Our long weekend in Cancun, Mexico that turned into a full week - August 2011
After spending an incredibly uncomfortable night on an air mattress at my parents house we caught a cab to the airport. We received an email the day before our flight informing us that our "Even more legroom seat" on Jetblue flight 771 would also come with "Even more speed" access. This allowed us to drop off our luggage and head right to the front of the security line. We were off to Cancun with one million children! Headphones....a new blessing!
When multiple flights land at the Cancun Airport, customs can take forever. We waited 45 minutes for customs, retrieved our luggage and waited another 15 minutes for immigration. Yay the green light let us through without a further step! We were met by the grayline representative outside the airport, however we received a Mercedes van instead of a car. Also disappointing was the fact that they then asked us to meet their other representative at our hotel at 6:15 pm that same day to reserve our return transfers – also known as what other stuff can we try to sell you.
After a short but nice ride we arrived at the ME by Melia Cancun. Our check in was fast, nice, and efficient. We decided to ask if any upgrades were available and we were offered an ocean view for $20 per night (we were good with this as we don't expect to get things for free). We were given a double upgrade to an ocean front view. A few tips for the check in staff: A map of the resort would be helpful, as well as a listing of times the restaurants open and close. Our room offered a fabulous view (the pool, beach, ocean, everything). Our room had a large closet, king bed, night stands, safe, bar, artwork, flat screen tv, dvd player, table and chairs, rain shower, separate toilet and sink area.
Sounds good so far right? Then came the funniest issue! We were getting ready to go to dinner (had a half hour). My husband went to iron his pants and while heating up the iron the room had an electrical issue and the power went out. This wasn't so bad as it was still a bit light out. We contacted the front desk and after a few minutes a maintenance worker came up and opened the fuse box and corrected the problem. Not even five minutes later the same thing happened! Note to self – use iron on low only!
Our first dinner at the resort was at Salt. We enjoyed the pumpkin soup, oyster chowder, shrimp and linguini, arroz with pork. All delicious. The service was friendly - just yell out “henry.” However it appeared that Henry was the only waiter we saw and therefore dinner took almost two hours (20 minutes waiting for the check). While the food was good, I must admit I was a bit disappointed. None of the menus matched the website menus and the current offerings were of less options and less impressive.
The next morning we went out to the pool area and reserved a bali bed with the concierge before breakfast. Breakfast at Salt is a delicious buffet. There was everything form cereals to eggs, to crepes, to Mexican specialties like tamales. After breakfast we headed over to our bed on the beach. It was great for us – we had reserved the beach bed with the large pillow. In addition to this they laid out towels for us to lay on and rolled as pillows. The beds come with “curtains” they can be left for a perfect amount of shade or removed if you prefer more sun. Our waiter came and checked on us often and brought us drinks, waters, and food from a menu if desired.
We decided to venture over to the beach house for lunch. We dined on the ceviche trio, vegetable sandwich, and fish tacos. Everything was delicious. Our server was very friendly and helpful but our dinner issue seemed to pop up again. Lunch took a long time and the longest part was waiting for the check.
Today was our first day to verify the services of our room. Maid service was terrific, they provided extra amenities and towels and came early in the day. Mini bar service does come later in the day but replenished what was missing and also gave us extra water as requested (however we don't believe they ever came back during our stay). We decided to just order room service for dinner after a full day in the sun. We enjoyed nachos with pickled jalapenos and a goat cheese and mushroom pizza.
Prior to breakfast on our third day we met JJ by the pool and reserved our favorite bed on the beach. Breakfast at Salt, again delicious. A small tip though, do not reserve a table by the window. The morning sun is still very hot and the AC in the restaurant isn't too strong.
Today the sun was extremely hot and not a cloud in the sky (so much for weather.com and weatherunderground forecasting thundershowers). We couldn't really complain as the bed was comfortable, the ocean refreshing, and the cerveza's and mojito's kept coming. When lunch time rolled around we felt a bit limited. The beach house restaurant was the only restaurant open for lunch (salt is supposed to be open but wasn’t) and it doesn't have any air-conditioning. So opted to get a reprieve from the sun and enjoy room service again with yummy nachos and a burger. Note, room service is available but $5 surcharge per person - not the best option for an "all inclusive."
We then headed back out to the beach and enjoyed the shade in the afternoon. We decided to go explore and see what kind of knick knacks we could find. We showered and first walked to the Flamingo plaza. I would not recommend shopping here. We read online that it was a handicraft marketplace and offered margaritaville and bubba gump (not that we wanted to eat at the restaurants but showed promise). The mall is in a sad state of affairs. Run down, half closed, and not true handicrafts. We decided to leave without any purchases and walk to La Isla mall. This mall pretty much offers all of the same items as home (Hillfiger, Starbucks, Pandora, Planet Hollywood, Hooters, etc.) however it also offered a few Mexican handicraft stores and also offers AH Cacao. A must try is the Maya Chocolate beverage. We also purchased some chocolate, vanilla, cacao beans, and more.
For dinner we made reservations at Silk. The sushi was delicious! We enjoyed crab and serrano rolls, spicy battered tuna rolls, veggie roll, tiraditos (which was tuna marinated with mango, chiles, and other spices), and steamed edamame topped with chili powder. The server was nice as usual but seemed totally out of sorts and overwhelmed. He was constantly checking his watch, complaining to the manager, and ignoring tables. We were never offered dessert or other drinks and had to request our check a half hour after our plates were cleared.
We had a hankering for something sweet so we spoke to the front desk. We explained the situation and that we would like to order dessert from room service however didn’t want to be charged the $5 per person surcharge. They were kind enough to waive the fee. Downside is that room service always takes at least a half an hour!
On the morning of our fourth day I was roughly woken up by my husband telling me our flight home (supposed to be the next day) has been cancelled from Hurricane Irene. We are fortunate that I brought my laptop, and that my husband and I have become very skilled in searching for travel information. We ended up having to contact Jetblue, Orbitz, Access America (travel insurance - first time ever purchased), The Royal Cancun, our Credit Card (to inform them of our extended stay), Friends and Family. Jetblue over the weekend had been horrible to try to call (we kept trying to get updates on if our flight would be cancelled) however this morning we were able to get through right away. Then the big hit....there weren’t any flights available until Thursday. Orbitz made us wait 30 minutes and then proceeded to tell us that the flight we found on our own was our best option. Then when we asked about help finding a hotel she informed us that the rates she could quote were the same as online – Thanks! Access America didn’t have too long of a wait however the first gentleman I spoke to obviously didn’t know what he was doing and quoted me incredibly wrong information then when I asked to speak to a supervisor he transferred me to the medical department. I called back and spoke with a nice woman who confirmed my insurance benefits and began a claim for me. The Royal Cancun had rooms available at a good price however my credit card became declined since it was outside of the dates I provided to them so therefore I had to call the credit card company and then contact the hotel again. I will be posting separate reviews about our experiences with orbitz and access america and what to do if this happens to you.
Finally, we were able to disconnect from technology and head to breakfast (upon checkout we realized our morning on the phone translated to roughly about $250). Before breakfast we stopped by the pool concierge and JJ hooked us up with our favorite bed on the beach. With our favorite waiter Gustavo. Downside was that today it rained all morning and so we didn’t head to the beach until noon. The beach was still on the warm side although cloudy but nice weather to lay down and read a good book.
In the afternoon we finally were able to meet up with our Grayline transfer rep and confirmed that we could switch our car to the airport to a car to the Royal Cancun (a whole 4 hotels down from where we were). Next we walked back up to Isla Mall to just look around and stretch our legs.
For dinner we decided to brave Silk again because the food was so good even if the service was lacking. We enjoyed Tampico roll, spider roll, spicy tuna roll, pork dumplings, and tuna tiraditos. The the service was friendly as usual however I think it’s a staffing or management issue. There seems to be only 2 waiters per restaurant with 3-4 "helpers". Sounds okay but this situation creates issues. It appears the helpers can bring you water but everything else must be delivered by the waiter. So naturally it gets frustrating when you see your food ready but no one can grab it and then the usual dinner is finished and we wait a half hour for the check.
As we checked out of ME we ran into a bit of a confusing stretch trying to read our bill. We understood our $250 in phone calls however the rest wasn't nicely explained. We stepped into our transfer and drove 3 blocks further to our next hotel ….The Royal Cancun.
Upon check in we were greeted nicely in a beautiful open air entryway. We were offered a glass of champagne and asked if we would like to upgrade to a corner suite. Considering our crazy situation we figured why not naturally this would be on us though and not on our insurance. Unfortunately, we were given a sales pitch on the way to our room (trying us to go to a "breakfast"). Eventually I just said thank you but we're really not interested. Our room was terrific! It featured a King bed, flat screen tv, jacuzzi, large wrap around balcony, seating area, separate bath area, steam and rain shower. The first sign that this hotel was a true all inclusive was our drink center. The large armoir opened up to a coffee maker, 4 bottles of alcohol (vodka, rum, whiskey, and tequila), water, beer, soda, and snacks. This room also comes with a designated beach cabana so you don’t have to fight the chair hogs. We decided to relax a bit and enjoy the complimentary bottle of red wine and take in the view on our balcony.
We decided to walk around and look at the property. We went to the beach and pool area both are gorgeous. We enjoyed lunch at Pelicanos. We dined on a cactus salad, tostata, tortilla soup, and a shrimp and olive pizza. Inside we visited the shops, game room, and the lobby bar. You will never go thirsty or hungry at this property!! There is even an hor deurves section in the game room.
To relax a bit we decided to test out our steam shower and reduce some of the salt in our system. Dinner was booked at the Chefs plate. A little weird at first that you have to enter Maria marie’s and then escorted down to a separate room where you eat at one long table. You are then presented a tasting menu but if you have any food allergies or are vegetarian they will accommodate you. For a starter we were served a lobster ravioli with a tomato sauce and a lime bubble. Next came a leek soup with a potato froth. The third course was seared scallops with a beet spread and lime caviar also with fried sweet potato strings. The next course was a rose and red wine palate cleanser. The first main course was a beef wellington however they made a vegetable lasagna for us vegetarians. The second main course was a grouper rolled and breaded. For dessert we enjoyed a chocolate souffle with a green apple liquor bubble.
When traveling please try to keep in mind that everyone is different and you should always try to be courteous to others around you. We were woken up by our neighbors at 5:30 am with a tv blaring, radio playing, and hysterical laughter. I don't think this would normally be an issue for people however our room was a connecting room so therefore we heard everything through that thin door.
At a decent hour we got up and ready and headed to breakfast at Spice. This is a buffet style breakfast with lots and lots of options. The food and service were both excellent. After breakfast we headed to the beach and our beach bed. This would be the one downside compared to the ME the beach bed isn’t in terrific area, there is no beach concierge to set up your bed and no personal waitstaff. We finally found a waiter named Jonathan who was very sociable and friendly but who was taking orders for the entire beach. The beach itself is just as pretty as ME (remember only 4 hotels down).
For lunch we decided to try the buffet since we were still in our swimsuits and cover ups. The buffet still had a large selection but not the best option for a vegetarian. The desserts were miniatures but large in flavors. The 2nd downfall to this resort was our room service today. When we checked in our concierge asked when we would like our room cleaned, turned down, types of pillows etc. We chose an eleven o clock cleaning time and when we came to our room to change the room was still not cleaned at noon. We decided to leave and head back out. Well at 2 our room still hadn’t been cleaned. We finally contacted our concierge and a few minutes later the maids arrived.
Prior to us getting ready for dinner we found that we had two things to watch from our balcony. First was our personal dance crew! There was a large family staying in one of the swim up suites below us. One of their sons set up towels on the floor around the pool and was dancing up a storm (including a move where he would fix his hair), then another son joined in. We were dying laughing and he would just wave. We turned around to look at the other balconies near us and sure enough people were also watching and video taping him! The second was the set up of the beach party as well as the start of the party. This hotel really goes all out for their entertainment of their guests. The beach beds were positioned for a crowd, white fabric was hung around the entire beach area, special lighting brought in, a new bar was set up, as well as a dance floor and dj. When the party started we noticed they had dancers brought in (trying to be trendy and sexy although the end result was a bit cheesy). However, the dancers did get the guests up and on the floor. The beach party ended prior to us finishing dinner (but I found that respectful to the guests that music wouldn't be blaring for those trying to sleep).
For dinner we had reservations at Maria Maries, a french Mexican fusion restaurant. The staff were friendly, attentive, and made sure we enjoyed everything. We started with shrimp carpaccio (the peanut oil was too over powering), and the guacamole bombay. For entree we enjoyed the dover sole fillet veronique and the T bone steak. Dessert was a bit of a let down. The creme brulee trio was one dish and it was more like panna cotta over a thin layer of cake The chocolate macadamia cake looked pretty but tasted old. After dinner we decided to get a drink and people watch at the lobby bar. This was fabulous entertainment! A band was playing so we got to sit back and watch a bunch of people try to salsa! Hilarious!
On the morning of our 7th day, we went back to Spice for breakfast. After breakfast we ventured on down to our beach bed. The weather was warm however we could see in the distance a lot of clouds and rain. We sat out for a bit and enjoyed a couple of cocktails. We could tell the storm was getting closer to us so we packed up and headed inside. Not 15 minutes later the storm hit! Complete downpour, thunder, and black skies! Needless to say everyone came into the lobby and the hotel got a bit crowded. Luckily our room was large, had a covered balcony, and had 4 bottles of alcohol with mixers!
This day was pretty much over. A few hours later the storm passed us but everything was soaking wet and extremely humid. We decided to rest for a bit and watch some tv or sit on the balcony and read. We were hoping for some chips and guacamole from service and even though it wasn't on the menu they were happy to send us some. In the afternoon we went for a drink at the lobby bar, one of the things that would have been helpful is that if the bartenders would promote their best drinks. Anytime we asked a bartender or waiter what drink they would suggest we were met with an I don't Know look.
We had reservations at Asiana for dinner. This restaurant is a fusion of Asian cuisine but it also offers teppanyaki. For us, we're tired of teppanyaki, we have multiple restaurants surrounding us that offer this cuisine so when we found out our reservations had been made for the teppanyaki tables without us asking for them we had to switch to the regular restaurant. The food was delicious and service friendly but there was an error when our entrees came out before our appetizers. The second error was that instead of take the plates back they served us everything at once. For appetizers we had ordered the veggie salad and the shrimp au green curry. For entrees we ordered the shrimp au coconut vinegar and the kraton tong. We had asked if the dishes could be made spicier than normal and the kitchen happily complied. We skipped dessert at the restaurant and stopped by the Cafe. We took a mini flan, mini fruit tart, and two chocolates to go. After dinner we joined the rest of the hotel at the Lobby bar. Tonight there was going to be a "tribal dance" show. We did get good seats for the show but we didn't end up staying to long as it was a bit cheesy.
I forgot to talk about the turn down service so tonight's experience with it was great. The light a few candles that added a lavender scent to the room, dimmed the lights, turned down the bed, laid out two robes, and left two chocolates. Speaking of those chocolates...I don't know if the hotel makes them or buys them but the are delicious you can get them at turn down and also at Spice restaurant. Some of the chocolates are filled, all are milk chocolate and decorated with edible transfer sheets (decorations).
We finally get to go home on our 8th day in Mexico! We woke up and went down to Spice for our final breakfast and it was still just as yummy. After breakfast we headed upstairs and for the first time in our travels just threw our stuff into our suitcases. Needless to say an extended vacation means no clean clothes left (luckily I'm an over-packer). We had a car coming for us at noon so we checked out of the hotel around 11:30 and 10 minutes later our ride was there. Two days before we were now set to leave I contacted Jetblue to try to get our seats together (instead of 12E and 25F) unfortunately Jetblue made us pay $80 for the extra legroom seats so we could sit together. As it turned out it's a good thing we did. The check-in line for Jetblue was insanely busy and I would have hated to not get seats together had we waited.
We breezed through security and headed for some last minute shopping. Honestly, sounds kind of bad picking up gifts from the airport for family and friends however we found the liquor to be the best options and price. So a few bottles of liquor, some more chocolate, and some pickled peppers and we were ready for some lunch. Note - the duty free shops do not let you take your purchases with you. They will ask for your ID's and boarding passes, write down your info, and have the purchases brought to the gate where you will pick them up before getting on the plane.
I know kind of cheesy but we enjoyed lunch at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Not too many options though when your in an airport. We ate Cajun peel and eat shrimp, a shrimp po boy, and a BBQ hamburger. The drinks however were too sweet!
We found our gate and began to board the plane. Then of course we heard everyone around us talking about how their flight was cancelled too and this was the first available, people fighting over seats because they were separated, and people trying to sit together in seats that should be occupied by others. Again...Headphones....a new blessing!
Landed in Boston, found our luggage, joked with the immigration officer about our situation, and headed home to be with our boys....Bucket (beagle) and Fred (Shorkie)!
When multiple flights land at the Cancun Airport, customs can take forever. We waited 45 minutes for customs, retrieved our luggage and waited another 15 minutes for immigration. Yay the green light let us through without a further step! We were met by the grayline representative outside the airport, however we received a Mercedes van instead of a car. Also disappointing was the fact that they then asked us to meet their other representative at our hotel at 6:15 pm that same day to reserve our return transfers – also known as what other stuff can we try to sell you.
After a short but nice ride we arrived at the ME by Melia Cancun. Our check in was fast, nice, and efficient. We decided to ask if any upgrades were available and we were offered an ocean view for $20 per night (we were good with this as we don't expect to get things for free). We were given a double upgrade to an ocean front view. A few tips for the check in staff: A map of the resort would be helpful, as well as a listing of times the restaurants open and close. Our room offered a fabulous view (the pool, beach, ocean, everything). Our room had a large closet, king bed, night stands, safe, bar, artwork, flat screen tv, dvd player, table and chairs, rain shower, separate toilet and sink area.
Sounds good so far right? Then came the funniest issue! We were getting ready to go to dinner (had a half hour). My husband went to iron his pants and while heating up the iron the room had an electrical issue and the power went out. This wasn't so bad as it was still a bit light out. We contacted the front desk and after a few minutes a maintenance worker came up and opened the fuse box and corrected the problem. Not even five minutes later the same thing happened! Note to self – use iron on low only!
Our first dinner at the resort was at Salt. We enjoyed the pumpkin soup, oyster chowder, shrimp and linguini, arroz with pork. All delicious. The service was friendly - just yell out “henry.” However it appeared that Henry was the only waiter we saw and therefore dinner took almost two hours (20 minutes waiting for the check). While the food was good, I must admit I was a bit disappointed. None of the menus matched the website menus and the current offerings were of less options and less impressive.
The next morning we went out to the pool area and reserved a bali bed with the concierge before breakfast. Breakfast at Salt is a delicious buffet. There was everything form cereals to eggs, to crepes, to Mexican specialties like tamales. After breakfast we headed over to our bed on the beach. It was great for us – we had reserved the beach bed with the large pillow. In addition to this they laid out towels for us to lay on and rolled as pillows. The beds come with “curtains” they can be left for a perfect amount of shade or removed if you prefer more sun. Our waiter came and checked on us often and brought us drinks, waters, and food from a menu if desired.
We decided to venture over to the beach house for lunch. We dined on the ceviche trio, vegetable sandwich, and fish tacos. Everything was delicious. Our server was very friendly and helpful but our dinner issue seemed to pop up again. Lunch took a long time and the longest part was waiting for the check.
Today was our first day to verify the services of our room. Maid service was terrific, they provided extra amenities and towels and came early in the day. Mini bar service does come later in the day but replenished what was missing and also gave us extra water as requested (however we don't believe they ever came back during our stay). We decided to just order room service for dinner after a full day in the sun. We enjoyed nachos with pickled jalapenos and a goat cheese and mushroom pizza.
Prior to breakfast on our third day we met JJ by the pool and reserved our favorite bed on the beach. Breakfast at Salt, again delicious. A small tip though, do not reserve a table by the window. The morning sun is still very hot and the AC in the restaurant isn't too strong.
Today the sun was extremely hot and not a cloud in the sky (so much for weather.com and weatherunderground forecasting thundershowers). We couldn't really complain as the bed was comfortable, the ocean refreshing, and the cerveza's and mojito's kept coming. When lunch time rolled around we felt a bit limited. The beach house restaurant was the only restaurant open for lunch (salt is supposed to be open but wasn’t) and it doesn't have any air-conditioning. So opted to get a reprieve from the sun and enjoy room service again with yummy nachos and a burger. Note, room service is available but $5 surcharge per person - not the best option for an "all inclusive."
We then headed back out to the beach and enjoyed the shade in the afternoon. We decided to go explore and see what kind of knick knacks we could find. We showered and first walked to the Flamingo plaza. I would not recommend shopping here. We read online that it was a handicraft marketplace and offered margaritaville and bubba gump (not that we wanted to eat at the restaurants but showed promise). The mall is in a sad state of affairs. Run down, half closed, and not true handicrafts. We decided to leave without any purchases and walk to La Isla mall. This mall pretty much offers all of the same items as home (Hillfiger, Starbucks, Pandora, Planet Hollywood, Hooters, etc.) however it also offered a few Mexican handicraft stores and also offers AH Cacao. A must try is the Maya Chocolate beverage. We also purchased some chocolate, vanilla, cacao beans, and more.
For dinner we made reservations at Silk. The sushi was delicious! We enjoyed crab and serrano rolls, spicy battered tuna rolls, veggie roll, tiraditos (which was tuna marinated with mango, chiles, and other spices), and steamed edamame topped with chili powder. The server was nice as usual but seemed totally out of sorts and overwhelmed. He was constantly checking his watch, complaining to the manager, and ignoring tables. We were never offered dessert or other drinks and had to request our check a half hour after our plates were cleared.
We had a hankering for something sweet so we spoke to the front desk. We explained the situation and that we would like to order dessert from room service however didn’t want to be charged the $5 per person surcharge. They were kind enough to waive the fee. Downside is that room service always takes at least a half an hour!
On the morning of our fourth day I was roughly woken up by my husband telling me our flight home (supposed to be the next day) has been cancelled from Hurricane Irene. We are fortunate that I brought my laptop, and that my husband and I have become very skilled in searching for travel information. We ended up having to contact Jetblue, Orbitz, Access America (travel insurance - first time ever purchased), The Royal Cancun, our Credit Card (to inform them of our extended stay), Friends and Family. Jetblue over the weekend had been horrible to try to call (we kept trying to get updates on if our flight would be cancelled) however this morning we were able to get through right away. Then the big hit....there weren’t any flights available until Thursday. Orbitz made us wait 30 minutes and then proceeded to tell us that the flight we found on our own was our best option. Then when we asked about help finding a hotel she informed us that the rates she could quote were the same as online – Thanks! Access America didn’t have too long of a wait however the first gentleman I spoke to obviously didn’t know what he was doing and quoted me incredibly wrong information then when I asked to speak to a supervisor he transferred me to the medical department. I called back and spoke with a nice woman who confirmed my insurance benefits and began a claim for me. The Royal Cancun had rooms available at a good price however my credit card became declined since it was outside of the dates I provided to them so therefore I had to call the credit card company and then contact the hotel again. I will be posting separate reviews about our experiences with orbitz and access america and what to do if this happens to you.
Finally, we were able to disconnect from technology and head to breakfast (upon checkout we realized our morning on the phone translated to roughly about $250). Before breakfast we stopped by the pool concierge and JJ hooked us up with our favorite bed on the beach. With our favorite waiter Gustavo. Downside was that today it rained all morning and so we didn’t head to the beach until noon. The beach was still on the warm side although cloudy but nice weather to lay down and read a good book.
In the afternoon we finally were able to meet up with our Grayline transfer rep and confirmed that we could switch our car to the airport to a car to the Royal Cancun (a whole 4 hotels down from where we were). Next we walked back up to Isla Mall to just look around and stretch our legs.
For dinner we decided to brave Silk again because the food was so good even if the service was lacking. We enjoyed Tampico roll, spider roll, spicy tuna roll, pork dumplings, and tuna tiraditos. The the service was friendly as usual however I think it’s a staffing or management issue. There seems to be only 2 waiters per restaurant with 3-4 "helpers". Sounds okay but this situation creates issues. It appears the helpers can bring you water but everything else must be delivered by the waiter. So naturally it gets frustrating when you see your food ready but no one can grab it and then the usual dinner is finished and we wait a half hour for the check.
As we checked out of ME we ran into a bit of a confusing stretch trying to read our bill. We understood our $250 in phone calls however the rest wasn't nicely explained. We stepped into our transfer and drove 3 blocks further to our next hotel ….The Royal Cancun.
Upon check in we were greeted nicely in a beautiful open air entryway. We were offered a glass of champagne and asked if we would like to upgrade to a corner suite. Considering our crazy situation we figured why not naturally this would be on us though and not on our insurance. Unfortunately, we were given a sales pitch on the way to our room (trying us to go to a "breakfast"). Eventually I just said thank you but we're really not interested. Our room was terrific! It featured a King bed, flat screen tv, jacuzzi, large wrap around balcony, seating area, separate bath area, steam and rain shower. The first sign that this hotel was a true all inclusive was our drink center. The large armoir opened up to a coffee maker, 4 bottles of alcohol (vodka, rum, whiskey, and tequila), water, beer, soda, and snacks. This room also comes with a designated beach cabana so you don’t have to fight the chair hogs. We decided to relax a bit and enjoy the complimentary bottle of red wine and take in the view on our balcony.
We decided to walk around and look at the property. We went to the beach and pool area both are gorgeous. We enjoyed lunch at Pelicanos. We dined on a cactus salad, tostata, tortilla soup, and a shrimp and olive pizza. Inside we visited the shops, game room, and the lobby bar. You will never go thirsty or hungry at this property!! There is even an hor deurves section in the game room.
To relax a bit we decided to test out our steam shower and reduce some of the salt in our system. Dinner was booked at the Chefs plate. A little weird at first that you have to enter Maria marie’s and then escorted down to a separate room where you eat at one long table. You are then presented a tasting menu but if you have any food allergies or are vegetarian they will accommodate you. For a starter we were served a lobster ravioli with a tomato sauce and a lime bubble. Next came a leek soup with a potato froth. The third course was seared scallops with a beet spread and lime caviar also with fried sweet potato strings. The next course was a rose and red wine palate cleanser. The first main course was a beef wellington however they made a vegetable lasagna for us vegetarians. The second main course was a grouper rolled and breaded. For dessert we enjoyed a chocolate souffle with a green apple liquor bubble.
When traveling please try to keep in mind that everyone is different and you should always try to be courteous to others around you. We were woken up by our neighbors at 5:30 am with a tv blaring, radio playing, and hysterical laughter. I don't think this would normally be an issue for people however our room was a connecting room so therefore we heard everything through that thin door.
At a decent hour we got up and ready and headed to breakfast at Spice. This is a buffet style breakfast with lots and lots of options. The food and service were both excellent. After breakfast we headed to the beach and our beach bed. This would be the one downside compared to the ME the beach bed isn’t in terrific area, there is no beach concierge to set up your bed and no personal waitstaff. We finally found a waiter named Jonathan who was very sociable and friendly but who was taking orders for the entire beach. The beach itself is just as pretty as ME (remember only 4 hotels down).
For lunch we decided to try the buffet since we were still in our swimsuits and cover ups. The buffet still had a large selection but not the best option for a vegetarian. The desserts were miniatures but large in flavors. The 2nd downfall to this resort was our room service today. When we checked in our concierge asked when we would like our room cleaned, turned down, types of pillows etc. We chose an eleven o clock cleaning time and when we came to our room to change the room was still not cleaned at noon. We decided to leave and head back out. Well at 2 our room still hadn’t been cleaned. We finally contacted our concierge and a few minutes later the maids arrived.
Prior to us getting ready for dinner we found that we had two things to watch from our balcony. First was our personal dance crew! There was a large family staying in one of the swim up suites below us. One of their sons set up towels on the floor around the pool and was dancing up a storm (including a move where he would fix his hair), then another son joined in. We were dying laughing and he would just wave. We turned around to look at the other balconies near us and sure enough people were also watching and video taping him! The second was the set up of the beach party as well as the start of the party. This hotel really goes all out for their entertainment of their guests. The beach beds were positioned for a crowd, white fabric was hung around the entire beach area, special lighting brought in, a new bar was set up, as well as a dance floor and dj. When the party started we noticed they had dancers brought in (trying to be trendy and sexy although the end result was a bit cheesy). However, the dancers did get the guests up and on the floor. The beach party ended prior to us finishing dinner (but I found that respectful to the guests that music wouldn't be blaring for those trying to sleep).
For dinner we had reservations at Maria Maries, a french Mexican fusion restaurant. The staff were friendly, attentive, and made sure we enjoyed everything. We started with shrimp carpaccio (the peanut oil was too over powering), and the guacamole bombay. For entree we enjoyed the dover sole fillet veronique and the T bone steak. Dessert was a bit of a let down. The creme brulee trio was one dish and it was more like panna cotta over a thin layer of cake The chocolate macadamia cake looked pretty but tasted old. After dinner we decided to get a drink and people watch at the lobby bar. This was fabulous entertainment! A band was playing so we got to sit back and watch a bunch of people try to salsa! Hilarious!
On the morning of our 7th day, we went back to Spice for breakfast. After breakfast we ventured on down to our beach bed. The weather was warm however we could see in the distance a lot of clouds and rain. We sat out for a bit and enjoyed a couple of cocktails. We could tell the storm was getting closer to us so we packed up and headed inside. Not 15 minutes later the storm hit! Complete downpour, thunder, and black skies! Needless to say everyone came into the lobby and the hotel got a bit crowded. Luckily our room was large, had a covered balcony, and had 4 bottles of alcohol with mixers!
This day was pretty much over. A few hours later the storm passed us but everything was soaking wet and extremely humid. We decided to rest for a bit and watch some tv or sit on the balcony and read. We were hoping for some chips and guacamole from service and even though it wasn't on the menu they were happy to send us some. In the afternoon we went for a drink at the lobby bar, one of the things that would have been helpful is that if the bartenders would promote their best drinks. Anytime we asked a bartender or waiter what drink they would suggest we were met with an I don't Know look.
We had reservations at Asiana for dinner. This restaurant is a fusion of Asian cuisine but it also offers teppanyaki. For us, we're tired of teppanyaki, we have multiple restaurants surrounding us that offer this cuisine so when we found out our reservations had been made for the teppanyaki tables without us asking for them we had to switch to the regular restaurant. The food was delicious and service friendly but there was an error when our entrees came out before our appetizers. The second error was that instead of take the plates back they served us everything at once. For appetizers we had ordered the veggie salad and the shrimp au green curry. For entrees we ordered the shrimp au coconut vinegar and the kraton tong. We had asked if the dishes could be made spicier than normal and the kitchen happily complied. We skipped dessert at the restaurant and stopped by the Cafe. We took a mini flan, mini fruit tart, and two chocolates to go. After dinner we joined the rest of the hotel at the Lobby bar. Tonight there was going to be a "tribal dance" show. We did get good seats for the show but we didn't end up staying to long as it was a bit cheesy.
I forgot to talk about the turn down service so tonight's experience with it was great. The light a few candles that added a lavender scent to the room, dimmed the lights, turned down the bed, laid out two robes, and left two chocolates. Speaking of those chocolates...I don't know if the hotel makes them or buys them but the are delicious you can get them at turn down and also at Spice restaurant. Some of the chocolates are filled, all are milk chocolate and decorated with edible transfer sheets (decorations).
We finally get to go home on our 8th day in Mexico! We woke up and went down to Spice for our final breakfast and it was still just as yummy. After breakfast we headed upstairs and for the first time in our travels just threw our stuff into our suitcases. Needless to say an extended vacation means no clean clothes left (luckily I'm an over-packer). We had a car coming for us at noon so we checked out of the hotel around 11:30 and 10 minutes later our ride was there. Two days before we were now set to leave I contacted Jetblue to try to get our seats together (instead of 12E and 25F) unfortunately Jetblue made us pay $80 for the extra legroom seats so we could sit together. As it turned out it's a good thing we did. The check-in line for Jetblue was insanely busy and I would have hated to not get seats together had we waited.
We breezed through security and headed for some last minute shopping. Honestly, sounds kind of bad picking up gifts from the airport for family and friends however we found the liquor to be the best options and price. So a few bottles of liquor, some more chocolate, and some pickled peppers and we were ready for some lunch. Note - the duty free shops do not let you take your purchases with you. They will ask for your ID's and boarding passes, write down your info, and have the purchases brought to the gate where you will pick them up before getting on the plane.
I know kind of cheesy but we enjoyed lunch at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Not too many options though when your in an airport. We ate Cajun peel and eat shrimp, a shrimp po boy, and a BBQ hamburger. The drinks however were too sweet!
We found our gate and began to board the plane. Then of course we heard everyone around us talking about how their flight was cancelled too and this was the first available, people fighting over seats because they were separated, and people trying to sit together in seats that should be occupied by others. Again...Headphones....a new blessing!
Landed in Boston, found our luggage, joked with the immigration officer about our situation, and headed home to be with our boys....Bucket (beagle) and Fred (Shorkie)!
Viva Wyndham Maya - Playa del Carmen Mexico
This vacation was the perfect combination of laid back lifestyle, and fun in the sun. Prior to our vacation I signed up for the Wyndham Rewards Program. When you sign up for the program you get several amenities some of those are: complimentary room upgrades, wine and snacks, internet access.
The Viva Wyndham Maya is not a luxury property but it worked for us. Our room was nice, clean, and spacious. The staff was really nice, and very attentive. The one downfall (and this is with all wyndham properties) is that they have too many staff members dedicated to selling you a timeshare property.
When dining at the Maya you get several options. You are able to eat at the restaurants at the Maya property, the Viva Wyndham Azteca property (just down the road), and a restaurant that Wyndham owns in Playa del Carmen (the private restaurant did have a nominal fee). The food at all properties was mixed. For example, during lunch time I lived off of french fries and only french fries. However, the dinners were good and plentiful.
I think the one of the best memories of this trip was watching the Red Sox in the playoffs (against the yankees) while we were away. Because there weren't any tv's at the bars, we would go to dinner then run to the bar, get a bucket of beer, and run back to our room. Now that's true fans!
Playa del Carmen (downtown) is an interesting mix. On one hand you have all the local vendors coming up to you on the street trying to sell you everything, then in another area you have all the chain stores and restaurants (Fridays, etc.). Finally, you have my favorite area - boutique hotels, bars, hookah lounges, and small restaurants.
There are a lot of other activities in the area. Cancun is only a 40-60 minute drive, Cozumel is a 30 minute ferry ride, and don't forget all of the Ruins. Chichen Itza ia a great day trip. The hot temperature, no shade, and the climb are all totally worth it! A pretty stop along the way to the ruins are the caves and cenotes.
For our next trip to Mexico we're hoping to be able to go to Xcaret and Xel-Ha as we have heard raves reviews of them as well.
The Viva Wyndham Maya is not a luxury property but it worked for us. Our room was nice, clean, and spacious. The staff was really nice, and very attentive. The one downfall (and this is with all wyndham properties) is that they have too many staff members dedicated to selling you a timeshare property.
When dining at the Maya you get several options. You are able to eat at the restaurants at the Maya property, the Viva Wyndham Azteca property (just down the road), and a restaurant that Wyndham owns in Playa del Carmen (the private restaurant did have a nominal fee). The food at all properties was mixed. For example, during lunch time I lived off of french fries and only french fries. However, the dinners were good and plentiful.
I think the one of the best memories of this trip was watching the Red Sox in the playoffs (against the yankees) while we were away. Because there weren't any tv's at the bars, we would go to dinner then run to the bar, get a bucket of beer, and run back to our room. Now that's true fans!
Playa del Carmen (downtown) is an interesting mix. On one hand you have all the local vendors coming up to you on the street trying to sell you everything, then in another area you have all the chain stores and restaurants (Fridays, etc.). Finally, you have my favorite area - boutique hotels, bars, hookah lounges, and small restaurants.
There are a lot of other activities in the area. Cancun is only a 40-60 minute drive, Cozumel is a 30 minute ferry ride, and don't forget all of the Ruins. Chichen Itza ia a great day trip. The hot temperature, no shade, and the climb are all totally worth it! A pretty stop along the way to the ruins are the caves and cenotes.
For our next trip to Mexico we're hoping to be able to go to Xcaret and Xel-Ha as we have heard raves reviews of them as well.
Allegro Resort, Cozumel Mexico May 2003
What not to do the night before you leave for a vacation (especially an early morning flight): Don't entertain visiting family members. What happens is you have dinner, great conversation, a couple of drinks and all of the sudden it's 1:30 in the morning and they're just leaving. Which isn't too bad on an average weekend but when you have to get up for a flight at 3:30 in the morning - it can be a rough start to a day of traveling.
We finally met up with friends at the airport and boarded our plane to Cozumel. Upon landing we hailed a taxi to take us over to the Allegro Resort (we were told by many people not to rent a car).
Check in at the hotel was really nice. The lobby is a big open space with some metal sculptures, a small bar (where the premium liquor was kept), and friendly staff. We walked over to our room which first appearances was great! Round room, tiled floor, clean, good size bathroom, and cute thatched roof.
Throughout the week we learned to dislike our hotel room. This property is an eco-friendly hotel (which I am 99% of the time in favor for) but when in Mexico at an eco-friendly hotel you end up with giant bugs that will not die. During the day everything would appear normal but when nightime came around your room was overtaken by them. My husband would cover my head with the sheet after I fell asleep to protect me from them!
Other than that little problem we really enjoyed ourselves. The property is nicely spread out, properly groomed, the food was good (if you're not terribly picky), the beach was beautiful, and the snorkeling was great.
We have stayed at several all inclusive resorts. We usually enjoy our stays and get what we needed out of our vacation. However, staying at all inclusive resorts also means that you don't always get premium liquors, gourmet food, and you don't get to truly experience the rest of the destination.
We finally met up with friends at the airport and boarded our plane to Cozumel. Upon landing we hailed a taxi to take us over to the Allegro Resort (we were told by many people not to rent a car).
Check in at the hotel was really nice. The lobby is a big open space with some metal sculptures, a small bar (where the premium liquor was kept), and friendly staff. We walked over to our room which first appearances was great! Round room, tiled floor, clean, good size bathroom, and cute thatched roof.
Throughout the week we learned to dislike our hotel room. This property is an eco-friendly hotel (which I am 99% of the time in favor for) but when in Mexico at an eco-friendly hotel you end up with giant bugs that will not die. During the day everything would appear normal but when nightime came around your room was overtaken by them. My husband would cover my head with the sheet after I fell asleep to protect me from them!
Other than that little problem we really enjoyed ourselves. The property is nicely spread out, properly groomed, the food was good (if you're not terribly picky), the beach was beautiful, and the snorkeling was great.
We have stayed at several all inclusive resorts. We usually enjoy our stays and get what we needed out of our vacation. However, staying at all inclusive resorts also means that you don't always get premium liquors, gourmet food, and you don't get to truly experience the rest of the destination.