Adults Only AI's -which one?

[Cindyrella]

My husband and I stayed at the Barcelo about a month ago and loved it. It's a beautiful resort especially for the price. Anywhoo, his brother and his wife want to go back next year with us for their 25th anniversary but they want to stay at an adults only resort. I know about these:

Royal Hideway-too expensive and ritzy for us
Secrets Capri-doesn't look like a very nice beach
Adventura Spa-no "real" beach
El Dorado Royale-?
Are there any others? If there's nothing that is a good fit for us they at least want a adults only pool and/or swim-up bar. Suggestions?

[tommy]

Iberostar Quitzal has an Adults only pool....Have yall thought about staying in Town...Place like the Deseo...NO kids there...In the heart of Playa and a Pool...Nice place just something to think about.

[geraldh]

If you don't mind not having a beach----ASP gets my vote !

[Shammy]

My vote goes to the El Dorado Royale.

And there's soon to be a new Secrets...Secrets Excellence Riviera. Not sure how the beach will be there until they get to clearing it and what not.

[woodr35]

Hidden Beach, Desire Resort, and Caribbean Reef Club are all Adults-Only All Inclusives..... but they are not everybody's cup of tea..

[Keenashelby]

My vote goes for Eldorado royale, we stayed there 2 years ago and loved it. If you can afford it, stay in a Casita, they are wonderful, they have outdoor showers.

[Cindyrella]

Thanks, Shamster, knew you'd come through. Friends want a touch of luxury so not in town. The IB Tucan/Quetzel is on my list as is the Lindo, een though they're not adult only. Is there any place else I should consider? Need great beach, good food, adult swim-up bar, closest to PDC we can get--I think.
Thanks!

[Shammy]

Cindy dahling..........

The adults only resorts in the Mayan Riviera (that I recommend) are the El Dorado Royale, the Royal Hideaway, the Adventura Spa Palace, Secrets Capri and the soon to be opened Secrets Excellence (and this does not include resorts such as Hidden Beach or Desire which attract a select group of people ).

If you want a plush resort that is not adults only, the list will grow and grow and grow!

Your friends should decide if they are willing to forgo the adults only (and the $$ price tag that goes with it) for something that is for the general population yet very very nice.

[Cindyrella]

They're like us--don't want to pay absolute top dollar but not budget either. This will be their first vacation away from their son ever and he's 15!!!!!!!

[sunshineinwa]

Shammy... Of those (your top choice adults only) which is the closest to town??? EDR,RH,ASP, SC?? Do they have an opening date for the Excellence?? Which AI would you choose for the "plushest" non-adults only, closest (or in) to town?? (Does that make sense???) Thank you....

[Shammy]

Absolutely, it makes sense.

The Royal Hideaway would be the closest to town. You can actually walk it via the beach during the day.

Secrets would be next. It's north and not walkable but they have a shuttle.

The EDR and ASP are about the same distance from town (the ASP is probably a little further) with the EDR being north, closer to the airport and the ASP being south, further away from the airport.

Secrets Excellence is supposed to open "in the fall". I would think that would mean November but I wouldn't put money on it.

The "plushest" AI that is not adults only is probably the Iberostar Lindo and as luck has it, it's pretty close to town and also runs a daily shuttle. On the otherhand, the Riu Palace is pretty plush and also close to town.

[Nerak936]

Originally Posted by Cindyrella

Need great beach, good food, adult swim-up bar, closest to PDC we can get--I think.

Cindy:

Good beach, great food, and adults-only pool bar is available to Iberostar Quetzal/Tucan, and you know how much David and I love that place!! It's not "closEST" to town, but just under 2 miles. It was a $4 taxi ride ($5 with tip). I'm thinking next year we'll probably walk the beach to PdC someday and then grab a cab for the return trip. Guess it depends on how lazy we're feeling that day! :p

[Cindyrella]

Karen,
The IB Tucan/Quetzel is definitely HIGH on my list. If it were up to me, I'd skip the adults only idea anyway. My only concern with the IB is that I DON'T want to play the towel game. The onterh thing is that the other couple's anniversary is in July --blech! Too hot for any ruins day tripping Sooo, I thought about maybe convincing them to do a cruise instad. Then take the kids to PDC on spring break Got any info on cruises, oh wise one

[Nerak936]

Originally Posted by Cindyrella

Karen,
The IB Tucan/Quetzel is definitely HIGH on my list. If it were up to me, I'd skip the adults only idea anyway. My only concern with the IB is that I DON'T want to play the towel game. The onterh thing is that the other couple's anniversary is in July --blech! Too hot for any ruins day tripping Sooo, I thought about maybe convincing them to do a cruise instad. Then take the kids to PDC on spring break Got any info on cruises, oh wise one

"Oh, wise one"??? Yikes! I'm under pressure now!!

I agree that July will be a hot one, but what's a few degrees more?? I know. I know. From being there last June and then this past May, David and I agreed that May was a bit cooler and less humid, though I'm sure that can change week to week or even day to day (like here in New England in the summertime).

Cruises? Been on five. First was 20 years ago, from NYC to Bermuda. Small, older ship, but it was a blast. The other four were two on NCL (Norwegian Cruise Lines) and two on RCCL (Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines). Ships were great except for NCL's Norway. It was very very elegant, as it was the former S.S. France which did transatlantic trips way back when. Then they chopped it in half, added a middle section, and then glued it back together. Some of the bar/lounge areas were gorgeous, with the old styling and architecture. But I kept getting lost of that ship EVERY night trying to find my dining room! I'm rambling....

The routes I took on those 4 cruises were: 2 to Western Caribbean, 1 to Eastern, and 1 to southern. If I did another cruise, it would be western again. The route was (out of Miami) to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and (insert drumroll here) Cozumel!! Jamaica was fun with Dunn's River Falls and shopping in the flea market (gotta know how to play the haggling game), Grand Cayman offered snorkeling with the stingrays at Stingray City (an awesome experience which I'd love to do again and not be as frightened as I was the first time), and Cozumel - snorkeling!! Then there were the "all day at sea" days and a day at the line's private island. The Cozumel stop was also Playa del Carmen. I think the ship dropped off passengers taking daytrips at Playa and then docked at Cozumel. Daytrippers at Playa then took the ferry over to catch the ship later. I dunno. Might be different now. I do recall the time spent in Cozumel was the longest (15 hours?), shortest at Grand Cayman (6 hours), and I don't recall with Jamaica.

If you want more info, let me know. I'm hooked on spending my vacation funds in Playa, so future cruises for me might be in doubt. When I first met David in 1999, our first vacation was a week in Cozumel. And I loved the idea of being in one spot for the whole week (although we did do a day over to Playa to see Tulum/Xel-Ha). That was the beginning of my love affair with Playa!!

[ktaylore]

Originally Posted by Shammy

Your friends should decide if they are willing to forgo the adults only (and the $$ price tag that goes with it) for something that is for the general population yet very very nice.

Hey Shammy,

Any suggestions of something that is for the general population but is very very nice too? We plan to go in March 2005 and would rather not deal with spring breakers.

Thanks!