Trip Report

texan · 08-16-2004

My wife and I went on our honeymoon August 7-13th. We stayed at the Royal Hideaway.

Airport
The airport experience was much like it was described on this board. Immigration was a 'sea of humanity'. We waited in line for about an hour and a half. We watched as several other planes that arrived were wisked through without a wait for no apparent reason. We found out later that because our line was so long, those planes would have had to wait outside or something, so that is why they were able to 'cut'. No big deal, probably just luck of the draw. My wife had no problems with her birth cert not mathing her DL exactly (we did bring a copy of her old marriage license just in case though). We got our bags, punch a 'green light' and were on our way. Funny thing, after being warned several times to ignore the timeshare people, As I was walking towards the customs area, I here someone say 'Sir!' and of course I instinctively turned around and made eye contact! It was funny but no big deal. Our Airport transfer was Lomas and they were really great (except for the ride home which I will explain later).

Royal Hideaway

Let me preface by saying this was my first time to Mexico, and my wife's second time (she had been to Ixtapa before). We arrived at Royal Hideaway and it was amazing. We were greeted with the cool towels and champaign, and we got the room upgrade for honeymooners. It was not quite ready yet - check-in is at 3 and it was only 1pm. So, we changed into our swimsuits and ate at the grill. It was awesome. The beach here is incredible - the water and the sand was really something. At 3pm, we went to our room, our bags were already there, along with flowers, fruit and a bottle of champaign (spelled wrong I am sure).
Service: The service was excellent - a few minor things here and there that were mostly due to my wife and I not communicating clearly.

Food - Outstanding. Look, we are NOT fancy by any means, so it doesn't take much to win us over. Breakfast was awesome, a real good buffet, with a spectacular view. One day we had the 'sit down' breakfast at Ventannas and had huevos rancheros, and it was excellent. Spices (mexican) was our favorite, and then probably Azia. We also had the Grill - which was cool because it was right on the beach. We ate lunch every day at the grill, and it was just great.

The resort - Also outstanding. Very nicely kept, every little detail attended too. The beach is great, not too big, with plenty of chairs and service. I was ordering beers while standing in the water ! Speaking of the ocean (or gulf!) , the water was awesome, a lot cooler than I expected and icredibly refreshing. Snorkeling was really great too.

We met several couples our age(late 30's) also on their honeymoon.

The town - PDC is awesome. My wife and I were both taken aback by how friendly everyone was. We hated that the mayan palace timeshare hawks seemed to be on every corner. Other than that, we bought some silver bracelets and necklaces, and other souvenier type stuff. Had some great tacos at a place that I can't remember the name (I took a picture of it though, so I will update this post), and had some beers here and there. What a wonderful town it is. If you live in this area you are very lucky. I bought a PDC fire dept shirt, which is really cool.

When we left, our driver for Lomas fell asleep at the wheel and we ran off the road. He stopped at a small store and bought a coke, but it didn't help because it happened again. We were really glad to get off of the van! Next time I will probably get a different transfer !

We can't wait to go back and experience even more of this paradise!

Avalon · 08-16-2004

Glad you had a wonderful honeymoon, but good Lord, asleep at the wheel and ran off the road! I would have been freaking out!!

texan · 08-16-2004

uh - yeah we were freaking out a bit! A family in the van spoke more fluent spanish, and we had the guy counting to five with his fingers the last 10 miles or so. We almost wrecked at the airport too

Sue · 08-16-2004

Funny. We had Lomas transfer this year, and while the guy who picked us up at our hotel was great, the guy who drove us down there was awful. He got lost!

Michele · 08-16-2004

Wow! Sounds scary. I hope you contacted the folks at Lomas to let them know the problem. Might not be an isolated incident!!

baylainphilly · 08-16-2004

A bit off topic, but I have a funny story (more like scary story) involving a transfer nightmare of our own here in the U.S. A while back my husband and I always used a shuttle service to and from the airport here in Philadelphia. On one particular trip the van picked us up from the airport to go home around midnight. It was a cold and rainy November night. First, we get in the van and it reeks of cigarettes. Okay, just an annoyance I'll let it slide. Once we get moving the driver lights up a cigarette. Cigarette in one hand, he is then drinking a soda in the other, driving down I-95 in the pooring raining doing about 80mph. He's barely keeping the van in his lane around the turns in the road. We are the only people in the van and by now I'm freaking out and telling this guy to slow down, put out his cigarette, put down his soda and pay attention! Before we know it.... we aren't 10 minutes away from the airport and the police are pulling us over. The cop is reaming this guy out about his responsiblities and obligations to his passengers and his blatent disregard for the driving conditions, and he has no business driving in that manner under optimal conditions. He gets several tickets!!!!

I can't say that the ride home was picture perfect, but amazingly we arrived safely. I called the service the following day and told them of the situation. I gave kudos to the guy who took us to the airport, very safe and courteous. However, I did want my money back for the return trip and the delay involved with the police. Her response was "well I can't do that, since he did get you home". I was floored at that response. Nevertheless, I wasn't going to let $35 send me over the edge, so I let it go. But, every trip from that point on has started and ended with my husband driving our own car to the airport. We have remained incident free.

Our transfers have been very smooth in Mexico - although we have never used Lomas - I hope our trip in November is also just as smooth.

texan · 08-16-2004

We did contact Lomas - they apologized and said they would investigate. I didn't ask for a refund or anything, but I did want to bring it to their attention. I told the lady at Lomas that they were either working him way too hard, or he was not a good quality driver. Oh well!

One thing I also left out, a big thanks to everyone on this board in regards to converting currency. I got pesos and I found it easier to bargain with and you don't get screwed when they give you change. I did tip in pesos and in dollars, at RH they appreciated either.

08-16-2004	#1 (permalink)
texan ruined Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: North Texas Posts: 82	Trip Report My wife and I went on our honeymoon August 7-13th. We stayed at the Royal Hideaway. Airport The airport experience was much like it was described on this board. Immigration was a 'sea of humanity'. We waited in line for about an hour and a half. We watched as several other planes that arrived were wisked through without a wait for no apparent reason. We found out later that because our line was so long, those planes would have had to wait outside or something, so that is why they were able to 'cut'. No big deal, probably just luck of the draw. My wife had no problems with her birth cert not mathing her DL exactly (we did bring a copy of her old marriage license just in case though). We got our bags, punch a 'green light' and were on our way. Funny thing, after being warned several times to ignore the timeshare people, As I was walking towards the customs area, I here someone say 'Sir!' and of course I instinctively turned around and made eye contact! It was funny but no big deal. Our Airport transfer was Lomas and they were really great (except for the ride home which I will explain later). Royal Hideaway Let me preface by saying this was my first time to Mexico, and my wife's second time (she had been to Ixtapa before). We arrived at Royal Hideaway and it was amazing. We were greeted with the cool towels and champaign, and we got the room upgrade for honeymooners. It was not quite ready yet - check-in is at 3 and it was only 1pm. So, we changed into our swimsuits and ate at the grill. It was awesome. The beach here is incredible - the water and the sand was really something. At 3pm, we went to our room, our bags were already there, along with flowers, fruit and a bottle of champaign (spelled wrong I am sure). Service: The service was excellent - a few minor things here and there that were mostly due to my wife and I not communicating clearly. Food - Outstanding. Look, we are NOT fancy by any means, so it doesn't take much to win us over. Breakfast was awesome, a real good buffet, with a spectacular view. One day we had the 'sit down' breakfast at Ventannas and had huevos rancheros, and it was excellent. Spices (mexican) was our favorite, and then probably Azia. We also had the Grill - which was cool because it was right on the beach. We ate lunch every day at the grill, and it was just great. The resort - Also outstanding. Very nicely kept, every little detail attended too. The beach is great, not too big, with plenty of chairs and service. I was ordering beers while standing in the water ! Speaking of the ocean (or gulf!) , the water was awesome, a lot cooler than I expected and icredibly refreshing. Snorkeling was really great too. We met several couples our age(late 30's) also on their honeymoon. The town - PDC is awesome. My wife and I were both taken aback by how friendly everyone was. We hated that the mayan palace timeshare hawks seemed to be on every corner. Other than that, we bought some silver bracelets and necklaces, and other souvenier type stuff. Had some great tacos at a place that I can't remember the name (I took a picture of it though, so I will update this post), and had some beers here and there. What a wonderful town it is. If you live in this area you are very lucky. I bought a PDC fire dept shirt, which is really cool. When we left, our driver for Lomas fell asleep at the wheel and we ran off the road. He stopped at a small store and bought a coke, but it didn't help because it happened again. We were really glad to get off of the van! Next time I will probably get a different transfer ! We can't wait to go back and experience even more of this paradise!

08-16-2004	#6 (permalink)
baylainphilly beachaholic Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Philly, PA Posts: 263	A bit off topic, but I have a funny story (more like scary story) involving a transfer nightmare of our own here in the U.S. A while back my husband and I always used a shuttle service to and from the airport here in Philadelphia. On one particular trip the van picked us up from the airport to go home around midnight. It was a cold and rainy November night. First, we get in the van and it reeks of cigarettes. Okay, just an annoyance I'll let it slide. Once we get moving the driver lights up a cigarette. Cigarette in one hand, he is then drinking a soda in the other, driving down I-95 in the pooring raining doing about 80mph. He's barely keeping the van in his lane around the turns in the road. We are the only people in the van and by now I'm freaking out and telling this guy to slow down, put out his cigarette, put down his soda and pay attention! Before we know it.... we aren't 10 minutes away from the airport and the police are pulling us over. The cop is reaming this guy out about his responsiblities and obligations to his passengers and his blatent disregard for the driving conditions, and he has no business driving in that manner under optimal conditions. He gets several tickets!!!! I can't say that the ride home was picture perfect, but amazingly we arrived safely. I called the service the following day and told them of the situation. I gave kudos to the guy who took us to the airport, very safe and courteous. However, I did want my money back for the return trip and the delay involved with the police. Her response was "well I can't do that, since he did get you home". I was floored at that response. Nevertheless, I wasn't going to let $35 send me over the edge, so I let it go. But, every trip from that point on has started and ended with my husband driving our own car to the airport. We have remained incident free. Our transfers have been very smooth in Mexico - although we have never used Lomas - I hope our trip in November is also just as smooth. Last edited by baylainphilly : 08-16-2004 at 01:10 PM.

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08-16-2004	#2 (permalink)
Avalon beachaholic Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 270	Glad you had a wonderful honeymoon, but good Lord, asleep at the wheel and ran off the road! I would have been freaking out!!

08-16-2004	#3 (permalink)
texan ruined Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: North Texas Posts: 82	uh - yeah we were freaking out a bit! A family in the van spoke more fluent spanish, and we had the guy counting to five with his fingers the last 10 miles or so. We almost wrecked at the airport too

08-16-2004	#4 (permalink)
Sue añejo Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,965	Funny. We had Lomas transfer this year, and while the guy who picked us up at our hotel was great, the guy who drove us down there was awful. He got lost!

08-16-2004	#5 (permalink)
Michele añejo Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Playa del Carmen, QR, MX Posts: 2,647	Wow! Sounds scary. I hope you contacted the folks at Lomas to let them know the problem. Might not be an isolated incident!!

08-16-2004	#7 (permalink)
texan ruined Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: North Texas Posts: 82	We did contact Lomas - they apologized and said they would investigate. I didn't ask for a refund or anything, but I did want to bring it to their attention. I told the lady at Lomas that they were either working him way too hard, or he was not a good quality driver. Oh well! One thing I also left out, a big thanks to everyone on this board in regards to converting currency. I got pesos and I found it easier to bargain with and you don't get screwed when they give you change. I did tip in pesos and in dollars, at RH they appreciated either.

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