOUGH WE ARE IN OUR EARLY FIFTIES AND JUST GETTING AWAY FROM WORK, NO CHILDREN, AND PLENTY OF TEQUILA IS ALL IT TAKES FOR US.

HOPE THIS HELPS, AND ENJOY YOUR TRIP WHEREVER YOU DECIDE TO GO.

[LIZLEWIS42]

Unless they've moved the buildings around since we were there, not all the rooms face other resorts :roll: ...The way the villas are positioned, I'd guess that only about 25% of the rooms face the outside...

We booked the Royal View category and really felt it was a waste of money :-? ...

Just my option...LIZ

[Steve_Poss]

I stayed at the Aventura Palace in July of 2001, while the spa palace was just being constructed. The property, the food , drinks and service were all top notch. But, the beach leaves a lot to be desired. To call it a beach is even a bit of a stretch. Its really more like a bunch of busted up rocks near the ocean, on a man made inlet.

Long walks on the beach, nope. My girlfriend and I were actually stopped by security when we tried to walk off of the property.

I am returning to the area in just 2 weeks, I will be staying at the RIU property just because I want to be on a real beach.

[tbasson]

We've changed our minds - we're off to the Lindo!!!

[srevans]

tbasson,
Why did you change your mind and choose Lindo over Secrets, etc? I am trying to make the same decision for an August trip. What finally made your decision?
Thanks