Grand Riveria Princess room/beverage questions THANKS from Newbie!

[IowaGal]

Hi everyone--

What a great forum--everyone has such great ideas and information!

I have booked the Grand Riveria Princess for April 30-May 7 junior suite. Our friends all booked swim up rooms (about 5 swim up rooms). We came in on this party a little late and settled for a junior suite since swim ups are not available.
Here are my questions:
1) Hotel said they would already try to get all of their swim up rooms together and would see about getting us a junior suite above them. In an ideal world, which room numbers should we be asking for? I have a map of the resort without building or room #'s.
2) Pepsi or Coke products?
3) Tecate or Dos Equis or something else as the main draft beer?
4) How is the snorkeling in this particular area?
Thanks!

[scarvey]

I have been looking into this resort for about a year now, with multiple people i know visiting it. From what I have read its tough to get rooms together, best chance to email the reception directly (recepcion.riviera@princess-hotels.com). I also read its corona on the taps but it may or may not be. not sure of coke/pepsi. I may be able to get that info for you from a friend who has been there. So really didnt help out much but ya... have a great trip

[deblis]

They have Coke products, I believe the swim ups are 6000 block. I stayed in block 5000 which are not swim up but beside the beach.

[deblis]

[Chris in VT]

Dont even think you will get rooms together.
No snorkeling. Clear water.

[IowaGal]

Ivan hotel front desk guy said it is Pepsi products in an email yesterday for all who are wondering

[IowaGal]

Chris from VT-- why no snorkeling? No gear or just not a good area?

[RobinMN]

We had 4 rooms among us and were able to get 3 in a row when we checked in so never say never!

As far as snorkeling, it is just not an area for snorkeling. I never saw one fish. There isn't any coral reef around this stretch of beach.

[travelwriter]

1) We just returned from there. We stayed in the swim-up rooms in the "Yucatan" section. The resort was very gracious to upgrade our entire group at no cost to the Platinum package. We were in the 31000 building. It was amazing. The put us all on the same floor in the same building. There are two more stories above the swim-up rooms.
2) Pepsi products
3) Cold Corona on tap, Modelo in the mini-bar in the room
4) We didn't snorkel. We'd planned to go to Xel-ha eco-park to snorkel, but stayed "home" and enjoyed the beach instead. However, snorkeling trips were available for booking, through the hotel (I think) down by the pool area for $35 US. The reef is not far away by boat.

P.S. I'm not seeing the Yucatan section on the map posted. It is a smaller set of buildings, just across from the Riviera lobby section. There is a bridge connecting the building with the Riviera lobby to the Yucatan (adult-only) section. One of the Platinum lounges, and the restaurant, "Tapas," is located there also. We really enjoyed the Platinum lounges with their fabulous air-conditioning, bartenders, 24-hour concierges, towel exchange, and free internet access. They gave us the free upgrade & our purple bracelet seemed to indicate Platinum area access.

[CDLVancouver]

ya our requests have always been honoured too. key is to email ahead directly to them rather than relying on the little notes the travel agents add to the booking notes.
for snorkeling its not good because there isnt a reef close by. i did snorkel around and did see the little nurse fish but thats it. no coral, no unique features, no schools of fish. for snorkeling head to either puerto moreles, akumal or over to cozumel. only resort we had good snorkeling at was the barcelo palace, and it was better than good!

[tbasson]

I just received an email from Gina, Director of Public Relations at the Resort, who acknowledged by request - hopefully its granted. I agree with CDLVancouver that its better to send an email request directly.

[CDLVancouver]

Agreed...gina is excellent and had always responded to our emails and delivered on all requests down to room numbers, reservations and spa appointments. The princess and the riu palace mexico (katie) were both excellent at dealing with email requests, the playacar palace has been good so far with me, the riu palace riviera maya was ok and the barcelo palace was a complete waste of time/effort/energy on my part.

[MickMack35]

Here is a better map of the resort. You can see how the Sister resorts are divided in half and the Yucatan rooms.

[tbasson]

In the event that I get stuck with a King bed for my entire family or have any 'material' issues with the room, does anybody know the GM for the Princess. Trying to cover all bases here. I recall reading a post where a couple was not getting through to the front desk staff, but had asked for the GM and the issue (i.e. plumbing-related) was resolved immediately through a room change. Thanks

[ehalaby]

One more day and off we go......